New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-05

ton of canvas painted as the requires: while
the centre is nllod with fine gauzc wh@h lends an
aerial effect to the distance. Red mediums" are
emDlOycd to give n soft, sunset glow To the sccne'
At The proper moment, the back drop III very slowly
and steadily hauled M. while the red mediums arc
slowly turned OF and green ones turned on. Inc
moon is made in the night half of the sky drop. and
rises with it. When IL rises above the lstant nori-
zon the green 4" mediums" are Turned on 10 thet
full power and the gre N calcium light Is brought
into play. The effect OF this change. when care
fully managed is always very beautiful, aud Is sure
to draw forth applause from the aulIcnce
Moonrise. in scene where there ~ no chanee
from daylight to darkness is often produced with
"a muslin drop and a InoOnbo The lnuslln dIop
is painted to represent the sky the clouds being
PAINTED on strip. Of canvas cut ln the required
shap and sewn The moon is made WITH box
on one side of which circular hole in cut. over
this hole is pasted piece Of white muslin. =
couple OF wires serve TO draw the moon upward.
OF course the white illuminated circle shows
plainly through the muslin sky but disappears
when passing behind the canvas clouds. by bay-
ing another piece Of mnslin painted red and mpeI-
ceptibly fading TO white. placed at the bacA OF the
drop in the moons path: the orb of night can be
made to appear red at the horizon and gradually
change to pale yellow as il sa'ls slowly upward
Floating clouds are easily initiated by hanging IN
front of the sky drop game drop upon WhIcb are
sewn muslin OF canvas clOuds, ana moving tho
whole slowly.
Each bounding wave Is cut out sepalately. The
first row il set up with a distance of three or four
feet between each biilow and the second row ~
set so TO show in the openings left by the hrst.
are rocked back and forth, not from side 10 Idle:
and the effect is good. The noise of water
rolling upon beach is well initiated ia a simple
manner. A box Of light wood is lined with tin. BY
putting two or three ounces of birlshOt into this
and causing it to roll around the desired sound is
produced.
Fire scenes are sometimes dangerous: but with
proper care they may be rendered comparatively
safe. That they are not so hazardous as is gener-
ally supposed by the uDntlated beholder may be
learned from the following description One OF tho
most familiar fire scenes is that which occurs in
the Streets OF New-iork' IN winch thIee story
house buns down, the roof caying IN the shutters
falling aud the walls breaking with a wonderful
appearance of realism The house Is painted ON
three e parae pieces the top one OF Whch Is swung
from the dies this constitutes the roof. Upon the
second is painted half the wall and IL IS Joined 70
the bottom piece in an irregular Zig-zag line. Tho
simple dropping in succession OF these pieces 70
the stage produces the falling OF roof and wall.
The tire itself is represented ny chemical red fire
and powdered lycOpOdlum used separately. the
form cr to give red glow and the latter to represent
flames The shutters. which are to fall, are fas-
tened to the scene with preparation called quick
match" This is made OF powder, acoDo, anc
lgmp wick. The window frames and slshes are
made OF sheet iron. They are coy cred with 0akum
soaked in alcohol or naphtha These sashes and
frames are not fastened to the canvas scene az all
but re placed short distance behind u upon plat
forms. the quickest possible touch of flame gnltes
The oakum, and in n moment, the fire runs around
tie sash and nothing is apparently left but the
hlackened and charred wood. Steam Is used "a
represent the smoke that issues from the crannIes IN
the walls of the burning building; ana an 0cca-
sional crash. followed by the ignition of little
powder 10 produce a sudden pun Of smoke. gives
The spectator an idea of falling Taft"T. Behind
the entire is placed large endless towel
upon which Is painted "A mass OF flames. Inns Is
kent in constant upward notion and, when
viewed through an open window in the house. gives
a good idea Of the supposed raging furnace within
Add 70 these things real fire engine on the stage,
a host OF yelling supernumeraTles III discarded hIe-
mems uniforms. and the spectator Is easily filled
with sense of tremendous danger. Nevertheless
the onl, flames upon the stage are those arising
from the burning of lycOpOdium IN a fash
torch y; and they are only allowed t. blaze mp tor
!, second or two at time. Fires IN theatres, re-
smiling from n tire scene are usually caused by
carcleSsness in handling the powder which is used
to produce puts of smoke
The amount of labor and care bestowed upon tho
production of scenic effects is something of which
the uuntiated public knows iItt tie but the above
account gives q general description OF how tie
most elaborate ones are produced.