Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-22

THE Machines PoR PRODUCING THE SOUNDS OF
THUNDER. WIND AND RAIE-NOOSLIGEr ON TaE
WATERFALL OF A BUHSING HOUSE.
MY. Tribune
Many OF the peculiar effects produced upon
, the stage, Initiating moonlight. sunlight, thun-
DER, WIND. rain and other natural phenomena,
are puzzle TO those outside OF the business
nov spch realistic o REPRESENTATIONS OF these
can pe made is a question that often enters the
mind OF the spectator. and is seldom
a answered In a satisfactory manner. It is
and stage carpenters to devise improved
methods of Initiating these things and
hence the stage may be said to try TO hold
the mirror up TO nature in a material. as
well as moral sense. Years OF experience
have tended to bring these limitations to a high
state OF excellence; but the limits do not yet
continually appearing. The electric light is
not yet used. but as It's pale blush tint would
De seryiceable In particular effects, stage
best be employed All Of the operations men
toned, together with some which will be
described. are classed Under The general term,
always on the lookout for an opportunity to
produce telling effect. The amount OF Work
bestowed upon their production In a theater Is
simply astonishing TO those unacquainted with
that mysterious realm known as "behind the
scenes"
Thunder is common stage effect, and is used
with great advantage In many plays. In former
days it was produced by shaking large piece
OF sheet iron hung Immediately above the
good imitation of sharp rafting thunder, but
heard 10 storms A contrlvanee for this pur-
pose was soon invented. A heavy box frame Is
made, and over IL is tightly drawn calf skin
Upon this the prompter operates With stick
one end OF which is padded and covered with
channels skin. A fash OF lightning, produced
With MAGNESIUM. and sharp crack OF the
sheet iron, followed By long decreasing roll
uEon the thunder drum" produces an effect
which Is startlingly realistic. Travelling com
pan1es are compelled to be satisfied with the
sheet iron alone: and the traGedian VINO enters
lheater PROVIDED with complete thunder ap-
paratus always IS happy to think that his bltfle
with the elements il king Lear" Will be worth
lighting.
4 he rain machine In large theaters is fix
ture placed high UP in the flies" A cylinder
Is made OF " half inCh'' wood It Is usually i've
Ieet Id circumference and four feet in length.
wooden teeth. A lot OF dried peas is placed In
the cylinder. a rope belt is run around one end
or IL ana down 70 the prompter's desk. and &c
Is ready Ior a drenchlng shower. By turn
ing the cylinder, The peas roll down between
lhe leeth, ana the noise produced by them
makes good imitation or rain falling upon
a roof sudden pull OF the rope. accom-
panied by gust on the wind machine" gives
the sound of the sweep OF a blast OF wind
during storm. Travelling companies often
meet with theaters where there Is no wind ma
easily produced. A common childs hoop Is OBJ
tanned and a sheet OF heavy brown paper ia
pasted upon 1t after the manner of a circus
riders balloon. handful OF bird is placed
upon the paper. The machine" Is cauted from
one SIDE TO the other, and the shot rolls around
the paper. producing fairly good rain effect
wind Is an Item that Is very useful IN height
ehing the effect or stage storms It Is OFTEN
dispensed with III theaters where strict atten-
ton IS not paid 10 details, but not without
loss OF realism" II has, moreover. great tn-
fnn1I
blind LoH'Sp in the 1.-Two Orphans" is much
more pitted when the audience can hear the
pltll6SS blast that makes her SILVER. Hence In
every large theater the wind machine plays an
important part Ii Is not a stationary apoaratuS
out can BE moved to any quarter or the com
pass from which ii Is desired that wind should
blow. In the last act OF "Ours.' every
Shrek OF wind Is heard. The wind machine
IN that instance Is placed just outside tle door
ana the property man works 1t while his assist
paper snow down LoFd .SendY'yfrs back. The
wind machine is constructed In this manner:
A heavy frame Is made, in which is set O
cylinder provided with paddles and resembling
very much the stern wheels seen ON Ohio river
tow boats. Across The top OF this cylinder is
stretched as tightly as possible piece OF
tionary while the wheel Is turned by crank
The rapid passage OF the paddles across the sur
race OF the silk produces the noise of wind.
OFTEN travelling companies are In. theateTs
Wnere there Is no wind machine. Then the
property man groans audibly and proceeds TO
90 what In theatrical parlance is called fax
ing the wind. lie selects heavy piece of gas
hose, called by stage gas-men .;fexiole,3 and
nndiDg quiet corner where there Is sufficient
space 10 swing cat without danger-Jo rne
cat-he whirls it around hts head with me
duces very Satisfactory resultS-to every one
but the property man. He is a long suffering
person; but the extraction OF wind from .dex-
IDLE causes him TO find life tedious.
IA oa
Is produced when the hero kicks the william
through four-iuch oaken door. One would
think that not only the door but the siilain
must be completely shattered Thts noise fs
produced ~ the crash machine one OF the
oldest implements of imitation still used On the
stage. IL is similar TO the wind machine in
\ wheel with paddles SET at an
ange OF about forty-fiVe degrees 10 the ratiil IS
Inc main part OF the machine. Upon the top OF
the wheel one end or a stout piece OF wool is
pressed down oy fastening the other end to a
portion or the framework. When the wheel Is
turned. the Stats passing under the stationary
piece produce rafting crash. The princiOls
or the machine Is illustrated by the Small by
VINO runs a stick along paing renee and Is
gratir1ed by introducing into the world an atIdi-
Ilonal mOTSel OF hubbuD
There Is nothing that can be so well counter
felted on the stage as moonlight scenery. Aad
yet there is nothing which requires more work.
The artist begins the task By painting a moon
light scene. In daylight such q scene is a
CHASTITY sight. II is done in cold grays and
Der play an important part; and the lights are
put In WITH white slightly tinged with emerald
green The strong moonlight OF the fore ground
is pfOduced by calcium light thrown through
a green glass. The FAINTER Hight, UPON the
scenery at the back or the stage is obtained
from green mediums" row OF argand
burners with green chimneyS. These are
placed upon the stage Just In front OF
the main scene, and are masked iu"
from the view OF the audience by ground
piece" row OF them is often suspended fro q
Inc lilies" In order to light the TOP OF the
scene. This upper row Is masked In by sky
borderS.' Thus soft green light is tnroWa
over the entire distance. while its source does
not meet the view OF the spectator 4 Usual
1eatureof stage moonlight scene is water De-
cause II affords an opportunity for the Intro
auction or the ''ripple'-a charmingly natural
stage ehect The main scene Ia a moonlight
view Is always painted on a ''dropr-that is a
scene made like the curtain let down between
the acts The position OF the moon being
determined, Immediately under IL, bs.
ginning at the horizon, a number OF
small irregular holes Is cut In The drop
These are then covered ON The back with
muslin and painted over on the, front to match
the rest OF the water. Behind the.a holes Is
placed an endless towel, about eight feet 10
neight, running around TWO cylinders, one at
! ne Top and one at the bottom. The lower evil .
Ihaef mas crank, by which the towel Is turned. =
~ lnlS towel Is cut number Of holes tnilar TO
tI Ie cut Ia the drop. "A strong gas burner Is
RRpacea between the two sides OF the towel
Wnth the machine ts turned the flashing or the
i nSnI from lne passing holes In the towel