Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-09-07
Theatrical Effects.


natural phenomena, are puzzle to those
outside of the business. How such re-
alistic representations of these things as
are often witnessed upon the stage can
be made is a question that often enters
the mind of the spectator, and is seldom
answered in a satisfactory manner. 1t
is always the ambition of the scene paint
ers and stage carpenters to devise I'M
proved methods of initiating these things,
and hence the stage may be said to try
to hold the mirror up to nature in ma
terial, as we'll as moral sense. Years of
experience have tended to bring these
limitations to high state of excellence /;
but the limits do not yet seem to be reach
ed, and new are continually appearing.
The electric light is not yet used, but as
its pale blush tint would be serviceable
in particular effects, stage machinists are
now deliberating how ii can be best en-
ployed. All of the operations mentioned
together with some which will be de-
scribed, are classed under the general
term, ''stage effects" Authors, in writ
ing plays are always on the lookout for
an opportunity to produce telling effect.
The amount of work bestowed upon
their production in theatre 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 a large piece of sheet iron
hung Immediately above the prompter's
desk. This contrivance produced good
imitation of sharp, rattling thunder, but
failed to give the dull roar which is
always heard in storms. A contrivance
for this purpose was soon invented. A
heavy box frame is made, and over it is
tightly drawn calf skin. Upon this the
prompter operates with a stick, one end
of which is padded and covered with
chamois skin. A fash of lightning, pro-
duced with magnesium, and sharp
crack of the sheet iron, followed by 4
long decreasing roll upon the thunder
drum" produces an effect which is start
lingly realistic. Travelling companies
are compelled to be satisfied with the
sheet iron alone and the tragedian who
enters theatre provided with COM
plete thunder apparatus always is happy
to think that his battle with the elements
in ''King Lear" will be worth fighting.
The rain machine in large theatres is
a fixture placed high up in the ''fiies. -
A cylinder is made of half inch wood.
1t is usually five feet in circumference,
and four feet in length. Upon the in
side are placed rows of small wooden
teeth. A lot of dried peas is placed in
the cylinder, rope belt is run around
one end of it and down to the prompter's
desk, and it is ready for a drenching
shower. By turning the cylinder, the
peas roll down between the teeth, and
the noise produced by them makes a
good imitation of rain falling upon a
roof. A sudden pull of the rope, accom-
panied by gust on the wind machine, "
gives the sound of the sweep Of blast
of wind during storm. Travelling COM
panies often meet theatres where there
is no wind machine. A sufficiently good
one, however, is easily produced. A
common child's hoop is obtained, and q
sheet of heavy brown paper is pasted
upon it after the manner of circus
riders balloon. A handful of birdshot
is placed upon the paper. The ina
chine" is canted from one side to the
other, and the shot rolls around the pa
per, producing fairly good rain effect.
Wind is an item that is very useful in
heightening the effect of stage storms. II
is often dispensed with in theatres where
strict attention is not paid to details, bui
not without loss of ''realism." 1t has,
moreover, a great influence over the
feelings of the spectators. The blind
Louise in the ''Two Orphans" is much
more pitied when the audience can heal
the pitiless blasts that make her shiver
Hence in every large theatre the vino
machine plays an important part. 1t Is
not stationary apparatus, but can bs
moved to any quarter of the compass
from which it is desired that wind should
blow. In the last act of "Ours," every
time the door of the hut opens snow file:
in and shrek of wind is heard. The
wind machine in that instance is placed
Just outside the door and the property
man works it while his assistant amusei
himself by trying to throw his papel
snow down Lord Shendryn's back. Th'
wind machine is constructed in this man
ner: heavy frame is made, in which
is set cylinder provided with paddles
and resembling very much the stern
wheels seen on Ohio River tow-boats
Across the top of this cylinder is stretch
ed as tightly as possible piece of heav.
gros-grain silk. This silk remains sta
tionary while the wheel is turned by
crank. The rapid passage of the paddle
across the surface Of the silk produce
the noise of wind. Often travelling com
panies are in theatres where there Is N
wind machine. Then the property ma
groans audibly, and proceeds to do what
in theatrical parlance is called talking
the wind. He selects a heavy piece c
gas hose, called by stage gas-men ''hexi
bIe," and finding quiet corner wher
there is sufficient space to swing ca
without danger to the cat-he whirls
around his head with the greatest poss
BILE rapidity. This method produce
very satisfactory results-to every on
but the property man. He is long
suffering person !; but the extraction
wind from 'sfiexible" causes him to fin
life tedious.
Every one has heard the starthn
crosb that Ia rroduced when the her