Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-09-20

SOME STAGE ILLUSIONS WHICH ARE SHOWN
To BE VERY SIMPLE AFTER ALL.

SOME STAGE ILLUSIONS WHICH ARE SHOWN
To BE VERY SIMPLE, AFTER ALL.
A reporter for the New York Star has in
vestigated, in the workshop of Mr.. Des.
mond, the maker, the method adopted tc
produce the illusion known as "The Ghost
Show" which is to be seen in the varions
museums in that city. In this illusion the
spectator sees on the stage human figure
which talks and moves, but which can APP
pear and disappear with startling rapidity.
Tho deception is accomplished by the fol-
lowing means:
The stage is set in the ordinary manner,
with the exception of large plate of
glass, which is placed near the front at an
angle Of forty-ive degrees, the top toward
the audience. OF course the glass is invis-
IDLE to the spectator. In front of the glass
is trap cut in the stage, just the length
Of the plate, and Ibis trap is always open
during the performance. At the top of
the glass two large square iron lanterns,
with the sides at level, arc placed, arrarg-
cd so as to throw the light on the surface
Of the plate. Beneath the stage is small
5quaro room, resembling large dry goods
box, about four feet high, whose entire in
terri; is covered with black velvet Raised
about four inches from the bottom is =
small stage, around which are arranged
gG5-lights about three feet above il. These
light5 are all under the control of one per-
son, who stands at the prompter's box.
When the illusion or ghost" is wanted,
single movement turns down the head
light, thus giving the lights below the
stage chance to be thrown upon the per-
former, whose image is reflected on the sur
face of the plate glass. To make the ghost"
disappear he has simply to turn thumb
stopcock and the light from above falls
over the glass and efiaces the image.
The performer or ghost" enters tho
apartment under the stage, and reclines at
full length upon the raised stage in the
center with his head toward the audience
and slightly raised. When it is necessary
20 produce the illusion the operator simply
turns the stop cock, thus reducing the
volume of light at the top, and the figure
appearc to stand upon the stage, in plain
sigh of the audience, but is in reality only
tho image reflected on the plate glass.
"Two things" said Mr.. Desmond, ARE
absolutely necessary to make the illusion
successful the man who works the lights
must catch the "cue" at the proper time,
and the performer must be well up in his
part"
"Have you made many Of the 'shows?"
"Yes, quite number. / made the one
in Dunnclrs Museum, on Broadway, and
also for his Brooklyn show. Joe Barry an
Old Bowery actor, is running one of these
illusions in Bridgeport. Would you like
to see the show?"
The reporter confessed to desire for
such an exposition, and accompanied Mr.
Desmond to g museum where one of the
"ghost shows" is given seven times day.
II am the inventor of this Illusion" said
Prof. McGlennon, "and / have here pat
ent and q caveat."
"What suggested this illusion business to
your mind, Professor"
"Some years ago / was out West, and
one day / saw reflection in n locomotive
lantern. That gave me the idea and l
never rested until had solved the prob
LEM"
Following the Professor, the reporter
found himself in hall from which all
| light, save small jet Of gas, was eXclud-
ed. Seated with the Professor on one side
and the armless man on the other, the Star
| reporter waited to see the ghost. Presently
the bell rang and the curtain went up on
the drama of wild Bill, the Avenger; or
| The Wild Rose of the West" The first
act consisted in the wholesale murder OF n
tribe of Indians by q bad white man, and
the resolve of Wild Bill to avenge the
| wrong. During the act the figure of n
young girl, with very abbreviated skirt,
kneeling over one of the indians, appeared
having every semblance of being real She
/ appeared twice, and disappeared in the
twinkling of an eye. The remaining acts
in which an Indian with n strong Milcsian
brogue took prominent character, tho
same young lady appeared, both in spir'
itulle and realistic character. At one period
when her rival lovers were slashing away
at each other with bowie knives, she sud
denly appeared between the two, who re
gardless of her apparent presence, staDoct
through her at each other OF course 1T il
needless to say it was merely the reflection
which the audience saw, but so true was
to nature that several ladies screamed in
voluntarily.