Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-25

width by sevepty-two feet in depth,
with proscenium opening thirty by
thirty-one feet. Like the large stages
Of metropolitan theatres, the stage is di-
vided into sections, with four cuts or
slides for twisting or lowering scenes and
water effects. Through these slid IS sink
the dissolving views so much admired in
our Eastern theatres. There are two
quarter traps which work with either
spring or windlass, being generally used
in spectacular pieces to throw charac-
ter up throu gh the stage with the effect
Of his instantaneous appearance before
the audience in seemingly miraculous
manner Two large center traps have
been made for raising platforms and
other large objects from the regions be.
low. and they work with perfect regu.
larity. To the back of the stage are
niue working bridges or elevated plat.
forms, that may be set at any angle.
They are raised from the cellar by
windlass aud work on Stats with ratch-
cts. BY these platforms stairway can
be made at the back of the stage nearly
one hundred feet in length. All the
scenery is worked from the LIFT side of
the flies by means of ropes and pulleys,
and indeed the bewilderment of ropes
leading off in every direction appears as
intricate to novice as the rigging Of
ship. There are four sets of double.
pointed grooves for the scenery to run in
and each entrance has the latest styles
of wing. bunch and float lights. Above
these grooves are five sets Of borders,
interior and exterior, being 40xl2 feet in
measurement. Between these are care
fully adjusted four large border lights.
with proper precautions against fire. In
the first entrance is large and beautiful
drapery. 20x40 feet. which is lowered as
an elaborate framework to the scenery
when set. This drapery is fine speci-
men Of artistic work and compares ia.
vorably with the magnificent drop cur
tain. At the extreme rear Of the stage
a large frame, 4Ox2O, has been erected
to raise and lower for artists to paint
new scenes. The fly galleries are twenty
feet each side of the stage and fully
equipped with the most approved facili.
ties for working the scenes below with
uniformity. The rigging loft, being
forty-five feet from the stage, affords
every convenience for the most elaborate
scenery that cau be placed before an
audience. On the opening night our
new opera house will have twenty-five
sets Of scenes, exterior and interior
views. not surpassed by those Of any
theatre in the United States. The fats
are 1926 and the wings 7xlS, being the
usual size now in universal use. The
drop curtain will be worked by an en-
trely new and original method invented
by Mr.. Harrington. and is said to be q
great improvement on the rolling sys-
tenn. 1t is placed in slot at each side
OF the proscenium and by means of a
large windlass in the right first en-
trance, is raised without a wrinkle
straight up into high receptacle on the
roof. There is water on each floor
and the precautions against fire are we'll
calculated to preclude the possibility
of any conhagration. On each side of
the stage six commodious dressing
rooms are arranged, with perfect ap-
pointments calculated to suit the tenn
per Of the most fastidious star. The
green room is on the right of the stage,
just back of the proscenium, and will
be fitted up in sumptuous style.
Herein the artists may view in large
mirror the effect Of their costumes be-
fore appearing before the audience.
The cellar is 72x35 feet in length and
breadth. Beneath the stage all the
novel machiaery of the traps and
bridges is displayed. The admirable
way in which the slides are opened by
means Of leaves and ropes is calculated
to give fair conception Of the artifices
resoftsd to by the stage carpenters to
obtain certain effects on the stage
above. The thirty-foot lights are so
arranged that they may be removed at
any time to accommodate the ball
room floor in course of construction,
which will extend over the orchestra
chairs to the dress circle, thus pro-
ducing as fine floor for dancing pur-
poses as can be found anywhere on
this coast.