The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-24

CARPENTER AND PRoPERTY-MAN.


Building Stage seenery-Use Of PapIer
Mache-Live props" a Bother.
New York Sun Interview
The carpenters shift all scenes, and set
them according to the plans Of the scenic
artist In elaborate scenes, where ground
cloths-painted floor cloths-are used, the
artist generally marks with lines the exact
places and angles at which the various
pieces of the scene are to stand. In inter
iors, where ceilings are used, the decorative
lines of the borders are the guides for the
walls of flats. The master-carpenter, who
has constructed the framework OF the scenes
is, of course, familiar with the general de-
sign but in the exact adjustment he Is under
the orders Of the scene painter. As before
said, the carpenter and his assistants work
all traps, borders, drops, and the curtain.
In New York theatres there are from eight
to sixteen carpe nters and assistants, who are
known as grips. The grips work only dur.
ing the performances, and receive 81 for
each representation. The master carpenter
has one or more regular assistants, who
work In the daytime building scenes, and
who are paid regular weekly salary.
To the property mans department belong
all furniture, carpets, curtains, ornaments,
and all the small articles used by actors and
known in theatrical parlance as hand or
side props. Among these are letters, books,
guns, pistols, knives, purses pocket-books,
money, lamps, candles, cradles, and doll
babies. Live props such as dogs, cats, billy
goats donkeys and horses, are also under
his charge, and are much dislikei, as caus-
ing a vase amount of trouble. The side
props are taken from the property-man
every night by the call-boy, whose duty is
to deliver them to the actors and return
them after they have been used to the prop
erty-room A good property man is hard tc
find, for he m ust be something of a carpen'
ter, an artist a modeler, and a mechanician.
Paper-mache has come of late years to be
largely used in the manufacture Of proper
ties, and nearly all the magnificent vases,
the handsome plaques. the graceful statues,
and the superb gold and silver plate seen to-
day on the stage are made OF that material
Some of the limitations china are SO per-
fectly done and so admirably painted that
it is not unusual to see an actor tap them to
find out if they are real In making statues
cast is taken from the clay, and the pulp
is then firmly pressed into the molds Life
size statues which seems to be of bronze or
marble do not weigh more than five or six
pounds, look just as well as the genuine, and
re easily and quickly handled. For trav-
cling purposes the saving in freight alone is
great economy. Entire suits of armor and
fruits of all kinds are made Of this useful
and inexpensive material.
In most New York theatres tho property
man has one regular assistant and two night
aids, who are needed to handle heavy car
pets, pianos, and furniture. In the old days
carpenters and property men were often
prone to dispute about the exact lines which
divided their duties. but in well-regulated
theatres the departments are now generally
willing to help each other. Still, carpen-
ter or grip Is not actually bound to put
finger to a carpet or piece of furniture, nor
is property man, even if not occupied,
Obliged to help with n scene Some OF the
distinctions drawn by custom seem to be
singular; thus, a whole tree. II set upon the
stage and screwed to it for support, is con.
sidered part Of the scene. and, as such. be-
longs to the carpenters, while stump upon
which a person may sit is in the property
mans department Again, fight of stairs
is set up by the carpenter, but If a carpet is
put on it, that must be done by the property