New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-04
THE ARTIST IN THE FLIES.
NO SUMMER VACATION FOR HIM.

No SUMMER VACATION FOR HIM.
HE IS TURNING OUT CASTLES. FORESTS AND n.
rERIoRs BY THE HUNDRED YARDS
IN THESE WARM DAYS.
The busiest men connected with the theatricd
,... =, present are the scenic artists and their
s,,.,ort. before the artist begins his work. the
frames have passed through many hands. To oesin
Nth q number Of sewing women are engaged %
sew the canvas together for which they receive
certain amount for each yard. After the canvas
h.. been sewed together, 1t passes into the hands
% ~. .,.oe "a rpenter who has put the frames to-
c.,ner The canvas IL stretched taut over the
frames and glued and nailed to the WOOD. lnis u
a trade in Itself When the frames are ready they
are nut upon an immense frame which IS oehihd the
paint bridge, usually at a great heignt from Inc
stage I'D In the fies where the different drops may
no raised or lowered as needed The paint Drose
across the stage from fly lott 10 ny ioi' On
either side Here the artist IL away from the mad
ding crowd The scenery receives prehmhav
coat Of paint and when dry Is ready TOT 'he o'"e''
ent colors needed in the scenes
As a general rule, the artist outlines the dineren'
scenes and puts In the most difIicuit ana "ehca"
touches and then allows his assistants to MI In ths
-, No "a o,,ded by his mode. which Is set In
oorn,ete stage by Itself. One artist In an uptown
theatre has q small room in the flies where ne puda
his models on small scale, and mas comp'e.s
electric light apparatus. by when ne can Judge Inv
effect of the different coored lights on MS mo"eis
This Is a great help to him in his WORK Inc paint
bridge is usually crowded with pots oi paint cru ZIG
uninitiated would wonder how the artist cou'u oso
ro,,rd without sending a few OF them on to the
stage below. 49,.
old Standard Theatre before 1t was burned down. INC
dres sing-rooms OF the chorus were on ieVei WIN
the fly loft. and occasionally the oridge was uSeu
nv tho chorus people who had to make an entrances
~ ~. onno.,te side of the stage. Instead OF going
into the cellar under the stage they TOOK this cross
One night one of the girls did not heed the flight
NJ time until she recalled TO her senses oy 'h'
sound OF the music which was her cue to go on mo
stage She rushed through the fly loft and over 'he
paint bridge not needing the paint pots with wnicn
4, was covered Away went the young woman IN
a heep on the floor of the bridge. luckily escaping
the fate Of two pots Of paint wnich iei 10 inc
stage below, completely delugng super VINO "as
awaiting his cue to 90 on the stage Inc accioens
was seen by some OF the gallery urchins. VINO SET
I'd a shout Of delight. After that accident the painl
bridge was the sacred property Of the scenic artist
He Is often interrupted in his work. when renears
saIs are going on for while the frame Is being low.
cred II makes a horrible noise. which naturally IN
terferes with the work OF the actors
ooh say I'D there won't you give us chance 70
minutes until we get through this scene and then
YOU car make all the noise you want are common
cries Sometimes the assistant. whose WORK is 70
run the windlass, pays no attention 10 the cansI
from below, and goes right ahead, making ali 'hs
noise possible until the stage manager In Despair
mounts 10 the paint bridge and in forcible language
commands the young man TO desist' this ne ooes
after growing and grumbling at the delay.
After the scenery has been painted II goes oac1
into the hands Of the stage carpenter ana MS men.
In a wood scene rural scene there Is great deas
OF cutting out to be done. The leaves and orancnes
are cut away from the canvas which has not Deem
painted
After the properties have been made-they ara
usually OF papier- ma he-they are sent up 10 the
paint bridge to be touched up with coat or pant
The stage cloths carpets are also painted oy tne
artist The getting up Of the scenery is the most
expensive part OF production 1t Is no wonoes
that q anager is chary Of putting on a new piece
The great cost incurred before the curtain goes up
makes him hesitate about engaging In venuus
which the audience may find dull
The most expensive scene drop is one which re-
auires a number Of faces painted on It, to represent
an audience for instance. Here the services OF
portrait painter are generally called in ana eaca
face actually likeness or course the f faoet
The are not as e ar tne ray
ling. the scenery Is not thing OF beauty. -, ~
PLAYED second season. the scenery goes back into
the hands OF the scenic artist ana stage ca,peness
10 DC old scenery bought by small
ayers to whom scenery IL only secondary cohs'u-
Grafton. In one-nlght towns 1t ~ often puzzle 20
find out where the actors are az Inc oasH u,SS
foreground Is English inn. The properties ussH
have nothing to do with the case but they he'p
TO ill up the stage. l., l., .,,, . ta,.
tered condition when returns AFTER tSe to the
stage carpenter, who travels with the company ~
In New-York may be found wagons especially pulis
Tar trasn IN OF
have these wagons. -. s.SLrg
When Rob Roy" was its travels last spring,
the scenery was being cared from the theatre TO inc
railroad station. The wagons used were nor lons
enough carry the scenery properly ana tne towes
OF Sterling Castle hung way out OF the oack o. s
the stage carpenter to despair. until happy de-
struck him. He borrowed wheelbarrow, ana t.en
hired sturdy boy TO follow the wagon with tne ~
worked beautifully for few blocks until the ~
got tired He demanded his pay, and SAID inc ww
was too hard He could not be induced 70 resuhht o
the Journey. Again the stage carpenter pu. on ne
tbinkng can Come boys, let's have drink, ~.
said to the employees. All retired to the nearer nan
ROOM and when they returned each and every "i ~
perfectly willing to carry tho 'o~e' ""
shoulders down to the train. ,u nh.
All OF the big railroads have cars espechuy ao III
ed for the transportation OF scenery rranys I'm.
son rents a whole house for the storage OF NJ 80
tunes etc. Of all his operas from The Oolah az
frst production to the Devils Deputy. In case ..
accident by fire railroad disaster. he Will nor
n few weeks of rehearsals OF one OF his formse.,
opercs The final resting place OF all the beautitw
grottos bathrooms etc. IL the furnace In the po'S
er-room down In the cellar OF the theatre.
so BADLY SCARED SHE COULD NOT scR5A1
.,orday pornins Mrs Jose