Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-24

and is concentrated and projected through
n plano-convex lens Unlike the ordinary
magic lantern the regulation painted slides
are not used. Their place Is taken by re-
volving glass discs. The discs are centered
above or beside the lens, so that when re-
volving the center OF the radius Will be ex-
posed to the light. Various atmospheric
ent plates. A rain plate, for instance, is q
glass disc marked with concentric streaks
OF paint. The circles are broken, as II
were, so as to account for the beginning
and cessation OF rain drop. When this
plate is revolved in the apparatus the effect
produced is a capital representation OF a
driving rain. The rapidity with which the
plate is revolved decides the force OF the
storm. snow plate is made In the same
manner, except that daubs OF white paint
take the place Of the black streaks. Effects
OF feeting clouds can also be made with
plate, although the latter must be centered
above the lens so as to give the illu-
sion horizontal trend. The fiery clouds
used in some OF Wagner's operas are pro-
duced in this way. 'Rienzi," for instance, Is
made much more effective by the use OF
plates. THE Ride of the Valkyries" illus
trates another use OF the apparatus When
the first rider departs through the heavens,
on the way to Walhalla, the effect is pro-
duccd by means OF plate painted with the
regulation horse and rider. The plate is
placed In the frame and the whole APP
paratus is turned on a pivot. The enlarged
effect Is very realistic. When the
rider passes another plate with two horses
is placed in the frame. Then one with
three riders and so on till the full COM
plement of riders is shown. Many other
effects can be produced with the apparatus,
such. for instance, as a waterfall, forms OF
lightning, a ripple or a sand storm, for
the latter OF which THE Queen OF Sheba"
was a good illustration.
ms
every blow of the hammer produces sparks,
much to the wonder of n certain part OF
the audience The effect is produced
electrically. Every time the hammer is
brought down upon the sword IL jams q
small wire screen against the anvil, the
screen and the anvil each form one end OF
a circuit and the result is a number OF
arcs. When the head of Wotan's spear
is knocked off by the sword of Siegfried the
departure of its magic power is symbolized
by flash OF lycopodum powder, which is
caused by spark from an electric battery
concealed within the spear.
STAGE RAINBOW.
The Liliputians will nave rainbow effect
in one OF their plays this winter. A rain
bow machine is a projecting apparatus,
modification Of the magic lantern. No lens
is used. Its place being taken by semi
circular opening in the front OF the box.
Strips of wire are fixed in this semi-circular
opening so as to break the rays Of light.
The brilliant colors Of the rainbow are pro-
duced by projecting strong light through
two candeabra prisms. The semi-circular
opening decides the shape of the light as
II appears on a back-drop scene. when
the prisms are turned in opposite directions
inside tho box the most vivid colors are
produced
OTHER ELECTRICAL EFFECTS.
The BLACK Crook" will start out on the
road this year with a number of electric
aT n.A Af skA cNrfl fn iu hat
in which Zamiel causes fire to issue from
his finger tips. The result is obtained by
having two ends OF an electric circuit ter
inmate In thimbles, one OF which is carried
on the thumb and the other on the middle
finger When these thimbles are brought
together the result is an arc or flash OF
electric light. The same result is obtained
when the Black Crook signs the fatal COM
pact. One leaf OF the book is composed
OF n sheet OF copper. The pencil used is
made OF carbon When the two are brought
together the result is flashes of light all
over the stage. In Lewis Morrison's Faust"
the duelists who have sword combat stand
upon metal plates set In the stage floor.
The circuit Is continued through metal heel
plates and long wires concealed under the
dueists' clothes to the sword handles, which
are of metal. Naturally when the swords
clash flashes Of fire are produced. In fact,
this will be q season OF much mechanical
effect on the stage. The science OF stage
mechanism is by no means fixed. Even
the stage electrician is very little related
to his more distinguished brother-the gen.
eral practitioner. The conditions OF his
calling are always changing and he may
be called upon today to do something which
yesterday seemed impossible. Yet. after all,
his fame Is limited, for the use of his
devices and the memory Of them are 50
ephemeral that, concealed from the public
as they are. they afford him but little scope
for general approval So much is this the
case that hardly frst-class electrician or
stage mechanic is famous outside of his
own confraternity
THEODORE WATERS.