The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-29
BEN HUR IS ID BE GORGEOUS AFFAIR Chariot Race Will Be a Realls-
 tic Feature. REPRESEN TATl0N OF CHRIST Workmen Will be Two Weeks Ar ranging on Effect That Lasts
 But Fifty-Five Seconds.
 The Dynamos.
REPRESENTATION OF CHRIST

When the expert mechanics mill wrights and electricians of the Ben Hur" company arrived in Birmingham several days ago they began at once to reconstruct the stage of the Jefferson Theatre for the big production which comes here February 10. Several men will work two weeks to produce an effect that lasts but fifty-fiye seconds-ehariot race-for which 1t Is necessary to lay new stage floor and rebuild the basement underneath the stage.
 The Dynamos.
 Underneath the stage are two dynamos of twenty horse power each. They are used to run the treadmills upon which the horses run, and to turn the panoram- ic scenery. In addition to these power. producers, there is a hand-wheel with which to start the race. Two handles are attached to this wheel so that four men can work 1t. A series of cogs null tiplies the power to such an extent that the production could go on by hand-pow- CT even if the electric motor should for any reason give out.
 The motor and the hand power ma
 
 chinery are attached to the fy-wheels upon which are belts that communicate the movements to the apparatus on the stage. The mechanism of the two cradles twenty feet in length, and fourteen feet wide, and which are movable back and forth on railways is supported by bridge structure capable of holding 20 tons.
 The tops of the cradles are two inches above the level of the stage of the Jeff ferson Theatre Each cradle bears the four horses and the chariots of each contestant On each cradle there are four runaways or treadmills of hickory slats two inches wide and covered with rubber. They are twelve feet long and two and one-half feet wide. On each of these treadmills a horse Is secured by steel cables, traces, which hold him in place and prevent his moving forward off the runaways.
 As each horse galops the treadmill re- wolves under his feet, thereby eliminating the forward pressure created by the im- pact of his hoofs which would force him ahead on an immovable surface. By this mechanical arrangement 1t is possible for the horses to actually gallop with all their speed within the space of their own length.
 Ben Hur's Chariot.
 Ten feet back from the footlights there is a trap in the floor of the stage about 30 feet long, feet 10 inches wide, In which Ben Hurs chariot with his horses run on the treadmills. A few feet back of this is another trap, the same size as the first, in which Messala's chariot races. The first one, the nearest chariot to the audience, is driven by Ben Hur, while the chariot furthest from the audi ence is driven by his rival.
 These treadmills are endless platforms and are not run by the horses, as is gen. orally supposed, but by the machinery below the stage
 The principal Illusion of the production is in the scenery at the back of the stage. This is built in three parts, one di- rectly facing the audience and the other two at a slight angle from the first on each side Each of these are endless can- vases, upon which is depicted the audi ence at the chariot race. Eacn one re- wolves on two huge shafts and the can vases revolve with the marvellous rapid ity of 134O feet a minute. Thus the illusion is complete. The revolutions of the seen cry, constantly presenting new faces, with the furious gallopng of the horses gives the effect of an actual race.
 These canvasses contain 10000 square feet of painted surface. In the last act is the scene where Christ heals the lep- rous mother and sister of Ben Hur. In- stead of having a man made to represent Christ, a ray of intense light is used A calcium light Is so arranged that the light Is concentrated and appears on the stage. The light is so purely white and so intense that the audience can almost feel 1t.
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