The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30
SOME STAGE TERMS.
The Difference Between "Spot" and
"Flood" Light.

One of the consequences of the Iro-
quois theater fire in Chicago has been
the injection into the press reports of
the jargon of the theater, readily I'M
derstandable to the initiate, but as
Greek to the average laynan.
For a time the cause of the fire ap-
peared to be the Tapping of a piece of
scenery against spot light. Later it
was declared that the light was
flood" neither term being understand
able to an outsider.
Alfred Davis, the general stage man
ager of the Proctor theater, New York,
explained the other day that SPOT lights
were employed to cast a circle of light
upon the stage where a single person
was to be brought into especial promi-
nence. 1t consists of an arc electric
light Enclosed in a cylindrical hood about
the diameter of a stovepipe, and pro-
vided at the open end with a condenser
lens for the purpose of concentrating
the rays upon a small area Possibly if
a bit of scenery were permitted to rest
upon the hood for twenty minutes the
heat of the inclosing iron might char it,
or even burn it.
A flood light is an arc in a rectangu-
lar box, painted white upon the inside
to serve as a reflector. 1t is supposed
to flood the stage with light, hence its
name.
Bunch lights are clusters of gas or
incandescent lights, either arranged
within a reflector or exposed naked
They are used back of scene behind
doorways, where light is needed off the
stage to represent the illumination of
that part of a dwelling not shown. For
the same purpose strip lights are used
rows of incandescent lights fastened to
which it may be hung to the back of a
scene when required.
Side lights are incandescent lights
arranged on either side of the proscen-
within the arch, or, as was the case in
the Iroquois, they are arranged to be
swung outward when the curtain is
raised.
the BORDER lights are those hung
over the stage, directly above the
scenery, shutting off the top of the
stage. These are arranged in a trough
like an inverted u" to cast their
light down upon the stage. These are
practically all of the lights used upon
the stage of a house, though magic
lanterns are employed at times for the
stimulation of water effects, moonlight
ripples and lightning. The old-fashion-
ed calcium, using the oxyhydrogen gas,
is so seldom employed in the modern
theater as to call for no comment. All
of these terms will be used for the next
few weeks in the reports of the investi-
cation.
other bits of stage jargon will prob
ably be employed. For instance, the
''tormentor'' is the first curtain back
Of the prOscenium arch. It is so called
because the actors will crowd in that
entrance for a. better view of the per-
Torrance, and so torment the stage
manager, whose domain it is supposed
to be.
tervals between the bits of scenery placed
on either side of the stage. These side
places are wings" except when they are
in two parts and hinged so that they may
be opened out and made to stand without
The scene at the rear of the stage IS a
drop if it is merely a cloth, with stiff
fleming pieces at top and bottom. If it is
built on a framework 1t IS a nat ANY
interior built of flats is a box setting.
If a piece of scenery is hoisted above the
stage it is 'f1ied,'' the curtains above the
top of the stage are flies, and the space
platform on one side of the stage. from
which the ropes for. these scenes are
men working there ''fymen." in con
who are grips If there is a second
gallery above the first. it is a ''tieoff
When a scene is put together it is''set''
and when taken apart 1t IS STRUCK
Zines" and there are three to a scene
The one nearest the fly gallery is the
short line" the one furthest away the
lines are tied are ''battens by but the
lower strip to hold the bottom of the
the stage is a bridge" but the bridge
upon which the lights are worked from
| Immediately behind the arch IS bird
cage" It was from one of these that the
Iroouois scenery was supposed to have
taken fire.