The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-24
MAUDE ADAMS'S STAGE
LIGHTING DEVICE
The Actress inVents a Light Bridge
Which Will Displace FootIights.
New York Times.)

| 1t has just been decided by the build
! ing authorities that the latest and
| greatest of Maude Adams toys-a light
bridge of unprecedented lighting ca
| pacity, costing thousands of dollars
and weighing several tons-is practical
and may be put to immediate use. The
bridge was employed for the first time
in Miss Adams new play, 1.-THE Jes-
ters 1t is a structure unique in the
history of stage lighting. 1t is the in
vention of Maude Adams. Made of
solid iron sheeting, the light bridge
weighs over three tons, and has
lighting power equivalent to 5000 can
dies. 1t represents seven years of ex-
perimenting, study. sacrifice of time,
energy and money by Maude Adams in
the working out of her theory of stage
lighting The new bridge arrived Sat
urday in a sixty-foot car from Boston.
1t took a good part of the day to sus-
pend it above the proscenium arch of
the Empire theatre.
About two feet in width the new
light bridge is thirty-seven feet long.
1t is divided into seven compartments,
and in each compartment there is
great tense, capable of lighting any
given space or corner of the stage with
diffused, evenly rayed light, or with a
concentrated spot light In full opera
ton seven men will operate its seven
lenses. like seven Calling gunners at
work behind the breastworks of fort.
The light bridge has connections from
either end Its seven dirigible baby
spot lights and especially constructed
bunch lights make up an improved
form of stage lighting, because of the
steadiness and immense power to be
had from them.
An operator stands at each bunch
light (there are seven) and, with all
border, foOtlights and striplights ex-
tinguished the stage is flooded with a
powerful and steady light from the
bridge alone. Shadows-the bane of
many an otherwise well lighted stage
setting-it will eliminate. 1t may dis
place footlights. 1t may revolutionize
the entire present scheme of stage
lights.
One man, of considerable prominence,
was in the gathering on the stage the
other night. who knew intimately the
history of this bridge for lights, its
possibilities and its intricacies.
Whose idea is this?" was natural
question.
1.-THE whole thing really dates. back
to The Little Minister and to an in
stance of Mr. Frohman's keen observa-
ton. Everybody in the cast was rest
less, especially Miss Adams, Xhom we
called The Little Lady Nobody knew
what the matter was. But without
saying so, Mr.. Frohman discovered
that it was the strain from acting The
Little Minister for three successive
years. Lights thought Mr.. Frohman
She needs a hobby. I'll set her to
playing at light effects; the very thing
for adding a new interest to this third
year in one play. AT once he gave
carte blanche to the stage manager
and to the little lady herself. Play and
work are all one to her: she enters into
the spirit of the one with gusto that
gives it the dignity of the other. AL
ways an enthusiast on stage lighting,
she took Mr.. Frohman's suggestion
with delight and acted upon it as an
opportunity long wished for. It was
his wise device for easing the tension
of another year in the same play It
was one of those thoughts which, be-