Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-27
Brandeis Theater
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the space above, heightened by the slender
lines of an ingenious system Of electric wir-
ing and controlling cordage operating the
flies. A wooden floor OF wide, roomy ex-
panse covers the stage surface, and, by
the way, this is the only bit Of wooden
flooring in the house. The walls which en-
close the three sides OF the stage contain
only iron, concrete and brick. In front
hangs a stout asbestos curtain Of exoep-
tlonal weight. The stage is covered only
by the roof above, a stretch OF skylight
in prismatic wire REINFORCED glass. In
this covering are two broad movable SEQ
lions which can be raised by q simple
mechanism. thus the stage represents a
space enclosed with walls like those Of a
furnace, with an opening at the top. In
the event Of fire, the only inflammAble ma
terlal would be enclosed there by the fall
Of the asbestos curtain. The sections in
the roof would open and the scenery could
so up In smoke with the audience sitting
before it in as much safety as at the CRATE
fire in the sitting room.
The switchboard which operates the cleo
trical appliances and illumination Of both
the stage and the auditorium is the most
complete yet devised. Row after row Of
shining copper switches and controller
handles give It a most business-llke APP
pearance. The equipment Of DINNERS"
devices for the graduated dimunition of the
lighting current has been multiplied in the
Brandeis switchboard to three times that
Of the ordinary board. The arrangement
permits the electrician to graduate the
light from the palest glow of the mean
descent bulbs to the full dazzling glare at
the utmost limit of their power,
The lights of the theater are wired in a
wonderful system of connections permitting
the ready and instantaneous control of
any individual group. The workmanship
Of the electrical fittings embodies the most
Efficient that Engineers nave devised. The
work OF the theater stage requires a
peculiarly effective system Of insulation
and positive contacts. If a single series
Of lights should fail the picture before the
audience would be spoiled. There must be-
no mistakes, no failures.
Those suspended banks Of lights, known
in the vernacular of the stage man as
borders which hang above the scenes
and from their concealed position cast the
Illumination on the actors below, have
been Installed in doubled allowance In the
Brandels stage. Four border light banks
carrying on each enough gloves to permit
the use of two colors on each Of the double
row Of lights. thus affording eight possible
variations in color alone, have been made
a part of the fittings. with the DINNERS
thrown on these circuits an endless number
OF effects are within the grasp Of the man
who handles the little ebonite levers on the
switchboard.
The big walls above the stage are marked
-. - - 49, = a. -
that lead to the fly galleries and
to the fire escapes which connect
with every aperture, even TO the
topmost. The platform from which the
flies are handled Is a broad iron flooring
some twenty-five feet from the stage floor.
This runway is protected by sturdy iron
ratings.
The counter-balanced hangings above will
permit of the suspension of eighty-five
pieces, 10 the settings Of any scene should
make this unusual demand. Here as in
other appointments the equipment is
planned with a large factor Of safety. There
is plenty and TO spare.
Unique in stage construction is a big
elevator from which an automobile or a
team OF horses, even a locomotive, II the
situation demanded II, can be driven from
the street into the theater and lowered to
the stage. This elevator is a big platform,
about the size OF the floor OF a box car,
yet it's operation Is silent and certain.
The dressing rooms are TO the north OF
the stage, connecting by an ample stair
way. Tho dressing rooms are brightly
lighted and cheerful, There has been
thought taken for the comfort and con-
venlence OF the actor folk there. The star
dressing room ls quite a little palace OF
itself. Each OF these numerous dressing
rooms has its proper appointments and
fittings. The bold concrete walls have
their strength cloaked with bits Of decora-