The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

effects is.sthe beat of the horses hoof afar down the road as some rider ap- breaches and each step seems to be so real that you can almost see the rider urging his horse over the cobble stones and making him gallop faster with each succeeding minute.
 This is done by two cocoanut shells beaten vigorously on a marble slab.
 Nothing more artistic is done in stage mechanics nowadays than the beautiful dawn" effects, which are produced by "dimmers9 being attached to the electric switchboard and the desired conditions reached.
 Disilusioning you say?
 Perhaps, but very interesting to know how the art of man has succeeded in im- itating nature, in the most lurid and won- derful form.
 Even one. who is accustomed to being 'behind the scenes and whose illusions have pretty much faded away with the close proximity to the paint and powder and rouge and other accessories, still ex- perience an amazing interest in seeing from the mysterious wings" just how the gorgeous mineo-dramas are put on
 One is close enough to semi-nudenes to daphanously clad ballet girl panting for breath after a strenuous Bacchanale, or the wild, unrestrained and seemingly in- terminable reyel in the last movements of a pas seul that the dancer may be ex- ecuting, when every ounce of breathing power seems 10 have been consumed and when the dancer is physically and men, tally exhausted. ,.......
 One is close enoug hto semi-nudenes tc think himself almost in life class
 While all this is very interesting it is the least impressive part of visit dur ing a performance, the most impressive being the thorough organization, discip- line and excellent systematic training ol the stage hands, who do their part (Which glaring lettersl, all of which comes from years of training and years of watching and learning and grasping situations quickly.
 Oh, it's all very different behind tho scenes"- nlances of light and shadow-the clever devices of the stage manager, and just as different is the personality of the actor or actress at this range.
 All smiles and laughter, pirouetting about and throwing punches of kisses tc delighted audience, an actress or ar actor assumes his REAL part when the tip of his toe is placed within the wings of the stage.
 Then
 You see them as they REALLY are
 No put on," no smiles, no kisses-un- less they are sweet tempered and gentle and if what they say be true, very few Of them are angelic.
 There is no more important position in theatre than that of Stage Manager '
 When scene is being set or 'struck' every man in the. great corps of workers looks to him. ts
 The stage hands have their "cues" as well as the actor.
 Many of the changes of scenery are made in absolute darkness and the Stage Manager must have his men so well trained that there is never hitch or a miss in the pitch blackness, ofttimes of crowded stage.
 Sometimes a scene must be arranged in less than minutes time.
 Do you realize the import of that?
 The stage hands have their "rehearsals' just as the actors do
 In short, they arc very nearly akin-the people who do the stage business and the actors-and the man who has been behind the scenes for more years than you would imagine is the man who KNOWS.
 At "The Jefferson MT Monroe Meyer las occupied an enviable position since the opening of the big play house F years ago.
 As electrician heAbegan his career, and from that was promoted to Stage Man ager, which position he has had and held during the past 10 years, not only with great credit to himself and all those connected with him in his work, but with credit to every actor and actress who has trod the boards during his incum- bency
 Mr. Meyer. in the capacity of Stage Manager. has had the opportunity to know all the celebrities who have played here in his time and his "reminiscences of the big stars" and their peculiarities and eceentricities would fill a volume of the most readable sort, if he would only write them.
 ''I offieiated the opening night at The Jeffefson,' Mr. Meyer was telling me tho ofher dox ae ho 1;.aotoa .,. changes in the mammoth scenery on tic stage and glanced about at the painters and electricians and other workers. ..'rhe play was The Little Minister No, Naude Adams didn't play Babbie. Erie Ellser played the part, and sweeter.