Charlevoix county herald., 1912-02-17

of scene painting in vogue at the great studios
which are maintained as adjuncts OF Americas s
leading homes Of the drama and OF music. IN
der plan the scenic artists with their help
ers and paint-miXers, stand on what is known as a
scene painting bridge" This bridge, hemmed
in either hand with great eXpanse of canvas
undergoing decoration presents, at first glance,
merely the appearance of a long narrow room,
but upon closer inspection 1t is seen that the
floor where the painters stand is in reality a
bridge supported mt the ends just is any sus
pension bridge. On either side OF the bridge one
may look down into great well or abyss and it
is into this seemingly bottomless pit that the
scenery in the making is lowered the artists on
the bridge complete the decoration OF one section
Of the surface and are ready to turn their paint
brushes TO a fresh surface. The advantage or
such an arrangement, it will be understood. is
that it permits work the largest expanse or
canvass without the necessity of folding or roll
ing up the monster cloth--something that would
be disastrous a coating of wet paint even II 1t
were not Objectionable for other reasons.
The second plan of creating stage pictures is
known in the profession painting 'on the flat.
Under this system the eXpanse OF canvas is not
suspended in mid air as is done before bridge"
but is stretched on the floor of the studo-a
specially constructed building with floor more
than two hundred feet in length. In welding his
paint brushes the artist literally walks over the
field of operations, taking of course to COM
plete the decoration he progresses SO that he
will not have to retrace his steps. Whichever
method of decoration be employed the painting
of the canvas is only part OF the work or pre-
pairing scenery Frames OF wood must he care
fully and accurately prepared to support the vari,
GUS set pieces and dozen men are all the while
busy engaged in perfectly appointed carpen-
ter shop preparing these iantastic-shaped backs
for the pictures.-the part the public never sees
There are many supplementary operations too
including the delicate one OF saving out the out
line of foliage or stone walls or roofs after the
painted canvas has been mounted on the wooden
frames
Extreme versatility is the first requirement or
the men who manufacture theatrical and operate
properties" for they may be called upon at snort
notice to fashion anything from the calf or gold
to q bunch OF flowers from royal throne TO
childs doll Wood and paper and plaster are
employed for most of these stage adjuncts Tor 1t
is desirable that they he OF light weight. though
fairly durable The statues, etc, are all molded
in plaster and incidenty it may be remarked that
some of these stage sculptors are men or ex-
ceptonal ability. The costume department Is an
other institution behind the scenes that con-
tributes to our modern stage pictures and the
great opera houses now have not only dressing
making establishments of their own, but jeweiry
shops armor makers who fashion the helmets
and coats Of mail and. finally, special bootmakers,
who are adopts in making the fancy shoes ana
slippers that in stage productions reproduce the
footgear of all ages. Finally the electricians lena
a hand in completing the average stage picture.
On the stage of upto-date city theater there
are as many as 5000 ncandescent electric lights.
to say nothing of spot lights that resemble
searchlights and this electric system must be
supplied with different coiored globes IN order
TO carry out the effect OF the white light OF mid
day the ruddy glow OF the sunset hour and the
pale blue brilliance OF the moonlight