Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-01-26

of scene painting in vogue at the great studios
which maintained as adiuncts of Americas
leading homes of the drama and of music I'm
der one plan the scenic artists with their help
ers and pant-mixers, stand on what is known az, a
scene painting bridge" This bridge hemmed
in on either hand with great expanse of canvas
undergoing decoration presents at first glance
merely the appearance of long narrow room,
but upon closer inspection It is seen that the
floor where the painters stand is in reality
bridge supported at the ends just as is any sus-
pension bridge. On either side of the bridge one
may look down into great well or abyss and 1t
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 fresh surface The advantage of
such an arrangement It VIII be understood is
that 1t permits work the largest expanse OF
canvass without the necessity OF folding or roll
ing up the monster cloth-s something that would
be disastrous to a coating of wet paint even II IL
were not Objectionable for other reasons.
The second plan of creating stage pictures is
known in the profession as painting ION the fiat.
Under this system the expanse OF canvas is not
suspended in mid-air is done before bridge"
but is stretched on the floor of the studio--a
specially constructed building with a floor
than two hundred feet in length In welding his
paint brushes the artist literally walks the
field OF operations taking of course to com
plete the decoration as he progresses so that he
win not have to retrace his steps. Whichever
method of decoration be employed the painting
of the canvas Is only part Of the work OF pre-.
pairing scenery Frames of wood must be care
fully and accurately prepared to support the yari
GUS set pieces and dozen men are all the while
busy engaged in a perfectly appointed carpen-
ter shop preparing these fantastfc-shaped backs
for the pictures,-the part the public never sees.
There are many supplementary operations too.
including the delicate 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 OF
the men who manufacture theatrical and operate
properties" for they may be called upon at short
notice to fashion anything from the calf OF gold
20 a bunch of flowers or from royal throne TO a
childs doll Wood and paper and plaster are
employed for most Of these stage adjuncts, for 1t
is desirable that they be OF light weight. though
fairly durable The statues, etc, are all nodded
in plaster and incidently 1t may be remarked that
some of these stage sculptors are men OF ex-
ceptional ability. The costume department is an
other institution behind the scenes" that con-
tributes TO modern stage pictures and the
great opera houses now have not only dressing
making establishments of their own. but Jewery
shops, armor makers, who fashion the helmets
and coats of mail and, finally special bootmakers.
who are adopts in making the fancy shoes and
slippers thGt in stage productions reproduce the
footgear OF all ages. Finally the electricians lend
hand in completing the average stage picture.
On the stage of an up-to-date city theater there
are as many as 5000 incandescent electric lights,
to say nothing Of spot lights" that resemble
searchlights and this electric system must be
supplied with different coored globes in order
to carry out the effect Of the white light Of mid
day, the rudy glow OF the sunset hour and the
pale blue brillianee Of the moonlight.