The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-28

engine to be seen, and as it was ex-
banded to its full length the lights in
the stage grew brighter until the
usual brilliancy a attained. This
completed the climax, and the curtain
dropped. Very simple when you know
how it is done.
THE fire scene was wonderful. The
curtain rose showing row after row of
what appeared to be hercely burning
ruins. These were in reality nothing
more than profile scenery painted to
represent the ruins Of buildings partly
destroyed by fire. They were painted
on transparent drops so that the fire
effect could be seen from the front Of
the house. The effect of fire was pro-
duced by the use Of pyrotechnics plac-
ed behind the scenes. At the proper
moments these were set off. Heavy
smoke and spluttering flames resulted,
as well as a number of explosions.
Red lights thrown upon the supposed
uin added to the general effect. Ly-
copodium torches were also used. The
lycopOd1um torch was not sc danger
Gus as 1t seemed at first appearance.
1t was arranged much the same as the
magnesium gun which I described as
used to produce lightning. A large
ain can with 8, perforated. top is sur
rounded with a cotton wick. The ly-
SopOIluIh is ptdSSu 1llSAuS anu dtCOllOL
run through the wick SO as to ignite
at the top. The torch is then ready
for use. AS the effect of the fire is
heightened by the red lights the can
is swung to and fro by the stage hands
causing the lycopodium to catch fire
and fly off in flame.
Eliminating Fire Risk.
"After the agitation was begun
against the old manner of producing
stage fires, l invented a very simple
means Of arriving at about the same
result with considerable less danger.
This was done by the use Of a very
thin silk curtain, at the bottom of
which strong red lights were placed
to give the color Of flame. Electric
fans were then put where the air cur
rent they threw out would catch the
silk and blow it INTO the air in waves
resembling closely the billowing
flames which fly skyward during the
course Of a large fire. In place of
smoke I used steam. A perforated
pipe was placed near the scene of the
fire and loose steam allowed to es-
ape from the holes. Light effects
thrown through a transparent disk
about three feet in diameter, painted
to show a panoramic effect and re-
Volved by clockwork, magnified the
general effect. This is the manner in
which stage fires Of today are pro-
duced with absolutely NJ danger what
ever.
Next I went q little higher and
produced a new moor The old stand
by for a moon had always beer a
round cheesebox with a piece of mus
lin stretched across the front and a
candle on the inside. AS the moon
rose the box was pulled up by means
nf q r111InTr TN~1r -i~ 49, ArfN H.,
hand was not very sure as Mr.. Moon
often did acrobatic stunts as he very
slowly and not very surely made his
way skyward. When I put on the
play called Two Little Waits 1 need
ed a moon. I first had made a corn
ucopia. brightly silvered on the inside.
In the small end q powerful white
light was placed. Over the moon end
l stretched a transparent piece Of
parchment. In this I got the
dull silvery effect Of m~oonbeams.
This was hen fastened to an invisi-
BILE wire which was attached to a
clockwork arrangement which pulled
it steadily into place at the proper
time. 1t was so real that I had to re-
mind the actors occasionallyuthat they
were not In Central park on a perfect
night in June
His Masterpiece.
"Now, I am going to tell o about
what l think Is the biggest effect ever
produced, and what 1 consider to be
my masterpiece. This was the race
scene in my play, Bedford's Hope. In
his piece I showed q race between a
train and an automobile. The curtain
rose on the spectacle of an automobile
racing a train across the desert. The
train did not move an inch, whereas
If SCANNED IN on o0rnCo tho Sfo 90 Of n
terrific speed. That was accomplished
by a series of panoramas moving at
various rates. Those in the fore
ground moved very rapidly, while
those In the center reVolved slower.
In the rea they moved very slowly,
Indeed. This Was another use for the
transparent disk mentioned before.
The train consisted of al engine and
five cars. While it was stationary,
the wheels revolved with terrific
speed. This was done by the use of
motors and belts.
1.-The auto was built Of profile
scenery placed beside the train. A
smoke pot at the rea furnished the
vapor which follows in the wake of a
machine going at great speed. The
headlight was constructed about the
am as the one on the engine and the
same motors turned the wheels. To
add TO the general IDEA or motion a
ground cloth was used which revolved
rapidly and was painted to represent
the sands Of the desert. This ground
cloth was very much on the principle
of a common roller-toWel moving rap
idly, I had to have the hero in the
auto turn over the cumbersome loco
motive. This I succeeded in doing by
having the automobile built upon NOV
ing trucks. Gradually, rs the people
rose in their seats with excitement,
the trucks were imperceptibly drawn
nearer and nearer for awhile, but the
hero won the ace and the big climax
came to. an end amid wild applause.
at is interesting to learn how les
ser effects are produced. Take, for
instance, the sound of horses hoofs.
The popular name of throwing this
sound in the theatre Is by the use OF
two halves of the shells of a %cocoanut,
from which the meat has been remov-
ed. These are manipulated against a
marble slab in such a way as to
sound exactly like the beat Of horses
hoofs. The imitation can be loud or
subdued, in the distance or closer, at
the will of the operator. ~
when the producer desires a rain
storm he must have a. noise resem-
bling the patter Of the drops. For
this he has again to the USE
full cheesbox. Into this he places a
quart Of dried peas. The box is re-
volved rapidly, and If o heard 1t
from your bedroom you would most
likely start out with an umbrella. The
rain Is produced by using a revolving
no poror,o a q doSprihad for nthor 81.