The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-30
{HANICAL DEVICES
IN BEN HUR
hariot Race, With Sixteen Horses Only Possible With
Of Mechanics Illusion Plays Great Part in Drama
tization of Famous Wallace Novel

III 80 Den fiitIs 1sHSidi l<eW
cos famous novel, was dra-
I'd many years ago the most. seri-
lniculty encountered was the pro
bu of the chariot race scene. AS
h one OF the most interesting
thrilling scenes in the book it
to leave II out of the play would
serious drawback to the produc-
To have "A race across the stage
90 absurd to consider. SO il was
ID to iilusionize the audience.
months of work a mechanical
cement was invented by which
Ace Is given with realism that Is
u astonishing. The horses, free
n all restra int, really gallop at top
large part Of the illusion depends
the background. which gives the
Of positive motion II emhodies
for mounting and driving travel
broi1s at the rear and sides of the
20 as TO prevent any break in
ecene, and this, of course. gives
ndAance the impression of change
bnery. as IN the Illusion the spec
follows the racing horses. At
ar of the stage is an endless
nAnked on each side by smaller
operated in unison.
n these aprons are painted re-
tations OF tf1e background OF
enc. In thM case representing
tiqne circus at Antioch. filed
peetators. Directly below the
n In the electric motor which
ID all three aprons of panorama
operated at the switchboa on
bf the stage manager.
Eithsta nding the fact that the
Nh tx ninety six feet wide and
1--we feet high. the three pam
are all rotated at speed OF
~ per minute. The ease with
BIS enormous extent Of canvas
ven is largely owing TO the
of suspension. There is an
track mounted rigidly on and
rig between the outrirger
res at the two ends. and upon
tels or rollers are mounted TO
the tracks
ke the Illusion complete, tha
has provided exceedingly in
means for representing the
&ausing the chariots to ap-
b le actually moving over IL.
Eliuaon Is affected hy humble
=.
bw tines To represent the ground
PLACED eaEewtSe ON the charif1ss
extsnding across the stage on
hg driven toward the rear of the
riot II appears TO the spectator that
chariots are moving over the
(und. To give proper perspective
|this effect the speed at which the
= ARE driven is gradually decreased
vi a*a ~ Al.
afihg Is provided for driving these
ltA which are aetuated by an tn-
pAndent motor.
We now come TO the charlots them
ves. The treadmills are placed i'm
|diateIy beneath the stage and are
rered by sections Of plankinr which
] removed and carried out to the
ngs when the race is to take place.
sFe are twelve treadmiils. one for
"a horse, which seem to take huge
|ixht In the performance The
Arfots are three in number ard each
drawn by four horses.
The charfoe Of Ben IIur is not
ok chariot, but that of MESSIAH IL
1nged to no to pieces when Ben
X II supposed to strike II, throwing
\ and causing hfm to lose the race.
hoor OF the stage bat are sup.
rted by metal yokes which are not
Heed by the audience. The wheels
J actuated by small electric motor
Iade the body, and can be switched
BY the drivers The chariot OF
oeAlA ii arranged SO that at the cri-5
n moment when Rem Hur strikes
Iasaia's chariot, by dropping a catch,
werful springs on the axle throw
wheels of and the body Of the
Atiot drops upon the yoke which
provided with springs. OF course
~ necessary to make one of the
Artots appear to go ahead of the
Yer. This could. Of course. be man
n by allowing the horses to really
vance. but with four horses this
ght prove dangerous. The same
ans IL accomplished by having the
n treadmills and the place upon
1ch MessaIa's chariot rests on an In
pendent section OF the flooring.
ich can be. moved back a distance
hfteen feet
4 stop 10 provided so that the tread
4 cannot be operated by the horses
the panorama has begun to
Ne and the curtain IL ready for
beatfon, The horses are very Sc
ely fastened so that there Is little
niger of an accident. To simulate
dust raised by the chariot wheels
OF powders Ia forced
underneath the horseu' feet and
Kind the chariot wheels by blower
the cellar.
When Ben Hur'' was first pro.
I'D many years ago 1t was ncces-
n tails had not been worked out 80
"a many years ago those details
! mot been worked out so scientifa Z
N and It was necessary practf-
TO tear out ana rebuild
stage for the engagement and then
e0r0 It. though the spectacle as to
lArify. cost 81 changes, etc. ate up
profits. Now, however, the
Qary ana fixtures nre so arranged
y little extra - involved In ar.
Wing the stage. Owing to the
Nv nature of the settings, two COM
AZ sets are employed; one has been
y Tor a week and an expert has
n preparing it for use. The COM
M = using the other this week
when II comes here the setting
IN use will be shipped to the city
- fha engagement 81 Heek after
y booked. thence to be set up
9yt the engagement here.
.sI