The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-10

Washington, d. c., Nov. s.-What
goes on behind the scenes in the
movies and the drama is an old
story. but the spotlight is rarely
focused ON the hidden side Of vaude-
vile.
The vaudeville player differs
from the actor In a three-act play
in that he has no manager travelling
with his production to take care
Of trunks, scenery and music. Near
ly every week he plays on q diner
ent stage, with different furniture
about him, and a different ofches-
ira in front and IL anything goes
wrong with the act he is RESPONSE
BILE.
II you watch the stage entrance
to a vaudeville house any Monday
morning, you will see the actors
for the week going In to rehearsal
About 3 O'Clock they begin to drift
| in and wander about the stage, con
sulting the property IMAM and the
electrician, locating dressing rooms
renewing acquaintances with otheI
players who happen to be on the
bill that week. The electrician goes
about jotting down on q Chart which
ones want a spotlight or coloreG
lights, or any ether special eject
Carpenters and stage hands begir
| rolling down drops painted like for
ests and city streets from tie din
upper regions.
The property man has received
in advance from each set OF actors
a plan Of the scene showing wha
properties will be needed. II bus
of George Washington, a red ban
dana handkerchief, or special cur
tain is used in an act the actors
carry it with them. But ordfnar.
| furniture and settings are supplied
by the theatre.
The plan which the property NAL
holds, perhaps, calls for Studio
full stage. Two telephones, tele
phone bell, three gold chairs, plan
lamp, curtains at window TIL
property man says these are ordi
nary pieces of furniture and can al
fbe gotten out of the properly roor
Just off the stage where live
props-those often used-are KEEP
A Hard Setting
The plan for the next act, how
ever, calls for "a colonial kitchen.
, Hardest kind of a set to get to
gether," remarks the property mai
, Have to go up to the store room.
An elevator shoots up to the fit
floor of the theatre, to ROOF
stocked like well-equipped oil | al
tic or a secondhand furniture stor'
He digs out a spinning wheel frol
under a pile Of wicker porch chair'
and kettle is discovered back of
throne chair, all red velvet and gil
paint.
81 made that throne" says tn
property man. took the legs {
, an cid square piano for the leg
, and the pedals for the arms.
made this grandfather clock, too
, and he points to a tall wooden, cart
I 5oard-faced clock, which at a fe'
: feet would certainly deceive an!
. one.
! 1--WE got to get the rain apparatu
. while I'm up here" he humble
from the depths of a heap of chair
and tables. Here it is. You Sc
4 it's a round wooden pan with hant
!, full of shot in it. When you ratrl
it around, it sounds just like rail-
!! For surf We use this wire nettin
4 box with oyster shells inside. Yo
4 rock it steady back and forth
y get the effect of the roll of IL
O waves. We bank base drum fl
thunder. and drop this bucket
q glass and iron scraps for. a cras
: off-stage. To get the effect of a,
. preaching horses hoofs, we be-
4 two cocoanut shells-on a carp
s for turfs, or on a piece of concre
! for street.
q lever see stage books We tai
round piece of wood like a broo
: handle, and split it. and paint eat
d half to look like the back of boo
l. The halves are glued to the shelly
Y of bookcase. Most of our pro,
s are bought, though"
ii A Rehearsal.
When we descend, the stage Loo