Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-26
WHAT GOES ON BEHIND SCENES
OF BIG PAGEANT SPECTACLE
Reporter. Initiated Into Mysteries of Forbidden Pre-
cincts of Back Stage. Amazed at Smoothness
and Precision of Vast Undertaking.

What goes on nightly behind tho
scenes Of the big pageant in the d.
rection OF the multitudinous details
OF such a pretcntious stage produc-
ton can be only family suspected
hy the spectator ,"out in front" y
visit 10 the forbidden precincts of
back stage and in the wings and
towers was effected. however, by a
Times Dispatch reporter last night.
lie was atle To obtain an excellent
.dea of the elaborate mechanics OF
the Pageant Of Virginia.
The entire production and all OF
it's stage and dramatic pcrsonne.
are directed from two forty-foot
control towers on either side Of the
stage. Each of these towers has 4
balcony thirty feet up. and which
is concealed from the audience. In
the one To the right hand of the
spectators Is stationed the director
n-chief, Professor Thomas Wood
stevens. who. with n perfect vision
OF the entire stage, directs the en-
tire action OF the drama. From the
tower at the left hand of the spec
tators. Assistant Director Howard +.
Smith directs the zones in his area
and supervises the placement of ac-
tors for coming scenes in the wings
in proper position for their entrance.
Hns Own Telephone System.
In Professor stevens tower there
is a big private telephone switch
board. employing a dozen operators.
and which is connected with all
parts OF the pageant lot, even with
the most remote dressing tents.
Twenty assistant stage managers are
ut hack N
the stage and in the wings to see
that the actors (and there are as
many AS l,4i0 on hand a; one time)
are in their proper positions when
the Mage OF the Tower makes his
two minute oratIons describing
events and scenes.
Each Of the I'VE stage entrances has
telephone line. over which the ac-
tors are reported as ready for the
next act. Ten minutes previous to
each OF these reports. cal! is sent
to each dressing tent and announc-
crs there issue orders TO all actors
To report TO the fecd-in Enclosures
one act ahead OF the act already on
the stage. All OF this must he done
with precision and In silence.
From the switchboard line leads
10 the STAGE technical director Da-
vid Gather. so as TO notify him OF
the next shift of scenery. When this
shift comes, il is made almost in
simultaneously as result OF the pro-
visions made to handle the sets on
railway trucks so that they smooth
Is and noiselessly might be rolled
INTO place. Some OF the sets work
So easily that a few men can roll
them into place. but the heavier ones
are moved by the aid of windlasses
Commands "Prop" Tents.
The tclephone commands the small
lcr prop" tents, where the director
in charge is notified to have the
smaller properties in readiness for
a forthcoming scene and to issue
them at the proper feed-in Enclosure.
them at the proper feed-in enclosure.
Another phone line goes to the
lighting director, whose light sets
are all numbered. There are six bat
tcrics. one In each tower, with four
more batteries under sheds across the
artificial lake facing the stage. c.
Custer Robinson. the grounds direc-
tor and one OF the most enthusiastic
and hard working OF the administra-
tive stafr, is the supervisor of the
system and he. in turn. directs each
of his electricians as to tho precise
batteries and color slides to employ
on each scene.
There are other telephone lines
connecting with the bandmaster to
give the music cues and to Walter
Mercer, rhe chorus director. The
naval lieutenant in charge OF the
band is able to give his musicians
the stand by" word of the navy for
each selection. so that on the very
beat the music begins.
The Pageant of Virginia Is the
first theatrical or dramatic produce
ton In America to use tho wagon
stage" to such a. large extent. The
idea was borrowed from an over
seas stage director In Berlin. The
stage sets are built directly upon
moving platforms mounted on rail-