The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-05
IN LIGHT
FAST ASHE
TALKS
Stage Director Tells About
Color Control and Visions
Theater of Future.

The Importance of electric illumi-
nation in putting on theatrical
shows was brought out in a &C.
ries Of discussions by several stage
lighting experts before the Illumi-
mating Engineering Society Of
New York. Speakers included Sam
lighting director of the Capitol
Theater; Louis Hartmann, for
twenty years right hand aid to
sponsible for the spectacular light
ing of the Panama.Pacific Elk
position, and Frank Hall, old-time
and one of the first users of cleo
trio lights for road shows in Amer
lea. -
Mr.. Rothafel was introduced by
Al. Powell, an illuminating
engineer, of the I Edison Lamp
Works. He apologized for being
a poor speaker, which was not
one of his talents, he said, but
announced that since the Western
Electric Company had installed a
ttheaters for his use during his
ing rehearsals of music and lights,
effectively in his own theater.
'By the use of this amplifier,
which repeats my voice electrically
to the electrician who manages the
color lighting switchboard" said
Mr.. Rothafel, ST can now sit quietly
in any seat in the theater, in any
part of the house. and paint across
the stage settings gorgeous pictures
with light just as fast as can
talk"
Becoming enthusiastic on the SUBJ
ject of his marvellous work in color
lighting and the delight it occasions
him to combine music and color,
by the means of electric units he
pictured for his audience the the
alter of the future. This, he stated.
would be lighted so that every
source would be hidden, and the
moods and intensities Of color
shades which would interpret or
express the mood Of the drama
or picture upon the stage, would
alternate in such a subtle way that
the audience would hardly be aware
Of the change.
Mr.. Rothafel showed clearly that
he believes there are colors and
their shades and music tones inn.
possible TO bring to the natural
vision and hearing Of man without
the aid of electric current through
delicate MEG hanisEa. Is sI
The theme or Mr. Hartmann in-
formal talk was that every picture!
or scene of a drama is differently
lighted though all in harmony with
81 -
can be no hard and fast rules for
lighting stages or theaters. He
touched upon the lighting OF '"The
ReturR. of Peter Grimm, for Mr..
Warfield and "'The Darling of: the
Gods" for Miss Bates. Special cleo
trical apparatus to contain. lamps
and control their direction was made
for many of the productions OF Mr..
Belasco, Mr.. Hartmann said. He
also intimated that the theater. in
general, is the best, biggest and
most dependable customer Of cleo
trio lamps in the world, and that
its consumption Of current also is
an item of interest. A telegram
from Mr.. Belasco was read by Mr..
Powell, expressing his desire to CO.
operate with the Illuminating En-
gineers of America in the develop
ment of electric lighting and his
faith in the good work Of his per-
sonal friend and fellow-worker.
Louis Hartmann.
Mr.. Hall kept his audience laugh
ng with stories of his first electric
lighting of road shows. In one in
stance he was doing the lighting for
Fanny Davenport, and the only cleo
trician he could call upon to help
him in some small Western city
was a trolley-car motorman, who
could not refrain from stamping his
heel trice upon the floor every time
he pulled a switch at the stage
fohhoord