and means for Froducing Scenic Enects.
Year: 1887

page_text: and means for Froducing Scenic Enects.
I JOSEPH BUATIER of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly London, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to produce the appearance on, and disappearance
from, the Stage, of what are, in theatrical parlance, termed "Ghosts."
This appearance and disappearance will be gradually effected in full view of the
audience, at any part of the Stage, in full light, and with any style of decoration,
without the assistance of any visible apparatus.
Hitherto the person representing the Ghost has been pushed up through a trap-door
in the Stage in full view of the audience, an arrangement which can only be considered
as clumsy, and one in which very little ingenuity is displayed and also in which all
pretence at an illusion is entirely destroyed.
Now according to my invention, the person representing the Ghost gradually
assumes a tangible form, or gradually disappears from view.
In carrying out my invention, I use an arrangement of screens of special construc-
tion having a shape corresponding somewhat to the outline of the person to represent
the ghost, which screens gradually become visible or invisible to the audience, at the
same time rendering any person or article placed behind them, invisible or visible as
the case may be.
These screens are preferably formed of a number of steel wires of the finest gauge
secured at one end to a cross wire (it may be spring wire such as that used for watch
springs), and arranged at regular distances apart, say from inch to 1 inch. At the
other end, these fine wires are likewise secured to a cross wire. The upper cross wire
is supported at regular intervals by fine wires, or in any other convenient manner,
from the upper part of the Stage, and to the lower cross wire, at points intermediate
of the connections of the supporting wires, are attached what I will term drag wires.
On tension being applied to the drag wires, the screen will be contracted in width,
[ Drine 817

page_text: the pendent wires being brought closer together. Now, if two or more of these
screens be placed one behind the other, so that the wires of one fill the spaces left by
the other, a complete wire screen will be produced.
The effect of the appearance is produced as follows:-The wire screens, in the open
state, are drawn up through the stage. These screens, by reason of the fineness of
the wires, are invisible when first drawn up, but as the tension is applied, the wires
come together, and what appears to be the figure, becomes discernible gradually.
Behind these wire screens is raised, through the stage, what I will term an opaque
screen, with the person representing the ghost behind it. This screen, which is
covered with some suitably colored material, is so formed that the robes of the person
will be retained within the limit of the screen. When the person is in position, the
opaque screen is withdrawn through the stage, leaving the person standing behind
the wire screens. The tension on the drag wires is then gradually relaxed, and the
pendent wires will separate. The figure thus gradually becomes fully exposed to
the audience, the screens at the same time becoming invisible by reason of the fineness
of the wires. The wire screens may then be withdrawn through the Stage.
The disappearance of the person will be produced in a similar manner.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown, by way of illustrating the principle
of my invention, in Diagram, in Figs. 1 and 2, an arrangement of the wire screens.
Fig. 1 showing the screen in the open, and
Fig. 2 in the closed state.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the opaque screen, and
Fig. 4 is a plan view shewing the respective positions of the wire and opaque
screens.
a are the supporting wires, and 6 the cross spring or other wires. cc are the screen
wires pendent from b, and d is a second spring or other wire to which the lower ends
of the wires c c are attached. e are the drag wires. These latter may be attached to
a rod f which, as the screen is pulled up through the stage, strikes against stops g
suitably arranged below the stage, and is held thereby. The continued rising of the
screen puts on the requisite tension, which causes the wires of the screen to approach
one another, as seen at Fig. 2.
The opaque screen h, which may be made of any light suitable material, and of any
desired color, it will be seen from Fig. 4, is formed with side pieces h¹, which are set
at an inclination inwards, so as to entirely close in the robes or dress of the Figure.
In place of the contracting wire screens, I may use a series of screens of some
open-work material, such as net, the mesh of each one of the screens of the series
being preferably smaller than the one in front, these screens being gradually raised
and lowered through the Stage to hide or expose the Figure, as before explained.
These screens will have an outline corresponding generally to that of the person
representing the ghost, but will not have a frame of any kind, and they will be
supported at several points by fine wires in such a manner that no creases or folds will
be made. At the bottom, the material will preferably be secured to a strip of
cardboard, the ends of which may slide in grooves, also formed of strips of cardboard,
below the Stage. By this means, the respective positions of the several screens will
be maintained. In this arrangement of the screens, the tension will be unnecessary,
and the requisite opacity will be produced by increasing the number of the screens.
In most cases I prefer that the screens shall be counterweighted, so that they may
work almost automatically.
Although I have particularly mentioned wire, I would have it understood that I do
not intend to confine myself to that material, as other materials, such as thread, will
also produce a similar effect, arranged in the same way; the wire is however best
suited for the purpose of my invention, on account of its strength.
In most cases, I prefer to paint the contracted wire or other screens to correspond
to the dress of the performer.
I would here remark that I am aware net curtains or blinds, whether of wire or
other materials, have been used on the stage to ostensibly produce apparitions and
disappearances, but these curtains or blinds have been placed at the back of a darkened

page_text: stage, across an opening suitably arranged for the purpose, with the person or object
behind, and the person or object has not been visible until light has been thrown on
him or it from behind the curtains or blinds, but the effect thus obtained is entirely
different from that produced by my invention, which is carried out on the stage, and
in full light.
I am also aware that net curtains or blinds have been used for the purpose of giving
apparent distance, but this again is quite different from my invention both in object
and effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1st. The mode of producing Scenic Effects as herein described.
2nd. The use in the production of Scenic Effects of contracting and expanding
screens formed of fine wire or other materials substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
3rd. The use in the production of Scenic Effects, of a series of screens formed of
wire or other net, or similar material, in combination with an opaque screen, as
described, and for the purpose set forth.
4th. The means employed for producing a Scenic Effect substantially as herein
shown and described.