Improvements relating to Apparatus designed for Producing Scenic Effects.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1894--Accepted, 31st Mar., 1834
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by MARIE LOUISE FULLER, of 42, Boulevard
Bonne-Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France, Professional Dancer.]
Improvements relating to Apparatus designed for Producing Scenic
Effects.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to apparatus designed for lighting up the stage from below,
which is more specially designed for theatrical dancing with the object of producing
a particular optical effect
In carrying the said invention into practice a false floor is placed at a certain
distance above the ordinary floor of the stage This false floor is provided with a
certain number of holes of any suitable form in which thick and transparent glass
plates are fixed.
Below each of these glass plates, the upper surface of which is plane, while the
under surface may be either concave, convex or plane, is placed an electric lamp
reflector through the
arranged so that the rays of light are projected by a
aforesaid glass plates thereby obtaining a luminous floor
At certain points of the false floor are arranged one or more hollow columns.
Below each column is placed an electric light which projects its rays through the
same and a glass plate at its upper end
When the stage is arranged in this manner it may be used for all kinds of
performances especially if care be taken, the lights in the house being put out, to
use dark scenery Persons dressed in white and lighted from below seem to dance
not only in the air but also in a luminous aureola which produces a wonderful scenie
effect.
The dancer mounted on a platform at the top of the column seems to be floating
By
in the air in consequence of the luminous jet projected on her from below
interposing between the light and the column coloured glass plates and diessing the
dancer in ample and light garments as for the so-called serpentine dance similar
effects to those obtained by luminous fountains are produced
It is well understood that the scenery of the stage need not be deep black; it
In this latter case the dancers
may be of any other colour and even quite white
may be dressed in black to produce a contrast
One or more of the glass plates may present a very large surface and several
electric lamps may be placed below.
Dated this 24th day of May 1893
HASELTINE, LANIY & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Apparatus designed for Producing Scenic
Effects.
I, HENRY LARRIS LAKE, of the Fum of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the

page_text: 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
This invention relates to apparatus designed for lighting up the stage from below,
which is more specially designed for theatrical dancing with the object of producing
a particular optical effect
In order that the nature of the said invention may be easily understood I have
represented it by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a theatrical stage arranged according to my
system
Figure 2 represents a vertical section through the platform with a column
placed in the middle of the stage.
In carrying the said invention into practice a false floor B is placed at a certain
distance above the ordinary floor A of the stage This false floor is provided with
a certain number of holes of any suitable form, which are fitted thick and
transparent glass plates P
Below each of these glass plates, the upper surface of which is plane, while the
under surface may be either concave, convex or plane, is placed an electric lamp C
aranged so that the rays of light are projected by a reflector through the aforesaid
glass plates P, thereby obtaining a luminous floor.
At certain points of the false floor B are arranged one or more hollow columns
terminating at their upper part in a glass plate P' and a platform M.
Below each column is placed an electric light C which projects its rays through
the said column H and the glass plate Pl.
When the stage is arranged in this manner it may be used for all choregraphical
exercises especially if care be taken, the lights in the house being put out, to use
dark scenery.
Persons dressed in white and lighted from below have the
appearance of dancing not only in the air but also in a luminous aureola which
produces a wonderful scenic effect
The dancer mounted on the platform M at the top of the column seems to be
completely suspended in the aii in consequence of the luminous jet projected on
her from below. By interposing between the light and the column coloured glass
plates and diessing the dancer in ample and light garments as for the so-called
serpentine dance similar effects to those obtained by luminous fountains are
produced
It is well understood that the scenery of the stage need not be deep black; it
may be of any other colour and even quite white In the latter case the dancers
may be dressed in black to produce a contrast.
The glass plates P being of any dimensions a very large surface may be given to
one of them when necessary and several electric lamps placed below
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
The improved apparatus for producing scenic effects in which the stage is
illuminated from below the floor and in which hollow columns having platforms are
used, which are likewise lighted from below for giving the spectators the illusion
of persons floating in the air and dancing in a luminous auréola.
T
001
L
1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, WC, Agents for the Applicant.