Improvements in or relating to Stage Scenery.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stage Scenery.
A communication from MARIE LOUISE FULLER, of 42, Boulevard Bonne-
Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France, Professional Dancer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in stage-scenery whereby new
effects in optical illusions are obtained, and consists of a combination of a number
of mirrors or reflectors placed in such a manner in combination with preferably
incandescent electric lamps, as to produce optical illusions.
For this purpose the stage is provided with a semi-circular background resting
on the floor of the stage and covered in by a ceiling all of which are furnished with
narrow but long mirrors or reflectors so as to give to the background and to the
ceiling a polygonal form.
Electric incandescent lamps either white or coloured are placed on the border
lines of the adjacent mirrors.
By this special arrangement together with the angular position of the reflectors
and the dazzling effects of the illumination from numerous electrical lamps the
spectator is completely deceived.
Although there may only be few dancers on the stage, sometimes only one, the
effect produced by the reflection of the mirrors is to make it appear as if
innumerable artistes were moving in a sea of light.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham,
Agents for the Applicant.
A communication from MARIE LOUISE FULLER, of 42, Boulevard Bonne-
Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France, Artiste.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 present invention relates to improvements in stage scenery whereby new
effects in optical illusions are obtained and consisting of a combination of a number
of mirrors or reflectors. placed in such a manner in combination with preferably
incandescent electric lamps, as to produce optical illusions.
For this purpose the stage is provided with a semi-circular background F which
may have any other geometrical form, multilateral or parabolic, for example,.
resting on a separate floor B and covered in by a ceiling A all of which parts are
fitted with long, narrow mirrors or reflectors so as to give to the background and
to the ceiling a polygonal form.

page_text: Electric incandescent lamps either white or coloured are placed on the border
lines of the adjacent mirrors.
By this special arrangement together with the angular position of the reflectors
and the dazzling effects of the illumination from numerous electrical lamps the
spectator is completely deceived.
Although there may only be a few dancers on the stage, sometimes only one, the
effect produced by the reflection of the mirrors is to make it appear as if
innumerable artistes were moving in a flood of light.
It must be understood that I may limit the arrangement of mirrors to the back-
ground only, F, if thought desirable, thus dispensing with the mirrors on the floor
and ceiling, as well as with the electric incandescent lights, without affecting the
principle of this invention; and in this case also, by means of an appropriate use
of coloured lights from in front, or from any part of the auditorium, a grand scenic
effect will be able to be obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim is :-
1. A scenic device and arrangement of stage apparatus consisting of a semi-
cylindrical or other geometrical curvilinear or multilateral background a floor and an
arched ceiling with a large number of flat glass mirrors or reflectors placed side by
side having on the division lines between the adjacent mirrors of the background
and ceiling a number of electric incaend scent lamps such arrangement giving to the
said background and ceiling a polygonal form which indefinitely multiplies the
reflections of the person or persons appearing on the scene or stage the whole
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2. A scenic device consisting of a curvilinear background of stage with
numerous mirrors placed side by side so as to obtain an apparent multiplication of
the persons
on the stage substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 4th day of December 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.