Improvements in Stage and Scenic Effects for Dramatic Representations.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stage and Scenic Effects for Dramatic
Representations.
To
We,
CHARLES BURKE JEFFERSON, of 175 West 78th Street, MARC KLAW,
of 354 West 116th Street, and ABRAHAM LINCOLN ERLANGER, of 100 East
81st Street, all of the City of New York, in the County of New York, State of
New York, United States of America, Theatrical Managers, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENT IN STAGE AND SCENIC EFFECTS
FOR DRAMATIC REPRESENTATIONS, and in what manner the same may be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained by the following statement :—
Our invention consists in constructing a wall back of the stage, (that is to say a
wall toward which the audience faces) of reflecting mirrors, so that all that goes on
upon the stage, the scenery, and the audience itself will be reflected visibly to the
audience. Thereby an illusion of vast depth to the audience room, great multitudes
of people present, great numbers of performers on the stage and other similar
illusions will be produced, and the discovery of the deception will effect a highly
humorous impression. The wall of mirrors may either be a permanent wall and
part of the structure of the building, or, as will be most convenient, it may be a
temporary construction erected and removed with the rest of the scenery.
produce the complete illusion which we contemplate, it is necessary that the frames
which support the mirrors, and the joints of the frames and mirrors, should be
disguised or concealed from view of the audience. We effect this by placing
various appropriate scenic objects as circus poles, tight ropes, performing ladders, etc.
immediately in front of the said frames and joints. These scenic objects on the
one hand hide the said frames and joints, and on the other hand heighten the
illusion. Since the invention is also adapted to stage representations of circus
performances, wherein it is necessary to bring on large animals we fashion the
extreme end sections of the wall of mirrors, which are at the wings, on hinges, so
that said end sections can be rolled and turned back and leave wide passages to the
stage. These end sections will be hid from the view of all or nearly all the
audience, by the sides of the proscenium arch. We also place lay or dummy
figures near the wings which will be reflected to the audience, and the effect of
these lay figures may be heightened by coloring and painting the front and back
of such lay figures diversely. Our invention further relates to the details of the
construction of the frames and mirrors.
Referring now to the drawings which accompany the Specification, to aid in the
description,
Figure 1 is a pictorial representation of the interior of a house of amusement,
looking toward the stage. This view represents the complete effect which will be
presented by our stage.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the wall of mirrors in a circus scene, and showing
the various tight ropes, poles, and other scenic objects disposed to conceal the
joints and frames of the structure.
Figure 3 is an end or edge elevation of the wall of mirrors, as seen from one
side.
Figure 4 is a plan view, from above, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and
indicating the manner of supporting the wall of mirrors. The hinges of the extreme
end sections are also indicated.
Figure 5 is a detail of a single section of the framing of the wall of mirrors.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the framing of a complete wall of mirrors adapted to
circus representations.
Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of a part of two adjoining sections of the framing,

page_text: showing how the frames are fastened together and how the mirrors are held in the
frames.
Figure 8 is a detail showing parts of two adjoining sections of framing and
mirrors and circus poles to conceal the frames.
Figure 9 is an elevation of a wall of mirrors formed with upright or vertical
standards, but without horizontal frames.
Figure 10 is a plan view from above of the walls of mirrors represented in
Figure 9.
Figure 11 is an enlarged broken elevation seen from behind, to show the mode of
securing the mirrors in the standards.
Figure 12 is a detail, on a plane perpendicular to the plane of Figure 11, showing
the frames and mirrors.
Figures 13 and 14 are an elevation and an edge view respectively of a single
section or plate of mirror glass.
Figure 15 is a detail of framing at the extreme ends of the mirror walls.
Figures 16 and 17 are plan and section, respectively of a device for quickly and
easily securing the sections of mirror in the frames.
Figures 18, 19 and 20 are details of three several shapes and arrangements of
frames, and each view showing sections of mirror and circus poles for concealing
the ends of the frames.
Figure 21 is a detail of one of the hinges of the wall of mirrors, by means of
which the end sections can be turned back.
FIRST THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE AND PLAN.
In general our invention consists in the application to an audience room and
stage for scenic purposes, of a wall of mirrors A, (Fig. 1) which wall A is erected
at the back of the stage A', so that any representation C which is being given on
the said stage will be reflected visibly to the audience A². Thus a duplicate effect
will be produced for example, in a representation like that shown in Fig. 1,
the audience will behold two circus rings, one C, on the stage, the other its
reflection C', some distance behind. At the same time the audience will behold
itself reflected as a second audience in the far depths of the mirror, whereby will
be produced an illusion of vast size of audience room and great numbers of people
in the audience, and of double representations going on upon the stage A', simul-
taneously. To heighten the illusion and prevent the immediate detection of the
mirrors, we place various appropriate scenic objects immediately in front of the
frames which support the mirrors and in front of the joints of the mirrors. Thus
in Fig. 1, poles P, P, fashioned to resemble tent poles and apparently sustaining a
tent T, T, and the performing ladders S, S, are placed immediately in front of the
perpendicular frames of the wall of mirrors A; and tight ropes, R, W, are stretched
immediately in front of the horizontal joints of the frames and mirrors. These
poles P, P, may well be secured upon the frames in the manner represented in the
various details, Figs. 8 and 18, 19 and 20 where the poles P, P, have rabbets in
their back sides which fit over the ends of the frames D, and said poles P, P,
might be bolted to said frames D. The tight ropes R, W, may also be secured to
the horizontal frames to prevent said tight ropes from sagging and revealing the
joints of the mirrors and frames. Any other appropriate objects may be arranged
in front of the mirrors, as V, %, in Fig. 1, and we greatly heighten the effect by
placing lay figures F, F, near the wings at either side of the stage. These lay
figures F, F, will be nearly or quite out of sight of the audience, and only their
reflection in the mirrors will be observed by the audience. The fronts and backs
of said lay images may be differently colored and painted, as on one side a white
mau, on the other side a negro, and said lay figures may be easily placed so that
both sides will be reflected in the mirrors L. L. Said lay figures F, F, will of
course be so placed as not to obstruct the entrances and exits to and from the
stage.

page_text: LHE CONSTRUCTION IN DETAIL.
Having thus explained the general plan of our invention, we will now describe
certain constructions in detail, but we do not limit ourselves to such constructions,
our invention consisting in the application to scenic representations of a wall of
mirrors which will reflect to the sight of the audience, the representations and the
audience itself.
The wall A, is composed of numerous rectangular sections L, L, of heavy glass
silvered on the back. A single plate or section of the wall of mirrors is represented
in Figures 13 & 14. These sections of glass L, L, are secured and supported on
frames which in Figures 5 and 6 are represented as constructed of vertical and
horizontal bars or pieces D, D, which are constructed of iron, and are secured at
the corners of each rectangular section of framing by angle irons and bolts as
represented by 3, 3, in Figure 6, and the several sections of framing may be
further strengthened by diagonal braces 2, 2. In Figure 6, the roof trees are
similarly constructed of iron rods. The framework so constructed of numerous
rectangular sections, each section the size of a plate L, of the mirrors, is held
upright by braces, and tie rods 1, 1, 1, (see Figure 4) which tie the framework
to the permanent wall E, of the building. There will be as many of these tie
rods 1, 1, 1, as may be necessary to give requisite strength, and these tie rods 1, 1, 1,
will have their opposite ends fixed to the wall E, and to the framework in
any suitable manner as by bolts and nuts. The plates of mirrors L, L, are
secured to their several frames in any suitable manner. Figures. 7 and 8 show
the edges of the mirrors L, L, inserted into rabbets d, d, in the frames D, D.
The sheets of glass L may be secured in the sections of framing D, D, in the
following manner. Three sides of the said section of framing are bolted together
forming three sides of a rectangle, the size of a sheet of glass L. Strips of rather
thick rubber d are placed in the rabbets, d, of frames D, and then the sheet of
glass L, is slid into the said frames D, the edges of the glass sliding in the
rabbets d, and being protected from injury by the strips of rubber d. When the
glass is pushed home the fourth side of the frame section, which also has a rabbet, d,
and strips d, as aforesaid is bolted on to the other frames and the section is
complete. When the sections are to be used, their frames are bolted together to
form the wall of mirrors. Other methods are illustrated in Figs. 15 to 20, and will
be hereinafter described. When constructed in the manner hereinbefore imme-
diately described, the ends of the frames D, D, and the joints between the said
frames will be visible to the audience. The said frames and joints will be disguised
and concealed by the tent poles P, P, and other scenic objects in the manner
hereinbefore described. When tight ropes R, W, are used to conceal the horizontal
joints and frames, then the usual horses or supports r, r, will be erected immie-
diately in front of the wall of mirrors, to add to the illusion, (see Fig. 2.) and the
inclined ends of the tight rope may also be represented, as there shown.
The end sections L, next to the wings will be hinged, and put on rollers, 7, 30
that said end sections L³, can be turned back as in Fig. 4. to permit of the entrance
upon the stage of animals, troops etc. Fig. 21. shows a detail of one of the hinges
of which there will usually be two for each section L². D, D', represents the
frames of the stationary and of the movable parts respectively, L, L³, being the
mirror. The hinge is formed of heavy strap irons 28, doubled and formed with
the eye, 35, for the hinge pin 6. One of said strap irons 28, is bolted to the angle
iron 29, of the frame D, and the other of said strap irons, 28, is bolted to the
corresponding angle iron 29, of frame D'. The leaves of the hinge when closed
are concealed by the pole P, and moreover the said hinges being back of the sides
of the proscenium arch, (see Fig. 1.) the motion of the end sections, L' cannot be
detected by the greater part of the audience, if by any part.
In Fig. 9. is shown a different construction of the framing. In this construction

page_text: we rely entirely on the vertical standards D, D, and dispense with the horizontal
frames. The standards D, D, will be supported and tied by rods 1, 1, 1, to the
permanent wall, in the manner hereinbefore described. Said standards D, D, are
placed at proper intervals, and have rabbets or grooves, as illustrated in Fig. 11, to
receive and hold the opposite vertical edges of each sheet or plate of glass . The
plates of glass L, are fitted into the grooves or rabbets, at the top of the
standards D, D, and gently lowered to place. As one row of plates L, is so
lowered, another row is sent down, (see Fig. 11) until it rests on the first row. The
edges as 11, 11, of each plate of glass L, are truly ground so that when the wall is
completed the joints between the glass plates L, L, will be imperceptible.
With
this construction therefore it is not necessary to use tight ropes or other scenic
objects to conceal the horizontal joints. The vertical standards D, D, are concealed
as before by poles P.
In Figs. 18, 19 & 20 are shown various methods of constructing the
standards D, D. in Fig. 18 the said standard consists of a beam 22, with broad
flanges 21, 21, on the front of the beam 22, to stiffen said beam 22, 19 is a strip
with flanges 36, 36. These strips, 19, are screwed to the beams 22, the said
flanges 36, together with the flanges 21 forming recesses for the edges of the plates
of glass L, L. The construction is made very clear by Fig. 18. In Fig. 19 the
standard D, is composed of the beam 23, which has a flanged head as shown, to
engage on and hold the glass plates L, L, and this beam 23, is stiffened by the side
pieces 24, 24, which are bolted on either side of the beam 23, by the bolt 25. The
pieces 24, 24 form the back ledges which support the glass plates L, L. In Fig. 20,
the standard, D, is stiffened by the angle irons 26, 26, which are bolted to either
side of the beam 25 by the bolt 27. The beam 25 is formed with a flanged head,
as shown, the Hanges of the head, and the angle irons 26, 26, together forming
recesses which receive the edges of the glass plates L, L.
Fig. 15 is a detail of a standard at the end of the wall of mirrors. The
standard D, consists of a beam 16, with flange on one side of the front end, as
shown and stiffened by the angle iron 17, which is bolted to the beam 16 by the
bolt 18. Said angle iron 17 together with the flanged head of the beam 16 forms
a recess to receive the edge of the glass plate L.
Figs. 16 & 17 are an elevation and section of a device for securing the glass to
the frames. D is the frame or standard with flanged head 14.. Said standard D,
has fixed upon it the yoke 15, which yoke 15 stands between the edges of two
adjoining plates of glass L. A block of wood, 12, is placed on the backs of the
two sheets of glass L, L, and secured by the wedge or key 13. The figures make
the construction and arrangement entirely clear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. The combination with a stage for scenic representations of mirrors held in
frames and reflecting toward the audience, and scenic objects arranged immediately
in front of the joints of the frames and mirrors, so as to conceal said joints and
frames.
2. The combination in theatrical construction of an auditorium, a stage at one
end of the auditorium, and a reflecting wall behind the stage composed of a
plurality of mirrors supported in vertical frames and reflecting towards the
auditorium.
3. The herein described device for scenic representations consisting of a wall of
mirrors reflecting toward the audience and end sections of said wall of mirrors
hinged to turn in vertical planes.
4. The combination in scenic devices of a stage a wall of mirrors reflecting
toward the audience, and lay figures at the wings and so placed as to. be reflected
in the mirrors visibly to the audience.
7379
5. In scenic devices a framework for mirrors, consisting of standards, stiffening

page_text: flanges on the sides of said standards and flanged heads fixed or secured to the
standards and engaging on the plates of mirror glass.
6. The herein described device for securing plate glass to frames, consisting of a
yoke which is fixed on the frames and positioned at the ends of the plates of glass,
a somewhat elastic back piece passed through the yoke and a key securing said
back piece in the yoke.
זי
2
1001
CHARLES BURKE JEFFERSON.
MARC KLAW.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ERLANGER.
H. B. Barlow,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicants.