An Improved Device for use in Theatrical Performances, Entertain- ments, and the like, for the Purpose of Dissolving Living Statues from View.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for use in Theatrical Performances, Entertain-
ments, and the like, for the Purpose of Dissolving Living Statues
from View.
I, CATHERINE ELIZABETH BISSMIRE of 12 Hardinge Street, Islington, London,
Artiste 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 stateinent :—
The object of my Invention is to facilitate the change of position of figures or
other objects forming part of a theatrical representation and at the same time to
avoid interrupting the attention of the spectators by using an ordinary drop
curtain. By the use of my invention the figure or scene is caused to gradually
fade away from the vision of the spectator until it becomes wholly invisible-at which
point the desired change of position is effected-and then the figure or other object
is made to gradually reappear in its altered position or shape. In this manner a
singularly beautiful effect is obtained and the attention of the spectator is not inter-
rupted but rather intensified by the manoeuvre on account of its inexplicability.
For the purpose of my invention I employ an ordinary proscenium having an opening
therein through which the figure or other object which it is desired to alter the position
of is seen by the spectators. At the rear of the proscenium is placed a staging or
platform on which the figure stands, and behind the figure is placed a screen or back-
ground which may be painted as the proscenium in perspective or otherwise as
desired. Immediately at the back of the proscenium and between it and the figure or
other object I provide two, three, or more rollers above the opening so as to be con-
cealed from the view of the spectators, and a corresponding number of rollers below
the opening. Or I may provide similar sets of rollers on either side of the opening
in the proscenium placed vertically; in the first mentioned case they are placed in a
horizontal position. These said rollers in either position are very similar to ordinary
blind rollers and may be controlled by springs or otherwise. On these rollers, which
are placed one behind the other receeding from the spectators, I provide gauze of
any required description, one thickness of the gauze being on the roller nearest the
spectators, two thicknesses on the next one, and three on the next, or as much on
either as is found best to answer the desired purpose.
Each sheet of gauze is
attached to a roller at the bottom of the opening in the proscenium and also to the
corresponding roller at the top of the opening, so that the gauze can be wound
round either roller, or can be extended between the two, that is covering the whole
of the opening in the proscenium.
Before more fully explaining the action of this combination of rollers and gauze
between them I will draw attention to the annexed sheet of drawings in which
Figure 1 shews a portion of a proscenium having an opening through which is
seen a figure, all from the spectators' point of view.
Figure 2 shews a section through the proscenium, and indicates the arrangement
of the rollers above mentioned, A, A, A, the course of the sheets of gauze by dotted
lines, the figure, and the screen forming background behind the same.
And
Figure 3 which shews a horizontal section or plan of the above mentioned
parts.
In all three figures A, A, A indicate the rollers, B the proscenium, C the screen
forming background to the figure, and D the platform on which the figure or other
object stands.
When it is desired to effect the change of position of the figure or other object,
the gauze is unwound from the roller nearest the spectators and drawn towards the
corresponding roller at the top or bottom as the case may be, until the whole
sheet of gauze is interposed between the spectators and the figure, very slightly

page_text: concealing the latter from view, then the two sheets of gauze are passed from the
second roller until they assume a corresponding position to the first sheet, when the
figure is still more concealed from view, and lastly the three sheets of gauze are
unwound from the third roller, this rendering the figure wholly invisible to the
spectators. The change of position of the figure is now effected and the gauze is
again wound round the rollers in reversed order, that is the inner three sheets first,
the two next, and finally the one sheet nearest the spectators is removed when the
figure or other object is fully visible in its altered position. The whole operation
being performed rapidly and uniformly gives the effect of the figure gradually
disappearing and the gauze itself being practically invisible to the spectators this
effect is very beautiful, more especially if the figure is illuminated by lime-light or
other suitable light.
The gauze is attached to the rollers top and bottom by strips of calico or other
suitable material which are arranged at the sides of the opening so as not to be
within view of the spectators. And the sheets of gauze may be drawn by cords like
ordinary window blinds by an attendant standing behind the proscenium out of sight
of the spectators, or they may be actuated by springs attached to the rollers in manner
similar to ordinary spring roller blinds.
As my Invention is capable of various modifications without departing from the
principle thereof, I may make a variation after the following manner, thus I may make
or construct my improved device so that only one set of spring or other rollers is
required in this modification I place one roller over the head and one at the base of
the proscenium the gauze material passing from one to the other in one continuous
portion, the first length of the gauze which extends the full length of the proscenium
being only a single thickness the second length being double and the third treble in
thickness an so on, by this modification I dispense with a number of rollers.
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
In a theatrical device for the purpose of facilitating the change of position of living
figures or other objects without the fall of the ordinary drop-curtain-the combination
of rollers carrying gauze blinds either in continuous or separate lengths substantially
as herein set forth in this specification, and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 19th day of March 1890
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.