IMPROVEMENTS IN THEATRICAL SCENERY AND THE LIKE
Year: 1888

page_text: 1343
I, JOHN THOMAS KILHAM, of Lowville, in the County of Lewis, in the State of
New York, United States of America, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THEATRICAL SCENERY AND THE LIKE, 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 theatrical appliances, and it has particular reference to
movable scenery for use upon the stages of theatres.
The object of the invention is to provide a series of scenes which shall be so adjusted
and arranged as to permit any one of several scenes constituting a series, to be
instantaneously exposed to view, without necessitating the turning down of lights,
or the lowering of the drop-curtain, heretofore necessary in making changes of
scenery.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, is a front elevation embodying the improvement, with parts broken away
in order to better illustrate the invention.
Figure 2, is a plan view of the same partly in section.
Figure 3, is a vertical section.
Figure 4, is a detailed view in rear elevation.
Figure 5, is a detailed perspective view upon an enlarged scale.
Figure 6, is a detail showing the means of attaching the slats.
While this improvement is shown as applied to the scenes of a theatre, it is not
restricted to such use, as it is evident that the same principle may be applied in various
ways, and in other connections where it may be desirable to instantaneously change
the scenic effects.
The means shown for accomplishing the result attained is the preferred form, but
various other forms of mechanism may be employed therefor without departing from,
or materially affecting the essence of the invention.
A designates suitable uprights connected at the top by a suitable cross-timber B.
The lower ends of these uprights may rest upon, or be secured to the stage in any
suitable way; or it may sometimes be found desirable, especially when used in

page_text: theatres having a double stage, to so arrange them that they can be raised or lowered
with the stage, and they are sometimes so arranged that by means of suitable hoisting
devices (not shown), the scene may be raised, or lowered into a suitable pit (not
shown). It is however not thought necessary to show these constructions; they are
simply referred to in order to demonstrate the fact that the invention may be applied
in more ways than the one shown.
C, C, designate the slats composing the scenes. These slats are formed at their
ends with upwardly-extended portions a, and between their ends, with as many of
these upwardly-extended portions as may be found desirable or necessary for the
proper support of the slats. These upwardly-extended portions are formed or
provided with suitable eyes b, by means of which and suitable staples or keepers c,
they are hinged or pivotally hung in position in such a manner that by simply
reversing the frame the opposite side of the slats will be exposed to view.
The outer series of slats C are hung to the rigid supports or uprights A while
the second series C are hung upon the movable uprights D, and the next series C¹³
are hung upon the uprights E.
All of the uprights are rigidly connected together by a cross-piece or cross-
pieces d, provided with a suitable operating handle F, so that said uprights D and the
slats carried thereby may be raised or lowered simultaneously when desired.
All of the movable uprights E are connected by a cross-piece or cross-pieces e,
provided also with a suitable handle or handles G, by means of which said movable
uprights and their attached slats may be operated.
The slats are arranged to overlap each other, as shown in figure 3, so that one
series of slats serves to hide the scene upon the other series.
One set of slats is arranged to move back of, and the other in front of the slats C¹.
When moved by the handles described or by other suitable mechanism, either set of
slats, C² or C² will move to the front of, and completely cover the slats C. A suitable
scene may be painted on or otherwise affixed to the slats C', so that when they are
thrown forward and cover the slats C, an entirely different scene will be presented,
and so also with the slats 0%.
It is contemplated and desired to cover in the following claims the arranging of
the slats vertically, and their movement horizontally, which may be accomplished by
a simple change in the arrangement of the parts, but still embodying the principles
of the invention. An idea of how this may be accomplished may be had, by assuming
the parts in figure 4, to be arranged at right angles to the position there shown; or
better still, by turning figure 4 so that the parts now shown as vertical, will assume a
horizontal position.
It will be readily seen that the parts may be detachably connected together, so that
they may be readily taken apart and packed within small compass, for the purpose of
transportation. Both sides of the slats may be used; that is, scenes may be painted
upon both sides, so that with one set of slats two different scenes may be produced by
simply reversing the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1-A reversible sectional scene, substantially as described.
2-A series of curtain sections adapted to be moved either vertically or horizontally,
and to be reversed, in order to expose the opposite face, substantially as described.
3-A scene composed of sets of interchangeable sections, the sections of one set
constructed to alternately hide and expose those of the other set, substantially as
set forth.
4-A plurality of sectional scenes, combined with means for interchanging them,
as set forth.
5-Two sectional curtains, the sections of one curtain constructed and arranged to
be either exposed over, or concealed beneath the sections composing the other curtain,
as set forth.

page_text: 6-The combination with a stationary sectional curtain, of a movable sectional
curtain, the sections of which move between the sections of the stationary curtain, as
set forth.
7-The combination with a stationary sectional curtain, of two movable curtains,
the sections of which move between the sections of the stationary curtain.
8 The combination with a stationary sectional curtain, of two movable sectional
curtains, and means for simultaneously moving all of the sections of one curtain
independent of those of the other curtain, substantially as described.
9 A curtain composed of separate sections, each carrying a portion of a scene,
and arranged when overlapped to form a complete scene, substantially as described.
10 A curtain composed of separate removable sections, each carrying a portion
of a scene, and arranged when overlapped to form a complete scene, substantially as
described.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.