IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIC EFFECTS, AND MOVING STAGE SCENERY
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY
DRAMATIC EFFECTS, AND MOVING STAGE SCENERY communicated to him from
abroad by James W. Knell of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America, Actor
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th June 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS
"
FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIC EFFECTS, AND MOVING STAGE SCENERY
[a communication to him from abroad by James W. Knell of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Actor]
This invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, producing illusory
dramatic effects, and one object of the said invention is the production on the
theatrical stage of the appearance of a person, animal, or vehicle, any or all of theso
travelling along a road, course or path of considerable length.
It has also for its object the production of the appearance of a race by one or
more moving objects, or of any of the ordinary horse riding performances in a
circus ring, a hunt across country or the like.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a panoramic scene, by
which is meant a scene capable of being moved along lengthwise, so as to
Successively bring into view of the audience the different pictures or representations
borne thereon. A preferable mode of constructing this panoramic scene is to paint
it upon canvas, which being first rolled upon a roll is gradually unrolled therefrom
and rolled upon another roll in the ordinary manner.
1 also provide an endless belt or path such as is in general use in horse-powers
made sufliciently strong to bear the weight that is designed to be put upon it, and
T

page_text: hung in a suitable frame which rests upon the stage floor. A screen bearing some
appropriate representation, as for instance, a stone wall is used to hide the endless
path from the sight of the audience In many theatres it is quite practicable to
sink the endless path so that its top will be flush with the stage-floor, and in such
ense no specially made screen is necessary, the front of the stage answering that
purpose.
Suppose a horse to be standing on the endless path, and a vehicle with an
occupant, attached thereto, a stay cord or chain runs from the vehicle to the stage or
some appurtenance thereof, to prevent the vehicle from moving forward when the
horse walks. (It is to be understood that in actual use this cord or its substitute
is put as well out of sight as is conveniently possible). When the horse is started
he will continue to walk, and the wheels of the vehicle will continue to revolve,
but neither will move forward; at the same time the panoramic scene is moved
along in the direction opposite to that in which the horse is faced, and the whole
will produce a very good appearance of horse, vehicle, and occupant travelling
along past the objects depicted on the canvas.
The principle of this apparatus is obviously susceptible of a great many
adaptations and modifications
It is to be understood that this apparatus is designed to be put upon the
theatrical stage with the usual accessories of overhead curtains, side wings, and
the like.
The motion of the endless path can be made to give the movement to the
panoramic screen and also to move other parts of the scenery or stage effects, as
trees, as may be required.
A wall or screen hides the endless path, as herein described, and the scene
extends well into the wings but to guard or screen the ends and rolls from view
from any part of the theatre, trees or other suitable natural objects are arranged in
the wings to rotate as the main scene moves. They may be arranged singly, or
upon an endless chain or belt. To further aid in the effect, one or more pipes from
a blower are led to suitable concealed positions behind the screen and currents of
air from the open ends turned upon the figure or person supposed to be progressing
across the stage, and the hair or parts of the dress, as ribbons, are caused to flutter
and flap, as in actual rapid motion in the open air.
The board floor of the stage tends to destroy the illusion, if left uncovered, and
to remedy this I use a "grass mat" in the form of an endless belt, arranged to
cover the stage, and it passes over horizontal rollers at the wings, the motion of
The
the exposed part of the mat being in the same direction as the main scene.
inat can be secured at its ends by hooks or other suitable devices that will allow it
to be quickly removed from the stage at the end of an act.
The main moving parts, as vertical or horizontal cylinders or rollers and the
rotary trees, are connected by any ordinary and suitable arrangement of shafting
and cog-wheels or belts.
I sometimes combine the endless path and scenery in such a manner that it is
especially applicable to representations of races, hunts and the like, and for this
purpose the endless path is hung in a suitable frame secured to the stage floor as
herein before described; a windlass of ordinary construction is mounted in a suitable
stand adapted to be firmly fixed in a position in line with the endless path, having
the wheel provided with handles or similar means for turning the windlass. To
suitable points upon the harness of the horse, as the saddle-girth, is fastened a rope
or wire, the other end of which is wound about the windlass. A brake of any
ordinary form is secured to the stage floor in such position that it may be
used to control the revolution of the rolls upon which the endless path travels, as by
depressing the outer end of a pivotted lever whose inner end bears upon the
periphery of the roll. The operation of the improved device is as follows, that is
to say The horse attached to the windlass by means of the wire, is placed upon
the endless path and started. If the windlass is clamped, the horse will remain
fixed in reference to objects upon the stage and the endless path will travel

page_text: beneath him but if the windlass be allowed to turn, the horse will make some
advance upon the endless path and in time reach the further extremity of it.
If desired, the progressive motion of the horse may be aided by increasing the
friction upon the roll by means of the said lever.
By means of these devices it will be seen that the horse may be made to take
any desired position upon the endless path, and I have found by experiment that
he may be pulled back bodily to any position, as to the end of the path nearest the
windlass, after he has advanced to the opposite end.
I sometimes arrange two such endless paths and windlasses appurtenant to each,
and also a panoramic scene behind the paths. By means of these devices all the
incidents of a horse race may be simulated, the horses alternately gaining and
losing ground; and it is evident that the said invention may be used to represent
the well known circus performances upon a single horse, as bare-back riding and
the like, or that races between animals other than horses may be also skilfully
represented, and all this with or without the aid of the moving panoramic scene
hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th December 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIC EFFECTS AND MOVING STAGE SCENERY
A communication to me from abroad by James W, Knell of Boston, Massachusetts,
*United States of America Actor
This invention relates to apparatus for producing illusory dramatic effects, and
one object of the said invention is to cause on the theatrical stage a person, animal,
or vehicle, or any or all of these, to appear to be travelling along a road course or
path of considerable length.
It has also for its object to produce the appearance of a race between two or
more moving objects; or of any of the ordinary horse riding performances in a
circus ring, a hunt across country, or the like.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a front view of a stage provided with mechanism constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the stage
Figure 3 is a diagram showing the relative positions of the rollers and belts
used in transmitting motion to the various parts of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a side view of an endless path and windlass adapted to enable the
alternate progression and motion of a man or animal upon the path.
Figure 5 is a plan shewing two endless paths and windlasses adjacent to each
other and a panoramic scene arranged at the back of the paths.
a indicates a panoramic screen that is to say a screen capable of being moved
longitudinally so as to successively bring the different portions thereof into the
view of an audience. This panoramic screen is preferably of canvas, which, being
first rolled upon a roll b, is gradually unrolled therefrom and rolled upon another
roll c in the ordinary well known manner.
d indicates an endless belt or path (such as is in general use in horse-powers)
made sufficiently strong to bear the weight designed to be put upon it, and hung
in a suitable frame e which rests upon the stage floor.
f indicates a screen (a part thereof being broken away in the drawing) bearing
some appropriate representation, as for instance, a stone wall to hide the endless
path from the sight of the audience. In many theatres it is quite practicable to
sink the endless path so that its top will be flush with the stage-floor, and in
such case no specially-made screen is necessary, the front of the stage answering
that purpose.
g indicates a horse standing on the endless path, and h a vehicle with an occupant,
attached thereto.
i indicates a stay, cord, or chain attached to the vehicle and to the stage or
some appurtenance thereof to prevent the said vehicle from moving forward when
the horse walks. In actual use this cord or its substitute is put as well out of
sight as is conveniently possible. When the horse is started he will move the
endless path and the wheels of the vehicle will revolve, but neither horse nor
vehicle will move forward; at the same time the panoramic screen is moved along
in a direction opposite to that in which the horse is moving the whole producing
a very good appearance of horse, vehicle, and occupant travelling past the objects
depicted on the canvas.

page_text: This apparatus is obviously susceptible of a great many adaptations and
modifications, and is designed to be put upon the theatrical stage with the usual
overhead curtains, side wings, and the like.
•
The motion of the endless path can be made to give the movement to the
panoramic screen and also to move other parts of the scenery or stage effects such
as trees, as may be required.
This adaptation is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 where the wall or screen f
hides the endless path d, as hereinbefore described, and the scene a extends well
into the wings, but to guard or screen the ends and rolls from view from any part
of the theatre, trecs or other suitable natural objects are arranged in the wings to
rotate as the main scene moves. They may be arranged singly as at k, or upon
an endless chain or belt, as at Figure 2. To further aid in the effect; one or more
pipes from a blower or fan are led to suitable concealed positions behind the
screen f, and currents of air from the open ends turned upon the figure or person
supposed to be progressing across the stage, whereby the hair or parts of the
dress, as ribbons, are caused to flutter and flap, as in actual rapid motion in the
open air.
The board floor of the stage tends to destroy the illusion if left uncovered, and
to remedy this I use a "grass mat" in the form of an endless belt m, arranged to
cover the stage. The said belt passes over horizontal rollers n, o at the wings, the
notion of the exposed part of the mat being in the same direction as the main
scene. The mat can be secured at its ends by hooks or other suitable devices
which will allow it to be quickly removed from the stage at the end of an act.
The inain moving parts such as the vertical or horizontal rollers and the rotary
trees, are connected by any ordinary and suitable arrangement of shafting aud
cog-wheels or belts.
In Figure 4 I illustrate an application of the endless path and scenery especially
applicable for representations of races, hunts and the like. In the said
Figure & indicates the endless path hung in a suitable frame secured to the stage
floor as hereinbefore described; and b¹ a windlass of ordinary-construction having
a wheel c¹ provided with handles or similar means for turning the same. The
said windlass is mounted in a suitable stand adapted to be firmly fixed in a
position in line with the endless path. To suitable points upon the harness of
the horse d¹ such as the saddle-girth, is fastened the rope or wire c', the other end
of which is wound about the windlass
A brake f¹, is secured to the stage-floor in such position that it may be used to
control the revolution of the rolls upon which the endless path travels, by
depressing the outer end of the pivoted lever g¹ whose inner end bears upon the
periphery of the roll. Any other device may however be used for the purpose.
The operation of this device is as follows:-that is to say:-The horse attached
to the windlass by means of the wire is placed upon the endless path as shown in
Figure 4, and started. If the windlass is clamped, the horse will remain fixed
with relation to objects upon the stage, and the endless path will travel beneath
him ;
but if the windlass be allowed to turn, the horse will make some advance
upon the endless path and in time reach the further extremity of it as shown by
dotted lines in Figure 4.
If desired, the progressive motion of the horse may be aided by increasing the
friction upon the roll ¹ by means of the lever g'
By means of these devices the horse may be made to take any desired position
upon the endless path and may be pulled back bodily to the end of the path
nearest the windlass, after he has advanced to the further end.
In Figure 5 Ishow two such endless paths, a windlass being in connection with
each, and also a panoramic scene a behind the paths, whereby all the incidents of
a horse-race may be simulated, the horses alternately gaining and losing ground.
It is evident that the improved apparatus may be used to represent the well
known circus performances upon a single horse, as bare-back riding and the like,

page_text: or that races between animals other than horses may be also skilfully represented,
and all this with or without the aid of the moving panoramic scene hereinbefore
described.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim in apparatus for producing illusory dramatic effects, and
moving stage scenery.
First. The combination of an endless path, a moving panoramic screen, a
moving wing screen, and a moving stage-floor covering, whereby the effect of
progressive motion of a horse, man or the like on the endless path is produced,
as above described.
Second. Moving the wing screens and panoramic screen by means of the motion
of a horse, man, or the like on the endless path, as above described.
Third. The combination and arrangement of two or more endless paths, each
having a windlass fixed to the stage, and a wire or cord wound upon the said
windlass attached to a man, horse or the like, moving upon the path, all
substantially as described.
Fourth. The arrangement of the moving panoramic screen, the endless path, the
windlass fixed to the stage, and the wire wound upon the windlass by any suitable
means and attached to a man, horse, or the like moving upon the said path, all
substantially as described.
Fifth, The combination with the endless path, the windlass and the moving
man or other animal, of the brake adapted to retard the motion of the path, as
above described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.