US1428008A - Method of and apparatus for producing transformation effects - Google Patents

Description

. R. M. CRAIG. METHOD 0F AND vAPPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TRANSFORMATION EFFECTS.

Arr-"LICATION FILED JUNE I l, 1919.

Za vez: Qn

Rg M. CRAIG. METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS4 FOR PRODUICNG TRNSIYOFIIJI'SOIQ SFICZ APPLICATION FILED IuNE II, I9I9.

Pm'cented Sep?,t

R. M. CRAIG.

ajiet JF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUClNG TRANSFORMATION EFFECTS. APPLIcATmN FMD JUNEHs 1919.

' Patenasept. 5, 1922.v

s sains-snm a.

lial'entetl Sept. 5, v1922.

RICHARD M. CRAIG, F SN ANTONIO, TEXAS.'

METHOD. OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TRANSFORMATION EFFECTS.

Application iled June 11, 1919.v Serial No. 306,507. v

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. CRMG, a citizen of the United States, residlng at San Antonio, inthe county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Methods of and Apparatus for Producing Transformation Effects, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to a methbd of and apparatus for producing transformation effects, the invention being applicable to stage scenes, stage settings, the production of apparitions, illusions, changes in the form, shape, size, condition, location, etc. of performers or other animate objects or of iny animate objects and to crazy house transformation effects.

In the production of plays or vaudeville sketches, it not infrequently happens different scenes of action should follow one another in close sequence inorder that the continuity of the plot of the play or sketch will not interrupted. Up to the presenttime, in changing from one scene of action to another, it has been necessary to resort .either to the use of drop curtains, as for example in changing from an interior scene to a street scene, and then probably back to a differ-ent interior scene, or todarken the stage for the length of time required to make the necessary shifts of. scenery. In either event there is a suspension of action for a longer or shorter period of time which interrupts the train of thought and is therefore annoying and disconcerting. Furthermore, even though the stage be momentarily darkened to permit of a shifting ofthe scenery, the darkness is'never so complete as to entirely conceal the movements which take place and there is almost invariably some attendant distracting noise incident to the shifting of the scenery. Of course, where a scenic curtain is employed for thepurpose of effecting a change in scene, the change and the means whereby it is brought about is clearly visible so that the smoothness of action of the play is disturbed by the extraneous mechanical factor introduced. As applied to transformation changes in stage scenic effects, it is therefore an object of the present invention to evolve a method-whereby such changes may be effected instantly, noiselessly, and without the actual shifting of scenery or the raising or lowering of scenic curtains.

Amother object of the invention is to f evolve a method whereby asmany as six dllferent changes in scenic effects may be brought about in the advantageous manner mentloned above-so that it is probable that in acting some plays, a-single setting ofthe stage may be all that is required during the evolve a method whereby changes in sceniceffects may be produced in the manner stated accompamedby illumination o f the stage setting 1n light of different colors each appropriate for the particular. scenic effect to be produced. Thus while the carrying out of the method of the invention is dependent upon iooding-of the stage settings in light of different colors to produce the changes in the scenic effects, it is practicable to so balance the colors selected that each will be appropriate for the particular scenic e'ect produced lwhen the stage setting is illuminated by light of that particular color.

In vaudeville work various crude attempts havebeen made to bring about transformation effects while the performers are acting their parts. For example a dancer, tightwire performer, trapeze performer, and the like, may effect a change of costume in full view of the audience so as to bring about the pleasing effects which might be expected ffrom the exhibition of a variety of costumes. Heretofore, however, this has been accomdancing or other performing movements. It J is therefore also an object of `the'inve'ntion,

to evolve al method ,whereby k.traiis formation effects'ofthis nature may be brought.' about instantaneously, without any 'actual removal or donning of costumes, ajnd'without l,

any interruption whatsoever in the dancing' or other performing movements. isossible, as will presently be more specifi- Thus it cal y pointed out, to not only e'ect the appearance of a lcom lete change in costume of a performer, as or example the complete removal of a skirt dancers costume from a dancer leaving the dancer apparently in tights, butalso to bringabout the appearon the tight-wire into a performing skele-.

ton, the apparent transformation of a performed of stout built to one of slim'built, etc.

In the operation of that class of amusement device commonly known as crazy houses attempts have been made to bring about transformation illusions but usually by some mechanical means more or less liable to result in injury to the spectators. Furthermore, where such illusions are brought about by mechanical means the effect of mystification which is intended to be produced, is greatly lessened unless thefunctioning of suchl means is completely concealed or otherwise rendered unnoticeable.

Furthermore, where mechanical means are employed for bringing about, for example, confusing changes in the surroundings within a room of such an amusement house, any change or variation in the order or arrangement of the surroundings cannot be effected except at a considerable cost. For example, if in a room of such a house mechanical means is provided for movin a chair from one place to another, the vchair must always move between its two determined positionsand if it is to be .moved between any other two positions, the mechanical 'means for moving the chair must be rearranged or some other more or less expensive means must be resorted to for bringing about the desired variation. It is therefore also an object of` the present invention to evolve a method whereby the surroundings in an amusement house of this class may be caused to apparentlyv move about in a most mysterious manner, appear and disappear, chan e their shape, change'; their size, or gto t rough various other changes in location, form, and

the like, without the employment of anyV mechanical means whatsoever.

In'connection withj' the foregoing it is also an object of the invention to 'evolve a method whereby' various articles of furniture or other objects constituting the surroundings in such a room, may be caused to apparently appear and disappear, instantly move from one place, to another, or apparently go through various other mystifying changes, even' though the spectators should actually move the articles about in endeavors to ascertain the nature of the means whereby the illusions are brought about. I

Where illusions ofthe nature mentioned above Vare brought about by mechanical earns, the number of changes which may be brought about or apparently brought 'about in the location, position, or condition of objects is necessarily limited. Thus if a change is to be brought about or apparently brought about in the location of a chair, for example more or less complicated mechanism would be necessary even to effect a movement of the chair between two positions. .A movement of the chair from one lposition to a second position and then .to av third position would, of course, necessitate the employment of an even more complicated mechanism. Therefore, it is a further object of the invention to evolve a method whereby, without the employment of any mechanical means whatsoever, there may apparently be brought about as many as twelve different changes in position of a chair or other object.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a scenic curtain which is to be employed in the carrying out of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view through a portion of the curtain;

Fig. 3 is a front View of another curtain;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a dancer and manner in which the apparent change in costume may be effected;

Fig. 5 is a View similarto Fig. 4 illustrating the manner in which a performer may apparently be transformed into a skeleton;

Fig. 6 is a'view showing the interior o f a room of a crazy house and illustrating the manner in which various transformationl changes may be brought about. a

Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate they applicability of the invention in effecting ychanges in stage scenery and while'` in "the two specific examples lllu'strated and to be hereinafter described, the scenery is in the nature of a full width and full length scenic curtain, it will be understood thatfv'arious other surfaces may be employed,vgzasf{f or example, a wing, {iat or thelike. fInFi'gs. 1 and 2 the numerals 1 indicatesV infgener'al a scenic curtain of any desired dimensionsV and which curtain is'of two ply form comprising a ply or sheet 2 of cloth preferably white in color and transand which constitutes a difi'ractive medium under conditions which will presently be described. The two component parts of the curtain are disposed face to face with the sheet 3 facing the front of the stage so that the curtain may be illuminated by light rays transmitted through the sheets 2 and 130 as for example,the colors just mentioned.

For example a street scene and a railway station scene might be painted in indiscriminate relation. to -veach other upon the sheet 2, and upon the sheet 3 might be depicted a landscape and a scene represent- -ing a country home.

By any suitable arrangement of electric bulbs or other illuminating devices, the Acurtain is adapted to be flooded from the rear selectivelyfwith ,light of colors complemental to the colors of the scenes painted upon the sheet 2, and from the front with light of colors complemental to the colors of the scene upon the sheet 3. For exam le, as indicated'more or less` diagrammatica ly in Fig.l2 of the drawings, yellow lights 4 and blue lights 5 may be arranged at the rear side of the curtain 1, and yellow lights 6 and blue lights 7 may-be arranged at the forward side of the said curtain.

In the arrangement above described, when the curtain is illuminated by the yellow SiO lights 4 the scene in yellow upon the sheet 2 will be absorbed but the scene in blue upon the said sheet will be rendered visible, the light rays in this instance passing through the sheets 2 and 3. Likewise when the curtain is illuminated by the blue lights 5, the scene inl/blue upon the sheet 2 will .be absorbed and the scene in yellow will be displayed.y nfboth of these instances the transmitted light rays passing through the sheet 3 will wash out orrender indistinguishable-the lscenes upon the said vsheet 3` due to the diffractive. nature of the sheet. Consequently either scene upon the sheet 2 may be displayed by fioodingfthe curtain with light from the bulbs at the rear thereof and which; bulbs are of colors com lemental to the color of fthescene to be isplayed. When 'the yellow lights 6 are turned on,

the front and the lightrays will be relected from;` the surface of the sheet 2 through the sheet 3 thus washing out the .scene in yellow upon the said sheet 3 and eX- posing to view the scene in blue. On the other hand when the curtain is illuminated by the blue .light 7, the scene in blue upon the said sheet 3 will be washed out and the scene in yellow will be exposed.

It will be understood from the foregoing that an instantaneous change in Likewise the in three different colors.

scenic effects may be produced .by a selective use of the lights 4, 5, 6 and y7, the changes being effected in a noiseless manner `and without any interruption` in the acting of the plays.

By a careful selection of colors, two selected complemental colors may be employed at the rear of the curtain and two different complemental colors may be employed at the Jfront of the curtain. Of course, when the curtain is illuminated with yellow light, a daylight effect will be produced and when illuminated with blue light, a moonlight or night eect will be produced. Of course, by a judicious selection of colors, other effects may be produced, as for example a sunset effect by the employment ofred lights.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the numeral 8 indicates in general a scenic curtain upon the face of which are painted, indiscriminately with relation to eachother, three different scenes, as for example a water scene, 'a landscape, and a village scene, these scenes being respectively For example, the water scene may be painted in peacock green, the landscape in magneta, and the village scene in'yellow. All three scenes are painted upon one side of the curtain and either upon the front or rear side thereof. In order to provide for illumination of the curtain so as to selectively expose the scenes,

yany suitable illuminating devices may be employed and'in Fig. 3- the numerals 9, l0 and 1l indicate electric lamps which are colored respectively dark red, blue inclining to violet, and yellowish green. Various other selections Yor colors will serve incarrying out the invention and. the selection just stated is, of' course, to be considered only` as an example. The principle involved, however, is that by a proper selection of colors,

illumination of the curtain in light ofone color will serve to wash-out two of the scenes upon the curtain, exposing to view the third scene. Thus each of the curtain illuminating lamps`9, l0 and 11 is of a color complemental or substantially'comp-lemental to the color in which. one of. the scenes upon the curtain is painted whereas this color is c apa- -ble of absorbing or washing out the 'colors in which the remaining two scenes are painted For example, when the curtain is illumithe curtain willbe Hooded withlight from--nated by the lamp'y 9, thelandsca-pe in ma- ,'genta and the village scene in yellow will be absorbed or washed out but the water scene which is in peacock green, will be exposed arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an instantaneous change in scenic effect may be produced merely by the selective flashing ron of the lights 9, 10 and 11.

Figs. 4land 5 of the drawings illustrate the adaptation of the invention to vaudeville work. In Fig. 4 for example, a dancer will be dressed in green tights and in a red dancing costume, the latter some thin and translucent or semi-transparent cloth or other material. By an arrangement-of footlights or other illuminating means, the dancer fis to be flooded selectively with light of different colors. For example in Fig. 4l of the draw- -ings the numerals 12 and 13 indicate electric bulbs which are respectively red and green. When the green light 13 is in use, the dancer will appear clothed in the dancing costume for the reason that the color of this garment is complemental to the color of the light l rays given off by the said lamp 13. While labsorb the red of the dancing'costume apparently causing this garment to completely disappear. Gf course by extinguishing the lamp 12 and again flashing on the lamp 13 the garment may be instantly brought back intoview. 1

ln Fig. 5 of the drawings there is shown a performer, as for example a tight-wire walker, strong man, acrobat or -,the like either painted or clothed in one of the primary colors, as for example green and also having painted upon him or upon his costume, in the complementary color, as for example green, the representation of the frame of a skeleton.` Lampslll and 15, respectively red and green in color, are provided for selectively flooding the performer with light of these two colors and when the red lamp 14: is in use, the performer will appear in his normal condition and stature. However, when the green lamp'15 is flashed on, the green upon the performer or his costume will be absorbed and only the red coloring will b`e visible so that the performer will appear to have been instantantly changed'into a skeleton, meanwhile uninterruptedly going through -his performance.

l F 6 of the drawings illustrates one mode of application of the invention in obtaining transformation efiects in vcrazy houses and like places of amusement. In this figure there is represented the interior of a room having various pictures 16 upon its walls some of which may be for example in peacock green, others in magenta, and others in yellow; a plurality of windows, as for example three, indicated by the numeral 17, may be painted upon one of the walls, he frame of one Window being, for example,

in magenta, and that of the third window in yellow; one wall or a ortion thereof may be left plain except for the image of a dragon or other animate thing inclined to inspire fear; an image or representation of a prison door, 19, may be painted upon one wall of the room in one color, as for eX- ample peacockgreen, an image 2O of a tall person may -be painted as though behind the bars of the door in another coloras for example magenta, and arrimage 21 0f a short person may likewise be painted as though behind the bars of the door in a third color, as for example yellow. Likewise the various articles of furnishing such for example vas the chairs 22, the tables 23 and 24, the couch 25, rugs 26 and 27, etc. which are actually arranged within the room may be painted in different colors, some for example in peacock green, others in magenta. and others in yellow; and, a portion of the'lioor may 'be covered with a rug 28 having design 0f one kindin peacock green, a design of another kind in magenta, and a design of a third kind in yellow, the remainder of the floor, for example that `portion in front of the representation of the cell door 19, being, if desired, painted to resemble bricks of various sizes or shapes as indicated by the nu# meral 29, those of one size or shape being represented in one color, those of another size or shape ina second color, and those of a third size or shape being represented in a third color. Arranged about the ceiling or in any other convenient place or places about the room are illuminating devices, such' for example as electric lamps 30, 31 and 32,these lamps being, for example, respectively dark red, blue inclining to violet, and yellowish green. From what has been stated before it will be understood Athat when the lamps 30 are, for example, flashed on, all of the obpects of the room which are in peacock green will be brought to view and clearly distinguishable but all other objects, in magenta and yellow, will be rendered invisible. Like? wise when the lamps 3l are flashed on, all of the objects in yellow will be rendered visible and all of the other objects in peacock green and magenta will be rendered invisible, and when the lamps 32 are ashed on, all objects in magenta will be visible and all other objects which are in peacock green and yellow will be rendered invisible. Thus, by flashing on and ofi" the lights 30, 31 and 32, in a regular or irregular order, the objects and 'furnishings within the room and Y the images-upon the walls will be caused to appear and disappear, to shift or'jump about from place to place, or to become transformed in various mysterious manners. The several features illustrated in Fig. 6 are caused to be taken merely as an example of several of an unlimited number of possible 130 arrangements which might be made. Of course, furthermore the particular idea involved is not limited to association with a room provided with ordinar furnishings, as the idea might be extende to the rep-resentations of the interiorof caves, submarine caverns, etc.

It will be understood, furthermore, that y the methods of the invention are applicable in effecting the appearance 'of transformation of both animate and inanimate objects. Havin thus described the invention, what is claime as new is: l. The 'method of effecting the appearance of transformation of animate and inanimate objects which comprises representing theobject per sein different colors in its different forms and displaying the object successively in the resence of dierent light media each capa le of absorbing all but a respective one ofthe colors in vwhich the object is-represented.

2. The method of effecting the appearance of transformation vof animate and inani- `mate objects which comprlses representing one portion of an object per se in one color,

dis-

ence of different colored light media each capable of absorbing a respective one of the colors. v j

.3. The method of effecting the appearance of transformation of animate and-inanimate objects Whichy comprises representing the object per se in one condition in'one color and inanother conditionin another color, andl displayingy the object successivel in the presence iof diiferent..colored lig tmedia each capable of absorbing a v respective one of iths. colors'finwhich theobjectis represeneb of transformation of an assemblage of objects which comprises representin 4the objectsl per se in dlfie'rent colors, an displaylng the objects successively in the'fpreselce Iof different colored light media each capable of absorbing al1 but a respective'fone of the rst1mentionedcolorsf 5. The method ofeifecting-'theiappearance of transformation of an assemblage of ob'- jects which comprises representing one object per se in one-color and .another object perse in another color, and displaying the lucent scenic surface, the representation ofdifierent scenes in different colors upon a difi'ractive scenic surface in juxtaposition to.e

the first mentioned surface to receive light reflected therefrom', illuminating the scenic surface by light rays of different colors transmitted' through 4the first mentioned scenic surface and each capable of absorbing one of the first mentioned colors, and dis-v playing the difi'ractive scenic surface in light rays of different colors by reflection, each capable of absorbing one of the first mentioned colors.

7 The method of effecting the appearance of transformation of animate objects which comprises representing the object per se by the actual coloring thereof or by costume, in different colors in different forms, and dis-` playing the object successively 1in the presence of different colored light media each capable of absorbing all but a respective one of the colors in which the object is re-pre-` sented. j j

8. In an amusement house, a room or the like, objects in various'diferent colors arranged therein, and means for illuminating the room or the like, selectivel in dierent colors each capable of absorblng all but a respective one of the colors in which the" objects are represented.

l9. A composite scenic surfacecompnsmg atransluscent surface bearin representations of different scenes in di erent colors,

`anda diffractive surfacev in ljuxta-position RICHARD M. CRAIG. [1.. a]

Images