US1903948A - Theater - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1933. .1. P. sTocKToN THEATER Filed Sept. 18, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY :April 1s, 193s. J' l STOCKTON 1,903,948 l' THEATER Filed Sept. 18, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 'E 7W 4?" -5 l .455 I I m 1S, f7/l 65'/ IN NTOR aca ATTORNEY 18, J p. STOCK-FON THEATER Filed Sept. 18, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aplil 18, 1933. J. .R STQCKTON l THEATER Filed Sept. 18, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY THEATER Filed Sept. 18, 1928` 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,Il/lill.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 18, 1933- J. P. sTocKToN 1,903,948

THEATER Filed Sept. 18, 1928 6 SheeS-'Sheet G www ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES JACK POTTER STOCKT'ON, OF YSPELEN' G- LAKE, NEW JERSEY l THEATER Application filed September 18, 1928. Serial No. 306,641.

The present invention relates to theaters, and is more particularly directed toward the provision of theatrical apparatus including X movable scenery and stage settings, whereby continuous action may be maintained before the audience. y

In the ordinary production of drama, comedy and the like in the theater, the action X takes place on or in a number of stage setl') tings each of which is set up or assembled on the stage at each performance. The entire setting is disassembled and stored away, and another complete setting then assembled N on the stage. The curtain is lo-wered or the YYl5 stage darkened while the scene shifting is taking place. The necessity of taking down one scene and moving it oif the stage and then assembling another scene limits the pro- ,Y duction to one wherein the entire plot can Y '20 be developed with a small number' of scene changes; hence, this method of changing scenery has seriously limited the spoken drama to productions wherein the number of scene changes is small. Furthermore, it

is impossible, with the present type of theatrical apparatus to produce continued action or change from one scene to the next. As the mechanics ofscene changing requires the dro-pping of the curtain for a prolonged "w period in which the stage is kept in darkness, a considerable interval of time is consumed and the continuity of the action before the audience is to a large extent lost.

The change is sudden and complete and to a large extent unnatural. In addition, the common method of theatrical display makes it necessary to take down and completely reassemble the same scene when parts of the i, performance presented at diiferent times' are 40 to take place in the same setting.

According to the present invention it is possible to maintain continued action from onersceneto the neXt Ywithout the necessity i of lowering the curtain or without the darkened interval and also'without waiting vfor the settings to be taken down or reset. The present invention contemplates the employment of preassembled complete stage settings so arranged and interrelated that any stage setting may be placed before the audienceI and moved out of view ofthe audience while another pre-assembledstage setting is simultaneously brought into view. A number of stage settings'sufficient for the performance are provided. They are preferably stored in the wingsl of the theater and any desired setting can be movedv from the wing, in which it is stored, to place itbefore the audience and then returnedto the wing so as yto be ready for the n'eXt presentation. G0

The present invention contemplates the shifting of the scene or scenes back and forth behind the curtain line in full view of the audience. The stage settings may be made up to represent a complete room, anoutdoor scene vorthe like, and as one scene is being withdrawn from the view of the audience another scene is being brought into view. The actors are able to pass from one scene to the next in full view of the audience so that the audience appears to see action transpiring from one room to another room, or from one stage setting to another stage setting.

According to the present invention, any two stage settings may be movedback and forth as desired so that action can take place in one or two rooms at a time, and the place of action can transfer back and forth between the rooms. It is possible, according tov the present invention, to connect any one of a S0 number ofstage settings on one side of theV theater with the stage setting which is being viewed by the audience, and to move the latter stage setting out of view andto kbring into view the desired stage setting-which has been coupled to it.

A further object of the present invention is to provide stage settings capable of carrying complete stage properties, and wherein the floor portions of the stage settings are made up in sections so that the floor portion may bend or flex, permitting it to be placed either in a horizontal position on the stage floor, or suspended in a vertical position in the wing of the theater. Where the scene employs an end or side wall, one of these walls is, according tothe present invention, preferably permanently attached to the floor portion, and the Vfloor portion suspended from this lwall portion when the scene Vis 199 stage. The jointed back wall is arranged so as to fold in the rear part of the wing of the theater. The parts or sections of the rear wall remain vertical, resting on the lower edges of the sections when being thus stowed away. The back wall is stowed away when a setting is withdrawn into the wing. It may be left in this position, or may be manually placed elsewhere so that a different backwall may be substituted in case the next scene drawn in from this wing requires such change.

Various attempts have been made to ac -complish some of the foregoing objects by the use of stage settings which were moved bodily forward and backward on the stage, or from .the wings into the center of the stage, or the entire scene has been elevated or lowered to -bring another scene into View. These devices .forward and back or sidewise require excessive stage area, impossible to obtain in any ordinary theater. As a stageopening is from 28 to 34 feet wide, it would be necessary to have a building more than three times this width if scenes are to be moved onto the stage i from either side. As the present invention contemplates flexible stage settings which are stowed in collapsed condition, the movable stage settings may be accommodated in an ordinary'theater where the wings are much narrower than the stage opening.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent as this descriptionjproceeds. c

'Ihe accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one of the many possible embodiments in which it may take form, together with modifications of certain parts, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of. a theater stage taken from the front with parts broken away, and showing one setting in place on the stage and` another 'setting suspendedv in the wing, but connected to the first setting and in place to be brought into view of the audience;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan of a theay ter stage ;y

automaticallyl Figure 3 is a perspective View of a system of cables and traveler suitable for scene shifting;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the floor portions and lower` wall portion of two adjacent stage settings;

Figure 5 is a perspective view looking at themrear ofltwo stage settings and a corner of one of the settings; i

H'Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail perspcctive view of av form of end or side wall adapted to be attached to the traveler;

Figure 7 is the perspective view of two stage settings in an intermediate position on the stage, showing a device for masking oil the end portions of the stage settings;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of one form of action-sustaining property supporting floor suitable for use with these stage settings; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view somewhat similar to Figure 2 showing a different form of mechanism for operating the shiftable stage settings. y

The present form of theatrical apparatus maybe installed in a conventional theater. Itis placed back of the curtain line and will occupy the stage Hoor, wings and back stage. The building will usually be provided with a permanent floor, but as this is not the floor on which the action takes place, the floor need not befinished like the regular stage floor of a theater. The action takes place on a movable fioor, and the operating mechanism for shifting the scenes includes a traveler adapted to move back and forth above the permanent stage floor.

A suitable form of operating mechanism is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3. The traveler is indicated at 10. It is connected to two ropes or cables 11 and 12 which pass about fixed pulleys 13. The ends of these ropes or cables are connected to a crosshead 14 disposed under the stage floor. The crosshead and traveler are held in parallelism by the ropes. This crosshead is adaptedl to be moved back and forth by tackle. VAs shown, this tackle consists of pulley blocks 15 and 16V connected to the crosshead 14, pulley blocks 17 and 18 anchored to some perma nent part of the theater, and a rope or cable 19 threaded through all the blocks and coiled about a winding drum 21 which may be driven by a motor through suitable reduction gearings and clutch,.not shown. As the winding. drum 2l is turned back and forth the traveler 10 will be shifted back and forth .across the stage floor.

The crosshead 14 is also connected to cables 23 andy 24 which pass about pulleys 25 underneath the .stage floor and up into the wings 26 and 27 of `the theater. As here shown each of these cables is adapted to operate'twov settings. `The cables 23 and 24 are connected to ringsnor links 23 and 24" ivhich are connected to the Various settings by cables 23a, 23?), 24a and 246. rlhese cables pass aboutpulleys and counterWeight Vsystems 28a, 285, 29o and 29?), and the freeends of the cables are connected to a portion of the scene to be operated. lt will beapparent that the arrangement of cablesis such that the scene connected with the rope 23a will be lowered right and that the scene connected .to the cable 24a Will be simultaneously hoisted. VThe settings connected to cabies 236 and'24?) are hoisted into the Wing and tied up.

Yln Figures Vl and 3. the traveler l0 is indicated at the righthand side of the stage, While in Figure 2, it is indicated as being at the lefthand side of the stage. .This traveler moves back and forth from one side of the stage to another, and is adapted to shift the scenery so as to place either scene behind the proscenium arch, the complete scene being drawn into view from the right-as indicated in Figure l, or from the left as indicated in Figure 2. T he traveler Willmove back and forth behind the curtain line, indicated at 3() in Figure 2,'guides (notshown) being employed to support the traveler. In the form of construction shown in Figures l and 4, the traveler l0 is shown as having a bottom plate l0 and two .vertical plates l0 spacedapart. The bottom plate is permanently7 connected to flooring 31, 32 extending to the right and the left. This flooring is made up lof boards sufciently heavy to sustain the stage properties and actors and is supported on rollers 33 adapted to travel back and forth on a track 34 extending completely across the .permanent stage floor of the theater. The ends of the track connect with curved guide-.Ways-S and 36 on the opposite sides of the. theater adjacent to the side Walls 3T. The Vguide- Ways 35 and 36 are adapted to guide the jointed floor 31 and 32 up on the side `Walls of thetheater, as indicated at the rightin Figure l. 'As the travelerl() moves back and forth across the stage floor the portionv of the flooring supporting a setting will move from the position Where it is directly behind the proscenium arch in a position'to support the stage setting to the position indicatedl at theA right of Figure l Where it is stored on the floor and inside the Wall of the ving of the theater. When it moves back, the portion stored adyacent the side Wall of the theater Will b brought in fr-ont of the arch.

VVarious :types of stage settings may be used on the movable Yflooring 3l and 32. These stage settings-may be made 4up to represent rooms, outdoor scenes, roof gardens and the like according to the production which is to be staged. lhere the Vsetting is to represent a room it will include affloor portion 40,7sidewvalls 4l land 42,- arear Wall 43, a ceiling 44 and various stage properties as the Jtraveler 'i0 is moved to the 1.

such as furniture,.pictures, doors, vWindows and the likewhichare fastened to or built into the proper parts ofthe stage setting. Where the ystage setting is to represent an outdoor scene, the setting will include the floor portion, .and may include side Walls or back Walls according tothe scene being represented. y

In some cases, the side and back Walls Will take the form of curtains painted to represent the desired background. All the stage properties which are to rest on the floor or hang on the Walls during the showing of the scene are preferably fastened to the floor or Wall in the position they are to occupy. Ad-

ditional movables may be placed on the'` floor Without fastening. buch properties are removed before the saine is hoisted into the Wing. f

.l/Vhere the double thickness .movable floor isto be employed, the upper iioor may be made of a heavy carpet, suitably reinforced, or it may be Vmade of strips of multiple ply veneer 40a secured to the carpet orfloor covering 406, asv shown in Figure 4. A modified r form of floor is shown in Figure 7. It comprises thin metal straps -45 hinged together at 46. The floor covering, such as a carpet 47, is placed on top of these straps and the space between the straps isy filled in with cork or other sound-deadening material 48.

The floor portions 40 of the stage settings f are adapted to be fastened to the movable floors 3l and 32 by means of tongues 49 adapted to lit into grooves 50 in the flooring 31 and 32 as indicated in Figure 4.

The Wall portion 42 adjacent the traveler 10 is fastened to the traveler by means of straps 51 whichl extenddovvn between the channel Walls 10 of the traveler. The'other side Walls may be provided with doors, and articles of furniture such as indicated at 53 maybe fastened tothe side Walls.

The ceiling 44 is suspended from above by cables indicated. at 44. 'This'ceiling'.preferably is somewhat longer than a scene setting and extends beyond the lsetting into the Yfoo Wings, as indicated, so as to provide a ceiling for the portion of the setting being brought into View or taken from view. The

VWeight of the ceiling is preferably taken by the ropes which support it so that it does not rest on the movable -Walls of the settings.

The upper end of the side Wall 4l is con- Y in Figure 5. Various forms of .construction maybe used forfasteningV these Wall parts Y connections insure the moving of the side and back walls of the setting along with thevfloor of the setting. Y

In Figure 1, one complete stage setting is shown as being in place on the stage and a second stage setting is shown on the righthand side being ready to be shifted into View. This stage setting in the right wing consists of a floor portion side wall 42', and end wall 41, which may be constructed about the same as the stage setting shown in the center ofthe figure. The floor portion of this stage setting is fastened to the movable floor and the upper edge of the wall 41 is connected to the cable 24. If one desires to shift the scene which is already in View and bring on the other scene, it is merely necessary to manipulate the cable system. This will start both sets toward the left as indicated in Figure v1 and will cause the movable floors 31 and 32 and both stage settings to move toward the left. The lower movable floor will come down along the guide 36 and pass up along the guide 35. The side wall 41 will pass out beyond the end of the ceiling 44 and then be lifted up by the cable 23a, the lugs 57 being carried up beyond the catches 56 so as to disconnect the side wall 41 from the rear wall 43.

This rear wall will pass along the fioor and a guide and toward the wing until it is brought against a stationary curved guide 66 which will cause the back wall 43 to collapse or fold along the vertical joints as indicated in Figures 2 and 7. The back wall will, of course, be Vdisconnected from the Hoor and side wall 42. The folded back will rest on its lower edge until it is again to be used, or until moved away to make room for another back wall. Vhenva back wall is to be brought into view, it is coupled to the movable setting and is drawn on simultaneously with it.

During the motion of the stage settings, actors may pass through a doorway in the walls 42 and 42 and pass from one room or setting into another. This action takes place before the audience while the stage settings are moving and gives the audience the illusion of movement of the actors. One complete stage setting is taken-out of view of the audience and another complete stage setting brought into view.

In order thatthe oncoming and disappearing portions of the stage settings may be hidden from the view of the audience, curtains or teasers 67 are provided adjacent the ends of the ceiling, and these curtains are dropped down over the setting as soon as the setting is moved beyond'the end of the ceiling so that the audience cannot look beyond a predetermined point. They are raised just before the side wall is to come into view. These teasers or curtains may be operated by a cable 68, either by hand or by suitable connection with the motor driven cable system shown in Figure 3.

When the performance is one requiring more than two scenes, additional settings similar to those which have been described may be used. Figure 3 shows an arrangement of four settings, the two additional settings being indicated at 70 and 71. They are connected with the cables 232) and 24?,l and when not in use are tied up in the wing by cables 72 and 73. The counterweights in the cable system keep everything taught. When the settings are to be changed, the new one is lowered and fastened to the traveler and the other setting hoisted and tied in elevated position.

In the modified form of construction illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 9, the entire operating mechanism for shifting the scenery is placed above the stage. Here the reciprocatory traveler 110 is connected to cables 101 and 102 which pass about guide pulleys 103 and are connected to pulley blocks 104 and 105. A cable 106 is wound about a winding drum 107 and passed through stationary pulley blocks 108 and 109 and to movable pulley blocks 104 and 105. The cable and pulley blocks are arranged so that when the drum 106 is turned in one direction, the traveler 110 moves to the right and when turned in the other direction the traveler moves to the left.

The upper ends of two settings in the right wing are indicated at 111 and 112.

These settings are connected to cables 114 and 115 which pass about ,fixed pulleys and support counterweights 116 and 117. The other end of these cables is fastened to the pulley block 105. Two other stage settings may be placed in the left wing and connected by similar cables to the pulley block 104. For simplicity these are omitted from the drawings. This counterweight system with ropes and cables serves to move the setting on one side up as the one on the other side is lowered. The Vteasers or curtains used to cut o the view of the audience from the wings of the theater are operated by levers indicated at 118. These are under the control of cords Y110 wound about the shaft of the winding drum 107. This winding drum is operated by suitable motor gear'- ing and clutches so as to move the scenery back and forth.

Comparatively little power is required for effecting changes of stage settings. This is on account of the employment of a substantially balanced system. Furthermore, the scene shifting is accomplished to a large extent a push or pull exerted by. the.

traveler. rlhe hoisting of the setting does not take place all at once, as the portion of the setting on the movable floor ispushed toward the wing by the traveler.

Where the stage setting is to embody an outdoor scene, the ceiling will of course be hoisted out of view. It will be particularly notedY that the present type of movable stage setting adapts itself for use in existing theaters wherein the wings are much smaller than the width of the stage. The ability Vto fold and store the stage settings in a restricted space makes it possible to install the present type of shiftable stage setting in the ordinary theater. c

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions,

and I wish it to be understood that the particnlar form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, l do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

Vhat is claimed is: l. The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each sidev of the stage, of a scene shifting traveler `supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, and two preassembled stage settings each coupled to the traveler and movable thereby so that one setting or the other setting or adjacent portions of both settings are visible through the arch.

2. The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, of a scene shifting traveler supportf cd on the'permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, two prcassembled stage settings each coupled to the traveler and movable thereby so that one setting or the other setting or adjacent portions of both settings are visible through the arch, and means to prevent the audience from looking into the wings whereby the portions of the settings behind lthe wings are invisible.

3.A The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, of a seen-e shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, and twov pr'eassembled stage settings each coupled to the traveler and movable thereby so that one setting or the othersetting or adjacent portions of both settings are visible through the arch, the settings having jointed floor portions permanently fas-.-

tened together so that the settings may be folded behind the wings.

4. The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and lwings to eachv side yof the stage, of a scene shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forthv betweenl thel wings, two preassembledlstage settingseachl coupled to the traveler and movable therebyl so that one setting or the other setting or ade; jacent portions of both settings are visiblek through the arch, the settings having joint;

ed floor portionspermanently fastened to wings, two preassembled stage settings each coupled to the traveler and movablethereby` so that one setting or the other settingror adjacent portions of both settings are visible through the arch, the settings having joint, ed floor portions, and means to guide the floor portions upwardly behind the wings.

6. The combination with a theaterl having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each sideA of the stage, of a scene shifting traveler supported' on the permanent stageV and guided for movementback and forth between the wings, two preassembled stage settings each coupledto theltraveler and movable thereby so that one setting or the other setting Vor adV jacent portions of both settings are visible through the arch, the settings having ointed floor portions,`means to guide the floor portions upwardlybehind the wings, and

suspension means to support each setting behind the corresponding wing.

7. `The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front. of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, of a scene shifting traveler supported on thek permanent stage and guided for movementy back and forth between the wings, two preassembled stage settings each coupled at their adj acent ends to the traveler and movable thereby so that one setting jor the other setting or adjacent portions of. both settings are visible through the arch, and flexible loops each connected to the carrier and to the opposite ends of a corresponding setting, each loop passing over guides abo-ve the corresponding wing, each setting having a flexible floor, theriioor bending and 'being carried up by the loop attached to it as the `jointed so as to permit the floor to lay flat 4on the stage or bend so that it may pass from the stage into a vertical plane behind the .wings to be supported from above, pulleys carried in the tops of the wings, ropes con-v nected to the remote ends of the settings and carried around the pulleys, and connected to the traveler whereby the settings are movable with the traveler to present one setting or the other setting, or portions of both settings in position for viewing through the arch, the invisible portions of the setting being stowed behind the corresponding wing.

9. The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, of a scene shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, two preassembled stage settings each*v coupled at their adjacent ends to the traveler and movable thereby so that one setting or the other setting or adj acent portions of both settings are visible through the arch, flexible loops each connected to the carrier and to the opposite ends of a corresponding setting, each loop passing over guides above the corresponding wing, each setting having a flexible floor, the floor bending and being carried up by the loop attached to it as the setting is shifted out of view, at leastone of the settings having a detachable foldable back wall, and means to support the back wall on the stage floor behind the wing.

10. The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, of a scene Shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, two preassembled stage settings each coupled to the traveler and movable thereby so that one setting or the other setting or adjacent portions of both settings are visible through the arch, and teasers for masking the portions of the settings beyond ther sides of the arch. 11. The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, ofV a scene shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back` and forth between the wings, a plurality of preassembled stage settings, any

" two of which may be coupled to the traveler and movable thereby so that one setting or the other setting or adjacent portions of both settings are visible through the arch, and teasers for masking the portions of the settings beyond the sides of the arch, said settings having end walls which render the wings invisible to the audience when the entire setting is being viewed, whereby one setting may be detached from the traveller and another setting attached to it.

12. The combination with a theater having'a permanent stage, proseenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, of a scene shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, a stage setting coupled to one side of the traveler and including a flexible floor, a side wall at the remote end of the floor, a side wall above the traveler, and stage properties carried by the floor and walls, a stage setting coupled to the other side of the traveler, the settings being movable with the traveler so that one setting or the other setting or both settings are visible through the arch, and means connected with the traveler and 'simultaneously operable therewith for hoisting the remote side wall and floor after these portions of the setting have passed by the arch.

13. The combination with a theater having a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, of a scene shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, a stage setting coupled to one side of the traveler and including a flexible floor, a side wall at the remote end of the floor, a jointed back wall extending upwardly from the floor, a side wall above the traveler, stage properties carried by the floor and walls, a stage settingcoupled to the other side of the traveler, the settings being movable with the traveler so that one setting or the other setting or both settings are visible through the arch, means connected with the traveler and simultaneously operable therewith for hoisting the remote side wall and floor after these portions of the setting have passed by the arch, and means to guide the back wall rearwardly separated from the floor and end walls.

14. rlhe combination with a theater having 'a permanent stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage,'of a scene shifting traveler supported on the permanent stage and guided for movement back and forth between the wings, a stage setting coupled to one side of the traveler and including a flexible floor, a side wall at the remote end of the floor. a side wall above the traveler, stage properties carried by the floor and walls, a stage setting coupled to the other side of the traveler,

" is suspended in the wing.

the settings being movable with the traveler so that one setting or the other setting or both settings are visible through the arch, and means connected with the traveler and simultaneously operable therewith for hoisting the remote side wall and floor after these portions of the setting have passed by the arch, and teasers to mask the portions of the settings beyond the arch so thatthe disposition thereof is invisible.

15. In a theater, two stage settingsarranged in tandem and connected to a traveler, means to shift the traveler laterally across the stage, and hoisting means operable wth the traveler and connected with the outer ends of each setting for hoisting the setting as the setting is moved outwardly.

16. In a theater, two stage settings each arranged to represent a room having a iioor and side and back walls movable across the stage, a traveler, the adjacent ends of the iioor portions of the settings being attached to the traveler, the adjacent side walls being detachably attached to the traveler, the outer side walls being hingedly attached to the corresponding floor portion, and means to hoist an outer side wall and oor portion of one setting while the corresponding parts of the other setting are being brought onto the stage.

l?. In a theater, two stage settings each arranged to represent a room having a floor and side and back walls movable across the stage, a traveler, the adjacent ends of ther floor portions of the settings being attached to the traveler, the adjacent side walls being detachably attached to the traveler, the outer side walls being hingedly attached to the corresponding Hoor portion, and means to hoist an outer side wall and floor portion of one setting while the corresponding parts of the other setting are being brought onto the stage, the back wall being in the form of hinged sections detachably connected to the ioor portion and side walls, and means for disconnecting the back wall from the outer side wall and the outer portion of the ioor when moved awa-y from the stage.

18. In a theater, a stage setting comprising a flexible action sustaining floor, stage properties attached to the floor, and means to manipulate the stage setting as a unit to shift it from a position wherein it is visible through the proscenium arch to a position wherein it 19. In a theater, a'stage setting comprising a. iexible action sustaining lioor, stage properties attached to the floor, an end wall attached to the floor, and means to manipulate the stage setting as a unit to shift it from a position wherein it is visible through the proscenium arch to ay position wherein it is suspended in the wing, the floor being sus- Y pended from the end wall.

20. In a theater, a pair of stage settings posite wing to visible position in front of the arch.

21. In a theater, a plurality of preassembled stage settings each including a flexible action sustaining floor, and means to move each setting laterally across the stage iioor,

the setting bending so that it may pass up or down the wing.

22. In a.theater, a stage, two preassembled stage settings each including a jointed action sustainin floor, and scene shifting mechanism to w ich each setting is jointed, the settings being so related that when one setting is moved across the stage to remove it from View, the other setting is simultaneously brought into view'.

23. A stage setting having a laterally shiftable floor, side walls secured to the floor, and a vertically jointed back wall detachably secured to the floor to move therewith and extending the entire length of the setting, the back wall being detachably secured tothe side, walls of the setting.

24. In a theater,v the combination with a stage Vfloor of a preassembled stage setting having a transversely jointed action-sustaining floor, means to bodily shift the setting laterally, the floor portion of the setting folding about the transverse joints, and means to hoist the floor so that the settingv may be stored in a space narrower than the length of the setting.

25. A'stage setting having a transversely jointed action-sustaining floor, side walls one of which is detachably connected to the Hoor, the other hingedly connected with the floor, and means to laterally shift the entire setting off a stage and to hoist the hingedly connected side wall and jointed floor so that they are suspended to one side of the stage.

26. A theater having a permanent stage, a proscenium arch in front of the stage, wings to the sides of thek arch, each wing being substantially narrower than the arch, a preassembled collapsible stage setting adapted to rest on the permanent stage and extend from one side of the arch to the other, and means to move the setting laterallyinto the wing, the portion of the setting in front of the arch being moved laterally only, the portion in thel wing being moved laterally and vertically to lift it up after it passes the side of the arch.

27. A theater having a permanent stage, a proscenium arch in front of the stage,

wings to each side of the stage, a transverse-` ly jointed loor supported for lateral movement across the stage, the length of the ioor being at least twice the Width of the arch,

and a traveler to which the center of the ioor is connected, the traveler kbeing capable of shifting the flexible floor so that either half thereof is behind the arch, the other T53 half being stored in the wing and extending up the side wall of the wing. v

28. A theater having a permanent stage, a proscenium arch in front of the stage, wings to each side of the stage, a transverse- To? 1y jointed ioor supported for lateral movement across the stage, the length of the floor being at least twice the width of the arch, a traveler to which the center of the floor is connected, the traveler being capable of IE shifting the flexible floor so that either half thereof is behind the arch, the other half being stored in the wing and extending up theA side wall of the wing, a plurality of preassembled stage settings, means to suspend i265 certain settings in the left wing and other settings in the right wing, the settings hav-l ing flexible floorportions capable of being connected with the jointed floor adjacent the traveler, and means to synchronously move am the traveler and raise one setting while lowering the other setting so thatsettings may besuccessively brought in front of the arch, ist from one side and then from the other s1 e.

29. A theatrical stage having a permanent stage, )roscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the-stage, a traveling stage guided for back and forth move` ment between the wings, and a plurality of stage settings assembled on the traveling stage and movable therewith so that one setting or adjacent portions of several settings are visible through the arch.

30. A theatrical stage having a permanent T- stage, proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, a traveling stage guided for back and forth movement between the wings, and a plurality of stage settings assembled on the traveling stage and movable therewith so that one setting or adjacent portions of several settings are visible through the arch, each stage setting comprising a flexiblel floor and stage properties secured to the flexible floor.

31. A theatrical stage having a permanent stage. proscenium arch in front of the stage, and wings to each side of the stage, a traveling stage guided for back and forth movement between the wings, a plurality of stage settings assembled on the traveling stage and movable therewith so that one setting or adjacent portions of several settings are visible through the arch, and means to hoist the invisible portions of a stage setting into the upper part of the adjacent wing.

32. In a. theater', a preassembled stage setting having a foldable floor on which stage properties normally resting on a stage floor are permanently secured in predeterminedl A"fixed positions, a movable traveler, and

means. to secure the floor of the stage setting tothe traveler so that the entire setting including the properties may be moved as a unit. A

33. Ina theater, a plurality of preassembled stage settings arranged for storage in the oppositewings of the theater, each setting having transversely jointed foldable floor portions on which stage properties normally resting on va stage floor are permanently secured in predetermined fixed position, a movable traveler and quick-detachable means to secure two entire stage settings to the traveler, the settings being taken from opposite wings and secured thereto as complete units.

34. In a theater, a stage area, a stage opening in front of the stage area for viewing a stage settingand action taking place thereon, two collapsible stage settings bearing .stage properties and capable of supporting actors, the settings being arranged-in tandem and connected together, and stag-e setting shifting and collapsing means for shifting the stage settings laterally across the stage area in either direction so that one setting or thek other setting or adjacent portions of both settings are visible through the stageopening and for automatically collapsing either setting into a space at the side of the stage opening of less horizontal dimension than the length of the setting when such setting is removed from vbehind the stage opening and for automatically restoring it to its-extended dimension when returned to View.

35.-'In a theater, a stage opening, a col-V lapsible preassembled stage setting, means to shift the stage setting laterally relatively to the stage opening, and means operating with the shifting means for automatically extending the stage setting when behind the stage opening and for collapsing it into a space of less horizontal dimension than the length of the setting when removed from behind the stage opening.

36. In. a theater, a stage opening, wings at the sides of vthe stage opening narrower than the length of the stage opening, two collapsible stage settings connected together in tandem. each having a length substantially equal to the length of the stage opening, means to shift the stage settings laterally relative tothe stage opening, and means operating with the shifting means for automatically extending the stage setting when behind the stage opening, and for collapsing the other stage setting into said narrower wing space.

Signed c t New York, county of New York, and State of New York, this 14th day of September, 1928.H

' JACK POTTER STOCKTON.

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