US265647A - Proscenium-opening for theaters - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) f I DE WITT O. WAUGI-I.

PROSGENIUM OPENING FOR THEATERS.

N0. 265,647. Patented 0013.10, 1882,.

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NITED STATES PATENT GFFIGE.

DE WITT G. \VAUGH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

PROSCENlUM-OPENING F OR THEATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,647, dated October 10, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DE WITT G. WAUGH, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county,and StateofOhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Proscenium-Openings for Theaters,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, wherein-- I Figure 1 is a front elevation of my proscenium-opening, where A is the front or mam part of frame of opening, and B the rear or recessed part of same frame.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of my prosceniumopening through line y y, Fig. 1, where A is the irontor main part offrame, and B is the recessed portion of same frame. 0 is a doorway (and door) cut in the recessed part between the upright side of front part, A, of the opening-frame and the parallel upright side of the recessed part of same frame. D is a walkway or passage between the two portions of frame, depressed below the level ofstage-tloor H. E is the lower or floor side of recessed part B of openingframe, masking the foot-light placed in the usual depression, F, in the stage-floor. c 0 0 0 arelights on all sides of recessed part of frame on the stage side of same; 01 d d d, (ll'OPCUF tains, hung in the usual way.

Fig.3 is a sectional view of my prosceniumopening through line now, Fig. 1', showing front or main portion, A, recessed or back part, B, foot-light depression F in rear of floor side .E of recessed part of proscenium-opening, and walk or passage D between A and B.

Similar letters of reference denote the same parts.

My invention relates to proscenium-openings for theaters 5 and it consists- First, in continuing the frame of the opening in frontof the stage. Ordinarily the opening has no frame, the stage-floor projecting out beyond the proscenium-boxes, and the boxarch is continued over the stage. WVhen a frame has been used it has usually had but three sidesthe two upright sides and the t.op--the said uprightsides ending at and on a level with the stage-floor. In my frame the fourth (bottom) side is added. This fourth side is outside of the front line of the stage-floor, and is continuous with the upright sides, thus making a complete frame.

Application filed May 15, 1882.

(No model.)

Second, in having this frame of the proscenium-opening recessed or coved, said recessed. part having a less diameter of opening than the front part of said frame, and having a fourth or bottom side corresponding to the fourth or bottom side of the front portion of said frame. This recess is wide enough to afford a passage along the floor between the two parts of said frame from one side of the stage to the other, and for the setting of a door between the upright sides of the front part of the frame and the upright sides of the recessed part of the frame.

Third, in placing the foot-lights behind the bottom or floor side of the recessed part of frame, so that they are masked from the audience by said side, and in providing a passage between the two parts of the frame in front of the foot-lights, masked as aforesaid by floor side of recessed part. For this purpose the stage is lowered or cutout in the usual way at F. just behind the floor side of recessed part B, and the portion of the stage between the two parts of the proscenium-opening frame (front and recessed parts) is placed on a lower levellower than the level of foot-lights and lower than the floor proper of the stage-so that the front part of frame may interfere as little as possible with the view of the acting on the stage proper. Ordinarily a theater stagetloor is level and the foot-lights arc masked by an elevation on the front of the stage, which is not a part of the prosceniuinopening frame. By my openingframe the actors are always within the picture or local of the scene, and cannot come forward outof the scene, as is now frequently done.

Fourth, in placing lights on the four sides of frame, in front of the drop-curtain.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A proscenium-opening for theaters, composed of two frames continuously connected on three sides, the four sides of the one nearest the auditorium being outside ot'the front lineof the stage, and the other being placed in the rear and far enough back of the first to allow of a passage-way between them, substantially as described.

2. In a proscenium opening for theaters, a frame having four sides, all of which are outside of the front line of the stage, said frame having a four-sided frame continuously con inginit a depression for foot-lights behind the nected to it on three sides, Whose opening is interior frame, and a lower depression be- 7 smaller than the opening in the front frame, tween the frames forming the floor ot' a pas- 15 substantially as described. sage-Way between said frames, substantially 5 3. A proscenium-opening for theaters, havas described.

ing two frames continuously connected on three The foregoing specification of my invention sides, in combination With lights placed on all signed by me this 11th day of May, A. D. 1882. four sides of the interior frame on its stager i w face, substantially as described. DE 1o 4. A proscenium-opening for theaters, hav- Witnesses:

in g two frames continuously connected on three CHAS. MUNROE,

sides, in combination with a stage-floor hav- RICHARD L. AYER.

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