US479001A - Theatrical - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. HERRERA Y GUTIERREZ.

'THE'ATRIOAL APPLIANCE.

No. 479,001. Patent-ed Ju1y19, 1892.

WiZjWte a 5 $72 223? NITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESUS HERRERA Y. GUTIERREZ, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

TH EATRICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,001, dated July 19, 1892.

Application filed April 28, 1892- $eria1 No. 431,199. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ESUS HERRERA Y G TIERREZ, a citizen of Mexico, residing at the city of Mexico, Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Appliances and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to theatrical appliances; and it consists of a series of revolving saloons or audience-chambers, in combination with stationary spectacular rooms or spaces in which scenery, tableaux, or theatrical exhibitions are displayed successively to audiences in each of the said revolving chambers, as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a plan View of the structure.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a circular outside wall or building of the theater,

or the outside inclosure may, if desired, be of another form, so long as the same accommodates the internal circular arrangements hereinafter described. The general arrangement inside of this inclosure consists of an outside stationary circular stage 0, divided into separate scene and exhibiting compartments H, and a central revolving platform divided into separate compartments 0 D, adapted to face the exhibiting and other compartments of the surrounding stage.

The audience-compartments C are provided with seats 0. Adjoining the compartments 0 are angular smaller entrance-chambers D communicating with the compartments 0 by doorways or passages N, and which also communicate with the vestibule A by doorways B.

I represents the green rooms or spaces at the rear end and sides of the scene-rooms H to afford space for actors, workmen, scenery, 850. They also communicate with the vestibule and each other by passage-ways N.

At the front of each scenic chamber H is provided a partition or'raised portion G to separate the chamber from the audiencechamber 0. At this pointa curtain and foot lights may be provided. If desired, the floors of the scenic chambers may be on a level with the audience-chambers or elevated above the same, as taste may require. Any arrangement of scenery or any matter to be displayed can be varied as to character, position, height, and location, as may be preferred. Each scene may differ from another, and the themes illustrated orenactedmaybe of any characterhistorical, patriotic, allegorical, artistic, &c. and may also consist of tableaux, pantomimes, or panoramas or dramatic representations.

L represents an apartment in which machinery of any appropriate character is located with which to operate the moving audiencechamber.

S is a large saloon or exit-chamber at which the revolving audience-chambers stop at the end of the exhibition.

J J are doorways leading from the chambers 0 into said saloon, and K K are exit-doors leading therefrom to and out of the building.

The dotted lines indicate the divisional lines between the scenic chambers, being a continuation of the lines of the side walls of the audience-chambers, the timing of the movement of the audience-chambers being such as to cause their sides to register with sides of the respective scenic chambers, and to thus give the spectators the proper visual range.

In order to clearly describe and understand the operation of the invention, the stationary compartments are marked from 1 to 10 and from right to left, beginning with entrance lobby A, continuing to the left with the separate scenic compartments or stages marked 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the exit-saloon 9, and the machinery or motor room 10. The audienceohambers O and theiradjoining passage-oham bers D are also numbered from 1 to 10 but from left to right. The portion of the struct-, ure which revolves may be placed on Wheels and connected with-belting or chains with any desired form of motor. Let now the audience-chamber marked 1 coincide in position with the vestibule A with an audience in 1 and the performance ready to begin. The audience-chamber 1 coincides with a scenic chamber marked 2. The movement is then stopped for a certain timesay five minutes to allow the people in audience-chamber l to behold the scene on stage 2. At the first movement the angular ante-chamber D has been brought on a line with the entrance-lobby A.

A new audience enters this chamber and passes through the passage-way Nat the right into the audiencechamber C. The five minutes having expired audience-chamber 1 is passed to the front of scenic chamber 2, and audience-chamber 3 is stopped at lobby A, and continues to receive additional spectators. At the expiration of the next interval audience-chamber 3 is passed to scenic chamber 2 and entrance-chamber 4 comes to the lobby. Thus while the spectators in each of the chambers are engaged during the fixed time in viewing a scene, a new set of spectators is being constantly received without interruption through the succeeding ante-chamberD and audience-chambers C. When andience-chamber 1 has passed around the entire number of scenic chambers, it finally comes to the saloon or exit-chamber S, wherein the spectators in that and in each succeeding audience-chamber pass, and from which they pass out of the building. Seven scenic chambers are here represented, and consequently the performance will last thirty-five minutes; but the number of the respective compartments, the size of the building, the character of the matter displayed, the length of time of the performance, furniture, and embellishments of the stages and rooms may all be varied to suit the taste of proprietors without changing the nature of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a building for theatrical, scenic, and other displays, a series of stationary, separate,

and independent scenic compartments, incombination with a revolving platform having seperate audience-chambers to coincide with said scenic compartments, substantially as described.

2. The combination within a suitable buildin g of a stage divided into separateindependent stages or scenic compartments, spaces for green-rooms and communicating passages with a revolving platform having audiencechambers arranged to coincide with the said scenic compartments, a lobby or vestibule having passages leading to said scenic compartments and also to said audience-chambers, substantially as described.

3. The revolving platform having the central space for music-stand, separate audiencechambers extending from said space, angular ante-chambers between the audience-chambers, a lobby communicating with said structure, and communicating passages between said chambers, substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with a circular stationary stage provided with entrance-vestibule, independent scenic compartments, and exit-saloon, of a central-revolving audience platform or chamber and communicating passages, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESUS HERRERA Y GrU'lIERItEZ.

\Vitnesses:

F. E. TRAINER, JUAN ALOALDE.

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