US490487A

US490487A - Steele macxate

Info

Publication number: US490487A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 1910-01-24

Description

(No Model.)

S. MACKAYE.

LUXAULBATOR.

I l I mvamtoz STEELE MACKAYE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPECTATORIA COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LUXAU LEATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,487, dated January 24, 1893.

pplioation filed May 25, 1892. Serial No. 434,295. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, STEELE MACKAYE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in means employed in place of the ordinary drop-scene for screening orintercepting the View between the audience and the stage and which I term a LuXauleator; 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 generally to stage appliances, but more particularly to the means employed for preventing the audience from witnessing the operations or movements of the actors behind the proscenium openingbetween the acts, or" when it is desired to shift or rearrange stage scenery.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for instantaneously intercepting all sight of anything that may be placed or moved in the space at the rear of the proscenium opening or arch, and. thereby dispense with the ordinary drop-scene or curtain, which can only be raised and lowered at the expense of considerable time, and is liable to hitch or catch in operation, thus causing delay and often exposing to the view of `the audience the stage effects or movements of actors or persons on the stage at times when it is desirable that the view of the audience shall be cut off.

The invention consists essentially of a series of lamps set in suitable backings or reilectors placed in the form of a border or other suitable arrangement around or about the proscenium opening so as to throw one portion of space (in rear of the opening) into complete shade while flooding the opposite space (as the auditoriumin front of the opening) with rays of light so crossing each other and blended in such manner as to interceptl all sight of anything that may be placed or moved in the shaded portion of space. By this means I dispense with the ordinary dropcurtain and at the same time renderit unnecessary to extinguish the light in the auditorium when removing or shifting stage scenery, and an instantaneous exhibition of scenery or concealment of the operations of persons behind the proscenium opening may be effected without the objections incident to the use of the usual slow-moving drop-curtain and the slow and tedious process of manipulating the same when it is desired to quickly change a scene; the audience meanwhile having the full benefit of a lighted hall.

The invention is also applicable to decorative purposes, that is, for increasing the decorative effect of rooms or portions of rooms, either in private dwellings, or in churches, art galleries, lyceums, libraries, or other public buildings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of thisspecitication, and in which similar letters of reference are used to denote similar parts, Figure l represents a front elevation of a portion of the proscenium wall of a theater with myinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1. y

A, denotes a drop on which a sky-foundation is painted. t

B, B', B2 denote movable stages on which may be mounted scenery of 4any desired description, or which may be plain stages or a plat-form of any required size and dimensions for the exhibition of dramatic or spectacular performances or for other purposes.

C, denotes the edge or boundary of the proscenium wallor arch forming the proscenium opening of a theater, or other similar opening in a building to which my improvement may be applied.

D, D, denote electric lamps which are preferably arranged in the form of a border encircling the proscenium opening. These lamps may be set in suitable backings E, which are also preferably reflectors, and are adapted to direct or throw the light into the space at the front of the opening and to cut off or screen the light from the space back of such opening. In this instance l have shown a continuous concave relector which surrounds the opening and may be securedin any proper manner to the edges of the wall or arch C. But it is obvious that the form of the redector and the arrangement of the lights may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. Elec- IOO tric lamps are preferable for obvious reasons, but any suitable source of light may be employed, and it is my intention to use gas or any of the common methods of producing light. Moreover, while reflectors are preferable, any suitable backing which will cause the rays of light to pass in the proper direction and prevent the light from entering` the shaded portion of space back of the lights may be employed. The reflectors may also consist of any of the ordinary forms and may be arranged in a variety of Ways, with provision for adjustment to change the angle of the reflected rays to meet the necessities of the case, and the lights may be hunched or grouped according to taste, particularly when used for decorative purposes, and may be colored so as to impart any desired tint or shade of coloring. But the arrangement of the lamps for theatrical purposes should be such that the rays of light from opposite lamps will cross each other centrally of the proscenium opening at an angle, the degree of which will depend upon the proximity of the front row of seats to the proscenium opening or arch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

l. In combination with the proscenium opening, a series of lamps bordering the same and provided with backings adapted to throw the space back of the lamps and opening into complete shade, While flooding the opposite portion of space with light, so as to form in effect a vivid curtain or screen of light that will intercept all sight of persons or things occupying the shaded portion of the space, substantial'lyas described.

2. In combination with the proscenium arch or wall having the usual opening therein, a series of lamps arranged in the form of aborder about said opening, and a reflector or reflectors adapted to screen the light from such opening so as to throw the space at the rear thereof into shade and flood the opposite space with light, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the wall or arch forming the proscenium opening, the continuous concave refiector surrounding such opening, and a series of lamps setin said reflector so as to exclude the light from the opening, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1l. In combination with the division wall having the opening therein, a series of lamps bordering such opening and provided with backings or reflectors adapted to flood the space at one side of the opening with light and throw the opposite space into shade, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

STEELE MACKAYE. l/Vitnesses:

PoWEL CRosLEY, SIDNEY CLARKE WHITE, Jr.