US976143A - Stage illusion. - Google Patents

Description

' I? J. G. BOSTOGK.

STAGE ILLUSION.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1910;

Patnted Nov. 22, 1910.

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{KT SSES Afro/MM J. G. BOSTOGK.

STAGE ILLUSION.

APPLIOATION FILED Jpn 14, 1910.

976, 143.. Patgnted Nov. 22, 1910.

JAMES eonnnn BOSTOCK, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

STAGE ILLUSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2%, 191m.

Application filed July 14, 1910. Serial No. 571,918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES GORDEN Bos- TOOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at 526 West One Hundred and Fortyfifth street, in the city, county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage Illusions, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to a novel stage llluslon by WhlCh an action 1n miniature can be carried on before an audlence to whom the actors will ap ear to beminiadiagrammatically one form which appara-' tus within my invention may take; Fig. 2 is the same except that the apparatus is seen in top plan with certain of the parts such as the lens in horizontal section.

I will now describe the devices of the drawings and my invention, reserving it to the claims to point out the novel features and to define the scope of the invention, it

being understood that the claims will be given due range of equivalents.

1 is the-proscenium arch of a theater, 2 the footlights, 3 the drop-curtain, 4 is a frame supporting a scene 5 painted or done in miniature to represent alandscape or other desired setting. This front scene has a rectangular opening at 6through it and the bottom part 7 of the scene curves downwardly and forwardly toward the front of the stage. Toward the back of the stage is a back scene 8 showing in full size a setting which, when seenin miniature, appropriately fills in the opening 6 1n.the front or mimature scene 5. I

9 is a double concave lens located between the front and back scenes at the openmg 6 to show the back scene 8 to the audience in reduced size appropriate to the miniature setting on the front scene. Furthermore, a platform 10 is provided in front of the back scene 8 so that the actors can perform thereon, with the result that they also will be seen by the audience in miniature through the interposed reducing lens 9, all as indicated especially in Fig. 1.

The means for illuminating the back scene and the actors willpreferably be two banks of lamps 11 located at the front corners of the platform 10 and projecting their illumination rearwardly as indicated in the drawings.

The total effect is ahighly pleasing and apparently inexplicable illuslon of extremely small actors performing before the audience.

The above described curved portion 7 at the bottom of the front scene is highly important in blending the back scene with the front scene from the point of view of the audience. Without it, there is a break in the continuity'of the two sceneswhich is liable to disclose the'means by which the illusion is accomplished.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a stage illusion, the combination of a front scene done in miniature and having an opening in it; a back scene done in ordinary size; and a reducing lens showing the bac scene and the actors before it on a 'miniature scale at the opening in the front scene.

2. In a stage illusion, the combination of a front scene done in miniature with an opening through it and havin its lower port1on curved downwardly an forwardly to the stage; a back scene done in ordinary size; and a reducing lens between the scenes which shows the back scene and the actors before it on a miniature scale at the opening in the front scene.

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

' JAMES GORDEN BOSTOCK. Witnesses:

E. W. SGHERR. Jr., WILLIAM R. BAIRD'.

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