The stage is in two sections: the stage floor proper, to which is
attached the footlight box, and the proscenium arch, which is made to
be demounted and is held to the stage floor by right angle braces. The
stage floor itself is made of ⅞″ stock which may run from eight to
twelve inches in width. These boards are fastened to 2×4’s which run
from the front to the back of the stage. Three lengths of these 2×4’s
are all that are necessary. The box which holds the footlights may
be made of ½″ stock which should be just deep enough to hold 60-watt
lamps. Three circuits should be run into this box to provide for red,
blue and green lamps. The diagram shows only one lamp to each color
placed in the box, but to obtain the best results three or four lamps
should be used on each circuit. Small stage connectors which can be
obtained at any electrical dealer’s should be placed in the floor to
take care of the lines that run to No. 1 border, No. 2 border and to
the various other lamps such as small floods and small spotlights,
which will be found necessary for different effects. Both No. 1 and No.
2 borders should have three circuits running into them for red, blue
and green lamps, and there should be from four to six lamps on each
circuit. These borders may be placed in any position from the front
to the back of the stage that the setting may demand. A convenient
place from which to suspend them is from the operating platform which
is built over the complete length of the stage at such a height as to
clear any set that may be used.
The proscenium arch should be built of ⅞″ stock, preferably of white
wood, because of the fine surface which it presents, if it is to be
decorated. The upright sections of the arch should be at least as
wide as those shown in the diagram, because they must carry the three
circuits for the proscenium lights, the belt that raises and lowers
the curtain, and also special lamps and appliances that will be found
necessary for various types of production. The diagram shows one green,
one blue, and one red outlet on the two sections on the top section of
the arch, but it will be found very convenient to have at least two
outlets for each of these colors on each of the three sections of the
arch.
[Illustration: DIAGRAMS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MARIONETTE STAGE]
The curtain can be the ordinary window shade. After removing the
spring, attach it to the face of the proscenium arch with ordinary
window shade fixtures. It should be wide enough to lap well over
each side of the arch, and the end which extends to the right of the
proscenium opening should be sufficiently long to carry a 2″ belt for
raising and lowering it. This belt can be of webbing and should be held
taut near the bottom of the proscenium arch by a small roller, as shown
in the diagram. It is necessary that this belt should be far enough to
the right of the proscenium arch opening so the hand which raises and
lowers the curtain will not be seen by the audience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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