The true history of the ghost : $b and all about metempsychosisPepper, John Henry
History
The true history of the ghost : $b and all about metempsychosis
Pepper, John Henry
Magic tricks -- Equipment and supplies -- History
the ordinary stage, of sufficient size to reflect the full length of
the actors or objects on the hidden stage to the audience in the pit,
boxes, and galleries of the theatre. The hidden stage is between the
glass and the audience. The glass may be mounted in a swing frame so
that it may be adjusted to the angle required, or it may readily be
done by screws or ropes and pulleys, or otherwise. The glass screen
is to be set at such an inclination as to bring the reflected image
to the level of the visible or ordinary stage. This will enable the
spectators, whether in pit, boxes, or gallery, to see the reflected
image without any obstruction to the view above the foot-lights, and
it will be visible from all parts of the house except those extreme
positions which cannot command a view through the glass of that part of
the stage where the image is reflected.
The proper angle of inclination of the glass is ascertained
experimentally by having persons in the different parts of the house
to say when the image is shewn to them correctly. The scenery is so
disposed as to conceal the frame of the glass, and we prefer that the
glass should be able to descend into an opening or box _g_ beneath the
stage, in which case we counterbalance the glass and frame so that
they may easily be raised into the position desired by means of a
rope _h_, by which, aided by the bolts _i_, the glass is supported in
the required position. The glass may either be adjusted when screened
from the audience, and remain in position during the scene, or (the
proper angle of inclination having been previously ascertained by
experiment) the glass may be raised on to the ordinary or visible
stage, and placed in position whilst the scene is before the eyes of
the audience under a subdued light without the movement being observed,
for which latter purpose the top bar of the frame of the glass should
be made very light or be omitted altogether. This arrangement admits
of an actor on the visible stage passing across the space which the
glass is to occupy, and this he can do just before the appearance of
the phantom, and then immediately the glass is run up, the trap doors
are opened, the actor or image on the hidden stage is illuminated and
the phantom appears. This arrangement will render it less likely that
the audience should imagine that there is anything interposed between
them and the actors than if the glass plate remained permanently in
position during the scene. The hidden or lower stage may be provided
with a well or hole up which an actor can rise; he will then appear as
a spectre rising out of the visible stage. The lanterns may be provided
with coloured glasses in order to heighten the effect. As the actors
on the visible stage do not themselves see the spectral images, marks
should be placed on the stage or other indications made in order that
they may know the position which the spectres appearing to the audience
are to occupy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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