Fig 132
We have used the plans outlined by Figures [127] and [129] for temporary drop curtains forty feet high by eighty feet wide with complete success. The back view of Figure [129A] illustrates the method employed for swinging a temporary drop curtain of these dimensions across a hall that had no curtain facilities, bare walls and rounded ceiling, it being accomplished by three groups of stay lines (B) drawn up through the ceiling, each line adjusted to the proper tension while slightly hoisted, and the curtain itself attached to batten D, which is built up of 1 x 4-inch stuff to aggregate 2 x 4 inches. The top of the curtain remains stationary, the bottom shirring to the desired height, the deep flounce forming a decoration to the bottom edge when in either position.
BRISE-BISES SUSPENDED FROM CURVED RODS AND AUSTRIAN SHADES THAT CURVE TO MEET THEM.
The drawn lines K are attached to the bottom batten C, and are adjusted evenly over the individual pulleys L, and all carried over E and attached to G, the counter weight. To prevent the draught from blowing the curtain out small loops of stiff wire, as M, Figure [129A], are attached to the sides of the curtain, and traverse freely up and down the guide wires A—A.
Should a curtain of this sort be desired as a permanent theatre curtain, it may be prettily made as Figure [130], which is drawn up by means of strips of webbing or leather, which pass through covered metal keepers on the face of the curtain and are attached to the bottom batten.
These pass over pulley wheels at the top, as Figure [130A], and are fastened to a bar counter weight which balances the weight of the movable portion of the curtain, and is put in motion by causing the shaft to revolve in the desired direction. The theatre curtain which rolls from the bottom, as Figure [131], is fastened to a batten at the top and a roller attached to the bottom. The method of constructing the roller is shown in Figure [132]. A sufficient number of six-inch circles of clear pine are procured to allow of one being placed every twelve inches, and these are sheeted round with ¾ × 2-inch strips of clear, straight pine, kiln dried, each piece securely fastened with screws to every circle it touches, and the joins all made where supported by a circle. The whole roll is then wrapped with a strip of coarse canvas plentifully supplied with a solution of hot glue, care being exercised to keep the wrapping uniform and tight.
The roller is made long enough to contain a large spool at each end, and works equally well at the bottom of the curtain, where it rolls up with it, or at the top, where it revolves in brackets and winds the curtain up. The rope which causes the roller to revolve is first wound around the spool a couple of times when the curtain is altogether rolled up, and as the curtain is unrolled, the spools take up a sufficient quantity of rope, so that pulling the rope causes the spool to revolve and the curtain to roll up.
Some of the more recent theatre curtains are stretched on a frame like a picture and rise flat, like the lower sash of a window. They are not difficult of manufacture, but require that the proscenium and fly loft be as high again as the stage opening, and the curtain is arranged with counter weights and side guides, as Figure [129A].