US1372969A - Illusionary apparatus for theaters - Google Patents

Description

L. McCOHMICK ILLUSIONARY APPARATUS FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, I920.

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Patentd Mar. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qwuwwtoz on a screen-and used theatrical appliances.

tions of scenery, and a plurality of lights,

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAN G'IDON MGGOBMICK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed April 27, 1920. Serial N0. 377,072.

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, LANGDON MCCORMICK, a citizen of the United States, residing Navarre Hotel, New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illusionary Apparatus for Theaters, of which thefollowing is a specificatiO'Il.

( This invention relates to improvements in a method of producing illusionary effects in connection with The prime object of the invention is to utilize a plurality of opaque objects or secand so manipulate same as to produce on a translucent curtain orscreen, a silhouette or shadow of the objects or of the scenery sections, to form a base picture and diffuse, blend or dissolve the lights to vary the scenic effect..-

It has been found from practical expe-- rience that the shadows from scenic sections produced on a screen, may be changed materially to bring about entirely different pictures by simply altering the angularity of the lights, or by diffusing the lights or interposing other lights between "the sec- I ing the method 5 tions to diffuse rays of light to make more pronounced certain features, and; other features of less importance. v

It has ,alsofbeen found that by forming a silhouette or base picture on a screen and employing lights of different'colors, or representation of scenes from a stereopticon or moving picture machine, varied andunusual results are obtained, and varied scenic effects maybe-constantly produced.

In other words, the ,method herein described is capable of producing on a screen or curtain a.v constantly changing scene from the same source, the illusionary. effect being largely brought about by the manipulation of the various lights and shadows. I

. In the accompanying drawing, representing diagrammatically one way of illustrat- Figure 1' isa front view of a'stage illustrating theinvention. I

Fig. '2' is-fa plan view of the same. Fig. 3, is a side view.

' Fig.4 is a: detail view of onset the scenic sections.

Fig. 5 is diagrammatic view illustrat-' system for carrying out my the sections 5 and 6, while the section 7 is single and disposed in rear of and mid-way between the side sections. The sections 3-4;

and 5 6 as shown, are in pairs, while sectlon 7 1s in a single piece. The pairs of sections and the single section are spaced apart suflicient distance to throw the desired shadows, and to permit of the placing of the proper lights to accomplishthe desired result.

Attached to opposite ends of each truck of the pairs are the opposite endsof cables 9, which pass around sheaves 10, and are so wound as to pull on one end and slack the opposite end of each cable when power is applied to one of the sheaves. The power sheave of each truck is connected to a reversible motor 10. 'With the arrangement, when a motor is operated a. truck may be moved laterallyto .change the relation of the scenic section with other scenic sections to produce the desired shadow on the screen.

Certain ones or all the sections may if desired be-hinged to a frame, the free ends V j ILLUSIONABY APPARATUS FOR THEATERS.

1,372,969. specificatiqn of Letters Patent Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

being thereby movable toward or from the screen to change the contour of the shadows of the scenic section or sections. -The means to accomplish this actionmay consist of a sheave 11, driven by a reversible motor 12,

and an .endless cable 13, having its opposite ends attached to the sides of a truckand wound several times around the sheave ,11, and a guide sheave 14.

Located behind and near the bottom of each scenic section will be one or a series of lamps 15, each having a shade 16 operated by, a motor 17. These lamps are so disposed as to throw rays of light up toward the top edge of the scene directlyin front, and to diffuse the light between the adjacent scene sections, and each lamp will" be individually controlled to produce apredetermined production onthe screen.

In rear of the single scene sectionwill be a lamp 20, mounted to slide, as by a sleeve 21,0n a standard 22,

power" but rotatable there;

with. The standard and sleeve are rotated by a motor 23, andthe sleeve, hence the lamp is raised or lowered by a motor and gearing indicated at 24.

This lamp is disposed behind all the scene sections, and below the top edges of the latter so that the rays of light will insure of shadows being thrown on the translucent screen.

In' addition to the lamp 20, other lamps may be disposed behind the scene sections, to direct rays of light at various angles to change the picture depicted on the screen at' will. T-have shown two lamps indicated at and 31, in addition to the central lamp essentials as to control the location, color,

- tone, etc., of the light or picture thrown on the screen to blend with or form part of the predetermined picture.

In order to control the various shadows and the lights necessary to produce the pictureeffect, it is quite essential that the variou's switchesbe so arranged as to be conveniently operated. However in the rawing the circuits and switches are shown somewhat scattered and are purely of diagrammatic form, and each will now be described. V

From the motor 23 leads awire 50, terminating in a contact 51. Also leading from the motor is a battery wire 52, including a battery 535, and having a switch 54, the latter adapted to coiiperate with the contact 51. When'the switch 54 is closed the motor 23 will slowly rotate the lamp in one direction toradially change the rays of light from thecentral lamp 20. To reverse the motora switch and circuit 56, may be provided.

vFrom the motor 24, leads a wire 57, having' a terminal contact 58, and a second wire 59 connects with the battery wire 52,

and from the latter extends a branch 60, having a switch 61, to coii'perate with the contact 58. When the switch is closed the motor through the gearing will elevate the lamp 20, the connection 62, permitting of .the lamps being rotated and movedvertically. To reverse the motor to lower the lamp, a circuit and switch 63, may be provided, whereby to lower the lamp to adjust it in the desired position. 1

Theside lamp 30 is provided with a motor ment may to rotate it, the motorbeing controlled by a circuit 64,.battery 65, and switch 66. The rotary movement of the lamp may be reswitch 67. This lamp may also be raised by a motor 67 controlled by a circuit 68, battery 65, and switch 70. The motor may versed by means of a circuit, battery and be reversed by a circuit 71. The side lamp 31, may be rotated by a motor 72, controlled by a circuit 73, and switch 74, and maybe reversed by a circuit and switch 75. Lamp 31 may be raised by a circuit 76, controlled by a switch 77. The reverse' movebe under the control of a circuit and switch 78.

The shade of the lamp 15 in rear of the central scenic section 7, is rotated and con trolled in one direction by a motor, circuit 81, battery 53, and switch 82, and the motion of the shade may be reversed by a circuit 83 and switch 84. The lamp 15 is supplied with current by a circuit 85, including a resistance box 86 to increase or decrease the light at will.

The shades of the lamps 15 behind the scenic sections 5 and 6, are controlled by cir-" cuits and switches 87, and reversing circuits and switches 88. The drums 11 of the sections adjacent these lamps are controlled by circuits and switches 89, while the trucks carrying the lamps are controlled by circuits and switches '90, and reverse circuits and switches 91. The lamps are supplied with current through circuits 91? including a resistance 91*.

The shades of the lamps 15, in rear. of the scenic sections 3 and 4 are controlled in one direction by circuits and'switches 92, and reverse currents and switches 93 are provided tomove the shades in the opposite direction. The lamps'behind the sections 3 and 4 are supplied with current by circuits 95 having resistance 96 and the trucks carrymg these lamps are controlled by circuits 96 and switches 97. The reverse movement of the trucks may be controlled by reverse circuits and switches 98.

The stereopticon or moving picture ap paratus is controlled by a circuit 99, resistance 100, and switch 101, and such other 'circuits necessary to bring into action at predetermined times the various elements of the machine and produce the desired results.

L ghts in rear are all difi'used and are of varlous colors according to the scene depicted and are moved from time to time to produce the desired shadow.

Lights are thrown on the front ofthe screen to match'up or synchronizewith the shadows produced by the lights and scenic mechanism at the rear. The lights in front are made stronger at times than the shadows to obtain the desired effects, or pictures are thrown into cooperate with the shadow eflt'ect, or the front lights are dimmed to produce the stronger effect of the shadows.

by motive power and under the control of the operator at-the switch board.

The trucks will be hinged and otherwise bendable to obtain various angles to effect the desired shadows to match up with the lights at the front.

The scenic sections are provided with openings or translucent portions that the outline of the shadow picture on the screen may have light spots to be worked in with various colored lights from the front or rear to form some part of the predetermined sketch.

What I claim is I 1. The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in arranging a plurality of objects depicting various portions of a determinate scene in rear of the screen, and directing rays of light in rear of the objects to produce on effects on a translucent screen consisting in arranging a plurality of objects depicting various portions of a determinate scene in rear of the screen, and moving rays of lights in rear of the objects to produce on the screen various shadows of the objects and change their outline to produce a predeterminedv picture on the front of the screen.

3. The method ofnroducing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in producing at the rear of the screen shadows, which appear on the front surface of the screen, and simultaneously diffusing rays of light andthrowing pictures on the front of the screen to blend with and form with the shadows a predetermined picture.

.4.-The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in locating a plurality of spaced objects in rear of the screen, throwing the rays of light the source of which is in rear of'the'objects to produce predeterminate shadows on the front of the screen, and changing the picture by diffusing rays of light between the objects.

" effects on a translucent screen consisting 1n 5. The method of producing illusionary locating a plurality of spaced objects in rear of the screen, throwing the rays of light the source; ofwhich is .in rear of the objects to The trucks will be made to be controlled the screen a shadow produce predeterminate shadows on the front of the screen, and changing the picture by difiusing rays of light between the objects, and diffusing rays of light and throwing pictures on the front of the screen. 6. The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in throwing rays of light behind a series of objects in rear of the screen to produce a shadow picture on the front of the screen, then. moving the source of light with reference t0 the objects to constantly change the outline of the shadow picture.

7. The method of producing illusionary effects on a screen consisting in throwing rays of light from a series of sources behind a series of objects in rear of the screen to produce a shadow picture on the front of the screen, then creating relative movement between the objects and the series of sources of light to produce a constant changing of the outline of the picture, and simultaneously diffusing rays of light on the front of the screen to assist in producing with the shadows a predetermined picture. I

8. The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in placing-a series of objects in rear of the screen and a plurality of sources of light'in rear of the objects to produce on the front of the screen a shadow picture, and simultaneously diffusing various colored rays of lights betweenthe series of sources of light and the rear surface of the screen to produce on the front of the latter predetermined colored shadow ictures.

9. The met 0d of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in placing a series of objects in rear of the screen and a plurality of sources of light in rear of the ob ects to produce on the front of picture, and simultaneousl diffusing various colored rays of lights between the series of sources of light and the rear surface of the screen to produce on the front of the latter predetermined colored shadow ictures, and simultaneously directing and on the front of the screen to blend with and harmonize with the shadow picture to change its form and eifect.

10. The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in I ifi'using rays of colored lights fusing various colored lights and pictures on the front of the screen to change the form and outline of the shadow icture.

12. The method of pro ucing illusionary effects on a translucent screen consisting in directing and diffusing various colored lights and pictures on the front of the screen and simultaneously moving a series of objects in rear of the screen in front of rays of light to produce shadows to. complete the picture on the front surface of the screen.

13. The method of producing illusionary 'efiects on a translucent screen consisting 1n producing constantly changing shadows on the screen and constantly changing degrees of light to form abase shadow picture, and simultaneously on the front of the screen and in cooperative relation with the 'base picture colored lights and sub-pictures to form a predetermined scene.

14L. The method of producing illusionary' .efiects consisting in producing a shadow on a screen to form a base picture and directing, dissolving and blending colored lights adding to the base picture and constantly chang- I ing the view.

15. The method of producing illusionaryv effects ona translucent screen consisting in throwing a shadow base plcture on the screen and directing, dissolving and blending colored lights on opposite sides of the screen to add to and constantly change the base shadow picture.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LANGDQN MCCORMICK.

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