Scene Shifting
Page 61
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Motor
ABUSINESS which involves a transport undertaking of peculiar characteristics and unusual interest is that carried on by Mr. T. Ireby Cape, proprietor of the Chiswick ;Studio, the head office and main store of which are at the tramways depot, 74, Chiswick High Road, London, W.4.
This studio maintains a tremendous stock of theatre scenery and stage properties and caters for the requirements of theatrical companies as well as a large number of amateur dramatic societies. The scenery has been acquired from lime to time from producers and others, the supply being added to by considerable quantities actually made at the Chiswick depot.
The material is not heavy but it is very bulky. It is most awkward to transport. Some of it folds up, but none of it is flimsy ; the collapse of a rostrum might wreck a play. Two floors at the tramway depot have areas of over 10,000 sq. ft. each and, additionally, four large railway arches are used. 'A carpentery shop and paint rooms are included, skilled workmen such as upholsterers and painters being employed.
But it is the transport which concerns us. It calls for special vehicles which,have large loading space and can accommodate very considerable bulk of material under • cover. Protection against rain is essential. After dealings with different types those responsible decided to employ a light four-wheeled chassis equipped with a two-wheeled turntable, attachment, so forming an articulated six-wheeler. Choice fell upon the Chevrolet 30-cwt. chassis and the attachment was supplied by Carrimore Six Wheelers, Ltd., of Finehley, London, N.12. That was about two years ago and the vehicle in question has since covered more than 25,000 miles. A good week's running means a distance covered of about 300 miles.
Several months ago another ChevroletCarrimore outfit was purchased—this says enough as to the satisfaction given by the first vehicle purchased. The two transport units are not identical, however. One is a special low loader with an arched frame, this providing a useful covered-body length of 24 ft. 6 ins., and being particularly suitable for the tallest of wing scenery. The six-wheeler with a straight frame has an interior length of 18 ft. 3 ins. In both cases the height allowed inside the body is just over 8 ft., this being the maximum width of most wing 'scenery that has to be carried.
In addition to these two special. vehicles, four-wheelers are employed on a contract basis, these dealing with less cumbersome pieces.
Long and Cumbersome Loads.
cIt should be explained that most theatre scenery runs to 18 ft. in height. Some theatres, like the Haymarket and His ' Majesty's, call for higher wings and back cloths, the maximum height being about 22 ft. )3ack cloths themselves are longer than that, however, generally running to 24 ft. in width. These, of course, are rolled up on poles, being accommodated on the vans by protrusion forward over the driver's cab.
When it comes to smaller material, such as that used by amateurs, which may be anything from 10 ft. to 18 ft. in height, more than three outfits may sometimes be accommodated.
This brings us.,to the important point about amateur productions. They are developing enormously of recent years. If it were not for this fact the Chiswick Scenic Studio would often have its sixwheelers idle during the week, most professional programmes changing during the week-end and making a sudden demand then for transport. The excellent feature of amateur societies; from the transport manager's point of view, is that so many of their plays, sketches and operas are produced for two or three nights only. It is easily seen that a "Merrie England" outfit or the setting for any Gilbert and Sullivan opera may possibly be shifted from one hall to another, appearing at five or six places in a week.
The Scala Theatre is the centre of the vortex of London amateur dramatics, and it takes 18-ft. scenery. If the numerous suburban halls had stages of the same size things would be easier, but the stage heights of these halls range between: 18 ft and 10 ft. This neceSS1tates keeping scenery for every popular, Production in three sizes, some even in foUr sizes. Hence the large number of sections in the-store. There are calculated to be about 750 back cloths alone. Provincial amateurs generally use the local theatres and call for full-size outfits.
There is a good deal of standing time, for the vehicles take about an hour to discharge one complete set. At the London theatres stage hands assist with this work, they and the studio employees being skilled at it. Sometimes a van' will wait at a Yell all the evening for Scenery employed for a single night. Very often a theatre will be cleared after the Curtain falls'on .Saturday night, the material then being taken straight to another theatre or railway station for transfer into the truck set aside for some touring company.
The road motors effect deliveries practically everywhere in the home counties, and are very often sent much farther afield, the saving, in such things as driver's lodging away from town, that results from dispatch by rail being largely outbalanced by the liability of damage when properties are handled by railway porters.