Rising Curtain

Fred Petersen has finally got his rising curatin installed at the Garrick Theatre in Guildford in time for his next production of Let's Kill Agatha Christy which opens next week. Fred says this is the first amateur theatre in Perth to have a rising curtain fitted so come along and have a look.

>Don Allen wrote:
>-------------------------------
>Fred Petersen has finally got his rising curatin installed at the Garrick Theatre in
>Guildford in time for his next production of Let's Kill Agatha Christy which opens next
>week. Fred says this is the first amateur theatre in Perth to have a rising curtain
>fitted so come along and have a look.

What about the Dolphin Theatre at UWA? As I recall that has a rising curtain, or have I got terminology confused somewhere?

Amanda Chesterton

The Dolphin was built and is funded by UWA

I presume he is talking about the ‘House - Curtain’.

If so - I am Sorry Fred! It was used many years ago and I have done it since, for a number of amateur productions.- The old ‘Theatre Guild’, which was at the top end of Hay Street -just over Milligan Street, in the sixties - had a rising curtain, as you termed it {the Guild was an amateur theatre}, as flying was not possible with the gable roof space they had. The curtain could also be used as a contoured type that could be lifted in different shapes, either manually or motorised - It was very effective yet rather primitive in construction by today’s standards. It was built by Don Ellement (if my memory serves me - Coralie's brother I think?) It was drawn up via 16 separate wires weighted at the tail through fair-leads attached to the curtain, drawn through pulleys that were fixed at the top of the house curtain’s head batten. These were then pulled by another batten which was suspended in the gable ceiling void, above the audience, then winched towards the rear of the auditorium. The motor was upstage OP side (to reduce noise) and a cable was routed through to the back of the auditorium with pre-set ‘deads’, which were adjustable, to give auto shut off to the motor. It was also possible to adjust each line to give different shaping to the curtain for particular shows. Much the same effect as the ‘Halls -Contoured Curtains’ found in Britain. We did devise a method, via a small modification, it could be also drawn as in a tabulating curtain effect, if the script required it.

I have used a similar method for raising ‘dead - hung’ leg drops, cloths and even a swing where ‘flying’ is impossible because of no loft space and/or being restricted by the roof.

Good on ya’ Fred, for doing something which is not the ‘norm’ - but as for the first time???? - Sorry - might be just the first time at your theatre.

Joe McCabe

I can confirm the rising curtain at the Theatre Guild Theatre,as I worked there when it became the Titan Theatre (Tweed Harris& Joey Leonard)& remember the curtain calls when the cast wondered whether the curtain would function or not.It wasn't so much the "rising curtain" that was the problem,but whether it would FALL again.It had a habit,on occasions,of coming down to about kneecap or ankle height,& stopping.At that point the SM,or whoever was available would, attempt to get it back on the cogs,or whatever (sorry Joe,I don't do "Tech speak " too well).
Meanwhile,the cast would be trying to decide whether to leave the line up,or stay put.Sometimes it was a split decision,with some ankles leaving before others.
On other occasions the SM decided the applause warranted another curtain raise,& with luck,drop.This resulted in "castaways" scurrying back into position.Oh,HAPPY DAYS.
Having disturbed the Ghost of Titan I wonder if there are any more stories which may amuse.I've opened the batting!

You may remember - during Titan days "Alfie" season, I think it was the night the Lt. Governor was invited???? The curtain became jammed and would not rise - Or was that during the "rape of the belt" I can't be sure - anyway all I can remember is climbing the barrier in the ligt box {positioned off OP side above the stage} jumping and grabbing the main curtain cable, Bob Wegman followed me and grabbed me and we both became counterweights, so the curtain could rise, I put a 'billy-strop' on the cable and achored it to one of the supports of the box - while Bob repositioned the chain on the bicycle crank sprocket {which was the highly secret and in-exspensive mechanism - It may have been one left over from "Miss Cifford's" old bicycle - The she used to chain up to the gates at the front of the 'Maj' on opening nights, but that's another........ - But it was effective and cheap.} If I remeber we did not miss any cues, as Bob brought up the lights for that cue before he jumped - That's probably why I got to the cable first.

Joe