Theater Footlights inquiry

[David Swarens]

Hello all.

I am looking for examples of mid 19th century period footlights.

I am most interested in 1860's period original "fixtures" and period photographs, but am not turning up much, surprizingly, of anything, through the usuall sources of libraries and the internet.

I do have documents of the Eagle Theatre, c. 1850, from Sacramento (City) in California, and have corresponded with one of the curators from Ford's Theater (they have no documents, and the "interperative" replicas from the 1960's were removed soon after restoration, to make way for modern theatre uses).

I did find one source which suggested that candlelight was preferred to oil lamps as a lighting source, because of the smell for the near audience, and also hoped for more information on if this was the practice after the lighting improvements of the 1860's.

Footlights used a reflector/shield, much like a wall sconce, which hid the glare of the light source from the audience while illuminating the players who trod the boards.

I would like information on the sconce/shield/reflector, and finishes, including materials (usually tin, I believe), decorative painting on these, and lighting sources.

I am looking to do an installation in an 1868 site

Thanks, in advance, for any help!

Yours,
David Swarens

[celtfiddler]

Re: Theater Footlights inquiry

You might want to try contacting The League of Historic American Theaters for information

http://www.lhat.org

They might be able to provide some guidance.

[Material Culture]

Re: Theater Footlights inquiry

Do you have the ability to do gaslights. Gas stage lighting was invented in 1816. They were all the rage in France. In 1848 the one French theatre (may have been the Ambigu)was spending 30,000 Francs a year on oil and half that for gas. In 1861 Theatre Montparnasse was not hooked up to gas lines so they had portable gas brought in.

New York University has a library for 19th Century Theater Research.


Sam Hayle
Theatrical Mess

[Stephen Shepherd]

Limelight

Limelight was developed in 1826 and produces an intense white light as the oxygen/hydrogen incandensce in porous limestone. A container with some iron scraps, filings &c. is filled with sulfuric acid producing hydrogen gas which is directed to the limestone where it burns when mixed with oxygen a very bright light. And that is where the term 'In the Limelight' comes from.

Stephen Shepherd

[Stephen Shepherd]

Re: Theater Footlights inquiry

Also Called the Drummond light 1854. The lime-light, or oxyhydrogen light (invented by Capt. T. Drummond, R.E., c 1825), wherein a blow-pipe flame, e.g. of combined oxygen and hydrogen, impinges on a piece of pure lime , and renders it incandescent. (Oxford Universal Dictionary)

The later date of 1854 is when it was first called a Drummond Light.

Stephen Shepherd

[David Swarens]

Re: Theater Footlights inquiry

Thanks all for the quick responses!

I will follow up on the reference.

We do not have the ability to pipe for gas, and have no suggestion that this was done at our site in the period either, so wish to stick with the simpler footlights.

As for "limelight," I understand (though I admit ignorance on the subject) that it resulted in a focused light.

Our theater will be a "passive" exhibit, unfortunately, more often than not, as we are a house museum open six or seven days a week (by season), so most visitors will experience a "dark stage."

We have, and hope to again, present on the stage, and to have the lighting "functional" for that, but our primary goal is to interpret the historic activity of the space, the first commercial theatre in San Diego (and located in a structure that was also a home and store) on a daily basis.

While we do have descriptions of, and advertizements for, the "moral and chaste" productions offered by the Tanner troupe, we have a very limited description of the actual space, so our interpretation will need have a speculative character, so we wish to error on side of most common period practice we should reasonably expect for a modest stage of the 1860's, as well as an exhibit set up that "shows" well when not in active use.

Another question re footlights; any reinforcement on the tin reflectors, such as wired edges or beading?

Thanks again, and looking forward to hearing more, and from others too!
Yours,
David Swarens

[Canebrake Rifle Guards]

Re: Theater Footlights inquiry

Many of the factories in the south used gaslights fueled by rosin. Might be the case for theaters as well.

Greg Starbuck