Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Broadway-type Track System

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Musicman315
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Joined: 8/11/09
Location: United States
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Topic: Broadway-type Track System
Posted: 8/11/09 at 11:12am

Hi everyone. You know how in Broadway shows, set pieces come in automatically via track systems in the floor? Does anyone know how they work or where you can get them? I would be interested in trying to install one in my theater. Thanks!

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David McCall
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Joined: 1/28/09
Location: United States
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Posts: 299

Posted: 8/11/09 at 12:43pm

I went looking to see what I could find on the subject and stumbled onto this. It isn't what you were looking for, but it was too cool pass up. I saw this show and it blew me away.

http://www.auerbachconsultants.com/pdf/Auerbach_KA.pdf

http://www.tisfoon.com/articles/KA_LSA_reprint.pdf

Then there is Phantom in Vegas

http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/lsa/article_archive/Phantom.pdf

While the above is very interesting, it doesn't really answer your question. Most shows that use automation have a stage that is built up by 6"-18" over the venue's existing stage. All of the mechanism to move items around is housed below the floor, and there are slits in the floor that connect the scenery to the moving items. Think San Francisco's cable cars. The mechanism ca be as simple as a cable loop with pulleys and a capstan with a crank handle. Most often they are motorized.

It is quite fascinating, and I'm sure quite expensive.

David M

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
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Posts: 1181

Posted: 8/11/09 at 8:15pm

As david suggested using a false stage & whiching trucks on/off stage. Works well with the use of 'rabbits' attached to the cable & drop in spigots on the plynth of truck. Or i have utalising a tab track, by hanging flats from the runners & tabulating them on & off. Much the same principle as venetian vertical window blinds. Which is a cheap way to go. With operating lines, the flats can be reversed to change scenes.

This site may help you;- MediciWings it gives a lot of anceint mechanical ideas.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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David McCall
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Joined: 1/28/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 299

Posted: 8/11/09 at 9:20pm

When I worked with the Asolo Comedy Festival in the early 60s they used a setup similar to the last example on that page. The paintings were quite wonderful.

They had wood and Masonite tracks on the floor and over the stage to provide slots to slide the flats on and off. There were 3 or 4 slots at each location. they also had a set of borders to represent clouds, royal ceiling, and a rustic ceiling. When the stage manager whistled, all of the flats and borders moved at the same time.

We were doing 5 shows in rep and the system worked really well.

David M

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Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 8/11/09 at 11:27pm

Some of the older theatres in UK, when I worked there,still had the slide slot systems, with grooves set in the stage, similar to that in China & Japan theatres. Also some Roman style 'Colesious[can't remember how to spell it?] wing leg flats.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
Musicman315 Walk-On Joined: 8/11/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Broadway-type Track System Posted: 8/11/09 at 11:12am
	Hi everyone. You know how in Broadway shows, set pieces come in automatically via track systems in the floor? Does anyone know how they work or where you can get them? I would be interested in trying to install one in my theater. Thanks!

	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 8/11/09 at 12:43pm
	I went looking to see what I could find on the subject and stumbled onto this. It isn't what you were looking for, but it was too cool pass up. I saw this show and it blew me away. http://www.auerbachconsultants.com/pdf/Auerbach_KA.pdf http://www.tisfoon.com/articles/KA_LSA_reprint.pdf Then there is Phantom in Vegas http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/lsa/article_archive/Phantom.pdf While the above is very interesting, it doesn't really answer your question. Most shows that use automation have a stage that is built up by 6"-18" over the venue's existing stage. All of the mechanism to move items around is housed below the floor, and there are slits in the floor that connect the scenery to the moving items. Think San Francisco's cable cars. The mechanism ca be as simple as a cable loop with pulleys and a capstan with a crank handle. Most often they are motorized. It is quite fascinating, and I'm sure quite expensive.
	David M
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/11/09 at 8:15pm
	As david suggested using a false stage & whiching trucks on/off stage. Works well with the use of 'rabbits' attached to the cable & drop in spigots on the plynth of truck. Or i have utalising a tab track, by hanging flats from the runners & tabulating them on & off. Much the same principle as venetian vertical window blinds. Which is a cheap way to go. With operating lines, the flats can be reversed to change scenes. This site may help you;- MediciWings it gives a lot of anceint mechanical ideas.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 8/11/09 at 9:20pm
	When I worked with the Asolo Comedy Festival in the early 60s they used a setup similar to the last example on that page. The paintings were quite wonderful. They had wood and Masonite tracks on the floor and over the stage to provide slots to slide the flats on and off. There were 3 or 4 slots at each location. they also had a set of borders to represent clouds, royal ceiling, and a rustic ceiling. When the stage manager whistled, all of the flats and borders moved at the same time. We were doing 5 shows in rep and the system worked really well.
	David M
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/11/09 at 11:27pm
	Some of the older theatres in UK, when I worked there,still had the slide slot systems, with grooves set in the stage, similar to that in China & Japan theatres. Also some Roman style 'Colesious[can't remember how to spell it?] wing leg flats.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Topic: Broadway-type Track System( Topic Closed)