What are these products and what do they do? (Stage brace)

[kicknargel]

At least a few years ago when I still worked for an opera we still used these. We still did the occasional muslin broadway flat as well, for flats that were large and needed to be gripped on for an intermission scene change--hollywoods would have been too heavy. We did big operas in a space with small wings and the set had to come apart pretty far for changes.

Nick Kargel
www.YouWantWhatProductions.com

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Footer

Along with that was the wonderful stage screw. I have a small collection of stage braces of different vintages along with stage screws. They make great office decorations.

Well now that you mention the stage screw, I have to do the joke!
What's the difference between a stage kiss and a stage screw?
About 15 minutes...

[ship]

Originally Posted by Tex

Well now that you mention the stage screw, I have to do the joke!
What's the difference between a stage kiss and a stage screw?
About 15 minutes...

Never heard that one before and don't understand it. Got my 1926 oak 16' stage brace from a theater that had a stock of 18" thru like 20' ones. Used it over the years from pulling gel between scenes to pulling tape off my peg wall for it. Never used it for its purpose but its an antique and I do love it as a concept for what it did. Should I still do scenery it would still have a purpose for me if quick change for the upper support a jack didn't fill the need for most often.

Kind of like a fire hook back stage overall, don't get rid of them even if not as much needed these days. Could be years but still useful. At least every fourth month I do pull such a thing out for a useful pushing, grabbing or pulling application - very useful tool to have about. And for theater such tools are still useful especially for support of taller flats where a stage jack won't support as well short of more material should it be needed.

Found in the past you don't persay need to screw jack into the floor to suppot such a thing, say a plate of soft rubber under a stage weighted plywood floor plate such a jack is screwed into. With weight the jack won't move and you don't need to screw into the floor in a similar way to if you add stage weight and soft rubber to a stage jack, you also don't need to screw it to the floor.

Makes damage to the deck and tie for removal less no matter which system used.

[derekleffew]

If storage of the "rocker heel" variety is a problem:

Take a 2x4 x (number of stage braces x 3") long. Pound 12d finish nails or drive 3" screws into the 1.5" edge on 3" centers, leaving 1.5"-2" sticking out. Draw a line on the face corresponding to the location of each nail. Affix the 2x4 to a blank out-of-the-way wall about 10' up, nails on top. Hang your braces upside-down, hooking the hole in the heel over the nail. (The line on the face shows you where the nail is.)

Keeps them off the floor, out of corners, and protects them from damage. Those afflicted with OCD will want to organize them by length from left-to-right or right-to-left.


Peachy Productions