fly-gallery

Sometimes twenty to twenty-five feet above the stage level is a light-gallery, on each side of the stage running parallel to the fly-gallery, but under it.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

There is a "fly-gallery," as it is called, usually ten to fifteen feet wide, some twenty-five to thirty-five feet above the stage level and extending from the front to the back walls of the stage on one side, against the side wall, usually of steel and concrete.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

These lines attached to the scenery are usually in sets of three, sometimes four, and extend straight up through the blocks in the gridiron and across the gridiron down to the pin-rail in the fly-gallery.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

In troughs hung across the stage by steel cables from the gridiron, their height regulated from the fly-gallery, are the various border lights, each usually in three circuits, red, white and blue.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

The stage manager, when he wants the scene taken away, gives the order "strike" to the stage hands, or "grips," as they are called, who are on the stage level, and he pushes a button for the head-flyman in the "fly-gallery" to fly whatever scenery goes up.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

There is usually a second stage carpenter, or second-hand assigned to work at the side of the stage opposite the stage carpenter, and a boss flyman, whose station is up above in the fly-gallery.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

There is also a "drop" signal buzzer or light to give the head flyman in the fly-gallery the signals that indicate when to raise and lower certain "drops," or hanging pieces.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

Often there is a counterweight or bag attached to the lines above the fly-gallery to help carry the weight of the heavy scenery as it is sent aloft to its resting place in the flies, out of sight of the audience and out of the way of everybody on stage.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

Then there is the "paint-bridge," perhaps five feet wide, extending across the stage at the back wall from side to side, on a line with the "fly-gallery."

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn

Running from the back wall of the stage to the proscenium wall all the way of the fly-gallery on the front edge nearest the stage is the pin-rail, very strong and imbedded in the wall front and back of the stage; it holds all the scenery that goes aloft.

The Art of Stage Dancing The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession Ned Wayburn