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I am looking for some information on this subject. There is approximately 50-60 of these at the Masonic in Detroit dating between 1929-1949. They are huge. One the these has the name of an Art Studio from Chicago, but I am unable to make it out. I Would like to know the process of making one. I find it amazing. Kevin Betz
-------------------- Kevin Betz KB Sign Company 21321 Ulrich Clinton Township, MI 48036 kbsigncompany@att.net Posts: 229 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Sep 2003
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You can then type in whatever you're looking for and click on the "search" button. The art of this is deciding what words to use for your search to get the best results.
In your case, I might type "theater backdrop, chicago". Notice the comma and space between the two thoughts. You can add as many items to your search to narrow it down as you like, but I would recommend no more than two or three.
What you get back is a very long list of websites to check out. Many will be far from what you're looking for, but as a general rule of thumb, the ones towards the beginning of the list will be most likely to contain your info.
If at first you don't succeed, go back to the google search engine and try different words or a different combination. Maybe try just "theater backdrops", or maybe "theater curtains" will work. It's all hit and miss, but you'll get the idea in no time.
By the way, one of the websites that popped up when I tried googling your question was Haywood Arts . There were a gazillion more websites, but I found this one towards the top of the list that google gave me. The Haywood Arts site doesn't seem show how they're made, just has a nice gallery of backdrops to look at. You may need to fine tune your search words (fancy way of saying "trial and error") to find how they're produced.
Enjoy! Googling is fun, and a great way to learn.
By the way, you can find images instead of websites the same way. Just click on the "images" button at the top of the seach page (where it says web, images, groups, news,etc). That will take you to a new seach page, which works exactly the same, but will pull images off the net for you to peruse.
Hope this is helpful. I know you're brand new to the internet, so assume this is new stuff for you.
[ May 15, 2004, 07:01 AM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
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Thanks for showing KrazyKevin how to Google, Don. There will be NO stopping him now! Another thing that I have always found interesting is the "backgrounds" in old turn-of-the century photographs. Surely these had to have been hand-painted? Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I helped my father paint a backdrop at a Scottish Rite temple, which was across the street from the masonic temple in Trenton, NJ. I was in my early teens at the time. I remember my dad had to do alot of asking around before we did the work, because it was not the usual work for us.
We painted in casein. I may not be spelling that right. It's a water based paint derived from milk. I used to think it was derived from eggs, but it's not, it's milk. I remember having to wet the canvas as he painted. Occasionally I would help fill in a larger area. What we painted was a depiction of the room for the last supper. Evidently, they performed reinactments on stage with real people, and this was the backdrop. I know we had to snap alot of lines for all the stones and tiles. The paint soaked right into the canvas, then dried, so I imagine it would last quite awhile. We used cutters and fitches with white china bristles, and it seems like we had to kind of scrub the paint on as opposed to just a one stroke kind of thing.
That's about the gist of what I can recall...it was the only time I was ever around that kind of paint, so maybe some other folks here may have run across it in their travels, and could add their 2 cents on the topic.....
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Years ago I worked in a Lort C Equity Regional Theatre, Very good designations for a live theatre. They had one of the few remaining "paint frames" left on this coast. It seems theatre designers felt the space was better used in other ways!? How wrong. The frame is the last piece on a fly system. This one was approx 80'wide by 40' tall, and had to fly up to clear the stage! The frame is made of 1x4's and 1x6's and hung as a solid piece. It was placed behind everything and on the back wall so next show scenery could be left at working height. On any area of the frame scenery or muslin could be stapled on, sized with glue/water mix and painted. The ability to fly the piece up and down helped to paint in one area all the way to the top instead of getting on the floor. The most fascinating time was watching the painters make this huge canvas come to life. Most of the paints were purchased from some of the large theatre supply houses in New York. This was a long time ago and I can't remember brand names anymore. On night about 3am I'll remember, then go back to sleep and forget again!
-------------------- Michael A Latham Tee's Me Shirt & Sign 16462 Jefferson Davis Highway Colonial Heights Va. 804-835-3299 signdogopie@aol.com Posts: 379 | From: Colonial Heights, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Thank's for the thoughts and sharing. If I remember, Picasso used to do this in his early years. I wonder if this might be something to produce at the meet. There is a frame already in place on the stage that has been there since 1930. Any thoughts?
krazy kevin
-------------------- Kevin Betz KB Sign Company 21321 Ulrich Clinton Township, MI 48036 kbsigncompany@att.net Posts: 229 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Sep 2003
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Jon, What a cool job that was! A once in a lifetime opportunity.
I found out after I had 5 years as a signpainter, that my great grandfather painted backgrounds for his local theater in Indiana. I musta got his genes.
-------------------- Mark Casey Casey Sign Co., Inc. Berkley, MI Posts: 76 | From: Berkley, MI, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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I agree with Mark, cool stuff. Hey Mark, do you or someone in your family have any pictures? Also, what was the name of the book you have showing some of that work. After reading your post,John, it looks like that drop will be around for a long time, and appreciated. If someone was to do one from start, would you make a pattern, draw it by hand, project it, etc.
Kevin
-------------------- Kevin Betz KB Sign Company 21321 Ulrich Clinton Township, MI 48036 kbsigncompany@att.net Posts: 229 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Sep 2003
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Kevin, I have no pictures at all. I just saw two photos of an old sign shop sell on eBay for $152.00!!!, so I wish I did have photos.
That book I have is called Banner Bright. Its one of my favorites because I've never seen such a collection of top notch hand painted banners in one book in my life. The ornamentation on them is incredible.
If I were hired to make one of those backdrops today, I would lay it out by hand directly on the backdrop from a scale sketch; but to each their own. There are several ways of doing it.
-------------------- Mark Casey Casey Sign Co., Inc. Berkley, MI Posts: 76 | From: Berkley, MI, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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So, Mark and Kevin, do we have another project leader for Detroit? This definitely would be a skill that can be used today. If not for money, it will be especially useful when it comes to Letterhead parents helping out with their childs school play.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Doing one of those advertising backdrops in the style that Jon Butterworth got to do DOES look like a lot of fun. If Kevin can set it up that way (I'm not really a pictorial artiste, per se), I'll run the project. Do you suppose we can use OneShot? Or maybe poster colors would be more pliable. I just don't like the colors or mixability of the poster colors.
90% of the hand painting I do in a year is in the form of donations to the area schools and churches. Its a great way to keep in practice and have fun, make people happy, and they pay for the materials.
-------------------- Mark Casey Casey Sign Co., Inc. Berkley, MI Posts: 76 | From: Berkley, MI, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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I think we have a winner. I never dreamed of something like this. I have seen alot of art before, but this one really has my juices flowing. Our committee will get started on this right away. I would like to thank Mark for stepping up to the plate. If all goes well, this one should be: loooong gone, a home run. If anyone has any suggestions, ideas, etc. please feel free to comment. Thanks guy's.
-------------------- Kevin Betz KB Sign Company 21321 Ulrich Clinton Township, MI 48036 kbsigncompany@att.net Posts: 229 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Sep 2003
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