Writing for Vaudeville Part 91

JOG.--A short flat used to vary a set by being placed between regulation flats to form angles or corners in a room.

LASH-LINE.--Used on flats to join them tightly together.

LEAD-SHEET.--A musical notation giving a melody of a popular song; a skeleton of a song.

LEGITIMATE.--Used to designate the stage, actors, theatres, etc., that present the full-evening play.

MELODRAMA.--A sensational drama, full of incident and making a violent appeal to the emotions.

MUGGING.--A contortion of the features to win laughter, irrespective of its consistency with the lines or actions.

OLIO.--A drop curtain full across the stage, working flat against the tormentors (which see). It is used as a background for acts in One, and often to close-in on acts playing in Two, Three and Four.

ONE.--That part of the stage lying between the tormentors and the line drawn between the bases of the proscenium arch.

OPEN SET.--A scene composed of a rear drop and matching wings, and not "boxed"--that is, not completely enclosed. See "BOX SET."

PALACE SET.--Palace scene.

PART.--Noun: the ma.n.u.script of one character's speeches and business; the character taken by an actor. Verb: to take, or play, a character.

PLAY UP, TO.--To pitch the key of a scene high; to play with rush and emphasis.

PLUGGER.--A booster, a singer who sings new songs to make them popular.

POINT.--The laugh-line of a gag (see "GAG"), or the funny observation of a monologue.

PRODUCE, TO.--To mount a ma.n.u.script on the stage.

PRODUCER.--One who produces plays, playlets, and other acts.

PROPERTIES.--Furniture, dishes, telephones, the what-not employed to lend reality--scenery excepted. Stage accessories.

PROPERTY-MAN.--The man who takes care of the properties.

PROPS.--Property-man; also short for properties.

PROSCENIUM ARCH.--The arch through which the audience views the stage.

RIGGING, STAGE.--The ropes, pulleys, etc., by which the scenery is worked.

RIPPLE-LAMP.--A clock-actuated mechanism fitted with ripple-gla.s.s and attached to the spot-light to cast wave-effects, etc., on or through the drops.

ROUTE.--A series of playing dates. To "route" is to "book"

acts.

ROUTINE.--Arrangement. A specific arrangement of the parts of a state offering, as a "monologue routine," or a "dance routine."

SCENARIO.--The story of the play in outline.

SET.--Noun: a room or other scene set on the stage. Verb: to erect the wings, drops, and flats to form a scene.

SET OF LINES.--Rigging to be tied to drops and other scenery to lift them up into the flies.

SIGHT ACT.--See "DUMB ACT."

SINGLE MAN--SINGLE WOMAN.--A man or woman playing alone; a monologist, solo singer, etc.

SLAP-STICK BUSINESS.--Business that wins laughs by use of physical methods.

SMALL-TIME, THE.--The circuits playing three or more shows a day.

SOUND-EFFECTS.--The noise of cocoanut sh.e.l.ls imitating horses'

hoof-beats, the sound of waves mechanically made, and the like.

SPOT-LIGHT.--An arc-light with lenses to concentrate the light into a spot to follow the characters around the stage.

STAGE-DRACE.--An implement used with stage-screws to clamp flats firmly to the floor.

STAGE-CENTRE.--The centre of the stage.

STAGE-LEFT.--The audience's right.

STAGE-MANAGER.--One who manages the "working" of a show behind the scenes; usually the stage-carpenter.

STAGE-RIGGING.--See "RIGGING, STAGE."

STAGE-RIGHT.--The audience's left.

STRIKE, TO.--To clear the stage of scenery.

STRIP-LIGHT.--Electric bulbs contained in short tin troughs, hung behind doors, etc., to illuminate the backings.

TAB.--The contraction of "tabloid," as burlesque tab, musical comedy tab.

TALKING SINGLE.--A one-person act using stories, gags, etc.

THREE.--The stage s.p.a.ce six or more feet behind the rear boundaries of Two.

TIME.--Playing engagements. See "BIG-TIME," "SMALL-TIME."

TORMENTORS.--Movable first wings behind which the Olio runs, fronting the audience.

TRAP.--A section of the stage floor cut for an entrance to the scene from below.

TRY-OUT.--The first presentation of an act for trial before an audience with a view to booking.

TWO.--The stage s.p.a.ce between the Olio and the set of wings six or more feet behind the Olio.

TWO-A-DAY.--Stage argot for vaudeville.

WING.--A double frame of wood covered with painted canvas and used in open sets as a flat is used in box sets; so constructed that it stands alone as a book will when its covers are opened at right angles.

WOOD-CRASH.--An appliance so constructed that when the handle is turned a noise like a man falling downstairs, or the crash of a fight, is produced.

WOOD-SET.--The scenery used to form a forest or woods.

WORKING DRAPERY.--See "DRAPERY, WORKING."

WORK OPPOSITE ANOTHER, TO.--To play a character whose speeches are nearly all with the other.