set. FLIPPER.—Scenery extension—particularly
used to contain curtained entrance to One, and generally
set at right angles to the proscenium arch (which
see). FLIRTATION ACT.—An act presented
by a man and a woman playing lover-like scenes.
FLY-GALLERY.—The balcony between the stage
and the grid iron, from where the scenery is worked.
FLYMEN.—The men assigned to the fly-gallery.
FOUR.—The stage space six or more feet behind
the rear boundaries of Three. FRONT OF THE HOUSE.—The
auditorium in front of the curtain. FULL STAGE.—Same
as Four. GAG.—Any joke or pun.
See “POINT.” GENRE.—Kind,
style, type. GET OVER, TO.—To make
a speech or entire act a success. GLASS-CRASH.—A
basket filled with broken glass, used to imitate the
noise of breaking a window and the like. GO BIG.—When
a performer, act, song, gag, etc., wins much
applause it is said to “go big.”
GRAND DRAPERY.—See “DRAPERY, GRAND.”
GRIDIRON.—An iron network above the stage
on which is hung the rigging by which the scenery
is worked. GRIP.—The man who sets
scenery or grips it. HAND, TO GET A.—To
receive applause. HOUSE CURTAIN.—The
curtain running flat against the proscenium arch;
it is raised at the beginning and lowered at the end
of the performance; sometimes use to “close-in”
on an act. INTERIOR BACKING.—See “BACKING,
INTERIOR.” 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 manuscript 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 manuscript on the stage. PRODUCER.—One
who produces plays, playlets, and other acts.
PROPERTIES.—Furniture, dishes, telephones,
the what-not employed to lend reality—scenery