Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Are You Being Served

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Ed Young
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 4/06/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: Are You Being Served
Posted: 4/06/05 at 10:20am

I've been asked to create Elevator Doors for this show. The Director wants two. Any suggestions on how to make one?

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Topper
Celebrity

Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 543

Posted: 4/06/05 at 12:18pm

Perhaps your simplest solution would be to visit your
local home improvement store to purchase a pair of
4' sliding closet doors and an extra track.

Instead of mounting both doors on one track, use
one door for each elevator and use the extra track for
the second elevator. Be sure to screw in stop-blocks
so the doors don't go flying of the rails. Hide all
hardware out of view behind the flats.

The doors would be operated manually by actors or
stagehands concealed behind the flats.

(Incidentally, this is exactly how the original "Star
Trek" series did their sliding doors. Doors opened
and shut by a concealed stagehand and the familiar
"Whoosh" sound was added in post-editing.)

Best of luck to you.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 4/06/05 at 1:56pm

If I can remember from the BBC Phomy TV show, Grace Bros had lift operators & two lifts with oak panel single doors on each lift, along with a slim elongated inspection window set in, however the stage script may differ! http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1973/gallery/areyoubei ngserved.shtml

Topper is correct with the tracked doors. You can rig them up easily with counterweight closures, which the lift operators work, remembering as the lifts are set side by side, put a flat between to accommodate the doors or have them opening in opposite directions, you can work it with independent tab hand lines to open, using the counterweight & pulley system to close. You can have a simple rope break, that is fool proofed or a shelf settle, the weight can rest on, when the door are open - If you have the lift operators, they can physically use a hand line to open the doors, holding the line & the weight, then release it to close!

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Author	Message
Ed Young Walk-On Joined: 4/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Are You Being Served Posted: 4/06/05 at 10:20am
	I've been asked to create Elevator Doors for this show. The Director wants two. Any suggestions on how to make one?

	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 4/06/05 at 12:18pm
	Perhaps your simplest solution would be to visit your local home improvement store to purchase a pair of 4' sliding closet doors and an extra track. Instead of mounting both doors on one track, use one door for each elevator and use the extra track for the second elevator. Be sure to screw in stop-blocks so the doors don't go flying of the rails. Hide all hardware out of view behind the flats. The doors would be operated manually by actors or stagehands concealed behind the flats. (Incidentally, this is exactly how the original "Star Trek" series did their sliding doors. Doors opened and shut by a concealed stagehand and the familiar "Whoosh" sound was added in post-editing.) Best of luck to you.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 4/06/05 at 1:56pm
	If I can remember from the BBC Phomy TV show, Grace Bros had lift operators & two lifts with oak panel single doors on each lift, along with a slim elongated inspection window set in, however the stage script may differ! http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1973/gallery/areyoubei ngserved.shtml Topper is correct with the tracked doors. You can rig them up easily with counterweight closures, which the lift operators work, remembering as the lifts are set side by side, put a flat between to accommodate the doors or have them opening in opposite directions, you can work it with independent tab hand lines to open, using the counterweight & pulley system to close. You can have a simple rope break, that is fool proofed or a shelf settle, the weight can rest on, when the door are open - If you have the lift operators, they can physically use a hand line to open the doors, holding the line & the weight, then release it to close!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
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Topic: Are You Being Served( Topic Closed)