telephone receivers
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1928
Printed Date: 10/31/25 at 4:20am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: telephone receivers
Posted By: mlittle
Subject: telephone receivers
Date Posted: 7/17/06 at 3:04pm
|
We are currently in production for Bye Bye Birdie and in desparate need of 20 telephone receivers for the Telephone Hour scene. Any suggestions where to look? ------------- mlittle |
Replies:
Posted By: castMe
Date Posted: 7/17/06 at 3:56pm
|
Our production was designed with very cartoon-y sets and costumes, so
we built our own handsets from sheets of foam. As I remember, we
used 1-1/2" thick foam, doubled it so the phone really read from the
house. They were about a foot long, maybe closer to 9 inches. We
glued the halves together (always an adventure) and base- and
top-coated them. The top-coat was one of the following: red,
yellow, green, pink or blue and was also used on the five revolving
upstage 12 foot by 5 foot rear wall flats. The kids were on a
number of platforms and the handsets looked great. No noise if
dropped and practically indestructable (not that you can easily destroy
one of those old Bell-Tell Bakalite phones). I realize this doesn't answer the question of where to find real ones, but it's always nice to have a plan "B". ------------- Investigate. Imagine. Choose. |
Posted By: Playwright
Date Posted: 7/17/06 at 8:11pm
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If you lived up here in Canada near me, I could get you all the hand sets you need. My hubby works for the phone company. Try some to the store that sell used clothes etc. We have a place up here called the Re-Use centre where you can get almost any prop you could possibly need. |
Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 7/18/06 at 1:53am
| This is the perfect subject matter for an amusing news release in your local paper! Hit two birds with one stone -- publicize your show and ask the public to help you find the telephones you need. You might even find some new volunteers for your theatre! Good luck! |
Posted By: Aimee
Date Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:33pm
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Kathy, that is a great idea.! Like mlittle we are doing Bye Bye Biride this fall as well. Now I have one less prop to worry about! If all else fails we use plan B! Aimee ------------- Aimee |
Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:16am
I love plan B! When in doubt use foam!!
|
Posted By: castMe
Date Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:31pm
Shatcher. Whenever I hit a snag in production that is not easily
resolved, I tell my stage manager, "OK, no problem. We go to Plan
"B"." They will usually set me up by asking what it is.
"I'll let you know when I come up with it." 
------------- Investigate. Imagine. Choose. |
Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 7/21/06 at 9:54am
| I think I have used that one on more than one director! |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 8/01/06 at 11:06pm
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We in Findlay, OH did Birdie a couple years ago. We hit every Goodwill, Salvation Army, flea market and junk shop to find all the phone we needed. After they were painted bright colors (Nickelodeon color scheme from Lowes) they looked great. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: pauliebonn
Date Posted: 9/02/06 at 2:56am
| You might find that when you need an older prop, the parents of the teens that you have cast would probably have an 70's or 80's style phone reciever at home. |