[SML] Automatically lifting a black masking curtain?

[Riter, Andrew]

Similarily, use the version 2  with the hinged uprights, and some trick line for someone (the magician behind, tech offstage) to pull the trick line, popping the hinges?

If the top hanger can stay in place:
2 verticals lifted into place with the top cross member attached
The curtain is tied to the top piece with a slip rope.

Pull the rope through and out, and the drape drops, but the structural elements remain.

I don’t use solenoids (not my department), but I believe they tend to be noisy.  Many threads here about them being too noisy for their application.


Good luck.

Andrew M. Riter
Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
Chan Centre

Phone 604 822 2372
andrew.riter at ubc.ca<mailto:andrew.riter at ubc.ca>

From: Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net> On Behalf Of Jerry Durand via Stagecraft
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2025 3:18 AM
To: Joe via Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Cc: Jerry Durand <jerry_durand_california at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [SML] Automatically lifting a black masking curtain?

[CAUTION: Non-UBC Email]
If falling sideways is ok, you could just use two poles hinged over center at the bottom which has the support base.  Gravity holds them locked.  Pull them over center the other way and it all falls down.
On 15-Sep-25 12:52, Joe via Stagecraft wrote:
For a stage illusion, I would like the ability to lift a black curtain from the floor, approximately 8' wide x 4'-6" high, to hide some activity on stage.

We currently have a black-out on that side of the stage, but lighting on the other side of the stage provides enough ambient light, that the stuff I want to hide is visible if you are looking. Of course, the activity on the other side does distract the audience, but I am hoping to improve the situation.

I can have items preset on the stage floor. My current thinking is to have some actors, who will be on that side of the stage, lift up an 8' long pole that has the curtain. Then, drop it at the reveal. But, we prefer that those actors leave the stage in the blackout.

I am wondering if there might be a way to mechanize this temporary masking. I can't use any rigging from above in this part of the stage. Nor can I do anything to the stage floor or use a trap.

The masking comes up in relative darkness, so human assistance in that aspect is acceptable, if I cannot motorize it.  It should go up within 3 or 4 seconds, but should drop very quickly.

Attached is a PDF with some ideas.  One mentions the idea of a motorize tape-measure type device. Is such a thing available?  I welcome comments.

-Joe Dunfee
 717-203-8670 Cell



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