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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If the top hanger can stay in place:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">2 verticals lifted into place with the top cross member attached<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The curtain is tied to the top piece with a slip rope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Pull the rope through and out, and the drape drops, but the structural elements remain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Good luck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Andrew M. Riter</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">
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</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Chan Centre <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Phone 604 822 2372</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:andrew.riter@ubc.ca"><span style="color:windowtext">andrew.riter@ubc.ca</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces@theatrical.net>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jerry Durand via Stagecraft<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 15, 2025 3:18 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Joe via Stagecraft <stagecraft@theatrical.net><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Jerry Durand <jerry_durand_california@yahoo.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [SML] Automatically lifting a black masking curtain?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:#FFECB3">[<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">CAUTION:</span></strong> Non-UBC Email]</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">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.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 15-Sep-25 12:52, Joe via Stagecraft wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">-Joe Dunfee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"> 717-203-8670 Cell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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