“To imitate the stars, use spangles of various sizes. The largest are the most effective; but they must be bent a little in order not to show too much of a flat surface. They must be fixed to the cloth in the following manner: – Take some dark blue cotton and pass it through the hole in the spangle. Tie the spangle round and leave about 1 1/2 inch at both ends of the cotton; glue over about half of each end and then press them against the cloth with a flat piece of wood till they stick on firmly. The spangle will, of course, hang loose, and being in consequence always on the twitter, it will keep on sparkling.”
Excerpt from F. Lloyds “Scene Painting and Distemper Painting” (1875, page 72)
Attached are pictures from the Scottish Rite scenery collection in Winona, Minnesota – currently in temporary storage. These stage spangles created the starlit sky where translucent stars revealed the Faith, Hope, and Charity constellations. The photos show historic scenery owner by the City of Winona – in temorary storage and awaiting restoration. Similar drops for this 18th degree (Faith, Hope, and Charity) are found in collections across the country, including Santa Fe, NM and St. Paul, MN. When the aged spangles are polished the effect is magical!
Author: waszut_barrett@me.com
Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett, PhD, is an author, artist, and historian, specializing in painted settings for opera houses, vaudeville theaters, social halls, cinemas, and other entertainment venues. For over thirty years, her passion has remained the preservation of theatrical heritage, restoration of historic backdrops, and the training of scenic artists in lost painting techniques. In addition to evaluating, restoring, and replicating historic scenes, Waszut-Barrett also writes about forgotten scenic art techniques and theatre manufacturers. Recent publications include the The Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple: Freemasonry, Architecture and Theatre (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2018), as well as articles for Theatre Historical Society of America’s Marquee, InitiativeTheatre Museum Berlin’s Die Vierte Wand, and various Masonic publications such as Scottish Rite Journal, Heredom and Plumbline. Dr. Waszut-Barrett is the founder and president of Historic Stage Services, LLC, a company specializing in historic stages and how to make them work for today’s needs. Although her primary focus remains on the past, she continues to work as a contemporary scene designer for theatre and opera.
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