German Legs

[huiling17]

Hi.

 

I would like to find out the origin of 'german legs/side masking'.

 

I tried looking online but was unable to find an answer...

 

Thanks!!

 

Hui Ling

[johnlinford]

There are several classical schools of masking. IIRC "german masking" is basically a box set with doors from the side, while italian masking is the (more traditional in the UK?) series of prosc arches with borders and legs.

[johnlinford]

To clarify (was rather tired last night), German side masking runs upstage-downstage, perpendicular to the prosc - often venues will have hemp or counterweight bars installed to do this. Italian side masking runs across the stage, parallel to the prosc. Have had a hunt for online resources talking about this, but can't find anything masively useful.

[huiling17]

Thanks all.

 

Yup, I was curious why German legs are called German legs... :)

 

Would be good if someone knows of its origins? ;)

 

HL

[paulears]

German Masking brings up plenty of possibles, but I suspect you need a german speaker to search theatre history in that country - it does seem to be fairly common both in Europe and the USA, but I've drawn a blank in english - some german text looks hopeful, but I can't understand much of it.

[martin.riesch]

hi,

are you talking about this? http://www.kotter-edling.de/k14.htm

 

if not, ask me - the german.

 

best regards,

martin

[huiling17]

Hi Martin,

 

Thank you for your kind response. Unfortunately, not quite what I was asking.

 

I would like to find out why are German legs (quoting John Linford :German side masking runs upstage-downstage, perpendicular to the prosc - often venues will have hemp or counterweight bars installed to do this") call German legs.

 

Thanks!

[martin.riesch]

Hi hulling17,

 

I do not really understand "german legs / sidemasking" - can you tell it in another way?

I am a student in "theater- and entertainment-engineering" in Berlin - so I will find out what you are looking for.

 

Martin

[Psychedelic Theatre]

A couple of quick MS paint drawings to explain German and Italian legs for Martin:

 

German legs run perpendicular to the proscenium arch (the two rectangles) The legs are the vertical lines, they'd have slits in for entrances/exits etc.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/Psychedelictheatre/German.jpg

 

Italian legs are parallel to the proscenium arch.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/Psychedelictheatre/Italian.jpg

 

 

Hope that makes a little more sense!

 

Tim

[obsoperator]

are you talking about this? http://www.kotter-edling.de/k14.htm

 

Martin, thank you for that fascinating reference. I think we have to consider that these are very collquial, imprecise terms that may be regional or limited to a specific time period. As a comparison, when I was in school in the '70s, "Continental Scene Painting" referred to "flat on the floor", and "American" scene painting referred to "vertically on a paint frame or nailed to wall battens". But previous posts on BR indicate that there are lots of paint frames in Great Britain.

 

Edit: typo

[huiling17]

Thanks Tim!

 

Martin, hope what Time as supplied clarifies?

 

Merry X'mas!

 

HL

[martin.riesch]

Hi,

thanks fo the drawings - but I have never seen this "construction" in german theater.

The "Italian legs" are known as "scenery-alley" (very small street between two houses) in german theater-speach. They are arranged parallel to the audience but mostly a little bit diagonal to the audience (so the audience can not look into the alleys).

In January I will ask my Professor of Theater-Engineering if he knows "German legs".

 

All old theatres have scenery-alleys: Drottningholm (1766) near Stockholm in Sweden, Goethe-Theater (1805) in Bad Lauchstädt in Germany, Dresden Opera House (1749) in Germany.

 

Martin

[huiling17]

Martin,

 

Thanks! Shall wait for your reply. :)

 

HL

[martin.riesch]

Hi,

 

"German Legs" in unkown here! Nobody have ever heard this.

 

Best ragards from Berlin,

Martin

[Andrew C]

Perhaps this is a bit like the pastries that are called "Danish Pastries" in the UK, but "Belgian Waffles" in Denmark. You probably just have a different name for the same thing.