What color were the lounges of the early theatre's backstage actors?

[Stuart91]

47 minutes ago, Bryson said:

Spoiler:  he concludes its all nonsense, essentially.

That'll be why he didn't get you to write the foreword, then? 🤣

 

Purely anecdotal, but we once supplied some speakers for an installation in a church in a small fishing town. The sailors who were volunteering as tech crew had the boxes hoisted up into position before we'd fetched the ladders from the van...

[Bryson]

3 hours ago, Glyn Edwards said:

Any idea how I can get hold of a copy on this side of the pond. I can't find it on the University of Calgary link. 

Indeed, me neither.  I've emailed him to ask.

3 hours ago, Stuart91 said:

That'll be why he didn't get you to write the foreword, then? 🤣

My summary may be a bit too summary.

[Bryson]

For anyone that wants a copy:  Peter replied to say that Theatresearch: https://www.theatresearch.co.uk/books/ have a few copies for sale but not sure if they show up in the online shop or if you have to call and ask.

[Propmister]

On 8/13/2024 at 11:50 AM, sunray said:

My understanding of this is the original green room was 'wallpapered' with baize rather than painted as in the early days the paint was distemper based and resulted in a soft chalky finish which marked the costumes. However I suspect the real truth has long since fallen into the realms of 'My mate says'.

 

Baize isn't inherently a green fabric, people are just used to green baize on snooker tables.

Also until recently fabric was not cheap.

 

Edited September 29 by Propmister

[sunray]

9 hours ago, Propmister said:

Baize isn't inherently a green fabric, people are just used to green baize on snooker tables.

Also until recently fabric was not cheap.

 

I agree on both counts but I believe the green on billiards tables was due to it's easier availability, possibly an easiest colour to dye it. I heard somewhere (again my mate said basis) that when snooker was invented in india the covering was the red fabric used for uniforms. However not knowing which regiment was reputed to modify the table, was their uniform green?

 

I have also heard (my mate said) there was evidence of a London theatre having a green baize lined room.

Edited September 29 by sunray

[sunray]

Putting "why is it called a green room in theatre."into Google suggests: The worlds biggest 'My mate said' site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_room: One of the oldest stories is that London's Blackfriars Theatre (1599) included a room behind the scenes, where the actors waited to go on stage, which happened to be painted green, and was called "the green room".^{[4][verification needed]} A later renovation of London's Cockpit-in-Court theatre in 1662 included a green baize dressing room, which has also been suggested as the origin of the term.