Thursday, July 08, 2010

1970 RBBB Blue Unit #2


Ringling 100-27, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 7/08/2010 06:18:00 AM

13 comments:

Frank Ferrante said...

24 lovely ladies floating high about rings one and three! ~frank

08 July, 2010 09:28
Dick Flint said...

Were these frames first used in this form from 1957 on? A Concello innovation, as I've always understood. When were they last used? During their time, were there any show lights suspended over the rings and in what manner?

I wonder if any of these frames survive as they should be in a museum.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

08 July, 2010 11:13
Chic Silber said...

Somewhere around 73 I created a

few sets of "Frame Lights" that

were mounted on these frames

They were aluminum rectangular

units with 4 floods each and

each had a full sheet of frost

08 July, 2010 12:43
Frank Ferrante said...

And do they and the frames remain today in your black hole of a warehouse? ~frank

08 July, 2010 15:02
Chic Silber said...

Sounds like you've been talking

to my wife Frank but alas no

08 July, 2010 15:55
Chic Silber said...

A photo that appeared on the blog

some time back of Menage in 79

showed some of these units

I'll send a copy to Buckles

I recall that each show had 8

but not all are in this view

08 July, 2010 16:02
J C Hall said...

What years was the monorail web rigging in use? I think Hildalys had designed or had something to do it.

08 July, 2010 16:16
Jack Ryan said...

JC Hall,

Andre Prince did design and (I think) construct it. (Chic may know the answer to that.)

It was first used in Ringling in the 1968 show as centerpiece for a web number called "Winter Wonderland."

Andre and his wife, Hilda (Alzana) performed the act as The Hildalys.

Jack

08 July, 2010 17:26
Chic Silber said...

I thought it was Andre Prince who

also designed similar rigging for

Circus Circus that might still be

in use out in Glitter Gulch

Can't remember the years Jimmy

maybe in the late 60s

08 July, 2010 17:50
Henry Schroer said...

The monorail rigging was on the red unit the first two years we joint the show, that would have been 1969,70.

08 July, 2010 18:03
Chic Silber said...

Actually Frank it seems I lied

As luck would have it there are

2 brand new spare flood units

from those frame lights here

in the Sarasota shop and you

are welcome to come & get them

(for only a small donation to

"Broadway Cares") my new slogan

08 July, 2010 18:16
Chic Silber said...

Trying to recall the nomenclature

only the center square & the 2

flying frame rectangles were

called "the frames" & the side

extensions were the "outriggers"

Main falls & spreaders (spiders)

were the primary support for the

frames and secondary falls with

their own spreaders took up the

outriggers & webs (or ladders)

As best I can recall the trim

was 31'6" (most of the time)

for the flying frames & 32'6"

for the center square

In some tough buildings such as

the Superdome (the worst) the

"hang" was pretty soft (not good)

My primary knowledge of these

came from Tuffy Genders & Lloyd

Morgan Senior (2 great teachers)

08 July, 2010 23:08
Frank Ferrante said...

Chic -

When going through your cavernous warehouse and you come across the fully restored tableau wagon with the sunburst wheels - call me and I'll be right down! Have a GREAT day all! ~frank

09 July, 2010 09:51

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