|
They say that
“clothing makes the man” I prefer to think that “Wardrobe makes the Melodrama”.
There are countless sources for clothing and props that are appropriate for the
late 1800s. Here are a few of the author’s favorites. Stick with top quality
brands like Wah Maker, Frontier Classics or Scully. Your Villain most likely
wears a top hat, you might need a bowler or a conductor’s hat, your male
characters all wear old west styled "lapelled" vests, Your heroine and
some of her friends dress in fine Victorian style western wear, some of her
"rough 'n tumble" friends will undoubtedly be outfitted in a more “Calamity Jane” range
rider style if you desire. And don’t forget millinery for your women and perhaps
a parasol.
A Melodrama is
created from many sources. You need scripts ... you need music ... you need
costumes ... you need props ... you need holsters and prop firearms ... you need
sound effects. Wow ... you need a lot! Most of what you need in the way of props
will be found in any theatre’s prop room. Others you can build (like a life size
cut out of a steam locomotive. But a few you might have to find elsewhere.
Some you can take on loan from a local antique shop
for credit in your playbill, but some you will still have to fabricate, modify
or purchase. Below are just a few of our favorite website links to help satisfy
those needs. Have fun and explore ... and be sure to come back to this website
for more. If you do stumble upon a great resource for props, costumes or what
have you, let us know so we can tell the world. We do not "currently" have a
financial benefit from you going to any of the resources on this page, but if
you have an affiliate program ... make us an offer!
OUR DISCLAIMER:
If one of these links below lets you down and turns out to be
some sort of mangy varmint ... simply email us right away to let us know and we
will delete them from this list without remorse!
|
A "mock cannon
ball style” bomb made of a large Styrofoam ball with at least 6 coats of fire
resistant black paint. The fuse could have been cannon fuse or theatrical slow
burning fuse ... but we used common variety sparklers from last 4th of July. Old
kerosene style lanterns were obtained from a discount store and outfitted with flickering battery-operated tea candles obtained from a local floral supply
store.