Vacuum stage curtain raising device - GIF

[Jon]

Vacuum stage curtain raising device.




Previously:

Overheight truck water curtain warning sign - GIF

[JTG]

Not a vacuum -- a cable reel and electric motor. These are called 'sniffer' drapes, which have a cable attached in the center and solenoid-driven quick-releases along the top. They can be quite annoying to set up, but you can get some interesting effects with them.

[Frank S]

Yes and a particularly spectacular result when compiled with a solid flat black backdrop in a darkened theater the pull cable being passed through a seemingly random spaced set of large eyelets then the iridescent fabric bombarded with ultraviolet (Black Light) the drape can be made to look as if it is chasing the actors across the stage