Home » Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
Strike in theatre
Guest
1
2016/09/25 - 3:38pm

My fiance is a theatre professional. As a result I've learned a lot of new theatre jargon. One of the terms that has intrigued me is strike. I understand its meaning, to clear everything from the set and put it away, but I am curious about the origins of this usage of the word. The best I can figure is that perhaps it is shorthand for crossing items of a master list, but I haven't really found any explanation for strike in the context of theatre other than definitions. Anyone have any insights?

Guest
2
2016/09/26 - 12:23pm

Strike has this sense: to take down, or lower, as a flag or sail. My 1930 Websters says nothing about theater in this context, and a google search of 19th C. books, using the phrase "strike the set" and variations, shows nothing. So what did they used to say, before "strike" was adopted?

EmmettRedd
859 Posts
(Offline)
3
2016/09/27 - 12:39pm

The OxED has the following for definition 23

b. Theatr. To remove (a scene); to remove the scenery, etc. of (a play); to turn down (a light).

1889 Daily Tribune (N.Y.) 14 July in Cent. Dict. s.v. set1 9, An elaborate scene is ‘set’ when it is arranged upon the stage, and ‘struck’ when it is removed.
1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 5 Dec. 1/3 It took twelve hours of work by a very large staff to ‘strike’ ‘Ivanhoe’ and mount ‘La Basoche’.
1893 Black & WhiteChristm. No. 7/1 Stage suddenly dark. Gas ballens and limes slowly up. Strike all gas lengths.

The number in front of the reference is its year. BTW, the OxED has 77 definitions for the first verb form of 'strike'.

Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
Mike Brock
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1266
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 56
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Recent posts