Over 100 Years of Theater Excellence: A TIMELINE

JR CLANCY PIONEERS RIGGING

JR CLANCY PIONEERS RIGGING In 1882, young stagehand John Clancy wanted to figure out how to accommodate all of the staging challenges in New York's debut of "The Romany Rye." He worked out of his basement to develop a solution, ultimately devising a series of heavy-duty pulleys, sheaves, and other inventions that would not only make the scene changes possible, but reinvent theatre rigging as we know it. JR CLANCY PIONEERS RIGGING By 1887, J.R. Clancy’s catalog was packed with new products and innovative solutions to age-old rigging problems. The company introduced gas lighting systems, and new electric lights in 1891. In 1903, after the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago, Clancy immediately created the fire line and self-closing fire curtain, which remain the basis for fire curtains today. AN ARTS POWERHOUSE IS BORN In 2011, J.R. Clancy joined forces with Wenger Corporation, the world-wide leader in products and solutions for music and theatre education. Like John Clancy, Harry Wenger was a passionate visionary who understood the challenges faced by his fellow music teachers and band leaders. Wenger Corporation, with over 200 years of combined experience between both the Wenger and J.R. Clancy brands, brings a synergy of quality products and solutions to the industry.

JR CLANCY PIONEERS RIGGING

In 1882, young stagehand John Clancy wanted to figure out how to accommodate all of the staging challenges in New York’s debut of “The Romany Rye.” He worked out of his basement to develop a solution, ultimately devising a series of heavy-duty pulleys, sheaves, and other inventions that would not only make the scene changes possible, but reinvent theatre rigging as we know it.

CONTINUED INNOVATION

By 1887, J.R. Clancy’s catalog was packed with new products and innovative solutions to age-old rigging problems. The company introduced gas lighting systems, and new electric lights in 1891. In 1903, after the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago, Clancy immediately created the fire line and self-closing fire curtain, which remain the basis for fire curtains today.

AN ARTS POWERHOUSE IS BORN

In 2011, J.R. Clancy joined forces with Wenger Corporation, the world-wide leader in products and solutions for music and theatre education. Like John Clancy, Harry Wenger was a passionate visionary who understood the challenges faced by his fellow music teachers and band leaders. Wenger Corporation, with over 200 years of combined experience between both the Wenger and J.R. Clancy brands, brings a synergy of quality products and solutions to the industry.

Related Posts

Flexible Staging Systems by Wenger

Understanding Flexible Staging: Best Practices and Layout Options

For theatre directors, performance venue managers, and educators, flexibility is key when designing a stage setup that can accommodate a wide variety of productions.

Read More »
Cavea fixed audience seating

Cavea™ Fixed Audience Seating: A New Choice for Affordability and Durability

Fixed audience seating is a cornerstone of auditorium and performance venue design, where comfort, durability, and functionality must align. Cavea™ Fixed Audience Seating from Wenger Corporation elevates this standard with a range of features and benefits tailored for the modern performance space.

Read More »

From Chaos to Convenience: Backstage Storage Solutions with Wenger & GearBoss

Backstage areas in theatres are notoriously chaotic spaces. The constant movement of costumes, props, and equipment makes organization essential but challenging. Fortunately, Wenger and GearBoss offer robust solutions to help theatres streamline storage, creating organized, efficient spaces that keep productions running smoothly.

Read More »
Follow Us on the Blog

Get the latest posts delivered to your mailbox: