In 1986 we premiered Das Rheingold my first Ring production. In that production the Rhine was indicated by a blue, silky sheet of material that was draped over the set for the second scene. This gave it the necessary uneven variations appropriate to the bottom of the Rhine. At the conclusion of the scene the blue cloth was supposed to “fly,” that is rise out of sight and the next scene was there behind it. On the opening night the blue cloth rose ten feet--and stopped. It had stuck on a set piece behind it. The director, designer, and I were sitting in the house in horror. We saw the blue cloth being moved and jiggled. It did not move. The orchestra was playing; the singers in Scene Two were soon to sing. Suddenly a dark shadow ran up a ladder on the set piece where the cloth had stuck. The cloth rose. This happened about three measures before Fricka was supposed to begin singing. The man who did it lay flat on the scenery piece through the forty minutes of the scene. I told him afterwards that he, Pete Olds, our prop master, had his job for as long as I was General Director. He is still the prop master.

--Speight Jenkins