I'm so glad we had this time together...

May 1, 2006 10:53 PM

I have been tasked with finding a dental exam chair for use on stage. It must have arms and a tray attached.

I need to find it this week, in southern California and hopefully, can get it for the price of a couple of freebee tickets to see Harvey Korman and Tim Conway, live.
My husband is the production manager for a performing arts center, and is pulling his hair out over this. The only show we are aware of that makes use of this kind of chair is Little Shop of Horrors, and for some reason no one we know has one just hanging around. I'm sure they could go to one of the prop houses in LA and rent one for big money, but they're already spending a LOT of money to bring these guys in and would rather not spend any more than they have to. I'm planning to spend some time on the phone tomorrow, but thought I might get a head start tonight.

posted by jvilter to media & arts (8 comments total)

This isn't an answer per se, but my friend used to have a dentist chair from the '50s in her living room—thing weighed a ton. If you find a chair, be sure to bring several guys with you to lift it in and out of the truck/auditorium/stage. Could you modify a prop chair to look like a dentist chair? Be a lot lighter for set changes and such. If not, maybe someone knows of a local frat with one of these in their living room or something...?
posted by blueberry at 12:09 AM on May 2, 2006

Have you contacted your local prop shop? There are stores that rent hard-to-find items such as this specifically for movie and stage productions.

Try also contacting medical schools, dental schools, and salvage yards.
posted by fandango_matt at 12:25 AM on May 2, 2006

You'd probably have a much easier time finding a "barber's chair" and for theatrical purposes, a barber's chair will probably do just fine.
posted by paulsc at 2:24 AM on May 2, 2006

Tattoo artists often have old dental chairs in their studios; if you know any they might either loan/rent you one or know where to get one.
posted by TedW at 4:41 AM on May 2, 2006

Check with local hospitals/dental schools. We have a Property Disposition warehouse that takes all of our old equipment and resells it to internal departments or external people. Also, maybe try advertising in a Craigslist. Another option would be to call/go to a medical furniture supply house and see if you could take a floor model out as a loner...

This one is in LA.
posted by blackkar at 6:29 AM on May 2, 2006

The e-bay link above is a closed auction, but you may try contacting the seller (or heck, the buyer even), see if they have any more that you can rent, etc.
posted by blackkar at 6:35 AM on May 2, 2006

I used to be the props guy at a local theater and often found myself chasing such wild geese (never this particular goose, however). Check out this page. I also have to imagine there has to be a prop shop in LA that could help out.
posted by fantastic at 10:05 AM on May 2, 2006

blackkar, thanks for the ebay tip (ebay has everything and now I believe it with all my heart). I found one close to us and they are willing to lend an extra one they have to us.
posted by jvilter at 10:35 AM on May 2, 2006