"REMOTE CONTROL."

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19889, 28 March 1930, Page 11

"REMOTE CONTROL."

INSTALLED IN MAJESTIC THEATRE.

FIRST IN NEW ZEALAND. Before the ooming of the "Remote Control" in connexion with talking picture equipment, the volume of sound during a performance was controlled bj the operators in the operating box. Owing to the fact that the operator cannot, hear what is going on in the theatre, a member of the staff sat in the dress circle with his finger on a button, which operated a buzzer in the operating box. According to a system of signals from the buzzer, the operator increased or decreased the volume. If at tho time the buzzer rang the operator happened to be busy, it was often too ,late before he had time' to alter the volums.

"Remote Control" has been fitted to the R.C.A. talking picture apparatus installed in the Majestic Theatre, and is the first of its kind in Australia and New Zealand The buzzer system is dispensed with, and the volume of sound is controlled solely from a lever in the dress Circle. This lever is con-, nected to the "fader," or apparatus' for varying the volume situated in the operating box, by an hydraulic system of pipes and oil. The adjustments required can thus be made instantaneously and delicately by a man sitting in'the dress circle giving a slight movement to the remote control lever. To obtain the best results from a talking picture, the volume must be constantly increased or decreased to suit the voice of tho actor or the scene of the moment. For instance, if a revolver is about to be fired, the man at the remote control can increase the volume to its fullest extent, so as to get the full effect of the explosion, artd then immediately lower it again for the voices which follow. The introduction of remote control is one more step along the road at the end of which lies perfection in talking pictures.