U.S. TELEVISION STARS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 13

U.S. TELEVISION STARS

N.Z. Appearances Arranged

Top American recording stars will visit New Zealand soon as a result of recent negotiations between Mr Harry M. Miller, an Auckland entrepreneur, and a Melbourne night club. The artists include Dizzie Gillespie, Earl Grant, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and her quartet, and Oscar Peterson. In the course of their contract with The Embers night club and television appearances in Melbourne, they will come across the Tasman and make lightning appearances in Auckland, Wellington,. Christchurch, and Dunedin. Mr Miller, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday from Australia, said that after discussions with top private television interests in that country he was in a position to offer the Government the use of a complete audio and video sound stage with a threecamera set-up on a closed circuit at Auckland. Next week, Mr Miller said, he would approach the Government and it it agreed, equipment for the sound stage would be made available within three months. “A new development in television which will revolutionise the medium is the use of an ‘iris adjustment’ (a self-adjusting lense) which enables live telecasts to be made in areas where, light is restricted and obviates the need of full television lighting,” said Mr Miller. ‘‘Something that may come to New Zealand providing Government approval is given is closed circuit colour-television,” said Mr Miller. “Already five big retail stores in Australia have expressed a desire to have this installed.” Another facility which can be made available in New Zealand if the Government gives initial approval is an outside broadcast van which televises outside major sporting events and topical news events and relays them back to the transmitting station. “The technical staff available to come over to New Zealand from Australia to train staff here and to install the equipment is ready to do so.” said Mr Miller. “Many New Zealanders are holding responsible positions in the Australian television industry and several would be prepared to return home if the opportunities were offered. “The egineer in charge of the whole project, if approved by the Government, is an American who has already supervised the installation of 14 television stations in various parts of the world.” he said.