Planetarium Rigged as Space Ship

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 11

Planetarium Rigged as Space Ship

Dramatic scenes depicting events of the cosmic world many years from now_ mark the May presentations of the Hayden Planetarium. In keeping with the theme of New York's World Fair, “The World of Tomorrow'" at the Planetarium lifts the curtains of the future by disclosing how space ships may some day enable explorers to reach the moon.

Under the direction of Prof. William H. Barton Jr., Executive Curator, the scientific and technical staff spent the better part of a year building the various effects now shown with such reality that the audience almost feels itself en route to a landing field somewhere in the middle of the moon's Mare Serenitatis.

Trick photography, light, sound, mechanical and musical effects call for the development of many new types of equipment, as well as special methods of animation. By way of setting the stage for the journey, they transform the Planetarium into the control cabin of an imaginative superspacc ship, equipped with flashing lights and many dials. When the passengers “take-off,’’ thunder rocks the enormous craft; then comes the hiss of combustion gases in tho propulsion chamber. Through the control cabin, the moon looms largei and larger, until it finally commands the entire view. A cross country flight gives a bird’s-eye view of lunar craters, mountains, rifts and seas. A safe landing is made, not far from tall white mountains that glare in blazing sunlight. Passengers must don diving suits supplied with oxygen, since the moon has no atmosphere. Does anybody want to go along?

A barrister was cross-examining a witness, whom he desired should admit his belief in miracles. “If you saw a man fall from the fifth storey of a house on to the pavement unhurt, what would you call that!" “I should call it an accident." “What would you call it if he fell unhurt from the fifteenth storey?" ‘ ‘ Same man ? ’' “Yes." “Same place?" “Yes." “I should call that a coincidence." “But what if he fell unhurt from the thirtieth storey?" “Same man?" “Yes." “Same place?" “Yes, yes." “Well, I should call that a blooming habit.' *

Good Reason Tho young wife was confiding her troubles to her mother. “Jack’s inclined to make a fuss over trifles," she said. “Why, he got quite huffy just because I used his tennis racket to strain the potatoes."

“Before starting, I should like to know who drives the car, your mother or you?"

Trouble Ahead Two men, one considerably smaller than the other, were crossing the street to enter a public-house when a youth on a bicycle flashed past them, operating a “buzzer" on the front wheel which emitted a particularly sharp, raucous wail. The smaller of the men gave a nervous jump, and bis friend said, “Lumme, what a state you’re in—fancy jumping like that for a bike!" “Bike?" retored the little man; *'L wasn’t afraid of no bike. . . 1 thought I ’eard my missus calling me!"