TALKIE MIRACLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21148, 4 October 1930, Page 18

TALKIE MIRACLE.

ENABLING THE DEAF TO HEAR. EMPIRE THEATRE INNOVATION. To bring the joys of the “talkies” to deaf persons in Dunedin, the management of the Empire Theatre has installed five sets of acousticons, the first to be in actual use in Dunedin, thus following the lead of the most progressive theatres in the United States and Australia. These will make it possible for all deaf persons to hear the words and music quite distinctly With the coming of the “ talkies ” in place of the silent pictures, the only amusement of many afflicted people was taken from them; but tbe devices installed at' the Empire Theatre will once more bring back to them tbe attractions of the silver sheet. The acousticon is ‘ simplicity itself. ' A small earphone on a metal handle that can be shortened or lengthened as required, it is held to one ear. It is con-, nected to a cord that plugs into a socket on the back of the seat, and on the step along the side of the seat is a dial for volume control. A_ controlling device is provided on each installation by means of which the person using the acousticon may increase or diminish the Volume of sound according to the degree of deafness. The sound is transmitted clear and unadulterated from the film or disc, as the case may be, and is slightly amplified. Thus, laughter or talking in the audience during a picture cannot affect the deaf listeners. The acousticons, which were installed in the Empire Theatre earlier in the week, have already been tried by deaf people, at tbe invitation of the manager, and they have expressed their appreciation of the new idea in writing. One* woman stated that she found tbe sound a little too loud if anything, and had no difficulty in hearing every word. “ Though my deafness is hereditary, wrote another, “ I was delighted to know that I could hear as though I had normal hearing.” The greatest compliment, however, comes from an experimenter, who says;—“ It was so clear that several times I took the earpiece away to test if I was hearing normally. I also tested it with my £2O earphone, but quickly put that away, as it spoiled the music, making it sound as if all the musicians were playing one note and the wrong one at that. With your acousticon I could hear everything perfectly.”