Stage Effects and Television

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18193, 14 September 1933, Page 10

Stage Effects and Television

TO hear the rumble of thunder on the 1 stage, the clatter of horses, the •whizzing of machine guns is to most theatregoers, notwithstanding modern sophistication, still rather marvellous phenomena. It is known, of course, that it is the result of mechanical devices, but exactly how it. is accomplished remains to most people I an unsolved puzzle. | Miss Grace Stafford, who was a ‘•passenger on 101.8. Strathaird to Sydney, whilst in London was initiat erl into this mystery of stage effects at the 8.8. C. Here, she said, the presentation of plays was a regular feature of wireless programmes, and so stage effects had been brought to a. line pitch of perfection. During the performance of a play the cast was in one room and the producer in another. He sat at a table on which there was a number of buttons; each one of these presented a different sound.

One, for example, thunder; anothc the approach of u ear; a third th cheers of a largo crowd, and so op. A the producer pressed the button message was transmitted to th “effects” room, and the requite effect was immediately put into oyer! tion. Miss Stafford also witnessed exper meats in television. The perforate she said, had only a space of If.’ft. i which to move, and the reflection cat was very small. It was, huwevc absolutely distinct and perfectly f< corded.