New Angles of Television Are Found Every Week

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18399, 17 May 1934, Page 10

New Angles of Television Are Found Every Week

■ LONDON, March 29. I W HE N televised radio programme I become a normal form of cute, I tainment, and within 10 years an R citizen of Australia will be able t ■ settle down for a quiet evening a I ; home to look at a London revue r< 1 layed to .him across the world, 1 sha. I be able to look back and recall Ann I Winn as I saw her to-day —a slendei I fair-haired slip of a thing siiigin, I behind a window to a flickering whit I ribbon of light, her face streaked wit; I dark blue make-up, and her lip I smeared dead black. ■ Television to-day is in its infancj not much further past the aeademi experimental stage. But in spite ,o the apparent apathy of the public to wards this wonderful now manifCßta tion of wireless, the 8.8. G. has thi week opened a new television studio an “overflow” from the vast buildinj in Portland-pJace. A largo privati house has been acquired, further U] the street, and no expense has beei spared in turning it into a studio whirl incorporates all the latest ideas. Every week they are finding out nev angles ,of television. Miss Winn, foi ' instance, was wearing a make-up tliai was very much toned down in com parison with the heavy plastered on< of only a year ago. Because of tin increased size of the studio and of the projection window, the operator i. l able to move his projector to coincide | with the actions of the person bein£ televised. When the performer dancer back from the televisor, her features did not recede into the dim distance, as would have happened in the othei studio, tucked away into a corner oi the basement of the 8.8. C. building three floors below ground level. The men in charge of the television section are all of them youthful, anc imbued with a sublime confidence in the future. I talked for a long time with the director, Mr. Eustace Robb — an eager young man in his shirtsleeves who obviously throws all his energy and enthusiasm into his job. “We are looking out for something . now in the way of programmes all the time,” he said. “Already we have presented mannequin parades, animals at the Zoo, trick cycling, acrobatic turns, and even the Russian ballet.” Television would receive a great fillip in the public fancy if one of the Princes could be induced to give ci few minutes’ talk. So far, this has not been possible. “Although it is difficult to ascertain any information concerning the development of television in other countries, we in.. England nro justified in claiming that we are the only people who are really forging ahead with programme arrangement. Certain European countries, for instance, use television for propaganda purposes alone, and make no attempt to provide any real entertainment for the public.” “For as little as £2O, a television set may now be acquired which will provide for the ordinary ‘looker-in’ all that he desired in the way of service. Other more expensive sets are available, up to £100.” Apart from the huge projector behind its glass barrier—tho glass as flat as it is possible to make it—and the complicated arrangement of technical ! apparatus behind, a television studio is | reminiscent of “behind the scenes” !ou the stage. I sat and watched while i a bevy of dancing girls did their act. Their costumes were just as carefully planned as if they were to appear be- ; hind the footlights of a West End | theatre; and except for the black ! make-up, and the fact that the telej vision beam casts flashing bars of al- : ternate light and shade on the dancers as they move, the illusion is amazingly stage-like.—Sydney Morning Herald.