Theatre Design & Technology - Dec 1972 - 5

EDITORIAL & NEWS

In the previous issue the piece on this page solicited
your comments on the magazine. Some readers have responded and I hope that many others will do so. As they
said from space not too long ago, "Keep those cards and
letters coming!" Which brings to mind an idea. Does a
Florida and/or Texas reader(s) have an interest in researching and writing an article on the simulators used for
astronaut training and mission preparation? It would seem
likely that NASA might be very cooperative in assisting
anyone actively engaged in such a project for this Journal.
Advocates of the space program talk repeatedly about the
spin off generated by their specific technology. One
wonders how their use of projection devices, sound and
lighting systems, computers, and machinery - all used in
the simulators - is related to theatre technology. If this
idea grabs you and you can get to Houston and/or Cape
Kennedy, go to it!

"Spin off" has found its way into the language in
recent years but the process is a very old one. You devise
a machine for one particular task and find in time that it
can be used for any number of other jobs. Frank Silberstein reports that the long radius tubing bender described
on page 25 has been used for every production mounted by
the Indiana University Theatre since it was constructed
over three years ago. So, you don't think you will be using
the side walls of a Quonset hut in your settings very often.
Build Mr. Silberstein's machine anyway. Then turn your
creative minds loose. Try it, You might like it!

will also require major changes in production approaches
for all of our faculty and students. This is healthy and, to
my way of thinking, what good educational practice is all
about. It is easy to get stuck in that "The old way is the
best" rut.

NEWS

Two events of importance took place in October and
November. They were the seminar entitled, "Gropius and
the Modern Theatre" held on October 24th in New York
and the lecture tour last month by Josef Svoboda. Both
events will be covered in future issues of Theatre Design
And Technology. The USITT Newsletter will also provide
an overview of the Svoboda tour and some first-hand reactions from Ann Brownlee, editor of the Newsletter.
Mark you r calendars now! March 11-14 are the dates of
the 1973 annual conference of USITT. The meeting will
be held at the Bel Air East Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.
Peter Sergeant is Conference Chairman.
Can you identify the device shown below 7 The first
correct answer wi II earn that reader a mi nt copy of Theatre Design and Technology, Number One, May 1965.
Watch for further coverage on this very interesting puzzler. See you in St. Louis.

The notion of transformation seems to recur throughout this issue. It was not intentional. However, certain
similarities in the articles by Glenn Loney and Leslie Armstrong Cortesi do stand out. They have to do with renovation, change, creation of a contemporary working space
within an older framework. Again, one is led to ponder
whether we shall see more of this sort of thing and a
lessening number of completely new buildings for the performing arts in the future. Your Editor's own Department
of Theatre is actively involved in the consideration and
early planning necessary for transforming a building designed for another fu nction into a theatre. We can't afford
a new building so we shall do the next best thing; make a
theatre in an existing structure containing sufficient space
for our theatrical function and its support. Such a change

THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

DECEMBER. 1972

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Dec 1972