Evening star., 1927-04-03
STIMULUS PLANNED
I. FOR RADIO ARTISTS
New Studios Will Be Arrang-
ed So as to Inspire Best
Entertainment:


a more elaborate scale than ever be-
fore in the system of studios which
has been planned for the new Ma
tional Broadcasting Company Building
now being erected at III Fifth ave-
hue, New York City. Specifications
have been drawn for eight separate
gtudios, six of which will be decorated
and lighted to provide mental stimu-
lus for different types of broadcast
ers.
According to present plans. opera
Iio and stage stars will face the
.nicrophone In large studio, with
spotlight playing upon them. The rest
pf the room will be dimly lighted. with
he microphone placed in shadow
where the artist can not discern 1t,
hnd the vista which will open before
he performer will present the effect
BIZ a large auditorium, with a silent
audience waiting to applaud the broad
caster's efforts.
other studios will provide conditions
binder which public speakers. jazz or
bhestras, religious leaders, vaudeville
performers. symphony orchestras and
bther individuals and groups should be
hble to put forth their best efforts
when broadcasting, because they will
be working under stimuli which regis
ter strongly upon their particular
bensibilities.
Engineers Lay Out Studios.
The studios have been laid out by
Engineers OF the National Broadcast
ng Co. under the supervision of Q. b.
Hanson, manager of operations and
Engineering, working in cooperation
with Raymond Hood, architect OF
he new building. The engineers have
occupied themselves with providing
tudios possessing proper acoustical
properties, together with the utmost
convenience and ease of control, while
Mr.. Hood has been responsible for
working out the details Of the varf-
us schemes of atmospheric design
md decoration.
When Mr. Hood first visited a
roadcasting studio ne was impressed
" the drabness of the surroundings.
famous tenor was on the air, and
was the architects opinion that the
ocalist could not do his best under
ne conditions which surrounded him.
kfter the broadcast Mr.. Hood talked
With the tenor, whom he had known
or a long time, and the singers re-
marks seemed to confirm the archi-
ect's suspicious. Instead Of lifting
he emotions of the artist and lnsplr-
ne him to put forth his best efforts,
he surroundings tended to dispirit
linn.
Mr.. Hood had observed many actors
nd singers backstage, waiting for
heir entrance cues, and he knew the
ervousness which pervades even the
host experienced artists at this time.
re- had watched them and noticed the
disappearance of all nervous tension
3 soon as they stepped on the stage
nd came under the influence of the
ghts, the dim auditorium and the
lent, waiting audience. He knew
hat the reactions Of actors and sing
RS had been considered OF foremost
Importance in the development of
hany stage lighting effects to the
resent day. and it appeared to him
nat work along the same lines could
y used to stimulate broadcast per-
brmers to extend their artistic
owers.
He set to work to anplify his ideas
long lines which would prove adapt
bic to the new National Broadcast
" Co. studios. Some time later he
lbn,itted to Merlin Hall Aylesworth,
resident of the company, a group
sketches in color showing various
ecorative and lighting schemes which
light be used to appeal to the sensi-
lifies of particular types OF broad
sters Mr.. Aylesworth was impress
with the idea, and he and Mr..
Ood worked out definite plans for
X Of the studios.
Lights Provide Decorations.
Later Mr. Hood co-operated with
Ne operations and engineering depart
lent of the company in developing the
bnstructional details of the studios.
some cases decorative effects will
secured by the construction of the
POM itself, while in others systems of
ghts and draperies win provide the
feet desired In practically every
ace where color is used to provide
effect 1t win be supplied by lighting.
ad some of the decoration will be pro-
need by painting with light" a
etlaod which modern stage practice
4 hs developed to fine point.
& In this manner 1t will be possible to
s btain several different effects in some
3 q the studios and to switch off the
becial lights. illuminate the rooms in
e usual manner and transform them
to ordinary studios. In no case have
. e special decorations been allowed to
4 terfere with the acoustics of the
udio.
+ In addition to the large room, known
studio B, there viii be four other
udios on the same floor. Two of
ein, like studio B, will be two stories
height. while two others will be
aly one story high The same floor
30 will contain reception rooms,
nOking rooms and coat rooms for the
fists and one large room occupied
the operations and engineering de-
rtment. On the floor above will be
70 more of the smaller studios and
10 battery and generator equipment.
be second floor above will contain an
iditorium, which also will be equip.
I'd 80 that It can be used as a studio
One studio has. been designed to
bpeal to prominent men. The sug-
ested effect is that of the Roman
prun. Columns appear in the back.
4 ound. and scheme of Pompeiian
|corations will be produced by hidden
yhts. Another studio Is designed To
Emulate minds to which the mystic
rrfes a great appeal. Here the i'm.
ession will be that of Gothic
urch, with alternate light and dark
ctions suggesting the arch and aisles
such an edi6ce. From a concealed
lint near the ceiling the pattern of a
urch window will be thrown on the
por In light.
Performers who are stimulated b,
nate decorations should react strong
TO third studio, in which the gen
ai scheme suggests the decoration oi
q time OF Louis. XIV. Gilt and paste
|lors will be much in evidence an6
rough window the effect of lookinf
to an elaborate garden will be pro
lced.
Two Studios UnadOrned.
Two of the four smaller studios will
left unadorned, for the use of ex
erienced broadcasters who reac
rongly to the mere presence of th'
icrophone and the knowledge tha
illions OF radio listeners are hearin;
em, although the audience is an in
sibie one. The success of the dec
alton schemes of the other studio