Inventions for Convenience of Theatergoers (Jun, 1931)

Inventions for Convenience of Theatergoers

SCIENCE, with its ability to provide helpful inventions for every occasion, has now come to the assistance of theatergoers and furnished them with two new pieces of equipment for increased enjoyment of programs. For the deaf, inventors have devised a system of voice transmission consisting of a battery of “mikes” at the foot lights to pick up the voice of the players, and a series of plug-in connections at seats provided with headphones to convey the voice directly to the ears of the deaf persons. This unique system has been installed at the Goodman theater, in Chicago.

The invention which theater patrons will welcome most heartily, however, is the new adjustable push-back seat which eliminates the nuisance of having to stand every time someone passes along the row. To prevent disorder, to say nothing of much suppressed swearing, the seated person simply moves back by pressing his body against the in accompanying photos. The bottom of the seat is fitted in grooved runners and held in normal position by a spring. Any old seat can be quickly converted by the installation of this simple mechanism.