Page 11 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

The book was used so no explosive
mark was left on the floor, but more
importantly, so the floor did not
resonate under the Ramset.
In the Theatre Royal Hobart I blew
up balloons and pricked them to make
the explosive sound - again one of
Taylor’s suggestions. (The results of
these tests were used in the 1980s when
the auditorium was rehabilitated after a
fire destroyed the stage.)
From 1963 to 1968 H. Vivian Taylor
joined with me for a few consultations
that required very careful acoustic
design for air conditioning and
electrical systems. As he mainly stayed
in Melbourne, I helped him out on a
couple of commissions in Sydney.
Over that time I would ask him
questions about his own work. He was
most proud of the acoustic corrections
Padua Brunswick: A pleasing synthesis of the aesthetic and functional, especially with
he had designed for the Houses of
respect to acoustic properties.
Parliament, Adelaide (1935-40). He
also liked being able to design an When I approached the building that After a brief blackout, the next
acoustic treatment that would not be housed the Staccato Club at about performer appeared, the first now
noticeable as such. 9.00pm, holding my sound level meter dressed and walking out the front door,
In the Regent Brisbane, the acoustic in its case, I could only hear the ambient her LP record under her arm. In an
work was done, then the ornament was noise of traffic. I opened the outer door hour or so each of these women would
carefully restored and painted in that and was met by a gruff man of be back at the Staccato Club, (just
burnished coppery gold unique to the seemingly ex-footballer build. I told him down from the Metro/Minerva)
theatre. who I was and what I had to do. “Feel gyrating again in front of perhaps the
For the Plaza Sydney, special free,” he said, without a smile. When my same middle-aged men.
pumice was imported from New eyes became accustomed to the dim I now knew why Vivian Taylor passed
Zealand, and cast into tiles similar to light I saw that I was in a rectangular this consultation over to me. He would
the original decorative ones being room with a catwalk extending two- have been business-like but embarrassed
replaced. The originals were hard and thirds from a very small platform at the while inside, but then chuckled in his
reflective of sound, while the pumice far end. That platform occupied about quiet way once outside. ★
tiles were moderately absorptive of half the width of the room. Loud dance
sound. band music, played through a poor '(Theatre and cinema historian Ross
In the early 1960s his files were a sound system, was squawky and Thorne is a former Associate Professor
mine of drawings from his and other distorted. A woman was on the catwalk in the School of Architecture,
practices that would send him dyeline in a state of partial undress. On the main University of Sydney and the authority
or linen drawings for expert floor a few men, mostly middle-aged, often consulted for information for this
consideration. They included the Maya sat motionless and quiet. magazine. This tribute was a response
at Yallourn (Vic.), Regent Albury, I unpacked the sound level meter to the stories about Hoyts Albury in
Crown Fremantle, the first Rivoli at and started to take a full range of CinemaRecord No. 61).
Camberwell, Ozone Adelaide, and readings at different positions in the
many others. I would have loved copies, room. I peered at my clipboard at 1. Biographical information is from
but the cost would have been beyond intervals to write down what I had read, responses to a questionnaire I sent H. V.
me. Also, I always thought that they then lift my head to assess where next Taylor on 1 October 1968. On file.
would be in existence when I wanted to move for some more readings. There 2. Only the lower floors of the Forbes
them. I hope that they were saved. was always one semi-naked woman on Street studios were built initially, the
Acoustic consulting was not all the cat-walk, walking up and down in a project put on-hold because of the War.
stuffy mechanical affairs. Vivian Taylor desultory manner, her high-heeled The offices and studios at 96 Market
asked me to do a quick job in Sydney’s shoes hitting the catwalk almost in time Street remained in use for some years
Kings Cross for evidence in a court to the raucous beat. The men remained until demolished for the Centrepoint
case. quiet and motionless. I continued to development.
take my measurements.

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