Computer glitches continue to plague even modern, high-tech productions. Digital, modern shows are not superior to those of decades past. They may be more hands-off, but their real allure is that they are less labor-intensive than shows of old. Labor is ALWAYS the greatest expense in any business venture. The bean-counters rule even our educational efforts. Modern society sucks. Q.E.D. On Feb 9, 2012 7:20 PM, "Patrick Wiggins" <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote:
Like you Chuck, I've not been to the new place so I can't speak to that but regarding the "star shows" even by the time I was shown the door a year or so before Hansen closed, live "Star IDs" as some of us called them were becoming less frequent being replaced by canned (recorded) shows where the operator did little more than welcome the audience and push the "start" button.
Happily I was abe to get the shop to install a hand paddle in "the pit" in the center of the room (from which Jake used to rise and in which the Digistar project sat in later years). Using that I and a few other likeminded presenters were still able to do mostly manual shows and really get involved with the audience, answering questions on the fly and sharing the occasional laugh instead of crouching behind the console in the back of the star chamber (later renamed "star theatre").
But, let's face it, automation allows the possibility of doing so much more in a full blown production. So I see where it has it's place. But I still miss interacting with the audience in live star IDs. Fortunately I still get to do it at star parties.
patrick
On 09 Feb 2012, at 08:15, Chuck Hards wrote:
Does anyone know if the planetarium has actual "star shows", like Hansen used to have? Constellation identification, graphic demonstrations of planetary movement, seasonal changes, etc.? Like in the "good old days"?
I loved those star shows.
"And may we at Hansen Planetarium be the first to wish you 'Good Morning'." ;-)
I really couldn't see anything resembling a "star show" on the Clark website. Everything seems to be "movies".
I have to admit that I have yet to set foot in Clark. I tend to avoid downtown SLC and have only been in the city a handful of times in the last 20 years. There just never seems to be free time available during hours when places are open, anyway.
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