{"id":141518,"date":"2020-12-25T14:00:48","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T11:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/"},"modified":"2020-12-25T14:00:48","modified_gmt":"2020-12-25T11:00:48","slug":"meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/","title":{"rendered":"#Meet the electrophone, the Victorian version of live-streaming"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3db84f24ad1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3db84f24ad1\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/#Shock_of_the_new\" >Shock of the new<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/#Grand_tradition\" >Grand tradition<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#Meet the electrophone, the Victorian version of live-streaming<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n                                As the battle against COVID-19 continues to rage, the plight of Britain\u2019s theaters, which have suffered catastrophic financial strain thanks to lockdown, continues to rumble through the arts world. Theaters were forced to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/coronavirus-theatres-are-already-closing-the-uk-government-needs-to-act-now-141796\">close<\/a> at the end of March and, with few exceptions, have remained closed since. These venues must decide whether reopening when the latest lockdown eases will be viable, thanks to the very real prospect of continuing <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> distancing measures which make live performance almost impossible.<\/p>\n<p>Even after the UK came all too briefly out of lockdown in the summer, ticket sales were limited and profits down. Now, with a second lockdown in force and Christmas shows threatened, the future of British theater remains highly questionable.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Electrophone listening salon in the London headquarters, Pelicon House on Gerrard Street (approximately 1903). George R. Sims (1847-1922)\" width=\"754\" height=\"569\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369133\/original\/file-20201112-23-a2dbsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=26%2C28%2C940%2C709&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2020\/12\/25\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2020%2F12%2F25%2Fmeet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Electrophone listening salon in the London headquarters, Pelicon House on Gerrard Street (approximately 1903). George R. Sims (1847-1922)\" data-title=\"Share Electrophone listening salon in the London headquarters, Pelicon House on Gerrard Street (approximately 1903). George R. Sims (1847-1922) on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Electrophone listening salon in the London headquarters, Pelicon House on Gerrard Street (approximately 1903). George R. Sims (1847-1922) on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Electrophone listening salon in the London headquarters, Pelicon House on Gerrard Street (<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roximately 1903). George R. Sims (1847-1922)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One source of hope has been live-streaming shows \u2013 and a number of theater companies, including <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ntlive.com\/\">National Theatre Live<\/a> had had some success with this format. And, interestingly, the idea of streaming live theater into people\u2019s homes goes back to the Victorian era.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-left \">\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"An advertisement for the London Electrophone Company. Image reproduced with permission from BT Archive\" width=\"600\" height=\"703\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/368914\/original\/file-20201111-23-1szb58p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip\" data-lazy=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/368914\/original\/file-20201111-23-1szb58p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=703&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/368914\/original\/file-20201111-23-1szb58p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=703&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/368914\/original\/file-20201111-23-1szb58p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=703&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/368914\/original\/file-20201111-23-1szb58p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=884&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/368914\/original\/file-20201111-23-1szb58p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=884&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/368914\/original\/file-20201111-23-1szb58p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=884&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2020\/12\/25\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2020%2F12%2F25%2Fmeet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: An advertisement for the London Electrophone Company. Image reproduced with permission from BT Archive\" data-title=\"Share An advertisement for the London Electrophone Company. Image reproduced with permission from BT Archive on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share An advertisement for the London Electrophone Company. Image reproduced with permission from BT Archive on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>An advertisement for the London Electrophone Company. Image reproduced with permission from BT Archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>From 1893 to 1925 the London Electrophone Company streamed the sound of live theatre into the home using a telephone device known as an Electrophone.<\/p>\n<p>Inventors of the time, including Alexander Graham Bell, had looked at the telephone and seen something that could be used to reach large groups of people \u2013 they understood that telephones cables could be used to deliver information from one person to many, and not just for one-to-one conversations.<\/p>\n<p>Music concerts, scientific lectures, church services and theater shows were \u201cstreamed\u201d into the homes of those that could afford it across the country. For those with a smaller budget, listening salons were created. For the first time, you could experience a show without being in the theater. This was, of course, well before the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/about-ofcom\/latest\/features-and-news\/100-years-of-radio#:%7E:text=On%20this%20day%20in%201920,Vale%20of%20Glamorgan%20in%20Wales.\">first live radio broadcast in 1920<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-right \">\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"Colour poster of a woman in an evening gown listening to Le Th\u00e9\u00e2trophone on headphones while a man in top hat and tails waits in the background.\" width=\"600\" height=\"860\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369080\/original\/file-20201112-17-1cqxlsz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip\" data-lazy=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369080\/original\/file-20201112-17-1cqxlsz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=860&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369080\/original\/file-20201112-17-1cqxlsz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=860&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369080\/original\/file-20201112-17-1cqxlsz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=860&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369080\/original\/file-20201112-17-1cqxlsz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1081&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369080\/original\/file-20201112-17-1cqxlsz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1081&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369080\/original\/file-20201112-17-1cqxlsz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1081&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2020\/12\/25\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2020%2F12%2F25%2Fmeet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: A French advertisement for \u2018Le Th\u00e9\u00e2trophone\u2019 (1896), Jules Ch\u00e9ret\" data-title=\"Share A French advertisement for \u2018Le Th\u00e9\u00e2trophone\u2019 (1896), Jules Ch\u00e9ret on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share A French advertisement for \u2018Le Th\u00e9\u00e2trophone\u2019 (1896), Jules Ch\u00e9ret on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>A French advertisement for \u2018Le Th\u00e9\u00e2trophone\u2019 (1896), Jules Ch\u00e9ret<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Made possible thanks to the work of Frenchman <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/arts-culture\/a-partial-history-of-headphones-4693742\/\">Ernest Mercadier<\/a> (who first patented headphones), the Electrophone used primitive headsets, copied from the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/news\/a-century-before-web-simulcasts-there-was-theatrophone\/\">French Th\u00e9\u00e2trophone<\/a> (although, unlike the Th\u00e9\u00e2trophone, the Electrophone did not use stereo <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a>). \u201cCircular telephones\u201d, as they were known, were being trialed across Europe in the late 19th century (the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearticle.com\/how-the-worlds-only-telephone-newspaper-took-off\">Telefon Hirmondo in Hungary<\/a> was still used as late as 1945).<\/p>\n<p>The Electrophone was most similar to the French version because it streamed audio from theater and music venues, while both the Hungarian and Italian versions were slightly different because they also broadcast their own <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> service to subscribers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shock_of_the_new\"><\/span>Shock of the new<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Electrophone worked by sending information through telephone wires into a central receiver in the home where one or more headsets could be installed (each additional headset came with an extra cost). The sound listeners heard would be from small microphones secreted behind the footlights at the front of the stage. In church services the microphones were hidden in fake wooden bibles.<\/p>\n<p>Each Electrophone performance was a genuine live show taking place somewhere in the country \u2013 most commonly the big London theaters, such as the Adelphi Theater or Covent Garden Opera. In 1896, the Musical Standard reported users from the time saying they could hear audience members in the theater \u201crustling like leaves\u201d during the performance, which was broadcast live as it happened.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center \">\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"A young woman of the early 20th century listening to Electrophone through headphones\" width=\"600\" height=\"383\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369105\/original\/file-20201112-19-1sdavnt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" data-lazy=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369105\/original\/file-20201112-19-1sdavnt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369105\/original\/file-20201112-19-1sdavnt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369105\/original\/file-20201112-19-1sdavnt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369105\/original\/file-20201112-19-1sdavnt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=482&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369105\/original\/file-20201112-19-1sdavnt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=482&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369105\/original\/file-20201112-19-1sdavnt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=482&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2020\/12\/25\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2020%2F12%2F25%2Fmeet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Promotional image used in the 1890s to market the Electrophone. London Electrophone Company, c.1895, courtesy of BT Archive\" data-title=\"Share Promotional image used in the 1890s to market the Electrophone. London Electrophone Company, c.1895, courtesy of BT Archive on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Promotional image used in the 1890s to market the Electrophone. London Electrophone Company, c.1895, courtesy of BT Archive on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Promotional image used in the 1890s to market the Electrophone. London Electrophone Company, c.1895, courtesy of BT Archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Streaming genuine live shows meant that the listener at home experienced the start, end and interval of a show just as if they were there. If someone slipped up or forgot a line, this would be just as obvious to audience members listening on headphones as it was to those inside the theater. And Electrophone listeners could enjoy the experience of finding out \u201cwhodunit\u201d at the same time as audience members sitting in the stalls.<\/p>\n<p>The Electrophone cost \u00a35 a year when it was first available for subscription in the 1890s \u2013 equivalent to around \u00a3120 today \u2013 and the unobtrusive nature of the technology involved meant that there was no need to reduce the size of the theater audience. The London Electrophone Company paid for the technology to be installed in the theater, the National Telephone Company (later the Post Office) would pay for the upkeep of the telephone lines and the theatre would receive a share of the Electrophone Company\u2019s profits \u2013 exact records of how profits were shared are yet to be uncovered.<\/p>\n<p>Subscribers could pay an additional fee to be connected to a theater for the season, such as the Covent Garden winter season. The high cost of the Electrophone (much more than a Netflix subscription today) almost certainly meant it was mainly used by the wealthy, but sets installed in hotels, public gardens and exhibitions were operated by the use of coin slots and, for a smaller fee, people could listen to snippets of live theater and musical broadcast.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center \">\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"Three men in Victorian England listening to the new Electrophone technology\" width=\"600\" height=\"457\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369106\/original\/file-20201112-17-xjdk42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" data-lazy=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369106\/original\/file-20201112-17-xjdk42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=458&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369106\/original\/file-20201112-17-xjdk42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=458&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369106\/original\/file-20201112-17-xjdk42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=458&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369106\/original\/file-20201112-17-xjdk42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=575&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369106\/original\/file-20201112-17-xjdk42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=575&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/369106\/original\/file-20201112-17-xjdk42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=575&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2020\/12\/25\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2020%2F12%2F25%2Fmeet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Two customers using Electrophone apparatus with assistance from a more experienced attendant, probably in the Electrophone salon in Gerrard Street. Photographer unknown, c.1900 courtesy of BT Archive\" data-title=\"Share Two customers using Electrophone apparatus with assistance from a more experienced attendant, probably in the Electrophone salon in Gerrard Street. Photographer unknown, c.1900 courtesy of BT Archive on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Two customers using Electrophone apparatus with assistance from a more experienced attendant, probably in the Electrophone salon in Gerrard Street. Photographer unknown, c.1900 courtesy of BT Archive on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Two customers using Electrophone apparatus with assistance from a more experienced attendant, probably in the Electrophone salon in Gerrard Street. Photographer unknown, c.1900 courtesy of BT Archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>People unable to attend the theater, for whatever reason, could listen at home \u2013 just as French novelist Marcel Proust did in the early 20th century when he was too sick to make it out of his house.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Grand_tradition\"><\/span>Grand tradition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since COVID-19 hit the UK, theaters have had to reduce audiences numbers to enable social distancing. It has meant less income for theaters and all those involved in productions. But some companies have successfully <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/paid-for-digital-streaming-has-a-place-in-theatres-return-141821\">combined the live experience with the live stream<\/a>, as Victorian theaters did with the Electrophone.<\/p>\n<p>The London Electrophone Company closed its doors in 1925 because it simply did not have enough customers to survive. The idea of sitting still for an extended period and listening through headphones was bizarre for most people at that time. But these days a generation has grown up with streaming technology, so the challenge the Electrophone faced in selling its product has been less of a concern.<\/p>\n<p>With the prospect of months of restrictions, we\u2019re likely to see more live-streaming, especially once theaters and live performers work out how to put on socially distanced productions. But, when settling down at home to watch a screening of your favorite stage show, bear in mind that you are revisiting a tradition set by theater lovers some 150 years ago.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/148944\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/natasha-kitcher-1171501\">Natasha Kitcher<\/a>, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Communication and Media, Loughborough University, is republished from <\/span><\/i><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Conversation<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0under a Creative Commons license. Read the <\/span><\/i><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/electrophone-the-victorian-era-gadget-that-was-a-precursor-to-live-streaming-148944\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">original article<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Did you know we have a newsletter all about consumer tech? It\u2019s called Plugged In \u2013<br \/>\n            <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/thenextweb\/newsletter\">and you can subscribe to it right here<\/a>.<br \/>\n            <\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-post-pubDate\">\n                                    Published December 25, 2020 \u2014 11:00 UTC<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script data-src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;appId=378011798897423&amp;version=v2.6\" id=\"socialSrcFacebook\" type=\"text\/template\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2020\/12\/25\/meet-the-electrophone-the-victorian-version-of-live-streaming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Meet the electrophone, the Victorian version of live-streaming&#8221; As the battle against COVID-19 continues to rage, the plight of Britain\u2019s theaters, which have suffered catastrophic financial strain thanks to lockdown, continues to rumble through the arts world. Theaters were forced to close at the end of March and, with few exceptions, have remained closed since&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":141519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/plugged?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/12\/Theatrophone-hed.jpg&signature=3cf454e1964184f128c4bae232d5e288","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141518"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141518\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}