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Electronic Theatre Controls

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) is an American manufacturer of theater, entertainment and architectural lighting[1]. The company was founded in 1975. by brothers Fred and Bill Foster[2] and as of 2023 operates in 13 countries[3]. The company is based in Middleton in the US state of Wisconsin[4]. Notable clients of ETC include Cirque du Soleil, the World Cup, Disneyland[5] and the Super Bowl[6]

History[edit]

1975: Founding[edit]

Electronic Theatre Controls was founded in 1975 by brothers Fred and Bill Foster, with the help of their friends Gary Bewick and Jim Bradley[7]. All four of them were UW-Madison undergraduates[8]. The company began operation in the basement of Fred's flat with $500[9] Their original goal was to bring the first solid-state microprocessor controlled lighting system into the Metropolitan Opera House[8][10].

Acquisitions[edit]

ETC pursued a significant expansion early on through their many acquisitions.

  • 1990: Lighting Methods Inc[2]
  • 1995: ARRI GB, Lighting Controls Department[2]
  • 1998: Irideon Inc.[2]
  • 2002: transtechnik Lichtsysteme[11]
  • 2003: AVAB France[2]
  • 2004: IES[2][12]
  • 2004: Penko Engineering BV[2]
  • 2009: Selador[13]
  • 2014: Vortek[5][14]
  • 2017: High End Systems[15]

Products (selection)[edit]

ETC manufactures a whole range of products and continues to sell some products from acquired companies (in many cases with a different design and under a different label). For example, transtechnik light control panels are now sold under the transtechnik by ETC label.

  • Eos, Ion, Element, Gio Lighting console
  • Cobalt, Congo, Congo jr (formerly avab)
  • Prisma NTX, Focus NTX, Iris NTX (formerly transtechnik)
  • Sensor Dimmer
  • Unison Architectural lighting control system
  • Net3 Networking components
  • Selador LED-Spotlight
  • Source 4 Spotlight[16]

Source Four[edit]

A prominent product within the company's portfolio is the Source Four. Unveiled in 1992.[16], this release represented a substantial milestone in the development of ellipsoidal spotlights[17]. As opposed to other attempts in the market, the Source Four featured a 15- to 35-mm zoom[17], complete pan and tilt functionality[17], a 24-frame color scroller[17], and an exclusive QuietDrive motor control[17]. Notably, ETC had incorporated the traditional four shutters of standard ellipsoidals into a remote-controlled module, allowing users to select additional modules like a color scroller, rotating wheel module, static wheel module, and an iris module[17]. These modules were autosensing, removing the need for patching or internal adjustments[17] In 2012, ETC introduced an LED version of their Source Four, removing the need for coloured gels[18]. Despite that, the original tungsten Source Four remains in production[19]

Awards[edit]

  • 1997: Manufacturer of the Year Award for innovation and diversified growth (from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce)[16]
  • 2007: Wally Russell Lifetime Achievement Award (attributed to co-founder Fred Foster)[20]

References[edit]

  1. "Electronic Theater Controls: Lighting Theaters, Churches and Theme Parks Around the World". In Business Madison. 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "The history of ETC through company acquisitions". blog.etcconnect.com. 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  3. Mark Robins (2019-10-01). "Salvaged Shipping Containers Aid Building Expansion - Metal Construction News". Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  4. "Still on stage after 40 years: Wisconsin firm grows beyond theater lighting". news.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Journal, Judy Newman | Wisconsin State (2016-03-20). "Electronic Theatre Controls owners give away one-third of company stock to employees". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  6. "Top 10 Stage Lighting Manufacturers". Vorlane. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  7. NEWMAN, JUDY (2008-09-14). "SPOTLIGHT ON A LOCAL SUCCESS ELECTRONIC THEATRE CONTROLS IS EXPANDING, EVEN IN THE SLUGGISH ECONOMY". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Theatrecrafts - Archive - Electronic Theatre Controls / ETC". www.theatrecrafts.com. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  9. Moe, Doug (2008-03-23). "FOSTER FOLLOWS WINDING PATH TO HOUSE". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  10. "Electronic Theatre Controls sheds new light on entertainment". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  11. Johnson, David (Jun 3, 2002). ""ETC Acquires transtechnik Lichtsysteme"". LiveDesign. p. 1. Retrieved Nov 10, 2023.
  12. "ETC Acquires Dutch Dimming Firm IES". Live Design Magazine. Jun 14, 2004. p. 1. Retrieved Nov 12, 2023.
  13. Newman, Judy (2009-02-19). "MIDDLETON'S ETC BUYING LED FIRM". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  14. Rivedal, Karen (2014-08-04). "Electronic Theatre Controls purchases rigging division of Daktronics". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  15. Novak, Bill (2017-03-31). "Electronic Theatre Controls buys Austin event lighting firm". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Middleton firm dominates theater lighting - Document - Gale Power Search". go.gale.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Moody, James; Dexter, Paul (2013-05-02). Concert Lighting: Techniques, Art and Business. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-08270-2. Search this book on
  18. "ETC expands LED luminaire line with Source Four LED Series 2 spotlight". LEDs Magazine. 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  19. "Light and Sound International". edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  20. "Fred Foster". Theatrecrafts.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.

External links[edit]


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