Electronic Theatre Controls
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]
- ↑ "Electronic Theater Controls: Lighting Theaters, Churches and Theme Parks Around the World". In Business Madison. 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Mark Robins (2019-10-01). "Salvaged Shipping Containers Aid Building Expansion - Metal Construction News". Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ↑ "Still on stage after 40 years: Wisconsin firm grows beyond theater lighting". news.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Top 10 Stage Lighting Manufacturers". Vorlane. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Theatrecrafts - Archive - Electronic Theatre Controls / ETC". www.theatrecrafts.com. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ↑ Moe, Doug (2008-03-23). "FOSTER FOLLOWS WINDING PATH TO HOUSE". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ↑ "Electronic Theatre Controls sheds new light on entertainment". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ↑ Johnson, David (Jun 3, 2002). ""ETC Acquires transtechnik Lichtsysteme"". LiveDesign. p. 1. Retrieved Nov 10, 2023.
- ↑ "ETC Acquires Dutch Dimming Firm IES". Live Design Magazine. Jun 14, 2004. p. 1. Retrieved Nov 12, 2023.
- ↑ Newman, Judy (2009-02-19). "MIDDLETON'S ETC BUYING LED FIRM". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ↑ Rivedal, Karen (2014-08-04). "Electronic Theatre Controls purchases rigging division of Daktronics". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ↑ Novak, Bill (2017-03-31). "Electronic Theatre Controls buys Austin event lighting firm". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Middleton firm dominates theater lighting - Document - Gale Power Search". go.gale.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "ETC expands LED luminaire line with Source Four LED Series 2 spotlight". LEDs Magazine. 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ↑ "Light and Sound International". edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ↑ "Fred Foster". Theatrecrafts.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
External links[edit]
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