Lincoln and Douglas (to name a duo) used to debate outdoors before thousands of people. The debaters would have to project their voices, of course. But these things went on for hours.
Was any technology used to enable the throngs to hear the debates? Towards the end, would Lincoln/Douglas just run out of steam and end up speaking quietly? Would they strain their vocal cords and thus temporarily lose their voices?
AFAIK, they just spoke out. You actually can talk for a very long time loudly and without amplification (for instance, consider performing Hamlet night after night).
It helped that Lincoln had a fairly high-pitched voice, more a tenor than a baritone. It carried better.
Patrick Fairbairn reviewing The Lincoln-Douglas Debates:
Yes, I guess Hamlet is a good comparison for stressing the vocal cords, so I guess back then (and probably in ancient Greek theaters) actors and orators used their diaphragms “to reach the little old lady in the back row.”
My wife is reading “Team of Rivals” and though it mentions the Lincoln-Douglas debates, it doesn’t address the challenges of being heard.
Thank you all very much for your information.