It was a battle that wouldn’t end for more than a year.
The F.C.C. was concerned RCA was manoeuvering to impose its 441-line transmission standard by selling TV sets that didn’t pick up a higher resolution, the one that DuMont was all set to go ahead with.
It put off plans to allow commercial television—ad revenue companies like NBC said it needed.
The Commission held more hearings in April 1940 into the situation. Even President Roosevelt weighed in, saying he would not permit a monopoly in television broadcasting.
It’s very rhetorical and ho-hum, so we’re only posting an opening day story here. The rest of the post is taken up by listings and highlights, as well as a couple of feature stories.
Quite nicely, the Pasadena Post published the schedule for W6XAO. Unfortunately, it didn’t print any radio/TV listening for after 6 p.m., when the Los Angeles station broadcast its live shows. One featured June Foray. She got a good review.
Tuesday, April 2, 1940
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films.
Wednesday, April 3, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
4:00—Baseball, Columbia vs. C.C.N.Y., at Baker Field.
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news, sponsored by Sun Oil.
8:30—Debate: Columbia University vs. Bucknell University. Resolved: The Dust Bowl Situation Requires that the United States Take Extraordinary Measures for Its Improvement.
9:00—Spinning Wheel Singers.
9:10—Chekhov’s “A Marriage Proposal,” studio play.
9:30-9:40—Esso Television Reporter.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films.
Television Review
“W6XAO Variety Show”
Reviewed Wednesday [3], 7:30-8:30 p.m. Style — Variety. Station — W6XAO.
Don Lee network corraled a nice bunch of live talent for this show, with 19 people getting the call before the final curtain. One handicap artists have to cope with is working with recorded music because of union ruling that all live talent get union scale.
Opening had the Lee Sisters, in Spanish costumes, playing accordions. Adequate curtain raiser.
Max Reinhardt’s Players delivered some good stuff in Berry Kroger’s The Wall, Mel Williamson directing. Betsay Reed and Valla Tognetta took the top spots, supported by Alma Ray, Miki Dworman and Ken Snyder.
Chuck Thorndike, cartoonist and publisher of a book on “doodles,” drew most of the laughs. His caricature of emsee Hugh Brundage backfired when Brundage turned the tables by proving himself a cartoonist in his own right. Thorndike’s best crack was “Doodles are pixies of the subconscious mind.”
June Foray, who is a regular on KECA with her kid stories, did a monolog entitled Lady Tilbury Entertaining With Hay Fever. A good-looker, Miss Foray is a definite personality for tele.
Second half of show, emseed by Bill Gordon, got off to a bad start with Suzanne Duller, French warbler trying to synchronize her voice with recording.
She finally wound up doing okeh.
Juanita Wright delivered a monolog of a prospective bride in the boudoir just before the ceremony. Her mugging makes her a good television subject.
Barron and Blair, terp team, topped the show with their exhibition of ballroom technique. Their stuff brought some action into the show.
Jim Moran wound up with his Jim Douglas-Fred Waring stunt about seeing which sun gives the most tan—Florida or California. He exhibited his mask to show how he protects one side of his face from the sun while exposing the other. Some short spots were handled by Ollie MacDonald, Dr. George Cox, George Rowland and Jerry Corbeil.
One bad feature of show was lack of good closeups. In case of Juanita Wright, close shots could have been worked to decided advantage. Operators apparently decided that three-quarter and distance shots were good enough. However lighting was good and pictures were clear. (Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 6)
Thursday, April 4, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)3:30—“Circus Days,” film.
3:40—“Washington and Cherry Blossoms,” film travelogue.
3:50—“Sport of Fencing,” sports film.
4:00—“Shakespeare,” film travelogue.
4:10—“Air For G String,” musical film.
4:20—“Western Whoopee,” 1930 Aesop Fable cartoon (animation to right by Jim Tyer).
6:45—Lowell Thomas, news.
8:30—“Our Daily Bread,” 1934 film with Karen Morley.
8:40—N.B.C. Pages and Guides.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Round Table, Films.
The NBC Guides and Pages staged another variety show for television station W2XBS last night (8:50-9:30). These youngsters, although amateurs, again offered one of the sprightliest entertainments I’ve seen and heard over my picture set. In fact, their aggregate talent compares favorably with that of a group of professionals. Especially good, was the Walter Winchellian master of ceremonies. If Walter wants to see himself, let him get an eyeful of this lad . . . Speaking of television, I notice that the sponsored telecast news period aired on Wednesday night had adopted practically every suggestion for improvement made by this column. And even though I blush with becoming modesty, I must admit that this period is far more interesting now than it was before. (Daily News, Ben Gross radio column)
Friday, April 5, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30—“Stone Age Romance,” film cartoon.
3:40—“Texas Gun Fighter,” film feature.
6:45—Lowell Thomas, news.
8:30—“Ode to Liberty,” comedy drama with Mady Christians, Walter Slezak, others.
Television Review
MADY CHRISTMAS “Ode to Liberty,’ with Walter Slezak, Henry Edwards, Katherine Stewart, Judson Laire, Edward Franz, Alfred Hesse, Boris Marshalov, Çolin Hunter.
70 mins.
Friday, 8:30 p.m. RCA-NBC, New York
This may be another case of whether or not television will require an acting technique all its own. Experienced legit players in this instance were so loud it was close to old-time meller in effect. It could not escape danger of the audience laughing at the players, not with them.
‘Ode to Liberty’ as a television vehicle did not surmount the shortcomings of Gilbert Miller’s presentation, starring Ina Claire, during a two-month run on Broadway in 1935-36. As was pointed out it that time, Miller realized the play itself offered little and whatever minor success it enjoyed was achieved by billing Miss Claire bigger than the title.
Walter Slezak, a member of the original Broadway cast, was the vis-a-vis of Mady Christians in the telecast. Both indulged broad gestures, mugging, and consonant-hissing. The performance was reminiscent of the old ten-twent-thirt mellers, although this was French farce, very much so.
One of those things with a plot that telegraphs ahead for reservation. Slezak was a Communist sought by the police. He found a hiding place in the home of Miss Christians, flighty femme, highly successful in business, who has kicked out her husband despite his offers to let her maintain a boy friend. Love versus Communism was the clash factor.
Technically, telecast revealed more pan shots than formerly and they are now much smoother, although still self-conscious and slow. Cross-set shots are also considerably freer, giving added feeling that vision is no longer cooped up between two chalk lines on the floor.
Aside from Slezak, Katherine Stewart and Colin Hunter were also in the original Broadway cast. Herb. (Billboard, Apr. 17)
Television broadcasts highlighting Los Angeles Industries are being featured by the Thomas S. Lee television station W6XAO, of the Don Lee Broadcasting System, in a series that includes both the garment trades and the heavier industries. Edward A. Fischer is handling these special programs, under Ray Coffin, program manager. each Monday evening, between 8 and 9 p. m.
The work is still experimental, but Mark Finley, director of public relations for the station, reports quite rapid expansion of the service out here with between 800 and 900 television sets estimated now in use in this area. Great preparations are under way for expansion of the facilities of W6XAO, he reports, the firm having recently purchased a 23-acre site on top of a 1,7000-foot [sic] mountain in Hollywoodland. It is now known as Mt. Lee and will have a tower one and one-halt times the height of that of the Empire State tower, when completed.
A recent broadcast featured Lee Gersten, head of the Los Angeles Coat and Suit Association, who was interviewed over the air on the importance of Los Angeles as a coat and suit market. The hour included presentation of locally made coats and suits on pretty University of Southern California co-eds, who also wore hats manufactured by Weyman Bros., local millinery house. Another had Caspar Riese, member of the firm of Style Millinery, with Assistance League girls wearing hats made by his firm and designed by Howard Shoup, designer for Warner Bros.-First National. Mr. Shoup was also present and appeared on the program.
Several broadcasts have been worked around dresses made here and were under the auspices of the Associated Apparel Manufacturers of Los Angeles. Men’s apparel came in for its share recently, when Silverwood’s, men’s and women’s specialty stores, appeared in a broadcast using apparel from 10 local manufacturers.
Chamber of Commerce executives from departments interested in local industry have also been interviewed on the extent of the various industries here. With them have been representatives of the air plane industry, tire manufacturers and the like, and some of their products have been shown, as well. (Women’s Wear Daily, Apr. 5)
Manuel Ortiz of El Centro and Jackie Jurich of San Jose, two of the five best flyweights in the world, clash in an elimination bout at the Hollywood Legion tonight.The Jurish-Ortiz bout has the distinction of being the first professional boxing match on the Pacific coast to be recorded by television.
The club has made special arrangements with Thomas S. Lee, owner of W6XAO, for the sight-sound broadcast.
W6XAO is the only licensed television station in the entire west. (Los Angeles Daily News, Apr. 5)
Saturday, April 6, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
2:15—Army Day Parade, Fifth Avenue, New York.
8:30—“Rainbow’s End,” film feature with Hoot Gibson.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
5:30—Films, discussion.
The annual Army Day Parade on Fifth Avenue was telecast yesterday [6] by W2XBS (2:15 P. M.).The camera picked up the procession of armed forces at Fifth Ave. and 64th St. Although the reception on my set was poor, in other parts of the city, according to reports, the images came over clearly. (Daily News, Ben Gross radio column)
New York—NBC has started using 16 mm. film for television with a specially designed projector. This narrow gauge film helped fill the four hours weekly now being devoted to television of motion pictures, especially as the major decline to lease their product and foreign films are not suitable, partly from a censorship angle.
Already available are “Aesop’s Fables,” “Melody Masters,” and several animal shorts. NBC will also use westerns and has lined up several Ken Maynards, Kermit Maynards and Hoot Gibsons. (Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 5)
Sunday, April 7, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
2:30-3:30—“On the Roof of a City,” Jimmy Jemail, Daily News "Inquiring Photographer." Interviews from the roof of the RCA Building.
4:30-5:30—Solar Eclipse.
8:30-9:30—Debut Hour. Yale University Theatre Group in “Hospital Scene,” a one-act play; Professor Oakes, the Wizard of Waukesha; Loretta Clemens, songs; Chiquita, Mexican dances.
This column somehow found itself in on the 2572nd program broadcast of Station W6XAO, which is television for KHJ—the occasion being the first full length play to be sent out over the air in the West. Six or eight of us sat in comfortable chairs in an office and stared at a mirror in the raised lid of the apparatus, which might otherwise have been an ordinary radio cabinet.
After a while, sure enough, things began to appear. An animal short, reproduced from film, came first. Then—“Theater Visionair Presents ‘Ides of March,’ by Wilfrid Pettitt.” The stars, it developed, were Shirley Thomas and John Barkley. The credit titles were lifted away by hand, one by one. Then came the play itself.
There were eight scenes in all, with short waits between. I don’t know whether the play—something about John Wilkes Booth—was good or bad. Toward the end I went down the hall to the room where the actors were and watched the broadcast itself. Steve Sekely, of Hungary and Hollywood, was directing. There were two “cameras,” or transmitters—one for the medium shots and the other for the closeups. The set, that “southern mansion,” was a makeshift two-by-four—but it served. The players wore panchromatic make-up—No. 29.
Later Sekely aptly compared his production to “early Vitaphone.” (L.A. Times, Philip K. Scheuer column, Apr. 7)
Monday, April 8, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
12:00-1:00—Air Safety Presentations, La Guardia Field.
WASHINGTON, Apr. 8 (AP) — Allen B. Du Mont, Passaic, N. J., television set manufacturer told the Federal Communications Commission today that standards for commercial telecasting should be ‘flexible.”
Du Mont, the first witness as the commission reopened hearings on the question of permitting limited commercial operation, said there should be further research and experimentation before permanent standards were set.
The commission once authorized commercial telecasting, beginning Sept. 1, but later suspended its order and directed new hearings on the question whether commercial use of telecasting now might unduly retard research.
Du Mont said f1exibility of standards would pave the way for immediate initiation of wide-spread public participation in television.
He opposed “freezing” at 441 lines, the unit determining clearness of the projected image. He said more “lines” in an image made for better reception and that sets were in process of perfection receiving a greater number than 441.
Du Mont explained that his company guaranteed purchasers of sets that adjustments would be made free of charge to protect against receiver obsolescence for the next two years.
Although Chairman James Lawrence Fly of the commission said he expected the additional hearings would last only a few days. Du Mont was on the stand all day.
Tuesday, April 9, 1940
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films
Wednesday, April 10, 1940W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30-5:00—Baseball, Columbia vs. Fordham.
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news, sponsored by Sun Oil.
8:30—Midweek Varieties, with Yvette, songstress; Buck and Bubbles, novelty act; the Virginians, song team, and Paul Wing’s Spelling Bee.
9:30-9:40—Esso Television Reporter.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films
Television Review
Reviewed Wednesday, 9:30-9:40 p.m. Style—News. Sponsor—Standard Oil of New Jersey. Agency—Marschalk & Pratt, Inc. Station—W2XBS. Reviewed on RCA Television Receiver
This is the first television program series that The Billboard has reviewed twice, reason for the second review being that certain suggested changes were adopted in preparing the news presentation. Improvement of this program over that of the preceding week was noticeable, the presentation having more fluidity, better commercials and a more extensive use of tele’s visual possibilities in newscasting.
First review stated, “The great letdown in the presentation is in the use of still pictures which seem to be ancient relics of bygone days . . . these stills do not show well over television . . . they have a tendency to slow up the show.”
While stills were used in this week’s program, they were not used as extensively. In addition, the producers heightened the effect by using maps and pointers to illustrate comment on the international situation. Technique here resembled newsreels somewhat, and was quite effective, in order to illustrate disposition of naval power and other military and economic factors of the war, miniature ships and soldiers were placed on certain areas of the maps—all going to make a fairly clear picture. In general this map technique is very promising, much more so than use of stills.
One failing of the maps, however, is that no countries are shown. Divisions and an easily understood legend should be added.
In addition to maps, other devices of Illustrative value were used. In one case, for instance, announcer William Spargrove used stacked-up piles of silver dollars by way of clarifying certain economic phases of the war. In another instance a graph was used to illustrate news of recent floods—graph showing the effects on water supply.
Commercial for Esso solvent was carefully worked out, and showed great potentialities as compared to regular radio commercials. Spargrove showed the gum that deposits in motors and clogs valves, etc. The commercial has all the punch of a radio commercial, plus undeniable visual aid.
Other items were a brief fashion show, a bit of screen star chatter, census news, etc.
Program definitely illustrated one significant point, namely, that tele newscasting will require much more preparation than radio newscasting. Latter is mainly a case of editing, but with tele the factors are so complex and possibilities so great that the presentation amounts to careful production.
Altho use of stills was cut down, they can still be cut down even more. Each should be used for a few seconds at most, for by their very nature they induce a static condition in a program which should be constantly moving. Organ music and titles introduce each item. Ackerman. (Billboard, April 18)
Thursday, April 11, 1940W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:31—“Making Glass,” film.
3:41—“Packaging Competition,” film
4:00—“Oriental Sports,” film.
4:10—“Let’s See America,” film.
4:20-4:30—“Gypped in Egypt,” 1930 Aesop Fable.
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news.
8:30-9:30—“The Big Chase,” film with Mickey Rooney.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Round Table, Films.
Friday, April 12, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30-4:30—“Wild Horse Round-up,” feature film.
6:45-7:00—Clem McCarthy, news.
8:30-9:30—“Hits and Bits of 1890,” an hour of vaudeville with Blanche Ring and others.
Saturday, April 13, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:00-4:30—Baseball, Fordham vs. Rutgers at Fordham Field. (Game was cancelled due to snow).
8:30-9:30—“Rainbow’s End,” film.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
5:30—Films, discussion.
Two major television productions are set for the week. The first, ‘Song of Peace,’ written by Bill Thomas, and featuring in the adult cast Bob Emerick, Patricia Peters and Frank Bishell, will be presented by Stern over the Thomas Lee station, WXAO, Wednesday night [17]. The second telecast features the Teen Age Group of boys known as the ‘Half Moon Boys,’ written and directed by Judith Whitney, tinder the supervision of Grace Hamilton. The play, “Half Moon Boys Out West,” will be presented tonight [13] over W6XAO. (Hollywood Citizen-News)
WASHINGTON, April 13 (AP)—The Federal Communications Commission today authorized Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., to construct a new experimental television station in New York City. The station will be at 515 Madison Avenue. The commission previously had issued permits to the National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System for experimental stations in New York.
NEW YORK, Apr. 13 (AP)—It looks like a water tower. It might even be used for that purpose. Actually, it’s a unit of an ultra-short-wave relay network to pass television signals from city to city just as sound radio is distributed by a wire system.
Ultimately, the water tank motif may be replaced by some other basic design. But in the first experimental television relay between New York City and Riverhead, Long Island, a distance of approximately 70 miles, two of the tanks were perched on high steel frames resembling windmill towers. This test demonstrated, the engineers said that the system was practical.
6/10 OF A METER
Instead of holding water, the tanks housed the equipment comprising the automatic radio relay made up of special receiver and transmitters to pass along the signal considerably boosted in strength.
Extremely short wavelengths are used, the shortest vet applied to television. They measure six-tenths of a meter, or just above 460 megacycles.
It is this same equipment developed by Radio Corporation of America engineers in a long period of testing which will be employed in setting up the world’s first television relay link. It will connect Philadelphia to New York visually as the starter for what it is hoped will be a coast-to-roast network.After this hookup gets operating, probably by the end of the year, other cities are to be tied in, with Washington as a next step. Already it is intended to televise the 1941 inauguration if technical developments permit.
TANKS 30 MILES APART
The New York-Philadelphia circuit, as now laid out, would have two of the water-tank stations, placed about 30 miles apart to span the 90-mile gap. Besides the booster stations, the tanks also provide space for the receivíng and transmitting antennas, so arranged with reflectors that they do not interfere with one another.
Coupled with plans for the network start was the announcement of the National Broadcasting Company that it had applied for permission to erect television broadcast stations not only in Philadelphia, but in Washington and Chicago as well. (C.E. Butterfield)
Sunday, April 14, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30-4:45—“Dark Hour,” film with Ray Walker and Irene Ware.
8:30-9:30—“Her Master’s Voice,” comedy by Claire Kummer, with Hume Cronyn, Jean Adair, Rosalind Ivan and Peggy French.
Tuesday, April 16, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:00-4:00—Films.
Wednesday, April 17, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30—“Hits, Runs and Errors,” film.
3:40—“Boston Common and Proper,” film.
3:50—“Let’s See America,” film.
4:10—“Science in Business,” film.
4:20—“California Holiday,” film.
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news.
8:30-9:30—“The Old Bookshop,” variety with Arthur Allen and Parker Fennelly as the Simpson boys; Joan Hardy in a French lesson; a piano lesson by Russell, and “The Night of April 14,” a documentary drama.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films.
WHAT was claimed to be the first televised Shakespearean broadcast was presented April 17 by the Henry Howard Players of Philadelphia on W3XE, Philco’s experimental visual broadcast station in that city. Thomas Froman directed the players in scenes from “Romeo and Juliet”, “Macbeth” and “The Taming of the Shrew”. (Broadcasting, May 1)
Thursday, April 18, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:00-5:00—Baseball, Jersey City Giants vs. Montreal Royals, at Jersey City.
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news.
8:30-9:30—“Stars of the Future,” a programme by 19 juvenile performers, including Gary Graffman, pianist; Beverly Sills, actress; the Mitchell Brothers, tap dancers; Baby Barbara Del Rose, six-year-old xylophonist; The Koutzen Trio.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00—Films.
Friday, April 19, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:00-5:00—Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. New York Giants, at Ebbets Field., Jack Starr announcing.
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news.
8:30—Esso Television Reporter.
8:45—“Feminine Fancies,” Ana Maria, dancer; Camille Rajane, futurachord; Sylvia Reed, accordion.
9:00-11:00—Wrestling, at Jamaica Arena.
The 12 to 0 massacre of the New York Giants by the fighting Brooklyn Dodgers provided thrills for both television and radio fans yesterday [19]. The cameras of W2XBS picked up the excitement at Ebbets Field (3 to 5 P. M.). Al Helfer, Red Barber’s assistant, served as announcer for those who viewed the game on their picture sets and did an illuminating job. Despite the cloudy weather, the reception of the images was excellent. But there is this criticism to be made: At times, the pickup failed to follow the action. It would seem that television field crews could use one or two newspaper trained photographers, who would employ their instinctive news sense in the handling of the cameras.
Red Barber did the play-by-play broadcast of this game for WOR listeners and, as usual, acquitted himself in first rate fashion. (Daily News, Ben Gross column)
TWO one-minute televised commercials for Ivory Soap were included in NBC’s telecast of the opening home game of the Brooklyn Dodgers for the 1940 season on April 19. In one spot, Ken Roberts, announcer, showed how the soap foams up by making suds in a glass; in the other, by wearing one red mitten and one white glove, he illustrated how Ivory keeps hands white. Commercials were prepared by Compton Adv., New York, Ivory agency for Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, co-sponsor of the Dodgers games broadcast on WOR, Newark.
In addition to the normal audience of television set-owners in the metropolitan area, the game was witnessed by more than 50 patients at the Metropolitan Sanitarium at Mount McGregor, near Saratoga Springs, New York. Signals from W2XBS, NBC’s New York television transmitter, were picked up by the General Electric television relay station in the Helderberg mountains 12 miles from Schenectady and rebroadcast, making possible the reception at the sanatorium. (Broadcasting, May 1)
Television Review
ESSO REPORTER
20 Mins. Friday, 8:30 p.m. W2XBS, New York, (Marschalk & Pratt)
Interesting but still pretty much in the primitive stage. Though the items were loosely documented, the runoff gave a good Insight into how the medium could some day be applied to knitting such elements as photos, maps and live appearances into a broadcast newsreel.
Event caught was divided into two parts. The first dealt with the war. Aided by specially drawn maps and photos of personalities mentioned, the unbilled ‘reporter’ expatiated on the possible implications of the latest war bulletins from Europe. The whole thing could have been made more effective if a pointer had been used to indicate the spots referred to instead of leaving it to the spectator to seek out the circled number on the map.
Second part brought in groups of youngsters. The first was the winner of the recent N. Y. Boys Club pet show and its prize pooches, while the other item provided an interesting glimpse of the famous Woods Twins. These six-year-old youngsters have been in the public prints since shortly after their birth, when one came under the exclusive tutorship of a child psychologist and the other remained with his lower middleclass family. The behavior of the twosome before the camera and the mike reflected difference of environment in a big way. The conditioned lad, huskier and happier looking, was self-assured and pretty much in command of the proceedings. He whispered the answers of questions addressed to his brother but even then the latter failed to come out of his shell. Odec. (Billboard, April 24)
ESSO MARKETERS, which started the first sponsored news series designed especially for television March 20 on W2XBS, New York, on April 19 shifted the program, titled The Esso Television Reporter, from Wednesday to Friday nights at 8:30 p. m. The telecasts, featuring UP news, are arranged through the cooperation of NBCs television department and Marschalk & Pratt, New York, agency handling the Esso account. (Broadcasting, May 1)
Nat Tanchuck yesterday [19] signed a deal with Tom Lee to produce, direct and write television shows for the Mutual telecasting station.
Tanchuck’s first will be “A Man Named Brown,” and is set to go on May 8. (Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 20)
Saturday, April 20, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
2:00-4:30—Track Meet, Princeton-Columbia-Navy, Baker Field.
8:30-9:35—“I Met a Murderer,” 1939 film with James Mason and Pamela Kellino.
Sunday, April 21, 19403:30—“Red Riding Hood,” Aesop Fable cartoon.
3:40—“Frontier Scout,” film.
8:30—“Burlesque,” a play by George Maker Watters and Arthur Hopkins, with Audrie Christie, Edwin Muchael, Betty Harmon and Robert Allen.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
5:30—Films, discussion.
Monday, April 22, 1940
NEW YORK, Apr. 22 (NEA).—Television—a brand new industry untouched by the tradition of male dominance—will offer women opportunities as great as those offered to men. That is the vision of television which Thelma Prescott of N. B. C.—only woman in the field so far—sees when she looks into the new decade.
“Since the audience not only hears but sees in television, women are going to be important in the role of performers,” says Mrs. Prescott. “But contrary to popular notion, that isn’t going to limit television stars to young, beautiful women.
“It takes more than surface beauty to make a television act less appealing. Personality is equally important. That is why it isn’t possible to answer the question, “What is the perfect television type?’”
Miss Prescott has directed and produced many experimental commercial television broadcasts. Ninety per cent of them have been directed toward feminine “lookers-in.” She says that the 67 advertising agencies which have experimented in television are for the most part interested in women’s programs.
That will automatically make the hiring of many women a necessity. For instance, when a style show is put on, not only will the entire cast be women, but it will be best to have women rehearsing, supervising and putting on the show. Same way when the program is a cooking demonstration, or any other type program built to interest women.
Women will also be let in on costume designing, supervising productions, checking details, acting, dancing, training actors in their parts, and assembling programs, she points out.
And she thinks that with men and women both novices in a field—as they ate bound to be in anything as new as television—the women will have a real chance to get into important jobs.
Miss Prescott, who reported fashions from Paris for a number of years, has never been in radio. She says she is glad of that. For she thinks that experience in radio would have narrowed her viewpoint and might have led her into trying radio technique in television instead of realizing that there is no television technique—that it must be developed from scratch.
Tuesday, April 23, 1940
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films
Wednesday, Apr. 24, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:15-5:15 — Baseball, Princeton vs. Columbia, at Baker Field.
6:45-7:00—News, Lowell Thomas.
8:30-9:30—A revue, with Gali Gali, magic; Jules Lande, violin; Lysbeth Hughes, harp; Leni Bouvier and Eugene Van Grona, dancers; Pauline Alpert, piano, and Sarita, dancer. Also Fashions Out of Test Tubes.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films
Television Review
BENJAMIN DAVID REVUE
With Mrs. Burnley Railing, Pauline Alpert, Lysbeth Hughes, Gali Gali, Jules Lande, Bouvier and Van Grona, and Vilan and Kevin.
RCA-NBC, New York
This musical revuette, guided by Benjamin David (credited with production, lyrics and dialog) and his aide, Florence Mullen, strung together nitery and vaudeville turns for one of the better jobs in this program vein. Began with the explanation by different characters that the ensuing revue was a charity society affair; hence the lack of elaborate production usually associated with stage revues. Lyrical introduction by an Alan Holt singer brought in Dorothy Allen and Jeffrey McMahon, ingenue and juvenile from productions, for further explanations on what was to follow. Swung into dance after usual vocal duet.
Revue then jumped to garden party setting, but managed to hold-up despite straightaway procession of turns. Scripting and work of Mrs. Burnley Railing as mistress of ceremonies was largely responsible. Threesome, consisting of Jules Lande, violinist from St. Reg1s hotel; Pauline Alpert, radio pianist, and Lysbeth Hughes, harpist-balladist from the Biltmore hotel, then were introduced individually, with closeups.
Leni Bouvier and Eugene Van Grona, ballroomologists from the Rainbow Room, offered a straight number, then a burlesque bolero. Their work as well as Gali-Gali’s (also Rainbow Room) bag of manic tricks were deftly captured by the television camera, not a single magical stunt being muffed by the iconoscope.
Dimitrios Vilan and Ilsa Kevin, another dance combo, did ‘Down to My Last Yacht’ vocal duct, thence into a ballroom routine, Slow motion semi-acrobatic movements registered very well on tele. Perili and Perila, Mexican singers, and Sarita, South American castanet dancer, provided Latin-American atmosphere.
Al and Vincent, comedy musicians using a special whistle gadget to make the sounds of various instruments: the Alan Holt Singers: John Sebastian, harmonica wizard; and Cliff Crane, eccentric rube tapster, filled out much of the remainder of show.
Whole revuette ran off quite smoothly. Wear. (Variety, May 8)
Television broadcasting was added to the scope of activities of Manual Arts high schools Boys’ Aeolian club Wednesday evening [24] when 28 members of the organization appeared and sang in a special program over station W6XAO.
The broadcast marked the second time in history that a choral group had appeared on a television program. First claimant to the honor is the Hall Johnson choir.
Among the numbers presented by the Aeolian club were the Manual Arts “Alma Mater,” the secular “March of the Musketeers,” and the sacred chorale, “Thanks Be To God.” Elizabeth Mottern is a director of the organization; Miss Jeanette Davis, accompanist; and Frank Snyder, president. (Los Angeles Southwest Wave, Apr. 26)
Thursday, April 25, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30-4:30—“The Last of the Mohicans,” film serial, episode 1.
4:00—“The Story of the Sponge,” film.
4:20—“Let’s See America,” film travelogue
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news.
7:30-8:00—Passover Seder, Saul P. Applebaum, Asst. Rabbi, Central Synagogue, and others.
8:30-11:30—“Television Goes to the Circus,” Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, at Madison Square Garden.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00—Round Table, films.
IF any one sees elephants in the air on Thursday night [25] he will not “be seeing things.” In quest of a “bigger, better, grander-than-ever show,” the NBC television cameras will go to the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey circus at Madison Square Garden. The complete three-hour performance will be telecast beginning at 8:30 with the opening parade.
Two cameras will be used, and while the electric “eyes” will be subject to new tests, the camera men are confident that they can pick up from the trapeze with the greatest of ease. One lens will be focused on the three sawdust rings under the big top while the other scans the sideshow. (Times, April 21)
Friday, April 26, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30-4:30—Film, “Battle of Greed,” with Tom Keene and Gwynne Shipman.
6:45-7:00—Lowell Thomas, news.
8:30—Esso Television reporter.
8:45—Feminine Fancies.”
9:00-11:00—Wrestling, at Jamaica Arena.
A part of the opening-day ceremonies at the New York World’s Fair on May 11 will be telecast to the United States liner President Roosevelt, from 3:30 to 5 p. m., soon after the ship leaves for Bermuda from Pier 60, Twentieth Street and the Hudson River, it was announced yesterday [26]. The National Broadcasting Company and the Radio Corporation of America will transmit the program, which will be the first shore-to-ship telecast ever attempted. Which part of the ceremonies will be transmitted from the exposition was not disclosed yesterday, although it was believed that the program would consist mainly of the rededication exercises at the Court of Peace. It was estimated that the President Roosevelt, which will leave the pier at 3 p. m., would be near Sandy Hook when it received the broadcast. The announcement was made after a conference among Harvey D. Gibson, chairman of the board of the Fair Corporation; Ralph Beal, director of research of R. C. A.; Capt. James E. Roberts of the President Roosevelt, and Ralph Reed, executive vice-president of the American Express Company, which is sponsoring the telecast.
Mr. Beal explained that sending and receiving apparatus was now being installed in two of the ship’s lounges and that a staff of N. B. C. and R. C. A. engineers would make a round trip to Bermuda on the President Roosevelt a week before the telecast is scheduled to perfect the technical arrangements. Bermuda residents will be invited to attend a television program on the liner, during which a program will be presented from a small transmitter on the ship to an audience in one of the lounges. It will be the first telecast ever seen in Bermuda.
World’s Fair and radio officials said yesterday that the telecast might turn out to be the outstanding scientific development of the exposition. Mr. Beal pointed out that “other fairs have signalized the telephone, electric light and other inventions,” and that the opening of the New York World’s Fair “will signalize a great advance in another new medium, which is television.”
Mr. Beal said that the present effective television range on land was ninety miles, but that it might be possible to receive and send 150 miles or more at sea. Experimental programs will originate from the President Roosevelt while it is en route to Bermuda, he added.
Besides the exercises at the Court of Peace, the telecast program originating at the Fair may include a pageant near the Trylon and Perisphere, it was said, in the evening, when the ship will be about eighty miles from New York City, another telecast will be transmitted from the exposition. (Herald Tribune, Apr. 27)
Saturday, April 27, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:15-5:15—Baseball, Columbia vs. Manhattan, Baker Field.
8:30-9:00—“Anything for a Thrill,” feature film with Frankie Darro and Kane Richmond.
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
5:30—Films, discussion.
Sunday, April 28, 1940
W2XBS, New York, Channel 1 (45.25 meters, audio on 49.75 meters)
3:30—“Tobaccoland, U.S.A.,” film.
4:05—“Louis Pasteur,” film.
4:20—“Circus Capers,” Aesop’s Fable cartoon.
8:30—“My Heart’s in the Highlands,” play by William Saroyan, with Peter Miner, Russell Hardie, Ann Brody, Winfield Hoeny.
Television operations of the National Broadcasting Company’s station, W2XBS, will be conducted under a Summer schedule, beginning May 13, to meet conditions imposed by daylight saving time.
Under the impending arrangement, evening shows will he seen a half-hour later than the present hour of 8:30 o’clock. Monday and Tuesday evening programs will be substituted for the present Saturday evening and Sunday presentations.
The revised calendar lists evening programs for Mondays through Fridays and the matinee telecasts are to go on Tuesdays through Fridays at 3 o’clock, thirty minutes earlier than under the current schedule. The Saturday afternoon period is to he retained to pick up sports events. (Times, April 28)
Monday, April 29, 1940
NEW YORK, April 29 (AP)—Regular telecasting in the New York area celebrates its first anniversary on Wednesday.
To mark the occasion, the NBC picture transmitter W2XBS will have a two-hour variety bill designed to give a visual indication of the scope of television entertainment. The opening telecast April 30, 1939, came simultaneously with the start of the New York’s World’s Fair and included the first telecast of a public address by the President of the United States.
With an estimated increase to 3000 in the number of receivers now in operation in this vicinity, W2XB is on the air with 16 hours of programs a week compared to the starting schedule of five. (C.E. Butterfield column)
Believed to be the first of the kind ever to be presented, a television broadcast of a Mexican program in the Spanish language will be a feature of the fifth annual Mexican Exposition celebrating the “Cinco de Mayo” holidays, President A.G. Torrez of the Mexican Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday [29]. The program transmitted from the KHJ television studio to the exposition auditorium, was arranged specially for the event, which will be staged in the 4600 block on Brooklyn Ave., between the hours of 2 to 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. All sorts of Mexican products will be on exhibition, with entertainment programs to include patriotic speeches, songs and dances afternoons and evenings. (Los Angeles Times, Apr. 30)
Tuesday, April 30, 1940
W6XAO, Los Angeles, Channel 1
3:00-4:00—Films.
