Before Walter Cronkite, before Huntley and Brinkley, before Douglas Edwards, there was John Cameron Swayze.
You may be thinking “Didn’t Doug Edwards anchor the evening TV news on CBS before Swayze did the same thing on NBC?” You’d be right. But that wasn’t Swayze’s debut on television.
Swayze was a radio news anchor on KMBC in Kansas City and the broadcasting columnist for the Kansas City Journal. The city had a television station called W9XAL that had signed on in late 1932 with periodic broadcasts that seem to have consisted of three-minute interviews. The station began daily programming on Monday, January 23, 1933. The following day, a noon-hour TV newscast debuted. It was anchored by John Cameron Swayze.
W9XAL didn’t have a lot of programming. But it was live, which is more than could be said about almost every other station on the air in the U.S. at the start of 1933. The exception was the CBS operations in New York, and they would go silent in weeks.
Among the other stars at W9XAL was organist Hugh Studebaker, who became a radio actor in Chicago and played a black dialect character on Fibber McGee and Molly. Studebaker provided background accompaniment for a programme of poetry by Ted Malone, who later moved to CBS then ABC radio. Swayze was on the air from noon to 12:15, Malone from 4:30 to 4:45, while silent shows aired from 10 to 10:30 a.m., 4 to 4:30 and 8 to 8:30. For a couple of Tuesday evenings, a girls singing group was beamed out for 15 minutes.
There was one problem with the station. Unless you got your electricity from Kansas City Power and Light, the TV sets being sold in the city wouldn't work.
New York City started the year with three stations, but little media coverage. The New York Sun had stopped listing individual TV programmes and, instead, provided hours of operation in its Saturday radio column along with technical information and diagrams for the tele-curious who wanted to build their own sets. There are some DX reports as well. Here’s the schedule, as of Saturday, Jan. 9th:
Saturdays
W2XBS, NBC, New York, 143 meters (No sound)
2:00-5:00—Experimental programs.
W1XAV, Boston, 179 meters (Sound on W1XAU, 193 meters)
8:00-9:00—Experimental programs. 9:00-10:00—Sketch.
W2XAB, W2XAX, W2XR off the air
Sundays
New York, Boston and Los Angeles stations off the air.
Mondays
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 107 meters8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XAX (CBS), New York, 6.9 metres (no sound)
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.
W2XBS (NBC), New York (No sound)
7:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City 179 meters (sound on W2XAR, 193 meters)
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.
W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
Tuesdays
W2XAB (CBS), New York
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.
W2XBS (NBC), New York
2:00-5:00—Experimental programs.
W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.
W1XAV, Boston
8:00-11:00—Experimental programs.
Wednesdays
W2XAB (CBS), New York
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.
W2XBS (NBC), New York
7:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.
Thursdays
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.
W2XBS (NBC), New York
2:00-5:00—Experimental programs.
W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental images.
W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.
Fridays
W2XAB (CBS), New York
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.
W2XNS (NBC), New York
7:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.
W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.
Some listings for John Hogan’s W2XR simply say “5:00—Experimental programs.”
There were other developments in the Midwest. The station at the University of Kansas tried to improve its signal, while the University of Illinois promised to send visual signals over its amateur radio station. And there was talk of television in Spokane, though the city's first station didn't go on the air until the end of 1952.
Here are some clippings from the industry for the first month of 1933. The poor photocopies of the CBS television stars come from the Sun.
Sunday, January 1, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
8:30 to 8:33—First National Television.
Monday, January 2, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
9:30 to 9:33—Television interview.
Station KFPY will complete the remodeling of its studios in the Symons building within two weeks, including in the alterations arrangements for handling television. Plans at the station call for the ability to originate and rebroadcast any such programs as may be made available as television advances.
The approximate date when such broadcasts will be feasible can not even be suggest at this time. Shortly after the first of the year, regular television broadcasts will emanate from the Don Lee chain stations in Los Angeles. As soon as practical, the facilities will be extended into the northwest.
Frank W. Prince of the Spokane Radio company and recognized as technical radio and television authority, gives a graphic picture of television in its present form.
“Television definitely is to be the next entertainment in the home,” said Mr. Prince. “Just how son it will become practical, both for commercial broadcasting and reception in the home, can not be guessed at this time. It may come within a year, perhaps before five or 10 years. No one can say.
“The technical development of television is advancing as rapidly as appropriations for such study are being made available. Prices for sets for both broadcasting and receiving still are high, These will have to be reduced for general use. Simple subjects now are being presented. More work is necessary in this field, for the television must be cleared up.
“Under the terms of the federal radio commission, no advertising now is to be allowed on television broadcasts. How the cost of programs will be met when such development warrants the commercial broadcasting of television entertainment yet must be determined. (Spokane Chronicle, Jan. 2)
Tuesday, January 3, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 to 10:03—Television interview.
The television artist at W2XAB had finished her act. Bill Schudt, the announcer, made the usual sign off and gave the cue which is the same as used on the air by WABC. “This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.”
When the new artist heard this cue she thought all was over because that is how it sounds on the average radio receiver. So she signed and calmly said into the nearest microphone:
“Whoopee. Was that an ordeal for me. Bet they thought I was some kind of an animal act. . . .” (Brooklyn Eagle, Jan. 3)
Wednesday, January 4, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
9:00 to 9:03—Television interview.
The cause of aviation received another boost yesterday afternoon [4] when Garth Cate of the executive staff of The Eagle spoke over the entire facilities of the Columbia Broadcasting System, which included a coast-to-coast hookup, short wave (world wide in reach) and television (W2XAB).
Facing the photelectric cells in the television studio, he told lookers and listeners-in of his latest flying trip to the coast and back. In referring to his Arizona vacation he told of the new 16-mile scenic highway to the thirteen thousand foot summit of the San Francisco peaks near Flagstaff and also related how Arizona’s famous Natural Bridge built itself.
Californians who heard him should have been pleased with his comments on the “unimaginable transfiguration of the Western sky” as he soared above San Francisco By at sunset time. (Brooklyn Eagle, Jan. 5)
Thursday, January 5, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 to 10:03—Television interview.
Friday, January 6, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
8:15 to 8:18—First National Television.
Saturday, January 7, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
9:00 to 9:03—First National Television.
Television
By Benn Hall
Movies and Television
In the excitement of reading last week’s special issue of The Billboard, and looking again and again at those excellent pictures of Wirth & Hamid’s attractions, some of my flock may have failed to have spotted the letter in The Forum from a movie-house operator in Texas, Blanche Schuyler. Miss Schuyler’s letter deserves, I think, special emphasis—and for that reason I am running the risk of duplication. She says, in part: “. . . My conviction is that when television is perfected in color and size—and the equipment sold at a reasonable price—if the motion picture interests do not secure the monopoly talking pictures in theaters will be ancient history. . . .Because when the public can sit at home and see a good show for nothing the reduced attendance will cut clown the profits of the average exhibitor to practically nothing, as his expenses during the past have been from 50 to 85 per cent of the gross receipts.” Miss Schuyler adds that she has been a m. p. exhibitor for 15 years and that she feels that televiz will seriously and adversely affect show biz.
Miss Schuyler is, I think, partly right. Television will keep many away from theaters, particularly film houses. But movie magnates are not so intensely stupid when it comes to new inventions. For example, RCA with its host of affiliated companies is doing a tremendous amount of experimentation—without ballyhoo and behind tightly locked portals—NBC and RKO-Radio Pictures will benefit. Other film companies are television-minded, and are investigating this new field. I think, without doubt, that television will be a part—a major portion of many film companies’ activities. Television will not kill the film footage firms, but it will seriously affect attendance. Exhibitors, indie as well as chains, will feel the inroads that television will make on their box-office lines. Altho televiz will widen the range of picture houses’ activities by making sports and other news events regular attractions just as they are occurring, television will also make every home a potential Tom Thumb movie palace. And others have expressed their belief that television will enable many folks thruout the country to see stage productions—legit, vaude et al.—and special picture presentations. But I think that while television will never entirely eliminate the theater, it will, even after its novelty has lost its dazzling brilliance and freak aspect and television becomes an accepted “household necessity,” materially lower attendance and eventually result in the elimination of many movie houses.
And quite apropos of Miss Schuyler’s letter was a recent talk by Robert Robins, secretary of the American Society for the Protection of Motion Picture Theaters. Robins contended that television is a competitor to movies, altho still “far off,” and he suggested that movie people begin to protect themselves against its possible inroads.
Roses and Lemons Revue
Again the awards—the Hand-Plucked Rose and the Hand-Squeezed Lemon to the fairest and foulest in television. I toss a rose to Orrin E. Dunlap, radio ed. of The New York Times, for those shrewd lines of his in that television article Sunday. In part: “. . . The denizens of research have been busy on many things and have been more faithful to ideas which on the surface seemed insignificant. The depression has afforded an opportunity to delve deeper into the heart of science. They have learned much. When the time is opportune they will announce new electrical wonders. . . . Television rests on a firmer foundation than at the beginning of 1932. . . . Television needs more intense illumination on the screen and more brilliancy from the economic angle.” And the Lemon is flung at those phony fly-by-nights, ready to spring into action, that will try to sell worthless stock, as well as worthless sets, to a gullible public that is fascinated by the magic and mystic term—Television.
Telling Visions
At W2XAB. . . . One of the best televiz singers . . . I’ve heard in a long, long while is Thomas Connors . . . has done plenty musical, vaude, radio and concert work. . . . In Desert Song, Loew and Fox time vaude, and just entered concert field. . . . Debut at Barbizon-Plaza . . . on television, a splendid voice; rich, warm and with an indefinable radio and television personality. . . . Muriel Asche . . . producer of entertaining kiddie revues . . . and active at two schools for youngsters . . . doing much benefit work. . . . Jane Jonson, formerly of W2XAB, opened in the legit production of Girls in Uniform. . . . Jane’s missed at the studio, but the televiz mob are glad to know of her good fortune. (Billboard, Jan. 7)
Monday, January 9, 1933
With the advent of the new type television receivers, First National expects soon to increase their daily schedules so that Kansas City "fans" will be able to participate in television activities.
The new set with modernistic lines is a product of the Echophone Radio and Television corporation of Waukegan, Ill., a radio factory recently acquired by the Western Television corporation of Chicago.
The new receiver incorporates the latest development and improvement in television receivers and projects a picture on a translucent screen in the front of the cabinet. The television image is transmitted on a radio short wave of about 134 meters. A conventional type radio receiver picks up the sound.
Setup Is Simple.
The set for use in the home is merely plugged into the light socket, an aerial and ground attached, the current is turned on and the set is tuned to the television station desired and the picture appears on the screen. A television set is similar to a radio in many respects, only that the output on the radio incorporated in the cabinet is fed into a neon crater lamp instead of a loud speaker as in the common home radio.
The television set receives the picture only; the sound or audible portion of a television broadcast is received in the home by the present radio as usual.
Supposing a synchronized radio television broadcast was to be made from First National studio in the Power and Light building. The performers or artists would put on their act in front of the television pickup camera where the sight portion would be broadcast from the transmitter and aerial located in the tower of the Power and Light building. This is flashed out on an assigned frequency of 2250 kilocycles and the program picked up by the television receiver, but this is just half of the picture and comparable to silent movies.
Sound Over KMBC.
The sound or music starts from the same studio and is picked up by a microphone placed near the performers. The voice is then carried by wire to KMBC in Kansas City where it is broadcast as usual over the radio station's regular frequency. The fan then tunes to this station with his regular radio and the voice arrives in unison with the performers.
The sets will soon be on public display at radio dealers. The Walter I Ferguson company, 801 Dwight building, is factory distributor for Echophone Radio and Television corporation. A companion radio set will soon be on the market in the same cabinet with the television receiver. (Kansas City Journal, Jan. 9)
Tuesday, January 10, 1931
Actions of the Federal Radio Commission
Shortwave & Television Corp., Boston [W1XAV]–Granted extension of time from Jan. 16 to Feb. 10, in which to file exceptions to Examiner's Report No. 440.
Wednesday, January 11, 1931
A new vertical antenna, 140 feet high has been erected in back of the Engineering building at the college in an attempt to better the television broadcasts. The previous horizontal antenna did not five signal strength of sufficient strength for good reception of nearby stations. However, signals transmitted from the college television station [W9XAK] are reported to have been received as far as Elmira, N. Y.
The new antenna, designed by L. C. Paslay, instructor in electrical engineering, and H. H. Higginbottom, graduate assistant in charge of the television station was put in place by faculty members, students and United Power and Light company employees. (Manhattan Morning Chronicle, Jan. 11)
“This is station W9YH in the Electrical Engineering laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois.” Those words have been heard in every part of the world, and as far away as it is possible to go without starting to come back on the other side [...]
But the station’s work is not confined to radiotelephone and code work. It is used also for television broadcasts, such as were demonstrated at the Electrical Engineering show last year, and its pictures have been reproduced in Hartford, Conn., and Rio Vista, Tex. A power of 500 watts is used, with either of two complete transmitters available.
Start Television
A regular schedule of television transmissions is expected to be inaugurated in a week or two. Broadcasts will be made between 7 and 8 o’clock Tuesday and Thursday or Monday and Saturday evenings of living subjects and still pictures, using a 45-line three-spiral scanning disk. A possible arrangement for the simultaneous broadcasting of sound is also being considered. (Daily Illini, Jan. 11)
Saturday, January 14, 1933
Television
By Benn Hall
Conservative “Hello”
The greeting extended television at the turn of the new year was cautiously cordial. No wild predictions were made for televiz’s immediate perfection. People quoted were generally quite frank and all too willing to grant that television is on its way in, but no one could say when or where it might dock. No statements such as William S. Paley, prez of CBS, made some time ago were uttered. Paley said: “I believe television will be in operation on a commercial basis by the end of 1932.” But television, unfortunately, is not.
One thing is clear. Despite any and all prophecies, television will not be here until the depression bye-byes and normalcy is approached. This does not mean necessarily that a business uplift will ballyhoo in television. It does mean that many companies are laying low, quietly experimenting, and expecting to continue to lay low until economic conditions start a climb uphill—should they ever. We will not have televiz before general conditions make a change for the better.
Columbia and Columbia
Columbia University recently sent a visitor to Columbia Broadcasting System’s W2XAB. And when Columbia meets Columbia — there’s generally a story in it. This time Lucy Katz, a future journalist now studying at CU, dropped in at CBS to see if there really was such a thing as television. She discovered that there was—wrote a story about it—and sent us a copy. It was extremely refreshing to read something at somebody else wrote about television—something nontechnical and yet quite comprehensive. The piece is far too long to be quoted here, but I am going to post it on the W2XAB bulletin board—I’m sure it will give many tleviz artists an idea, of what television appears to be like to an observing stranger. Incidentally, Miss Katz enjoyed the whole thing, and her article presses this enjoyment.
A Celebration
Boston Visitor
A. M. Morgan, of the Shortwave and Television Corporation, of Boston, visited W2XAB last week. Morgan was especially pleased with the moving sign that makes visual station announcements and which may be used for televising news flashes. Sign somewhat resembles the news bulletin electric light ribbon on The Times building in New York at night. Morgan expects to install a similar sign announcer in his Boston station, W1XAV.
Telling Visions
Grace Voss at W2XAB gave one of the best dramatic numbers I’ve seen as yet on televiz . . . last Wednesday night. . . . Simple, almost trite tale or a oman at her first-prize fight. . . .Without the use of props or other, devices Miss Voss put on a solo-woman show that held one’s interest to it finish. . . . An example of the type of material and playing that will click on television even in this experimental stage . . . something every other dramatic act should study. . . . Levine Radio Electric Company, of Des Moines supplied many State fairs last year with their televiz equipment. . . . Here’s a large field for alert manufacturers. . .W9XAL, Kansas City, Mo., offers radio televiz technical course, $245. . . . Let’s watch to see how the fireworks at Radio City will affect television’s status there. (Billboard, Jan. 14)
Friday, January 20, 1933
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19—(AP)—An extensive test of television, designed to gather data on the most favorable periods for reception, will begin here to-morrow [20] at 6 P.M. when engineers of W6XS, new Don Lee, 1000-watt transmitter, start a twenty-four-hour continuous broadcast of images.
Harry R. Lubcke, director of television for the Don Lee system and a pioneer in the use of the cathode ray for television said television, like radio, apparently has periods when broadcasts and recepetions are superior.
“We want to determine,” he said, “at what times the best image is received at various distances by the majority of looks and listeners with a view to establish a future schedule.”
While there have been many radio romances, about the first television mating will be the wedding, a few weeks hence, of Lillie Mae West and Eugene Marck, both of CBS’s W2XAB. (Brooklyn Times-Union, Jan. 20)
Saturday, January 21, 1933
Television
By Benn Hall
Onward, CBS
Last Tuesday night I drifted up to W2XAB with a vauge idea and hope that possibly there I might find me a few lines of that elusive commodity—news. But not a few lines were there for me—just about a column. W2XAB is starting something akin to a campaign; many, many improvements are being made and will be made to improve picture transmission. These developments are not tremendous advancements, but they are steady advances that will bring televiz that much closer to an earthy reality.
Bill Schudt and Engineer Harry Spears are enthused over what they are doing, and when these two enthuse, particularly the conservative and cautious guardian of the sight mechanism, Spears, it’s generally justified.
Glass Dropped
One improvement is the elimination of a plate-glass window between the studio and the control room. Few performers are conscious of this change, as the rays of light which strike them do not seem to be altered. (Original purpose of glass was to dim humming sounds from control room.) But this glass absorbed and reflected light to an extent of 7 per cent. The much-desired blue light was often lost in passing thru the plate glass and this light is needed by the photo-cells to aid in good picture transmission. This improvement is somewhat noticeable even in the so-so receiving set in the studio. The pictures seem a slight bit sharper. I have not, at this writing, had an opportunity to spot the pictures that other television bugs’ sets show since this change, but I surmise that a change for the better is noticeable.
Scanner Changes
Improvement No. 2 is somewhat more complicated. But if successful should enlarge the scope of televiz entertainment.
Engineer Spears is going to somewhat alter the construction of the present scanner and change the lenses, the mirror and the carbons. This, he hopes, will give brighter illumination and will improve the clarity and strength of pictures. Another feature of this advancement will be the possibility for longer “pickups.” This to the performer may mean that simple plays and skits with several characters may be intelligently produced and will interest audiences. The players will stand several feet away from the light source and have several square feet in which to perform.
Schudt believes that plays somewhat similar to movie shorts will be developed. I suggested that possibly entertainment will be patterned after the formula of vaude productions, but Schudt feels that the peculiar technic of shorts will be more suitable for televiz productions. This, remember, is not a case of televising films; it is a case of actual “flesh” entertainers being televised. Many studios use films; W2XAB sticks to live flesh and blood entertainers. Merely the technic will be more similar to film, Schudt feels, than vaude.
Screen Changed
Engineer Spears had made a change in the set in the studio. He has inserted a Trans-Lux screen in place of the ground glass and other screens previously used. I noticed that the new screen does give a slightly better picture. It seems, as Spears told me, to give a “wider angular field of view”; that is, one does not have to be directly in front of the set to see the picture. One may go to either the right or the left of the screen and still see the picture. Five per cent is the estimate of this improvement.
These improvements are, of course, not epic-making seven-day wonders. But they are growing Indications of what ingenuity can do, even with limited resources. And Schudt told me that these advances are just the beginning of a series.
The possibility for longer “pickups” with the use of several artists particularly arouses my interest. As I have said, much to some players’ dissatisfaction, present-day television plays are rather excruciatingly boring affairs to witness. They are surpassed by every other form of television entertainment flow being offered. But players will not have to labor under such terrific handicaps if these improvements are made at W2XAB. (Billboard, Jan. 21)
Gets W2XBS Good.
HARRY LARKIN, Brooklyn, N. Y.—For the last few weeks I have been looking in on some of the local television stations with my six-tube screen grid receiver, which I remade over for operation on the television band. The stations that I get best are W2XBS and W2XAB. As yet I have no device that will pick up the sound from W2XAB, since It broadcasts sound on the same wave length. W2XR comes in with good detail. The words "Radio Pictures, 41 Park Row, New York City," come through very distinct and clear.
My set uses two stages of tuned screen grid amplification, a power detector and a resistance coupled amplifier with a —45 power tube in a single stage. My scanner is a 60-hole job having a universal motor. The aerial is approximately eighty feet in length with a lead-in of about twenty feet.
Is W3XK Off the Air?
LESTER JONES, Stapleton, Staten Island—What has happened to W3XK in Washington? My television receiver only brings in the local stations W2XBS, W2XAB and W2XR. W3XK was probably my best bet. Has he gone off the air or has the transmitter been changed to another frequency?
Reply—According to our records this station has been closed down, but is expected to reopen shortly with a new transmitter working on the ultra short waves below 10 meters. Gets Good Results.
L. BROWN. Jamaica, L. I.—Recently I remade, over my broadcast receiver into one designed for the television band, that is, from 100 to 185 meters. The set was rewired with new coil and condensers for two stages of tuned screen grid amplification using the -24 type tubes with a detector and a resistance coupled amplifier, having a -45 tube in the power stage. In operation the following stations were I heard on the loud speaker: W2XBS, W2XAB and W2XR. (New York Sun, Jan. 21)
Sunday, January 22, 1933
At 12 o'clock Tuesday [24] another dally program will bow in when "Journal Post New Flashes" with John Cameron Swayze will be made visible as well as audible. The noon broadcast will be the only one televised. The other two broadcasts, 7:30 in the morning and 4:15 in the afternoon, will continue as usual.
Listeners should bear in mind that all the broadcasts will be heard just as before, the only difference being that they are visible if you have a television receiving set. In the case of "Between the Bookends," the organ music will be played by Hugh Studebaker from the Pickwick hotel studio of KMBC, while Malone broadcasts from the studios of W9XAL experimental visual broadcasting station of First National Television, inc., in the Power and Light building.
At 7:30 o'clock this Tuesday night a special television program is planned featuring "Those McCarty Girls,” popular KMBC trio.
Due to the use of direct electric current in the downtown district many of the stores handling the new sets will be unable at present to give demonstrations. However the programs just mentioned may be seen and heard daily at the following places:
Kansas City Power & Light Co., Fourteenth street and Baltimore avenue.
Kansas City Power & Light Co., Country Club Plaza store, 243 West Forty-seventh street.
Kansas City Power & Light Co., North Kansas City Branch, 412 Armour road.
Western Applicance Co., 500 East Thirty-first street.
Butler Music Co., 530 Minnesota avenue.
Mace-Ryer company, 1120 Grand avenue.
L. B. McCreary, president of the Western Appliance company, distributor of the Western Television corporation’s sets, the first to be placed on the market in Kansas City, was also one of the first distributors of radio sets here. His business then was located on the site of the building which houses the First National Television studio. McCreary at that time operated station WOQ.
Walter I. Ferguson and company are factory representatives of the Western Television Corporation of Chicago makers of the sets. George Hartman is the manager of the television department of the factory representative. The television pictures will be broadcast with a power of 500 watts and should be easily received within a 150-mile radius. Fan mail has been received by W9XAL from a distance of 600 miles under good reception conditions. (Kansas City Journal-Post, Jan. 22)
All report excellent reception of moving images as projected by the Columbia station at 485 Madison avenue, in New York City. G.H. Hanson, the looker-in at Houlton, Me., sent in the most complete review of the week’s television entertainment. His detailed log checks accurately with W2XAB’s program schedule for seven days.
Western lookers-in report to the Columbia system that W2XAB is a nightly visitor and comes through clear and strong. (St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Jan. 22)
Monday, January 30, 1931
ROBINSON, Kan., Jan. 30—(U.P.)—Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Parker believe they have the only radio television set in Kansas in a private home.
No comments:
Post a Comment