Now, a word from our sponsor...
That phrase could soon be heard as the F.C.C. finally announced at the start of May 1941 commercial television had been approved beginning July 1st.
NBC was prepared, having been broadcasting a limited schedule, but the Commission’s decision meant all television sets had to meet the new, July 1 transmission standards. NBC felt most sets could still pick up its signal for the time being. CBS didn’t have the same luck. And DuMont wasn’t exactly ready to go on the air at all.
According to a Christian Science Monitor story, the only other TV stations broadcasting experimentally were W6XAO (Don Lee) in Los Angeles, W9XZV (Zenith) in Chicago and W3XE (Philco) in Philadelphia. Besides DuMont’s W2XWV, there were 13 other stations in the process of signing on. Some never did, such as W6XHH in Los Angeles and W6XHT in San Francisco licensed to Howard Hughes. Others had to wait until after World War Two when equipment was available. Exceptions were W9XBK (WBBM-TV) in Chicago and W6XYZ (KTLA) in Los Angeles.
For an industry so anxious to run commercials to make money, few sponsors were signed up in time for July 1. NBC inked some advertisers for the day only.
NBC’s sporadic schedule for the April to June period is below. Anything that mentions test patterns is from the New York Herald Tribune; the rest is from the Daily News, where radio columnist Ben Gross was enthralled with television. Television coverage in Chicago was negligable, but there were several stories in the Tribune showing how miniscule the television audience was there. W6XAO warranted a bit of print in Los Angeles, with the number of sets in the area varying depending on the story.
Thursday, April 3, 1941
W2XBS (NBC), New York (audio, 51.25 mcs.; video, 55.75 mcs.)
7:30—Test pattern.
8:30—Film Short Subjects.
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, April 3
NEW, CBS. Boston, granted motion change to 43.5 mc. for new television station, denied consolidation of hearing of Yankee Network, Worcester Telegram Publishing Co. and CBS for new television station and hearing continued indefinitely on Worcester application, denied intervention on application Outlet Co., Providence, new television station; WJAR, Providence, dismissed petition to intervene hearing on application of Yankee Network, Worcester Telegram Publishing Co. for television, granted enlargement issues, and on own motion consolidated hearing on application of WJAR and Yankee Network. (Broadcasting, April 7)
Saturday, April 5, 1941
1:00—Test pattern.
2:00—Army Day parade.
New York City’s biggest Army Day parade since World War days was also covered by radio yesterday [5]. WOR and the Mutual network were content to contribute a fifteen-minute word coverage by staff announcers with infrequent pickups of the bands (2:30). But the real job was done by NBC’s television cameras via W2XBS, which took the air at 2 and telecast the entire parade. In spite of the rain and resultant poor light, the images were sufficiently clear to present a real picture of the nation’s armed might. When there weren’t sufficient bands in the line of march to provide a martial music backdrop NBC provided appropriate recordings of militant music. The announcer’s commentary, the televised images, and the added melodies gave us a complete picture. And we didn’t have to stand in the rain! (Ben Gross, Daily News, Apr. 6)
Wednesday, April 9, 1941
7:30—Test pattern.
8:30—Film Short Subjects.
Friday, April 11, 1941
1:30—Test pattern.
2:30—Baseball: Dodgers vs. Yankees.
NBC on April 11 televised on W2XBS the opening game of New York's big league baseball season when the Dodgers played the Yankees at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn. The television cameras were placed in the photographers cage opposite third base instead of behind home plate as heretofore. Al Helfer, sports announcer of WOR, New York, handled the play-by-play account, assisted by Ray Forrest and Jack Fraser. (Broadcasting, Apr. 14) [Note: this would have been pre-season. No interleague play in 1941].
Sunday, April 13, 1941
11:00—Test pattern.
11:45—Vox Pop Interviews.
12:00-12:30—English Refugee Children Speaking to Parents in London (also on WEAF).
History will repeat itself, after a fashion, when the Wilshire Center Easter promenade takes place today on Wilshire Blvd. between Lafayette Park and Nordandie, along the route followed by early California generals who led their men from the tiny Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles to the ocean.Scientific-minded promenaders will be attracted to the lawn of the Ambassador where the Don Lee television station [W6AXO] will set up its mobile unit for a three-hour telecast of the promenade, beginning at 12:30.
Receiving sets will be in operation in the Town House and the Wilshire Center Brown Derby. (Los Angeles Times, Apr. 13)
Monday, April 14, 1941
9:00—Amateur Boxing Bouts.
Wednesday, April 16, 1941
2:00—Test pattern.
3:00—Baseball: Dodgers vs. Giants.
The Dodgers-Giants ball game at Ebbets Field made a great television attraction yesterday (3 to 5 P. M.) [16]. NBC’s visual station, W2XBS, had its cameras trained on the proceedings and the pickup was one of the most effective I’ve seen this season from an outdoor event. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Apr. 17)
Friday, April 18, 1941
7:30—Test pattern.
8:40—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
Sunday, April 20, 1941
A television tower is rising in Chicago’s loop. The antenna mast for Balaban and Katz’s new television station, W9XBK, atop the State-Lake building already has reached a point some 350 feet above street level. When completed this spring it will rise over 400 feet, surmounting all but the tallest skyscrapers.
Meanwhile the station, using low power and a smaller, lower antenna system, is engaged in experimental transmissions from studios on the top floor of the State-Lake building. These are conducted by William C. Eddy, graduate of the United States Naval Academy, who is the director of television for B. & K. Mr. Eddy is a veteran in the field of television having worked for years with NBC and RCA.
Check Experimental Programs.
A dozen receivers have been placed round about Chicago for use in checking the quality of reception of these experimental programs. Starting early in May, sample transmissions will be available to the theater going public. Receivers will be scattered about the mezzanine floor of the Chicago theater.
There will be programs several times each day. These will be typical of the experimental shows that have been sent out for months. Northwestern university players have appeared from time to time and many types of amateur performers, some from the vaudeville stage, presented.
There are showings of the new fashions now and then. The other day new types of hair-dos were demonstrated.
Images 9x11 Inches.
B & K. uses the DuMont system of television with 525 lines per image. This fine line system provides images that are marked for their clarity and sharp definition. The images are about 9 by 11 inches. Looking into a receiver in the studios we watched traffic moving along Wacker drive the other day. The camera pointed out a window was focused on the Chicago river several blocks away and we watched with interest the changing view of boats and street cars and followed the outlines of the familiar skyline as a technician “panned” [from panorama] back and forth.
Auditions and rehearsals are old stuff to anyone in radio. But a television audition! That is something new and different. In ordinary radio sound is everything; in television sound becomes supplementary to sight. Mr. Eddy rates the response to sight at about 86 per cent and to sound only 14.
No Scripts Permitted.
Television auditioners, accustomed to performing in studios with a script are at a disadvantage because here no scripts are permitted. Stage performers seem to have the advantage over radio performers. As candidates for this new art take their position midst dazzling lights double chins, awkward gestures and mannerisms are emphasized.
A scene may open with a distant effect, then the camera moves in for a closeup. Shifts may then be made from a performer’s face to his hands.
One is impressed with the fact that the art of television, since it is still experimental, is so fluid and plastic. There is much of the trial and error technique about it. (Larry Wolters, Chi Trib, Apr. 20)
Monday, April 21, 1941
9:00—Boxing Matches.
CBS plans to begin regular field testing of its television transmitter in New York about June 1, according to Adrian Murphy, CBS Executive director of television. Emphasis will be put on transmission of pictures in full color, he said, but it has not yet been decided whether black-and-white images should be dropped completely.
The chief problem, he explained, is not at the transmitter end but one of reception. Several manufacturers have expressed considerable interest in making color receivers and work is progressing towards putting them into production although none are being produced at this time. There is no doubt about their eventual production, Mr. Murphy stated, but it is doubtful whether color receivers will be available by June 1. (Broadcasting, April 21)
Tuesday, April 22, 1941
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, April 22
NEW, Journal Co., Milwaukee—Granted CP television station 300-812 mc television [W9XMJ]. (Broadcasting, Apr. 28)
Wednesday, April 23, 1941
2:30—Test pattern.
3:30—College Baseball—Fordham vs. St. John’s University.
Thursday, April 24, 1941
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, April 24
NEW, Midland Broadcasting Co., Kansas City—CP television dismissed at applicant's request. (Broadcasting, Apr. 28)
Officials said that marked technical improvements had made the extension of permission for commercial broadcasting possible. Thus, in a comparatively short time a broadcaster speaking from the television screen may frankly say he is advertising a tooth powder, cigarettes, automobiles or floor wax.
Two achievements are primarily responsible for the decision. Heretofore the commission has been dissatisfied with the synchronization “pulse” from the television transmitter to the receiving set. Further, the “scanning lines” had been limited, so that, officials say, it was not possible to transmit images of a suitable size and clarity. But now, it is stated, these difficulties appear to have been overcome.
In one instance the synchronization apparatus has been altered to allow the reproduction of television scenes in a proper fashion, and the establishment of a long wanted “lock-and-key” relationship between transmitter and receiver. In the other the “scanning lines” have been increased from 441 to 525.
Now, officials say, the progress of television will be up to the radio industry, which heretofore has asserted its inability to do much In the way of expansion without the transmission lines. [orphan partial paragraph follows]
substantial backing of commercial advertisers. Television transmission is obviously expensive and advertisers are expected to furnish much of the money necessary to establish the broadcast stations and the [partial paragraph ends]
How far television manufacturers will go is not known at the commission’s offices, where officials assert they were surprised that the large companies did not show more anxiety last month to proceed with commercial broadcasting. Hearings were held late in March, but, according to the commission officers, the broadcast systems displayed no special enthusiasm to start. (NY Times, Apr. 25)
Friday, April 25, 1941
7:30—Test pattern.
8:30—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
Saturday, April 26, 1941
HOLLYWOOD, April 25 (AP)—Television scenes of home games of the Hollywood coast league baseball team will be broadcast by Thomas S. Lee’s television station, W6XAO, starting Saturday [26]. Sunday’s doubleheader with the Los Angeles Angels, as well as the Saturday game, will be handled and the broadcasts may continue for the season on week-ends when the Stars are playing here.
Harry R. Lubcke, W6XAO television director, said semi-wide angle and telephoto lens cameras will be spotted on the ball field and follow continuous action of the games from start to finish. Images will be short-waved to the base transmitter on top of Mount Lee, then fed on the regular channel to the estimated 500 home television receivers in the Los Angeles area.
Sunday, April 27, 1941
Charles E. Wilson, president of General Electric Co., announced yesterday [27] that company resources normally used in research and development of radio and television receivers and electronic tubes will be devoted largely to electronic apparatus for defense needs. In the statement Mr, Wilson said that an offer to do such defense work had been made to Col. Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, and other naval officials, and had been accepted. He added that the company’s action will not affect the commercial radio receiver models for 1941-’42, but will mean standardization on tower models And a minimum of changes during the defense period. (Herald Tribune, Apr. 28)
Monday, April 28, 1941
9:00—Amateur Boxing.
Tuesday, April 29, 1941
All available sports in Southern California will be covered this Summer and Fall by the television cameras of KHJ-W6XAO in an experimental program lined up by Tommy Lee and his television experts to test new developments in equipment and technique.
In addition to completed plans to televise the Saturday and Sunday home games of the Hollywood Stars at Gilmore Field, and the Monday and Friday boxing at the American Legion Stadium, the Lee organization s lining up coverage of the Hollywood Park racing this Summer and the college football games this Fall from the Colesium.
With the advantages of the new transmitter for W6XAO on Mt. Lee the Mutual affiliates are using two cameras, one with wide-angle, the other with telephoto lens, and are securing reports from some 500 owners of receivers in this area on entertainment qualities of the experimental coverage. (Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 29)
Wednesday, April 30, 1941
3:00—Baseball: Brooklyn vs. Cincinnati.
The baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers had an added element of interest yesterday. Not only was the contest broadcast by Red Barber over WOR at 3, but NBC’s sight and sound television cameras picked up the action from Ebbets Field. Reception and coverage were better than during previous telecasts. (Ben Gross, Daily News, May 1)
Thursday, May 1, 1941
When Liberty Bonds were launched on a war-torn world, there were neither radio nor television to aid their sale. But last night [1], both were used to acquaint our people with the merits of the new Defense Bonds. Six NBC commentators—Lowell Thomas, John W. Vandercook and Don Goddard, in New York; and H. V. Kaltenborn, Baukhage and Earl Godwin, in Washington—engaged in a long distance forum concerning the benefits of investing in Uncle Sam’s securities. WJZ aired the proceedings at 9 and, at the same time, NBC’s picture station, W2XBS, telecast the assembly of the first mentioned group of communicators in Radio City. (Ben Gross, Daily News, May 2)
Color television achieved by a three-color revolving disc superimposed upon an electronic tube was demonstrated last Thursday (1) by RCA-NBC engineers. First to the management of the companies, and later to the daily, trade and scientific press, the demonstration was carried through on four receivers, two black and white and two color, set up in the board room of NBC at Radio City.
The program came down by coaxial cable from the regular television studios. Live models were used. Fabrics, fruit, shoes, packages of cigarettes were shown to draw the differences between color and black and white. O. B. Hanson, NBC’s chief engineer, presided.
Demonstration, lasting about 20 minutes, seemed obviously pointed as the RCA-NBC answer to Columbia which created a big stir some months ago when unveiling the mechanical system worked out by its Peter Goldmark. Only one or two passing references to ‘our friends down the street’ were made. Not by anything that was said, but rather by what was not said and the behaviour of the demonstrators, RCA-NBC seemed to imply:
‘Well here it is—mechanical, revolving disc color television. We think its pretty good. We think it’s as good as Columbia’s. But our hearts still belong to Daddy Electronics.’
Resolution on the projection-type screen suffered from lack of light intensity. Engineer explained afterwards a makeshift tube had to be substituted for one that burned out ‘at the last minute due to the perversity of laboratory equipment when demonstrations are planned for outsiders.’ On the smaller, front view set the colors were brighter and the image sharper. It was another omen of the progress of television itself that both the color, which was tentatively good, and the black and white which was excellent, were tossed off as just a little something the engineers ran up on their gadgets. Land. (Variety, May 7)
Friday, May 2, 1941
7:30—Test pattern.
8:30—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
WASHINGTON, May 2.—The nation-wide commercial debut of television has been act for July 1, the Federal Communications Commission announced today in a statement permitting the sale of broadcasts to sponsors.
Held up for more than a year because of the variety of receivers and transmission systems, commercial television has thus been given a green light, following the adoption of standards proposed by the National Television System Committee at a hearing on March 20.
Frequency modulation is required for the sound accompanying the pictures.
The standards which have been agreed to, in substance, “represent, with but few exceptions, the undivided engineering opinion of the industry,” the commission observed in its report, “and satisfy the requirement for advancing television to a high level of efficiency within present known developments.”
According to the commission’s view expressed today the delay to obtain standardization has been justified by the development of standards which alleviate the problem of different receivers being required to “key” into varying competing transmission systems.
If there had been an attempt to set standards when the industry was sharply divided, the commission held, the state of art would have been frozen to the then unsatisfactory level of performance.” Under the new dispensatlon, the industry can take advantage of outstanding improvements in synchronizing signals.
The standards fix the line and the frequencies at 525 and 30, respectively. The 525 lines provide far greater detail in the pictures transmitted than the 441 lines advocated a year ago.
In addition to frequency modulation being required for the sound accompaniment, other developments, such as color television, will have six months of practical tests, at the conclusion of which further changes may be considered.
On the basis of the March hearing, the commission has fixed fifteen hours a week as a reasonable minimum for program service and has increased the number of channels in the present commercial television band, whereas seven lower channels are in the present television band, the commission making the eleven upper channels likewise available.
The commission is adhering to its previous ruling, which precludes more than three television stations being under the same control. (Herald Tribune)
The National Association of Broadcasters estimated that 7,000 television receivers are in the hands of the American public, with the New York City metropolitan area having almost 5,000 of the total.
Pending a fixing of a commercialization date the stations already on the air have been operating on an experimental basis. Regular scheduled broadcasts have been conducted in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with various other stations operating at irregular hours....
Radio experts last night [2] estimated that there are only about 50 television receivers in Illinois at present—most of them in Chicago, where experimental broadcasts have been conducted for some time. Experimental stations have been operated by Zenith Radio corporation and by Balaban and Katz corporation.
Television chain programs may not become a reality for five years, experts said. The short range of effective transmission would require the construction of relay transmitters at intermediate points between the broadcasting stations of a chain. A television transmitter of medium power would cost about $100,000, against $40,000 for a comparable radio transmitter, the experts estimated. They placed the price of a “fair” television receiver for the home at $300 to $400. (Chicago Tribune/AP, May 3)
Tuesday, May 6, 1941
7:30—Test pattern.
8:30—Soccer games at Madison Square Garden.
Wednesday, May 7, 1941
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, May 7
W1XG, Boston—Denied 30 day extension television authority. (Broadcasting, May 12)
Thursday, May 8, 1941
2:00—Test pattern.
2:55—Baseball: Dodgers vs. Cardinals at Ebbets Field.
Television had it over radio yesterday [8] in the wooing of those sensitive Dodgers fans. Although WOR, because of commercial commitments, was forced to discontinue airing the Brooklyn-St. Louis game at the tenth inning, NBC’s television station, W2XBS, remained on the job until the bitter end. (Ben Gross, Daily News, May 9)
Friday, May 9, 1941
Television on a large screen was shown to the public for the first time last night [9] by the R. C. A. Manufacturing Company at the New Yorker Theater, 254 West Fifty-fourth Street, About 1,200 spectators saw a two—hour show featuring the fight for tile middleweight championship between Ken Overlin and Billy Soose at Madison Square Garden which Soose won on the judges’ decision.
The most frequent comment heard as the show progressed was: “It’s just like the movies.” The screen was 15 by 20 feet. The pictures were clear for the most part, although at times it appeared that enlargement detracted something from sharpness. The audience applauded and cheered their favorites during the fight. This added to the illusion of being at the ringside.
Other parts of the program included a news broadcast, a visit to the home of the “Parker Family,” a round-table discussion on the possibilities of theater television, the singing of the national anthem by Miss Lucy Monroe, and James A. Farley, former Postmaster General, being interviewed by Lowell Thomas at a National Broadcasting Company television studio.
The complete television show reached the New Yorker Theater from Radio City via a balanced telephone wire, a special wire for carrying television signals. The fight signals were relayed from Radio City after having been sent there by telephone from Madison Square Garden, the show could have been given simultaneously in many other theaters in New York and as far as Philadelphia, R. C. A. engineers said. It was estimated that the cost of equipping a theater for large-screen television would be between $25,000 and $30,000. (Herald Tribune, May 10)
Actions of the Federal Communications Commission, May 9
W2XWV, New York [DuMont], granted license new television station 78-84 mc 1 kw aural and visual, experimentally. (Broadcasting, May 19)
Saturday, May 10, 1941
First major football games to be televised and the first to be broadcast by short wave in Spanish for the benefit of South and Central American listeners—these are two of the records that were set by games of the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field.
The television broadcasts are through station W3XE of the Philco Corporation. From the cameras on special scaffolds, the signals are transmitted over co-axial cables to nearby Convention Hall, on the roof of which is a special relay transmitter several months ago in televising the Republican Convention In the same building. This sends the signals to the W3XE transmitter in North Philadelphia.
The Spanish short wave broadcasts are through the Columbia short wave station. (Bergen Evening Record, May 10)
Sunday, May 11, 1941
12:30—Test pattern.
1:30—British Refugee Children Speak to Parents in London.
Yesterday’s celebration of Mothers’ Day added poignance to the two-way conversations between refugee children here and their parents in Great Britain (WJZ-1:30). Not that there was any great evidence in the youngsters’ voices, but the televised images (W2XBS-1:30) showed the emotions they were experiencing. One little boy fingered a carnation as he told his mother in England the significance of the day in America. Another little girl bit her lips to hold back her tears. Of course some of them considered it a great lark, a sort of extended vacation. The parents, almost unanimously, accused their offsprings of having lost their English accents. But neither group seemed to mind that. (Ben Gross, Daily News, May 12)
Wednesday, May 14, 1941
Patrick Michael Cunning starts production today on television subjects for studios in the east which go commercial July 1. Cunning is using a new “non-grain telescene” film with which he has been experimenting six months. (Hollywood Reporter)
Friday, May 16, 1941
8:30—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
Saturday, May 17, 1941
2:30—Races From Belmont.
Monday, May 19, 1941
9:00—Amateur Boxing Bouts.
Tuesday, May 20, 1941
The Rialto, N. Y., operated by Arthur Mayer, will become the first theatre in this country to offer television. A deal was closed yesterday morning (Tues.) [20] by Mayer with Scophony Television, Ltd., of London, for the immediate installation of one of their large-screen receivers.
Televised programs, as available, will become part of each week’s show at the Rialto, in support of first-run features. House plays secondary films on first run, plus shorts and newsreels. It seats 750. In obtaining all televised programs, the Rialto will get a minimum of 45 hours of this type of entertainment since each of the three transmitting companies, RCA, CBS and Dumont, must provide a minimum of 15 hours weekly when they start operating July 1, date of receiving license.
Scophony television established itself for commercial theatre presentation in England some time back, with shows given for over a year in the Odeon and Monsiegneur theatres, London. They have been abandoned because of the war. Arthur Levey, a director of Scophony and also well known in the film Industry, represented the television company in the deal with Mayer. (Variety, May 21)
Wednesday, May 21, 1941
1:15—Test Pattern.
2:15—Races: Acorn Handicap from Belmont.
Friday, May 23, 1941
Owners or home television sets will find at least two, and possibly three, companies ready to begin television on a commercial basis on July 1, giving fifteen hours each of program material, broadcasters said yesterday [23].
Officials of the Columbia Broadcasting System and the Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories, Inc., said they expected to be ready for commercial television on July 1. At the National Broadcasting Company it was said that nothing definite on commercial television had been decided yet, although the company would continue its experimental programs if it did not switch to a commercial basis.
The Federal Communications Commission announced recently that commercial television could go ahead on July 1. This followed adoption of a set of standards designed to make all television sets receive all telecasts within their range.
Four primary changes will need to be made in virtually all the old television sets to insure satisfactory reception under the new standards. The number of old sets in the metropolitan area is estimated to be 3,500 to 4,000. The cost of adjusting a set, one broadcaster said, would be about $20 or $25, but there is a chance that some manufacturers will do the job free if the set is brought to the factory.
Company May Adjust Sets
Mr. Du Mont said he was considering adjusting old sets by his company at little or no cost to the owner. At the executive offices of the Radio Corporation of America, it was said that the R. C. A. Manufacturing Company was considering doing the same with its old sets.
The old sets will have to be adjusted to receive sound in frequency modulation (FM). Most of the sets, however, were designed for high frequency and so will get FM, although probably not in first-class manner unless they are fixed. Adjustments must be made so the set can receive the improved 525-line definition of pictures instead of the old 441-line.
Synchronizing circuits of receivers must also be adjusted, and the sets will need new tuning circuits to pick up television programs from C. B. S., which is on channel No. 2, relinquished by the Army. Only a few sets were designed to pick up signals from this channel.
Production of 500 by July 1
Mr. Du Mont said he expected to have 500 new sets by July 1. These will cost from $300 to $600, with the screens 8 by 10 Inches Lo 12 by 10 inches. R. C. A., parent company of N. B. C., has no immediate plans for making new sets. The corporation still has many old ones on hand. Philco Radio and Television Corporation, which has manufactured experimental sets, said it was prepared to go ahead with home sets when the demand warranted. These and other firms in radio and television reported trouble in getting materials because of defense priorities.
WOR and Metropolitan Television, Inc., a subsidiary of Bloomingdale Bros., Inc., and Abraham & Straus, Inc., department stores, have permits to build television stations, but the slowness in getting materials because of priorities Is retarding construction.
Ira A. Hirschmann, vice-president of Bloomingdale’s and Metropolitan Television, said that difficulties in getting equipment made it impossible to hazard a guess as to when television programs would be coming from studios in the two stores. (Herald Tribune, May 24)
Demonstration of television reception of wrestling matches at American Legion stadium, Los Angeles, will be held tomorrow evening [23] from 8:30 to 10:30 o'clock at Russell Hillen Radio shop, 465 N. Main street, with the public invited.
Reception will be over a set made by Kenneth Middleton, 805 S. Garey avenue, service man at Hillen's who has been experimenting with television for about four years. During the course of his experimentation, Middleton has received a number of complimentary letters from Harry R. Lubcke of Don Lee Broadcasting company, director of television. Lubcke was much interested in Middleton's reception of programs at this distance of 30 miles, inasmuch as 20 miles was considered the farthest that such programs could be sent over W6XAO, which has been the only sending station to date.
However, beginning July 1, when television will become commercialized, several stations will begin to broadcast and programs will be greatly improved because of commercialization.
To date, activities in this field have been entirely experimental, and tomorrow evening’s demonstration at Hillen’s will show results of such experimentation.
Baseball games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons In Los Angeles will be televised for the rest of the season, according to Hillen’s. (Pomona Progress Bulletin, May 22)
Actions of the FCC, May 23
W6XAO, Hollywood—Granted license new television station 50-56 mc 1 kw visual, 150 w aural. (Broadcasting, May 26)
Saturday, May 24, 1941
1:00—Test pattern.
2:20—Baseball: Dodgers vs. Phillies at Ebbets Field.
Sunday, May 25, 1941
Plans to televise paintings, prints and other art objects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art have been completed by the Columbia Broadcasting System, it was announced yesterday [25]. The television, in colors, is to begin soon after July 1 on an experimental basis.
Television offers an opportunity to educate the public taste to fine art just as radio broadcasts of operas and symphonies have developed taste for music, according to Francis Henry Taylor, director of the Metropolitan, who developed the plan with Gilbert Seldes, Columbia’s director of television. Mr. Taylor said he believed the experiments would be particularly valuable to schools.
The telecasts are expected to start with color slides which the Metropolitan has made of some 250,000 items in its collection. Use of the slides is necessary because the network does not expect to obtain mobile television equipment until after Aug. 1. The Federal Communications Commission has authorized the beginning of commercial television programs July 1. (Herald Tribune, May 26)
The car is a 1941 Pontiac torpedo eight sedan. The building is the new $200,000 Don Lee television station W6XAO, located atop Mt. Lee in Hollywood.
In a noncommercial experiment, the Pontiac was driven onto a television set in the huge studio and photographed in a scene of charming Maxine Gray’s new production, “California Melodies,” now in preparation.
PICK-UPS RELAYED
Built on Mt. Lee at a 1700-foot elevation, the Don Lee television station is topped by a steel tower rising 300 feet in the air. The station is being used now in relaying remote pick-ups of boxing matches, baseball games and other events, but very shortly regular productions will be “squirted” from the station, according to Harry R. Lubcke, electronics wizard of Hollywood.
In being the first car on a television set in the world’s first exclusive television station, the Pontiac became a pioneer in science and art, in the opinion of Maxine Gray, beautiful singing television star.
“Who knows,” she said, “what the future of television will be?
“And what about the automobile of the future?
“There’s enough power in the air to run all the motor cars in the world at 1 per cent of the present cost and some day some smart electronics engineer will find a way to take this power out of the air and put it to work in motor transportation, like Harry R. Lubcke is taking it out of the air to relay scenes from the tele-camera to an outdoor antenna which freely tosses them to the airlanes in all directions with no wires to span the distance from studio to homes with teleceiver sets.” (Los Angeles Times, May 25)
Monday, May 26, 1941
9:00—Amateur Boxing Bouts.
Wednesday, May 28, 1941
2:15—Races from Belmont.
Saturday, May 31, 1941
2:00—4A Track and Field Meet.
Monday, June 2, 1941
9:00—Amateur Boxing Bouts.
New York.—Seven large theatre circuits have already made offers to RCA for installation of large screen television in their theatres, according to an official of the Radio Corp. No contracts have been signed yet, but RCA is continuing demonstrations and tests in the New Yorker theatre, telecasting complete ball games and other sports and civic events. (Hollywood Reporter, June 2)
Wednesday, June 4, 1941
2:15—Races from Belmont.
Tommy Lee got around a city ordinance neatly when he installed a swimming pool on the grounds of his new television plant in the hills overlooking Hollywood. City fathers ruled he must have a watershed to fight fires, if necessary. Pool will be made to do double duty, to serve also as a site for swimming events to be televised over W6XAO. (Variety, June 4)
Saturday, June 7, 1941
2:20—Baseball: Dodgers vs. Reds at Ebbets Field.
Wednesday, June 11, 1941
7:45—Test Pattern.
8:45—Baseball: Dodgers vs. Pirates at Ebbets Field.
The first night baseball game ever telecast was presented to lookers-in of NBC’s visual station, W2XBS, with the televising of the Dodgers-Pirates battle at Ebbets Field last night (8:45). This presentation proved beyond a doubt that outdoor night events are subjects for television. The images on my office receiver were neither so bright nor so clear-cut as those seen during daytime tele casts. But they were far brighter and clearer than I had believed possible. (Ben Gross, Daily News, June 12)
Saturday, June 14, 1941
1:00—Test pattern.
2:00—Metropolitan A. A. U. Track and Field Meet, Randalls Island.
Monday, June 16, 1941
9:00—Amateur Boxing Bouts.
The National Broadcasting Company announced yesterday [16] that it has filed applications with the Federal Communications Commission for commercial television stations to be operated in New York, Washington and Philadelphia under rules issued by the F. C. C. last May 3.
The New York station, W2XBS, in the Empire State Building, has been broadcasting experimentally since June, 1936, and, if the F. C. C. approves, it will be ready to operate on a commercial basis July 1. A minimum weekly schedule is expected to provide for broadcasts between 2 and 11 p. m. for at least six days each week.
Recognizing the contributions which the first purchasers of television receiving sets have made toward its development, the R. C. A. Manufacturing Company has announced that it will adjust without cost to the owners all R. C. A. television sets in the New York area to conform with the new standards.
N. B. C has asked the F. C. C. for an extension of time to complete television station W3XNB in Washington. The station is expected to begin testing next November and be ready for commercial service March 1, 1942. A location has been selected for the Philadelphia station, and application has been filed with the F. C. C. for approval of the site. (NY Herald Tribune, June 17)
Thursday, June 19, 1941
1:00—Test pattern.
3:30—“Learn to Swim,” from Astoria Pool.
Saturday, June 21, 1941
1:00—Test pattern.
2:15—Races—“The Tremont” from Belmont.
Monday, June 23, 1941
New York.—With start of commercial television only ten days off, the outlook here is gloomy for any large scale telecasting, important programming, or extensive marketing of sets in the near future, a survey shows. NBC was reported ready to announce its schedule of programs last week but failed to do so for some unexplained reason. CBS over the weekend announced a weak and tentative schedule but even if it was an important announcement it would not matter as only a few television receivers in this area can pick up signals on channel two to which CBS is assigned.
CBS announced an operating schedule under construction comprised of one hour transmission starting 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from 2 to 4 on Saturdays and evening transmissions from 8 to 9:30 Mondays through Thursdays, and 8 to 10 on Fridays. There has yet to be an announcement of a sponsored show and none of the advertisers can use Columbia because of the few sets able to receive it. The CBS announcement also noted continuing difficulties in securing trained personel, equipment and replacement parts. Paramount’s Dumont Television Company has been busy interviewing tap dancers, vocalists and vaudeville actors but its transmitter is still not completed and may not be ready to go on the air July 1.
Dumont officials insist, however, they will be ready by August 1. The fourth television station in this area, permit for which was granted to Bloomingdale’s department store, has not even started on construction plans as yet. (Hollywood Reporter, June 23)
Actions of the FCC, June 23
NEW, Columbia Broadcasting System Inc., New York—CP new television station Channel No. 1 FM emission.
W1XG, Boston—Amend modification of license and application CP to request commercial television station, change transmitter location, add aural channel. (Broadcasting, June 30)
Wednesday, June 25, 1941
Paramount is making rapid preparations for opening a television station atop one of the Hollywood hills. Two telecamera ‘chains,’ as the photographic units are called, are en route here. Edward C. Buddy, five years in charge of Paramount newsreel operations in Europe, has arrived to take charge of the station, which will be one link of the network. Television Products, Inc., will be the name of the sight-sound firm, a subsidiary of Paramount. Local station is expected to be operating within three to six months of the July 1 date when television goes commercial. (Hollywood Reporter, June 25)
Thursday, June 26, 1941
With commercialized television transmission becoming effective July 1, Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., is resuming production of television receivers. Additional factory space has been acquired outside the company-owned factory building which is already busy with cathode-ray tube and instrument production as well as national defense contracts. The additional plant space was acquired “to meet the anticipated demand for television receivers.
retails prices on the company’s television receivers have been advanced on the average about 10% due to increased material and labor costs. New price range on the DuMont television line runs from $325 for the table model to $575 for a combination radio and phonograph television set. (Wall Street Journal, June 26)
Conversion of the approximately 2,000 RCA television receivers in the New York metropolitan area is beginning immediately, RCA Mfg. Co. said last Thursday [26], adding that in addition to modernizing the receivers already in the field it is also revamping several hundred sets in stock at its Camden factory, which will be made available for sale to the public as rapidly as possible. To speed the adjustment of sets in the field, the company has established ten television service depots throughout the metropolitan district, and expects to complete the job within six weeks. Until the adjustments have been made, owners of RCA sets will be able to receive telecasts with "a fair degree of satisfaction" it was said. Alterations necessary were described as: (1) Deletion of the 44-50 mc. channel and addition of the new 60-66 mc. channel, now assigned to CBS; (2) modifications in receiver circuits to permit synchronization of 525-line images instead of the 441-line pictures previously transmitted; (3) conversion of the sound channel to accommodate the new requirements of FM sound transmission. (Broadcasting, June 30)
Friday, June 27, 1941
The Columbia Broadcasting System announced yesterday [27] that it had received authorization from the Federal Communications Commission to conduct television program tests for at least thirty days starting next Tuesday, the day television goes on a commercial basis. C. B. S. said it expects to receive a commercial license after completing the tests.
C. B. S. plans to start test transmissions with a news broadcast at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday. The Du Mont Laboratories, Inc., which is also awaiting a commercial license from the Federal Communications Commission, expects to be ready to go on the air by Tuesday.
The National Broadcasting Company already has a commercial license and begins its new service with a telecast of the baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies at 2:20 p. m. Tuesday at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn. N. B. C. will use the call letters WNBT in place or the old experimental letters W2XBS. (Herald Tribune, June 28)
Sunday, June 29, 1941
NBC, which, as already announced, inaugurates its commercial television on Tuesday, has issued a rate card. The prices for time range from $60 per hour, for weekday afternoon shows, to $120 per hour for evening broadcasts on weekdays. There is no Sunday night schedule. In addition to time charges, sponsors must also pay for the use of the studios, from $75 to $150 an hour, plus costs for talent, musicians, sound effects men, music and script rights, costumes and properties. (Ben Gross, Daily News, June 29)
Monday, June 30, 1941
8:00—Test pattern.
9:00—Amateur Boxing from Jamaica Arena.
FOUR national advertisers—Bulova Watch Co., Lever Bros. Co., Procter & Gamble Co., and Sun Oil Co.—will share in the inauguration of commercial television July 1. by purchasing time on NBC's New York video transmitter, WNBT. Each advertiser will utilize his television time for a sight-and-sound version of his current advertising by sound broadcasting.
Bulova will sponsor two time announcements, one to be made at the beginning of the Dodgers-Phillies baseball game that will provide WNBT's opening afternoon program, the other at the end of the evening telecast. Lever Bros. will present a televersion of Uncle Jim's Question Bee, advertising Spry; Sun Oil will televise its regular Lowell Thomas news period; then from 9 on, the USO show, an Army program with Ft. Monmouth talent; P & G's Truth or Consequences. All contracts are for July 1 only....
Service spots, for televised programs of news, weather and time are priced at $8 per minute nighttime and $4 per minute daytime. (Broadcasting, June 30)
DON LEE BROADCASTING SYSTEM, Hollywood, after several weeks of negotiation, has signed a contract with Local 40, IBEW, covering about 45 technicians of KHJ KFRC KGB KDB, and television station W6XAO. Retroactive to June 1, the contract provides wage increases of from $25 to $70 per month. Pact calls for closed shop, full seniority rights, the right of review in case of discharge from service, full compensation for loss of time should discharge be unjustifiable.
Contract further provides for two-weeks' vacation with full pay, sick leave, overtime pay, double time for national holidays and other improved working conditions. (Broadcasting, June 30)
No comments:
Post a Comment