May-June 1942

Television was gutted by an FCC regulation in May 1942 and didn’t start recovering until the end of World War Two.

The Commission ruled television stations did not have to be on the air 15 hours a week any more. A mere four hours would suffice. NBC almost immediately got rid of its news, wrestling and boxing, and filler films, went off the air on Thursdays through Sundays, and restricted WNBT’s programming to a filmed air warden’s course.

CBS’s WCBW reduced its schedule to the two weekdays when WNBT wasn’t on the air. Neither broadcast on the weekend. The decision doesn’t seem to have affected DuMont’s W2XWV as it appears to have been making irregular test tranmissions.

In Philadelphia, Philco’s WPTZ began simulcasting air warden course materials from WNBT and only operated Monday through Friday. Don Lee’s W6XAO in Los Angeles was broadcasting every other Saturday. There is little news about the other licensed TV stations. Plans for Paramount's new station in Los Angeles went ahead. Plans for Earle Anthony's television counterpart to KFI were put off until after the war.

The New York schedules for May and June 1942 below come from the New York Times and New York Herald Tribune, while the Courier-Post of Camden, N.J. published a basic schedule of the Philco station.

The blog has published schedules and news from July 1942 onward, which you can start to read in this post. Next week, we will jump back to 1930.

Friday, May 1, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
4:30-5:00—Light Rescue Training Course, Lesson 4.
7:00-7:30—Light Rescue Training Course, Lesson 4.
8:00-8:30—Light Rescue Training Course, Lesson 4.
9:00-9:30—Light Rescue Training Course, Lesson 4.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News Reports; Film.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News; Film.
8:25—Inter-Service Boxing Tourney.
9:55 to 10:00—News Summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:00—Film.
9:00—First Aid Program.
9:35—Film.

Saturday, May 2, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
2:30 to 4:30—Film.

Sunday, May 3, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
8:00—Film: “Doomed to Die.”
9:10—Film: “Land of the Six Guns” (1940) with Jack Randall.

Monday, May 4, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
9:00 to 11:00—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—America at War.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Model Plane Class.
8:20—Film.
9:40—Hale America program.

Tuesday, May 5, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
8:15—Harvey Harding, songs.
8:25—“The Face of the War” with Sam Cuff.
8:35—Film: “Heart of Australia.”
9:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
9:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Dancing Lesson.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 3.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:45 to 8:00—Short films.
8:00—Featurette.
8:30—Philadelphia Defence Council.
9:00—Air Raid instructions.
9:30—Wrestling match.

Wednesday, May 6, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
8:15—Film: “Sugar Cane.”
8:35—Film: “Gunners of the Sky.”
9:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—“Table Talk” with Helen Sioussat.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—America at War.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00 to 5:00—New York [WNBT] Test.
8:00—Fashion drama.
8:30—Shorts.
9:00—Graduate Nurses choir.
9:40—Hale America program.
10:00—Film.

Thursday, May 7, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
7:30 to 8:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
8:15—United China Relief Show.
8:40—Television Blood Bank Awards.
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—“Men at Work,” variety.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 4.
9:25—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00 to 5:00—New York [WNBT] Test.
8:00—Strictly Swing.
8:30—Film.
9:00—News.
9:20—Films.
10:00—To be announced.

Friday, May 8, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
4:30 to 5:00—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 5.
7:00 to 7:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 5.
8:00 to 8:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 5.
9:00 to 9:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 5.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News Reports.
3:15—Film.
3:45-4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Film.
8:25—Inter-Service Boxing Tournament.
9:55 to 10:00—News Summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:00—Film.
9:00—First Aid Program.
9:35—Film.

Saturday, May 9, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00 to 5:00—Film.

Sunday, May 10, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
8:00—National Folk Festival preview.
8:20—“Thrills and Chills from Everywhere” with Doug Allan and Lewis N. Cotlow.
9:00 to 10:00—Film: “The Phantom Rancher” (1940) with Ken Maynard.

Monday, May 11, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
9:00 to 11:00—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—America at War.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Model Plane Class.
8:20—Film.
8:30—Philadelphia Madrigal Singers.
9:40—Hale America program.

Tuesday, May 12, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
8:15—Harvey Harding, songs.
8:25—U.S.O. Show.
9:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
9:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Dancing Lesson.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art: Paul Manship, others.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 5.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:45 to 8:00—Short films.
8:00—Old York Road Red Cross program.
9:00—Air Raid instructions.
9:30—Wrestling match.

Washington—A revision of the television rules to permit the industry to continue operating on a restricted basis for the duration of the war was announced yesterday [12] by the FCC. The amendment to the commission regulations provides that henceforth commercial television stations can broadcast a minimum of four program hours a week, compared with the former requirement of 15 hours. The step, the Commission said, was taken to prevent recession of the new art to a purely experimental or laboratory stage and to keep it alive, ready to flourish as a public service after the war emergency."
Section 4.261 (A) until yesterday had required licensees to put programs on the air for a minimum of fifteen hours per week divided in such manner that at least two hours of service was broadcast any one day during six days of the week. As rewritten, this section of the Commission's rules and regulations will require only four hours weekly and if the licensee finds it necessary he may broadcast all four hours during one day.
Will Save Equipment
This relaxation, consistent with similar measures previously announced for relief of standard broadcast stations, will permit licensees to conserve the life of their equipment, particularly tubes, and will permit television stations to operate under conditions of greatly reduced personnel, it was pointed out. Licensees serving the same geographical area are free to arrange and alternate their program schedules so as to increase the number of programs available to the public in their communities.
The Commission action was taken after consideration of recommendations from licensees of television stations and from representatives of the National Television Systems Committee, as well as the policies of the FCC announced in its memorandum opinion of April 27. No change in the Commission's standards for television transmissions is necessary at this time, it was stated. (Radio Daily, May 13)

Milwaukee, May 12. Explaining its action as due to an FCC ruling, The Milwaukee Journal has announced that further construction on its projected television station is suspended for the duration of the war. The newspaper's new Radio City project, the future home of WTMJ, Is going ahead as rapidly as possible and formal opening is expected to take place the latter part of July.
Although orders for the television equipment were placed more than a year ago, it has been impossible to obtain deliveries, and that part of the equipment that had been completed has been loaned to NBC. The FCC order halting television here affects only technical facilities and not building construction. (Variety, May 13)

Wednesday, May 13, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
8:15—Private Alden Getz, cartoonist.
8:35—Film: “Know Your Money.”
9:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—“Table Talk” with Helen Sioussat.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—America at War.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Floor Show.
9:40—Hale America program.
10:00—Film.

Thursday, May 14, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
7:30 to 8:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
8:15—Film: “Wings of Mercy.”
8:20—Film: “Indian Villages.”
8:40—Film: “Defenders of India.”
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—“Men at Work,” variety show.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 6.
9:25—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00—Film shorts.
8:20—June Fete.
8:45—Blood Donor’s service.
9:00—News.
9:20—Films.

‘MEN AT WORK’
With Eddie Condon, Joe Sullivan, Benny Moten, Pee-Wee Russell, Max Kaminsky, Henry 'Red' Allen, Woody Herman, Bunny Briggs.
Jazz Music
40 Mins.
Thursday, 8:15 P. M.
WCBW-CBS, New York Eddie Condon and his hot men staged a jam session before the CBS television cameras some weeks ago and since then groups of twos and threes have been blowing hot weekly. This was the second telecast by Condon with the larger group.
To vary the somewhat drab reflection of musicians grouped in acorner the highly perambulatory CBS camera posed many interesting close-ups, such as Max Kaminsky's trumpet-valve fingering, another of Condon's foot tapping the beat, again of Joe Sullivan's hands working over a piano keyboard, etc. Beyond that, however, the broadcast proved unexciting from a technical viewpoint. Perhaps the CBS receiver in use wasn't up to standard. Images seemed to lack clarity of detail. There was a grayish, blurred quality, though reception was consistently steady. Production was conspicuous by its absence. It was in CBS tradition of informality. Most of the time the bandmen were on their own; Condon several times wandered around the room to no apparent purpose, and announcements were short and occasionally inaccurate by an unnamed spieler who stepped within lens range and off again.
From a musical standpoint the show was good. Kaminsky, clarinetist Pee-Wee Russell, trombonist Benny Moten, drummer Zutty Singleton, Sullivan, Condon, trumpeter Henry 'Red' Allen, and bandleader Woody Herman, who came over from nearby Paramount theatre, for couple clarinet numbers and songs, all made it an enjoyable session. As usual, Condon's voice could be heard above the jive giving orders. Wood. (Variety, May 20)

ALBANY, May 14 (AP)—Taxable gross receipts from wrestling or boxing matches in New York State must include prices charged for broadcasting, motion picture or television rights under terms of a bill signed today by Governor Lehman.
No deductions from this “total gross” may be made for commissions, advertising, brokerage fees or other expenses.

NBC has devoted 146 hours and 37 minutes to war news broadcasts and Government announcements since Dec. 7, the network announced yesterday [14] in making public its first recapitulation of time donated to the war effort since Pearl Harbor. In addition, NBC television station WNBT has put on a total of 10 hours and 25 minutes of air raid training programs per week. (Radio Daily, May 15)

Friday, May 15, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
4:30 to 5:00—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 6.
7:00 to 7:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 6.
8:00 to 8:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 6.
9:00 to 9:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 6.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News Reports.
3:15—Film.
3:45-4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Film.
8:25—Inter-Service Boxing Tournament.
9:55 to 10:00—News Summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:00—Film.
8:10—Pop Johnston.
9:00—First Aid Program.
9:35—Film.

Saturday, May 16, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00 to 5:00—Film.

Sunday, May 17, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
8:15—“Men of Upton,” variety show.
8:35—Film: “Unseen Worlds.”
8:45—“The Face of the War,” with Sam Cuff.
9:00—“Thrills and Chills from Everywhere” with Doug Allan and Joe Fisher.
9:20—Mildred Dilling, musical film.
9:40 to 10:00—Defense Feature—Army Interceptor Command.

Monday, May 18, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
9:00 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Sam Taub, commentator.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—America at War.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Model Plane Class.
8:20—Film.
8:30—Art Hinett, organist
9:40—Hale America program.
10:10-Franklin Institute’s “See the Stars.”

Tuesday, May 19, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
7:00 to 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:00 to 8:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:45—Film: “Maple Sugar.”
9:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
9:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove. [Herald Tribune]
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Dancing Lesson.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 7.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:45 to 8:00—Short films.
8:00—Songs, film.
9:00—Air Raid instructions.
9:45—Feature film.

Wednesday, May 20, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
7:00 to 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:00 to 8:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:45—Film: “Lake Carrier.”
9:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—“Table Talk” with Helen Sioussat.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—America at War.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00—New York test chart.
8:00—Camouflage demonstration.
8:30—Film.
9:00—Defense Play.
9:40—Hale America program.
10:00—Film.

Thursday, May 21, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
4:30 to 5:00—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
7:00 to 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:00 to 8:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:45—Film: “Gunners of the Sky.”
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—“Men at Work,” variety show.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 8.
9:25—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00—Film shorts.
8:20—June Fete.
8:45—Blood Donor’s service.
9:00—News.
9:20—Films.

Eugene Loring and his "Billy the Kid" ballet company are to appear on Columbia television's "Men At Work" program today. They will replace Tamiris and her dance group who were originally scheduled for this period. (Radio Daily, May 21)

Friday, May 22, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
4:30 to 5:00—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 1.
7:00 to 7:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 1.
8:00 to 8:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 1.
9:00 to 9:30—Light Rescue Squads Training Course, Lesson 1.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News Reports.
3:15—Film.
3:45-4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Film.
8:25—Inter-Service Boxing Tournament.
9:55 to 10:00—News Summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:00—Film.
8:15—Red Cross Instruction.
9:00—First Aid Service.
9:30—Film.
9:45—WFIL Radio Theatres.
10 to 10:45—Film.

Prizes will be presented tomorrow [22] to the boxing team of U. S. Coast Guardsmen which won the inter-service boxing tournament supervised by the AAU and broadcast by CBS television. Awarding of the prizes will be televised by WCBW from 8:25-9:55 p.m., EWT, on a program featuring exhibition bouts. To be awarded by Columbia's television department, the first prize which goes to the Coast Guard team stationed at Ellis Island is a large bronze and gold-plated championship plaque.
The tournament, planned to aid the morale of servicemen, was arranged by Bob Edge, former CBS television sports supervisor now a lieutenant (j.g.) in the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve. (Radio Daily, May 21)

In accordance with the recent ruling of the FCC which relaxed the minimum number of weekly operating hours for the duration, two leading television broadcasters, NBC and CBS, on Friday stated they would proceed to curtail their telecasts to the minimum requirement. It is expected that other television broadcasters would follow suit in the interest of conserving materials and getting by with the smaller number of personnel in order to preserve the progress already made and be in a position to prolong television service during the present emergency.
Niles Trammell, president of NBC, indicated that the revised NBC television program schedule for its outlet WNBT will be curtailed effective today and will comprise six hours weekly for the next five weeks. At the end of this period there will be a further reduction to four hours weekly. This conforms, Trammell said, to the FCC’s desire “to prevent recession of this new art to a purely experimental or laboratory stage and keep it alive, ready to flourish as a public service after the war.”
War Demands Heavy
Increasingly heavy war demands on the NBC staff and the wartime necessity of prolonging the operating life of irreplaceable television equipment and other critical materials were further cited by Trammell as the basic reasons for the curtailment.
CBS’s station WCBW is going to four hours weekly on June 1, as against the current telecasts of 15 hours weekly. Under the new schedule CBS will broadcast on Thursday and Friday between 8-10 p.m. EWT. It is hoped that other tele outlets will broadcast at times when there will be no duplication on the air of tele program service.
It is believed that the major portion of tele program content will deal with the war effort and for the benefit of civilian defense. (Radio Daily, May 25)

Saturday, May 23, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00 to 5:00—Film.

Sunday, May 24, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
8:00—Earl Wrightson, songs.
8:10—Fisherman’s Forum.
8:50—Earle Wilde, piano.
8:55—“The Face of the War,” with Sam Cuff.
9:05—Film: “Food.”
9:20—Mildred Dilling, musical film.
9:25—Film: “Our Allies in Arms.”

Monday, May 25, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—America at War.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
no schedule available.

Tuesday, May 26, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Dancing Lesson.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 9.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
no schedule available.

Don Lee director of television Harry R. Lubcke supervises the defense shows which are presented to Southern California "lookers" every alternate Saturday night from 8-8:30 p.m., PWT. (Radio Daily, May 26)

CBS Television is issuing first-aid charts free to members of its audience taking the ten-hour first-aid course conducted by the American Red Cross and televised Tuesday and Thursday nights. The illustrative charts issued to date cover the first four lessons of the course. They have enabled televiewers to prepare the proper eye, arm, ankle and other bandages with ease. Written instructions are issued to all television course enrollees. As an added service, a special telephone has been installed in the television studio. Televiewers taking the course are urged to call the studio if they have questions regarding the first aid techniques which have been demonstrated during the course.
The ten-week course also includes instruction in bleeding control, care and transportation of the injured, artificial respiration and war gasses. Given in half-hour lessons, the course was introduced by Colonel Van Zile Hyde, medical director of the second defense region of the OCD, and Captain Charles B. Scully, head of the first-aid service of the New York chapter of the American Red Cross. Glossy prints of the charts prepared for the' assistance of participants are available on request. (Radio Daily, May 26)

Wednesday, May 27, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—“Table Talk” with Helen Sioussat.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—To be announced.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Revue.
8:30—Film.
9:00—Defense Play.
9:40—Hale America program.
10:00—Film.

Thursday, May 28, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
No programs scheduled.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—“Men at Work,” variety show.
9:00—Red Cross First-Aid Course, Lesson 10.
9:25—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Bon Bon.
8:35—Film short.
8:45—Blood Donor’s service.
9:00—News.
9:20—Films.

Friday, May 29, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
No programs scheduled.
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00—News Reports.
3:15—Film.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Film.
8:25—to be announced.
9:55 to 10:00—News Summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:00—Floor Show.
8:30—Film.
9:00 to 10:15—Film.

Saturday, May 30, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
3:00 to 5:00—Film.

Monday, June 1, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
Same as WNBT.

IN ACCORDANCE with the new FCC regulations on television issued May 12, specifying minimum transmission of four hours weekly in place of the 15 hours a week formerly required, NBC and CBS have sharply curtailed the operating schedules of their New York television transmitters, WNBT and WCBW, respectively, the former to six hours a week, the latter to four hours weekly [BROADCASTING, May 18].
Beginning May 25, WNBT dropped all programs except the air warden training course presented by the New York Police Department for the instruction of the city's air warden service which is telecast 12 times weekly. Following the conclusion of the six -week course, WNBT expects to decrease its programs to the required four hours a week.
To avoid duplication of service during the limited hours of operation, CBS has scheduled its television programs for Thursday and Friday evenings, from 8 to 10. The WCBW programs include Red Cross instruction, a news review and roundtable discussions. (Broadcasting, June 1)

THE Balaban & Katz Chicago television station. W9XBK, under the supervision of William C. Eddy, is completing installation of equipment necessary to operate in conformance with FCC commercial television requirements. Station, which has an FCC application pending for a commercial license, has completed its antenna atop the State-Lake Bldg., remodelled the studios, installed new cameras and cables, and is now testing with 4,000 watts power video and 1,000 watts FM audio. (Broadcasting, June 2)

Tuesday, June 2, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Phaildelphia Defense Council.
9:10—Film Short.
9:30—Jeffrey O’Hara, songs.

W6XLA, Television Productions, inc., of Los Angeles. was granted construction permit [2] for a new television relay station (in lieu of earlier permit which expired Oct. 15, 1941) to operate on frequencies 204,000-216.000 kilocycles (channels 11 and 12). 800 watts peak visual power only, A-5 emission. (Radio Daily, June 3)

Wednesday, June 3, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Archery Demonstration.
9:00—English film.
9:30—Defense Play.

Thursday, June 4, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:10—Quiz.
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Art Hinett, organ.
9:00—Feature film.

Saturday, June 6, 1942
PHILADELPHIA, June 6.—Television is spotting its cameras on the nitery floorthews. WPTZ, Insilco television station, has scheduled pick-ups of the floorshows each week at DiPhito's Cafe And Lou's Moravian Bar. Television camera has also picked sip the fioorshows from the Swan Club and Lexington Casino. Because of their proximity to the television studios, WPTZ has been calling on the near-by nabe niteries rather than going into the downtown district. (Billboard, June 13)

Friday, June 5, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:30—“Table Talk” moderated by Gilbert Seldes with guests: Herbert Agar, President of Freedom House and Editor of the Louisville "Courier-Journal," Rex Stout, author, and representative of Council of Democracy, Henry J. Taylor, author of "Time Runs Out," discussing "Must We Establish a Dictatorship to Defeat the Dictatorships."
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:30—Model Plane Class.
9:00—Film short.

Monday, June 8, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 4.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
Same as WNBT.

ZENITH RADIO Corp., Chicago, in announcing a net profit of $1,637,049.25 or $3.32 a share, in the annual report to the stockholders by Com. E. F. McDonald Jr., president, states the company plans to continue operation of FM station W51C and television station W9X2V [W9XZV] on a limited basis during the emergency. Com. McDonald also reported that the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Wincharger Corp., Sioux City, has become the world's largest manufacturer of wind-driven electric machinery and is manufacturing motor generators. (Broadcasting, June 8)

Tuesday, June 9, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 4.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Philadelphia Defense Council.
9:10—Film Short.
9:30—Salvation Army program.

Philadelphia—Reduction of its hours of operation has been announced by WPTZ television station owned and operated by Philco Corp., in letter sent to television listeners Paul Knight, program by manager of the station. Expressing an optimistic future for television after the war is over, the letter gives as a reason for the curtailment of WPTZ's program schedule, the difficulty in obtaining essential parts and the diversion of technicians from maintenance work to governmental research. Listeners are asked to continue the practice of regularly returning program reception cards. Programs oiginating [sic] at the WPTZ studios as well as those relayed from WNBT, NBC's television outlet in New York, will continue to be transmitted on a reduced schedule. (Radio Daily, June 9)

Wednesday, June 10, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 4.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Swim Program.
9:00—Film: “Our Ally.”
9:30—Defense Drama.

Thursday, June 11, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:10—Quiz.
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Cliff Hall, comedian.
9:00—Miss Philadelphia Contest.
9:35—Art and Artists program.

Balaban & Katz Corp. of Chicago was granted a construction permit for a new commercial television broadcast station to operate on channel No. 3 (66,000-72,000 kilocycles) . Completion date is August 15, 1942. (Radio Daily, June 11)

Friday, June 12, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:30—“Table Talk.” Topic: “Private Enterprise After the War” with Norman Dodd, Theresa Wolfson, Chester H. Lang.
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:30—Model Plane Class.
9:00—Film short.

Monday, June 15, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
Same as WNBT.

Tuesday, June 16, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
Same as WNBT.

Schenectady County (New York) civilian defense officials have established seven official television posts throughout the county for the instruction of air raid wardens via television. Programs are received by television receivers loaned to Schenectady defense officials by the General Electric Company. Programs originated by NBC's television station WNBT, in New York, are picked up by a G-E television relay station located in the Helderberg Mountains near Schenectady. This station relays the programs to television station WRGB which rebroadcasts them for the Schenectady County wardens.
Prior to the establishment of the definite television posts, the air raid wardens were receiving part of their instructions through the courtesy of television -receiver owners who invited the wardens in for the WNBT-WRGB programs. Five of the new television posts are strategically located fire stations, one in a town hall, and one at Union College in Schenectady. Over 2,000 air raid wardens attend the lessons via television, after which they listen to lectures and have question-and-answer periods. (Radio Daily, June 16)

Wednesday, June 17, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Dance Fiesta.
9:00—Film: “Our Ally.”
9:30—to be announced.

Thursday, June 18, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:10—Quiz.
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Film shorts.
9:00—Miss Philadelphia Contest.
9:35—Art and Artists program.

Friday, June 19, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:30—“Table Talk” with Gilbert Seldes.
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:30—Model Plane Class.
9:00 to 10:00—Film.

Monday, June 22, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
Same as WNBT.

Tuesday, June 23, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:30—Philadelphia Defense Council.
8:15—Blood donors service.
9:10—Film Short.


Wednesday, June 24, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Physical Fitness Program.
9:00—Film: “Our Ally.”
9:30—Victory Begins at Home.

Washington - FCC yesterday [24] dismissed without prejudice 56 broadcast applications, in accordance with its wartime policy of not granting requests involving use of materials to construct or change transmitting facilities for standard, FM and television stations. [...]
Television facilities were denied the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., Washington, D. C. and W1XG, General Television Corp., Boston. (Radio Daily, June 25)

Thursday, June 25, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:10—Quiz.
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Miss Philadelphia Contest.


Friday, June 26, 1942
WCBW, New York, Channel 2
8:00—News.
8:30—“Table Talk” with Gilbert Seldes. Panelists: Miller McClintock, Edward L. Bernays, Charles Stepmann, Mrs. William Butler.
9:00—Film.
9:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30—Philco, Jr., Hour.
8:30—Model Plane Class.
9:00 to 10:00—Film.

Monday, June 29, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
Same as WNBT.

TELEVISION is being used by the Southern California Office of Civilian Defense to inform civilians what protective measures have been adopted for their safety in case of bombings, fires and other war catastrophes. With approximately 500 television receivers in the area, all such programs originate at Don Lee television station W6XAO, Hollywood. Jack Stewart is producer, with Harry R. Lubcke, Don Lee television director, supervising. (Broadcasting, June 29)

INABILITY to obtain materials necessary for building has prompted the abandonment of immediate plans for the new KSEE, commercial television station that had been authorized for construction in Los Angeles, and W63SY, commercial FM permittee in Syracuse.
Materials Scarce
In a letter to the FCC requesting cancellation, Earle C. Anthony Inc., operator of KFI and KECA, which held the video authorization, stated that it could not obtain the necessary equipment especially now that the Commission memorandum opinion of April 27 would positively exclude their type of construction from any priority. The letter further said that after the war, however, Earl C. Anthony would again seek to pursue its television activities. KSEE was to have operated on channel 6. (Broadcasting, June 29)

Tuesday, June 30, 1942
WNBT, New York, Channel 1
7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 5.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30—Philadelphia Defense Council.
8:45—Blood donors service.
9:10—Franklin Institute program.

April 1942

Commercial television was in trouble, less than a year after it premiered.

The problem wasn’t a lack of advertisers. It was the war.

The situation was no different than the auto industry, which couldn’t make cars during the war because the materials needed to do that had to be used to beat the Axis. The radio and TV industry, similarly, found the things they needed to stay on the air were poured into military communication instead.

So it was the television people went to the FCC in April 1942 to, in essence, gut their own industry until we took care of Hitler and Tojo.

A fair chunk of air-time, at least on the East Coast, was devoted to the war effort back home. But there was still wrestling, fashion shows, B westerns and ethnic dancing.

Below are selected stories as well as the schedules for the month for the two New York stations and the one in Philadelphia, thanks to the New York Times, New York Herald Tribune and the Camden Courier-Post. There are occasional conflicts between the two New York papers about what would air that evening.

Wednesday, April 1, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
10:30 a.m., 11:30, 3:00 p.m., 4:00, 8:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
8:30—“Thrills and Chills” with Doug Allan; Capt. John D. Craig, guest.
9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 6.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45 to 3:30—Film.
8:00—News.
8:10—Civil Defence program, nurses aid.
8:25—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00-5:00—New York test.
8:00—WDAS program.
8:20—Film.
8:30—New York program.
9:00—Play.
9:40—Hale American program.
10:30—Play.

Thursday, April 2, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:15—Children’s Story: “The Story of Flight.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Sports with Bob Edge.
8:30—“Men at Work,” variety.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Variety Show.
8:30—Museum of Art program.
9:00—Blood Donors program.
9:45—Philadelphia Defense Council Show.
10:00—Film.

Friday, April 3, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
4:00 to 5:00—War equipment review.
8:30—Film: “Roll, Wagon, Roll” (1940) with Tex Ritter.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:15—Children’s story: “The Story of Flight.”
8:00—“The World This Week,” with Linton Wells.
8:30—America at War.
9:30—Film. [New York Times says 9:15]
9:55-News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco Jr. Hour
8:00—Our Future Admirals.
8:20—Films.

Expansion of the Police Department’s television-training program for civilian defense workers to include special instruction for light rescue squads and fire watchers was announced yesterday [3] by Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine. The course for light rescue squad will begin Thursday and the series of telecasts in fire-watching will begin April 30.
Mr. Valentine said that the basic course for air-raid wardens was completed this week by 30,000 workers and that the course of six weekly lessons will be repeated until every warden in the city has been able to attend the television defense school. Beginning Monday the basic course lessons will be televised for reception at viewing posts at eighty-four police precincts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3, 4:30, 7:30 and 9 p. m. As part of the expansion plan, nearly 400 members of the faculties of the city’s colleges and universities have volunteered to lead one-hour discussions in defense training after each television lesson.
Light rescue volunteer workers will be instructed in post organization communications, tools and equipment, first aid and salvage methods. The series of telecasts for the fire watchers will include instructions in organization and communications, tire, gas and demolition bombs, tools and equipment and first aid methods. Lessons In both courses will be transmitted at 4:30, 7, 8 and 6 p. m. [sic] They will be given each Thursday for six weeks. (Herald Tribune, Apr. 4)

NEW YORK, April 3—America's few television stations have gone to war—insofar as they can bolster civilian defense work.
Otherwise, television as yet hasn't had the experience nor developed the equipment to take an active part in battle, though many accomplishments have been forecast at one time or another on its behalf.
Right now, there are only four really active centers of television broadcasting, at New York, Philadelphia; Schenectady, and Los Angeles. And of these, only New York has two stations.
Relay Programs
So far also, it has been New York which has been leading the way in civilian defense television activities, at times hooking up with Philadelphia and Schenectady for combined transmissions.
In New York there is the NBC station WNBT and the CBS transmitter WCBW. Philadelphia has Philco's WPTZ and Schenectady has the G. E. WRGB. At Los Angeles is the Don Lee W6XAO.
Since Pearl Harbor all of these stations gradually have increased their concentration on civilian defense aids, by the use of motion pictures, lecture courses, demonstrations, and other devices.
Wells Just Plays Wells
In cooperation with the New York police department, WNBT has been running a series of lecture lessons for aid raid wardens in which actors Maurice Wells, himself a warden in his home neighborhood, plays the air raid warden. The “students” watch over receivers installed in police stations and at homes of set owners.
WNBT also has a “television blood bank,” in which viewers are asked to contribute on behalf of the Red Cross.
Station WCBW has been conducting a regular series of first aid lessons supplied by the Red Cross in the form of lecture demonstrations.
The Los Angeles station depends primarily on film subjects for its share in the activities. (C.E. Butterfield, Wide World Features)

Saturday, April 4, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:30 to 11:00—Professional Boxing at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30 to 4:30—Films.

Sunday, April 5, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:30—Fort Monmouth Varities.
9:30 to 9:30—Film: “Sky Patrol” with John Trent.

Taking over a new field for their talents, soldiers from Fort Monmouth staged a full-hour television variety show Easter Sunday night over the National Broadcasting Company television station WNBT.
Keynote of the televised show was its formality. Swiftly paced and moving smoothly throughout its screening at the Radio City studio it presented a succession of specialty acts by soldiers from the Fort, plus a film depicting activities about Fort Monmouth prepared by the Training Film Production Laboratory. The program was picked up by a television receiver set up in Chapel No. 1 at the Fort and viewed by an invited audience.
With Corp. Tom DeHuff from the Post Public Relations Office presenting them to the television audience with informal conversation, the entertaining men of Monmouth did their turns expertly under the blinding white lights of the studio.
Octette Sings
A new octette, the Fort Monmouth Troubadors, made their initial appearance in public and started the show of with a rousing song, the "General Van Deusen March" an original composition of Pvt. John Stein, Hq. Co., 15th Signal Service Regiment and arranged by Bob Brittingham. Following the film showing the Replacement Center Orchestra took over the camera.
Flashing across the screen in rapid succeslon came Pvt. Daniel Mahoney, and his trick unicycle riding; Pvt. William Marks, with Impersonations; Pvt. Ernest Sarracino, sleight-of-hand artist and Pvt. William Agnew and his string trio.

After another medley by the orchestra, the camera focused on Pvt. Tony Russo, singing "Dear Mom" and "I Don't Want To Walk Without You" then faded to pick up Pvt. Mitchell Hodges in an amusing monologue dealing with the idiosyncrasies of a Signal Corp. pigeon. Following Pvt. Ralph Magelson's singing of "Rose Marie' the 1226th C. A. S. U. drill group, under command of Sgt. Sylva Letourncau, went through its paces and then turned over the stage to Pvt. Larry Weeks and some expert baton twirling.
Soldier's Song Sung
Pvt. William Hartshorne and quartet, singing an original composition "My Outdoor Girl" rounded out the hour showing. The televised program was a preview of a possible weekly broadcast from Fort Monmouth. Broadcasting executives had been invited to view the show.
The program was skillfully handled by former television men from NBC now serving the Army at Fort Monmouth. Announcer and narrator for the film was Lt. Ray Feuerstein [aka Ray Forrest], former Television announcer. The production was arranged by Lt. Frank C. Lepore, former production manager, and Sgt. Peter Barker, former director. (Fort Monmouth Signal, Apr. 8)

Monday, April 6, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:30, 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:15—Army Recruiting program.
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1. Mayor LaGuardia, speaker.
9:30 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:15 to 3:30—Children’s Story: “Farmer Griggs’ Boggart.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:15—Recruiting program.
8:45—Drama.
9:40—Table Tennis champions.
10:00—Film short.
10:10—Franklin Institute’s “See the Stars Tonight.”

Mayor F. H. LaGuardia, speaking last night [6] on one of a series of television programs for the instruction to air-raid wardens, told the wardens that there are “perhaps a few thousand fifth columnists” in New York trying to undermine their work. The program, witnessed by wardens in various police stations in the City, was telecast by the National Broadcasting Company at 9 o’clock.
“I want to take this opportunity,” the Mayor said, “of saying to the air-raid wardens that I appreciate your services and that the 7,500,000 people—no, I’ll take that back—that the 7,499,000 people of this city apreciate your services.
“You know and I know that we have perhaps a few thousand fifth columnists in our midst, and our President, with his usual sagacity and vision and humor, described the sixth columnists, and we have a few thousand of those in our city. These fifth columnists, through their dupes, the sixth columnists, are trying to bring discord in your ranks. They are trying to ridicule you, trying to belittle your efforts.
“Don’t pay any attention to them. I don’t, and look what they are trying to do to me. They are yellow all the way through and have a yellow streak down their backs this wide.”
The Mayor measured off about a yard with his hands. The fifth columnists, he added, were the first to come to him and cry about the danger of air raids.
“Keep up your good work” the Mayor told the wardens. “This work is hard. It is difficult. It is not easy. Even the training is hard, and when the time comes it will require courage. It will require guts to carry out your duties. “I depend on you; the women and little children depend on you and me. We have pot to do our job, and we will do it, won’t we?”
At 11:15 p. m. Mayor LaGuardia, who is chairman of the United States section of the Canadian United States Permanent Defense Board, left by train for Montreal for a two-day meeting or the board, beginning today. (Herald Tribune, Apr. 7)

PROGRAM cards, mailed each week by WNBT, NBC television station in New York to set -owners in the metropolitan area, this week carry an advertisement for Victor records on the back of the schedule, the first time the cards have been so used. (Broadcasting, Apr. 6)

Tuesday, April 7, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
3:30—Film: “Zorro Rides Again” (1937) with John Carroll, Noah Beery Sr.
4:30 and 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:15—Harvey Harding, songs.
8:25—Television Blood Bank Awards presntations.
8:35—“Face of the War” with Sam Cuff. 8:45—Film: “Ring of Steel.” 9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
9:30 to 11:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Dancing Lesson.
3:15 to 3:30—Children’s Story: “The Bird is in the Linden Tree.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Red Cross program.
8:20—Film short.
9:00—Air Raid instructions.
9:30—Wrestling match.

Wednesday, April 8, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:00, 7:30—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:15—“Thrills, Chills From Everywhere” with Doug Allan and Capt. Bob Bartlett.
9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
9:30—Film: “Man From Texas.” [Herald Tribune only]
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—“Table Talk” with Patrick Welch, William D. Cole, Armand Brissette, E. Dean Fuller. Topic: “Methods of Preventing an Economic Crash.”
3:15 to 3:30—Children’s Story: “The Brave Little Taylor.”
8:00—News.
8:15—America at War.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
Camden Courier-Post repeats previous day’s listings.

Thursday, April 9, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
4:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:15—Children’s Story: “The Brave Little Taylor.”
8:00—News.
8:05—WPB Approved Women’s Fashion Show [Times].
8:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
8:30—“Men at Work,” variety. [Times has 8:45]
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Variety Show.
8:30—Museum of Art program.
9:00—Rescue Squad program.
9:45—Philadelphia Defense Council Show.
10:00—Film.

First eight approved dress models incorporating restrictions released by the War Production Board yesterday, will be introduced publicly for the first time today on a CBS television program by Stanley Marcus, WPB Apparel Consultant. Program will be televised at 8:05 p.m. on WCBW. (Radio Daily, Apr. 9)

A televised of fashion before and after the limitation order was put on by CBS last night [9] in a 36-minute program. H. Stanley Marcus prsented the “right” and “wrong” fashions to Mrs. Carmel Snow and Mrs. Dorothy Anderson, and challenged them to pick out the post-order dress each time in distinction to the pre—order style. Mr. Marcus called attention to the fact that in some cases it is extremely hard for the layman to differentiate between approved and outlawed designs. demonstratlng this by having the models come on the stage in pairs in the two versions of the dress.
A black waist top underneath a black and white checked two-piece rayon dress with full-pleated skirt outlawed that design and served to introduce its post-order version, a two-piece, black and white checked dress without the waist top, shallower pleats.
Again, two blue woolen swagger coats came out—one with patch pockets, inverted pleat in back, wool-lined collar; its companion piece retained the same appearance without including these details. A white crepe evening dress with wide green faille midrift section, the shirt in peg-top sihouette, was taken as summarizing the new style outlook. (Women’s Wear Daily, Apr. 10)

RELAXATION of rigid operating requirements governing both commercial and experimental television for the duration was urged by a majority of the two-score representatives of television licensees or permitees who attended the FCC special television conference last Thursday [9] in Washington.
The FCC en banc heard views of the television industry, the development of which has been seriously impeded by the war. Restrictions on materials, loss of technical manpower to the military services and the virtual stoppage of receiver production have combined to bog down public and industry interest, it was indicated.
The main topics were whether television should be discontinued for the duration; whether the present requirements of a minimum of 15 hours per week of operation, staggered according to prearranged schedule, should be reduced, and whether experimental operations should continue.
The consensus appeared to favour reduced operation for the duration, to work least possible hardship.
Permittees Canvassed
Following the session the FCC announced it is canvassing all television permittees for progress reports prior to enunciation of the war-time policy. It will learn the percentage of completion of installations under outstanding construction permits; amount of money and material thus far used; additional money and materials required for completion; anticipated dates of completion; man hours already invested, and anticipated requirements and related comprehensive data which will enable it to appraise the status of all licensees and construction permittees.
Several spokesmen indicated the desire to suspend operations during the war because of inability to procure necessary materials. Television, it was stated, is not entitled to any higher priority ratings than standard broadcasting, which has an A-10 rating. Moreover, the new WPB ban on construction in excess of $5,000 might tend to block allocations of necessary materials.
Flexible Standards
Arguments advanced that television could serve effectively in civilian defense instruction were discounted on the ground that service is restricted to a few areas and that receivers in use are so sparse that it could only be a very minor phase of this activity.
W. R. G. Baker, vice-president of GE, as chairman of the National Television Systems Committee, recommended that the present flexible television standards be continued without change.
C. A. Priest, GE television engineer, said his company desired to continue present commercial service and had no objection to the 15-hour per week requirement. He pointed out, however, that audience may be seriously reduced when present tubes burn out and require replacement.
Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, former FCC chief engineer, as spokesman for RCA-NBC, said he felt television should be kept alive if it is of importance in national defense; otherwise it should be closed down for the duration.
Post-War Progress
W. E. Eddy, for Balaban & Katz, Chicago licensee, recommended that television service be maintained, particularly in the light of possible post -war developments. Operation requirements, however, he said, should be reduced during the emergency.
Allen DuMont, who holds construction permits for stations in both New York and Washington, urged continuance of experimental television, though he doubted whether it could expand appreciably because of priority limitations and sparsity of receivers. He declared he is proceeding with construction of his two stations.
D. B. Smith, engineer for Philco, said television would be vital in the post-war economy but urged that the 15-hour per week requirement be relaxed. The rigid schedule, specifying that programs be broadcast in particular brackets each day, should be made more flexible, he advocated. He estimated there are 400 television receivers in Philadelphia, about 5,000 in New York, and from 100 to 125 in Chicago.
Adrian Murphy, CBS television director, asserted that if television continues it should be declared essential in the war effort. Otherwise, he said, engineers will be lost via the draft and diverted to other war operations. He said CBS will apply for necessary priorities to complete its Chicago station.
A. F. Murray, representing Hughes Production Inc., said his company is proceeding with station installations in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Paul Raibourn, for Television Productions Inc., likewise declared his company was going ahead. (Broadcasting, Apr. 13)

Friday, April 10, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
4:00 and 8:00—“The City Awakens,” defense drama.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:15—Children’s story: “The Brave Little Taylor.”
8:00—“The World This Week” with Linton Wells.
8:30—Inter-Service Boxing Tournament.
9:55 to 10:00-News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco Jr. Hour
8:00—Our Future Admirals.
8:20—Films.
8:30—Wrestling matches.

Ted Husing, CBS sports reporter, has been assigned to cover the first inter-service boxing bouts to be televised Friday [10] from the CBS television studio at 8:30 p.m. The first bouts precede the opening of the inter-service boxing tournament which is to be televised from the CBS television studio starting Friday, April 17, under the supervision of the A.A.U. It is Husing's first television show since 1931. (Radio Daily, Apr. 8)

Saturday, April 11, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30 to 4:30—Films.

Sunday, April 12, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:00—Film: “Tomboy,” with Jack Moran.
9:10 to 10:30—Film: “Man From Texas” with Tex Ritter.

Monday, April 13, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:30 and 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
8:15—Film: “Navy Relief.”
8:20—Film: “People of Canada.” 9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
9:30 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Table-top Pictures.
3:15 to 3:30—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:20—Film short.
8:30—Play.
9:40—Inside baseball.
10:00—Film short.
10:10—Franklin Institute’s “See the Stars Tonight.”

Tuesday, April 14, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00 to 3:30— Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
3:30—Film: “Zorro Rides Again.” [Times only]
4:30 and 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
8:15—Harvey Harding, songs.
8:25—“Face of the War” with Sam Cuff.
8:30—Patricia Olmsted, Blood Bank Awards. [Times has 8:35]
8:45—Film: “Polar Bear Marines.” [Times has 8:40]
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
9:30 to 11:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Dancing Lesson.
3:15 to 3:30—Children’s Story.’br> 8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Red Cross program.
8:20—Film short.
9:00—Air Raid instructions.
9:30—Wrestling match.

In Sardi’s Martin Jones, the NBC television director and theatre producer, was talking about the Red Cross blood bank which he and the socialite actress, Patricia Mallinson Olmstead, have been running for some months.
“We have banked about $40,000 worth already,” said Mrs. Olmstead, “and are driving for our 2,000th donor. We’re campaigning in all branches of the theatre and radio and through television. Television has a lot of sets in saloons and cafes and we draw donors direct from the bars. One Brooklyn saloon alone sent us 31 donors. But we’re still campaigning for more volunteers from the legitimate theatre and I wish anybody who’s interested would contact us at NBC.” (Robert Sylvester, Daily News, April 14)

Wednesday, April 15, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:00 and 7:30—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
8:15—Film: “Battle For Oil” (1942) [“This is the Blitz” in Times]
8:35—Film: “From Ships of the Air.”
9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
9:30—Film: “Rhythm on the Rio Grande” with Tex Ritter
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—“Table Talk,” Helen Sioussat, moderator
3:15 to 3:30—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—America at War.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00-5:00—New York test.
8:00—WDAS program.
8:40—Film Short.
9:00—Play.
9:40—Hale American program.
10:10—Navy insignia.

Thursday, April 16, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
4:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 2.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:15—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
8:45—“Men at Work,” variety.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Variety Show.
8:30—Museum of Art program.
9:00—Rescue Squad program.
9:40—Play.
10:00—Film.

A COMPLETE and unequivocal stoppage of all broadcast construction, covering standard broadcast, FM and television—both for new and modified facilities—was recommended last Thursday [16] for immediate action to the War Production Board and the FCC by the Defense Communications Board, President Roosevelt's policy-making wartime communications agency. [...]
The stringent move is designed to plug all loopholes. Disposition of pending construction permits, involving new stations or modifications of existing facilities, is left to the discretion of WPB and the FCC. It is presumed where stations already have acquired all of the necessary material—whether critical or not—completion will be permitted. But where permitees have not already purchased all materials, chances of getting the green light are regarded as practically nil. [...]
Since the order covers use of any materials (whether critical or not) "to construct or change" facilities, it affects the most minor alteration. It does not ban replacements as such, however. Materials for maintenance and repair are not affected, since all past actions of DCB, WPB and the FCC have left the way open for maintenance of existing service on as efficient a basis as possible. But where it comes to new or changed service, even a crystal (unless for maintenance) will not be permitted. (Broadcasting, April 20)

Friday, April 17, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
4:00 and 8:00—“The City Awakens,” defense drama.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:15—Children’s story: “The Brave Little Taylor.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Film.
8:30—Inter-Service Boxing Tournament. [Times has 8:25]
9:55 to 10:00-News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco Jr. Hour
8:00—Defense drama.
9:00—Wrestling matches.

Ex-World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey, now a lieutenant in the New York State Guard, will referee the opening bouts of the inter-service boxing tournament to be televised by CBS starting tomorrow [17], at 8:25 p.m. from its television studios here. U. S. Navy, Marine, Coast Guard, and N. Y. State Guard boxing teams are contestants in the morale-building tournament. (Radio Daily, Apr. 17)

Saturday, April 18, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30 to 4:30—Films.

Sunday, April 19, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:00—Film: “Danger Flight” with John Trent.
9:10 to 10:10—Film: “Rhythm on the Rio Grande” with Tex Ritter.

Monday, April 20, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:30 and 7:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
8:15—Film: “Unfinished Rainbows.”
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
9:30 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Table-top Pictures.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:20—Film short.
8:30—Ukrainian Chorus.
9:00—Boxing Match.

Tuesday, April 21, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1

3:00, 4:30 and 7:30— Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
8:15—Harvey Harding, songs.
8:25—“Face of the War” with Sam Cuff.
8:35—“Television Blood Bank Awards” with Patricia Olmstead.
8:40—Film: “Soldiers Without Uniform” (1942).
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
9:30 to 11:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Dancing Lesson.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.’br> 8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Red Cross program.
8:20—Film short.
9:00—Air Raid instructions.
9:30—Wrestling match.

Wednesday, April 22, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:00 and 7:30—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
8:15—Film: “It’s Up To Us.”
8:25—Film: “A New Voice For Mr. X.”
9:00 to 9:30—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—“Table Talk,” Helen Sioussat, moderator, with Pearl Buck, Adet Lin, H.J. Timperley, Dr. Taraknath Das. Topic: “Achievement of Mutual Understanding Between America and the Orient.”
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
7:45—Pery Machado, violinist. [Herald Tribune]
8:00—News.
8:15—America at War.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00-5:00—New York test.
8:00—Sepia Variety Show.
8:45—Film Short.
9:00—Play.
9:40—Hale American program.
10:00—Film.

Thursday, April 23, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
4:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
8:45—“Men at Work,” variety.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—to be announced.
8:30—Film.
9:00—Rescue Squad program.
9:30—Play.
10:00—Play reviews.

Friday, April 24, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
4:00 and 8:00—“The City Awakens,” defense drama.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Film.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Film.
8:25—Inter-Service Boxing Tournament.
9:55 to 10:00-News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:00—Philco Jr. Hour
8:00—Defense drama.
9:00—Naval film.
9:35—Film.

Saturday, April 25, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30 to 4:30—Films.

Sunday, April 26, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:00—Film: “Haunted House” with Marcia Mae Jones and Jackie Moran.
9:10 to 10:10—Film: “Pals of the Silver Sage” with Tex Ritter.

Monday, April 27, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
9:00 to 11:00—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—British Children’s Prize-Winning Posters.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Music.
8:30—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Model Plane Class.
8:20—Film.
9:40—Flycasting Champ.

WASHINGTON, April 27.—(AP)—The Federal Communications Commission today froze for the duration of the war all domestic radio construction with two exceptions.
Chairman James L. Fly said the order applied to standard, television, facsimile, relay and high frequency stations.
The only exceptions to the freezing order were experimental high frequency and non-commercial educational stations. International broadcasting was not involved.

Tuesday, April 28, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:30 and 7:30— Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 4.
8:15—Harvey Harding, songs.
8:25—“Face of the War” with Sam Cuff.
8:35—Film: “Man on Horseback.”
9:00 to 9:30—Air Raid Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 4.
9:30 to 11:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—Dancing Lesson.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Red Cross First Aid Instruction.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:45—Short films.
8:00—Featurette.
8:30—Philadelphia Defense Council.
9:00—Air Raid instructions.
9:30—Wrestling match.

First official Office of Civilian Defense Red Cross first aid course via television will be inaugurated on CBS's WCBW April 28, it was announced last night on a CBS television broadcast by Capt. Charles B. Scully, head of the First Aid Service of the New York Chapter of the American Red Cross. To be presented Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m., the course will consist of 10 hours of official instruction as prescribed for members by the Medical Division of the OCD.
Regarded as an experiment to test the effectiveness of television as a medium for instruction in first aid, the course developed as a result of a trial series of Red Cross first aid demonstrations and general talks which have been televised bi-weekly on WCBW since last December. Post-card quizzes and questions and answer periods by telephone are being considered as methods of bringing televiewers in closer contact with their instructor via the series.
Scheduling of the courses on WCBW at 9 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays places the officially approved OCD first-aid course in direct competition for the restricted television audience with NBC's officially annroved OCD series of lectures for Raid Wardens. (Radio Daily, April 22)

NEW YORK, April 28.—The wrestlers at Ridgewood Grove had been grunting and groaning for several minutes before they realized the battle was being televised. Through their mat-hardened skulls penetrated the truth that their antics were being broadcast far beyond the confines of the arena.
Since wrestlers are extroverts the new factor appealed to them. They stopped their efforts to shred one another into fine hamburger. One tried to reach the microphone suspended on boom over the ring, and failing this, cursed in fluent Italian. The other was the better actor. He pulled the trunks from the opponent, leaving him a 200-pound violet shrinking in the corner without a single leaf to hide his nakedness.
“I saw the building up from my control board in the mobile transmitter truck,” said the engineer in charge of programs outside the studio. “Just in time we swung the camera and protected the television audience from severe shock.”
Industry Still Young
Anecdotes like that are typical of the infant industry. They presage occasional surprises for future watchers of action brought into their homes by the unbelievable magic of television, but they highlight the very factor that will make of this industry the most revolutionary amusement vehicle yet perfected.
Because it deals with vision its impact will be greater than sound radio on the scale of 90 to five. This is incontrovertable, since man amasses 90 per cent of his intelligence from what he sees and only about 5 per cent from what he hears.
And only the intervention of Hitler with its influence on shortages, power and priorities keeps the public from getting its hands on something that will give sound radio, the movies and the theater the battle of their lives. The average man and woman in the country today still believes television in the experimental stage. Technically it is. So is sound radio, the cinema and the telephone. Research never stops in any of these fields. But television is here now with accurate, high definition reproduction far ahead of the films in the flicker and perpetual rain era and immeasurably better than sound radio was in the days of crystal sets, hand-built sets, hand-drilled bakelite panels and embroidered loudspeakers sitting on the mantel.
10,200 Sets Operating
When it said that television is “here,” it means it is available to the owners of the 5100 receiving sets in the metropolitan area (600 of them in taverns and nightspots) with about an equal number scattered in areas around Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago and Loa Angeles.
Their rarity, enforced by the government restrictions on vital metals, has enhanced their sociological value. The owner of a set not to be envied without reservation. He becomes, through ownership, the friend of more persons than he dreamed lived in his block or his town and he is lucky when his sitting room does not contain more than 10 visitors watching wrestling at Jamaica, drama at the studios, football games or transcribed movies.
Out of the community interest engendered by the new form of entertainment has come an unexpected result. Defense officials now see in television one of the most practicable means of civilian instruction now in existence. It expected that every owner of a set will be asked to allow different groups of neighbors to attend “classes” before his set to learn how to handle incendiary bombs, evacuate cities, handle traffic under air-raid conditions and render first aid.
Army Plans War Use
"Aside from a few firemen policemen and civilian defense workers,” said one television official, "the only people in the country today who know how to handle a magnesium bomb are those who have television sets. We have shown them and when you see it done you know the answers."
Army men have evinced great faith in this medium for teaching civilians. It admitted that if bombing of the Eastern seaboard eventuated large numbers of non-combatants would be ordered out of New York, Philadelphia Boston and other large centers.
"We know that large numbers of these civilians are foreign born,” said one officer. "Suppose we print posters or maps in the papers informing them which artery to take out of town. They can't read and the result will be congestion at the wrong places. With television you can show each district and which bridge or tunnel to use and the picture will stick, even in an illiterate's mind.”
The engineers, program men and research technicians never thought of this in the decade they fought to answer one of man's greatest desires—to see at a great distance. About 10 years ago Dr. V. K. Zworykin, world-famous authority on electronics, invented a crude iconoscope—the eye of the television camera. Subsequently the kinescope—the tube that reproduced the picture in the receiver—was perfected and the keypiece in the log jam of obstacles was dynamited.
Television Explained
In its simplest terms, television is the changing of light values to electrical energy, its distribution and its subsequent return from electrical energy to light. Now that scientists have labored painstakingly in the laboratories the technique seems easy. Actually it verges on black magic.
Engineers at the Radio Corp. of America explain television in this way:
The iconoscope a large vacuum tube containing a plate 4x5 inches on which are millions of minute photo-electric cells. The image to be transmitted focused upon this plate by lenses as in an ordinary camera. Each of the microscopic cells generates voltage proportional to the light falling on it—comparatively high for bright spots in the picture, low for the dark shadings.
A focused beam of electrons shot from an electron inside the tube makes swift contact with each of the cells, one after another, as the beam sent across from left to right and down the picture just as one reads a printed page. It takes a fast reader several minutes to read a book page. The electron gun “reads” a picture at a rate of one mile a second.
The varying voltage collected in the iconoscope is amplified, sent by transmitters through the air or along co-axial cables to another transmitter, and so to the receiver's antenna. There the radio waves are carried to the kinescope.
Pictures Not Distorted
The kinescope incloses a flourescent screen over which another stream of electrons, perfectly synchronized with the one in the iconoscope, passes, reconverting the radio waves to light and producing an image identical with the object in front of the television camera. The process is continuous, proceeding at such speeds that only higher mathematics can evaluate them, and the resulting picture is reproduced without distortion.
This involved explanation—itself simplified to skeletonized form—means victory over time and space. Whether he uses it to fight disease, spread knowledge and enrich life or to broadcast the mouthings of near-morons and send visual soap operas into millions of homes will depend somewhat on the advertising agencies and less on the public.
Whether it dooms the movies, the theater and most mass entertainment and erects in its place a race of fireside sitters who, through the centuries, lose legs and arms and become strange creatures with little more than eyes and ears are all worries that bother the theorists but not the television authorities.
Their vision as broad as that of their newest brain child. They foresee in television one of the two or three major industries of the post-war readjustment era (most of them call it the chief industry) employing hundreds of thousands to manufacture equipment, build sets, prepare and act in programs and maintain service.
Industry Seen Leading Way
To these men it shapes up this way: Television, then aeronautics, then plastics, then chemistry and finally the automotive fields. These are the enterprises on which the hope of industrial sufficiency must rest when the arsenals, powder factories, gun factories and all the other jerry-built industries fashioned for the implementing of soldiers close down.
It a backlog, now, became of priorities untouchable, waiting to thake [sic] up the slack, a man-made frontier in which the pioneers have taken a few faltering steps, with room from untold thousands of industrial "settlers" to stake out claims.
Today this entertainment medium is the “baby” of only a few groups. RCA and Columbia Broadcasting Corp dominate the New York field. In Chicago there are Balaban & Katz and Zenith; in Los Angeles there is Don Lee and in Philadelphia there is Philco.
Income from the sale of commercial advertising time has so far been minuscule. Firms are loath to buy time when they realize only a few sets are in existence. This has meant that the burden of financing the research has been carried by other sources. RCA, which has done about 80 per cent of the spadework in preparing television for public participation, has spent somewhere near $12,000,000 in a decade of research.
There are men who say sound radio, which really has carried the ball for television, has unwittingly nurtured a Frankenstein at its breast and will one day be devoured by its foster child. David Sarnoff, prime mover behind television at RCA, prefers to think of it in terms less brutal. Sound radio is the stalk from which television will bloom in blossoms of ineffable loveliness, as any of his associates will assure you. If this evolves the public will not weep for sound radio. It didn't for the silent cinema. (Allan Keller, Cincinnati Post, April 28).

Wednesday, April 29, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:00 and 7:30—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
8:15—Army Recruiting program.
9:00 to 9:30—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 4.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
3:00—News.
3:15—“Table Talk,” Helen Sioussat, moderator.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—America at War.
8:30—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00-5:00—New York test.
8:00—Cartoons.
8:15—Army Recruiting program. 8:45—Cowboy singer.
9:20—Film.
9:40—Hale American program.
10:00—Film.

Thursday, April 30, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:00, 4:30 and 7:30—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 3.
8:15—Film: “Atlantic Patrol.”
8:25—Film: “Iceland on the Prairies.”
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 3
3:00—News.
3:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:45 to 4:00—Children’s Story.
8:00—News.
8:15—“Men at Work,” variety.
9:00—Red Cross First Aid Course, Lesson 2.
9:25—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:00—Blood Donors program.
8:30—Film.
9:00—Feature film.