February 1942

In England, television went off the air because of the war. In the United States, it found a purpose because of the war.

In between B Westerns, college basketball and test patterns, East Coast television stations were used starting in February 1942 to train air raid wardens and provide instruction from the Red Cross on dealing with the aftermath of the inevitable Nazi attack on New York.

Of course, it never happened, but it didn’t hurt to be prepared in case Hitler was able to pull off something.

NBC began clearing and re-arranging its schedule to accommodate the instruction. So the schedule waved goodbye to “Radio City Matinee” and switched its night off from Wednesdays to Thursdays. CBS responded with a civilian defence programme three nights a week. WPLZ in Philadelphia was occasionally picking up NBC shows.

Among the highlights of the month, outside of the military programming, was a sound-only address by F.D.R., aired on all four east coast stations (DuMont was only on the air for testing), and the departure of WNBT newscaster Ray Forrest on military service. He found a very different WNBT when he returned.

Below is the available schedule (for WNBT, WCBW and WPLZ only) and selected stories. There’s a feature piece on what the “Children’s Story” programme on CBS looked like. The CBS variety show “Men at Work” included a couple of names that may be familiar. Eddie Meyehoff was a comedian and voice of a commercial spokescartoon in the 1950s. Burl Ives was a folk singer who later became Big Daddy and sang “A Holly Jolly Christmas” as a stop-motion Santa Claus (when I was little, my parents had a children’s record of him warbling “Little White Duck”). The highlights of the month may have been the appearance of a Van Beuren Aesop Fable (watch for the Jim Tyer animation, fans) and Nelson's Boxing Cats (who co-starred in a movie with Jimmy Cagney).

Sunday, February 1, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—Film: “Sweeheart of the Navy” (1937) with Eric Linden.
8:30 to 9:30—Film Mystery Drama: “Suspect.”

Monday, February 2, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—Film: “Song of the Buckaroo” with Tex Ritter.
8:00—Air Raid Instructions, Lieut. William F. Maley.
8:30—Air Raid Quiz.
9:00 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Golden Gloves Preliminaries.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:10—Children’s Story: “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Civilian Defense Program.
8:35—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ (Philco, NBC affiliate), Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30-10:15—Plays films.
10:15 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing from Jamaica Arena [WNBT].

New York (Wide World)-Civilian defense lessons by television are turning out to be an easy way to instruct large classes simultaneously, in the opinion of the New York Police Department.
It now has under way a Monday night series via the NBC picture station WNBT in which the various angles of protection are detailed in lecture-demonstrations that include motion pictures, photographs and actual equipment. After the introductory programs, which will continue two more weeks, a series of 25 specialized telecasts is to be conducted.
Besides the class of a dozen or so which participates in the program from the studio, other classes watch at something like 130 viewing posts scattered around the city.

Tuesday, February 3, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—“Radio City Matinee” with Sondra Blanca, piano; Paul MacAllister; Jack Smith; others.
8:30—“Our Neighbor, Brazil,” travel film with Julien Bryan.
8:55—Benay Venuta, songs.
9:00—Adrienne Ames, movie preview.
9:20—“Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.
9:30 to 11:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Dancing Lesson.
3:10—Children’s Story: “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
3:25 to 3:30—News Summary.
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Civilian Defense Program.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:10 to 5:45—Tests, films.
8:00—Glee Club, drama.
8:30 to 9:30—Pickups from WNBT.
9:30 to 11:00—Ridgewood Grove (N. Y.) wrestling from WNBT.

NEW YORK, N. Y.—Television, stymied for years “around the corner,” has moved into the back yard.
That’s what the N. B. C. page indicated one night this week as he guided us through the maze of corridors to the studio of Station WNBT. “I’m taking you into our back yard—not many people come here yet,” he said. He said it with pride, for the industry is very well pleased with the prospects of its healthy newcomer.
The room we entered was described on our ticket as the client’s studio. It was a small room, no larger than a typical home living room. The floor was covered by a thick carpet, comfortable couches and easy chairs were scattered generously, and a soft light was provided by a table lamp.
Placed against one wall were two handsome television sets, arranged so that anyone in the room could see and hear the show.
It was 8.30 when we settled ourselves on the most relaxed looking sofa in sight. In a few seconds the show was on. “WMBT [sic], the world’s pioneer television station,” flashed onto the reflecting mirror that is the television screen, and a two-hour show was under way.
A travelogue, taking the audience to Rio de Janiero, was the opening feature of the program. World Traveller Julien Bryan introduced the film. He was shown in what seemed to be a library, and the camera moved back and forth freely, from close-up to long shot.
You had the feeling all the time that this was a movie, and that Mr. Bryan was at that moment making this speech in the same RCA building, and that the setting behind him was a very small portion of a crowded television studio. We looked in on the studio later to clarify our notions.
The scene shifted from Mr. Bryan to the travelogue (which was a real movie), then back again for some closing remarks from the commentator. We soon saw that this was the accepted pattern for most of the television broadcasts—a speaker or singer, then a movie projected on the television screen, followed again by an announcer or performer.
This was the pattern followed, for example, in a movie preview, conducted by Actress Adrienne Ames. Miss Ames, accompanied by Victor Jory of the movies, appeared to enter into a room, sit down, and begin a chat about a new movie. Then scenes from the movie were shown, with Miss Ames supplying a running commentary that linked the episodes of the story.
The movie was about half over before we realized that we were looking at Leslie Howard in his latest war picture, “Mr. V”. There is some distortion of the figu[r]es, and everyone’s face has a tendency to be flattened and widened by the television camera. Once you become accustomed to this new perspective, the scene on the mirror (about 12 inches in width) seems as realistic as any moving picture.
An interlude in the program was the appearance of Benay Venuta, to sing songs and urge the purchase of Defense Savings Bonds and Stamps. Miss Venuta is no slip of a lass under any circumstances, but she appeared on the television screen to be an exaggerated edition of Kate Smith. This, once again, was the peculiar flattening effect of the medium.
A brief cartoon, advertising men’s ties, showed another effective use for television. Anything that is bright and entertaining—music, action, strange scenes, drama—all these are thoroughly entertaining to the television audience.
We also saw a news broadcast. It would be boring beyond words to be forced to watch the facial antics of the ordinary newscaster as he related the latest world happenings. Television showmen have realized this, so they are arming their commentators with maps, pointers, and all the paraphernalia of a classroom lecture. This method works pretty well, though it was during the news portion of the program that everyone in the audience showed signs of restlessness. Until that time, we had been too absorbed in the entertainment to be conscious of our surroundings.
Television, being still in the infant stage, can afford to be generous with its time and facilities. N. B. C. runs its television programs for three or four hours each day, and there are not enough sponsors willing to spend money to teach a still limited audience. So it is that the producers are willing to be more than philanthropic.
The night we saw the show there were three free “plugs” televised. First, the Defense Bonds. Then came the Red Cross and finally (what we’d been waiting for all the time), a Boy Scout movie and talk. We’re afraid the audience was beginning to feel imposed upon by the time the Boy Scouts put in their modest appeal, but it sounded very fine to us.
The climax of the evening’s fun was a wrestling bout, television directly from a Brooklyn ring. Wrestling—that phony of all phony sports—is very well suited to television. The grunts and whams of the contestants, the boos of the crowd, and the general air of smoke and hilarity come over the television screen with great fidelity.
It was during one of these longish bouts that an N. B. C. engineer explained to us the workings of television. We were particularly interested in his explanation that the television image is carried by rays which go in a straight line and cannot be curved.
On this account, television programs sent forth from the transmitter on the Empire State Building in New York city, can be picked up only seventy or eighty miles outside the city. The obstacle of distance and the curvature of the earth can be overcome only by piping the ray through special tubes. The process is fabulously expensive, but one such “cable” has already been laid between New York and Philadelphia.
We inquired about the cost of television, too, and were told that the super-sets in this studio cost $395 each, complete with radios valued at $150. That is considerably less expensive than the television sets of a few years ago, and set[s] with a smaller image are already on sale for $99.
At present, 4,500 television sets are in use in the metropolitan New York area, and it is estimated that these reach a possible audience of 50,000. The back yard is already beginning to seem crowded. Television will be moving in the front door any minute now. (Betty Ryan 'Big Town Talk' column, Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram, Feb. 6)

An interesting fashion program presented last night [3] by the Metropolitan Museum of Art at the CBS television studio, devoted a half hour of discussion and visual illustration to unfolding background of outstanding historical fashions, their reflection in modern clothes, and comments on present wartime influences on current clothes of now and the future. Edwin L. M. Taggart and Miss Frances Meyers conducting the program had as guest Miss Elisabeth Hawes wearing for the occasion a trouser costume which she pointed out as her concept of the kind of garment which women can wear satisfactorily to conform with the active life of women at work, either in defense or military jobs. It is interesting to note that the outfit is by no means masculine regardless of the trousers, utilizing colors, decoration, and silhouette that go beyond the conventional trouser formula.
A pretty moss green woolen forms trousers, basque jacket, and knee-length bell-shaped coat. Bright red lining for the little jacket correspond with an appliqued arrowhead band on the blue blouse, the blouse further touched decoratively with the fabric shoulder braces that held up the trousers, thus, as Miss Hawes pointed out, doing away with a tight, restricting waistband.
Flat heeled shoes and red socks completed this outfit, worked out according to this designer’ feeling for functionalism and becomingness (Women’s Wear Daily, Feb. 4)

Wednesday, February 4, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:15 to 11:15—Basketball: Manhattan College vs. St. John’s College; N.Y.U. vs. St. Francis College at Madison Square Garden.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—“Table Talk,” public affairs discussion.
3:10—Children’s Story: “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
3:25 to 3:30—News Summary.
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Civilian Defense Program.
8:35—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:30-5:30—New York test chart.
8:15—Spelling Bee.
8:45—Hale American program.
9:00—Drama.
9:20—Films.
10:00—Opera.
10:30 to 11:15—Basketball.

Popularity ratings of the various NBC television shows reveal 'Thrills, Chills from Everywhere with Doug Allan' as top audience-attracter for the past couple months. Ratings are prepared weekly in a report for the video staff by the NBC research department. Data is obtained through an elaborate weekly postcard survey of owners of television receivers.
Close to the Allan show in popularity recently have been 'Gus Van's Minstrels,' 'Adams Sports Parade,' 'March of Time' and 'News by Sam Cuff.' Allan brings to the transmitter explorers and travelers who have films of their journeys. After a short introduction, films are shown and the guest talks behind them explaining what they are, similar to a lecture. (Variety, Feb. 4)

Thursday, February 5, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:10—Children’s Story: “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
3:25 to 3:30—News summary.
8:00—News.
8:15—Bob Edge, sports.
8:30—“Men at Work,” variety with Patricia King, tap dancer; Henry Brant and Richard Baldwin, piano duo; Eddie Meyehoff, comedian; Bella Reine, dance mime; Evelyn Wyckoff, songs.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30—Spelling Bee.
7:45—Film.
8:00—“Catch the Crook,” game.
8:15—News.
8:30 to 10:10—Film.

Friday, February 6, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30—Film serial: “Zorro Rides Again.”
3:50—Film: “Let’s Join the Navy.”
3:55—Film: “Glacier Secret” (1930).
4:05—Film: “The Tugboat Speaks.”
4:15—Film: “America at War.”
8:30—“Words on the Wing,” Paul Wing’s spelling bee.
9:00—Zeke Manners’ Hillbilles.
9:25 to 9:30—News with Ray Forrest.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:10—Children’s story: “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
8:00—News reports.
8:15—“Work of the U.S. Coast Guard.”
9:00—Sports with Bob Edge.
9:55 to 10:00—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:30 to 4:30—New York test chart.
6:00—Variety show.
7:00—Film, play.
8:30 to 11—Philadelphia Arena Wrestling.

Saturday, February 7, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—Film: “Mystery Plane.”
8:30 to 11:00—Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News summary.
2:35—Films.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
8:30 to 10:30—Arena Ice Hockey, Philadelphia Rockets vs. Indianapolis Capitols.

Sunday, February 8, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—Film: “North Sea Patrol.”
8:30—“False Witness,” mystery drama game.
9:05 to 9:30—Harvey Harding’s Sociable, variety.

Monday, February 9, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:00—Civil Defense Lesson, Lieut. William F. Maley.
9:00 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Golden Gloves Preliminaries.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:10—Children’s Story: “The Nightingale.”
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Civilian Defense Program.
8:35—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30-10:15—Plays films.
10:15 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena from WNBT.

CONVERSION of all of its television sets to the new standards set by the National Television Systems Committee, has been completed according to Hamilton Hoge, president of U. S. Television Mfg. All outstanding sets are now adjusted to pick up present telecasts from NBC, CBS and DuMont in New York, plus one channel already tuned for MBS, he stated. In all, sets tune to five channels. Mr. Hoge stated his company has no more sets in stock and is devoting its entire efforts to the defense program. (Broadcasting, Feb. 9)

Tuesday, February 10, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—“Radio City Matinee,” variety with Christopher Rule, Paul MacAlister, Peggy Adams, Clifford Newdahl, others
8:30—“Thrills and Chills,” with Doug Allan and Arthur Menken.
8:55—Earl Wrightson, baritone.
9:00—Adrienne Ames, movie preview.
9:20—“Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.
9:30 to 11:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Dancing Lesson.
3:10—Children’s Story: “The Nightingale.”
3:25 to 3:30—News Summary.
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00—Civil Defense Program.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:10 to 4:00—Tests, films.
7:15—Model show.
7:45—Film.
8:30 to 9:30—Pickups from WNBT.
9:30 to 11:00—Ridgewood Grove (N. Y.) wrestling from WNBT.

The NBC television station WNBT has lost its first regular announcer, Ray Forrest [right]. A reserve officer, he has been called up and is being assigned to the film production unit of the signal corps. Incidentally, WNBT, which had been announcing itself as “New York’s pioneer television” station, has changed that to the “nation’s pioneer television station” in view of the fact that it can trace its actual beginning back to an experimental station which began operation in 1928. (C.E. Butterfield column, AP, Feb. 10)

Wednesday, February 11, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—“Table Talk,” panel discussion. Topic: “Should We Define Our War Aims Now?” with Major George Fielding Eliot, Dr. Pennington Haile, Lisa Sergio, Sonia Tomara.
3:15—Children’s Story: “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
3:25 to 3:30—News Summary.
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Civilian Defense Program.
8:35—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
[Courier-Post repeats Tuesday schedule]

Thursday, February 12, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
9:00 to 10:00—America’s Town Meeting: “How Shall We Pay For the War?” with John W. Hanes, Marriner S. Eccles, Professor Leland R. Robinson.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:10—Children’s Story: “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
3:25 to 3:30—News summary.
8:00—News.
8:15—Bob Edge, sports.
8:30—“Men at Work,” variety with Maxine Sullivan, songs; Phil Farrell, the Mack Sisters, tap dancers; Sylvia Marlowe, harpsichord; Cabot and Dresden, ballroom dancers; Larry Blake, mimic; Wayne and Marlin, acrobats.
9:25 to 9:30—News.
W2XWV (DuMont), New York, Channel 4
7:30 to 9:00—Tests and Selected films.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:00 to 5:00—New York test chart.
7:30—Spelling Bee.
7:45—Film.
8:00—“Catch the Crook,” game.
8:25—Glee Club.
8:50—Lincoln Memorial.
9:05 to 9:30—Film.

Friday, February 13, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30—Film serial: “Zorro Rides Again.”
3:50 to 4:45—Film: “Wild Horse Canyon” (1938) with Jack Randall.
8:30—Gus Van Minstrels.
9:25 to 9:30—News with Ray Forrest.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Preparedness Film.
3:10—Children’s story: “Valentine.”
3:25 to 3:30—News Summary.
8:00—News reports.
8:15—“America at War.”
9:00—Sports with Bob Edge.
9:55 to 10:00—News.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
6:00—Variety show.
7:00—Film, play.
8:30 to 11—Philadelphia Arena Wrestling.

Saturday, February 14, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—Charlie Chaplin Film Festival.
8:30 to 11:15—Basketball: Manhattan College vs. St. Francis College; Notre Dame vs. N.Y.U. at Madison Square Garden.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News summary.
2:35—Film.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14.— Figuring that the youngsters of today will provide the television audiences of tomorrow, WPTZ, Philco tele station here, has started sizing up its juve audiences now. Survey is being conducted among television set owners to formulate future program policy aimed at attracting youngsters.
Query sheet seeks info on the number of children among the television audience at home and their ages; suggestions as to how many hours of the 15 total hours of televising each week should be devoted to programs exclusively for children, and suggestions as to what days and at what time of the day and evening these children's programs should be televised.
Adults are also asked to indicate typos of programs most suitable and most interesting to the moppets. Live talent shows include dramatic plays, fantasies, variety acts, educational and hobby exhibitions. Motion picture programs include Western films, comedy drama, drama, animated cartoons and musicals.
WPTZ is depending almost entirely on Its audience to set station and program policy. Television set owners, being advised that the station will be on the air only six out of the seven days each week, are being asked to vote on the day deemed moat convenient for the station to omit. (Billboard, Feb. 21)

Sunday, February 15, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30—Film: “Star Reporter” (1939) with Warren Hull.
8:30—Play: “To the Ladies,” comedy with Marjorie Clarke, Maurice Wells.

Monday, February 16, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:00—Civil Defense Lesson, Lieut. William F. Maley.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:10—Children’s Story: “Rip Van Winkle.”
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Red Cross Civilian Defense Program.
8:35—Quiz.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:00—Drama.
7:15—Philadelphia Council of Defense Program.
9:00—Opera music.
9:45 to 10:00—Franklin Institute Program.

Tuesday, February 17, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—“Radio City Matinee.”
8:00—Official Defense Lesson. [Herald Tribune]
8:30—“Our Neighbor Brazil,” film presented by Julien Bryan. [Times]
8:55—“Your Income tax,” discussion. [Times]
9:00—Adrienne Ames, movie preview. [Times]
9:20—“Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news. [Times]
9:30—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Dancing Lesson.
3:15—Children’s Story: “Rip Van Winkle.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
8:45—Tamara, songs.
9:00 to 9:30—Red Cross.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:30 to 4:25—New York test program.
4:00 to 5:15—Film.
4:30 to 5:30—Film [sic].
7:30—Music drama.
8:30 to 9:30—Pickups from WNBT.
9:30 to 11:00—Ridgewood Grove (N. Y.) wrestling from WNBT.

Wednesday, February 18, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—“Table Talk,” Debate: Students of N.Y.U. vs. Columbia University student. Topic: “Union Now.”
3:15—Children’s Story: “Rip Van Winkle.”
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Red Cross.
8:35—Country Dance.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30—Dramas, films.
9:55 to 10:15—OEM drama.

A six-week television course for air raid wardens, fire spotters and others in voluntary defense services was announced last night [18] by Police Commissioner Valentine. Seventy-six television sets, lent to the police by three manufacturers, have been installed in police stations throughout the city to receive telecasts from the National Broadcasting Company’s television station WNBT.
Beginning Monday, there will be telecasts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays three times a day for the next six weeks, from 10:30 to 11:30 A. M, 3 to 4 P. M. and 8 to 9 P. M. The telecasts, in which police and fire officials will give demonstrations and lectures, will beopen to the public in neighborhood police stations. A test course has been given by television for the last four Monday evenings. (New York Times, Feb. 19)

Thursday, February 19, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
9:00 to 10:00—America’s Town Meeting: “Brotherhood of Man, Fact or Fiction?”
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:15—Children’s Story: “Rip Van Winkle.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Bob Edge, sports.
8:30—“Men at Work,” variety with Burl Ives, songs; the DeMorios, dancers, Yvette Vernon, juggler; Bankoff and Girlie, comedy dancers; Richard Dyer-Bennett, songs.
W2XWV (DuMont), New York, Channel 4
7:30 to 9:00—Tests and Selected films.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:30—Glee Club.
7:45—Films.
8:00—“Catch the Crook,” game.
8:25—“Paper Marathon.”
9:00—“America Town Meeting” from WNBT.

Friday, February 20, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30—Film serial: “Zorro Rides Again.”
3:50—Film: “Defense Review.”
4:00—Film: “Development of a Chick.”
4:20—Film: “Animal Fair” (Van Beuren, 1931)
8:30 to 9:30—Russian Kretchma Show [Times].
8:30—Mildred Dilling, harpist,
8:45—“False Witness,” mystery drama game.
9:20 to 9:30—Vronsky and Babin, duo piano.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:15—Children’s story: “Rip Van Winkle.”
8:00—News reports.
8:15—“America at War.”
9:00—Sports with Bob Edge.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:45—Philco Jr. Hour.
7:15—Our Future Admirals.
8:00 to 11:00—Philadelphia Arena Wrestling.

Saturday, February 21, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30 to 4:30—Film: “Riders of the Frontier” with Tex Ritter.
8:30—New York Athletic Club Indoor Track Meet at Madison Square Garden.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30 to 4:30—Film.

Sunday, February 22, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
3:30—Film: “Hats Off” with John Payne.
8:30—Film: “The Mystery of Mr. Wong” with Boris Karloff.

JOHN RUPE is the only artist of his kind in the world. While an actress reads young-folks classics in front of a television camera, Rupe matches the story action, scene by scene, with freehand sketches. He works, skillfully, at the incredible rate of two illustrations a minute.
Once a day he stands before a large drawing board in CBS’s New York television studio. Program begins, camera turns to an intimate scene of mother and daughter — mother reads from a book in her lap, daughter listens intently as a new chapter in Robin Hood unfolds. A second camera focuses on the drawing board and the crayon begins its strokes. At intervals the mother-daughter scene is shown, but most of the time the camera stays on the artist and his drawings.
In a matter of seconds Rupe draws a pudgy Friar Tuck, a dashing Robin Hood. A few minutes more and he’s finishing the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, the Black Knight, an arrow quivering in a tree trunk.
As he draws, he listens to the voice of the mother reading to make sure he’s keeping up with the story. In 15 minutes, he will have finished 25 to 30 complete drawings. Each—with the exception of complicated backgrounds — drawn fresh for the camera.
Stories already broadcast include Aesop’s Fables, Cinderella, Rip Van Winkle, The Pied Piper, Jack and the Beanstalk. So far, Rupe’s toughest assignment was Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. Tops in fun was The Ugly Duckling. He knows when he’s doing a better-than-usual job by the chuckles of the camera crew behind his back.
John comes by his talent for drawing droll characters honestly. Graduated from DePauw, he toured 10,000 miles, earned a living by caricature-interviews of prominent local citizens and selling the results to the town papers. Rupe likes his present job better. One good reason: he never has to worry about erasing and redrawing. Once a stroke is down in black and white, it’s there for keeps. (Fred R. Samis, This Week magazine, Feb. 22)

Monday, February 23, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
10:30, 11:30, 3:00, 4:00, 8:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:30—“America Prepares,” defense show. 9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
9:30 to 11:30—Amateur Boxing from Jamaica Arena.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film.
3:15—Children’s Story: “Sleeping Beauty.”
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Red Cross Civilian Defense Program.
8:35—Quiz.
9:25 to 9:30—News Summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:00—Drama.
7:15—Film, music.
8:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1 from WNBT.
9:00—Philadelphia Council of Defense Program.
9:45 to 10:00—Franklin Institute Program. 10:00—President Roosevelt (sound only).

Air-raid wardens received their first television instruction on a mass basis yesterday [23] when six broadcasts were received on television sets in the city’s eighty-two police stations. Yesterday’s lecture, the first of a series of six to be broadcast in the next six weeks, dealt with general information concerning the duties of an air-raid warden and was designed especially for those who have had little class instruction.
Men and women wardens went to the police stations to watch and hear the broadcast at 10:30 a. m., 11:30 a. m., and 3, 4, 8 and 9 p. m. After each broadcast, a police officer attached to the Air-Raid Warden Service asked questions front a prepared list, which were answered by the attending wardens. Attendance was only fair at the morning and afternoon broadcasts, but was much greater in the evening.
Deputy Police Commissioner John H. Morris said that the police expected to give instructions by this method to 54,000 wardens. Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine invited the deputy police commissioners, Chief Inspector Louis F. Costuma, the commanding officers of detective squads and other police officials into his office to hear one of the afternoon broadcasts. Forty persons attended, but Commissioner Valentine was not there because he was called out on other business.
The broadcasts were made over the television station of the National Broadcasting Company.
Lieutenants John Travers and Patrick Peterson alternated as commentators, and their remarks were interspersed with dramatized interludes showing an air-raid warden visiting a family in his sector and giving them instructions. After the broadcast Maurice Wells, who played the part of the warden, made a speech to the wardens.
“Let’s stop kidding ourselves about token bombings,” he said. “They are going to be all-out bombings.”
The television sets in the police stations were lent for the purpose by three manufacturing companies, the General Electric Company, the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories and the R. C. A. Manufacturing Company.
At the 4 p. m. broadcast, four wardens—two men and two women—assembled on the top floor of the West Thirtieth Street police station. They listened intently and made notes. After the broadcast, Patrolman John J. Moran asked them questions from a prepared list. One concerned what to do with a horse and wagon left standing in the street during an air raid. The answer was to take the horse out of the shafts and tie it to a lamp post. One woman said she didn’t know how to unhitch a horse and thought the police should furnish a couple of horses so they could practice unhitching.
The broadcasts will continue on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. The next one will be about bombs. the third, blackouts; the fourth, gas warfare: the fifth, wardens’ duties, and the sixth will be a review of the course. (Herald Tribune, Feb. 24)

Listeners used both their senses of sight and sound better to understand President Roosevelt’s broadcast Monday night, with newspapers and other agencies furnishing maps of the Worlds war theaters which Mr. Roosevelt discussed geographically.
That audiences will be able in the future, after the war has ended and communications engineers can devote their attention to civilian work, to follow such programs completely via the airwaves was demonstrated as the President spoke.
New York television stations joined in the Monday night broadcast and carried not only Mr. Roosevelt’s words but simultaneously transmitted maps of various parts of the world as reference was made to them. It was the first time an attempt had been made to visualize the text of a presidential broadcast, originating in Washington, with material supplied from another source—the New York studios.
Both NBC’s television station, WNBT, and the CBS station, WCBW, transmitted maps to receivers, located throughout the New York City area, and WCBW preceded the President’s talk with a half-hour geography lesson, conducted by a narrator, and additional maps.
To enable its audience to concentrate more easily, television transmits only large outline maps.
If and when television spreads its wings across country, illustrated speeches will eventually become as common to the hinterlands as is dance music today. Furthermore, comedians will be able to force upon their entire television audience the acrobatics which now are used to provoke laughter among studio audiences and leave dialers cold. (Robert Gray, [Memphis] Commercial-Appeal, Feb 27)

Tuesday, February 24, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
10:30, 11:30, 3:00, 4:00, 8:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:30—“Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.
8:45—Blood Bank Award Presentations.
9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
9:30 to 11:00—Professional Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Dancing Lesson.
3:15—Children’s Story: “Sleeping Beauty.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Tamara, songs.
8:30—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
9:00—Red Cross program.
9:25 to 9:30—News summary [Times].
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
4:30 to 5:30—Film.
7:30—String trio, film.
8:30 to 9:30—Pickups from WNBT.
9:30 to 11:00—Ridgewood Grove (N. Y.) wrestling from WNBT.

Wednesday, February 25, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
10:30, 11:30, 3:00, 4:00, 8:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
8:30—“Thrills and Chills” with Doug Allan and Herman Bettinger.
9:00—Air Warden’s Basic Course, Lesson 1.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—“Table Talk.” Topic: “War Nerves” with Dr. C.W. Crampton, Dr. Gregory Zilboorg, Dr. Henry C. Link, Dr. George Stevenson, Denis McEvoy.
3:15—Children’s Story: “Sleeping Beauty.”
8:00—News.
8:10—Joan Edwards, songs.
8:25—Red Cross program.
8:35—Country Dance.
9:25 to 9:30—News summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
7:15 to 9:10—Dramas, films.
9:55 to 10:15—OEM drama.
10:15—News.

Thursday, February 26, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:30—Film: “Zorro Rides Again.”
8:50 to 9:45—Film: “Down Wyoming Trail” with Tex Ritter.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3:15—Children’s Story: “Sleeping Beauty.”
8:00—News.
8:15—Bob Edge, sports.
8:30—“Men at Work,” variety with the African Ballet Group; Angie Bond Trio; Hanly Hunt, tap dancer, Paul Gerrits, juggler; Lillian Nelson’s Boxing Cats; Tony Kraber, guitar.
9:25 to 9:30—News summary.
W2XWV (DuMont), New York, Channel 4
7:30 to 9:00—Tests and Selected films.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
3:30 to 4:30—New York test pattern.
7:45—Television Game.
8:00—Film short.
8:15—Glee Club.
8:30—Feature Film.
10:30—Sign off.

Friday, February 27, 1942
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30—News.
2:45—Film: “Our Monroe Doctrine.”
3:15—Children’s story: “Little Red Riding Hood.”
8:00—“The World This Week,” news with Linton Wells.
8:30—Sports with Bob Edge.
9:15—Red Cross Show: First Aid.
9:55 to 10:00—News summary.
WPTZ, Philadelphia, Channel 3
5:45—Philco Jr. Hour.
7:15—Our Future Admirals.
8:30—Film.
10:00—News.

EXAMINER Elmer W. Pratt recommends to Federal Radio Commission favorable action on applications of WJR, Detroit, and WGAR, Cleveland, for three experimental television stations to operate on the intermediate, low and ultra-high frequencies set aside for visual radio. Applications granted Feb. 27. (Broadcasting, Feb. 23)

Saturday, February 28, 1942
WNBT (NBC), New York, Channel 1
8:30 to 11:00—National A.A.U. Track Meet at Madison Square Garden.
WCBW (CBS), New York, Channel 2
2:30 to 4:30—Film: “This England.”

The war of the world will be brought into the homes of the several hundred television receiving set owners of this area by Tele Station W6XAO, owned by Thomas S. Lee, beginning next Saturday [28].
The station announced that it had scheduled programs on alternate Saturday nights from 8 to 9:30 o’clock which will present films by air of the war fronts of the world. Harry L. Lubcke, director of television for the Don Lee network, will conduct the telecast.
Future programs will also show demonstrations in first aid, incendiary bomb control, and other defense activities. (Hollywood Citizen-News, Feb. 21)