February 1933

A television tombstone went up at 485 Madison Avenue in February 1932.

Without warning, CBS shut off its transmitters and gave up on television until tests resumed at the end of the decade.

The company claimed it had experimented as much as it could. In a way, it was true. W2XAB was still spinning a wheel to send a signal, but the mechanical era of television was about dead. But it was also pumping all kinds of money into programming while not being allowed to advertise. Financially, that was deadly during the Depression.

Elsewhere in New York, the John Hogan station, W2XR, cut its broadcasting hours. Eventually, Hogan gave up television for FM radio. NBC’s W2XBS was still without sound and its experiments would soon be few and far between until the 1939 World’s Fair, when the cathode ray tube would bring television back to life in the city.

During February 1933, the most ambitious station was W9XAL in Kansas City, which broadcast live programming for a number of hours six days a week. A story in one local paper said it had signed on October 10, 1932. And Don Lee’s operations in Los Angeles continued to beam something to the handful of sets in the area.

After this post, we’ll conclude our attempt at providing regular schedules for television in the 1930s and jump to 1941, when NBC and the rest of the industry pushed to allow their stations to air commercials.

The New York Sun published schedules with hours of operation only, but the Kansas City Journal-Post gave a full run down of programming on W9XAL on most days. It appears viewers tuned in an hour of the Purdue University station, then watched CBS on the same frequency for another two hours. There is little about Chicago or the experimental station at the University of Kansas. The Sun printed an article on the station in Montreal, which we include, along with Billboard’s TV columns.

Wednesday, February 1, 1933

Several times during the last year I have had occasion to interview stage and screen stars over the radio, and each time that I have had some particularly charming actress in front of the microphone I have wished for television so our listeners could see the beauty of the person being interviewed. Now I get my wish. At 3:45 o’clock Wednesday afternoon [1] I’m going to interview Lita Grey Chaplin over KMBC and the television station W9XAL. Miss Chaplin, headlining the vaudeville show at the Main-street theater this week, will make a lovely subject for a television broadcast. She has promised to sing during the program. Radio listeners will have a pleasant fifteen minutes by tuning in on KMBC at 3:45 and persons owning television sets may see the “charming chanteuse” of the stage at the same time.
And at 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon [2] Art Jarrett, noted radio crooner now appearing at the Plantation Grill of the Hotel Muehlebach, will be interviewed over KMBC and Kansas City’s television station. Since he is recognized as the “handsomest man in radio,” I have been selected to do the interviewing just for the sake of contrast. (Lowell Lawrance, KC Journal-Post, Feb. 1)

Thursday, February 2, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
4:00—Art Jarrett, popular tenor, will appear in an interview with Lowell Lawrance, dramatic critic of the Journal Post. Jarrett will sing several popular hits. This program is to be presented over W9XAL and KMBC.

LAFAYETTE, Ind., Feb. 2.—After four years of experimentation and research, the first home demonstration of a new type of portable television receiving set developed at Purdue university under the direction of R. H. George, research associate of the Purdue engineering experiment station, was presented last night at the home of Prof. C. F. Harding, head of the Purdue school of electrical engineering.
The demonstration, attended by faculty members and business men, was a preview of a showing to be conducted tomorrow afternoon for engineers of the Radio Corporation of America, who are making a trip from the East especially to inspect the new development.
Tuned to Purdue Station.
The new receiver, which is reported to be a marked improvement over the types now on the market, was demonstrated by tuning in on the regular broadcast of motion pictures by the Purdue experimental television station, W9XG, at 9 o'clock last night [2]. Preceding the demonstration the set's operation and construction was explained by Prof. Handing and Mr. George.
Pictures materialized as the receiver was tuned in on the Purdue station, and the momentary ghostlike effect of the images was removed almost instantly by the sharpness and contrast of the pictures that moved across the "window" of the receiving set.
Price Range Low, Reports.
The new receiving set has reached the stage in its development where it is ready for commercial production at a price that will be within the range of the ordinary radio fan, its developers claim. Installation is as simple as hooking up a new radio set. The set is light and small enough to be conveniently portable, and all that is necessary is to plug the connection into a light socket and attach the ground wire. The set also can be operated successfully without use of an aerial, although an aerial is preferable, as it is on the ordinary radio set.
The development results from co-operative television experimental work carried on by Purdue and the Grigsby-Grunow Company of Chicago, which has included the construction of the television station W9XG. The station has been broadcasting regular biweekly programs since last March 29 and has numerous reports of successful reception within a radius of 800 miles. During the time the research work has been conducted, the Grigsby-Grunow Company has expended more than in financing the project.
Cathode Ray Employed.
The receiving set, which has been worked out by Mr. George, assisted by H. J. Heim, research assistant of the engineering experiment station, is different from other types. Instead of presenting the pictures in a red and black combination, as does the neon lamp type, the Purdue receiving set uses a cathode ray vacuum type of receiver that presents the picture in black and white like the ordinary halftone, making it possible, the engineers say, to obtain much sharper contrasts.
The set is adaptable to any residence and is not a laboratory instrument, for it can easily be installed and operated in any home.
Mr. George, who has directed the experimental and research work that has led to the development of the new receiver, was graduated from the Purdue school of engineering in 1922 and received his M. S. degree in 1927 after he had developed a cathode ray oscillograph that is now used widely in scientific laboratories in photographing lightning and high voltage. His development of the cathode ray led to the establishment of the television research in co-operation with the Grigsby-Grunow Company. (Indianapolis Star, Feb. 3)

Friday, February 3, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
6:30—Ed Cochrane’s Sports Chat, KMBC.

Saturday, February 4, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 a.m.—Sight Only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, sound KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30—Tex Owens, sound KMBC.
4:00—Sight Only.
4:30 to 4:45—Between the Bookends, Sound WLBF.
6:30—Sight Only.
8:00—Television Jubilee, Sound WLBF.

Progress is now being made toward the commercialization of television in Canada. The French newspaper La Presse in Montreal, which operates CKAC, has installed television apparatus with call letters VE9EC.
Sight and sound programs are being transmitted daily for lookers-in, and also for the purpose of determining the requirements for adapting the existing sound program to television presentations.
Demonstrations which have been held for the general public have proven that television in its present stage of development has a real, definite value as an entertainment medium for the home. This is the opinion of William Clavell, president of Canadian Television, Ltd., who contends that the demonstrations have shown that pictures of good detail can be received in the home under normal conditions, and that engineers have brought the art to a stage of development which will permit commercialization.
Study Program Technic.
It now remains, he believes, for the studio directors to present programs which are adapted to television and help to improve on sound technic. Our experience, he says, has shown that properly directed programs unquestionably possess entertainment value. As a matter of fact, there are many radio programs being presented today which can be greatly enhanced in entertainment value by television. On a number of occasions programs have been received with accompanying sound before audiences of a dozen or more persons. After allowing the program to be continued long enough to catch the interest of the audience the picture was purposely cut off the air while the sound was allowed to continue. Invariably the consensus of opinion was that the program became "flat" and lost a considerable part of its entertainment value.
The televisor used during the demonstration was similar to the one shown on this page. It employs a 60-hole lens disk with a movable screen. It will be observed that the external design differs radically from any other type of scanner known. The apparatus has been concentrated into a small space so that it can be placed alongside the sound receiver.
Technical Advances Slow.
"It is not to be assumed," warns Mr. Clavell, "that there are no further technical advances to be made in television development. There are many of those yet to come. Present indications are that these technical advances will be slow and that, tot some time at least they will take the form of improvements and refinements in the present equipment.
"It must be remembered that no Invention, no matter how revolutionary it may be, was commercialized in a perfected state. Even as simple a device as a bicycle was first sold in a very crude form. Today these early models look ridiculous, but at the time of their introduction they were a commercial article. When radio was first made available to the commercial market it had by no means reached its present stage of perfection.
"Television is now much further along the road to perfection than radio was in the days of the crystal wts, and we are confident that television in its present stage of development will be commercialized." (New York Sun, Feb. 4)

Gets W2XAB Good.
PHILIP JORDAN, Flushing, L. I.—During the last month I have been looking in on W2XAB’s programs as well as the films being broadcast by W2XR in New York. It was only during the middle of last December that I finished my six-tube receiver. My scanner is the peep-hole type. The disk has sixty holes. The motor is a universal type with an adjustable rheostat. For the last year I have always wanted to see what some of the artists looked like, and may I say that I was the most surprised person in the world after looking in for the first time. W2XR comes in well, but of late I have not seen him on the air. Evidently he has changed his hours of operation.
What Has Happened to W2XR?
L. MORKLAN, Woodhaven, L. I.—Of late I fail to see W2XR on the air. Have they shifted their wave or have they a new time schedule?
Reply—W2XR has cut down its time schedule and now is on the air daily except Sundays from 5 to 6 P. M. According to information from its engineers, the station may go on the air outside of its regular schedule period, but no set of fixed hours could be obtained. (New York Sun, Feb. 4)

Television
By Benn Hall
Let’s Add
Buffalo’s WBEN at Hotel Statler has applied for license for television experiments. Another one soon, I hope, to the flock.
Ray-O-Television Manufacturing Company plans to make 1,000 sets a day. Company is an outgrowth of the Ray-O-Vision Corporation of America. Plant is to be in Long Island City, N. Y., and employ about loo people. And there’s a report that laboratory, valued at $250,000, will be moved from Hollywood to Long Island.
Television Criticisms?

One of these nights, very soon, we are going to drop in at W2XAB unexpectedly and watch the entire two-hour program. I will review the show for the following week’s column — and judge it with television’s drawbacks and severe handicaps in mind, but just the same the review will be a criticism—somewhat similar to our regular radio, vaude, burly or legit criticisms. Should the feature prove successful, as well as practical, it may become a “regular.”
Suggestion for Backdrops
Recently we unexpectedly ran into one of New York’s most enthusiastic experimenters and he made a suggestion that sounds practical. The bashful being, he’s not an act, asked us to refrain from giving his name, but he’s a close follower of television. And he is particularly interested in the improvement of entertainment.
Suggested that backdrops contrast with performers. He thinks that blondes with a skyline background and brunets with a light background would furnish sharp contrast and lend greater interest to pictures.
Roses and Lemons Revue
The hand-picked rose of the month goes to W2XAB for its inauguration of improvements. With limited resources, at present, this station is doing all it can to develop real entertainment. Keep up the good work! And the hand-squeezed lemon goes to Mike Porter for that line of liii in a recent “Radio Guide.” Predicted that 1933 will see a “dumping of television on the market, whether it becomes practicable or not.” Porter is wrong. Television must grow slowly and trudgingly just as radio did. Crystal sets were not very “practicable” when we compare them with modern sets, Porter may mean that he is opposed to misleading representation in the sale of sets, but he states his case weakly.
Cats and Mice
Manufacturers are watching each other like cats and mice—not ready to scram or pounce on each other—but watching to see who will move first. And all are peeking out of the corners of their eyes at RCA. All waiting to see who will definitely announce a popular price set for general sale: one with some semblance of practicability.
Telling Visions
Clem Wade and Arthur Haugh, of Western Television, were in New York for extremely short stay. . . . More about their visit next week. . . . W8XP. . . . Goodwill Station, Inc., Pontiac, Mich., applies for extensions of time. . . . L. B. (Cold Light) Myers doing much experimenting in a field akin and directly related to television. . . . Light Beam. . . . The wedding bells should be pealing soon for a television set. . . . Eugene Marck and Lillie Mae West of W2XAB . . . the first (or is it the second?) television act I know of to be married . . . why not christen ‘em Mr. and Mrs. Television ??? And have a television celebration and I hear there’s to be a television wedding for them ??? And here’s luck to you!!! Baby Ruth Parkin . . . “Youngest and Oldest In Television” . . . one of the very youngest artists . . . formerly at Jenkins Station W2XCR. . . just a tot . . . but a veteran performer . . . member of Cheer Givers Club. furnishing entertainment at hospitals, etc. . . . G. H. Hanson, up in Maine, writes a letter of applause for W2XAB acts. . . . and now there’s a report that major film companies are inserting “television clauses.” . . . Lee Tracy’s contract specifies that he “will render services as actor in television either in connection with or independent of Photoplays.” . . . Another indication of the nearness of television. (Billboard, Feb. 4)

Sunday, February 5, 1933
Several regular KMBC features are being added to the television broadcasts, synchronized with experimental television station W9XAL. Tex Owens, popular cowboy yodeler, is to appear before the photo cells and the microphone each week day noon at 12:15 o’clock, immediately following John Cameron Swayze’s Journal-Post News Flashes which take the air by sight and sound at 12 noon. Uncle Ezra’s Ramblings will be synchronized with W9XAL at 10 o’clock Thursday mornings [9]. Beginning at 3 o’clock Monday [6], KMBC’s “First Timers” are to be given their auditions, to be seen as well as heard over the air for the first time, throughout the following week only.
These programs are presented in the studios of First National Television atop the Kansas City Power and Light building. (Kansas City Journal-Post, Feb. 5)

Week of Monday, February 6, 1933
W2XBS [NBC, New York], 2100 k. c. (143m.) transmits images only, from 2 to 5 P. M., Tues., Thurs. and Sat.; and from 7 to 9 P. M. Mon., Wed. and Fri.
W2XAB [CBS, New York], 2800 k. c. (107m.) transmits images with sound on same wave from 8 to 10 P. M. daily, except Sat. and Sun.
W2XR [Hogan/Radio Pictures, Long Island City], 1670 k. c. (179m.) transmits images only, from 5 to 6 P. M. daily, except Sun. and holidays.
W1XAV [Shortwave & Television Laboratories, Boston, 1640 k. c. (181m.) transmits images only, from 7 to 10 P. M. daily, except Sun. and holidays. Sound irregularly from W1XAU, on 1580 k. c.

Monday, February 6, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10 a.m.—Sight only.
12 p.m.—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
3 p.m.—First Timers, KMBC.
4 p.m.—Howard Neumiller, pianist, KMBC.
4:15 p.m.—Sight Only.
4:30—Between the Bookends, Ted Malone, KMBC.
6:30—Tap Dancing to Earl Hoffman’s Orchestra, KMBC.
6:45—Between the Bookends, Ted Malone, CBS.
8—Television Jubilee with Art Jarrett, WLBF.

Tuesday, February 7, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 a.m.—Sight Only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:00—Sight Only.
4:30 to 4:45—Between the Bookends, KMBC.
6:30—Sight Only.
6:45 to 7:00—Between the Bookends, CBS.
8:00—Television Jubilee, WLBF.
9:00—Those McCarty Girls, CBS.

Wednesday, February 8, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 a.m.—Sight Only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00—First Timers.
4:00—Howard Neumiller, KMBC.
4:15—Sight Only.
4:30 to 4:45—Between the Bookends, KMBC.
6:30—Juvenile Artists, KMBC.
6:45 to 7:00—Between the Bookends, CBS.
8:00—Television Jubilee, WLBF.

Thursday, February 9, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00—Uncle Ezra’s Ramblings, KMBC.
10:15—Sight Only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:15—First Timers.
4:00—Sight Only.
4:30 to 4:45—Between the Bookends, KMBC.
6:30—Boxing Exhibition.
6:45 to 7:00—Between the Bookends, CBS.
8:00—Television Jubilee, WLBF.

Friday, February 10, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00—Sight Only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:15—First Timers, KMBC.
4:00—Howard Neumiller, KMBC.
4:15—Sight Only.
4:30 to 4:45—Between the Bookends, KMBC.
6:30—Sight Only.
6:45 to 7:00—Between the Bookends, CBS.
8:00—Television Jubilee, WLBF.
9:00—Ed Cochrane's Sport Chat.

Saturday, February 11, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00—Sight Only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:15—First Timers, KMBC.
4:00—Sight Only.
4:30 to 4:45—Between the Bookends, KMBC.
6:30—Dancing to Meyer Davis’ orchestra, KMBC.
6:45—Sight Only.
8:00—Television Jubilee, WLBF.

Television station W9XG at Lafayette, Ind., is employing an improved method of modulation, which is said to maintain uniform signal intensity of the transmitted picture detail.
Transmission is carried out on 2,800 kilocycles or 107 meters from 7 to 8 P. M. and from 10 to 11 P. M. daily except Saturdays and holidays. Scanning is done at 60 lines 20 frames per second.
Experimenters are invited to tune in on the broadcasts and send in reports of reception. Signals from the station may be picked up with a cathode ray receiver arranged for automatic synchronization or a receiver of the scanning disk type using a 60-hold single spiral disk running at 1,200 r. p. m. (New York Sun, Feb. 11)

BUDDY JOHNSON, Brooklyn, N. Y.—I am the owner of a six tube receiver designed expressly for television. It employs two stages of tuned screen grid amplification using -35 type tubes together with a resistance coupled amplifier having a 250 in a single power stage. My screener is a 60 hole disc. At my location I get W2XR, W[2]XAB, W2XBD and at times W9XG.
Gets W2XAB Good.
ROCCO SCALLETTI, New Haven, Conn—After looking in for about one year I find my best stations are W2XBS, W2XAB and W1XAV. W2XR comes in fair.
My set consists of two stages of tunes r. f. amplification , power detector and two stages of resistance audio with two -45 power tubes in parallel. My lens disc is twenty-two inches in diameter and gives me fine pictures 24 inches by 24 inches. (NY Sun, Feb. 11)

Television
By Benn Hall
British Visitor
The faithful, welcome English Television. Once a month we look for it on the desk and it always means a newsy hour or so of good reading of European activities.
Highlights are: A questionnaire which should furnish some surprising answers. The replies, if properly compiled, should give a good statistical view of the television scene in Great Britain and will be of help to Americans. Should aid not only engineers but also program directors. Questions that will tell of fans’ likes and no-likees include: “How many people in your household look in?,” “How often?,” “What scenes come thru most successfully?” (Head and shoulders, semi-extended or full-length) and “What appeals to you most in the programs?”
Britain is becoming more critical as to type of artist selected. Television reports that the best talent of stage, radio and music hall may be picked.
Large black diamonds painted on artist’s fingers were seen better than actual rings.
War Office gave its okeh for Scots Guardsmen to appear and indicated that it would co-operate with television experimenters.
W9XAL Using “Flesh”
W9XAL, of Kansas City, Mo., is an up-and-coming televiz station. Now using “flesh” acts. Equipment furnished by the Western Television Corporation, of Chicago. Local dealers are featuring Western’s television receiving set, which retails at about $80.
More Improvements

Those engineering changes being made at W2XAB, New York, which I wrote of a few weeks ago, are still progressing.
Engineer Harry Spears has somewhat changed the present scanner to lessen the loss of light. A new “Super-Cinephor” lens takes the place of the old Cinephon lens. An elliptical reflector is being used instead of the old parabolic reflector. A much sharper picture in both the monitor and studio receiving set is the result. The sharp contrast of black and white is truly effective.
Kansas Active
Kansas State College at Manhattan, Kan., is going to experiment with flesh and blood performers. R. G. Kloeffler is gathering together much material on this phase of television and is particularly interested in the use of television makeup.
More Roxy
In the February issue of Hearst’s Cosmopolitan there is a symposium. Ten prominent people discuss “Will It Be All the Same 100 Years From Now?” H. G. Wells, Lincoln Steffens. Amelia Earhart, Alfred Adler, Stuart Chase, Bertrand Russell, Julian Huxley, Clabrielle Chanel, Frank Lloyd Wright and Roxy are the contributors. A historian, a modern educator, an economist, an architect and - a showman are among those who give their views of life on this particular planet a century hence.
But a century is too far away for Roxy. He lets it go at the three-quarters mark. Roxy visualizes a futuristic picture of the amusement world. He aces complete entertainment in the home, as well as athletic events of all kinds and flash news events, all thru the magic medium of television. But man is a gregarious creature, maintains Roxy, and so he will continue to go to the theater, but will take himself to a “modern” theater. That is, a “Roxy” theater. In his own modest terms,” . . . and it will make It possible to whisk the theatergoer away from the metropolitan areas to pointe where space will permit the erection of theaters with auditoriums of tremendous capacity.” Possibly a Soldiers’ Field, Yankee Stadium or Yale Bowl might do as an annex for some Of these playhouses. Piece, of course, was written before the Radio City theaters opened with their shows, and hence the obvious plug for Radio City. But let’s hope that Roxy’s really intelligent words about television’s future are of more earthly foundation than is visualization of the future cow pasture intimate theaters. And it such large houses should be built provisions might be made to change them overnight into dance halls, garages, bus terminals, car barns or warehouses for empty toothpaste cartons. (Billboard, Feb. 11)

Week of Monday, February 13, 1933
W2XR [Hogan/Radio Pictures, Long Island City], 1670 k. c. (179m.) transmits images only, from 4 to 6 P. M. daily, except Sun. and holidays. Sound from W2XAR on 1550 k. c. from 5 to 6 P. M.
W2XAB [CBS, New York], 2800 k. c. (107m.) transmits images with sound on same wave from 8 to 10 P. M. daily, except Sat. and holidays.
W2XBS [NBC, New York], 2100 k. c. (143m.) transmits images only, from 2 to 5 P. M., Tues., Thurs. and Sat.; and from 7 to 9 P. M. Mon., Wed. and Fri.
W1XAV [Shortwave & Television Laboratories, Boston, 1640 k. c. (181m.) transmits images only, from 7 to 10 P. M. daily, except Sun. and holidays. Sound irregularly from W1XAU, on 1580 k. c.
W2XAX [CBS, New York], 44 megacycles (6.9m.), transmits images only from 4 to 4:45 P. M. daily, except Saturday and holidays.
W9XG [Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.], 2800 k. c. (107m.), transmits images from 7 to 8 P. M, and from 10 to 11 P. M. daily, except Saturday and holidays.

Monday, February 13, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:15—First Timers, KMBC.
4:15—Sight Only.
4:30 to 4:45—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone, KMBC.
6:30—Earl Hoffman’s orchestra, KMBC.
6:45 to 7:00—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone, CBS.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette and Judy Conrad, pianist, WLBF.

Tuesday, February 14, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00—Sight only.
11:00—Sight only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
1:00—Sight only.
2:00—Sight only.
3:00—First Timers, KMBC.
4:00—Sight only.
4:30—Between the Bookends, Ted Malone, KMBC.
6:30—Sight only.
8:00—Television Jubilee. WLBF.

Wednesday, February 15, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00—Sight only.
11:00—Sight only.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
1:00—Sight only.
2:00—Sight only.
3:00—First Timers, KMBC.
4:00—June Rea of Red Nichols’ orchestra, KMBC.
4:15—Sight only.
4:30—Between the Bookends, Ted Malone, KMBC.
6:30—Sight only.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette and Judy Conrad, WLBF.

Talkies of the Air
Reviewed Wednesday, February 15, 8-10 p.m. Station—W2XAB, 60 lines, 20 frames (Jenkins receiving set used).
A bill of six acts, five flesh and one an emergency bit of fan mail-reading end Columbia’s moving sign announcement make up a typical experimental program. No acts are paid; all work gratis for experience, publicity, if and when, and “contacts.” Two paid people are Bill Schudt, regular television production director, and his engineer, Harry Spears. Program is a hybrid of radio and vaude with performers attempting to develop a technic suitable for television in its present condition. Dramatic, musical and fashion display constitute he bulk of the eve’s entertainment.
In opening spot for a 15-minute “hour” is George Kelting. He dues a number billed as the “Television Ghost.”
Attired with a small white towel, wrapped shroudlike around his head, and a creamed face, he gives a near-ghastly appearance. Material is slim, of the usual ghost and spook theme, but effective enough because of the gruesome make-up effects.
Grace Voss billed to hold down deuce spot did not appear. Ill.
In emergencies such as these Schudt often substitutes a moving sign, giving the station’s call letters and address, or a clock, or uses stills. Tonight he spent about four minutes reading fan mail, a stimulator for more similar epistles, and then filled in remainder of the time with the revolving ribbon.
Third comes Gladys Kahn In a “Millinery Fashion Review.” Miss Kahn has a happy television and radio personality and her brief, chatty description of fem fedora fashions Is a newsy bit. A real foretaste of what television will offer in the future, with latest fashion news coming right into the home.
Next, fourth, for a 45-minute marathon run cornea Senator Numb’s Television Variety Show. Here is a combo of vaude and radio material that carries much zest. Till several weeks ago George Haller produced a dramatic number weekly that lacked punch, fan interest, and was generally boring. His “comeback” with this revue is actually a pleasant event. Six people, three men and. Besides Halley, Prank Casson, Gertrude Boyen, Betty Granata, Rita Harrington and Joe Andrus. Combination gag patter and pop melody numbers. Material mediocre, but delivery good, with music decidedly surpassing chatter, Miss Rarrington’s Play, Fiddle, Play, and Joe Andrus’ vocalizations were the high spots of the number. Originally scheduled for a semi-hour spot, the act jumped to 45 minutes, replacing one on the “sick list.” On short notice, act did well. With a tightening up and brightening up of patter and new jokes the act will be better.
John Martel, billed for next place, did not appear. Ill.
Bert Millard doing Dramatic Moments next. In costume. Boy goes in for heavy dramatic stuff, works hard, but his obvious and annoying reading of script kills act. Only when televiz performers realize television differs from radio and lines should not be read should they attempt material of this sort.
Closing was the Three Musical Pastels, Martha Kovacs, Esther Jaffe and Gertrude Bartel. Miss Jaffe at cello and Miss Bartel at the ivories. A duet tonight instead of usual trio, Pleasing rendering of semi-classical and class numbers.
A fair bill, of the standard most easily comparable to the smaller radio stations. (Benn Hinn Billboard, Feb. 28)

FORREST DAVIS, veteran correspondent, reporter and feature writer, who has recently completed a comprehensive series of articles on Technocracy, will acquaint listeners-in with his views on the subject when he appears as guest speaker on “Bill Schudt’s Going to Press” program to be broadcast simultaneously over the WABC-Columbia network and television staton W2XAB on Wednesday [15] from 4:45 to 5 p.m. (Springfield News-Sun)

Demonstrating the advances being made in television reception, Barker Brothers are receiving television images three times a week from W6XS, the Don Lee television station. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 until 11 a.m. W6XS is on the air with a television program. These programs are received at Barker Brothers by means of the newest type of television set and the public is invited to keep in touch with this modern miracle of science by attending the broadcast at Barker Brothers. (Los Angeles Times, Feb. 15)

THE SERVICE of W6XAO, Don Lee System television station, Los Angeles, has been expanded to embrace three different wave lengths. The channels of 49.300 and 66.750 kc. have been added to the 44,500 kc. frequency. (Broadcasting, Feb. 15)

Saturday, February 18, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, KMBC.
12:15 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00—First Timers, KMBC.
6:40—Dorothy Lang, tap dancing.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette and Judy Conrad; Bill and Mary; Gaylord Bentley, WLBF.

Reception Improving
FRANCIS S. AUGENTI, Long Island City—Both sight and sound signala from W2XAB are being received in my location. The pictures as seen on a 10 by 10 inch screen are as good as any one would desire, due, perhaps, to my receiver and location.
Two separate sets are employed, one an eight-tube set with a 250 output for vision and the other a six tube set with a shingle 45 output for sound. Both sets are connected to the same aerial, the tuning of one set acting as a good station selector for the other set, thus obtaining ideal results.
Although W2XAB is using the same wave channel for both sight and sound, tuning is very simple. The picture signals are tuned in like that of any local broadcast station, but the sound needs careful manipulation of the dial, similar to that of tuning in a DX station, but minus the annoying static.
To those who have been satisfied with mere picture reception, allow me to state that they are missing the best part of the program by not endeavoring to get the sound. There would be more of a thrill if W9XG in Indiana would add sound to its picture program so that the movies sent from that station could talk.
Interested in Vision.
FRANK PHILLIPS, Hartford, Conn.—I have been reading the articles on television published on Saturdays in your radio section and have become interested. In last week’s section mention was made of two new television broadcasters, one in Kansas City and the other in Montreal, Canada. As I understand it, both of these stations are equipped with a system developed by engineers of the Western Television Corporation. Can an explanation be given of the difference between the system as used in these stations and that used by W2XAB and W2XBS?
Reply — Both stations mentioned above employ different systems, yet both use the disk for scanning. The station in Montreal employs a system similar to that used by W2XBS and W2XAB. The scanner consists of a single spiral disk having sixty holes, driven at a speed of 1,200 r. p. m., or twenty frames per second. With the Western Television system a disk with three spirals is used, containing fifteen holes in each spiral, making a total of forty-five holes. The disk is driven at 900 r. p. m., or fifteen frames per second. (New York Sun, Feb. 18)

A new television receiver for the reception of television images as broadcast by television stations employing 45-line scanners and one which incorporates a number of unique features was shown recently by officials of the Western Television Corporation of Chicago, Ill.
One striking feature of the scanner is the method of driving and synchronizing the speed of the scanning disk. The synchronous drive, which consists of a novel arrangement of the armature and coils, are all assembled on a shaft. The shaft is made long enough so it protrudes through to the front of the panel. Turning the shaft to the left frames the picture horizontally and by turning the shaft to the right frames the picture vertically.
The motor has no other rheostats or speed controls and is designed for operation on 110 colts 60 cycles. It turns up 900 r. p. m. A simple switch turns it on or off.
The eight-inch disk is of the triple spiral type, having fifteen holes in each spiral, making forty-five holes in the complete disk. It can only be using for operation with transmitters employing forty-five line scanning. The receiver is an eight tube superheterodyne designed expressly for the reception of television images, and employs the latest type tubes. (NY Sun, Feb. 18)

Television
By Benn Hall
Clem Wade In New York
From out of the West came two television men. Clem Wade and Arthur Haugh. Wade is president of the Western Television Corporation, of Chicago, and Haugh is one of his associates. Company has furnished many stations thruout the West and Middle West and one each in Canada and Mexico with broadcasting apparatus.
Their latest receiving set, the Echo-phone, sells for about $80. I saw the set when Wade and Haugh were in New York a short while ago, but unfortunately I could not see it in operation as it is a 45-line set, and broadcasting stations in the New York vicinity are operating on 60 lines. Western Television has much territory sewed up on the 45-line Idea, but in the East 60 lines and more are in favor.
“Flesh” Popular
Both Wade and Haugh have interesting ideas on television—particularly the entertainment angles. At their Chicago station both “flesh” and picture acts are used. Pix are stills of movie “names.” Wade believes that “flesh” will be a dominating factor, for the nest few years at least, in television entertainment. As readers may know by this time, it is my personal opinion that eventually films will be the mainstay of televiz, because of lower costs, mechanical practicability and ease of duplication. Tins of reels can be easily shipped, just as films are shipped to exhibitors and e. t.’s are delivered to radio stations today.
Wade, however, is a full-fledged “flesh” booster and believes that the legit stage and vaude are almost on the crest of an incoming wave and will soon be back in popular favor.
He also thinks that television will transmit many “in-the-flesh” performances. Radio stars, Wade says, will be popular as television players. He feels that the radio fan is anxious to actually see the entertainers of the ether world—he cites flaring b.-o. figures when radio “names” make personal appearances—as concrete proof of his contention.
At Western’s own Chicago television station Wade told me that performers work without makeup. Approximately one-third of Western’s programs are closeups, with the remaining two-thirds full pictures.
Western’s new receiving set, the Echophone, as remarked before, is a 45-line set and gives a picture about four inches square. The set can be adjusted to project a larger picture on a wall. Wade’s company seems to have great faith in the 45-line system, and there is a possibility that an Eastern station may change from a higher number of lines to 45 lines.
Both Wade and Haugh are tremendously optimistic concerning television’s future and feel sure that acts such as the Echophone will attract many mechanically minded folks to television and will foster an awakening interest in this new entertainment. Sale of sets is reported as satisfactory. A practical tie-up with local retail dealers may help sales. In Kansas City, Mo., where W9XAL, a Western-equipped station, operates, many local dealers are featuring the Echophone and local newspaper publicity is making the natives “television-conscious.”
Canada Active
Canada, which has been comparatively inactive in television, now has another station. The French newspaper, La Presse, which operates CKAC, now has a television station, VE9EC, Canadian Television, Ltd., has a 60-line set on the market. William Clavell, the company prez, looks for an early commercialization of television.
From Maine to West Coast
G. H. Hanson, the Maine experimenter, tells me a bit of exciting news. Reports that on February 5 he picked up W6XS, the Don Lee station in California. As he says, “ . . . quite a long haul . . . successfully received announcements. testing tone and close-up images.”
Telling Visions
Marion Harwick, who dances over W2XAB, is showing steady improvement . . . and in spite of handicaps . . . produces an entertaining dance act. . . Harrietta Downs, “The Girl With the Musical Teeth,” does a novelty bit that’s getting much favorable attention . . . imitates a violin end other stringed instruments with her throat . . . a hotcha damsel with something to offer who sells the goods s expected that Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith, ex-vice-prez of RCA, who resigned to head his own consulting bureau, is plenty concerned with television. . . . Jenkins in receivership . . . William S. Bergland, of Wilmington, and Leslie S. Gordon, of Ridgewood, N. J., were appointed receivers of Jenkins Television Corporation, a Delaware concern. . . . John F. Krieger, of New York . . a creditor for $7,899.08 . . . filed bill asking for appointment. . . . His bill stated assets of company, almost entirely patent rights, are estimated at $300,000 . . . and outstanding debts total more than $380,000. . . . Company later filed answer admitting all points. . . . Abraham & Strans, Brooklyn department store, had recent radio show. . . . One sole televiz set . . . by ita lonesome . . . offered a picture which a shy clerk said “. . . was about an inch square . . .” . . . Fair radio show but poor on television. . . . W2XAB inaugurated early bird teats Sunday . . . at 6 in the morning . . . for benefit of West Coast fans. (Billboard, Feb. 18)

Week of Monday, February 20, 1933
W2XR [Hogan/Radio Pictures, Long Island City], 1670 k. c. (179m.) transmits images only, from 4 to 6 P. M. daily, except Sun. and holidays. Sound from W2XAR on 1550 k. c. from 5 to 6 P. M.
W2XAB [CBS, New York], 2800 k. c. (107m.) transmits images with sound on same wave from 8 to 10 P. M. daily, except Sat. and holidays.
W2XBS [NBC, New York], 2100 k. c. (143m.) transmits images only, from 2 to 5 P. M., Tues., Thurs. and Sat.; and from 7 to 9 P. M. Mon., Wed. and Fri.
W1XAV [Shortwave & Television Laboratories, Boston, 1640 k. c. (181m.) transmits images only, from 7 to 10 P. M. daily, except Sun. and holidays. Sound irregularly from W1XAU, on 1580 k. c.
W2XAX [CBS, New York], 44 megacycles (6.9m.), transmits images only from 4 to 4:45 P. M. daily, except Saturday and holidays.
W9XG [Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.], 2800 k. c. (107m.), transmits images from 7 to 8 P. M, and from 10 to 11 P. M. daily, except Saturday and holidays.

Monday, February 20, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12 p.m.—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3 p.m.—First Timers, KMBC.
3:30 p.m.—Buddy Rogers interviewed by Lowell Lawrence, dramatic critic of the Journal-Post, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, Ted Malone, KMBC.
8—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, Judy Conrad, WLBF.

Los Angeles, Feb 20. Changing the home radio set into a television receiver now costs only $20 here. A couple of radio supply stores are in the business of making scanning discs.
Scanners, dependent on the material, range from $5 to $10. Plus $4 for a plate light and around $10 to $20 for a synchronous motor, one can get the sight and hear stuff for as low as two sawbucks.
Scanning discs are made to catch the Don Lee daily television broadcasts, which are the only see and hear broadcasts currently on the coast (Variety, Feb. 21)

Tuesday, February 21, 1933
BAD NEWS! That’s what struck Columbia yesterday [21] . . . with the final abandonment of its television department and a clean out in its artists’, announcers’, technical and office staffs. It was estimated that between eleven and twenty hands fell on the depression block.
Among the mike personalities who departed are Announcers John Mayo, Mark Cassidy and Carlyle Stevens . . . Singer Ben Alley and Helen Nugent.
Bill Schudt, Jr., who was director of television, has been transferred to Charlotte, N.C C., to take charge of the CBS WBT station down there. There’ll be no more sight-sound broadcasts sent from Madison Avenue. “Commercial unfeasible,” is the explanation. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Feb. 22)

Tuesday, February 21, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00—First Timers, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone, KMBC.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, Doris Bicknell and Kitty Evers, WLBF.
9:15—First television wedding, the Rev. Earl Blackman officiating, KMBC.

The first television wedding in the world was broadcast to Kansas City at 9:30 Tuesday night when Miss Effie Tait, of Waldron, Ark., and O. E. Little, radio operator at Leavenworth, Kas., were married in the studios of W9XAL, First National Television, Inc., in the Kansas City Power and Light building. The Rev. Earl A. Blackman, director of the Kansas City Youth Forum, officiated.
Before the wedding Miss Ruth Armstrong, 1708 Kensington avenue, contralto, accompanied by Judy Conrad, pianist, and Emil Chaquotte, violinist, both of Sni-a-Bar Gardens, sang, “Oh, Promise Me.”
As the soloist stepped from the microphone, the bride and groom walked onto the stage in the studios of W9XAL, while almost a mile away in the studios of KMBC in the Pickwick hotel, the “Wedding March” from Lohengrin was played The television picture was broadcast from W9XAL.
Miss Taft wore a gown of black lace and carried a bouquet of tea roses. Both she and Mr. Little wore the black and red makeup required for the picture.
Outside the studio a crowd watched the wedding from the reception room, where a combination, television and radio set was located. The bride and groom, with Mr. Blackman and the ring bearer, Miss Betty Brooke, 4312 Madison Street, could be seen on the picture, although at times it was necessary to shift the apparatus slightly to include the entire group. (KC Journal-Post, Feb. 22)

Wednesday, February 22, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00—First Timers, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone, KMBC.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, Judy Conrad and Ruth Armstrong, WLBF.

Thursday, February 23, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00—Uncle Ezra’s Ramblings, KMBC.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00—First Timers, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone, KMBC.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, Larry Gore and the Rhythm Sweeties, WLBF.

SUSPENSION of television activities of CBS, and appointment of William A. Schudt, Jr. as manager of WBT, Charlotte, N. C., key of the Dixie Network, were announced Feb. 23 from CBS headquarters in New York. Mr. Schudt has been television program director of CBS since its experimental station, W2XAB, was established a year and a half ago. Plans of Earl J. Gluck, former manager of WBT, were not made known. Mr. Schudt's "Going to Press" period will hereafter be conducted by J. G. Gude of the press relations department.
Edwin K. Cohan, CBS technical director, declared that operation under present facilities offers little opportunity to further contribution to television, but added that the suspension is temporary. "It is our intention," he said, "to resume our experimental transmissions as soon as we are sufficiently satisfied that advanced equipment of broadcaster scope can be installed." (Broadcasting, Mar. 1)

Saturday, February 25, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:30 p.m.—First Timers, KMBC.
6:30 to 6:35 p.m.—Kansas City Bar Association presenting Floyd E. Jacobs, speaker, KMBC.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, Judy Conrad, Mickey and Margie, WLBF.

NEW YORK, Feb. 25.—Retrenchment policy, presumably to guard against a possible lean summer, was put into effect this week by orders of William S. Paley, president of the Columbia Broadcasting System. More than $1,000 weekly will be saved the company on the proposition that the artists that are being let out would probably not be sold for a commercial and the potential profits in commissions and sale of time would not materialize. First to feel the ax, however, was the CBS television station W2XAB, from which plant television and broadcasting was temporarily suspended after a year and a half of experimentation. The station, under the guidance of Bill Schudt, program director, had operated more than 2,500 hours since it was auspiciously opened, and in the opinion of Edwin K. Cohan, CBS technical director, the disbanded station offers little opportunity now for further contribution to television.
Station was originally established so that CBS could experience the practical methods in the event television “arrived.” After a good many hours of experimentation, CBS now feels that it has a fairly good idea of whist it is all about and will consequently be prepared for its “arrival.” Bill Schudt, the former program director who doubled in brass as a regular radio announcer and as a member of the publicity department, was transferred to Station WBT, Charlotte, N. C., key outlet to the CBS Dixie network, of which he has been appointed manager.
Sustaining program artists whose contracts were canceled by CBS taking advantage of the six-week cancellation clause in favor of the broadcaster are Vaughn De Leath; the Funnyboners, singing and comedy trio; Helen Nugent, Ben Alley, Artels Dixon and William Hall. First and last mentioned artists are already off the network by a special arrangement. In the meantime the CBS artists’ bureau is endeavoring to sell the canceled artists before they leave if it is at all possible to grab a commercial for them. Most of the cancellations will become effective April 1. Others considered of minor importance were also let out, particularly the Misses Singleton and Blauman, the former having to do with sustaining programs and the latter of the music department. Other departments were also hit.
Usual minimum guarantee of salary for CBS sustaining artists is $100 weekly, unless sold for a commercial for a sum exceeding this amount, when the artist then pays the artists’ bureau a commission agreed upon, usually 15 per cent. Thus $600 weekly is saved by letting out the six sustaining acts, while the television outfit also saves about three salaries and a considerable bill for electricity.
The way is now clear for suitable artists who want a hearing on the air to get it quickly provided they wish to do it for nothing. It is understood that the CBS sustaining policy in many cases will now be in the form of offering “Opportunity” to newcomers and others who have possibilities. None of the high sustainings were let out, the contracts being different for one thing and another excellent reason is that the artists’ bureau must have some good talent around when seeded.
For the average artist seeking to make his or her way on the air even when of proven ability, the way now seems to have really gotten tougher than any of them ever dreamed. (Billboard, Mar. 4)

Peculiarities of television that have led to extensive changes in broadcasting schedules were revealed today Harry R. Lubcke, television engineer for the Don Lee system.
Lubcke said that a recent 25-hour continuous broadcast, in which receiving stations submitted reports to station W6XS here on the best periods of reception, showed that generally the most satisfactory periods were between 11 a. m. and 4 p. m.
Up to medium distances, such as San Francisco,” Lubcke concluded, “the bets period was in the evening and a greater distances, such as El Paso, Minneapolis and the Atlantic seaboard, the time zone most satisfactory was between 1 and 3 a.m. PST.”
While day1ight proved a better time in which to receive television signals than night as far as the immediate area about Los Angeles was concerned, at distances, night was found to be far more satisfactory than day time. The test was received at numerous points along the Pacific coast, Eastern points of reception were Salt Lake City, El Paso, Minneapolis and Houlton, Maine. (Hollywood Citizen-News, Feb. 25)

CHICAGO, Feb. 25. — If plans now under consideration are successfully completed, one of the most progressive steps made in visual broadcasting, and which may advance the science of television to a step until recently considered removed from probability, will be made by U. A. Sanabria and associates at the coming Century of Progress.
It is proposed to transmit leading events of the exposition, as they transpire, to a theater located on the grounds. Inasmuch as these events would include athletic contests and others involving great areas and thousands of persons, it is obvious that an entirely new mechanical aspect must be obtained. This development has been perfected by the Sanabria staff, Mr. Sanabria states, and he predicts its first public demonstration will prove a revelation.
For what is claimed to be the first time in history an adequate and comprehensive use of television and especially of the direct pick-up system of transmission, as contrasted with the indirect system used in prior television demonstrations, will be mode. Under the direct system the transmitting apparatus will lend itself to pickup and transmission of an infinitely greater variety of scenes and events than were possible under all existing systems.
Because of the portability of the proposed apparatus, every play of a football game, the interest and motion of the spectators, even in a stadium the size of Soldier Field, will be transmitted with photographic clearness, it is claimed. Night scenes, great stage performances and large mass gatherings will be accessible to the improved “eye” of this television transmitter.
Then entire apparatus will be installed on its own platform and can be hauled to the scenes of the proposed broadcast and set hurriedly in position. In a football game, for example, it will be possible to have this platform moved up and down the sidelines to follow the movements of the team.
With this improvement in technique and adaptability the potentialities of television will finally be coming into an adequate realization, Sanabria predicts. (Billboard, Mar. 4)

Saturday, February 25, 1933
Television Schedule For the Coming Week
W2XR, 1,670 k. c. (179m.), transmits images only from 4 to 6 P. M daily, except Saturdays and holidays Sound from W2XAR on 1,550 k. c. from 5 to 6 P. M.
W2XBS, 2,100 k. c. (143m.), transmits images only from 2 to 5 P. M. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and from 7 to 9 P. M. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
W1XAV, 1,640 k. c. (181m.), transmits images, only from 7 to 10 P. M. daily, except Sundays and holidays. Sound irregularly from W1XAU on 1,550 k. c.
W9XG, 2,800 k. c. (107m.) transmits motion pictures on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 to 2:45 P. M.; 6:00 to 6:45 P. M. and from 9:00 to 9:45 P. M. Central standard time. Special programs also are broadcast at irregular Intervals.

W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:30 p.m.—First Timers, KMBC.
6:30 to 6:35 p.m.—Kansas City Bar Association presenting Floyd E. Jacobs, speaker, KMBC.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, Judy Conrad, Mickey and Margie, WLBF.

The legal profession encompasses the wide realm of human relationship, Floyd E. Jacobs, lawyer, told a radio audience Saturday night [25] in an address over KMBC, under the auspices of the Kansas City Bar association.
It was a television address under the supervision of the First National Television corporation. The subject was “The Bar and the People.”
“Laymen sometimes complain,” said Mr. Jacobs, “of the seeming mutability of the law, of its slow response to the demands for change. My friends, the law has never been a weather vane to change with every passing wind. If it were, the stability of human relationship, the safety which comes from orderly society would be destroyed. You may be assured that the law moves and changes and develops, but never hysterically.
“The law not only marches with the race but furnishes the ramparts which shelter the forces of lawful and orderly society. We, who are lawyers, realize our shortcomings—frailties which are the frailties of human beings and not that of the law. That jealous mistress never succumbs to the temptations which sometimes overcome her devotees. (KC Journal-Post, Feb. 26)

Test broadcasts by television station W9XC at Lafayette, Ind., are being carried out on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 2:45 P. M., 6 to 6:45 P. M. and from 9 to 9:45 P. M , Central standard time. The wave used is 2,800 kilocycles or 107 meters. Special programs also are broadcast at irregular intervals. Standard motion picture films, principally news reels, are used during all broadcasts. Special titles and station announcements have been prepared and are used to supplement those which were originally used in the films.
The first purpose of the station When built was to provide high-Class signals necessary for the development of a cathode ray tube type receiver. According to H. J. Heim, research engineer of the station, it is now providing a secondary service, the broadcasting of regular programs of good quality for the benefit of fans and so contributing to the development of television in general. Consistent and high quality reception, he says, is being maintained within a radius of 600 miles of the transmitter. (New York Sun, Feb. 25)

Sunday, February 26, 1933
Looking in on KMBC [W6XAL stars] via a typewriter: [...]
Ted Malone (Alden Russel) became continuity director when only 20 years of age. He looked like a kid and in a campaign to command respect he changed his appearance by tacking on a mustache and adopting the name “Ted Malone.” [...]
Ted Malone has been appointed production manager of KMBC, in addition to his former job of continuity director. He will have charge of production of all plays and skits.
In a friendly tussle the other day Tex Owens threw Harry Strandhager out of the studio. They’re thinking of turning Harry’s “Keeping Fit” classes over to Tex, but they can’t turn Owen’s [sic] yodeling program over to Harry because everyone doubts if he can yodel. That is, everyone but Harry. [...]
The teaching professional has contributed to KMBC’s staff. Everett Kemp (Uncle Ezra) is a veteran of the classrooms of a northeast Kansas school, the Aurora, Ill., high school, a southern California college and Culver Military academy. (John Cameron Swayze ‘Broadcasting’ column, KC Journal Post, Feb. 26)

Rose Nutter, formerly associated with Harry K. Gillman, program director of WGN, Chicago, has been placed in charge of the audition department of First National Television, Inc.
She will assist both amateurs and professionals in television and radio technique.
Judy Conrad, in charge of musical arrangements at First National, will assist Miss Nutter with the auditions, which are given each afternoon. (KC Journal-Post, Feb. 26)

Monday, February 27, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:30 p.m.—First Timers, KMBC.
4:30 to 4:45 p.m.—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, violinist, and Gladys Schnorf, pianist, WLBF.

Tuesday, February 28, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15 to 12:30 p.m.—Tex Owens, KMBC.
3:00 to 3:30 p.m.—First Timers, KMBC.
4:30 to 4:45 p.m.—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Television Jubilee with Emile Chaquette, violinist, Judy Conrad, pianist, and Bill and Mary, WLBF.

January 1933

Before Walter Cronkite, before Huntley and Brinkley, before Douglas Edwards, there was John Cameron Swayze.

You may be thinking “Didn’t Doug Edwards anchor the evening TV news on CBS before Swayze did the same thing on NBC?” You’d be right. But that wasn’t Swayze’s debut on television.

Swayze was a radio news anchor on KMBC in Kansas City and the broadcasting columnist for the Kansas City Journal. The city had a television station called W9XAL that had signed on in late 1932 with periodic broadcasts that seem to have consisted of three-minute interviews. The station began daily programming on Monday, January 23, 1933. The following day, a noon-hour TV newscast debuted. It was anchored by John Cameron Swayze.

W9XAL didn’t have a lot of programming. But it was live, which is more than could be said about almost every other station on the air in the U.S. at the start of 1933. The exception was the CBS operations in New York, and they would go silent in weeks.

Among the other stars at W9XAL was organist Hugh Studebaker, who became a radio actor in Chicago and played a black dialect character on Fibber McGee and Molly. Studebaker provided background accompaniment for a programme of poetry by Ted Malone, who later moved to CBS then ABC radio. Swayze was on the air from noon to 12:15, Malone from 4:30 to 4:45, while silent shows aired from 10 to 10:30 a.m., 4 to 4:30 and 8 to 8:30. For a couple of Tuesday evenings, a girls singing group was beamed out for 15 minutes.

There was one problem with the station. Unless you got your electricity from Kansas City Power and Light, the TV sets being sold in the city wouldn't work.

New York City started the year with three stations, but little media coverage. The New York Sun had stopped listing individual TV programmes and, instead, provided hours of operation in its Saturday radio column along with technical information and diagrams for the tele-curious who wanted to build their own sets. There are some DX reports as well. Here’s the schedule, as of Saturday, Jan. 9th:

Saturdays
W2XBS, NBC, New York, 143 meters (No sound)
2:00-5:00—Experimental programs.

W1XAV, Boston, 179 meters (Sound on W1XAU, 193 meters)
8:00-9:00—Experimental programs. 9:00-10:00—Sketch.

W2XAB, W2XAX, W2XR off the air

Sundays
New York, Boston and Los Angeles stations off the air.

Mondays
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 107 meters
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XAX (CBS), New York, 6.9 metres (no sound)
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.

W2XBS (NBC), New York (No sound)
7:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City 179 meters (sound on W2XAR, 193 meters)
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.

W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

Tuesdays
W2XAB (CBS), New York
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.

W2XBS (NBC), New York
2:00-5:00—Experimental programs.

W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.

W1XAV, Boston
8:00-11:00—Experimental programs.

Wednesdays
W2XAB (CBS), New York
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.

W2XBS (NBC), New York
7:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.

Thursdays

W2XAB (CBS), New York
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.

W2XBS (NBC), New York
2:00-5:00—Experimental programs.

W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental images.

W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.

Fridays
W2XAB (CBS), New York
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XAX (CBS), New York
4:00-4:45—Experimental programs.

W2XNS (NBC), New York
7:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W1XAV, Boston
8:00-10:00—Experimental programs.

W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island City
5:00—Experimental programs. 7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Film with sound. 9:00—Cartoons.

Some listings for John Hogan’s W2XR simply say “5:00—Experimental programs.”

There were other developments in the Midwest. The station at the University of Kansas tried to improve its signal, while the University of Illinois promised to send visual signals over its amateur radio station. And there was talk of television in Spokane, though the city's first station didn't go on the air until the end of 1952.

Here are some clippings from the industry for the first month of 1933. The poor photocopies of the CBS television stars come from the Sun.

Sunday, January 1, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
8:30 to 8:33—First National Television.

Monday, January 2, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
9:30 to 9:33—Television interview.

Plans for bringing television into Spokane as soon as it becomes practical now are taking definite shape.
Station KFPY will complete the remodeling of its studios in the Symons building within two weeks, including in the alterations arrangements for handling television. Plans at the station call for the ability to originate and rebroadcast any such programs as may be made available as television advances.
The approximate date when such broadcasts will be feasible can not even be suggest at this time. Shortly after the first of the year, regular television broadcasts will emanate from the Don Lee chain stations in Los Angeles. As soon as practical, the facilities will be extended into the northwest.
Frank W. Prince of the Spokane Radio company and recognized as technical radio and television authority, gives a graphic picture of television in its present form.
“Television definitely is to be the next entertainment in the home,” said Mr. Prince. “Just how son it will become practical, both for commercial broadcasting and reception in the home, can not be guessed at this time. It may come within a year, perhaps before five or 10 years. No one can say.
“The technical development of television is advancing as rapidly as appropriations for such study are being made available. Prices for sets for both broadcasting and receiving still are high, These will have to be reduced for general use. Simple subjects now are being presented. More work is necessary in this field, for the television must be cleared up.
“Under the terms of the federal radio commission, no advertising now is to be allowed on television broadcasts. How the cost of programs will be met when such development warrants the commercial broadcasting of television entertainment yet must be determined. (Spokane Chronicle, Jan. 2)

Tuesday, January 3, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 to 10:03—Television interview.

The television artist at W2XAB had finished her act. Bill Schudt, the announcer, made the usual sign off and gave the cue which is the same as used on the air by WABC. “This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.”
When the new artist heard this cue she thought all was over because that is how it sounds on the average radio receiver. So she signed and calmly said into the nearest microphone:
“Whoopee. Was that an ordeal for me. Bet they thought I was some kind of an animal act. . . .” (Brooklyn Eagle, Jan. 3)

Wednesday, January 4, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
9:00 to 9:03—Television interview.

The cause of aviation received another boost yesterday afternoon [4] when Garth Cate of the executive staff of The Eagle spoke over the entire facilities of the Columbia Broadcasting System, which included a coast-to-coast hookup, short wave (world wide in reach) and television (W2XAB).
Facing the photelectric cells in the television studio, he told lookers and listeners-in of his latest flying trip to the coast and back. In referring to his Arizona vacation he told of the new 16-mile scenic highway to the thirteen thousand foot summit of the San Francisco peaks near Flagstaff and also related how Arizona’s famous Natural Bridge built itself.
Californians who heard him should have been pleased with his comments on the “unimaginable transfiguration of the Western sky” as he soared above San Francisco By at sunset time. (Brooklyn Eagle, Jan. 5)

Thursday, January 5, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 to 10:03—Television interview.

Friday, January 6, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
8:15 to 8:18—First National Television.

Saturday, January 7, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
9:00 to 9:03—First National Television.

Television
By Benn Hall
Movies and Television
In the excitement of reading last week’s special issue of The Billboard, and looking again and again at those excellent pictures of Wirth & Hamid’s attractions, some of my flock may have failed to have spotted the letter in The Forum from a movie-house operator in Texas, Blanche Schuyler. Miss Schuyler’s letter deserves, I think, special emphasis—and for that reason I am running the risk of duplication. She says, in part: “. . . My conviction is that when television is perfected in color and size—and the equipment sold at a reasonable price—if the motion picture interests do not secure the monopoly talking pictures in theaters will be ancient history. . . .Because when the public can sit at home and see a good show for nothing the reduced attendance will cut clown the profits of the average exhibitor to practically nothing, as his expenses during the past have been from 50 to 85 per cent of the gross receipts.” Miss Schuyler adds that she has been a m. p. exhibitor for 15 years and that she feels that televiz will seriously and adversely affect show biz.
Miss Schuyler is, I think, partly right. Television will keep many away from theaters, particularly film houses. But movie magnates are not so intensely stupid when it comes to new inventions. For example, RCA with its host of affiliated companies is doing a tremendous amount of experimentation—without ballyhoo and behind tightly locked portals—NBC and RKO-Radio Pictures will benefit. Other film companies are television-minded, and are investigating this new field. I think, without doubt, that television will be a part—a major portion of many film companies’ activities. Television will not kill the film footage firms, but it will seriously affect attendance. Exhibitors, indie as well as chains, will feel the inroads that television will make on their box-office lines. Altho televiz will widen the range of picture houses’ activities by making sports and other news events regular attractions just as they are occurring, television will also make every home a potential Tom Thumb movie palace. And others have expressed their belief that television will enable many folks thruout the country to see stage productions—legit, vaude et al.—and special picture presentations. But I think that while television will never entirely eliminate the theater, it will, even after its novelty has lost its dazzling brilliance and freak aspect and television becomes an accepted “household necessity,” materially lower attendance and eventually result in the elimination of many movie houses.
And quite apropos of Miss Schuyler’s letter was a recent talk by Robert Robins, secretary of the American Society for the Protection of Motion Picture Theaters. Robins contended that television is a competitor to movies, altho still “far off,” and he suggested that movie people begin to protect themselves against its possible inroads.
Roses and Lemons Revue
Again the awards—the Hand-Plucked Rose and the Hand-Squeezed Lemon to the fairest and foulest in television. I toss a rose to Orrin E. Dunlap, radio ed. of The New York Times, for those shrewd lines of his in that television article Sunday. In part: “. . . The denizens of research have been busy on many things and have been more faithful to ideas which on the surface seemed insignificant. The depression has afforded an opportunity to delve deeper into the heart of science. They have learned much. When the time is opportune they will announce new electrical wonders. . . . Television rests on a firmer foundation than at the beginning of 1932. . . . Television needs more intense illumination on the screen and more brilliancy from the economic angle.” And the Lemon is flung at those phony fly-by-nights, ready to spring into action, that will try to sell worthless stock, as well as worthless sets, to a gullible public that is fascinated by the magic and mystic term—Television.
Telling Visions
At W2XAB. . . . One of the best televiz singers . . . I’ve heard in a long, long while is Thomas Connors . . . has done plenty musical, vaude, radio and concert work. . . . In Desert Song, Loew and Fox time vaude, and just entered concert field. . . . Debut at Barbizon-Plaza . . . on television, a splendid voice; rich, warm and with an indefinable radio and television personality. . . . Muriel Asche . . . producer of entertaining kiddie revues . . . and active at two schools for youngsters . . . doing much benefit work. . . . Jane Jonson, formerly of W2XAB, opened in the legit production of Girls in Uniform. . . . Jane’s missed at the studio, but the televiz mob are glad to know of her good fortune. (Billboard, Jan. 7)

Monday, January 9, 1933

Television has arrived in Kansas City dressed up in 1933 regalia The first factory shipment of new type home television receivers has been received at First National Television, Inc., twenty-ninth floor of the Power and Light Bldg., Kansas City, Mo. “First National” has studios and television broadcasting station W9XAL located in the three top floors of the Power and Light building They have been "sight casting" on a daily schedule for the past sixty days with more or less DX testing for distance.
With the advent of the new type television receivers, First National expects soon to increase their daily schedules so that Kansas City "fans" will be able to participate in television activities.
The new set with modernistic lines is a product of the Echophone Radio and Television corporation of Waukegan, Ill., a radio factory recently acquired by the Western Television corporation of Chicago.
The new receiver incorporates the latest development and improvement in television receivers and projects a picture on a translucent screen in the front of the cabinet. The television image is transmitted on a radio short wave of about 134 meters. A conventional type radio receiver picks up the sound.
Setup Is Simple.
The set for use in the home is merely plugged into the light socket, an aerial and ground attached, the current is turned on and the set is tuned to the television station desired and the picture appears on the screen. A television set is similar to a radio in many respects, only that the output on the radio incorporated in the cabinet is fed into a neon crater lamp instead of a loud speaker as in the common home radio.
The television set receives the picture only; the sound or audible portion of a television broadcast is received in the home by the present radio as usual.
Supposing a synchronized radio television broadcast was to be made from First National studio in the Power and Light building. The performers or artists would put on their act in front of the television pickup camera where the sight portion would be broadcast from the transmitter and aerial located in the tower of the Power and Light building. This is flashed out on an assigned frequency of 2250 kilocycles and the program picked up by the television receiver, but this is just half of the picture and comparable to silent movies.
Sound Over KMBC.
The sound or music starts from the same studio and is picked up by a microphone placed near the performers. The voice is then carried by wire to KMBC in Kansas City where it is broadcast as usual over the radio station's regular frequency. The fan then tunes to this station with his regular radio and the voice arrives in unison with the performers.
The sets will soon be on public display at radio dealers. The Walter I Ferguson company, 801 Dwight building, is factory distributor for Echophone Radio and Television corporation. A companion radio set will soon be on the market in the same cabinet with the television receiver. (Kansas City Journal, Jan. 9)

Tuesday, January 10, 1931
Actions of the Federal Radio Commission
Shortwave & Television Corp., Boston [W1XAV]–Granted extension of time from Jan. 16 to Feb. 10, in which to file exceptions to Examiner's Report No. 440.

Wednesday, January 11, 1931
A new vertical antenna, 140 feet high has been erected in back of the Engineering building at the college in an attempt to better the television broadcasts. The previous horizontal antenna did not five signal strength of sufficient strength for good reception of nearby stations. However, signals transmitted from the college television station [W9XAK] are reported to have been received as far as Elmira, N. Y.
The new antenna, designed by L. C. Paslay, instructor in electrical engineering, and H. H. Higginbottom, graduate assistant in charge of the television station was put in place by faculty members, students and United Power and Light company employees. (Manhattan Morning Chronicle, Jan. 11)

“This is station W9YH in the Electrical Engineering laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois.” Those words have been heard in every part of the world, and as far away as it is possible to go without starting to come back on the other side [...]
But the station’s work is not confined to radiotelephone and code work. It is used also for television broadcasts, such as were demonstrated at the Electrical Engineering show last year, and its pictures have been reproduced in Hartford, Conn., and Rio Vista, Tex. A power of 500 watts is used, with either of two complete transmitters available.
Start Television
A regular schedule of television transmissions is expected to be inaugurated in a week or two. Broadcasts will be made between 7 and 8 o’clock Tuesday and Thursday or Monday and Saturday evenings of living subjects and still pictures, using a 45-line three-spiral scanning disk. A possible arrangement for the simultaneous broadcasting of sound is also being considered. (Daily Illini, Jan. 11)

Saturday, January 14, 1933
Television
By Benn Hall
Conservative “Hello”
The greeting extended television at the turn of the new year was cautiously cordial. No wild predictions were made for televiz’s immediate perfection. People quoted were generally quite frank and all too willing to grant that television is on its way in, but no one could say when or where it might dock. No statements such as William S. Paley, prez of CBS, made some time ago were uttered. Paley said: “I believe television will be in operation on a commercial basis by the end of 1932.” But television, unfortunately, is not.
One thing is clear. Despite any and all prophecies, television will not be here until the depression bye-byes and normalcy is approached. This does not mean necessarily that a business uplift will ballyhoo in television. It does mean that many companies are laying low, quietly experimenting, and expecting to continue to lay low until economic conditions start a climb uphill—should they ever. We will not have televiz before general conditions make a change for the better.
Columbia and Columbia
Columbia University recently sent a visitor to Columbia Broadcasting System’s W2XAB. And when Columbia meets Columbia — there’s generally a story in it. This time Lucy Katz, a future journalist now studying at CU, dropped in at CBS to see if there really was such a thing as television. She discovered that there was—wrote a story about it—and sent us a copy. It was extremely refreshing to read something at somebody else wrote about television—something nontechnical and yet quite comprehensive. The piece is far too long to be quoted here, but I am going to post it on the W2XAB bulletin board—I’m sure it will give many tleviz artists an idea, of what television appears to be like to an observing stranger. Incidentally, Miss Katz enjoyed the whole thing, and her article presses this enjoyment.
A Celebration

Ten years ago C. Francis Jenkins, w. k. inventor, televised a picture of President Harding from Washington to Philadelphia. A tremendous event at that time, when radio was still crude, when picking up a program from another city was a sure-fire thriller. Radio’s made huge advances since then; television—slow, crawlish, timid steps, but we’re getting there.
Boston Visitor
A. M. Morgan, of the Shortwave and Television Corporation, of Boston, visited W2XAB last week. Morgan was especially pleased with the moving sign that makes visual station announcements and which may be used for televising news flashes. Sign somewhat resembles the news bulletin electric light ribbon on The Times building in New York at night. Morgan expects to install a similar sign announcer in his Boston station, W1XAV.
Telling Visions
Grace Voss at W2XAB gave one of the best dramatic numbers I’ve seen as yet on televiz . . . last Wednesday night. . . . Simple, almost trite tale or a oman at her first-prize fight. . . .Without the use of props or other, devices Miss Voss put on a solo-woman show that held one’s interest to it finish. . . . An example of the type of material and playing that will click on television even in this experimental stage . . . something every other dramatic act should study. . . . Levine Radio Electric Company, of Des Moines supplied many State fairs last year with their televiz equipment. . . . Here’s a large field for alert manufacturers. . .W9XAL, Kansas City, Mo., offers radio televiz technical course, $245. . . . Let’s watch to see how the fireworks at Radio City will affect television’s status there. (Billboard, Jan. 14)

Friday, January 20, 1933
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19—(AP)—An extensive test of television, designed to gather data on the most favorable periods for reception, will begin here to-morrow [20] at 6 P.M. when engineers of W6XS, new Don Lee, 1000-watt transmitter, start a twenty-four-hour continuous broadcast of images.
Harry R. Lubcke, director of television for the Don Lee system and a pioneer in the use of the cathode ray for television said television, like radio, apparently has periods when broadcasts and recepetions are superior.
“We want to determine,” he said, “at what times the best image is received at various distances by the majority of looks and listeners with a view to establish a future schedule.”

While there have been many radio romances, about the first television mating will be the wedding, a few weeks hence, of Lillie Mae West and Eugene Marck, both of CBS’s W2XAB. (Brooklyn Times-Union, Jan. 20)

Saturday, January 21, 1933
Television
By Benn Hall
Onward, CBS
Last Tuesday night I drifted up to W2XAB with a vauge idea and hope that possibly there I might find me a few lines of that elusive commodity—news. But not a few lines were there for me—just about a column. W2XAB is starting something akin to a campaign; many, many improvements are being made and will be made to improve picture transmission. These developments are not tremendous advancements, but they are steady advances that will bring televiz that much closer to an earthy reality.
Bill Schudt and Engineer Harry Spears are enthused over what they are doing, and when these two enthuse, particularly the conservative and cautious guardian of the sight mechanism, Spears, it’s generally justified.
Glass Dropped
One improvement is the elimination of a plate-glass window between the studio and the control room. Few performers are conscious of this change, as the rays of light which strike them do not seem to be altered. (Original purpose of glass was to dim humming sounds from control room.) But this glass absorbed and reflected light to an extent of 7 per cent. The much-desired blue light was often lost in passing thru the plate glass and this light is needed by the photo-cells to aid in good picture transmission. This improvement is somewhat noticeable even in the so-so receiving set in the studio. The pictures seem a slight bit sharper. I have not, at this writing, had an opportunity to spot the pictures that other television bugs’ sets show since this change, but I surmise that a change for the better is noticeable.
Scanner Changes
Improvement No. 2 is somewhat more complicated. But if successful should enlarge the scope of televiz entertainment.
Engineer Spears is going to somewhat alter the construction of the present scanner and change the lenses, the mirror and the carbons. This, he hopes, will give brighter illumination and will improve the clarity and strength of pictures. Another feature of this advancement will be the possibility for longer “pickups.” This to the performer may mean that simple plays and skits with several characters may be intelligently produced and will interest audiences. The players will stand several feet away from the light source and have several square feet in which to perform.
Schudt believes that plays somewhat similar to movie shorts will be developed. I suggested that possibly entertainment will be patterned after the formula of vaude productions, but Schudt feels that the peculiar technic of shorts will be more suitable for televiz productions. This, remember, is not a case of televising films; it is a case of actual “flesh” entertainers being televised. Many studios use films; W2XAB sticks to live flesh and blood entertainers. Merely the technic will be more similar to film, Schudt feels, than vaude.
Screen Changed
Engineer Spears had made a change in the set in the studio. He has inserted a Trans-Lux screen in place of the ground glass and other screens previously used. I noticed that the new screen does give a slightly better picture. It seems, as Spears told me, to give a “wider angular field of view”; that is, one does not have to be directly in front of the set to see the picture. One may go to either the right or the left of the screen and still see the picture. Five per cent is the estimate of this improvement.
These improvements are, of course, not epic-making seven-day wonders. But they are growing Indications of what ingenuity can do, even with limited resources. And Schudt told me that these advances are just the beginning of a series.
The possibility for longer “pickups” with the use of several artists particularly arouses my interest. As I have said, much to some players’ dissatisfaction, present-day television plays are rather excruciatingly boring affairs to witness. They are surpassed by every other form of television entertainment flow being offered. But players will not have to labor under such terrific handicaps if these improvements are made at W2XAB. (Billboard, Jan. 21)

Gets W2XBS Good.
HARRY LARKIN, Brooklyn, N. Y.—For the last few weeks I have been looking in on some of the local television stations with my six-tube screen grid receiver, which I remade over for operation on the television band. The stations that I get best are W2XBS and W2XAB. As yet I have no device that will pick up the sound from W2XAB, since It broadcasts sound on the same wave length. W2XR comes in with good detail. The words "Radio Pictures, 41 Park Row, New York City," come through very distinct and clear.
My set uses two stages of tuned screen grid amplification, a power detector and a resistance coupled amplifier with a —45 power tube in a single stage. My scanner is a 60-hole job having a universal motor. The aerial is approximately eighty feet in length with a lead-in of about twenty feet.
Is W3XK Off the Air?
LESTER JONES, Stapleton, Staten Island—What has happened to W3XK in Washington? My television receiver only brings in the local stations W2XBS, W2XAB and W2XR. W3XK was probably my best bet. Has he gone off the air or has the transmitter been changed to another frequency?
Reply—According to our records this station has been closed down, but is expected to reopen shortly with a new transmitter working on the ultra short waves below 10 meters. Gets Good Results.
L. BROWN. Jamaica, L. I.—Recently I remade, over my broadcast receiver into one designed for the television band, that is, from 100 to 185 meters. The set was rewired with new coil and condensers for two stages of tuned screen grid amplification using the -24 type tubes with a detector and a resistance coupled amplifier, having a -45 tube in the power stage. In operation the following stations were I heard on the loud speaker: W2XBS, W2XAB and W2XR. (New York Sun, Jan. 21)

Sunday, January 22, 1933

Daily television broadcast will be inaugurated in Kansas City Monday [23] when KMBC and W9XAL combine their efforts and present "Between the Bookends” with Ted Malone at 4:30 o'clock. This program will be repeated at 8:30 for the Western Columbia network, making the first daily network television broadcast.
At 12 o'clock Tuesday [24] another dally program will bow in when "Journal Post New Flashes" with John Cameron Swayze will be made visible as well as audible. The noon broadcast will be the only one televised. The other two broadcasts, 7:30 in the morning and 4:15 in the afternoon, will continue as usual.
Listeners should bear in mind that all the broadcasts will be heard just as before, the only difference being that they are visible if you have a television receiving set. In the case of "Between the Bookends," the organ music will be played by Hugh Studebaker from the Pickwick hotel studio of KMBC, while Malone broadcasts from the studios of W9XAL experimental visual broadcasting station of First National Television, inc., in the Power and Light building.
At 7:30 o'clock this Tuesday night a special television program is planned featuring "Those McCarty Girls,” popular KMBC trio.
Due to the use of direct electric current in the downtown district many of the stores handling the new sets will be unable at present to give demonstrations. However the programs just mentioned may be seen and heard daily at the following places:
Kansas City Power & Light Co., Fourteenth street and Baltimore avenue.
Kansas City Power & Light Co., Country Club Plaza store, 243 West Forty-seventh street.
Kansas City Power & Light Co., North Kansas City Branch, 412 Armour road.
Western Applicance Co., 500 East Thirty-first street.
Butler Music Co., 530 Minnesota avenue.
Mace-Ryer company, 1120 Grand avenue.
L. B. McCreary, president of the Western Appliance company, distributor of the Western Television corporation’s sets, the first to be placed on the market in Kansas City, was also one of the first distributors of radio sets here. His business then was located on the site of the building which houses the First National Television studio. McCreary at that time operated station WOQ.
Walter I. Ferguson and company are factory representatives of the Western Television Corporation of Chicago makers of the sets. George Hartman is the manager of the television department of the factory representative. The television pictures will be broadcast with a power of 500 watts and should be easily received within a 150-mile radius. Fan mail has been received by W9XAL from a distance of 600 miles under good reception conditions. (Kansas City Journal-Post, Jan. 22)

W2XAB, the 500-watt experimental sight and sound television station associated with the Columbia Broadcasting System in New York City, is stepping out, according to Columbia publicity. In one day alone the station received seven letters from distant points. The correspondence came from St. Louis, Mo.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Flint, Mich.; Boston, Mass.; Dover, N.J.; Houlton, Me., and Shreveport, Louisiana.
All report excellent reception of moving images as projected by the Columbia station at 485 Madison avenue, in New York City. G.H. Hanson, the looker-in at Houlton, Me., sent in the most complete review of the week’s television entertainment. His detailed log checks accurately with W2XAB’s program schedule for seven days.
Western lookers-in report to the Columbia system that W2XAB is a nightly visitor and comes through clear and strong. (St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Jan. 22)

Monday, January 30, 1931
ROBINSON, Kan., Jan. 30—(U.P.)—Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Parker believe they have the only radio television set in Kansas in a private home.