March 1933

Everything is up to date in Kansas City, went the old saying, and it was certainly true in one aspect in March 1933.

W2XAB, the CBS TV station in New York, had suddenly halted its broadcasts in February. With that, the main experimental television transmissions were coming from the Midwest.

The big station seems to have been W9XAL. It was owned by the Kansas City Journal-Post, which also owned KMBC radio. The paper’s Sunday broadcasting page columnist was a chap named John Cameron Swayze (right), who did a six-day-a-week noon newscast that went to the air on both stations. Other radio shows were simulcast. One was a variety show hosted by Emil Chaquette. He was a well-known local bandleader. Swayze profiled him in the paper’s March 5, 1933 edition, including this tale:

The scene was the studios of television station W9XAL. One of the officials was watching the picture produced by the evening television jubilee program. Suddenly he looked at his watch. "I thought that cartoonist was supposed to finish at 8 o'clock," he remarked.
A student spoke up: "Pardon me, sir, but the cartoonist has finished, the jubilee program is on now." He looked at the picture in the receiving set. "That's our program' director's picture you see."
The official started, then looked closer.
It was Emile!

I wonder if the watch was a Timex.

By month's end, Chaquette's show was off the air. An evening interview programme was added.

Also on W9XAL with Ted Malone was singer/announcer Hugh Studebaker, who left for Chicago in 1933 and was part of the supporting company on Fibber McGee and Molly. While he doesn’t talk about television, he does talk about working with Malone in an interview with chronicler Chuck Schaden.



W9XAK at Kansas State College in Manhattan began its programming this month. Other stations were on the air, including W9XK at the University of Iowa, W9YH at the University of Illinois and Purdue University’s W9XG, judging by a story about someone who had built a TV set (not included in this post). Their broadcasts were not for mass entertainment. Elsewhere, W6XAO was still broadcasting limited programming from Los Angeles.

Here are some items for the month, with W9XAL getting the focus. There is an unusual entry about a television show from the National Radio Broadcasting Company in Los Angeles. The next day, the Pasadena Star-News declared “Visual and audible reception of the program were excellent.” I cannot find the company in the 1933 or 1934 City Directories, nor any of the company's principals, and the only TV station license in Los Angeles was held by the Don Lee Broadcasting System.

Wednesday, March 1, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes, with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Rose Nutter and Rhythm Sweeties.

FIRST TELEVISION SET.
The first television radio set to reach this city is now in operation. The set is in the possession of Wade Patrick, pioneer radio dealer of Brookfield [Missouri].
In a broadcast last night [1] the stations of Iowa City, Iowa, and Kansas City, featuring singers, were seen and heard. Television in a commercial sense is still in its infancy, but the set shows what the "hand writing on the wall" for the future of radio will be. The set has seven tubes, and a receiving panel in the top part of the cabinet, which transmits the pictures.
Wade, who was the first to develop the radio business in Brookfield, is still holding to his prestige by being the first with television. (Brookfield Argus, Mar. 1)

W3BBD Known to Hundreds of Operators in All Parts of the World—Owner Also Experiments Successfully With Television
The brilliant flashes of a blue tube and the insane acrobatics of a half dozen dials are the only visible signs to inform the novice that a powerful short wave radio station is operating with the skilled hand of one with years’ of experience at the key.
The station is W3BBD, owned and operated by Conard M. Gilbert, 206 Harding avenue, Collingswood. . .who is 27. . .
Gilbert recently built and operated a television outfit, and succeeded in receiving several pictures from Washington via that channel. However, the pictures were almost illegible, and Gilbert gave up the set until such time as method of sending shall be improved. (Post-Courier, Camden, N.J.)

Thursday, March 2, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 a.m.—Uncle Ezra’s Ramblings, KMBC.
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Judy Conrad and Leo Bates, WLBF.

Sound-Sight Program Will Be Open to the Public Friday Over Stations WSUI, W9XK
First public demonstration of a sound-sight program broadcast over radio station WSUI and television station W9XK at the University of Iowa will he made Friday evening [3] at 6:15 o'clock in the chemistry building corridor.
The program will be under the direction of Prof. E. B. Kurtz, head of the electrical engineering department and "father" of the university television elation, first one operating at an American university. The demonstration will precede Professor Kurtz' Baconian lecture at 7 o'clock on "Problems in Television."
A regular WSUI feature will be sent out over the television and radio microphones in the electrical engineering building studios. The program will he received in sound-sight in the corridor of the chemistry building, where visitors will pats on their way to the auditorium for the lecture.
Professor Kurtz in his lecture will explain the fundamental processes of television used in the local station, W9XK. The talk will be illustrated by stereopticon slides showing the principle of operation, as well as pictures of the equipment used. After describing the method of operation involved in transmitting and receiving, he will discuss and explain the important problems that must be solved in order to transmit pictures of larger area and finer texture.
Professor Kurtz has been head of the department of electrical engineering for the last four years. He received his bachelor's degree in 1917 at Wisconsin, and holds the degrees of M.S. in electrical engineering from Union college, Schenectady, N. Y., and E.E. and Ph.D., from Iowa State college at Ames. He was head of the electrical engineering and acting dean of engineering at Oklahoma A. and M. college before coming to Iowa. Sound-sight demonstrations for several faculty groups have been given recently, with Friday night's program the first that has been opened to the public. (Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Mechanism Being Built at K. S. C. Will have Only One Other Equal
A scanning disc which will have but one equal in the United States is now under construction in the college television laboratory by L. C. Paslay and H. H. Higginbottom. The disc is one of the most important parts of the television set and must be constructed with extreme accuracy, said Mr. Paslay. It must be balanced so that it can run smoothly at 1,200 revolutions per minute. This part would take but a short time in comparison with arranging the holes through which the light must be filtered. (Manhattan, Kan. Journal)

Marceline News— Marceline [Missouri] has been well represented on radio programs within the last week. Friday afternoon, Lawrence Patrick, son of Dr. and Mrs. P. L. Patrick, sang from station KMBC, Kansas City. He appeared on the television experimental program. (The Bulletin, Linneus, Mo., Mar. 2)

Friday, March 3, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Rev. Earl A. Blackman, Youth’s Forum, and Four Molton Bros., WLBF.
9:00—Ed Cochrane’s Sports Chat, KMBC.

Kurtz Demonstrates Sight-Sound Program Over W9XK and WSUI
Demonstration and explanation of sound-sight broadcasts as sent out by radio station WSUI and television station W9XK at the University of Iowa was given to about 1,000 persons Friday evening [3] at the chemistry auditorium. It was the first public demonstration of television, with Prof. E. B. Kurtz, head of the electrical engineering department, explaining the operation in his Baconian lecture which followed the broadcast.
The reception was made in the corridor of the chemistry building from 6:45 to 7 o'clock, with the large crowd permitted only a short view and then moved on to make room for others. In his lecture, Professor Kurtz explained the process of changing the light waves reflected from the subject to be broadcast into electric current through a photoelectric cell, transmitted to the receiver, and changed back by the "glow lamp" to the image seen on the screen. (Iowa City Press-Citizen, Mar. 4)

Saturday, March 4, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:00—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, Texas Ranger, KMBC.
6:30—Kansas City Bar Association, James M. Johnson, speaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Judy Conrad and Bill and Mary, WLBF.

W9YH, University of Chicago
11:00 to 11:15 a.m.—Television program.

Combined Pictures, Sound Will Be Broadcast Today in First Program Over WILL, W9YH
Combined pictures and sound will be broadcast today by the University on its first publicly announced television program via station W9YH, located in the radio laboratories of the department of electrical engineering, Electrical Engineering laboratory, and the University's radio station, WILL. The program will go on the air from 11 a. m. until 11:15.
F. J. Darke, Jr. '33 and D. E Chapman, graduate student, both of them majors in electrical engineering, are operators of the television set. They have been working on it since last September. Prof. Hugh A. Brown of the department of electrical engineering has acted as their technical adviser.
Last Saturday [Feb. 25] the first program —an experimental program — was broadcast. Today will begin regular Saturday broadcasts with the exception of March 11 and 17, when a conflict on WILL'S program will make television broadcast via that station impossible at 11 a. m.
Ukelele selections and singing by E. J. Emery '35 and a four-minute talk on the history of television by Darke will make up the program which will be broadcast. Darke will be the announcer.
The subjects to be broadcast will stand in the television booth in the radio laboratory with the pictures being sent out directly from W9YH while a wire will carry the sound over to WILL where it will be broadcast. W9YH operates on a frequency of 1884 kilocycles and WILL on 890 kilocycles. W9YH has a 500-watt transmitter, and sends out 45 hole, three spiral, 900 revolutions-per-minute television signals. (Daily Illini)

Monday, March 6, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Gladys Schnorf, pianist, WLBF.

GLADYS SCHNORF ON TELEVISION JUBILEE
Gladys Schnorf, Kansas City pianist will again be featured on the Television Jubilee program, Monday night [6] at 8 o'clock over television station W9XAL.
Her numbers will be "The Fountain" by Provaznik and "The Legend" by Albeniz.
Other artists that have a prominent part in the program during the week are Emile Chaquette, Judy Conrad, Don Watson, Gaylord Bentley. Doris Bicknell, Kitty Evers, Rose Mary Dougherty, Bill and Mary and the Four Milton Brothers. (Kansas City Journal, Mar. 5, 1933)

Masons To See Demonstration Of Television
Pictures Of Dancer, Chief Will Be Broadcast
Pictures transmitted by television will be shown at the stated meeting of Pasadena Masonic Lodge, No. 272, tomorrow night at the Masonic Temple. It will be the first television demonstration held in Pasadena.
Dance Program
Collenette, former Pavlowa dance artist, and one of her ballets will appear on the program, and the Venetian Trio, composed of Robert Olson, piano; Hamilton Lawrence, violin; and Winslow Adams, 'cello,' will play. This year marks the golden anniversary of Pasadena Lodge, the oldest Masonic group in the city and the program is one of a series to mark the fiftieth anniversary.
The television demonstration will tie up a Los Angeles broadcasting station one hour and involve the services of nearly fifty persons. Collenette and Police Chief Charles H. Kelley, the latter a past master of Pasadena Lodge, will be televised from the National Radio Broadcasting studio. Collenette, following her appearance on the dance program, will be taken with Chief Kelley to the television studio by a police escort.
Two Numbers Planned
The Collenette ballet will appear in two numbers, "The Awakening" and a comedy feature. There will also be solo and duet dances. Those to appear are Dorothy Dean, Joanne Turner, Ida Lee, Inetta Buell, Anne Abbott, Phyllis Lee, Mary Beauchamp, Helene Richards, Shirley Nash, Barbara Brooks, May Belle La Rue and Joan Roamer, while principles will be Evelyn Le Moene, Lysle Winter, Thelma Hersey, Jean Allen and Nata Lane.
The television experiment will be explained by Thomas Nikert, radio engineer, and Mr. Haroldsen of the National Radio Television School. L. Rosencranz, also of the television school will be in charge of the receiving equipment. W. G. Patterson of the radio shop bearing his name, will be chairman of the program. Ralph T. Merriam, Pasadena Lodge worshipful master, will preside. The program will follow a short business session. (Pasadena Post, Mar. 5)

Tuesday, March 7, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Emma Pritchard and Dorothy Lang, WLBF.

Wednesday, March 8, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:00—Interview with Karl Moore, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Judy Conrad and Ester Nelson, WLBF.

Thursday, March 9, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00 a.m.—Uncle Ezra’s Ramblings, KMBC.
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Ethel Osborne, Mickey and Margie, WLBF.

BEGIN TELEVISION BROADCASTS SOON
University of Iowa Ready To Begin Regular Schedule of Illustrated Lectures Over Air.
IOWA CITY—University of Iowa's radio and television stations, WSUI and W9XK, are ready to present the first scheduled series of sight-sound educational programs every given by an American university, Prof. Edward B. Kurtz, head of the department of electrical engineering, announced Friday.
Details of the broadcasts are now being arranged and it is expected that a regular schedule of illustrated lectures will commence next week. Illustrated lectures have been chosen for program material because they are adaptable to radio and television synchronization, pictures being confined to small areas with limited details.
At first the broadcasts will probably be made once a wekk, between 7 and 7:30 p.m., the exact evenings being undetermined as yet. Later in the year programs may be given twice or even three times weekly.
While the number of Iowans owning television receiving sets is not known, Prof. Kurtz predicted that the number will increase as sigh-sound programs go on the air. A set can now be purchased for as little as $85.
The first sight-sound program from the synchronized stations was broadcast in January before a group of faculty members. Two later demonstrations, one of them public, have proved that the broadcasts are practical.
Granted in January, 1932, the license for W9XK was the first for a visual station west of the Mississippi. Broadcast hours are unlimited and experimental work, especially that requiring operation of a transmitter, is permitted. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

Former Eldon Boy’s Work Is Recognized at U. of Minnesota
Max Risley, a former student of Eldon High School, is one of the co-builders of a television set —the first ever constructed at the University of Minnesota—which was the subject of a recent article in The Minneapolis Tribune. His partner in the construction was Robert Campbell and both of them are graduate students at the University.
The set was constructed largely of old parts reclaimed from the university's electrical department "morgue" and made its initial public appearance at a recent meeting of the student chapter of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
The construction required eight months, the students working six hours a day during the first four, and three hours a day during the last two. At present the contrivance is in an elementary stage, but will project a small picture two inches square. The students hope, with more labor, to be able to produce larger and clearer images.
The apparatus is equipped only for direct wire transmission, but Risley and Campbell have been receiving radio television programs nightly from Chicago and Kansas City. Since television broadcasts rarely can be dependable over a distance of more than twenty-five miles, the record is considered remarkable.
Max is the son of Mrs. Ella Risley, of Sherburn, Minn. and the brother of Mrs. John Gattermeir of Olean. (Eldon Advertiser)

Friday, March 10, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Judy Conrad and Bruce Robbins, WLBF.
9:00—Ed Cochrane’s Sports Chat, KMBC.

Saturday, March 11, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, Texas Ranger, KMBC.
4:30—Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
6:30—Kansas City Bar Association, presenting T.J. Madden, speaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Pearl Silvers, WLBF.
W9YH, University of Chicago
11:50 to 12:00 noon—Television program.

'BOOKENDS' DEDICATED TO GIRL SCOUTS
KMBC's popular feature, "Between the Bookends," is to be dedicated to the twenty-first birthday anniversary of the Girl Scout organization when it takes the air at 4:30 o'clock Saturday [11]. The anniversary is on Sunday the following day.
The program will be conducted, as usual by Ted Malone, with Hugh Studebaker furnishing suitable organ music.
Digressing from his usual readings and philosophy, Ted Malone will present Margaret Fifield, leader of the Kansas City Girl Scouts, and a select chorus of girls from the organization.
As "Between the Bookends" is to be broadcast by more than twenty stations of the Columbia network throughout the West, arrangements have been made with the national headquarters to have all troops of the Girl Scouts in Kansas City and in the West gather and tune in for the program. When the group of Kansas City girls sing the Scouting songs, these troops will be requested to join them, making in actuality, the greatest chorus of Girl Scouts ever to sing at one time. (Kansas City Journal-Post, Mar. 5)

Sunday, March 12, 1933
Her Singing Assists In The Emergency Relief Drive, Boston
Miss Sheila O’Donovan Rossa, a mezzo soprano, who has been heard locally many times, is taking an active part in the Boston Emergency Relief drive. Miss Rossa has sung the campaign song “The Mother’s Prayer” in practically every ward in the City, softening the hearts of her audiences and spurring the solicitors on to greater efforts.
Her appearances have been sponsored by Mayor James M. Curley as one of his official efforts.
Miss Rossa is known as “Miss Television” and sings over the international short wave station every Friday night [W1XAV]. (Portland Press Herald)

Monday, March 13, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:00—Roscoe Ates interviewed by Dick Smith, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Gladys Schnorf, pianist, WLBF.

How about Roscoe Ates’ stutter on the radio, would you like it? The stuttering comic arrived in the Heart of America Saturday morning [11] for his 6-say appearance at the Sni-a-Bar Gardens to announce that he was willing to do some air work if he found the right vehicle. So at 4 o’clock Monday you can hear him stuttering at Dick Smith over KMBC and see him over W9XAL. (Kansas City Journal-Post, Mar. 12)

BARKER BROTHERS TO OPEN ELECTRIC SHOW
Starting Monday Barker Brothers are presenting an electrical show, featuring the newest developments in radio refrigeration and electrical aids for the home. A magic electrical kitchen has been constructed where everything is done electrically and which will be open to the public daily. Through the courtesy of the Don Lee television stations and the National Radio and Television School, Barker Brothers will present continuous television programs each day during the exposition from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
[Don Lee was broadcasting W6XS on 140 metres and W6XAO on 6 ¾ metres, 80 line single spiral image repeated 15 times a second.] (Los Angeles Times, Mar. 11)

Tuesday, March 14, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette’s Television Jubilee, WLBF.

Wednesday, March 15, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Helen Lindsey, WLBF.

Thursday, March 16, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette’s Television Jubilee, WLBF.

Motion Pictures Of Quake Sent By Radio Television
LOS ANGELES, March 16.— (AP) —For the first time in history, the station claims, motion picture scenes [Pathe news reel] of a major disaster were transmitted by television, as W6XS, the Don Lee television station here, broadcast scenes of the Long Beach-Compton earthquake area.
Operating simultaneously, the 1,000-watt W6XS and the ultra-short wave sister station, W6XAO, broadcast film scenes showing the survivors, wrecked buildings and the general havoc wrought by last week's shocks.

Friday, March 17, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette’s Television Jubilee with Four Milton Brothers, WLBF.
9:00—Ed Cochrane’s Sports Chat, KMBC.

Engineers’ open house, which last year attracted nearly 7,000 visitors and 5,000 the year before, again will be given for students, townspeople, and the public in general Friday night [17] and all day Saturday at Kansas State. This is the thirteenth presentation of the event.
This year a complete television demonstration will be given as one of the outstanding features of the free educational show. (Manhattan, Ks. Mercury, Mar. 16)

TELEVISION TO START FRIDAY
University Stations to Open Sight-Sound Programs
Inauguration of a regularly scheduled sight-sound series of programs will he started over the University of Iowa's synchronized television and radio stations, W9XK and WSUI, Friday evening at 7:10 o'clock. The sight-sound programs will be given each Friday evening at 7:10 o'clock during the remainder of the semester, according to Prof. E. B. Kurtz, head of the department of electrical engineering who is in charge of the television station.
Friday evening's initial broadcast will include an illustrated lecture on art under the direction of Mr. Aden Arnold [right], instructor in the graphic and plastic arts department, and some readings by speech department members under the direction of Prof. H. C. Harshbarger.
Granted a federal government license in January, 1932, the first synchronized broadcast was given early this year by the university stations. The university license, permitting experimental work in all of the field with unlimited broadcasting time, was the first license issued for a visual station west of the Mississippi river.
Plan of Professor Kurtz and Dr. Bruce E. Mahan, chairman of the radio board, call for the sight-sound series to present a varied type of programs. (Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Television Popular.
Combined television and radio broadcasts, which were put on the air from University of Iowa stations WSUI and W9XX [sic] in the first regular program of a series Friday evening [17], will be continued at least until May, according to Prot. E. R. Kurtz, head of the university electrical engineering department. The presentations are believed to be the first made on a fixed schedule by an educational institution in the United States.
Illustrated lectures, contributed by faculty members, are planned for the series of broadcasts, altho present equipment will make it necessary to confine illustrations to those of a small area, with limited detail. (Quad City Times, Mar. 19)

Saturday, March 18, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, Texas Ranger, KMBC.
6:30—Kansas City Bar Association, presenting James P. Aylward, speaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Judy Conrad and Gaylord Bentley, WLBF.
W9YH, University of Chicago
11:50 to 12:00 noon—Television program.

Sunday, March 19, 1933
Radio School's Music Division Will Be Opened
The National Broadcasting School this evening will entertain the musical world of Los Angeles at the formal opening of its music department. Following a reception in the auditorium of the school a program will be presented, in which modern methods of broadcasting and some tricks of the trade will be displayed. Musical broadcasting, both instrumental and vocal, will be featured, with some discussion by Alexander Bevani, head of the department. Dr. Charles Frederick Lindsley, head of the announcers' school, will be heard in a literary broadcast and Marta Oatman players will present a short radio drama. Harold Isbell, Los Angeles and Chicago announcer, will conduct the program and add to it a number of back-stage novelties. A special feature of the evening will be a television broadcast, in which both the sound and picture will be sent out on the air and received again in the studio. Alberta Campbell Simmons, director of the National Broadcasting School, and Alexander Bevan, head of the department of radio singing, have been figures in the musical life of Los Angeles for the past decade. (Los Angeles Times)

Monday, March 20, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Gladys Schnorf, pianist, WLBF.

Tuesday, March 21, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette’s Television Jubilee, WLBF.

Wednesday, March 22, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Judy Conrad and Gaylord Bentley, WLBF.

VERGIL TACY ANNOUNCES TELEVISION PROGRAMS
Vergil Tacy, son of Mr and Mrs. T. O. Tacy, 471 Park avenue, is announcing the weekly television programs for stations WSUI and 49XU at the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
The programs, which are believed to be the first of their kind broadcast regularly west of the Mississippi river, are on the air every Friday at 7:10 p. m. Tacy not only announces the programs but also takes part in them.
He is a junior in the college of liberal arts and will enter the law school next year. He is a graduate of Abraham Lincoln high school. (Council Bluffs Nonpareil

Thursday, March 23, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
10:00—Uncle Ezra’s Ramblings, KMBC
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette’s Television Jubilee, WLBF.

Friday, March 24, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
8:00—Emile Chaquette with Judy Conrad, WLBF.
9:00—Ed Cochrane’s Sports Chat, KMBC.

DENTAL TALK BY TELEVISION
Dr. Charles L. Drain to Give Address Over Station Here
Believed to be the first dental talk ever carried by a television station in the world, Dr. Charlee L. Drain of the college of dentistry faculty will speak Friday night in the sight-sound program over the University of Iowa radio and television stations, WSUI and W9XK. Doctor Drain will talk on the subject of "Oral Hygiene" at 7:10 o'clock.
Following the lecture, selections will be given by members of the music, speech and arts department, according to Prof. E. B. Kurtz, head of the electrical engineering department and director of the television station. The sight-sound programs were inaugurated last week as a regular Friday evening feature. (Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Saturday, March 25, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, Texas Ranger, KMBC.
6:30—Kansas City Bar Association, presenting Henry M. Beardsley, speaker, KMBC.
W9YH, University of Chicago
11:00 to 11:15 a.m.—Television program.

VACATE ORDER OF ASSET SALE
WILMINGTON, Del., March 25—(AP)—Judge John P. Nields in federal court today vacated his recent order for the sale next Tuesday of assets of the Jenkins Television Corporation.
The court stated that it had not been sufficiently advised as to the value of the corporation’s assets and of the necessity for the sale.
It was stated here that the proposed sale of the assets of the DeForest Radio Corporation to the Radio Corporation of America for about $500,000 was contingent on the ability of the receivers also to deliver the assets of the Jenkins Corpoation.

Sunday, March 26, 1933
Television Permit Denied
Application of the Visual Radio Corporation of Watsontown, Pa., for authority to erect a new 1,000-watt experimental television station later to be operated in Philadelphia, has been denied by the Federal Radio Commission, which has sustained the finding of its examiner that the proposed venture would not add to the scientific knowledge or development of television. (Washington Sunday Star)

Monday, March 27, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.

Sending and receiving of radio programs by television in full view of the audience, will be demonstrated at the Minneapolis Auto, Home and Flower show, which opens next Monday [27] at the Minneapolis Auditorium. Arrangements for this feature were completed today by George K. Belden and H. H. Cory, show manager, following a conference with Dr. George W. Young of WDGY.
A 500-watt broadcasting station, the first of its kind in the northwest, will be installed in the auditorium. The broadcasting and receiving booths will be located so show visitors will be able to watch both operations. The receiving set will reproduce a picture 14 inches square, and represents the latest equipment in this branch of radio. (Minneapolis Star, Mar. 20)

Lou Breese will attempt a novel experiment in that he will direct the orchestra by remote control, the musicians responding to the waving of his baton as his image is shown on the screen. (Minneapolis Journal, Mar. 26)

One of the spots that attracted much attention was the television booth. Starting at 1 p. m., demonstrations were staged every 20 minutes. That schedule will be maintained the remainder of show week. Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Mar. 28)

Tuesday, March 28, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone, KMBC.

Wednesday, March 29, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
2:45—Television interview with Ted Malone, KMBC. 4:30—Between the Bookends, KMBC.
9:30—9:30—First National Television interview, KMBC.

Thursday, March 30, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends, KMBC.
9:30 to 10:00 p.m.—Television interview with Ted Malone, KMBC.

TELEVISION!
An event of unusual interest from both a scientific and entertainment standpoint is slated for next Thursday [30] and Friday when, for the first time, a complete motion picture feature production will be broadcast over radio-television. "The Crooked Circle," World Wide picture, featuring Ben Lyon, Zasu Pitts, James Gleason and Irene Purcell has been selected. A special demonstration, open without charge to the public, will be on view at Barker Brothers' radio department. [The film aired without sound] (Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, Mar. 25)

SCIENCE MEET SET
Gathering at Manhattan to Be April 13-15.
MANHATTAN, KAS., March 30.— (Special)—Dr. George F. Johnson, secretary of the Kansas Academy of Science, has announced the program of the sixty-fifth annual meeting of the academy, to be held at Kansas State college here April 13, 14 and 15. . . .
Plans are being made to stage a television exhibition for the visiting academy members. An address by Dr. J C. Peterson of Kansas State college will be broadcast from Denison hall and flashed on the television screen in Engineering hall, through the equipment of television station W9XAK. (Kansas City Journal, Mar. 30)

Friday, March 31, 1933
W9XAL, Kansas City
11:50—Journal-Post News Flashes with John Cameron Swayze, KMBC.
12:15—Tex Owens, KMBC.
4:30—Between the Bookends with Ted Malone and Hugh Studebaker, KMBC.
9:30—Interview with Ted Malone, KMBC.

PLAN EVENING OF FELLOWSHIP
Junior, Senior Chambers Of Commerce Will Dine Friday
Members of the Iowa City senior and junior chambers of commerce will meet together Friday night [31] for an evening of entertainment, fellowship, and fun, the feature of which will be a program of television, to be broadcast by station W9XK of the University of Iowa.
The special event has been called, "Goodfellows Night", and will begin with a dinner at 6:15 o'clock Friday night at the American Legion Community building. Community singing will follow the dinner and shortly before 7:10 o'clock, the television will get underway.
The television broadcast, enabling the members to not only hear but see the broadcast, will he made from the television studios in the electrical engineering building of the University of Iowa and will be received at the Legion building on one of the latest approved commercial television receiving sets.
Prof. E. B. Kurtz, of the college of engineering, director of the television station, will be in charge of the program and will present a brief explanatory address before the broadcast. Mr. Carl Menzer, director of radio station WSUI, will announce the program over the air and Mr. J. L. Patter, operator of station W9XK, will have charge of operating the station. (Iowa City Press-Citizen, Mar. 30)

Complete Program For Joint Meeting Chambers Commerce
Program for the joint meeting of the Iowa city junior and senior chambers of commerce, to be held beginning at 6:15 o'clock Friday night [31] at the American Legion Community building, was announced Thursday by Mr. D. W. Crum, senior secretary. . . .
The feature of the program will be the receiving of a television program to be broadcast from the University of Iowa television station W9XK and WSUI. The television program will include a skit by Wanda Mathison and Bernice Erlandson of the university speech department, and a short talk, "The Language of the Architect," by Prof. F. G. Higbee, of the college of engineering. (Iowa City Press-Citizen, Mar. 30)

REGULAR TELEVISION SCHEDULE AT COLLEGE
Programs on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings Broadcast Over W9XAK
The Kansas State college television broadcasting station W9XAK went on the air this week on regular schedule. Two broadcasts are scheduled for each week, one Tuesday and the other Saturday, from 6:30 to 7:15 o'clock. Those participating in the programs this week were Miss Roberta Shannon, reader; Max Burk, trombone; W. M. Sandel, harmonica; Tom Haines, trumpet and guitar; and William Fitch, oboe. Vinton Johnson has been in charge.
The broadcasts have been confined to pictures of those taking part in the program, no sound being broadcast. It is hoped that station KSAC can be synchronised with the picture broadcasts so that sound and pictures can be put onto the air at the same time.
Prof. R. G. Kloeffler, head of the electrical engineering department, and H. H. Higginbottom, one of the men who set up the station, went toward Topeka Thursday afternoon in automobiles with television receivers and tests were made at various points. The college station was on the air with a test program. (Manhattan Morning Chronicle, Mar. 31)

July 1937

NBC in Washington, D.C. opened a new building in June 1937, and studio space was reserved for television. The station didn’t actually get on the air until 1947, though the network had applied for a license before World War Two.

It shows that companies were preparing for TV broadcasts at the time. There was still plenty of speculation (and there would be for several more years) when television would “arrive.” No less a person than FDR, in honour of the new Washington studios, mused it would be sooner than later, and people would even read news on video while eating breakfast. That was a little further off.

Below are stories for July 1937. There’s another roundup of a broadcast from NBC’s station in New York, W2XBS, viewed thanks to a home-built set. Getting the necessary picture tube would normally be impossible, except the constructor had been an engineer at Du Mont, which was developing a television set. The broadcast was dominated by newsreel film, as well as a cartoon from the defunct Van Beuren studio; Van Beuren cartoons would appear often on TV across the U.S. until the explosion of stations in 1948.

There’s also a little news about W6XAO in Los Angeles and some experimental stations in the Midwest.

SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1937
Television’s Status in Connection With Movie Production Scrutinized
By ELIZABETH YEAMAN
[Three paragraphs on Hayes Office investigating television and a recommendation by the son of the FCC chairman for the film industry to acquire control of a radio network, then pool TV rights].
Few people realize that there are local television broadcasts twice a day. One hour of televised programs is broadcast during the day, and another series of programs is sent out over the ether every night between 6:30 and 7:30 [on W6XAO]. There are several hundred television enthusiasts in this locality, who have made their own receiving sets and tune in on these experimental television programs.
* * *
Life Work Cut Out
The man responsible for these television programs is Harry R. Lubcke, who graduated from the University of California in 1929 and ever since has been working on television. For five years he has been employed by the Don Lee Mutual Broadcasting System. Other major radio networks conduct experimental broadcasts of television in the East. The Federal Communications Commission forbids anyone to obtain revenue from television as yet, and you can be certain that these experimental broadcasts cost hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. However, there seems to be little doubt that the big radio networks which are spending so much money in television experimentation will be preferred petitioners when the commercial licenses are eventually issued.
Lubcke is of the opinion that when television is a commercial product, at least 60 per cent of the programs sent out will be motion pictures. Performances of living actors may be alternated with those of motion pictures, to avoid the delay caused by changing of sets in a series of living programs.
There is little argument against the prediction that when the general public is able to see and hear entertainment in the home, that all commercial public entertainment will suffer for a time. The novelty of the new invention will develop a rabid audience at first, and the fact that it may be free entertainment, paid for by advertising sponsors as on the radio, is another big selling point. in the early stages, television is bound to be menacing competition for motion picture theaters.
However, Lubcke points out that the film studios may capitalize on the new invention if they wish, by producing motion pictures for the television programs. What the film theaters and film distributors would have to say about such a move in the studios is another matter.
* * *
Tips for Film Players
From his work with daily experimental broadcasts, Lubcke has formulated a list of motion picture requirements for television. Brunettes are the beet physical types, and prominent features and normal complexion also televise with the greatest clarity. Hair may be blonde if it stands out in contrast to the background and the rest of the face. The success of the television subject is dependent upon proper contrast of all the features.
Clear pictorial photography is absolutely necessary. Great masses of dark shadow or ultra artiness in photography do not reproduce well in television. The detail of a scene must be carried in intermediate tones or half tones. Checkerboard contrast in the photographic composition of a scene is essential. That means dark and light objects must he interspersed throughout the area of the picture. The over-all contrast range must be limited. Extremes of black and white, more accurately described as extremes of light intensity, must be limited. The laboratory must supply prints of medium density. Black frame lines must be present in motion picture films. These are absent in some newsreel cameras. Lap dissolves or quick fades are preferable for scene changes. Slow fades give the momentary impression that the receiving set is out of order. The television scene, during a fadeout, remains grey instead of going black as on the movie screen.
Of the motion picture subjects televised by Lubcke, Loretta Young and Claudette Colbert have been the best. Herbert Marshall has the best face among the men.
Lubcke believes that most television programs will be confined to a 15-minute period. Serial programs, like Amos and Andy, probably will be popular, and that opens a great range for motion picture serials. Short film comedies can be made successfully for the 15-minute period, but few dramas can be successfully condensed to that time limit. So perhaps they will be presented as serials, in 15-minute episodes. Dancers, acrobats, impersonaters [sic], and all the entertainers of vaudeville will be in demand.
When commercial receiving sets for television go on the market next year, they probably will cost around $300. The budget for the film programs will depend upon the amount of money an advertising sponsor wishes to pay, and he will pay in direct ratio to the size of the receiving audience. The larger the audience, the more sets will be sold, and the cheaper the sets will become. (Hollywood Citizen-Reporter)

SUNDAY, JULY 4, 1937
Television Is in the Air—And Norman Van Heuvel Sees It
Local Experimenter Picks Up N. Y. Signal
Newsreels, Cartoon Movies and Other Entertainment Flashes From Empire State Bldg. in N. Y. to This City; Uses DuMont Cathode Ray Tube
By WILL BALTIN
"TELECASTER"
Norman Van Heuvel sat before his experimental television set at his home in Colonial Gardens last Tuesday night [June 29] and fingered several dials on a complex-looking instrument that was spread out across an improvised workshop bench erected in the sun-parlor of his dwelling.
As he did so he peered at the base of an odd-shaped tube that resembled more an old-fashioned type wine bottle. A rectangular-shaped light about three inches in dimension blazed brightly on the tube's base.
Suddenly the light flickered momentarily.
"Here it comes now!" Mr. Van Heuvel said enthusiastically to a group of young men who surrounded him. And in an instant, like a miniature motion picture, appeared the lettering "PATHE NEWS" on the three-inch screen.
And another experimental television program came whizzing through the air from the Empire State Building in New York City.
Amazing ... incredible ... a challenge to the imagination—the television program was, even in a somewhat crude form, the most thrilling experience ever encountered by the writer, who was among the few invited friends present to witness what Mr. Van Heuvel termed, his “first public demonstration.”
The phonograph in its day was considered an exceptional feat of man-made-magic. The telephone, too, made people gape with amazement. The incandescent lamp revolutionized modern ways of living. And the radio was considered about the most amazing invention ever conceived by human mind.
The Biggest Wonder
All of these seem infinitesimal when placed beside the magic of television. Imagine watching a complete show being staged in the metropolis 40 miles away, while you sit in your own home. Or imagine watching the news of the day un-reeling before your eyes as it occurs, or did occur a few hours before, while you lounge in the comfort of your living room.
The few invited guests at the Van Heuvel home had a “preview” of what the future holds when they witnessed the 30-minute television show that the Radio Corporation of America experimenters staged for the benefit of a handful of experimental owners in the metropolitan district last week.
Although the screen on the local set is tiny compared with those developed at RCA and being used on their experimental sets, the observers here thoroughly enjoyed the "show."
Pathe News was first and as the reel came through the ether, events of the day were revealed. Jim Braddock appeared on the small screen to tell his side of the recent boxing battle and Joe Louis was also there with a few words. The ballet dancers of the Radio City Music Hall were shown as they departed for Europe. The Princeton Invitation Track Meet moved across the television screen.
See Irwin's Face
And then the face of Robert Irwin, confessed slayer of Ronnie Gedeon, her mother and family boarder, was shown. Other news shots appeared under the title of Pathe "News Flashes" before the reel ended. A Van Buren cartoon comedy was next to be shown and here the little drawn objects cavorted on the screen much as you see them in the movies.
With the short program over, the observers agreed that television, technically, is a fact, and that as far as they were concerned they were eagerly awaiting the sale of sets—which manufacturers insist must still be held in abeyance [sic] until “the time is ripe”. Which means exactly nothing!
Mr. Van Heuvel spent several months building the set and now that he has gained the knowledge of how a television machine operates, he will rip apart the present equipment and rebuild it with a much larger screen for public showings.
Construction of the set was difficult enough to discourage a less industrious individual than Mr. Van Heuvel. Set designs were rare and are, in fact, still hard to find, due to the stubborn efforts by leading experimenters to guard any new developments from the amateur.
Actual work began late last fall and by this spring, the experimental set, which will become the property of The Daily Home News and The Sunday Times when it is completed, was ready for operation. Repeated efforts to pick up the sight signal failed, although the sound portion of the television were received regularly.
Not Discouraged
Hardly discouraged, "Van" as Mr. Van Heuvel is known in radio circles, continued his experiments. He found that a broad tuning amplifier was essential to bring in the signal, with distance from the station a determining factor on how broad the amplifier had to be. Constant experimenting brought about the necessary amplification, and it was with considerable gratification that "Van" witnessed his first home television show about a month ago.
Quite bulky in appearance now, the set which Van Heuvel is to re-build will be made compact and will give the appearance of a regular floor model radio. At present employing the 3-inch Du Mont cathode ray tube, Mr. Van Heuvel intends to use the 5 or perhaps 7-inch Du Mont tube in his larger set.
Unquestionably the most important part of the television receiving equipment is the cathode ray tube through which the televised electrical impulses charge and are reflected into a complete picture on the base of the tube. These tubes range in size from one-inch to 12-inches and require delicate manufacture.
Up-and-Coming Leader
One of the leading cathode ray tube manufacturers in the country land certainly one that will someday take the front rank in the television industry is Allen B. Du Mont, a young engineer, who conducts his laboratories in Upper Montclair.
Mr. Du Mont's knowledge of the tube manufacturing was gained through years of study and experiment at the De Forest Manufacturing Laboratories in Passaic, where he was chief enginner [sic]. It was at the De Forest labs that Du Mont had a first glimpse at television equipment and sensed then that the future in this field was one that sparkled with opportunity.
Television in 1928 was operated on the Jenkins scanning disc principle, and the De Forest firm was the first to obtain a broadcast license for the operation of an experimental station. Its call letters were W2XCD. Scanning disc television was doomed for failure, it was learned after these experiments, but television itself was due to progress into a realm of even greater possibility with the discovery of the cathode ray tube.
Western Electric was first to make these tubes and in this field, Du Mont decided to cast his lot. He started his own cathode ray laboratory in the basement of his home, and experimented with equipment purchased for a few hundred dollars. He perfected a tube all his own, had it patented, and immediately set about to manufacture them.
Laboratory Grows
The laboratory outgrew the basement and a double garage in the back of his home was utilized for the manufacturing. Business thrived as television interest grew. A market arose in England and other European countries where television is today already public property.
The "backyard" shop finally proved entirely inadequate and the energetic and determined-to-make-good Mr. Du Mont rented what appeared to be a spacious shop not far from his home in Upper Montclair. A staff of engineers were employed to make the tubes to meet the increasing order list. A shop next door to the one originally rented had to be taken over to meet the business demands, then another store, and recently a fourth store was taken over on the same block to extend operations.
Increased use of the oscillograph for which most of the cathode ray tubes now made are used, resulted in the thriving business. Mr. Du Mont told this writer the other day that business has tripled every year for seven consecutive years, with every indication of even greater future success.
At present 40 men are working for the young man, who, less than 40 years old, is a leader in American television operations. His chief assistant is Thomas Goldsmith Jr., who is director of research for the Du Mont Laboratories, Inc. "Doc" Goldsmith is a graduate of Cornell University and has been experimenting primarily with television cathode ray tubes. Allen and "Doc" are a “perfect team” in the laboratory.
"As far as the pictures I have seen," Mr. DuMont, "there is no question but that television is here." He pointed out that technical advancement has been rapid luring the past few years, and the pictures televised are "in some cases better than home movies." He estimates that Great Britain is making its mark in television already and that 50.000 television sets were told there during the past year.
Mr. Du Mont holds 25 patents on cathode ray and other television developments. His name is linked among the front rank television authorities in the country today. (Home News, New Brunswick, N.J.)

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1937
Television Option Denied
Application filed by General Foods Corp. with NBC requesting option on the first commercial television broadcast has been turned down by the network. Web has had similar requests of this nature in the past. Whole episode was more in the nature of a publicity stunt to draw attention to General Foods' new Maxwell House "Show Boat" program. Ralph Starr Butler, vice-president in charge of advertising for General Foods, made the request to NBC through Roy C. Witmer, network's vice-president in charge of sales. (Radio Daily)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1937
Philadelphia Companies Vie For Honor of Being First Under the Wire With Television
PHILADELPHIA, July 7—The cradle of American television!
That is the title Philadelphia is getting ready to claim when mass production of sight-and-sound radio sets starts soon in this country.
Grounds for the pretensions of the civic boosters and manufacturers lie in the fact that three of the leading television research laboratories are situated in the Philadelphia area. They are those of the Farnsworth Television, Inc., the Philco Radio and Television Corporation, and the RCA-Victor Company.
Each of the three concerns thus far has spent tens of thousands of dollars on preliminary work essential to the development of a practical radio-vision receiver.
They are now preparing to make even more lavish financial outlays in the hope of being first under the wire with a popular priced and efficient product of America's number one infant industry. The cost to the producer before this new receiver is put on sale to the public will run into the millions.
As a natural consequence of such high finance an intense rivalry exists between the king-pins of television today. Production plans and research problems are jealously guarded. Control of patent rights is a vital factor in the competition. Already two of the principals hare locked horns in a court action.
Although recent demonstrations of television receivers here have shown pictures as clear as home movies if viewed 10 feet from the vision screen, company officials say they aren't good enough for the American public and possibly won't be for another year.
Meanwhile, however, the British Broadcasting Corporation has come out with a sound-sight receiver that goes into the home for a down payment of a small deposit and weekly payments of $5. Costing approximately $408 this de luxe machine has a capacity for long, medium and short-wave reception. A simpler model sells for $360.
In the research laboratories of the Farnsworth and Philco plants and the Radio Corporation of America across the river in Camden, N. J., engineers and experts in the fields of physics and chemistry are hard at work setting the stage for the television industry's debut in the United States.
Many knotty problems must be solved be-fore the new invention becomes an everyday factor. The development of larger and brighter pictures, discovery of a transmission system that will give nation-wide coverage, and the origination of entertainment programs are only a few of the difficulties to be hurdled.
Plans of the experts for the months ahead call for field tests in the Philadelphia area that will send the faces of people and scenes flashing through the air over rooftops and through the walls of homes. The man in the street and the family around the dinner table as yet cannot see these fast traveling images being shot through the ether, but they are slowly observed for imperfections or improvements by the pioneers engaged in the creation of this most amazing product of man's ingenuity. (Springfield, Mass Republican)

FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1937
Television Type
Philadelphia — Carol Weymann, former KYW songbird now heard with NBC, has been selected as a "perfect television subject" by the Farnsworth Television Corp. Miss Weymann is 23 years old, light-complexioned and has clear-cut features. She comes here from New York each week to participate in Farnsworth's experimental television transmissions [W3XPF]. (Radio Daily)

Television Antenna Set Up
Kansas City — Kenneth Alexander, chief of the engineering staff of First National Television, Inc., and Les Hotsenpiller, research engineer, have completed the erection of a 10 1/2-foot half wave vertical antenna between the towers of the Fidelity building for ultra-high wave television broadcasts. They also have constructed a 300 watt transmitter with which they are making daily experimental broadcasts, testing the efficiency of different numbers of lines. Television broadcasts of W9XBY are also broadcast by First National Television's radio station, KXBY, in the Fidelity Building. [The company used W9XAL for television] (Radio Daily)

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1937
20 SCHOOL OF AIR FINALISTS RETURN; TIRED BUT HAPPY
Young Georgians Home After Visiting New York, Washington
Travel worn but jubilant, twenty state finalists in The Atlanta Journal School of the Air returned here late Tuesday [13] from a tour of Washington and New York.
Led by Director Louis T. Rigdon, Mrs. Rigdon and Elsie Galkin Smerling, School of the Air officials, the party was met by a welcoming committee at the Terminal Station which included John Paschall, associate editor and managing editor of The Journal, and Lambdin Kay, general manager of The Journal's radio station, WSB.
Youthful members of the party were elated over their royal reception in the national capital and in New York. In the latter place they made a complete tour of Radio City and shortly before their departure were given a preview of television.
Major Lenox R. Lohr, president of the National Broadcasting Company, in receiving the Georgia delegation of winners in his Radio City office in New York, told the group that "The Journal School of the Air is expected to furnish its share of talent for television.”
Prior to being greeted by Major Lohr a special television demonstration for the students was arranged by R. M. Brophey, manager of the stations relations department and the NBC engineering staff, and was transmitted from the Empire State Building to their reception room in Radio City.
The NBC executive in talking with the twenty winners, paid a special tribute to Mr. Kay and John A. Brice, general manager of The Journal, in making it possible for Georgia school boys and girls to have the opportunity of participating in the annual auditions. (Atlanta Journal, July 14)

THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1937
No Television Sets in 1937
By C. E. BUTTERFIELD
Associated Press Radio Editor
NEW YORK, July 15.—The question as to when this country is to have television sets on the market still lacks an answer.
Authorities say simply: "We do not know." But they will amplify this comment a little with "We do not know anyone who does know.”
They are certain, though, such a development will not take place this year.
One authority quoted is David Sarnoff, president of the Radio Corporation of America, a leader in television research.
Here's what he has to say: "Will there be television commercially at any time during the balance of this year? The answer is 'No' as far as RCA is concerned, and I know of no other plans anywhere else to put television on the market during the present year.
"Then, when will there be commercial television receivers on the market? The answer is ‘I don't know,’ and ‘I do not know anyone who does know’."
Not Being Held Back
Such comment, he went on, is "not due in the slightest degree to any policy or program on the part of RCA, or, so far as I know, of anyone else in this country to hold television back or to pull it like a rabbit out of the hat on some unsuspected day. The reasons are due solely to the fact that many problems yet remain to be solved in this complicated new field of transmission."
In adding that he was a firm believer in television, he said he thought "that television can no more be stopped by anybody's desire to stop it than can the waves of the Atlantic Ocean be stopped" for "I think there is a great need for television."
He touched, too, on another item important to the future television audience, the cost of the receiver.
"I think that even today a receiver could be built and sold perhaps at prices in the neighborhood of $400 or so—of course I am only guessing at this figure."
Meanwhile, apparently in keeping with these statements, plans have been announced for probably the first public television tests in this country to be conducted from a special radio-television building at the New York World's Fair two year hence.

SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1937
Television Near, But Who's to Pay Leaves Biggest Question Up in Air
Washington, July 17.—(AP)—The national resources committee said today the most significant trend in communication developments was the "relative imminence of television." The committee reported to President Roosevelt that the basic engineering work of television development already had been accomplished and the next major problem was to find a method of presenting television broadcasting at a reasonable cost.
Technical Problem to Be Solved.
The study of television, prepared by the engineering department of the Federal Communications Commission, conceded that many technical problems remained to be solved, but pointed out that since 1929 visual broadcasting had reached such perfection as a scientific tool that it is possible "to transmit over a local area of 10 to 20 miles radius fairly good pictures having the clarity and details of the average home moving picture."
"The next corner to be turned, however, is an economic rather than an engineering one," the report said, "and it can be briefly stated in one short question—'Who is to pay for television?' Will the public accept a television service ''based upon a continuance of the present system of a commercial aural broadcasting and its extension into television? Will a 'looker-in' be willing to sit in a darkened living room at home intently peering into the screen of his television receiver?"
Point to Social Influence.
In trying to measure the social influence of television when it reaches the commonplace stage of present day radio receivers, the committee said it is likely that the main impact of television will be to intensify the social effects which broadcasting is already producing." In discussing the future use of visual broadcasting, the committee said "it seems reasonable to expect that the most popular type of entertainment by television will be the drama."
"The drama," the report stated, "may grow in importance at the expense of music, which, not requiring the sense of vision, has occupied such a large share of aural broadcasting time. The motion pictures, rather than the legitimate stage, doubtless will provide the dramatic patterns, since the televisioned drama need not be limited to the walls of a single indoor stage.
"The competition of the home theater with the moving picture theater may lead to important economic readjustments, rapidly or gradually, depending on the enlargeability of television screens, the abundance of televisors in homes, and on the controlling of patents and programs."
Look for Strict Censorship.
The committee also pointed out that the advent of the home theater with television would bring on a censorship more drastic than in present radio broadcasting since fewer broadcasting bands would be available for television.
The committee also pointed out that political speakers would be both seen and heard, and said facsimile transmission, akin to television, would open the way for radio delivery of newspapers by metropolitan and chain newspapers.
The report said color television was already a laboratory accomplishment and that developments had already started in three dimensional sight and sound, adding that it was not too much to expect fragrant odors of nature eventually would be transmitted by radio.

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1937
Roosevelt Congratulates NBC Upon New Studios
WASHINGTON, July 22.—(AP)—President Roosevelt declared tonight that it is not within the province of the reactionaries to put obstacles in the way of orderly development.
He made the statement in a letter congratulating the National Broadcasting Company upon the opening of new studios in Washington.
“The watchword of silence must he progress," he said. "It is not within the province of reactionaries to put obstacles in the way of orderly development nor to mark boundaries beyond which radio may not go.
Television Expected
"I believe that sooner than many of us realize television will be established in homes throughout the country. Indeed it may not be long before radio will make it possible for us to visualize at the breakfast table the front pages of daily newspapers or news reports, no matter how remote we may be from the place of their publication and distribution."
Wheeler Speaks
Senator Wheeler, Democrat of Montana, a leader of the forces which brought about the shelving of the president's court reorganization bill, spoke at the opening of the new studios. He said radio, by providing a medium for the discussion of national issues by the leaders on both sides, has contributed to the efficiency of democratic government.
"It can continue to perform this duty only if free and uncensored use of radio facilities is maintained," Wheeler declared.
Postmaster General Farley also spoke, asserting radio has brought about a keener interest in public affairs than ever before.

MONDAY, JULY 26, 1937
Iowa University Buys Equipment For Television
IOWA CITY, Ia., July 26.—(Special)—Prof. E. B. Kurtz, head of the electrical engineering department, today announced the purchase of new television equipment with which to launch a new experimental program for the coming year. The new equipment will make the television pictures [on W9XUI?] about 10 times as clear as that formerly used here, and will also transmit the pictures once again as fast. Iowa is one of the few colleges in the country taking part in television experimentation [on W9XK]. (Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa)

Television Patents Agreement Reached
PHILADELPHIA, July 26.—(AP). Announcement was made Monday that a licensing agreement has been entered into between Farnsworth Television, Incorporated, and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company whereby each grants extensive rights under its patents to the other.
Donald K. Lippincott, of San Francisco, representing the Farnsworth interests, said "this clears the path for co-operation between the Bell System, Farnsworth and certain Farnsworth licensees, helps to clarify a difficult patent situation and brings one step nearer the broad use of television and other advances in communications."
The agreement was signed in New York last week by C. P. Cooper, vice president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, and Philo T. Farnsworth.

June 1937

NBC finally told the world, in June 1937, when it would begin regular television programming. It wouldn’t be for two more years.

The radio network’s parent company, RCA, signed a deal with the organisers of the New York World’s Fair to operate a TV studio on the fairgrounds.

Variety was extremely disdainful about the idea, calling it “a stunt.” Time proved the editorial wasn’t boffo. It did mark a significant date in American television history.

The announcement also overshadowed one from the other side of the country. W6AXO not only began broadcasting sight and sound together (instead of airing TV audio on Mutual-Don Lee radio stations) but set up a regular schedule of programming.

Back in New York, an experimental TV station was shut down after a very short life. NAB Reports revealed W2NXT was authorised on July 21, 1936 to broadcast just above the AM radio band at 2,000 kcs. It received an extension but when National Television Corp. tried to have its license amended, the FCC shut down the station.

Elsewhere, General Electric, which put W2XCW and W2XAF on the air, was making preparations to go back into the television business, eventually using the call letters W2XB and the better-known WRGB. In Kansas City, it was announced W9XAL would resume broadcasts. And in Spokane, there was a proposal for an educational TV station at Gonzaga University.

In Chicago, the head of Zenith indulged in his favourite pasttime—bashing television. If you read quotes from him over the next ten years, he consistently says television is not ready (even after he opened TV station W9XZV which operated sporadically) and Zenith would not sell TV sets (which the company manufactured). After World War Two, he pushed a pay TV scheme which fizzled out.

Below are some highlights for the month, including a feature story outlining a surprise experimental broadcast from W2XBS. It included a Fleischer Popeye cartoon.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1937
FCC Stops Visual Test on 2,000 kc.
THAT the FCC intends to stick to its mandate against television experiments in the so-called continental shortwave band, was indicated June 2 when it denied the application of National Television Corp., New York, for authority to continue operation of a television station [W2XNT] on the frequency band 2,000-2,100 kc. with 500 watts unlimited time.
Last year the FCC promulgated rules specifying that television experiments be restricted to the ultra-high frequencies where practically all of the operations now are going forward. National Television and Purdue University were authorized to continue temporarily in the continental band. In its June 2 action the FCC not only denied National Television the authority for amendment of its special temporary authorization but also entered its final order denying the application of the company for a construction permit to establish and operate a television station on the 2,000-2,100 kc. band.
Purdue University has been experimenting in the 2,000-2,100 kc. band in connection with rural coverage by visual stations. Whether it ultimately will go to the ultra-high frequencies in the region of 40,000 kc., where other television experimenters are harbored, is not revealed at this time but will probably develop upon consideration of its application for renewal.
In the case of National Television, the FCC action of June 2 means that the company no longer has authority to operate experimentally in the television band. It does not have authority to experiment in the ultra-high frequencies. The National Television case was the subject of a hearing before an examiner last year who recommended adversely on its application. (Broadcasting, June 15)

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1937
1st Reception Of Television Here Reported
Van Heuvel Picks Up Half-Hour Program on Daily Home News Set
By WILL BALTIN
The first successful reception of television signals in this city has been accomplished by Norman Van Heuvel, local radio engineer, with the picking up of a 30-minute variety program broadcast by the Radio Corporation of America from its Empire State building transmitter in New York City.
Employing the small-sized cathode ray tube, with which he has been experimenting in the construction of The Daily Home News and The Sunday Times television set, Van Heuvel was able to pick up and easily discern the broadcast Tuesday night, which included a variety of newsreels and other motion picture shots.
It was the first time any television signals have been picked up here by an amateur experimenter. The initial reception was witnessed by Mrs. Van Heuvel and her brother, Oliver Brown, as well as the set's builder.
"It was really amazing." said Mrs. Van Heuvel today in describing the scene. "We were all so excited afterward that we hardly slept that night.”
Last summer, Van Heuvel was engaged by The Daily Home News and The Sunday Times to build the first local television set, in view of the growing interest to this new invention. Lack of diagrams and details for construction handicapped the engineer to some extent but research and study of available design of sets made the construction possible.
Since early in February, RCA has been broadcasting periodic television programs from its Empire State transmitter. Shortly after that time Van Heuvel completed the sound portion of the television receiver and was amazed at the strength of the signals, in view of the reports that television signals broadcast on ultra short waves, can only carry as far as the horizon line. New Brunswick is virtually on the New York horizon line.
With the sound receiver completed, the engineer then embarked on the most difficult portion of construction—the sight receiver. Three weeks ago the set was ready for a test and Van Heuvel prepared for his experiments. Here again he was hampered because RCA had discontinued its television broadcasts for the present. Each night efforts were made to pick up the signals but there were no broadcasts.
Tuesday night another attempt was made and at 9:30 o'clock, Van Neuvel was almost startled off his chair when the RCA emblem appeared on the screen and the television program began. He immediately called Mrs. Van Heuvel and Oliver Brown into the room and the three of them watched the broadcast.
Van Heuvel withheld any comment on the reception until yesterday afternoon when he informed The Home News of the successful experiment.
"The set is by no means completed," he said today, "and experiments will continue to improve the wide range amplifier. While the pictures received were slightly distorted, they wen easily discernible. I shall now devote by attention to building a wider range amplifier."
Van Heuvel emphasized that there will be no public demonstration of the set until all work is completed. At present he is making use of a three-inch screen cathode ray tube. This is only for experimental purposes. With the achievement of clearer definition in the pictures through the refinement of the wide range amplifier, Van Heuvel expects to use the new 9 by 12 inch screen cathode ray tube.
The local experimenter has devoted practically all his spare time to the construction at the set during the past three months. He has set up his experimental laboratory at his home in Colonial Gardens and all work has been accomplished there. Last week a special antenna was erected at his home for the television experiments.
Pictures televised from the air and received here included motion pictures of a recent track meet in which races, hurdling and pole vaulting were shown. They also included a swimming meet, with fancy diving as one of the highlights. This was especially well received at the Van Beuvel home. A Popeye comedy was then shown and the program was concluded with pictures of a boxing match.
When the finishing touches are made in the equipment and as soon as RCA releases a definite schedule of television broadcasts, expected in the near future, the Home News-Sunday Times set will he made available for public inspection at special demonstrations which are being planned. (Home News, New Brunswick, N.J., June 3)

GONZAGA BUILDS TELEVISION SET-UP
Construction of a powerful television and shortwave radio transmitting and receiving station is under way at Gonzaga University.
An experimental station, described as one of the most powerful amateur setups in the west, will be in complete operation by the end of the summer, E. McNulty, S. J., of Gonzaga engineering department, told the Chronicle today. The story was revealed in connection with the announcement of a summer course in television, which will start Tuesday evening. It was also announced Gonzaga will offer a four-year electrical engineering course with a department in radio and television next semester.
In two weeks. Gonzaga will put into operation a 1000-watt short-wave transmitter,” Mr. McNulty said. “We will be able to project the Gonzaga programs to all parts of the world.”
By fall, Mr. McNulty anticipates, Gonzaga will have its radio experimental license, Gonzaga now holds an amateur license, permitting the school to broadcast under the call letters, W7FFF.
Working in conjunction with the new 1000-watt short-wave transmitter, television pictures can be transmitted a distance of 15 miles. Mr. McNulty said.
Students enrolling in the summer television course will aid in the construction of the new equipment. (Spokane Chronicle)

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1937
Officially inaugurating its new television sound channel transmitter, the television division of the Don Lee Broadcasting System will broadcast two "sight and sound" programs today in observance of the first anniversary of the opening of its high definition television demonstrations to the public. The new transmitter is of the latest grid-modulated design and reproduces sound frequencies from 40 to 10,000 cycles with fidelity. Observing the same schedule as of a year ago, when the Don Lee television organization gave the first public demonstration in the nation, the programs will be aired from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Periodic broadcasts have been witnessed by guests at a receiving set under normal home conditions at a location 3 ¾ miles north of the transmitter. More difficult reception was successfully received during April of this year in Pasadena, a distance of ten miles from the television broadcast station, W6XAO, with a mile of hills of three peaks intervening. (Grace Palmer, Hollywood Citizen-News)

THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1937
New Television Schedule Inaugurated by Don Lee
West Coast Bureau, RADIO DAILY
Los Angeles — New sight-sound television broadcasts announced by Don Lee Television Division include: Monday, 9-10 a.m. (PST), Tuesday, 10-11 a.m.; Wednesday, 11-noon; Thursday, noon-1 p.m.; Friday, 1-2 p.m.; Saturday, 2-3 p.m. Evening broadcasts daily 6:30-7:15. The images are televised on 45,000 kilocycles (6-2/3 meters) with sound broadcast on new frequency of 54,300 kilocycles (5 1/2 meters) with new transmitter of latest grid-modulated design reproducing sound frequencies from 40 to 10,000 cycles.

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1937
KXBY Resumes Tele
Kansas City — KXBY has resumed its series of daily quarter-hour broadcasts in connection with experimental television broadcasts made by First National Television School, which owns and operates the radio station. Broadcasts were temporarily discontinued a month ago when station moved to new studios in the Fidelity Bldg. (Radio Daily)

WORLD SERIES BY TELEV
Moss Prepares To Open B’way Theatre With Telecasting Of Baseball Classic An Attraction
New York.—Scenes of the world series next fall will be the first televised entertainment offered to a theatre audience in the United States by B. S. Moss, who returns today from London with telecasting devices which he will install in his 600-seat Broadway and 49th street theatre.
The devices will permit televised entertainment on a full sized screen of events within a 25 mile radius. The new Moss house will open about October 1, using the baseball classic in television as the opening attraction. Moss' decision to show television will be the first actual attempt on the part of any theatre or chain to augment its regular policy with immediate and direct coverage of any event of the day.
The newsreel theatre circuit being organized by Jack Connolly and Courtland Smith, former Pathe News executives, is based on the eventual use of television in circuit theatres which are to be spotted in key cities in United States and Europe. The duo is intending to equip the theatre for television, but Moss' action is the first announced move for immediate use of telecasting in a theatre in this country.
Whether Moss will be able to continue the use of television as a feature of his theatre will depend upon the ability to set up equipment at events being held within a radius of 25 miles of New York. Telecasting is not possible beyond a 50 mile radius because, the earth's parabola blocks television beams, which cannot follow the earth's surface. (Hollywood Reporter)

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1937
W2XBS, New York (NBC)
4:15-5:00 p.m.—Broadcast from NBC Television Studio (sound on WJZ and other NBC Blue stations).

Radio-Tele Bldg. at World Fair
RCA to Erect Structure Covering All Branches of Broadcasting--New 441 Line Television Shown
David Sarnoff, RCA president, and Grover Whalen, president of the 1939 New York World's Fair, yesterday [17] in the NBC television studios signed an agreement whereby RCA will construct a building at the fair which will cover all branches of radio and television.
Signing of the agreement was televised to the New York area through the NBC television transmitter, W2XBS, in the Empire State Building. The voice transmission was sent out over the NBC-Blue network. This is the first time the signing of a contract has been televised and the first time the sound which accompanied the picture has been sent out over a national network simultaneously with the televised broadcast.
It was also the first time that the press had witnessed the new 441-line television picture and all agreed it was a definite improvement over the 343-line image of a year ago. RCA gave a demonstration for the Institute of Radio Engineers some weeks ago, but that was a private showing.
The building to be erected at the Fair will be of ultra-modern construction and will be linked directly with the NBC television transmitter in Manhattan. Outstanding fair events will be televised and shown to the visitors for the first time in radio history.
In making the announcement of RCA participation, Sarnoff said that Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, would be in charge of the RCA family's participation in the fair. Lohr was formerly head of the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition.
After the ceremonies were televised, Lohr stated that when television is perfected no actors will be allowed to read from scripts. Sarnoff, Lohr and Whalen all read their speeches from paper and as a result only the tops of their faces were visible to the reporters present.
Lohr also estimated that RCA would spend over $1,000,000 for the fair building and equipment. The building will be known as the "World of Tomorrow." Some of the press representatives present were under the impression that the conclave was to be a television demonstration, but Lohr denied that it was. He said that the television receivers which picked up the program in the NBC board room and O. B. Hanson's office were hurriedly wired together at Camden and sent to New York for this occasion.
Betty Goodwin, NBC television announcer, opened and closed the television ceremonies. (Radio Daily, June 18)

NBC World’s Fair Inking Ceremony Proves Unflattering to Television
NBC and New York World's Fair officials got together on a stunt broadcast last week. On paper it was a natural. As it came out, however, it was decidedly a nag of another hue.
What the World's Fair got was the, valuable ballyhoo of a nationwide broadcast. What NBC got was an unfavorable impression of television.
Spark that set the whole shebang off was NBC's contracting to pay $29,339.82 for a site of 81,699 square feet at the New York World's Fair of 1939. Plot of ground will be used to erect an exhibit showing the story of radio and its future and housing studios for both radio and television.
To ballyhoo that deal, as well as to plug its television progress, NBC staged the stunt. David Sarnoff, RCA president; Grover Whalen, World's Fair prez, and Lenox R. Lohr, NBC prexy, inked contracts for the deal as the stars of a television broadcast.
Ceremonies were, broadcast over a national hook-up, with glowing speeches by the three principals. Also broadcast by television for the RCA and NBC execs who have television receivers in their offices and homes. Was said later it was the first ceremony of official nature ever sent out by television and the first television broadcast also aired by radio. Daily and trade paper reporters watched and heard the ceremonies via receivers in the NBC offices.
As a demonstration of practical television, the stunt left plenty to be desired. In fact it might be called an expose, rather than a demonstration. The image, reflected in the raised top of the receiver, is about seven, by nine inches in size. Lohr stated during the ceremony that television reproduction is now as satisfactory as 16 mm. film projection in the home, but the demonstration hardly bore him out.
Flicker Still Present
Same flicker that has characterized previous television images was present, possibly even more accentuated. Focusing was faulty, with outlines and images blurred. Lighting seemed to provide the most trouble, frequent blinks flashing on the tube end.
Still, all three principals in the show were easily recognizable.
Aside from the technical difficulties still unsolved by television, the demonstration highlighted one point that has frequently been mentioned in regard to practical television. That is the program angle. While the broadcast may have sounded interesting and impressive via radio, it was tiresome as reproduced by television.
Lohr explained after the demonstration that the transmitting equipment had been virtually tossed together at the last minute to comply with his and Sarnoff 's sudden decision to televise the ceremonies of sighing the Fair contract. Paraphernalia was dismantled to permit some experiments several weeks ago and the intention was not to reassemble it until late this month, Lohr said, adding that the result of the hurry job was a number of television flaws.
In their speeches accompanying the signing, Sarnoff, Lohr and Whalen all did a Gaston-Alphonse routine about 'so honored to have you with us,' 'so happy to reach this agreement,' etc. Boiled down, the speeches simply meant that RCA and NBC had contracted to spend bundle of coin to ballyhoo their radio and television achievements and facilities to the 50,000,000 (estimated. by Whalen) who will visit the Fair.
How vague the whole thing is at present can be judged from the fact that the question of whether RCA-NBC have the site for one or two seasons in return for their $29,000 hasn't been decided. (Variety, June 23)

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1937
RCA Television Tubes Installed at KC Plant
Kansas City — Four RCA electronic television tubes and equipment, to make the newly established 441-line television station here [W9XAL] the first to be so equipped west of Philadelphia, have been installed by Midland Television Inc.
Midland's station will be used in connection with the school opening in the fall, but eventually will be employed by KMBC when commercial television makes its bow. (Radio Daily)

TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1937
GE to Build Television Transmitter in Albany
Schenectady, N. Y., June 22.
Installation by General Electric of a short wave, high-frequency transmitter for television broadcasting will begin within five weeks, the first step being, the erection of a 20-foot tower atop the State Office Building, Albany, the tallest structure in this section. Permission for the installation was obtained from FCC some months ago.
Willard J. Purcell, chief engineer of WGY, will supervise the work. Equipment to cost about $20,000.
When completed, the transmitter will send out the 'quasi-ocular' radio wave, which for a long time has been the problem child of television. The Albany transmitter will operate on a five to seven meter range, with a receiving radius of approximately 30 miles. (Variety, June 23)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937
Radio-Television Exhibit By Westinghouse at Fair
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. will present an exhibit and demonstrations of the latest developments in radio and television, among other things, at the New York World's Fair in 1939. The company has just signed the first formal contract for exhibit space in a building to be erected at the Fair. (Radio Daily)

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1937
NEW YORK CITY—A report by the Radio Corporation of America is to the effect that nearly fifty television sets are in practical use by executives and engineers of the company, and that they receive daily broadcasts from the experimental station in the tower of the Empire State Building. (Saline County Record, and others)

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1937
Television Far Away, States Comdr. McDonald.
Addressing a recent world convention of Zenith Radio dealers in Chicago, the assertion that television has proved "a colossal flop" in England was made by Comdr. Eugene F. McDonald Jr., president of Zenith Radio Corp., in applying June 30 for a construction permit for an experimental television station in Chicago [W9XZV]. The London public, said Comdr. McDonald, noted not only as a radio manufacturer but also as an explorer, is complaining bitterly because of the lack of acceptable programs while paying about $450 for television receivers.
"Television is just around the corner—for stock salesmen only," said Comdr. McDonald. He said it was a long way off for general use in the home. His company, he said, has been working on television in its laboratories for several years, but he stated the art has many economic and technical problems yet to be solved. Zenith, he said, has refused and will continue to refuse to be "stampeded" into prematurely placing on the market its television apparatus. (Broadcasting, July 15)