Another television station signed on during August of 1931. W2XAW was the General Electric’s station which eventually became WRGB. It didn’t have much of a schedule, simply simulcasting with WGY radio from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The transmitter was turned on less than a month after CBS’ W2XAB went on the air. It, too, simulcast some radio shows and tried for something a little ambitious—a televised boxing match. It wasn’t much of one. Remote broadcasts weren’t possible and the TV cameras of those days couldn’t pick up much more than the upper half of person’s body and very little movement. The match wasn’t much of one, considering the restrictions imposed by TV in that era.
Most of W2XAB’s affairs were 15 minutes long. They featured a few of the network’s singing stars, as well as announcers. Two of them later worked for Fred Allen—Ken Roberts and Harry Von Zell, who spent his quarter-hour playing the mandolin! There is an appearance by Teddy Bergmann, later known as Alan Reed. Comedians Miller and Lyles had a weekly show. They were, more or less, Amos ‘n’ Andy before Amos ‘n’ Andy—and they were actually black. We’ve attached an article about them for you to read.
The Jenkins station in New York, W2XCR, continued to simulcast programming from WGBS. The other stations in the east had no live programming; including NBC’s W2XBS. Deac Aylesworth explained to one newspaper, in a lengthy article, why the company—which today leaves the impression it was a huge TV pioneer—was reticent to do much more than shoot Felix the cat revolving or a title card with the station call letters.
Here are the TV listings for the month. They’re from various sources. There are conflicts between the New York Times, Sun and Herald Tribune involving air hours and some shows, and some papers don’t mention stations other than W2XAB and W2XCR. Nothing appears for the DeForest station, W2XCD in Passaic; the company was having money trouble. DeForest had bailed. A lengthy article in the New York Sun on August 1st stated the NBC station, W2XBS, operated Monday through Saturday, with its transmitter in the Amsterdam Theatre Building in Times Square. And there is a list of applicants for new stations or frequencies.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00—Experimental images.
8:00—Natalie Towers, songs.
8:15—Harry Von Zell, mandolin.
8:30—Kathryn Parsons, songs.
8:45—Reis and Dunn, minstrels.
9:00—Kenneth Roberts, Readings
9:15—“Syncopated History,” Henry Burbig, comedian.
9:30—“Hit of Tomorrow,” Florence Seibert, pianist; Artells Dickson, songs; talk, Louis Dean
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Prosperity Girls.
4:15—Lily Leonhard, songs.
4:30—Vera Hurst, sketches.
4:45—Noah Ferris, songs.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS.
6:00—Quinn and Dublin Boys.
6:30—Van Dycke’s Interlude.
6:45—Sports Talk.
7:00—Dalma Denyee, songs.
7:15—“About New York.”
7:30—Robert Malone, tenor.
7:45—Television Trio.
8:00—Rose White, songs.
8:15—Sport celebrities, Freddy McGuire.
8:45—Helen Hoss, songs.
W2XBS (NBC), New York, 2100 kc
2:00-5:30—Silhouettes, talks. 7:00-10:00—Silhouettes, announcements.
W2XR (Radio Pictures/John Hogan), Long Island, 2950kc.
4:00—Cartoons. 5:00—Films (2150 kc. and 2030 kc). 7:00—Films (accompanied by coordinated sound through W2XAR, 1604kc). 9:00—Cartoons.
W3XK, Washington, 2035 kc.
7:00-9:00—Film. 10:30-11:30—Film.
W1XAV, Boston, 2870 kc.
1:00-2:00—Halftone pictures. 7:00-10:30—Halftone pictures.
The National Broadcasting Company is going into television for public entertainment and not as a laboratory experiment of interest only to those of its audience who may have a flare for mechanical puttering. Until such time as its television experiments may be considered a practical form of entertainment run in conjunction with its broadcasting, the N. B. C. will carry on its laboratory work without talking.
The date for the opening of its new television studios on the eighty-fifth floor of the Empire State Building has been tentatively set for January 1. At that time N. B. C. expects to be ready to bring televiaion out of the research laboratory for practical experimentation. The doors of the great combination laboratory at Camden will awing wide to reveal the closely guarded secrets which have for ao long been rumored secrets which, it is said, will revolutionize television broadcasting.
Engineers of the Radio Corporation of America, the General Electric and Westinghouse Manufacturing companies are combining forces and brains at Camden in an effort to be ready to meet N. B. C.'s demand for practical experimental television by the first of the year. There, it is said, has been developed an entirely different technic for television transmission and receiving—one in which the cathode ray and cathode tube will replace the scanning disc and neon tube used in the present experiments. The engineering achievements in the developing of this system are still one of R. C. A.’s most cherished mysteries, but it is reported that where most of the stations now operating are sending pictures on sixty lines, twenty frames a minute. W2XBS, the television station of the N. B. C., when housed in its new quarters will be able to send up pictures on as many lines as the broadcast standard will allow, with opinions varying from ninety to 120 lines as the possible standard to be adopted. The cathode system, permitting the increase in lines and resulting increase in the amount of detail carried, has overcome the handicap of insufficient light.
Working on Light Cells.
The experimentation which has been carried on with the light cells one of the weakest points of present day television, have resulted, it is said, in marked improvement. The pink glow with suffuses present broadcast pictures will be missing from the N. B. C. pictures of tomorrow, although just what hue will be used is another laboratory secret. It has not been possible to data to obtain a gas which will permit the showing of the pictures in black and white relief.
So much is known, but a whole lot more is left to the public's imagination by those carefully guarded laboratory doors. That the National Broadcasting Company has been severely criticized for an obviously apathetic attitude toward the subject of television in the past has not escaped unnoticed. This has been in the main inspired by N. B. C.'s reluctance to discuss its television experiments. M. H. Avlesworth, president of N. B. C., explains that his company’s lukewarm attitude toward the subject is inspired by the belief that television has not arrived at a point where oy may be acclaimed by the public as a practical means of entertainment.
Not Yet a Public Service.
"Television as it stands today is for the man who likes to tinker with mechanical devices for his own amusement," said Mr. Aylesworth. "It cannot, by the wildest stretch of the imagination, be declared a public service for the benefit of the vast audience which radio broadcasting has won. Until such time as it can be used for public benefit we are not interested in talking about it. I do not honestly believe that the radio audience is, or would be, interested in receiving pictures such as those as have marked the television experiments up to the present time. Moreover, the constant changes that have taken place and are continuing to take place in television broadcasting make it impractical for the average person to build a television receiver. It is essential that some standard be accepted before the public is led into spending money to build sets which the next day may have to be discarded.
'Moreover, as I view it, the public wants television pictures far in advance of anything which has been possible before this. One must remember that when radio first started there was nothing to be used in comparison except an inferior type of phonograph that wasn't much better than was radio itself. Today any attempts at television must bear the brunt of an instinctive comparison in the public's mind with talking pictures. In addition to this, the wonderful novelty of drawing something out of the ether is gone forever. People were awed by sound flying through apace where they won't bat an eyelash over pictures sent the same way—they will merely accept it as something that was to be expected. That attitude alone will make the picture far more critical of television man it ever thought of being of broadcasting, and the demand placed upon television will be that much greater.
That Corner Again.
"When I say that television 'is just around the corner' I mean that television as entertainment has not come yet. We have been broadcasting under the system as it is known today since W2XBS was licensed in April. 1928. Until televised programs can be carried into the home as practical entertainment with future experiments working toward the perfecting of, rather than the development of, an accepted system, I do not feel that television has 'arrived.'"
C. W. Horn, chief engineer of N. B. C, with an engineer's characteristic reticence, would admit little more than that some radical developments may be looked at when he has the new television station in the Empire State Building in working order. Mr. Horn will have charge of overseeing the installation of the new apparatus expected from Camden and will supervise the test programs sent from there.
“Our reason for wanting the Empire State station is that we have found that the height on an antenna in the heart of the section we are to serve is of primary importance,” Mr. Horn explained. “Using the mooring mast atop this building for our antenna means that we are high above anything else within our station’s radium, and we will be able to “shoot down” on New York city rather than have to go through the many steel structures in the congested business areas of the city. We have found, for example, that the buildings of downtown New York cast a distinct zigzag shadow, as does the shopping district fromThirty-fourth to Forty-second street. A television receiver located within the radius of these shadows is seriously affected. By “shooting down” on the city we will overcome, I believe, the handicap of those ‘dead’ places.
A Change of Direction.
"Our experiments have been practically the same as those of other stations now broadcasting so-called television pictures. We have not sought to combine sight and vision for the simple reason that we have never felt satisfied that we had at hand a practical means of transmitting pictures. In this, events have justified our belief, for after working for so long to bring one system up to a reasonable standard we have scrapped the entire system and developed television along an entirely different line.
“We cannot even now say that the new system will prove wholly practical when we have had the chance to test it out under existing conditions, therefore, even after we open our television studios the televised entertainment from there must be considered as practical experimentation. Broadcasting had a clearly defined standard established before it was released from the research laboratories, and from then on it was a case of perfecting a system and overcoming complications as they developed. The same will be true of television. Moreover, it is easy to create an illusion through sound alone where the eyes will not be deceived.
"The technical problems to be solved are problematical. We have found that in certain sections we receive two or three pictures of the same image. We have 'dead' spots that must eventually be penetrated. I believe that sound must eventually go into short waves, and that provides one of the greatest problems of all—where are all the waves that will be necessary to operate, say a chain of television stations, coming from? The engineering development is only a part of the picture of the television of tomorrow."
It was also pointed out by Mr. Horn that receiving sets for television must be developed in conjunction with the transmitters, as the structure of television is based on perfect synchronisation of the two. At the present time W2XBS has its transmitter in N. B. C.'s Times Square studio in the Amsterdam Theater Building. It operates on a frequency of 2,100 kilocycles or 143 meters from 2 to 5:30 and from 7 to 10:30 P. M. daily except Sundays. It is now using the same type of scanning system as all Eastern stations. A R. C. A. type receiver has been installed in the laboratory at 711 Fifth avenue. (New York Sun)
Annette Royak, Russian prima donna of the Petrograd Opera, will commence a series of three broadcasts over television station W2XCR and sound station WGBS, beginning tomorrow at 7:15 P. M. Her second appearance will be on August 9; her third on August 16. (Sun)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.—Having severed his connections with the De Forest Radio Company of Passaic, N. J., Dr. Lee De Forest, renowned as the father of radio because his invention of the vacuum tube made modern radio and its kindred arts possible, is now affiliated with the American Television Laboratories, Ltd., of Los Angeles, where he recently took up his residence. Dr. De Forest is vice-president of the company whose president is James W. Garside, formerly president of both the De Forest Radio Company and its subsidiary, the Jenkins Television Corporation.
Apply For High Power.
An application for authority to erect a new 10.000 watt television transmitter at Los Angeles, using the visual wave lengths between 2,000 and 2,100 kilocycles, has been made to the Federal Radio Commission, and will be the subject of a hearing before a commission examiner next autumn. Signing the application as engineer was Charles E. Huffman, formerly an engineer of the DeForest Radio Company. Perry Hull, 25 Broad street. New York city, is named as secretary of the company.
Use 78-Line Image.
The application states that the system being developed in California is a De Forest scanning system using twenty frames a second, seventy-five lines a frame. The scanning is horizontal clockwise, using both film and direct pickup. The application reveals that the American Television Laboratories, Ltd., giving its as 7160 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, is incorporated both in California, and Delaware. The California corporation simply has 5,000 shares of common stock at $1 per share. (Sun)
Sunday, Aug. 2, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental images.
8:00—“Italian Idyll,” Sorey Orchestra.
8:30—Richard B. Harrison, readings.
8:45—George Beuchler, baritone.
9:00—“Half Hour on Broadway,” Lillian Taiz, soprano; Sam Jaffe, Gypsy Markoff, songs.
9:30—Coral Islanders, Hawaiian ensemble.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
5:00-9:00—Same as WGBS.
5:00—Irish Boys.
6:00—“Musical Etchings.”
6:15—Cissie Weston, songs.
6:30—Television Trio.
7:00—“Adventures.”
7:15—Annette Royak, songs.
7:30—Comedy, “Mr. Fresh.”
8:00—de Sola, piano.
8:15—“Daisy and Bob.”
8:30—Nita O’Neill, songs.
8:45—“Snapshots.”
Whenever a television station goes on the air one of the first essentials seems to be the selection of a “television girl,” one whose “well carved facial features produce favorably as a broadcast image.” Natalie Towers is “Miss Television” at station W2XAB, Dorothy Knapp represents W2XBS and Dagmar Perkins is the latest added to the ranks at W2XCR. (Orrin E. Dunlap, Jr., New York Times column)
Monday, Aug. 3, 1931
Monday, August 3, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Julian Mahoney, soprano.
8:15—Morton Downey, ministrel.
8:30—Colored Quartet.
9:00—Mary McCord, songs.
9:15—Television specialty.
9:30—The Lombardo brotherrs.
9:45—“Miss Television,” Natalie Towers.
10:00—Helen Nugent.
10:30—Television demonstration.
10:45—Artells Dickson, songs.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Elsie Duffield, songs.
4:15—Don Trent, impersonations.
4:30—Hernan Rodriguez, guitar.
4:45—Weight Reduction, Dr. Shirley Wynne.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—DeWitte’s Orchestra.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—Harriet Menken, theatre or Book Review, Edward B. Haches.
7:30—Flanagan’s Trio or Innasail Trio.
8:00—Samuel’s Proteges or Children’s Program
8:30—Kurley’s Orchestra.
WXBS (NBC), New York, 2100 kc.
7:00 to 10:30—Experimental program.
W2XR (Radio Pictures), Long Island, 2950 kc.
5:00—Films (2150 kc and 2920 kc).
7:00—Films (accompanied by coordinated sound through W2XAR, 1604 kc).
9:00—Cartoons.
W3XK, Washington, 2035 kc.
7:00 to 9:00—Film.
10:30 to 11:30—Film.
W1XAV, Boston, 2870 kc.
7:00 to 10:30—Films.
Combination sight and sound programs, with music and voice on an extensive network, start on a regular schedule at WABC-CBS next Sunday evening. Under this plan five or six of the network features each week will be taken into the television studios of W2XAB, the chain’s picture station, and the combination sent out together, sound on the regular broadcast channels and the sight on the short wave frequency of 2750. (C.E. Butterfield, AP radio column)
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Ernest Naftzger hour, Raymond Torres, tenor; Vincent Sorey, violinist; monologues; Myndelle Louis.
8:30—Herman Oelrichs, "Handcuff Mysteries."
8:45—Dorothea James, comedy star.
9:00—Harry O’Neil, cartoonist.
9:15—Television waltz with Natalie Towers.
9:30—Art of cutting silhouettes with Beatrix Sherman.
10:00—Mary Charles, soprano.
10:15—Experimental Sketch comedy.
10:30—“Spanish Serenade.”
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Verdi’s Tiny Tots.
4:15—Adventures of Guiseppe and Luigi, sketch.
4:30—Mary Bongert, soprano.
4:45—Marie von Unschuld, piano.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Y. W. C. A. (String) Quartet.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Meb and Mac.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Night in Italy.
8:00—Helen Alexander.
8:15—Dagmar Perkins.
8:30—Digest Program, Mariska Aldrich, songs, others.
Other stations as above.
Up at CBS, Bill Schudt, jr., whose job it is to try different things before the photoelectric cells, has made plans to televise over W2XAB the magician, Nicola, doing his tricks. The first appearance is set for tomorrow night, with another one the following Wednesday night. (C.E. Butterfield, AP radio column)
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Miller and Lyles, comedians.
8:15—Tony Wons’ Scrap Book.
8:30—Harriet Lee, contraltro.
8:45—“Meet the Artist.” Bob Taplinger interviews Harry Von Zell.
9:00—Paul Sisters.
9:15—Helen Nugent, contralto.
9:30—William Benton, talk: Character analysis.
9:45—Male quartet.
10:00—Three Dancing Girls.
10:15—Sports interview.
10:30—Helen Rowland, songs.
10:45—Frank Ruhf, tenor.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Bessie Bickford.
4:15—Amy Bonner, talk.
4:30—Billie Davis, songs.
4:45—At the Movies.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—“Aviation,” Lieut. Commander J.W. Iseman.
6:30—Lily Leonhard, songs.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Doug Brinkley.
7:15—De Moralles Spanish Group or Naomi Shaw, songs.
7:30—Television Trio or Dance Orchestra.
8:00—Debate, Mathew Salzman vs. S. Stankey Kreautzer.
8:30—John Murphy, tenor.
8:45—Nathalie Boshko, violin.
Other stations as above.
Thursday, Aug. 6, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Brad and Al, comedians.
8:15—Television comedy, “Mr. Fresh.”
8:30—Emery Deutsch, the Wandering Gypsy.
8:45—Shadow boxing demonstration.
9:00—Musicale: Round Towners, male quartet; Natalie Towers; Dave Franklin, pianist; Grace W. White; skit.
10:00—Television demonstration, “Princess Kasimira.”
10:20—Betty Spogen, songs.
10:30—Nat Brusiloff Orchestra.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Marie Guion, contralto.
4:15—Deacon Jazz.
4:30—Etchings, William Cox.
4:45—Lottie Salisbury, sketches.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Calendar Sketches.
6:30—“Toyland,” children’s program.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Arthur Newborn, songs.
7:15—Justice Brandeis Society.
7:30—Victor Turner, xylophone.
7:45—Classic Four.
8:00—Marguerite Austin, violin.
8:15—Television Trio or Zunia Schneiderman, bass.
8:30—Rev. Edwin Curtis, “Relativity.”
8:45—Suzanne Kenyon, singer.
other stations as above.
Friday, Aug. 7, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Charlotte Harriman, songs.
8:15—Poet’s favorites.
8:30—Boswell Sisters.
9:00—Television technical talk.
9:15—Stanley Davis, steel saw.
9:30—Mildred Johnson, contralto.
9:45—Billy Jordan, songs.
10:00—Hawaiian songs and music.
10:30—Artells Dickson, songs.
10:45—Adele Vasa, soprano.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Helene Chappelle, songs.
4:15—French Lessons, Dr. Thatcher Clark.
4:30—Your Voice.
4:45—“Speaking of Women,” Edna McKnight.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Ship Ahoy Trio.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Chamberlain Brown’s Broadway Stars.
8:00—Dean J. J. Dandreau, talk.
8:15—Elena Marisa, singer.
8:30—Enterpean Waves, G. Aldo Randegger, piano.
Other station as above
This television stuff is making progress. Took a looksee at W2XAB, the CBS television transmitter, the other night to see Nicola, the magician, perform. Although he did only one trick before the television camera because he said most of his stunts require apparatus too bulky, it came over pretty well. He held up a billiard ball before photoelectric cells while the air audience watched him change it into four balls and back into one again. (C.E. Butterfield, AP radio column)
Saturday, Aug. 8, 1931W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—“Miss Television,” Natalie Towers.
8:15—Harry Von Zell, mandolin.
8:30—Kathryn Parsons, songs
8:45—Reis and Dunn
9:05—Gloom Chasers.
9:15—“Cyrano,” reading.
9:30—Florence Seibert, poet.
9:45—Artells Dickson.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Prosperity Girls.
4:15—Olga Aldrin, impersonations.
4:30—Aunt Dixie.
4:45—Noah Ferris, songs.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Quinn and Dublin Boys.
6:30—Van Dycke’s Broadway Interlude.
6:45—Sports Talk
7:00—Dalma Denyee, songs.
7:15—“About New York,” Edward Spranger.
7:30—Robert Malone, tenor.
7:45—Vera Hurst, sketches.
8:00—Rose White, songs.
8:15—Jack Norman’s Sport Celebrities.
8:45—Helen Hoss, contralto.
Other stations as above.
A prize fight, an exhibition affair, is going out by television next Thursday night.
Participants will be Benny Leonard, lightweight, and an opponent to be selected. The transmitting stations will be W2XAB for the pictures and W2XE for the sound. Both of the CBS chain.
The bout is to take place in the studio and is to go three rounds. For the sound audience, Ted Husing will give a blow-by-blow account.
Preliminary to the match a shadow boxing exhibition was televised this week, with Walter Cobb, heavyweight, performing before the photo-electric cells. (C.E. Butterfield, AP radio column)
At 4: 45 P. M. every Tuesday the scanners of W2XCR will pick up and send out over the air the makings of what is said to be the first educational series of programs to be broadcast by television. Mme. Marie von Unschuld of Washington has enough faith in this new medium of transmission to try it out as a means of reaching broader fields in the teaching of the piano.
She explained, "it has long been my dream to achieve the results with a large group that I have attained with the individual student. While at the present state of television the teaching of the piano is rather ambitious, it is not at all inconceivable that in the near future more and more of our instruction will be broadcast over the air." (Sun)
A series of vision-sound programs by Mme. Mariska Aldrich, formerly of the Metropolitan Opera and later with “The Miracle,” will be inaugurated at WGBC-W2XCR next Tuesday evening at 8:30. She will appear in Spanish costume and render a program of songs of that country. As guest stars she will have Marguerite Sylva, who will sing the Habanera song from “Carmen,” and Frank Gough, baritone. (Sun)
By a special vote of the commission majority, two of which were obtained by telegram in the absence of all but Commissioner Sykes on their vacations, the N. B. C. has been authorized to proceed at once with the construction of its 5,000-watt visual transmitter atop the Empire State Building. The station will use frequencies in the ultra- short wave band between 43,000 and 80,000 kilocycles (6.97 and 3.74 meters).
This leaves nineteen other applications for television channels now pending before the commission. Many are from broadcasters and all but two will he subjects of hearings before the commission examiners next autumn. The two are those of the Chicago Federation of Labor (WCFL) and the Pioneer Mercantile Company of Bakersfield, Cal., both of which have been recommended for wave-length grants by examiners i of the commission following hearings before the summer adjournment. The other pending applicants and the waves and powers they seek are:
Knickerbocker Broadcasting Company (WMCA) New York; 2850-2950 kilocycles, 500 watts.
Jenkins Television Corp. (in connection with WGBS, New York), 43000-46000, 48500-50300 and 60000-80000 kilocycles, 2,000 watts.
Easton Coil Company. New York; 2750-2850 kilocycles and 43000-46000, 48500-50300 and 60000-80000 kilocycles, 300 watts.
The National Company, Malden, Mass., 2100-2200 kilocycles, 150 watts.
Pilot Radio & Tube Company, Lawrence, Mass.; 2000-2100 kilocycles, 250 watts.
Monumental Radio Company (WCAO), Baltimore: 2000-2100, 2100-2200, 2750-2850 and 2850-2950 kilocycles, 500 watts.
Hochschild Kohn & Co., Baltimore; 2850-2950 kilocycles, 500 watts.
Chicago Tribune (WGN); 2850-2950 kilocycles. 750 watts.
Memphis Commercial Appeal (WMC), Memphis. Tenn.; 2850-2950 and 43000-46000 kilocycles, 250 watts.
J. S. McClane Company, New Orleans; 2000-2200 kilocycles, 100 watts.
WJR, Inc., Detroit; 2000-2100 kilocycles, 500 watts.
Kunsky-Trendle Broadcasting Corp. (WXYZ), Detroit; no frequency or power designated.
Crosley Radio Corp. (WLW), Cincinnati; 2100-2200 kilocycles, 1,000 watts.
Voice of St. Louis (KMOX), St. Louis; 2000-2100, 43000-46000. 48500-50300 and 60000-80000 kilocycles, 500 watts.
Greater St. Louis Broadeasting Company (KWK); 2850-2950 kilocycles, 500 watts.
Trav-Ler Manufacturing Corp.. St. Louis; 2300-2500 and 1750-2000 kilocycles, 500 watts.
Missouri Broadcasting Company (WIL); 2200-2300 kilocycles, 500 watts.
American Television Laboratories, Ltd., Los Angeles; 2000-2100 kilocycles, 10,000 watts.
Indiana Community Broadcasting Company, Hartford City, Ind. (Sun)
Sunday, Aug. 9, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental images.
8:00—“The Gauchos.” or Sorey Orchestra.
8:30—Parenti’s Singing Saxophones.
8:45—Myndelle Louis, concert artist.
9:00—“Half Hour on Broadway.” Talk, Major Ivan Firth; Jack Wilson, comedian.
9:30—French trio.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
5:00-9:00—Same as WGBS.
5:00—Irish Boys.
5:45—Victor Turner, xylophone.
6:00—“Musical Etchings.”
6:15—Cissie Weston, songs.
6:30—Cosma Vullo, soprano.
6:45—Whitman Trio.
7:15—Annette Royak, songs.
7:30—Flores Sextet.
8:00—Vincent de Sola, piano.
8:15—“Daisy and Bob.
8:30—Nita O’Neil, songs.
8:45—“Snapshots.”
Columbia Broadcasting System announces that effective today a number of its regular features would be televised over W2XAB while synchronized in sound over WABC and the usual network outlets. Because of television’s present limitations, these broadcasts necessarily must be limited to groups not exceeding four or five persons. Such group presentations or single acts as are scheduled over the network will be considered for visual broadcasting as well.
Today Tony Parenti and his singing saxophones will be carried both by the network and over the visual channel. On Monday the Bon Bons will be scanned while broadcasting at 6:30 p. m., and again on Tuesday at the same hour. Radio listeners tuned to WABC and W2XAB will hear and see the Boswell Sisters at 6:45 p. m. Thursday in the same week, and on Friday at 7:45 p. m.
The Hernandez Brothers, with Vincent Sorey, will perform the flying spot Frida at 7 p. m., while their sound synchronization is being carried over WABC and a large network. (Bill Key, Atlanta Constitution)
Application for a construction permit for a 250-watt visual broadcasting station, using sixty-line image transmission, has been filed with the Federal Radio Commission by Pilot Radio and Tube Corporation of Lawrence, Kansas.
This application marks the return of the Pilot company to the television field, in which it did considerable experimental work three years ago when it was located in Brooklyn. In the summer of 1928 it built the television transmitter used by station WRNY for the first picture broadcasting done in New York by a regular broadcasting station, and in the fall of the same year, at New York University, the first public demonstration of television in the east was staged. (New York Herald Tribune)
Monday, Aug. 10, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental images.
8:00—Bird and Vash, songs.
8:15—Charlotte Harriman, contralto.
8:30—Bon-Bons, quartet.
8:45—Doris Sharp, crooner.
9:00—“The Best Dressed Girl in Radio.”
9:15—Cookie Bowers.
9:30—Colin O’More, tenor.
9:45—“Dancing in the Dark,” Natalie Towers.
10:00—Helen Nugent, contralto.
10:15—Henry Burbig and Bob Taplinger, comedy.
10:30—Dorothy Zion, violin.
10:45—Artells Dickson, singing.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Elsie Duffield, songs.
4:15—Don Trent, impersonations.
4:30—Hernan Rodriguez, guitar.
4:45—Weight Reduction, Dr. Shirley Wynne.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—O’Byrne Orchestra.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—“Byways in the World War,” Capt. Bate Preston.
7:30—Innasail Trio.
8:00—Pages of Music.
8:30—Kurley’s Orchestra.
W2XAB, W2XR, W3XK, W1XAV, as above.
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Ernest Naftzger hour: Girls vocal trio; Natalie Towers; Rollo Hudson, pianist; others.
8:30—Negro quartet.
8:45—Grace Voss, pantomimes.
9:00—Tap dancing and specialties.
9:15—Mary Charles, comedienne.
9:30—Beatrix Sherman, silhouettes.
9:45—Guy Austin, magician.
10:00—Three Dancing Girls.
10:15—“Humor Views,” Teddy Bergmann, comedian
10:30—“Coral Islanders.”
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Verdi’s Tiny Tots.
4:15—Adventures of Guiseppe and Luigi, sketch.
4:30—Mary Bongert, soprano.
4:45—Marie von Unschuld, piano.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Y. W. C. A. (String) Quartet.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Meb and Mac.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Night in Italy.
8:00—Helen Alexander.
8:15—Dagmar Perkins, talk.
8:30—Digest Program, Mariska Aldrich, songs; Frank Cough, baritone.
W2XAB, W2XR, W3XK, W1XAV, as above.
Wednesday, August 12, 1931W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Harriet Lee, contralto.
8:15—Tony Wons’ Scrap Book.
8:30—Miller and Lyles, comedians.
8:45—Baby Adele Kendler, songs.
9:00—Taplinger inreviews Tony Wons.
9:15—“Mirrors of Song,” Helen Nugent, contralto; Charlie Carlisle, tenor.
9:45—Nicola, magician.
10:00-Television Waltz with Natalie Towers.
10:15—Helen Rowland, contralto.
10:30—Herbert Polesie, comedian.
10:45—Jolly Jugglers or Scholz and Brae, songs.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Bessie Bickford.
4:15—Amy Bonner, talk.
4:30—Billie Davis, songs.
4:45—At the Movies.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—“Aviation,” Lieut. Commander J.W. Iseman.
6:30—Leif Erickson, baritone.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—“Theatregoing,” with Doug Brinkley.
7:15—Amerigo Frediani, tenor.
7:30—Children’s program.
8:00—Debate.
8:30—John Murphy, tenor.
8:45—Nathalie Boshko, violin.
Other stations as above.
A three-round bout by television—the lightweights, Benny Leonard and Jimmy Martin mixing it up—is something different in radio sight and sound for tomorrow night.
With the television studio of W2XAB, New York, fitted up to represent a ring, the exhibition fight is to start at 9 o’clock. It will be run like a regular scrap with Jimmy DeForest as referee.
An oral description of the event by Harry Vonzell [sic] will be sent out by W2XE. (C.E. Butterfield, AP radio column)
Thursday, August 13, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Brad and Al, comedians.
8:15—Experimental Television comedy.
8:30—Emery Deutsch’s Gypsies.
8:45—Boswell Sisters.
9:00—Tele-Musicale: Harriett DeGoff, songs; Dave Franklin, pianist; Natalie Towers; Daddy and Rollo; Johnny Downs.
10:00—Shadow boxing demonstration, Benny Leonard.
10:20—Abigail Parecis, artist.
10:30—Nat Brusiloff’s Maniacs.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Marie Guion, contralto.
4:15—Deacon Jazz.
4:30—Etchings, William Cox.
4:45—Lottie Salisbury, charactarizations.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Calendar Sketches.
6:30—“Toyland,” children’s program.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Arthur Newborn, songs.
7:15—Justice Brandeis Society.
7:30—Victor Turner, xylophone.
7:45—“This Silly World,” talk.
8:00—Zunia Schneiderman, bass.
8:15—Victor Turner, xylophone.
8:30—Rev. Edwin Curtis, “Relativity.”
8:45—Suzanne Kenyon, singer
Other stations as above.
An exhibition boxing match was broadcast by television for the first time last night [13] from the Columbia Television Studios, 485 Madison Avenue. The fighters were Benny Leonard, the retired lightweight champion, who has recently announced his return to the ring, and Jimmy Martin, New York “Golden Gloves” featherweight champion.
The transmission was not entirely satisfactory. At times the figures and the action were fairly clear, but at others the fighters seemed to be struggling through a severe blizzard, with the added handicap of beards such as used to be worn by grizzled miners in the Klondyke.
Going from the audition room up to the actual place of combat disclosed a scene even more puzzling to old fight followers. In the small, crowded studio the two men fought in darkness lighted by intermittent flashes as though of rapid fire lightning. In the third round there was a loud thud, a groan, and Jimmy Martin was counted out, theoretically.
Benny Leonard then addressed the television audience, explaining that he believes he can come back because he has always “lived clean and fought clean.” When he retired, six years ago he said that he was doing it for the sake of his mother. Now, he says, his mother has come to have a more kindly feeling for the ring and is reconciled to his return.
Leonard’s trainer, Teddy Hayes, and Jimmy De Forrest, who refereed the match, also spoke. Jimmy Hayes acted as timekeeper. Mr. De Forrest and William C. (Wild Bill) Lyons recalled the Jeffries-Sharkey fight in Cone Island in 18 when the Edison kinetoscope was first used to film a prize-fight. (Herald Tribune, Aug. 14.)
Resplendent in a striped bathrobe of brilliant hues, hair slicked back but not quite covering a round, shiny bald spot on top of the pate, and with his face made up like a Ziegfeld chorus girl, Benny Leonard—the Benny Leonard that was—entered once more the the fighters' ring and fought for the honor of his one-time championship—and of television.
It was a gala occasion. The Columbia Broadcasting system was aglow with light and laughter and pretty girls. Strains of music slipped softlv from the studios, flowers blossomed in their vases on the desks of the hostesses; gentlemen attired in evening clothes and wilted collars, ladies in flowing skirts with tight bodices in front and nothing above the waist behind, passed in slow review down the corridors and up elevators while awaiting the big hour.
The news had gone forth far and wide that Mr. Leonard—the Mr. Leonard—undefeated lightweight champion at the time of his retirement, would return on this evening of evenings and stage a three-round bout with Jimmy Martin, who, it appears, a champion of the Golden Gloves and half the size of his not very large opponent, Mr. Leonard.
Suddenly a vast silence fell over the assembled guests—the silence that invariably comes before the big moment. A whisper of "Benny's arrived" went rapidly down the line and back again to the very doors of the one and only six by ten studio W2XAB brags at present. In which at the moment a tenor crooner was engaged keeping the television audience content by singing "It All Depends on You," and smiling in his best tooth paste advertising manner.
A Miniature Prize Ring.
And in the darkened studio, Bill Schudt and his valiant crew of fight assistants sought hastily to erect the first ring to be used for a televised bout. It was made of velvet ropes and highly polished brass posts. Once in place it was measured and found to allow each fighter to take two steps forward and two backward but not simultaneously. The referee was allowed two and a half steps with slight crowding of the fighters. The announcer got behind the piano and the spectators sat in one row of four chairs or stood in one row behind the chairs and tight against the wall. The seconds, finding no place in the ring or out of it, perched comfortably if precariously on the red velvet ropes.
On the outside the mob pressed close to the door. There was a slight commotion and little Jimmy Martin was discovered down near the floor somewhere trying to make his way into the studio. No brilliant bathrobe for Jimmy—he wore his blue serge coat buttoned tight across his manly chest and looked embarrassed when the ladies, catching sight of his bared legs and black sateen shorts, ventured an exclamation of delight.
Floored by Red Robe.
The floor of the fighters' dressing room opened and the commotion increased only to subside in awed silence as Benny Leonard—the Benny Leonard—made his graceful appearance in the doorway. A second later and the awe was shattered by a feminine shriek long and loud. A young lady made a dive in the direction of the startled Benny and the following exchange of words took place:
The young lady--Oh, oh, oh, you used red and I told you black.
Benny to T. L.—But I like red.
Y. L. to B. L.—But red won't take. I told you red won't take. I told you black, it's gotta be black. And you used the powder, not the liquor. I mean liquid, like I told you. You gotta use the liquid; the powder don’t take.
B. L., to Y. L.—But both are white, aren’t they?"
Y. L. to B. L.—Yeh, both are white, but the liquid takes and the powder doesn’t, and that's all I know about it. I told you. . . .
B. L. to Y. L. - All right, all right. I'll use the black and I'll use the liquid.
And with his trainer Benny Leonard—the fighter Benny Leonard—beat a retreat back into the dressing room. The curious guests turned to the young lady for an explanation. And here it is:
Lip Stick Must Be Black.
"I told him he hatta use black lip stick because, it's different in television from on the stage, and black is the only color that will bring out the detail of the lips. He used face powder, too, and that is no good at all. You gotta use white liquid—that is, a dark man does, so as to hide the trace of beard. The television eye picks up all these little things and you can’t be too careful."
So when Benny made his second appearance, he resembled a white face clown with black lips in relief. And then he faced his opponent in the ring.
Perhaps you heard the round-by-round description of the fight as broadcast over short wave station W2XE. Perhaps you saw the actual fight action as transmitted by television station W2XAB.
Short Count Wins.
It was as pretty a piece of shadow boxing as one might have wished to see. And with time up Little Jimmy slipped under the rope and out of range of the television apparatus, and the referee started at seven counted up to ten while holding Benny’s arm in midair.
Benny Leonard—the Benny Leonard—is still undefeated. Little Jimmy Martin, who may have been tapped slightly on the shoulder once or twice, is still champion of the Golden Gloves, whatever they may be. And Bill Schudt is still the world's only studio fight promoter.
Of such is the kingdom of television. (K. Treholm, New York Sun, Aug. 22)
Chamberlain Brown, casting agent and operator of a theatre in Mount Vernon, intends to make one of his periodic invasions of Broadway as a producer this season—and what’s more, his first offering will be a play he wrote himself. Entitled “Idle Tongues,” it will be played by Tom Hamilton, Emily Ann Wellman and others. Brown’s Mount Vernon tryout house is closed for alterations, so he will give his play a “stunt” tryout by television tomorrow. (Daily News)
Friday, Aug. 14, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—John Brewster, songs.
8:15—Poet’s favorites.
8:30—Joseph Laporte, violin or Roger Kinne, baritone.
8:45—Chick Farmer, yodeller.
9:00—“History of Television,” Everett M. Walker of the New York Herald Tribune.
9:15—Stanley Davis, steel saw
9:30—Earl Palmer, tenor.
9:45—Boswell Sisters.
10:00—Connie Boswell, songs.
10:15—Artells Dickson, songs.
10:30—Ruth Perrott, monologues.
10:45—Roger Kinne, baritone or string quartet.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Helene Chappelle, songs.
4:15—French Lessons, Dr. Thatcher Clark.
4:30—Your Voice.
4:45—“Speaking of Women,” Edna McKnight.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Ship Ahoy Trio.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Chamberlain Brown’s Broadway Stars.
8:00—Dean J. J. Dandreau, talk.
8:15—Elena Marisa, singer.
8:30—Enterpean Waves, G. Aldo Randegger, piano.
WCFL, Chicago, has been granted permission by the Federal Radio Commission to install television equipment. (Camden Evening Courier)
Saturday, Aug. 15, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—“Miss Television,” Natalie Towers, readings.
8:15—Bobby Trent, songs or Kathryn Parsons, songs.
8:30—Kathryn Parsons, songs or Les Reis and Artie Dunn, minstrels.
8:45—Reis and Dunn or Kenneth Roberts, readings.
9:00—“Spanish Melodies,” Hernandez Brothers (synchronized with WABC). Songs: “Cielo Andaluz,” “Tu,” Castlio No. 8,” “Limoncito,” “La Joie Madrelena.”
9:15—Stoopnagle and Budd with Henry Burbig.
9:30—Artells Dickson or Florence Seibert, pianist.
9:45—Kenneth Roberts, readings.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc. (Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Julie Armbuster, monologues.
4:15—Aunt Dixie.
4:30—Joe Lenze, musical saw.
4:45—Charles Snitow, baritone.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Quinn and Dublin Boys.
6:30—Van Dycke’s Broadway Interlude.
6:45—Sports Talk.
7:00—Dalma Denyee, songs.
7:15—Marguerite Austin, violin.
7:30—Earl McVergh, basso.
7:45—Kent and Love, songs.
8:00—Louise Naylor, soprano.
8:15—Jack Norman’s Sport Celebrities.
8:45—Emelia Rosselli, soprano.
Other stations as above.
A dancing act by Maria Gamberarelli, known on the air as "Gamby"; a Punch and Judy show and first of a series of presentations by the Television Ghost will be included on the television program announced by the Columbia Broadcasting System for next week. Visual broadcasting will be over W2XAB, while sound synchronisation will be routed over the short wave station W2XR. Several of the musical televised programs will also be carried over WABC.
Frances Upton, former star of "Whoopee," will be the featured artist on the televised program tomorrow night at 9 o'clock. Real cowboys, the Lone Pine Rangers, will make their television debut on Monday night from the same studios, and Miss Gambarelli will be seen Tuesday night. The Boswell Sisters will be televised while their sound program is being transmitted over the Columbia System on Thursday night of the same week.
Charles Butterfield, radio editor of the Associated Press, will begin a new series of television talks on Friday at 9 P. M. (Sun)
SCHENECTADY, Aug. 15.—Believing the ultra-short wave bands of five meters and under offer great possibilities in radio, especially in television, Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson, radio engineer of the General Electric Company, has arranged for broadcasting, one-hour programs twice a week over W2XAW, operating on five meters. These programs, the same as broadcast by WGY, will be sent out from 5 to 6 o’clock every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.
“We have reason to believe that the frequency bands of these short waves are better, especially for television, because reflections, which cause fading and other disturbances, are less.” Dr. Alexanderson explained. “Special observations will be made while the tests are going on and we feel the data secured will prove valuable to the advancement of the radio art.” (Herald Tribune)
One of the most promising indications that television is on its way out of the laboratory is to be found in the increasing number of applications for wave grants and permits to erect television stations that are now reaching the Federal Radio Commission. At the rate these facilities are being applied for it will not be long before the commission will be confronted with a wave shortage as acute as that which has obtained for some time in sound broadcasting. It is apparent from the activity being shown in this new radio development that many companies are profiting from their broadcasting experience and are going after these valuable ether franchises before it is too late.
Not only are many individuals applying for television licenses, but established broadcasting stations and the largo national networks are now getting aboard radio’s new bandwagon. Twenty-two experimental television stations have already been authorized by the Radio Commission, and all but five of these are now operating on fixed schedules. Pictures (rom these visual broadcasters are being received by experimenters to the number of 10,000, it is estimated.
With 22 visual stations already on the air or authorized to be built, the Radio Commission in the last few months has also had applications for new television stations from WMCA, New York City; KMOX, KWK and WIL, St Louis; WXYZ and WJR, Detroit; WGN, Chicago; WMC, Memphis; WCAO, Baltimore; the National Company of Malden, Mass, and many others in different parts of the country from New England to California.
All of which means that the Federal Radio Commission, if it decides to allow the various applicants to go into the visual field, must make room on the wave lengths for them. It also means—especially if television receivers come on the market in great quantities in the next few years and television pictures are accepted by the public—that the commission will be asked to remove some at the inhibitions it now places on television. First, it will be asked to acknowledge television as being out of the experimental stage; secondly, it will have to license new television stations for local services much mon, freely than it now does; thirdly, it will probably have to move all or most of the television operators to the ultra-high frequency
bands, since the channels there can be used to such good advantage for purely local services and are more numerous. (Boston Globe, Aug. 16)
Tests of long distance reception of television will be made at sea on September 5 and 7 aboard the Cosulich motor liner Vulcania by engineers of Shortwave and Television Corporation, it was disclosed yesterday. The purpose of the tests, it is said, is to determine the efficiency of television broadcasting station reception at sea.
Walter S. Lemmon, president of the Short Wave Broadcasting Corporation, a subsidiary of the former company, will be in charge of the tests. On board the Vulcania special programs from the Italian broadcasting system are to be tuned in, this system being one of those which will probably relay programs for rebroadcasting in the United States this winter.
The tests follow closely those recently conducted board the steamship Leviathan when signals were picked up from coastal te1evion stations several hundred miles at sea. Vision receiving apparatus was installed aboard the Leviathan by engineers of the Shortwave and Television Company. (Herald Tribune)
WASHINGTON.—Broad claims that the Farnsworth system of television narrows to from one to 10 per cent, the width of the channels heretofore regarded as necessary for television wave lengths filed with the Federal Radio Commission by Television Laboratories, Ltd., of San Francisco.. The company is described in the application as a patent holding company exploiting the inventions of Philo T. Farnsworth, young Mormon inventor of Salt Lake City.
Farnsworth himself appeared before a television conference of the commission last winter to make the claim that he can narrow the existing 100-kilocycle band for visual transmission down as low as six kilocycles. Though he promised to demonstrate laboratory models before the commission within the ensuing month, nothing was heard from him since then except for occasional technical discussions of his system. This is the first application filed by any one for wave lengths on which it is proposed to employ his system, the laboratory work presumably having been confined to wire transmissions.
Philco Acquires License
The application states that $150,000 has already been expended by the Crocker interests of San Francisco on the Farnsworth development; that 10,000 of the 20,000 shares of no par stock have already been subscribed for and are now selling at $125; that twenty patents have been applied for and four issued, and that the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company of Philadelphia, manufacturers of the Philco Radio, has been licensed to use the patents.
It is proposed to erect a 1,500-watt station in San Franciaco using the 2,100-kilocycle frequency or such other channels as may be assigned. The Farnsworth system, according to the application, covers an "electrical scanning system, broad band amplifier and particularly a system for narrowing the spectrum required for transmitting a given amount of detail, the effective channel requirement being narrowed to from one to 10 per cent, that heretofore considered necessary."
The application is signed by B. J. McCarger, as president of the patent holding company, and names A. H. Brolly as chief engineer. Attached to the application are statements indorsing the Farnsworth system by Donald Lippincott, radio engineer and inventor and also a patent attorney; Ralph M. Heintz of Heintz & Kauffman, San Francisco manufacturers of ship and aircraft radio equipment, and Frederick Terman, author of technical books on radio subjects.
Others Apply for Vision Rights
To the fast-growing list of television applicants has been added another department store and another newspaper, both seeking authority to experiment on the television wave lengths. The Gimbel Brothers Television Development A Research Corporation of Philadelphia, organized as a subsidiary of the Gimbel Brothers department stores of New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and other cities, asks for the 2,100-2,200-kilocycle band with 500 watts, proposing to spend $30,000 for studios snd a "composite" transmitter sending sixty-line images at twenty frames per second in Philadelphia.
This is the second such application from a department store, another pending from Hochschild-Kohn & Co., of Baltimore. Gimbel Brothers own Station WIP, Philadelphia, but the Hochschild-Kohn A Co., has no broadcasting station. Application for authority to build a television station as an adjunct of Its Station WSB was also filed by the Atlanta Journal, which asks for 500 watts on the 2,000-2,100 and 2,750-2,850-kilocycle bands. The system to be used is not specified, but it is stated that $20,000 is the sum tentatively fixed to be spent on the experimental work. (Martin Codel, Sun)
NEW YORK, Aug. 15.—Television is in again this week with a couple of conflicting statements about its progress. While Edgar H. Felix, consultant of the Federal Radio Commission, published his cautious “Television, Its Methods and Uses,” Chamberlain Brown was broadcasting the complete performance of a play written by himself which he intends later to bring to the city as a regular production. He claims that the television performance will take the place of a try-out tour. It certainly took the place of a lot of preliminary advertising.Felix, in his complete survey of the television field, claims that the public can’t expect much for several years yet. Altho great strides have been taken already, many radical improvements are still needed before telly can become scientifically accurate or an effective advertising and entertainment medium. Felix lists the main things which, to his mind, must be perfected before television can come. They include electrical transmission of audible frequencies, vacuum tube amplifiers, motion picture projection and photoelectric tubes.
Meanwhile, the Freed Television and Radio outfit is trying to determine the precise present effectiveness of television. They are planting receiving sets all over metropolitan district, including several in financial area, one in Chanin Building, one in Capitol Theater and in various of the suburbs such as Mount Vernon, Great Neck, Douglaston and White Plains. Accurate reports of reception at these various points will be made and compiled and. In addition, still shots of the reception at all hours of day and night will be taken, so that there can be a permanent record of present state of reception. (Billboard, Aug. 22)
Sunday, Aug. 16, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental sight programs.
8:00—“Spanish Serenade,” Sorey Orchestra.
8:30—Myndelle Louis, concert artist.
8:45—Don Bigelow, songs.
9:00—“Half Hour on Broadway,” Frances Upton, Raymond O’Toole and Hope Vernon, vocalists.
9:30—French trio.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
5:00-9:00—Same as WGBS.
5:00—Irish Echo Boys.
5:45—Harring’s Orchestra.
6:00—“Musical Etchings.”
6:15—Cosma Vullo, soprano.
6:30—Royaltonians Orchestra.
7:00—Jean East, songs.
7:15—Lavinia Darve, soprano.
7:30—Flores Sextet.
8:00—Vincent de Sola, piano.
8:15—“Daisy and Bob,” songs.
8:30—Harry Glaser, songs.
8:45—“Snapshots.”
Monday, Aug. 17, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Dorothy Zion, violinist.
8:15—Charlotte Harriman, contralto.
8:30—Negro Quartet.
8:45—Doris Sharp, crooner.
9:00—“The Best Dressed Girl in Radio,” Mary McCord, talk.
9:15—Special television demonstration.
9:30—Guitar and songs; cowboy sketch.
9:45—“Dancing in the Dark” with Natalie Towers
10:00—Helen Nugent, contralto.
10:15—Henry Burbig and Bob Taplinger, comedy.
10:30—Pantomimes, Grace Voss.
10:45—Artells Dickson, singing.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Elsie Duffield, songs.
4:15—Don Trent, impersonations.
4:30—Joe Lenzer, musical saw.
4:45—Weight Reduction, Dr. Shirley Wynne.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Jeanette Valentine, soprano.
6:30—Hernan Rodriguez, songs.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—“Byways in the World War,” Capt. Bate Preston.
7:30—Innasail Trio.
8:00—Pages of Music.
8:30—Kurley’s Orchestra.
W2XBS, W2XR, W3XK, W1XAV as above.
Tuesday, August 18, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Ernest Naftzger “Gossipers,” Jack Shannon and Marie Stoddard
8:30—Negro Quartet, Ravella Hughes, pianist. (sound over WABC). Songs: "Moan, You Moaners," "Steal Away," "I Found a New Baby," "Doin' the Rumba," by Miss Hughes.
By Miss Hughes.
8:45—Roslyn Green, songs.
9:00—“Punch and Judy,” Peter Williams
9:15—Ruth Delmar, contralto.
9:30—George Kelting’s Harmonica.
9:45—Major Ivan Firth, readings.
10:00—Maria Gambarelli, songs and dances.
10:15—John Brewster, specialties.
10:30—“Miss Television,” Natalie Towers.
10:45—“Songs of Spain,” Soledad Espinal.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Verdi’s Tiny Tots.
4:15—Adventures of Guiseppe and Luigi, sketch.
4:30—Mary Bongert, soprano.
4:45—Marie von Unschuld, piano.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Y. W. C. A. (String) Quartet.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Meb and Mac.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Night in Italy.
8:00—Helen Alexander, soprano.
8:15—Victor Turner, xylophone.
8:30—Digest Program, Mariska Aldrich and artists, songs.
Other stations as above.
Of all the artists used on CBS television broadcasts, none receive any salary for the work except Natalie Towers, the only girl holding a television contract from the network.
Rest of the artists used, and hundreds of them have already appeared over television, do so gratis. CBS has at its disposal for television its own talent, including under contract to Columbia Concert Corp., its subsid. Outside artists, frequently used be the network, are given a talk on benefits of appearing for sight-sound transmission, and, if willing, do so gratis. (Variety)
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1931W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Hazel Green’s Revue, songs and dances.
8:30—Tony Wons’ Scrap Book.
8:45—Harriet Lee, contralto, songs.
9:00—“Meet the Artist,” Bob Taplinger interviews Artells Dickson.
9:15—“Mirrors of Song” with Helen Nugent, contralto and Charles Carlisle, tenor.
9:45—“European vs. American Television,” A. Dinsdale.
10:00—Television ghost stories.
10:15—Helen Rowland, contralto.
10:30—“Miss Television,” Natalie Towers.
10:45—Frank Ruhf, tenor.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Bessie Bickford.
4:15—Amy Bonner, talk.
4:30—Billie Davis, songs.
4:45—At the Movies.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—“Aviation,” Lieut. Commander J.W. Iseman.
6:30—Leif Erickson, baritone.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—“Theatregoing,” Doug Brinkley with Donald Brian.
7:15—Annette Royak, songs.
7:30—Samuel’s Proteges.
8:00—Debate, Mack S. David vs. Harold Hechtman: Resolved Jury System be Abolished.
8:30—John Murphy, tenor.
8:45—Embassy Girls.
The second of the experimental three-round boxing bouts before television camera and microphone of W2XAB-W2XE-CBS at 9 p. m. Thursday is to have John McMillan, featherweight, as one of the participants. Next week the time of the bouts will be changed to Tuesday night.
Another series of television experiments, in which stage scenery and back drops will be used, start on this “picture” station Sunday night. The idea is to see what can be done in the way of duplicating a stage dramatic presentation. (C.E. Butterfield, AP radio column)
Thursday, Aug. 20, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental sight programs.
8:00—The Jolly Jugglers, Artie Scholz and Phil Brae.
8:15—Experimental Television comedy, "Twelve O'Clock"; Longfellow's Reveries.
8:30—Vincent Sorey, violinist.
8:45—Boswell Sisters (synchronized with WABC). Songs: "Take It From Me," "What Is It?", "Dancing in the Dark," "It's You."
9:00—Daddy and Rollo.
9:15—“Musical Cameos,” Helen Nugent and Ben Alley.
9:30—“Tele-Musicale,” Dave Franklin; Helen Withers, songs; Natalie Towers.
10:00—Experimental boxing match.
10:15—Elliott Jaffee, songs.
10:30—Abigail Parecis, artist.
10:45—Joie Nash, songs.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Marie Guion, contralto.
4:15—Joe Trent, songs.
4:30—Etchings, William Cox.
4:45—Lottie Salisbury, charactarizations.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Lesson.
6:15—Calendar Sketches.
6:30—“Toyland,” children’s program.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Jubilee Singers.
7:15—Justice Brandeis Society.
7:30—Rietta Duval, soprano.
7:45—“This Silly World,” talk.
8:00—Sylvio Cassi, sketches.
8:15—Elena Marisa, soprano.
8:30—Rev. Edwin Curtis, “Relativity.”
8:45—Suzanne Kenyon, singer.
Other stations as above.
Friday, Aug. 21, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Harry Swan, specialties.
8:15—Poet’s Favorites.
8:30—“Hawaiian Shadows,” play.
9:00—“Looking at Television,” Charles E. Butterfield.
9:15—“Lighthouse for the Blind,” television demonstration.
9:30—Stanley Davis, guitar.
9:45—Boswell Sisters (synchronized with WABC) Songs: "Getting Superstitious," "A Little Less of Moonlight," "Faithfully Yours," "When Yuba Plays the Rhumba," "Sylvia." 10:00—Connie Boswell, songs.
10:15—“Television Hints For Swimmers,” Charles Speer.
10:30—Ruth Perrott, songs.
10:45—Barbara Maurel, contralto.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Jacques Belser, songs.
4:15—French Lessons, Dr. Thatcher Clark.
4:30—Your Voice.
4:45—“Speaking of Women,” Edna McKnight.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Make-Up Instruction.
6:15—Ship Ahoy Trio.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Chamberlain Brown’s Broadway Stars.
8:15—Marguerite Sylva, soprano.
8:30—Joseph Nopolis, tenor; George Dandria, baritone.
Other stations as above.
Saturday, Aug. 22, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental programs.
8:00—“Miss Television,” Natalie Towers, readings.
8:15—Kathryn Parsons, songs.
8:30—Les Reis and Artie Dunn.
8:45— Kenneth Roberts, readings.
9:00—Hernandez Brothers.
9:15—With Henry Burbig.
9:30—Florence Seibert, poetess.
9:45—Artells Dickson, songs.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Prosperity Girls.
4:15—Dance Orchestra.
4:45—Aunt Dixie.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Quinn and Dublin Boys.
6:30—Van Dycke’s Broadway Interlude.
6:45—Sports Talk
7:00—Dalma Denyee, songs.
7:15—Marguerite Austin, violin
7:30—Earl McVergh, basso.
7:45—Kent and Love, songs.
8:00—Adele Reynard.
8:15—Jack Norman’s Sport Celebrities, Charles Retzloff, boxer.
8:45—Emelie Rosselli, soprano.
Mickey Walker will face an unnamed opponent for three rounds when the experimental exhibition bout is broadcast from the studios at 485 Madison avenue, Tuesday, August 25, at 9:30 P. M. A miniature ring will again be constructed in the ice-cooled studio. Gong, warning whistle, blow by blow announcer and veteran referee, Jimmy De Forrest, will lend color and realism to the bout.
In its projection of wrestling matches and boxing bouts the Columbia System is experimenting constantly with different lenses and various tinted back drop screens to bring out clearer images and more lifelike images, according to W. A. Schudt, its acting director of television activities.
Chess By Television.
A giant chess board eight feet square with odd-shaped chessmen will be displayed for the unique demonstration by Edward Lasker. This will be part of an experimental broadcast arranged and directed by Major Ivan Firth and Gladys Shaw Erskine.
Opera miniature, featuring Joseph Liartel, in full costume, will be heard on Wednesday at 10:45, as lookers-in receive their first taste of opera by radio vision.
A chorus of six singing and dancing girls. Roscoe Grover, master of ceremonies, and tap dancing arts are all included in the first presentation of a musical comedy by television. Of course, it will be staged in limited form, due to the limitations of visual broadcasting. The presentation has been arranged by Ned Wayburn.
Drama in Costume.
An experimental television drama written and directed by Charles Henderson, with full makeup and stage setting, has been scheduled by Columbia's visual director on Thursday, August 27, at 8:15 P. M. Stookie Allen, cartoonist, will draw pictures of celebrities and sport stars while "you look" Thursday at 10.45 P. M.
Second in the series of talks by Charles E. Butterfield, radio editor of the Associated Press, on "Television Today" will be televised and broadcast Friday at 9 P. M. (Sun)
Sunday, Aug. 23, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Vincent Sorey Troubadours, Gaucho costumes, with Louise Caselotti.
8:30—Myndelle Louis, concert artist.
8:45—Carle De Thomee and his dog.
9:00—“Broadway Hour,” Collette Sisters; Cynthia White, Jack Pepper, others.
9:30—French trio.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
5:00-9:00—Same as WGBS.
5:00—Irish Echo Boys.
5:45—Bob Harring’s Orchestra.
6:00—“Musical Etchings.”
6:15—Cosma Vullo, soprano.
6:30—Royaltonians Orchestra.
7:00—Jimmy McLaughlin, baritone.
7:15—Lavinia Darve, soprano.
7:30—Harvey and Bellis, sketch.
7:45—William Hoffman, baritone.
8:00—Vincent de Sola, piano.
8:15—“Daisy and Bob,” songs.
8:30—Memories of Yesteryear.
8:45—“Snapshots,” sketch.
Captain Bate Preston, who speaks via radio and television each Monday night at 7:15 over WGBS and its visual outlet, W2XCR, is a perfect specimen of the lean, hard-bitten British adventurer type we have come to accept in fiction and on the stage. Soldier, traveler, writer, lecturer, gentleman and scholar, he recalls ten years as magistrate in Borneo and the Malay states, in the heart of the tiger country, his only neighbors the Dyak head-hunters. But nowadays it’s headline hunting for him, a different topic each week, all grouped until the general title, “Byways of the World War”—and all provocative and exciting. (Herald Tribune, Mortimer Stewart column)
TELEVISION showmen are studying the art of make-up. Gaudy colors they find are not necessary in visual broadcasting. Simple color combinations are found best for half-tone reproduction, according to the latest experiments at W2XAB, operated by the Columbia Broadcasting System.
“We hope in future tests to eliminate all colors except black and white and a mixture to produce grays,” said Edgar Wallace, an engineer at W2XAB. “There is a popular misconception that by placing a red filter In front of a light more red is obtained, or by painting a substance with a blue pigment that more blue light is reflected. This is isn’t true. In the first case, only red rays are allowed to pass through the filter, and in the second case, only blue rays are reflected from the pigment. In other words, all the light is lost except that which is transmitted or reflected. More efficiency would be gained, I believe, by utilizing all the light in each case, the cells themselves would use the blue and red along with the other colors of the spectrum to which they respond.”
As to the results of the actual tests, William Schudt, the director, said that the red-headed girl and the brunette responded best to the photo electric cells when their skins had been treated with grease paint and powder. The red-headed specimen had a natural complexion of creamy pigment, but with a heavy sunburn. It was found that flesh-colored powder, brown lips and slightly shaded eyes gave best results. In a majority of cases where the subject was blond or red-headed, the usual movie make-up was found to be excellent for television projection.
Brunettes were treated with a heavy foundation of white, then creamy white powder, brown lips and slightly shaded eyes.
In curves of the face which have a tendency to throw the light in any other direction but toward the photo electric cells, heavy white powder is used to the extent of roughing the surface so that the angle of reflection is by some degree changed and reflected toward the photoelectric cells.
Tinted Screens Are Used.
“Fair-haired subjects naturally look better when a dark background is used,” Schudt asserted. “As a result we are utilizing a variety of backdrop curtains for television experiments.
“Aluminum, cream, black, white, gray and silver tinted screens are now used for various broadcasts with more than gratifying results. For example, when we projected the boxing match last week it was discovered that greater clarity of images could be had when a heavy black felt curtain was spread across the entire rear of the ring. It was necessary to shake considerable white powder made into the hair of the contestants since it was too dark to make any showing at all in the television camera. The slight contrast that the addition of white powder made saved the night and made history of boxing by television.
“Oft limes we use black cards with white letters for visual announcing since they seem to s1iov up better on receiver screens. But, this is only the beginning. We have many things to learn about make-up and color screens in television broadcasting. Fifty per cent of the programs will be devoted to this work without marring the quality of the broadcast.”
Toronto and Chicago are the latest cities to report clear reception of the Columbia Broadcasting System’s television station W2XAB, in New York. The Toronto observer said that he heard the sound over W2XE clearly, while the pictures came through with regularity and clarity not surpassed by any station he has received.
Chicago listeners regularly report both sight and sound reception. Many say that little or no interference is present from loc1 transmitters, so strong are the New York signals in that city.
Other reports are arriving from Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Boston, Schenectady, Camden, N. J.; Washington, Roanoke, Va.; Rochester, Syracuse and Baltimore.
The television stations W2XAB (sight), on 107 meters or 2,700 kilocycles, and W2XE (sound), on 49 meters or 6.120 kilocycles, are on the air daily from 2 to 6 P. M., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, and from 8 to 11 P. M. Saturdays and Sundays the afternoon schedule is unaltered, while the evening programs are from 8 to 10 P. M. (Herald Tribune)
NEW YORK (AP)—There may not be many television receivers in existence today, but the comparatively few are producing many an unusual experience.
For instance, there was the boy and his dad. Father was making a talk via short wave radio, at the same time being televised by W2XAB.
With the rest of his family the 3-year-old boy, one of the youngest lookers of the small television family hereabouts, was crouched before the televisor. The minute his father’s face flashed on the screen, located about 14 miles from the transmitter, the lad clapped his hands in glee and emphatically announced:
“That’s my daddy!”
His youthful eyes had not a bit of trouble recognizing the image, which was unaccompanied by sound because of trouble with the voice receiver.
Official Is Recognized
At another time W2XAB was testing without sound, and the face of Jesse Butcher, a CBS official, registered over the air.
There was no advance notice of this appearance, yet the image was realistic enough to warrant the looker to get on the telephone to notify Butcher he had been seen.
And again. A youthful radio writer was pulled unexpectedly before the television camera of W2XCR. Almost thunderstruck, he found it a hard task to produce worth for the sound transmitter of WGBS.
Yet in the television audience happened to be one of his co-workers, who quickly recognized his face and listened with a little more than average interest.
Distance Fans Report
It might be noted that W2XAB has received communications from both Chicago and Toronto reporting that station is being received there with unusual signal strength.
Most of the television fan letters, as in the early days of radio, treat of technical rather than program matters. They speak of the clarity of the image, describe reception condition, include details of the receivers used and ask questions about television.
It brings back the time when the principal theme of the fan mail was:
“Program coming fine. Heard you on an Umpty-Ump receiver.” (C.E. Butterfield)
Monday, Aug. 24, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Studio Home Party.
8:30—Natalie Towers, dances.
8:45—Doris Sharp, crooner.
9:00—“The Best Dressed Girl in Radio,” Mary McCord, fashions.
9:15—Tap dancing, violin, Jack Fisher.
9:30—Charlotte Harriman, contralto.
9:45—Negro Quartet in costume with Ravenna Hughes, pianist (Syncronized with WABC). Songs: “St. James Infirmary,” “Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho,” “Blues in My Heart,” “Wa Da Da.” “Etude in C” by Miss Hughes.
10:00—Virginia and Mary Drane, violin.
10:15—Helen Nugent, contralto.
10:30—Alice Raff, dramatic readings.
10:45—“The Singing Vagabond,” Artells Dickson.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00— Elsie Duffield, songs.
4:15— Don Trent, impersonations.
4:30—Joe Lenzer, musical saw.
4:45— Weight Reduction, Dr. Shirley Wynne.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Song recital.
6:15—Dorothy Rosenthal, violin.
6:30—Hernan Rodriguez, songs.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—“Byways in the World War,” Capt. Bate Preston.
7:30—Innasail Trio.
8:00—Pages of Music.
8:30—Kurley’s Orchestra.
W2XBS (NBC, New York), W2XR (Hogan, Long Island), W3XK (Jenkins Labs, Washington), W1XAV (Boston) as above.
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental program.
8:00—Girls trio; Islay Benson, character artist; Louis Bia Monte, saxophonist; Ethel Parks Richardson, Hill-Billy songs in costume.
8:30—Teddy Bergman, clown.
8:45—Grace Voss, pantomimes.
9:00—“Punch and Judy.”
9:15—Tap dancing.
9:30—Exhibition boxing bout.
9:45—Chess playing demonstration.
10:15—John Brewster, specialties.
10:30—“Waltzing Through the Air.”
10:45—“Songs of Spain,” Soledad Espinal.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00— Verdi’s Tiny Tots.
4:15— Adventures of Guiseppe and Luigi, sketch.
4:30— Mary Bongert, soprano.
4:45— Marie von Unschuld, piano.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—String Quartet.
6:15—Quartet.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Meb and Mac.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Night in Italy.
8:00—Helen Alexander, soprano.
8:15—Victor Turner, xylophone.
8:30—Digest Program, Mariska Aldrich and artists, songs.
Other stations as above.
Three men miraculously escaped injury at 7:45 o’clock last night, when a Waco biplane, piloted by Cecil Cossfrin of 1325 67th St., Brooklyn, dive into a collision with an automobile on Cross Bay Boulevard at First Road, near Broad Channel...
The plane tore down telephone and power feed lines leading to the aerials of the WABC radio station on Cross Bay Boulevard, putting the whole station out of commission for the night.
Beside station WABC, the accident also put out of commission station W2XE, the Columbia short-wave station connected with WABC, carrying sound synchronization with television from station W2XAB. (Daily News)
Wednesday, August 26, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Harriet Lee, contralto.
8:30—Tony Wons’ Scrap Book.
8:45—Arthur Sorrenson, comedy and songs.
9:00—Interview with Nat Brusiloff by Bob Taplinger.
9:15—“Dancing Through the Air,” with Natalie Towers.
9:30—Glimpses of South America.
9:45—Folk Songs of old Scotland.
10:00—Ben and Helen.
10:30—Television surprises.
10:45—Opera Miniature in costume.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Bessie Bickford.
4:15—Amy Bonner, talk.
4:30—Billie Davis, songs.
4:45—At the Movies.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—to be announced.
6:15—“Aviation,” Lieut. Commander J.W. Iseman.
6:30—Gosselin Sisters, songs.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—“Theatregoing,” Doug Brinkley.
7:15—Lavinia Darve, soprano.
7:30—Samuel’s Proteges.
8:00—Debate, Miss B. Jacobs vs. Vincent Delroy: Woman Is as Intelligent as Man.
8:30—John Murphy, tenor.
8:45—Embassy Girls.
Other stations as above.
Thursday, Aug. 27, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Helen Rowland, contralto.
8:15—“Shadows of the Night,” sketch.
8:30—“How to Finger the Violin,” with Vincent Sorey.
8:45—Natalie Towers, Characterizations.
9:00—Wayburn’s Miniature, comedy.
9:30—“The Television Ghost,” mystery sketch.
9:45—Dave Franklin, songs.
10:00—Wrestling match.
10:15—Elliott Jaffee, songs.
10:30—Abigail Parecis, artist.
10:45—Stookie Allen, cartoons drawn while you look.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Marie Guion, contralto.
4:15—Joe Trento, songs.
4:30—Etchings, William Cox.
4:45—Lottie Salisbury, charactarizations.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—to be announced.
6:15—Art Talk.
6:30—“Toyland,” children’s program.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Sylvio cassi, sketch.
7:15—Justice Brandeis Society.
7:30—Minutollo Artists.
7:45—“This Silly World,” talk.
8:00—Zunia Schneiderman, Russian bass, with Television Trio.
8:15—Elena Marisa, soprano.
8:30—Rev. Edwin Curtis, “Relativity.”
8:45—Suzanne Kenyon, singer.
Other stations as above.
Television broadcasting as well as television receiving sets at a moderate price will be made shortly for American homes, it was announced here yesterday by Sydney A. Moseley of London, director of the Baird Television Corporation of Great Britain and America, at the local offices of the company, 145 West Forty-fifth Street.
“We propose to begin television broadcasting in a few weeks,” Mr. Moseley announced, “in cooperation with Station WMCA, as soon as the Federal Radio Commission grants its official sanction.” He added that the commission had expressed itself as being in favor of the project and that actual operations would begin as soon as formal notification was received from Washington.
Arrange for Receiving Sets.
Arrangements also are being made, Mr. Moseley said, for the immediate manufacture in this country of television receiving sets, to market at about $100, for installation in American homes. Many of the existing radio sets, he added, could be hooked up with a television device for receiving purposes.
The first television programs will consist of vaudeville and plays, and use will be made in their sight and sound transmission of the recent eighteen months of daily experimental broadcasts in London. In addition it is also intended to transmit a baseball game, allowing fans to watch their favorite players, at their homes or at their offices.
Mr. Moseley also announced the perfection in London within the last few days of a portable transmitting set, no larger than a moving picture projector, which marks, he said, a very important development in the art of television, making it possible to “tele-broadcast” events, such as the landing of big airships, prize fights and football games, in the same simple manner as it is now to broadcast them. Whether this development will do away eventually with the radio broadcaster, or at least limit his usefulness, is a matter that will be watched with great interest by all these interested in the future of the radio industry.
Portable Transmitter In Use.
“The situation in London has undergone a big change within the last few days,” Mr. Moseley said. “We have begun to transmit from the British Broadcasting Corporation’s studios with a portable transmitter, not much bigger than a moving picture projection machine. Yesterday I received a cable from London stating that the first transmission was very successful.
“We propose to bring this new transmitter over here for demonstrations within the next few weeks. We hope to “televise” a baseball game with this machine. The television spectators will see the players full length, and as much detail of the game as the British saw during the historic transmission this year of the English Derby at Epsom.”
The Baird company, Mr. Moseley added, is prepared to share these discoveries with American interests. During the past few days he has been in touch with big banking and broadcasting interests to make the necessary arrangements. Several offers have been made for the American licensing rights, and decision will be made within the next few days as to which of these will be accepted. (New York Times)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27. — The Knickerbocker Broadcasting Company of New York City [WMCA] today applied to the Radio Commission for a new construction permit for a television station to use 500 watts power and a frequency of 46,000 kilocycles.
The RCA-Victor Company of Camden, N. J., asked for a license to cover the construction permit for station W3XAJ, for experimental purposes, using 500 watts power and very high frequency.
The Radio Corporation of America of New York City asked for license to cover construction permit of station W2XBB using 1,000 watts power and also using high frequencies.
W2XB of Long Island City, N. Y., asked permission to use two additional transmitters and WNBZ of Saranac Lake, N. Y., for a license to cover recent equipment changes. (New York Times)
Friday, Aug. 28, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Four Eton Boys.
8:15—Peter De Lima, Poet’s Favorites.
8:30—Helen Haynes, songs.
8:45—Irwin Trio.
9:00—“Looking at Television,” Charles Butterfield.
9:15—“Lighthouse for the Blind,” talk on how the blind see.
9:30—Hawaiian Shadows.
10:00—Julia Mahoney, soprano.
10:15—“Hints for Swimmers,” talk.
10:30—Flora Starr Triest, songs; Sandro Rosati, violinist.
10:45—Harriet Lee, contralto.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Jacques Belser, songs.
4:15—French Lessons, Dr. Thatcher Clark.
4:30—Your Voice.
4:45—“Speaking of Women,” Edna McKnight.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—to be announced
6:15—Ship Ahoy Trio.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—Amusereel.
7:30—Chamberlain Brown’s Broadway Stars.
8:00—Dean J. J. Dandreau, talk.
8:15—Marguerite Sylva, soprano.
8:30—Joseph Nopolis, tenor; George Dandria, baritone.
Other stations as above.
Saturday, Aug. 29, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 p. m.—Experimental programs.
8:00—“Waltzing Through the Air.”
8:15—Kathryn Parsons, songs.
8:30—Les Reis and Artie Dunn.
8:45—Kenneth Roberts, readings.
9:00—Sidney Boyd, songs.
9:15—Phil Maher, comedian.
9:30—Colonel Stoopnagle and Budd with Henry Burbig, comedians.
9:45—Artells Dickson, songs.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00—Prosperity Girls.
4:15—Royaltonians Orchestra.
4:45—Aunt Dixie.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Quinn and Dublin Boys.
6:30—Van Dycke’s Broadway Interlude.
6:45—Sports Talk
7:00—Dalma Denyee, songs.
7:15—Marguerite Austin, violin.
7:30—Jubilee Singers.
7:45—Kent and Love, songs.
8:00—Louise Taylor, soprano.
8:15—Jack Norman’s Sport Celebrities, Charles Retzloff, boxer.
8:45—Emelia Rosselli, soprano.
Other stations as above.
What is said to be the last word in direct pickup equipment is now being installed in the studios of television station W3XK in Washington, according to a statement from the Jenkins Television Corporation. Plans are being made to have the equipment ready for operation within ten days. The station operates on 2,050 kilocycles or 147 meters. (Sun)
The first million-dollar television broadcast will be staged at W2XAB, New York, on Tuesday night, Sept. 8, at 10 o’clock, when rare and historical gems from Cartier’s vaults worth more than that amount will be displayed before the photo-electric eye.Natalie Towers, original television girl, will wear the gems. Ranging from pearl necklaces to emerald rings, the whole gamut of jewels and precious stones will be covered. Special emphasis will be placed on engagement rings, their evolution and fashions today. The display will start with a short pictorial history of the engagement ring. The history of stones used to plight troths will be told in words, while Miss Towers displays the romantic circles. The program will include a showing of other jewels—pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds—historical and modern, and many pieces of rare art from the private collection. (CBS release)
Sunday, Aug. 30, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental sight programs.
8:00—Louise Caselotti, Italian motion picture star, and Vincent Sorey
8:25—Scanning the Week, program resume.
8:30—Myndelle Louis, Australian concert soprano.
8:45—Modernistic Rhythm, Marion Weeks and Herbert Spencer, dancing.
9:00—“Half Hour on Broadway,” Viola Blaney and Kenneth LeRoy, singing dancing group.
9:30—Lone Pine Rangers, singing guitar group.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
5:00-9:00—Same as WGBS.
5:00—Irish Echo Boys.
6:00—“Musical Etchings.”
6:15— Cosma Vullo, soprano.
6:30—Rainbow Ensemble.
7:00—Jimmy McLachlan, baritone.
7:15—Two Dorothys.
7:30—Werner Strittmeyer, baritone.
8:00—Lavinia Darve, soprano.
8:15—“Daisy and Bob,” songs.
8:30—Harry Glaser, songs.
8:45—Studio music.
Monday, Aug. 31, 1931
W2XAB (CBS), New York, 2750 kc.
(Sound on W2XE, 6120 kc.)
2:00-6:00 Experimental sight programs.
8:00—“At Home Party,” Alvin E. Hauser and six entertainers.
8:30—Net Work Synchronization Test, The Bon Bons.
8:45—Doris Sharp, crooner.
9:00—“The Best Dressed Girl in Radio,” Mary McCord waring the latest Paris creations.
9:15—“Doing New York,” Barry Trivers and Ben Oakland, sketch.
9:30—Charlotte Harriman, contralto.
9:45—Natalie Towers in experimental ballet.
10:00—W. H. Crawford, interviewer.
10:15—Helen Nugent, contralto.
10:30—Anne Ensle, tap dance lessons.
10:45—“The Singing Vagabond,” Artells Dickson.
W2XCR (Jenkins Television), New York, 2035 kc.
(Sound on 1180 kcs)
3:00-4:00—Films.
4:00-5:00—Same as WGBS.
4:00— Elsie Duffield, songs.
4:15—Lyle Moore, baritone.
4:30—Joe Lenzer, musical saw.
4:45— Weight Reduction, Dr. Shirley Wynne.
6:00-9:00—Same as WGBS
6:00—Dunya, Russian songs.
6:15—Dorothy Rosenthal, violin.
6:30—Hernan Rodriguez, songs.
6:45—Sports talk.
7:00—Romantic Troubadour.
7:15—“Byways in the World War,” Capt. Bate Preston.
7:30—Flanagan Trio.
8:00—“Over the Gill to the Poor House,” play.
8:30—Kurley’s Orchestra.
W2XBS (NBC, New York), W2XR (Hogan, Long Island), W3XK (Jenkins Labs, Washington), W1XAV (Boston) as above.
