It must have appeared wondrous.
In 1940, someone in Morristown, New Jersey or White Plains, New York could sit at home, turn on a television set, and hear and see a live political convention taking place in Philadelphia.
The Republican National Convention of June 1940 was a history-making event in broadcasting. It was the first one to be televised. And it was televised over a network, as the NBC relay system from Philadelphia to Schenectady to New York City put the broadcast on the air from stations in all three cities. Televising turned out to be a wonderful sidebar for the print media looking for convention stories that didn’t involve hard, cold politics.
(The Democrats weren’t so lucky. Their convention was in Chicago. No relays from there. Coverage had to be filmed and taken to New York for uploading).
The other major TV story of June 1940 was the F.C.C. finally granting more than two dozen licenses. The coming war postponed some of the planned stations. Others, like the ones Howard Hughes wanted to put on the air, never got there. The New York Herald Tribune helpful published a complete list.
We don’t hear at all about CBS’s tests during this month. There are occasional squibs about the Du Mont station.
As for Don Lee’s W6AXO, it carried on with programming as well as construction of its new facilities on Mt. Lee. The Pasadena Post continued to put a vague daytime programme schedule in print. The station also broadcast from its studios 8 to 9 at night, Monday through Saturday (sports remotes excepted) but little is mentioned about what was aired.
Below, you’ll find selected stories and reviews, as well as W2XBS’s schedule compiled from several different New York City-area newspapers. Interestingly, W2XBS aired two “one-minute movies.” They were animated commercials (I believe they were done at Paul Fennell’s Cartoon Films, Inc. studio) for Pepsi featuring the two cops it used in print ads.
Saturday, June 1, 1940
2:00-5:00—Races from Belmont, Clem McCarthy.
9:00-10:00—“Hits and Bits of 1890,” variety.
Television Review
BELMONT PARK
With Clem McCarthy
Horse Racing
90 Mins.
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (June 1)
RCA-NBC, New York
The races are the latest addition to RCA-NBC sports telecasts, and since the recent meeting opened at Belmont the mobile apparatus has been spotted there Saturdays and sometimes at midweek. Because of the greater distance involved over that required for football, baseball and boring, the reception of race events is not as clear, but as the camera is on the clubhouse roof directly over the finish line, visibility at the special moments is most satisfactory in some respects than for fans actually present at the track. Also those at the set know just how the races are progressing, while persons at the races rarely do.
Three events covered June 1 included the two feature races, with finishes so close that the sight was sensational. Clem McCarthy’s description of the races was clear and expert and there was no interference from crowd noises, the broadcasting position being removed from the main body of race fans.
Sending trucks were located not far from the paddock. Comments on the horses being paraded around the paddock ring came from McCarthy and Jay [Ray] Forrest. When the thoroughbreds were ready to go onto the track, Forrest took over. McCarthy ascending to the roof, there to join Joe McCarthy, who announced prior to the contests and afterwards, data on the price paid by the first three horses being the most pertinent.
Turf reporter McCarthy beat the camera in warning those with sets that Damaged Goods was coming fast to beat out Rosetown just at the wire in the principal race. Winner was so far back that her chances in the rather short Belmont stretch looked slim. There was a photo finish in the previous race and it could have been a dead heat. A claim of foul was registered, but not mentioned by the telecasters. Incident could be heard, however, by listeners, a nearby radio commentator speaking about it. Last Saturday McCarthy again showed his stuff in describing the race in which Bimelech beat Your Chance.
Among the atmosphere matters mentioned by McCarthy was the news that the straightaway or Weidner chute which racegoers dislike, is to be eliminated. Ibee. (Variety, June 12)
Xavier Cugat and his orchestra, Dinah Shore and Dick Todd will be the featured performers at the regular Saturday Swing-Fest at 3:30 p. m. today in the Television Gardens of the R. C. A. Building at the World’s Fair. The program, postponed from last week, will be televised and broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company. (Herald-Tribune)
Monday, June 3, 1940
New York.—Dumont Television expects to have a full television program on the air from its new station, W2XWZ, by Christmas. Will Baltin, who has been radio and picture editor of Daily Home News and the New Brunswick, N. J., Sunday Times, will be program director.
The station, now under construction. is located on the roof of a 42-story building at 515 Madison avenue. (Hollywood Reporter)
Keye Luke was interviewed by Shirley Thomas yesterday [3] in a television demonstration before a meeting of the Television Engineers Institute of America at the Hollywood Roosevelt. The Chinese actor also displayed his black and white drawings in the telecast. (Hollywood Reporter)
Tuesday, June 4, 1940
3:30-4:30—Jimmy Lynch and his Devil Drivers, at the Goodrich Building, World’s Fair.
6:45-7:00—News—Lowell Thomas.
9:00-10:00—Magnolia Floating Theatre, a television showboat, featuring “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” with Paula Stone, Winfield Hoeny, Judson Laire, W. O. Macwatters and Jack Cherry.
“The Magnolia Floating Theatre,” with Paul Stone as the star of a super-colossal production of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and a little polite vaudeville thrown in for good measure, will sail on the electron stream as a television presentation Tuesday, beginning at 9 p. m. over Station W2XBS.
Warren Wade, an old showboat and medicine showman himself, is the production’s director. He has a cast including Winfield Hoeny, Judson Laire, W. O. MacWatters and Jack Cherry. The vaudeville will be presented by Anne Crosby, John Cantwell and Dan Cavanaugh. (Sunday Times, New Brunswick, N.J.)
Television Review
Reviewed Tuesday. 9-10:10 p.m. Style—Hoke drama and specialties. Reviewed on RCA Television Receiver. Station—W2XBS. New York.
The National Broadcasting Co.’s television producers Tuesday presented one of their more sprightly efforts, The Magnolia Floating Theater. With a solid cast in the lead roles, the production was high in atmospheric value and was ingeniously presented—particularly those shots showing the backstage theater works, including ropes, pulleys. etc.
Chief item on Magnolia’s menu was a performance of R. J. Stevenson’s, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Cast played it with a strong dose of hoke and plenty of overacting, as befitted a showboat performance. Winfield Hoeny, as Jekyll and Hyde, switched from one to the other, making excellent use of a set of false buck teeth.
Specialty singers and dancers appeared between the acts, doing numbers reminiscent of past theatrical days. Paula Stone, of the noted family, danced and hoofed; Judson Laire did an emsee and spieler turn and John Cantwell, Jack Cherry, Anne Crosby and W. O. MacWatters were in the bill. They were all capable.
Unlike most of the television programs thus far, this opus used applause—the men in the studio coming thru at appropriate intervals. Applause was necessary in a program of this type and possibly aided the performers in addition to creating a more realistic effect for the audience.
Program was decidedly a good effort on NBC’s part. Camera work was fluid.
Warren Wade directed. Paul Ackerman. (Billboard, June 15)
Nearly 500 Orange county legionnaires as well as peace officers and civilians last night [4] answered the dress rehearsal for an emergency mobilization of California legionnaires after a radio and bomb signal. A check-up revealed today that an estimated 65,000 persons in the state answered the emergency call. ...
Participating with radio stations in issuing the mobilization call in Los Angeles was the Thomas S. Lee television station, W6XAO. It sent out a half hour telecast showing the 10-man team of Hollywood Legion post No. 43 presenting a pledge; Aime Reinwald, state champion bugler of the legion, and Jimmie Kasbeer, state champion drum major.
“The test call brought further proof that all legionnaires are available at a minute’s notice,” said William S. Dunn, California Legion commander. “The only advance notice they had was that the call would be issued over the radio during the three day period of June 3 to 5, inclusive.” (Santa Ana Register, June 5)
Wednesday, June 5, 19403:30-“Last of the Mohicans,” film.
3:50—“Let’s See America,” travelogue.
4:00—“Pepsi and Pete’s Radio Patrol,” film.
4:01—“Faro Nell,” film.
4:20—“Farm Foolery,” 1930 Aesop Fable.
4:25—“My Friend the Harti,” film.
6:45-7:00—News—Lowell Thomas.
9:00-10:15—Films, “Dark Sands,” with Paul Robeson, baritone.
TO CONFORM to the new rules governing television, licensees and applicants alike are applying to the FCC for new wave bands allotted for visual services. Present license or construction permit holders applying for wave shifts are: W2XBT, NBC-New York, seeking change from 156462 mc. to 162-168 mc. for portable station; W9XZV, Zenith Radio Corp., seeking change from 42-50 mc. and 60-86 mc. to 50-56 mc.; W9XUI, University of Iowa, Iowa City, seeking change from 42.56 mc. and 60-8G mc. to 60-66 mc.; W10XKT, Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, New York, seeking reinstatement of old CP, asking for 258-270 mc. for portable mobile.
Among recent new [June 5] television applications are those of: Crosley Radio Corp., Cincinnati, seeking 50-56 mc.; R. B. Eaton, Des Moines, seeking 44-50 mc. (now allocated to FM); Balaban & Katz Corp., Chicago, seeking 66-72 mc.; Leroy’s Jewelers, Los Angeles, seeking 66-72 mc.; Television Productions Inc., seeking 66-72 mc.; Don Lee Broadcasting System, San Francisco, seeking 50-56 mc. (Broadcasting, June 15)
Zenith Radio corporation soon will begin production of frequency modulation radio receiving sets, and delivery will start in the autumn, E. F. McDonald, Jr., president, announced yesterday [5]. Making his annual report to stockholders...The report also contained comment on the controversy in the television industry over the question of sale of television sets to the public. Zenith has opposed such sales.
Says Television Not “Ready.”
“The management’s position remains unchanged, McDonald said, “and until such time as it considers television ready for the public it does not propose to be stampeded into premature production of television receivers for sale.”
Zenith transmits experimental television programs five days a week from Chicago. On May 27 the FCC banned commercial sales of television sets, holding that the Industry had not agreed on standards. Radio Corporation of America had been selling sets to the public. (Chicago Tribune)
Thursday, June 6, 1940
3:30-4:30—Films, “Sights of Paris”: “Office 13,” with Monte Blue.
6:45-7:00—News bulletins.
9:00-10:00—Drama, “Double Door,” by Elizabeth McFadden.
Having created the role of Victoria Van Bret and played it in motion pictures, Mary Morris will repeat it in a television version of “Double Door,” a drama by Elizabeth McFadden to be presented by the National Broadcasting Company over Station W2XBS Thursday night, beginning at 9 o’clock.
Also from the original Broadway cast will be Richard Kendrick as Rip Van Bret. Kay Strozzi, one of the stage’s better known actresses, will appear also in the drama which is set in the gloom-pervaded Van Bret mansion in lower Fifth avenue about 1910. The production will be directed by Edward Padula.
Miss Morris has a long record of successes in the Broadway and London theatres. Her plays here have included “Within the Gates,” “Criminal at Large” and “Empress of Destiny.” (Sunday Times, New Brunswick, N.J.)
Friday, June 7, 1940
3:30—“Holland,” film travelogue.
3:45—“Pennywise,” film.
4:00—“Cuckoo Newsreel,” film with Ray Knight.
4:20—“Birds of a Feather,” film.
6:45-7:00—News, with Clem McCarthy.
9:00-11:00—Wrestling, at Jamaica Arena.
Saturday, June 8, 1940
3:30-5:00—Racing, at Belmont Park, including the Belmont Stakes at 4:45. Clem McCarthy, announcer.
9:00-10:00—“Out of the Kaleidoscope,” variety show, with the Radio Ramblers, novelty act; the Gaudsmit Brothers, comedians; Frank Eliacu, “You’re an Artist”; Ted Steele, novachord; Nicholas Brothers, dancers; Princess Aurelia.
Sunday, June 9, 1940
3:30-4:30—World’s Fair Beauty Contest.
Fifty girls representing state and foreign pavilions and industrial exhibits at the World’s Fair will compete today in a “Peace and Freedom” beauty contest in the Television Gardens of the RCA Building. The contest will be televised from 3:30 to 5 p. m. by the National Broadcasting Company’s transmitter, W2XBS. Reporters from metropolitan newspapers will be the judges. Glenda Farrell and Esther Ralston, film actresses, will, make the presentation addresses to the two winners, who will be named “Miss Peace” and “Miss Freedom.” The winners will receive RCA radio sets as prizes. (Herald Tribune)
Tuesday, June 11, 19403:30—“From Roundhouse to Roadbed,” film short.
4:00—“Finland Speaks,” film.
4:08-4:30—Industrial Film.
6:45—News, Lowell Thomas.
9:00-10:00—Novelty Hour.
Resort clothes for the smart woman will be shown by television in “Dawn to Dark Holiday Fashions” Tuesday at 9 o’clock over Station W2XBS. Carol Lynn, author of “Modeling for Money,” will be the fashion commentator. Zadel Skolovsky, young pianist, Julio Martinez Oyanguren, South American guitar virtuoso, and Jayne Cozzens, soprano, will appear on the program also. (Sunday News)
Television Review
Reviewed Tuesday, 9-10 p.m. Style—Variety. Reviewed on RCA Television, Receiver. Station—W2XBS (New York).
Tuesday’s variety program ranged from magic to opera, the longhair stuff absorbing a good part of the hour session.
Emsee was Fairfax, magician, who worked cloth, cards and other stunts between the acts. Fairfax spoke well, did his own business in a minimum of time, and brought on the performers with a minimum of fuss.
Program had some solid classical talent, including Gulio Martinez Oyangueren, guitarist; Zadel Skolovsky, concert pianist: Jane Cozzens, vocalist, and Salzedo Harp Duo, Oyangueren did three numbers, the intricate linger work showing beautifully on the tele screen. Skolovsky and Miss Cozzens also cud three each, the pianist staying strictly in the classical groove. Miss Cozzens, excellent soprano, made one concession to the lighter musical forms with a rendition of Only a Rose.
Outstanding in these renditions—from a television point of view—is the audience sense of intimacy. Performer seems to be right in the room. This fact is likely to make or break a lot of performers trying to crash tele. Program also included a fashion show, conducted by Carol Lynn. Miss Lynn trotted out a batch of clothes horses who were probably pretty, but who didn’t look too well on the tele screen. As gals paraded Miss Lynn gave a running comment on the fashions.
Okeh direction by Thomas Riley. Ackerman. (Billboard, June 22)
Wednesday, June 12, 1940
3:30—“Fly’s Bride,” 1929 Aesop Fable cartoon.
3:35—“The Last of the Mohicans,” film serial, Episode VII.
3:55—“City of Contrasts,” film travelogue.
4:15—Pleasure Previews,” film.
4:29-4:30—“Pepsi and Pete,” film.
6:45—News with Lowell Thomas.
9:00—“Hell’s House,” film feature with Bette Davis and Pat O’Brien.
Several of the hundreds of pictures submitted during The News’ amateur alum photo contest last Apri1 today had been used in a television broadcast.
The pictures were televised over W6XAO, the Don Lee station, during a 30 minute program last night [12] in which housing problems were discussed by George P. Tucker, public relations director for the federal housing authority here. (Los Angeles Daily News)
Thursday, June 13, 1940
3:30—Launching of Battleship North Carolina at Brooklyn Navy Yard.
6:45—News, with Clem McCarthy.
9:00—“Jack Rabbit Flats,” new play.
Television will flash its first graphic record of the launching of a man o’ war Thursday when the new 35,000-ton battleship North Carolina slides down the ways at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn. The launching, first to be telecast anywhere in the world, will be seen by televiewers over the NBC Station W2XBS.
The exact hour of the North Carolina’s launching has not yet been announced but the electric cameras will go on the air at 3:30 o’clock in ample time for the smash of a champagne bottle against the warship’s prow by Miss Isabel Hoey, daughter of North Carolina’s Governor Clyde R. Hoey.
A new play by a new playwright will be presented on Station W2XBS Thursday night at 9 o’clock. The play, “Jack Rabbit Flats,” is by Alladine Belle, a native of Utah and holder of a Guggenheim Fellowship. The comedy, which has been adapted for television by Donald Davis of the NBC staff, will be Miss Bell’s first produced work.
In the cast for the production will be Barbara Robbins, Dorothy Mathews. Kendall Clark, seen recently in “The Fifth Column” on Broadway, Ethel Remey, who is remembered by local stock-goers, Thomas Speidel, Edwin Michaels, Robert Allen, Jabez Gray and Harry M. Cooke. (Sunday News)
Two hundred workmen have rushed construction on special bleachers to accommodate more than 10,000 sightseers at the world premiere tomorrow [13] of “All This, and Heaven Too” at the Carthay Circle Theater.
A crowd of 15,000 is expected to fill the lobby, patio and midway leading to the theater to catch a firsthand glimpse of celebrities, but physical accommodations limit the bleacher capacity, so the seats will go to early comers. The box office reservation list, headed by Bette Davis and Charles Boyer, stars of the picture, includes practically all of Hollywood.
The opening will be the first such event to be broadcast by television. (Los Angeles Times)
Friday, June 14, 1940
3:30—“Let’s See America,” film travelogue.
3:40—“Just My Luck,” film feature with Charles Ray.
6:45—News.
9:00—Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
Saturday, June 15, 1940
3:30—Aqueduct Park.
9:00—“Out of the Kaleidoscope,” variety with Blossom Russell and Royal Islanders Hawaiian Troupe; Paul Wing’s Spelling Bee.
Televised horse racing will shift its scene of operations next week to follow the gee-gees and the pari-mutuel odds at the Aqueduct Park plant. The first afternoon races will be put on the air by NBC Saturday afternoon from 3:30 to 5 o’clock. The feature race will be the Tremont and Clem McCarthy will be the announcer.
A half-hour of the sinuous rhythms of the hula and the languorous strains of Hawaiian music will be presented by Blossom Russell and Her Royal Islanders Saturday at 9 p. m. Paul Wing’s popular spelling bee is listed to share time on the NBC program. (Sunday News)
With sight as well as sound, radio will cover the 1940 Republican National Convention from opening gavel to finish, starting with pre-convention programs before the conclave formally goes into session June 24 in Philadelphia and continuing “for the duration”. ....
Highlighting radio’s activities this year, NBC and Philco will cover various phases of convention activity via television for lookers in the New York and Philadelphia areas....
According to lists submitted to the GOP headquarters, the participants will include....
NBC-Television—Staff of 23, including Alfred H. Morton, vice-president in charge of television; A. E. Cook, assistant; Thomas H. Hutchinson, program director; Leif Eid, C. W. Farrier and H. E. Kersta, producers; Ray Forrest and Jack Fraser, announcers; R. E. Shelby, chief television engineer; Harold P. See, technical director of outside events.
Philco Radio & Television Co.—Staff of 15, including E. M. Alexander, program director; W. N. Parker, technical director; A. H. Brally, Charles Stec and E. E. Maxham, technicians; M. A. Merryfield and F. G. Marble, announcers. (Broadcasting, June 15)
Allen B. DuMont Laboratories has moved its 50—watt experimental television transmitter from Passaic, N. J. to New York and will shortly begin making field strength tests from the location of its 1,000-watt transmitter at 515 Madison Ave. Work on the new transmitting apparatus is proceeding rapidly, according to Mortimer W. Loewi, vice—president, and installation will begin as soon as the city building supervising officials have approved the erection of the transmitting antenna. Mr. Loewi, who returned to New York June 12 from Florida, said that his company is receiving more orders for receivers than it can keep up with, adding that they are chiefly from restaurants and taverns rather than from private individuals for home use. (Broadcasting, June 15)
Monday, June 17, 1940In answer to the numerous requests for television tickets: All you have to do is drop down to W6XAO, located in the Don Lee building, 1078 West Seventh street, any p.m. except Sunday, between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. (By the way, the presentations are hitting a new high . . . we suggest you take a look into one of the “lookers.”) (Highland Park Herald-News)
Tuesday, June 18, 1940
3:30-4:30—Film, “Sunset Range,” with Hoot Gibson.
9:00-10:00—Film, “Crooked Circle,” with Zasu Pitts and Jimmy Gleason.
WASHINGTON, June 18.—New regulations announced today by the Federal Communications Commission provide for opening television broadcast channels in an increased number of stations in leadlng cities from coast to coast, on an experimental basis. There will be adequate safeguards against monopolistic practices, the announcement stated.
In this latest step by which the commission appears to be seeking to extricate itself from the controversy which arose recent1y over its attitude toward this infant industry, tentative approval was given to twenty—three applications for television stations in various parts of the United States. At the same time the commission announced that it would consider nineteen remaining applications and outstanding 1icenses in the immediate future.
The announcement stated that most of these stations would be permitted to furnish television programs to the public, and that it was expected that when the industry had developed uniform transmission standards offering a satisfactory level of performance, such standards would be adopted by the commission as a basis for regular commercial television operation.
Research Required
Meanwhile, the announcement when on, “every television station will undertake to carry on substantial research and experimentation on the different engineering problems and to assist in the development of television for wide-spread public service.”
The following, with proposed channel assignments, is the complete list of applications which the commission plans to grant promptly upon a proper showing of a program of research and development: New York:
National Broadcasting Company, Channel 1
Columbia Broadcasting System, 2
Bamberger Broadcasting Service, 6
Allen B. Dumont Laboratories, 4
Chicago:
Zenith Radio Corporation, 1
Balaban and Katz, 2
National Broadcasting Company, 5
Los Angeles:
Don Lee Broadcat1ng System, 1
Television Productions, 4
Hughes Tool Company, 2
Washington:
Allen B. Dumont Laboratories, 1
National Broadcasting Company, 2
San Francisco:
Don Lee Broadcasting System, 1
Hughes Tool Company, 2
Philadelphia:
Philco Radio and Television Corporation, 3
x—Radio Corporation of America (Camden), 5
WCAU, 5
Cincinnati:
Crosley Corporation, 1
Albany:
General Electric Company, 3
Fort Wayne:
x—Philo T. Farnsworth, 3
West Lafayette, Ind.:
x—Purdue University, 3
Passaic, N. J.:
Allen B. Dumont Laboratories, 4
Iowa City, Iowa:
x—Iowa State University, 1 & 12
x—Indicates stations primarily for laboratory research or training; no public program authorized.
It was stated that of the nineteen cases held in abeyance, fifteen were new applications and four were existing licenses under the old regulations. The pending cases are:
Boston:
*General Television Corporation.
Boston Edison Company.
Des Moines:
R. B. Eaton.
Hartford:
Travelers’ Broadcasting Service Corporation.
WDRC
Iowa City:
*Iowa State University (2100-2200 kc.)
Kansas City, Mo.:
*First National Television.
Midland Broadcasting Company.
Los Angeles:
Earl C. Anthony.
May Department Stores.
LeRoy’s Jewelers.
Milwaukee:
Milwaukee “Journal.”
Manhattan, Kan.:
Kansas State College.
New York:
*Radio Pictures, Inc.
Metropolitan Television, Inc.
Philadelphia:
National Broadcasting Company.
Springfield, Mass.:
Henry Walczak.
Sacramento, Calif.:
Grant Union High School.
St. Paul:
KSTP, Inc.
*Indicates existing licenses.
Seek Early Commercialization
The commission stated that all licenses would be on a basis of research and experimentation tending to promote the development of television and to help the engineers of that industry reach an agreement on uniform transmission standards which would permit the early and general commercialization of television “until accord is reached on this vital point, no changes—either direct or indirect—-may be made for the transmission of any type of television program,” the statement asserted.
In order to put to the fullest possible use the eighteen regular channels (50,000-108,000 and 112,000-294,000 kilocycles) plus any 6,000-kilocycle band above 300,000 kilocycles (excluding 400,000-401,000 kilocycles), made available to television ‘under commission order No. 07, the commission will not, except for extraordinary cause, authorize any television broadcasting station to use more than one channel in the main seven channels constituting Group A (50,000-108,000 kilocycles).
At the same time, the commission stipulates that no person, directly or indirectly, shall operate or control more than three public programming television stations in this important group of channels, or operate or control more than one such station in the same service area. This, however, does not apply to stations which do not transmit programs for public reception. (Herald Tribune)
Wednesday, June 19, 1940
3:30—“Last of the Free,” film.
3:58—“Last of the Mohicans,” film.
4:10—“Pleasure Preview,” a film preview of the new Pennsylvania turnpike.
4:20—“Midnight,” an Aesop Fable, 1930.
6:45-7:00—News, Lowell Thomas.
9:00—Editors and writers interviewed: Ralph Ingersoll, George Lyon, Wesley Price, John McManus, Elizabeth Hawes, William McCleary. Or:
9:00—“Pleasure Preview,” a film preview of the new Pennsylvania turnpike.
9:10—“Switzerland,” travelogue.
9:25—“Rooftops of London,” film.
9:40—“Egypt,” travelogue.
9:50—Film.
3:31—“Let’s See America,” travelogue.
3:40—“Blame it on Love,” Film.
6:45-7:00—News, Lowell Thomas.
9-10—Drama, “The Last Warning,” by Thomas F. Fallon, with Paula MacLean, Judson Laire, W. O. MacWatters, Frederick Tozare and Alice Buchanan.
The Ben Bard Junior Players are organized at the Ben Bard Playhouse to give dramatic training to children end prepare them for social and professional careers under the guidance of Beryl M. Roscoe and Celeste Grunn.
Beryl M. Roscoe staging a style show for the Broadway Department Store over KHJ’s television station on June 20 at 2 p.m., to feature vacation cloth., for children from 3 to 16 years of age. (Hollywood Citizen-Reporter, June 6)
Friday, June 21, 1940
3:30—Republican Convention.
3:45—“Testing Machinery,” film.
3:55—“White Heat,” film.
6:45—Governor Ralph Carr from the convention.
9:00—American Red Cross Volunteers, a demonstration of surgical dressings for war relief.
9:30—”Finland,” a March of Time film.
9:50—“Waltz of the Flowers,” film.
Scenes from Convention Hall in Philadelphia were flashed on television screens In New York yesterday [21] in a preview of the Republican National Convention conducted by the National Broadcasting Company.
The pick-up, which was relayed over 108 miles of cable circuits supplied by the Bell Telephone Laboratories, was described as the “longest cable transmission of television.” Previously the longest distance spanned from field station to broadcasting transmitter was twenty-six miles.
During the twenty-four-minute program Robert E. Lamberton, Mayor of Philadelphia, and Manan E. Martin, assistant convention chairman, were interviewed. Observers at Radio City described the received images as “excellent.” The preview was held to test the circuits, since the NBC plans to telecast from the convention. It will be the first political event ever to be televised. (NY Times)
Television chose Philadelphia yesterday [21] to don its ‘long pants,’ when pictures were transmitted from the entrance of Convention Hall to television receivers in New York City.
The experiment, a prelude to telecasting the Republican National Convention, the first television coverage of a political event in the world, marked the first time in history that action pictures were transmitted via the new method from one city to another.
PRYOR IN TALK
A handful of newspaper men gathered in the Bourse Building, where the transmission was picked up from Convention Hall and sent by the longest cable used for such a purpose, saw and heard Samuel H. Pryor, Jr., of Connecticut, chairman of the Committee on Arrangements for the Convention, tell of the elaborate plans made to take care of the delegates.
Next Miss Marion Martin, assistant National Republican chairman, stepped before the television camera.
Then came Mayor Lamberton with James H. Malone, Director of Public Safety, who reviewed the work of police assigned to cover the Convention. The police standing at attention as the Mayor passed were clearly visible on the television screen.
Just before the Mayor came in view of the television camera, an airplane could be heard droning overhead.
Street noises were clearly audible, especially the honking of horns.
EASILY DISCERNIBLE
The daylight television was easily discernible to onlookers in the Bourse Building. The size of the screen on the receiving set was 7½ inches by 10 inches.
Actual telecasts from Convention Hall will begin on Monday. Iconoscope cameras have been installed in Convention Hall for the pick-up to the Bourse Building, a distance of four miles.
At that point Bell Telephone Laboratory engineers have installed a wire circuit, which will take the pictures over a distance of 10 miles to New York via a coaxial cable.
The final circuit is at Radio City, New York. Every five miles between this city and Manhattan there are amplifiers Installed in man-holes to keep the television signal at the same level of clarity until it is put on the air. (Philadelphia Inquirer, Frank Rosen)
Saturday, June 22, 1940
3:30-4:35—Film, “Murder on the Campus.”
9:00-10:00—”The Revuers” in satirical tour of World’s Fair, with Grace McDonald.
NEW YORK, June 22.—Cut in National Broadcasting Co.’s summer television program schedule has necessitated dropping three men from the program department and seven out of engineering. In addition, nine engineers were transferred to other NBC departments.
Schedule will not lose very much in total number of hours, plans calling for telecasting of nearly 15 hours. But dramatic programs will not be used for duration of summer. Film will be used more extensively. Probably three outside pick-ups a week will be telecast. (Billboard, June 29)
Sunday, June 23, 1940
WCAU has announced an immediate acceleration of plans to begin active television broadcasting experiments as a result of the Federal Communication Commission’s release of June 18, tentatively approving WCAU’s application for a television station.
The only Philadelphia broadcasting station to receive such a license, WCAU was assigned to Channel 5, operating from 84 to 90 megacycles.
Fired by the FCC’s announcement that regular telecasts would be “granted promptly upon proper showing of a program of research,” WCAU intends to swing into action on experimental work just as quickly as authorities is received from Washington. Television audience are being readied in the WCAU Building at 1622 Chestnut st. and plans are going forward for the construction of a mobile unit for picking up sporting events and other outside programs. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Monday, June 24, 1940
11:00 a.m.—Republican National Convention Opening Session.
9:00—Republican National Convention Evening Session.
Television cameras made their first appearance at a political convention yesterday at the opening of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, and National Broadcasting Company officials in New York estimated that 50,000 persons looked in on the proceedings.Four cameras were used at the convention, one trained on the crowds at the entrance, two facing the speakers’ rostrum from a balcony platform and one in a special studio for interviews with party personalities and political commentators.
What the cameras televised was carried 108 miles by co-axial cable to New York City and broadcast over Television Station W2BXS. The signals were broadcast also by the Philco station in Philadelphia [W3XE] and the General Electric station at Schenectady [W2XB], which picked them up by radio relay from New York.
N. B. C. experts said the telecast could be received as far away as upstate New York, Massachusetts and remote parts of Pennsylvania.
Sixty receiving sets were placed in the South Museum, adjoining Convention Hall in Philadelphia, to enable those who could not gain admission to see the proceedings.
Excellent reception was reported at public viewings in stores, bars and hotels in New York City and at the R. C. A. exhibit at the World’s Fair, where 1,000 persons saw the telecast in groups admitted at fifteen-minute intervals. N. B. C. will continue its telecasts at intervals during the convention. (Herald Tribune)
In the first telecast of a political event, scenes of the opening of the Republican National Convention at Convention Hall in Philadelphia were relayed to New York yesterday[23] by the National Broadcasting Company.
An estimated audience of 50,000 televiewers, some of them 200 miles away, since the images rebroadcast here also were picked up by the General Electric Company’s station in the Helderberg Mountains near Schenectady, looked in on the convention, according to an NBC representative.
The telecast was the first of a series to be conducted daily during the convention. The pick-ups will be made from 11 A. M. to 1 P. M., 2:30 to 4:30 P. M., and 9 to 11 P. M.
The scenes included one of Chairman John D. M. Hamilton calling the meeting to order and another of Alfred M. Landon posing for photographers with the Kansas delegation’s banner.
Other shots were made of the scene within the Convention Hall. The telecast opened outside the ball with pick-ups of the crowd and shots of the arriving delegates. Observers here described the images as “very good.”
In Philadelphia television was used to accommodate the overflow of spectators who could not get into Convention Hall. These people watched the proceedings on a battery of sixty receivers in South Museum, adjoining the Republican meeting place. The Philco Radio and Television Corporation gave service in that area.
New Yorkers not owning television sets gathered before receivers in stores, bars and hotels to watch the show, according to the NBC spokesman. At Bloomingdale’s the crowd numbered about 100, while at Gimbel’s about seventy-five people assembled to look in on the conclave.
It was said that almost 1,000 visitors to the RCA exhibit at the World’s Fair saw the telecast in fifteen-minute shifts.
The transmission from Philadelphia to New York was handled over a 108-mile wire circuit supplied by the Bell Telephone Laboratories. Ninety-three miles of this line consists of coaxial cable, or television “pipe.” On arrival here the images were rebroadcast through Station W2XBS, the NBC television transmitter atop the Empire State Building. (New York Times)
Tuesday, June 25, 1940
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.—Republican National Convention, including the address of Representative Joseph W. Martin.
2:30-4:30—Republican National Convention.
6:45-7:00—News with Lowell Thomas.
9:00-11:00—Republican National Convention, including address of Former President Hoover at 9:30.
In an interview heard and seen here yesterday [25] by television from the Municipal Auditorium in Philadelphia, the consensus of six newspaper men was that deals were under way for the votes of large unpledged delegations and that a break might be expected any time after the third ballot.
The convention was described as “groping in the shadow of war in Europe for a strong leader to take charge of Republican party destinies.”
Seen and heard in the interview were Barry Paris, editor-in-chief of the International News Service; Brian Bell, chief of The Associated Press, Washington bureau; Neil MacNeil, assistant night managing editor of The New York Times; Lyle Wilson, Washington bureau chief of The United Press; William Fulton, chief of the New York bureau of The Chicago Tribune, and William C. Murphy Jr., Washington correspondent of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The telecast came from the National Broadcasting Company’s studio at the auditorium and was sent by wire to Station W2XBS, atop the Empire State Building, which rebroadcast the images. The aural interview was broadcast over WJZ’s network. Other telecasts will be sent out as the convention goes on. (Times)
Tel-Arc Productions under the direction of Jack M. Kellman, will present a playlet titled “Sweet Friends” by Florence Pierce Reed on W6XAO’s television program at 8. (Hollywood Citizen-News)
A deal has been completed between Television Film Corporation of America and the Thomas Lee television station, W6XAO, for the former company to supply specially made shorts for weekly televising.
Production has already begun with first release to feature Lane Truesdale, femme singer. Wingy Mannone and Cliff Nazarro are featured in others of the series, which Dan Milner directs. (Hollywood Reporter, June 25)
Wednesday, June 26, 1940
11:00 a.m.—Republican Convention Interviews.
11:30-4:30—Convention Proceedings.
6:45-7:00—News with Lowell Thomas.
9:00—Convention Interviews.
9:30-11:00—Convention Proceedings, Evening Session.
American television—which still means RCA-NBC despite the FCC—passed another imagination-stirring milestone Monday night (24) when the Republican convention in Philadelphia was brought to receiving sets in New York City 90-odd miles away. The distance the program travelled was, however, but one aspect of the wonder-provoking occasion. The actual social-political-educational implications of what the iconoscope picked up transcended even the engineering accomplishment. Here for the first time the immense advantage of seeing was added to the hearing of a political convention. Television, limited today but immeasurable in the future, may do more, much more, than radio did—and radio did a lot—to change and improve and speed up and decorn [sic] the great party raffles to the possible benefit of the parties and the country and democracy.Actually the Monday night session climaxed by keynote-giver Stassen of Minnesota served to dramatize—via television—the fact that 1940 is not just four years as the clock ticks, but a revolution away tram the 1936 campaign which the Republicans ignominiously [sic] fought and lost on a basis of the quality of American maple syrup. The Republicans have now deliberately chosen to do their stuff under the television eye as one of many steps consciously taken to streamline, snap up and glamorize the party. The television rendition of the convention was, in terms of sheer innovation, matched by the singing of ‘Ballad for Americans’ and in the bombast-free address of the keynoter himself. Television was the mark and the symbol of a profound change, and improvement, in G.O.P. showmanship.
Starting about nine and continuing until after 11 p. m. the RCA-NBC pick-up was, considering the incredibly difficult engineering set-up and the bad mist-laden night, surprisingly smooth and clear. The iconoscope was, of course, too far from the speakers platform to permit the features of John Hamilton, Ray Middleton, Cardinal Daugherty or Gov. Stassen to be distinguished, but it still was possible to get the broad outline of their persons and personalities via coaxial.
Two, and possibly three, television cameras seemed in action. While bearing down mostly on the rostrum they switched on occasion to the audience in long shots (poor) and in semi-closeups (good). The color of the gathering was partly captured by panning through the state delegations and picking up the state signs and insignia. At one point the taking of a photograph of the convention destroyed television lighting conditions, whereupon there was a jump to a studio where Stuart Finley of KYW, Philadelphia, was the stand-by announcer (able, also photogenic). There were other studio bits in the beginning, notably between two good-looking newspaper gals, Melia Underwood and Jane Cochran, interviewing each other. NBC’s Baughage also stepped before the lens briefly.
The television—and auditorium—circumstances did not entirely favor maximum results of which ‘Ballad for Americans’ is capable. The chorus under Lynn Murray was musically appealing but placement of mikes mitigated against the diction of their lyrics. Ray Middleton’s rich, round robust baritone, however, got every syllable of his lines across and the total effect of the ‘Ballad’ both as a performance by Middleton and a novelty for a political convention was, despite captious points, sockeroo. Victor Bay expertly waved stick. (Variety, Robert J. Landry, June 26)
Thursday, June 27, 1940
10:00-11:30 a.m.—Interviews at Republican Convention.
11:30-4:50—Republican Convention.
6:45-7:00—News, Lowell Thomas.
9:00-11:00—Republican Convention.
Television Review
Reviewed Thursday evening. Style—Telecast of Republican National Convention. Station—W2XBS (New York).
Telecast of the Grand Old Party soiree at Convention Hall, Philadelphia, shaped up as television’s most auspicious undertaking to date, the transmission taking place via coaxial cable between Philadelphia and New York, a distance of about 100 miles.
Telecasts, occurring all week, had terrific significance from the educational standpoint, bearing out belief expressed earlier by tele execs that the medium would probably find its most important outlet in special events.
From video standpoint, images were by no means as satisfactory as those of studio-produced programs, but decrease in clarity, particularly on mass shots, was expected. Generally, image appeared rather washed out, but still good enough to distinguish faces without much difficulty.
Event was a milestone for tele, and carried off with nice aplomb, all things considered. Ackerman. (Billboard, July 6)
Friday, June 28, 1940
11:00—Republican Convention.
6:45-7:00—News, Lowell Thomas.
9:00-11:00—Republican Convention.
Scenes of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia were picked up by television in Tulsa, Okla., about 1,800 miles distant, establishing a new American long distance record for television reception, the National Broadcasting Company reported yesterday [28]. At Lake Placid, 325 miles distant, another long range pick-up was reported by the General Electric Company.
One of the images seen was that of Wendell L. Willkie as he appeared before the convention, marking the first time that a Presidential nominee was televised. The expression and gestures of the Republican nominee were said to be “clearly mirrored” and each utterance was described as “distinct” by observers at Radio City.
The telecasts seen in Tulsa and Lake Placid were tuned in from Station W2XBS, on the Empire State Building, where the images are rebroadcast after having been received by wire from Philadelphia. An N. B. C. representative, Watt Stinson, made the following report on the telecast from Tulsa:
“The pictures came through every minute or so for several seconds at a time over a two-hour period. Voting score sheets and close-ups of the chairman, in particular, were quite distinct. The sound channel was clear about 50 per cent of the time.”
The scenes of the convention were picked up at Lake Placid on White Face Mountain by Willard Cody of the New York University-Rensselaer PolytechnÃc Institute Weather Observatory. He picked up the program from W2XB, near Schenectady, where the images ate rebroadcast for a second time after having been received from W2XBS, New York. The quality of the reproduced scenes was not described.
The telecast from Philadelphia was conducted by the N. B. C. from its studio in the Municipal Auditorium as part of its daily series covering the convention by television.
The longest distance yet traveled by television signals occurred when indistinct images from London were picked up at Riverhead, L. I., by the N. B. C. (New York Times)
Monday, June 29, 1940
Summer activities and professional appearances of Jack Stern pupils continue, to the encouragement of those students who have worked and studied during the past season. Among the Stern pupils signed this week for work in pictures are Patricia Peters, daughter of the former silent screen star, House Peters.Patricia, ambitious to make a name for herself, had studied at the Stern Studios, 6112 Wilshire Blvd., in radio, drama and television, and has appeared on the Don Lee television station W6XAO, as well as on the “Jack Stern Presents” KFAC radio show. Meanwhile, she accepted small parts in pictures...
Jack Stern’s arrangement with Thomas S. Lee, and the television station W6XAO continues with weekly television productions of Stern’s adult drama group appearing in plays written epecial1y for television by Charles Wilhelm, and directed by Grace Hamilton. The junior drama department telecasts a weekly play, “Half Moon Boys,” a junior stock company whose antics are gaining favor with each performance. Cast in this are Tommy Batten, Bob Whatley, Norman Salling, Frank Rantz, Marjorie Whatley, Gerry Norris, Linda Morgan, Van Dyke Hirst and Truman Van Dyke....
Cast in the junior radio drama playlet are Gerry Norris, Linda Morgan, Marjorie Whatley, Elmer Wreden, Van Dyke Hirst, and Truman Van Dyke.
Wednesday night the Television Players will present over W6XAO an original play “Two After One,” written by Charles Wilhelm and directed by Grace Hamilton (Hollywood Citizen News, June 29, 1940)
[Note: omited from this transcription is part of a study mentioning a Stern student working in pictures. His name was Darryl Hickman).
Sunday, June 30, 1940
Preliminary tests to study the field strength of televised signals in the New York area are to be launched immediately by engineers erecting the new Allen B. Du Mont television station, W2XWZ, at 515 Madison avenue, New York City.
Determined to have his station operating on a regular program schedule by this fall, Du Mont has supervised the installation of a temporary 50-watt transmitter on the 42nd floor of the Madison avenue building to be used in the tests.
The experimental unit began flashing signals last week. No images or patterns are utilized at the start, the tests merely being conducted to gauge the field strength and radiation pattern.
When W2XWZ officially goes on the air in the autumn, with the programs to be produced by William Baltin, former Daily Home News and Sunday Times reporter, it will be operated with an effective receptive range of more than 30 miles.
Du Mont also has a mobile transmitter license which is to be operated in conjunction with the New York station for remote pickups of news, sports and other outside features.
Du Mont announced another progressive step last week when production of big—screen television sets provided the largest in the United States. (Sunday News)
