July 1937

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

June 1937

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May 1937

Television’s biggest story in May 1937 came from overseas. King George VI was crowned in London and British television aired the ceremony.

There’s nothing to suggest the coronation was seen on American television, unless a station aired a newsreel with footage from the regal event. There’s very little indication what exactly was being broadcast on the small screen in the U.S.

Judging by newspaper listings, W9XAT in Minneapolis ceased broadcasts with WDGY radio and even W6XAO in Hollywood was not working as often with KHJ.

NBC continued to show off technical developments while RCA president David Sarnoff insisted there would be no commercial television in 1937 (there wasn’t). Meanwhile, CBS had pretend TV on the West Coast. The company didn’t have an affiliate in Los Angeles until 1949 and bought the former W6XAO the following year.

The highlights below also include a description of a broadcasting day in London.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W6XAO, Hollywood
8:00-8:15—Television (sound on KHJ).

SUNDAY, MAY 2, 1937
WOR is working on television though its plans are shielded by a greater air of secrecy than in other experimental laboratories. WOR, affiliated with the Don Lee broadcasting system, is cooperating in the development with the Don Lee organization. At present, Don Lee Television is transmitting daily pictures of 300 lines to the image, repeated at the rate of 24 images per second. (Will Baltin, New Brunswick Sunday Times).

MONDAY, MAY 3, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

Few Technical Problems Remain for Television
Washington Bureau, RADIO DAILY
Washington — From the standpoint of technical problems, only a few minor details remain to be solved for television, says Commander T. A. M. Craven, chief engineer of the FCC. Agreeing with remarks of David Sarnoff that television to the public is now an artistic and economic rather than a technical problem. Craven said the only reason visual broadcasting is being held up is due to the allocating of frequencies. There may be more hearings on the matter, he added.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

Fred Niblo, recently heard over the air as commentator and master of ceremonies, has joined the NBC Artists Service, coordinating the division’s talent activities with television programs. This is the first major move in the department’s extensive program to expand its activities.
Niblo has been an adventurer, traveler, lecturer, explorer, actor, author and film director. He launched his career when very young as an actor, playing every-thing from end-man in a minstrel show to the lead in Shakespeare's "Othello." He then toured all over the world, and for eight successive Summers topped the stage bill at the Palace Theater in London.
From adventures in many remote sectors of the globe, he gathered sufficient material to turn lecturer. After two years, Niblo returned to the stage. Later he spent three years in Australia. 1915 found him back in the United States starring in George M. Cohan's "Hit the Trail Halliday."
Films next claimed him, beginning in 1918 as director for the late Thomas H. Ince, made such films as "The Mirk of Zorro," “The Three Musketeers," "Camille," "The Red Lily," "The Temptress," "The Mysterious Lady," "Redemption,” "The Love Dream” and "Ben Hur." (Seymour Roman, Brooklyn Times-Union)

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

SUNDAY, MAY 9, 1937
Television Network Now Held Possible
Creation of a nationwide television network with assured performance is now possible as a result of reduction in cost of the coaxial cable strung by A. T. & T. between New York and Philadelphia for experimental purposes, RADIO DAILY is advised by Electrical Research Products, A. T. & T. subsidiary. Tests on the cable have completely fulfilled all laboratory calculations, it is stated.

Lohr Says Most of Country May Never Have Television
Chicago — Although television has greater possibilities for selling goods than any medium available before, it is possible that 95 per cent of the American population will never see television broadcasts because only cities over 100,000 can support the new medium unless radical changesare made. President Lenox R. Lohr of NBC declared yesterday [8] in a talk before the Chicago Federated Advertising Club.
Only centers like New York, Hollywood and Chicago have enough live talent to feed television, Lohr pointed out. Size of television scenes, previously limited to a half dozen persons in a 12-foot area, has been increased, Lohr said. Last week a ballroom scene was successfully broadcast by NBC. Several years of headaches are ahead before television is available for advertisers, he stated.
Lohr also pointed to the possibilities of facsimile ultra high frequencies. Facsimile is available in good form now, but is too expensive to be exploited for years.
Guests at the ad club luncheon included Charles G. Dawes, Rufus C. Dawes, Niles Trammell, W. E. MacFarlane, Fred Weber of Mutual, Glenn Snyder, president of Chicago Broadcasters Ass'n, Harry Smith, WBBM sales chief, and others.

MONDAY, MAY 10, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

Television to Fore in Britain; All-Day Broadcast Wednesday
Coronation Events to Be Transmitted; Tribune Correspondent Sees Tents, Is Impressed
By BOB FORESMAN
Tribune Staff Correspondent
LONDON, England.—An event which will be remembered much longer and is of much greater importance to the world than the coronation will take place Wednesday [12] in London.
It will be an all-day television broadcast of the coronation procession, crowds and feature "shots” of the coronation by the British Broadcasting Co.
It will be the first time that portable television units will be switched from place to place and descriptions and pictures made.
London already has television on a practical basis.
As a guest of the Marconi company, I watched tests being made for the coronation.
“It was perfect," is the only way I can describe it.
1,000 Sets In London
There are now nearly 1,000 privately-owned Marconi sets in London within a 25-mile radius of the broadcasting station atop Alexander place in north London.
At present the British Broadcasting Co. is presenting two broadcasts daily, one from 3 to 4 p. m, and the other from 9 to 11 p. m.
Sitting in a demonstration room with a five-foot aerial, I saw an hour's performance as the scene shifted from one spot to another in London, with portable equipment and engineers cruising the city at random.
The set we were watching sells for 60 pounds or $300, and is available for regular broadcasts with world selectivity. It is on sale at over 25 radio dealers in London and can be purchased for a pound down and a pound a week until paid for.
Cricket Match By Air
The screen is about a foot square and the beam is reflected up from inside the set through a system of mirrors.
The first thing flashed on the screen was the words: "The Alexander Palace television station is testing."
This five-minute period gives the listeners time to tune and get in focus. Then we heard a prima donna sing from the broadcasting studios. Next we jumped to the studio of an artist and watched him paint a picture in eight minutes and explain his methods.
A cricket match suddenly appeared, then we saw memorial services at Chatham for the men who died there when a German torpedo struck a British boat in the war.
Competition for Theater Seen
Finally came what I thought was the climax. It was a full reel of Movietone News. It was perfect. You could see the cadets marching and everything in the film was just as good as could been seen at a motion picture show. "There is no doubt about it," Stanley Grandels, a Marconi engineer told me, "but that television will replace the theater to a large extent."
The London station, the only one in the British Isles, is not a powerful station, but can be heard plainly for 26 miles. A more powerful one will soon be built.
It has a huge sending tower atop Alexander palace, that is 200 feet high and 300 feet above the ground. It has prongs out from the sides near the top and resembles a Roman battle-ax.
The waves come in screen fashion, much like an engraver's plate is made. The whole system works on a system of shadows and pitches. Transmission is just as fast as radio sound and the set itself is about half the size of an upright piano, with the screen near the top in the middle. (Tulsa Tribune)

TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1937
Television Experts See New Cathode Ray Tube
Recent Development Permits Projection Of Air Pictures On Larger Screen
By C. E. BUTTERFIELD
(Associated Press Radio Editor)
New York, May 12—Television on a screen—images 18 by 24 inches square produced by a newly developed cathode ray tube—was demonstrated to the Silver Anniversary Convention of the Institute of Radio Engineers here today.
The picture has a brightness equal to that of home movies. By increasing the distance from the screen it is possible to obtain one as large as three by four feet good enough to be viewed by an audience of several hundred.
Enlargement is obtained through a simple optical system placed before the fluorescent end of the tube, where the original picture appears as the small size of 1 1-2 by 2 1-4 inches.
Details of the new tube, which is the result of several years research in the laboratories of the Radio Corporation of America, were outlined in papers written by Dr. W. H. Zworykin, W. H. Painter and Dr. R. R. Law, the men directly concerned with its design.
It is the outgrowth of the "kinescope," the television receiving tube that paints imager on its flat end but does not project them. The largest 'kinescope" to date with a viewing end 15 inches in diameter, permits pictures approximately 9 by 12 inches.
While the projection tube is regarded in scientific circles as a distinct advancement, Dr. Law said it had not yet reached the stage where it can be used outside the laboratory. Work is being continued to develop the luminescent material of the fluorescent screen, which will withstand the terrific bombardment of the electrons that build up the image.
The tube, 18 inches in length but much smaller in diameter at the largest end than the "kinescope", has as its principal feature a new type of "electron gun" developed by Dr. Law and his associates. The "gun", which focuses the flying electrons, had to be designed to produce an extremely slender beam yet have brilliancy enough for projection.
The demonstration, part of an entire afternoon devoted to a television symposium, was planned to include a showing to the visiting engineers of the field-test 441-line pictures produced by the R.C.A.-N.B.C. stations on the Empire State Building from the Radio City studios.
Illumination tests by Harley Iams, R. B. James and W. H. Hickok, also of the R. C. A. laboratories, led them to conclude in another paper that outdoor television pick-ups of football games were less likely to be satisfactory than parades and races. This, they held, was due to the time of the day and the lateness of the season that the game is played.
In the measurement and recording of the brightness of scenes typical for television they also found that present equipment was sufficiently responsive for baseball, which is played in the sunniest months of the year. Whether outdoor results were good, fair or poor, they added, depended to a large extent upon the angle of the sun at different times of the day.
Dr. Zworykin, in a paper having the collaboration of G. A. Morton and L. E. Flory, said that the "Icononcope," the electric camera of television, still was undergoing improvement looking toward greater sensitivity.

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

Television Takes Coronation to 30,000; Success Is Hailed
London, May 13 — (AP) — Television took the Coronation parade [12] to some 30,000 persons far away from the actual scene, and today the consensus was it had been markedly successful.
Even so, officials of the British Broadcasting Co. said if there had been sunshine instead of rain the pictures would have been 50 per cent better.
The "televiewers" saw the spectacle in the comfort of their homes, in offices, in motion picture theatres and in halls hired for the occasion.
It was like viewing a movie accompanied by a running commentary, but instead the watchers were witnessing what was going on at the very moonlit some distance away.
Because the television apparatus was installed at a vantage point at Hyde Park corner, near the end of the route, the "televiewers” were able to get better views of the procession than many of those on the spot, even though the rain began just before the broadcast started and continued throughout the hours of transmission.

Lee Television Broadcast
West Coast Bureau, RADIO DAILY
Los Angeles — Don Lee television department will observe National Foreign Trade Week, which starts Saturday, with an opening day broadcast of "Commerce Around the Coffee Cup" (film) , sound over KHJ and images over W6XAO, for 15 minutes, starting 8 p.m. PST. Harry R. Lubcke, television chief, will have as guests at his home receiver, Clayton Lane, acting chairman Foreign Trades Division, Washington; William H. Schroeder, general chairman of Los Angeles Foreign Trades week committee; Stanley T. Olafson, Walter Measday, A. C. Eichollz and other committee men assisting in the week's program here.

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1937
W6XAO Hollywood
8:00-8:15—Film: “Commerce Around the Coffee Cup” (sound on KHJ).

Television On Screen Newest Development of Visual Radio
By C. E BUTTERFIELD
NEW YORK, May 15 (AP) — Science rays that midday under bright skies with the sun directly overhead isn't necessarily the best vision period of the 24 hours. Rather, mid-morning and mid-afternoon are much more ideal.
See what Harley Iams, R. B. Janes and W. H. Hickok of the RCA television laboratories have had to say on the subject. They based their statements on a series of measurements of the brightness of scenes made over a period of years to determine the suitability of typical outdoor activities that might be televised.
"On clear, summer days, scenes arc frequently brighter at mid-morning or mid-afternoon than when the sun is directly overhead, they concluded.
Why is this so?
It’s the angle of the sun's rays that produces the effect, or to put it in the language of the research men:
"Although illumination on a horizontal plane is maximum at noon, reflection of the sloping rays of the other hours produces better conditions for television pickup. This is true because most things of interest to human vision are disposed in vertical plane, from which sloping lays produce greater light reflection."
Colors of Sun's Rays
Their study did not stop there. They went into the subject of the colors making up the sun's rays and found that:
"When the sun is shining unobscured, there is a preponderance of red rays. When it is hidden by a cloud in an otherwise clear sky, there are more blue rays. Since the two colors lie at nearly opposite ends of the visible spectrum, the television camera must not be color blind."
Along this same line they also checked up on the light-dulling effects of city smoke in the atmosphere, Indicating that such conditions would he somewhat of a detriment to television.
The data obtained then was charted against such television possibilities as a baseball game.
The scientists expressed the belief that present pickup equipment, known as the "Iconoscope" or electric camera, would he sufficiently responsive to provide radiograph movies of the game.
They also stated that parades and races would be equally satisfactory. About football, they were not so hopeful, however, that's because the game is played in the season of the year when the day is growing shorter and when even the shouting spectators on the scene have to strain eyes to follow the plays as dusk approaches.

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

APPLICATIONS GRANTED
W6XAO, Los Angeles—CP and license add aural trans. to television station, 150w A3 emission.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1937 NEW SERIES OF RADIO DRAMAS OPENS TONIGHT
By CARROLL NYE
“Take the Witness” titles a new series of dramas to be presented today by the Hollywood Columbia studios via KNX at 10 p.m., as a forerunner to television broadcasts of the future.
The broadcast, open to the public, will originate in the Hollywood Music Box Theater, and the actors will appear in costume, speak memorized lines and perform in specially designed stage settings.
The initial offering, “The Masquerade Murder,” is from the pen of Ashmead Scott, radio writer and producer.
Note: A second of front-row seats will be reserved for candid-camera bugs. (Los Angeles Times

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI 910 kcs.

Television Clause
Eddie Cantor's new six-year contract under Texaco sponsorship contains a clause making Cantor available for television broadcast. Cantor also must be prepared at any time to direct, produce and star in any televised show under his present sponsorship. He also will supervise any programs used during his vacations. Cantor's contract doesn't contain the usual 13-week cancellation clauses. (Radio Daily)

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1937
Sarnoff Sees No Tele Yet
Commercial Visual Broadcasting Is Not Planned by RCA and Others for At Least Two More Years
Chicago — There will be no commercial television this year, neither RCA nor any other manufacturer having such plans for the present season, while next year is problematical, President David Sarnoff of RCA told 500 wholesalers attending the annual RCA-Victor sales meeting here. The public can safely buy new receivers, knowing they will get full value before television receivers and programs are available, he declared.
Though television will bring greatly increased costs to advertisers, it also will bring greatly increased opportunities to justify those costs, Sarnoff pointed out. He said he expects television to utilize short movies for advertising purposes much after the fashion of present spot broadcasting in radio. He does not think television will supplant the movies.
RCA introduced 39 new models running from $24 to more than $250. It was also reported that all divisions of RCA have been operating in the black all this year, with prospects continuing bright. (Radio Daily)

Lubcke's Television Talk
West Coast Bureau. RADIO DAILY
Los Angeles — Harry R. Lubcke, Don Lee television chief, will talk to 600 delegates to the annual convention of Pacific Coast Electrical Ass'n at Hotel Huntington, Pasadena this weekend, on "Processes and Progress in Television." During the three-day session, he will broadcast (sight only) in a series of demonstrations which will be sent from the Don Lee image transmitter at Seventh and Bixel Streets, to Pasadena, more than eight miles away.

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

GONZAGA PURCHASES TELEVISION EQUIPMENT
Gonzaga university Tuesday [25] announced installation of a complete television transmitter and receiver, with an experimental transmitting range of 10 miles. The new equipment is an addition to the electrical engineering department of the engineering school.
It is expected the new apparatus will be ready for use some time in June, when it will be demonstrated to the public. First courses in television will be offered during the summer session, according to department heads. (Spokane Spokesman-Review, May 27)

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

April 1937

CBS was the leader in television programming in the early 1930s, but by the end of the decade, it was playing catch-up to NBC.

The company had taken W2XAB off the air in 1933, saying it had done all it could to develop live broadcasts. NBC, however, kept tinkering and was testing an improved W2XBS while CBS was waiting for a construction permit for a new transmitter. It finally got the okay in April 1937.

There was little other TV news that mouth, outside of a few interviews with people at NBC. W6XAO in Hollywood continued its Saturday broadcasts. W9XAT in Minneapolis was on the air Monday through Saturday and W9XK at the University of Iowa broadcast once or twice a week. All telecasts were 15 minutes and the sound came over a local radio station (the Minneapolis station was an independent that signed off at sunset).

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

CBS Television Site Set
Transmitter to be Located Atop Chrysler Building Will be Most Powerful Station of Its Kind
Upon receiving FCC permission to construct a combined television and sound transmitter, CBS will take over space on the 74th floor of the Chrysler Building here and start work on the most powerful station of its kind in the world. Peak power of 30 kilowatts (30,000 watts) will be equalled only by the finished apparatus now being constructed in Paris on the Eiffel Tower and will be sufficient to televise strong enough reception to receivers 40 miles away, or a total of some 4,800 square miles.
Acquisition of the Chrysler location gives CBS the only possible available tower high enough to surmount a reasonable horizon and comparable to NBC's station W2XBS located in the tower of the Empire State Building. This operates with power of 12,000 watts and has reported favorable reception to a point in Connecticut over 40 miles distant.
CBS engineers figure on an operating frequency somewhere between 42 and 56 megacycles. A distance of less than 100 feet will separate the transmitter from the antenna and consequently insure almost distortionless transfer of power. According to Dr. P. C. Goldmark, head of CBS tele research department, Chrysler tower is particularly desirable because of unobstructed skyline. Latest developments in high power wide band design will be incorporated. Dr. Goldmark said further:
"Experiments conducted by CBS engineers disclosed that the heighth [sic] of the antenna was not the only thing to be considered, despite the general impression to that effect. Fact that most of Manhattan's population is concentrated north of the Chrysler tower and that no higher buildings are located in that direction was of prime importance in selecting the site. This situation indicates that the radio waves will not be broken up or refracted by the steel skeletons of other skyscrapers and that therefore a common fault of television — the production of double images — will be avoided."
CBS conducted experiments with television some few years ago and discontinued it in 1933. Transmission of low definition pictures (with sound going through regular CBS channels) over station W2XAX later resulted in CBS conducting intense research here and abroad. Comparison of the progress in other countries was not overlooked. At the time of this tele, operation Bill Schudt, now manager of WBT, Charlotte, took an active part. These pictures technically known as low-definition images were 60-lines transmitted on a frequency of 2,800 kilocycles.
New station will, of course, stick to the 441-line basis agreed upon by U. S. experimental stations as per recommendation of the Radio Manufacturers Association. (Radio Daily)

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W6XAO Hollywood
8:00-8:15—Television (sound on KHJ, KGB, KDB and other Mutual-Don Lee stations).

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

TELEVISION FIELD TESTS ARE RESUMED BY RCA
Field tests of RCA experimental television with the new 441-line definition were resumed yesterday [5] by NBC on the largest scale ever undertaken in the U. S. Tests will continue throughout the spring and summer months. Test programs will be televised daily from the NBC transmitter in the Empire State tower. NBC has been on the air with television since 1931, and has had the only television station in operation in New York City for the last four years. Quality of reception will be checked by NBC engineers on more than 75 receivers placed at selected points throughout the metropolitan area.
O. B. Hanson, NBC chief engineer, said the object of the new tests, which represent the latest development in seven years of television experiment by NBC, is to determine the home program potentialities of high definition television. RCA television of 441-line definition has been in operation in the laboratory since last December, but this will be the first test under practical field conditions.
In similar field tests of 343-line pictures held as early as last summer, NBC engineers received satisfactory pictures as far distant as 45 miles from the Empire State transmitter. Last December tests on this basis were discontinued to allow for necessary alterations to change the equipment over to the finer definition 441 -line system. (Radio Daily)

Television Will Soon Be Here Says Goldwyn
By HAROLD HEFFERNAN
North American Newspaper Alliance
HOLLYWOOD, April 6—Television is coming, and all Hollywood is lifting its eyebrows just a little—not certain how to react when it wakes some morning soon to find this new problem dumped right into its lap.
Few producers will discuss television, chiefly, they admit, because they know nothing about it. One of its lone boosters, however, is Samuel Goldwyn, dean of Hollywood film makers, who stated in an interview that he looks to the arrival of television as a great boon to the film industry. He thinks it will prove as beneficial a stimulant to movie attendance as the coming of sound was to the silent picture.
"Television is undoubtedly about to be given to the public," said Goldwyn. “At first they may not televise motion pictures, but when they do the entire world will be able to see them immediately. That will create a demand for more pictures than ever.
“Injure the motion picture industry? I should say not! It should prove a tremendous ally. At least that's my firm personal reaction.
"Of course, none of us in the film industry has been fully advised as to how motion pictures will be broadcast over television. But I understand this will be done exactly as is done with nation-wide radio broadcasts—over telephone lines to avoid distortion of the images by static.
“In that case, they probably will work out a dial system. Your newspapers will publish the list of pictures to be televised that particular evening. Then the patron will simply dial the ‘motion picture operator,’ ask for the picture of his choice, and then will be charged a certain amount on his telephone bill. That is the same kind of tie-up the telegraph companies are using successfully now."
The producer was asked what effect he thought the home use of television would have on theater investments and theater patronage throughout the world.
Effect on Patronage
“I don't believe it will have any effect at all on theater patronage,” he replied. "I say this because people by nature like to flock together. It wouldn't be nearly so much fun to sit home participating in some amusement as it would be to enjoy it with the crowd. There is something about going out to the theater, about dressing up for the evening, about mixing with other people that television cannot bring to you at home.
"Furthermore, the film Industry will have to refuse broadcast rights to certain of its better productions. You will undoubtedly find that business in the theaters for these big productions will be better than ever. And here's something else I’ll predict while I’m in the predicting mood. Watch and you'll see that the fine film productions will then run on a single bill for six and seven weeks instead of one week on a double bill as they do today.
"You'll find also that shorter pictures will be the popular choice for television broadcast because it is unlikely home audiences will want to sit more than an hour, with the neighbors dropping in, the telephone ringing and other interruptions so common of an evening in an average household.”
Sees No Threat
Goldwyn scoffs at the fears advanced by some right in his own business that television is a dangerous threat to the whole movie industry, and that it might actually ruin it.
“Not unless were too slow and stupid to fight back," retorted the producer. “The advancement of radio forced the films to find sound. The rise of television will force the motion picture industry to find some other new step forward.
"I have always believed in facing the inevitable and, if it's a fight, every last producer in this business should line up and fight back with better entertainment. People will never (and Goldwyn slapped his desk emphatically as he shouted the word) stop going to movie theaters to see great entertainment.”
Goldwyn concluded his views with a stab at his pet hobgoblin—the double feature bill.
“If these double bills keep on driving people out of the theaters,” he said, "and if Hollywood keeps on deliberately making mediocre pictures—what it blandly terms the 'B' picture—I myself would prefer to sit home at my television outfit.”
Shrewd Producer
Goldwyn, who has become known as the “one-man industry" because of his lone-wolf policy of producing heavy programs of costly films, each one under his own personal supervision, is regarded as the shrewdest and most far-visioned of the few remaining old-timers, so his views on this new electrical threat to the industry are looked upon here as extremely potent and timely.
Recently Goldwyn revised all his players' contracts, inserting clauses which read as follows:
“...That he will render his services as an actor in television productions ...; that he will render his services in connection with the broadcasting or transmission of his likeness and voice by means of television ...; that he will not render his services for television without the written consent of the producer."
The producer is also known to be experimenting now through his camera department with a special "television negative" for films.
"We'll probably soon be shooting two different negatives on the same picture," confided Gregg Toland, chief cinematographer at the Goldwyn Studio. "One will be for theater consumption and the other for air reproduction. We are experimenting with them now over several Los Angeles stations."

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

Tele Will Need Sponsors
Sarnoff Tells RCA Annual Meet That High Cost of Visual Programs Will Require Ad Support
Costliness of television, not only in its current experimental stages, but when in actual operation, will mean that support will really devolve upon the advertiser as it does in broadcasting, said David Sarnoff, president of RCA, at the annual stockholders' meeting yesterday afternoon. Sarnoff reviewed the various RCA activities, including broadcasting, communications, research and manufacturing.
Relative to broadcasting, Sarnoff stressed the progress made in supplying informative and educational as well as entertaining programs, while leading advertisers continued to take increased advantage of the NBC facilities to reach the public with business and industry messages. Fan mail of the RCA broadcasts of the Metropolitan opera reached a new high by way of public appreciation, while next month, he predicted would again make radio history with broadcasts of the Coronation.
Television was making rapid strides Sarnoff said, pictures now being televised being about double that of the former 5 1/2 x 7 inches.
Coverage of the U. S. with approximately 3 million square miles of territory and about 130,000,000 inhabitants presents a problem "more formidable" than in England, where the area is small and the population concentrated, he pointed out. Mentioning the government subsidy of television in England, Sarnoff was sure that reception would be free to the American home through private enterprise. Further technical improvement was necessary in transmission as well as reception, but as the improvements were made, costs should decrease and reduce the huge financial outlays now necessary in starting a nation-wide television service.
Sponsored tele programs were definitely a part of the future status of this new form of entertainment, stated Sarnoff, because the program service will be costly and support will devolve upon advertisers as it does in broadcasting. Before sponsors can be interested, however, it is necessary to provide a seeing and hearing audience. He pointed out that RCA equipment was second to none, that developments in England were based on RCA patents and reminded his hearers that CBS in re-entering the field of tele had purchased RCA apparatus. (Radio Daily)

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

Caltech Open House Ends Tonight
So great was the throng at the opening of the California Institute of Technology public exhibition last night [9] that enough tickets for the "canned lightning" display were requested to run four hours over the closing time, 11 p. m.
The largest attendance in the history of the event, which continues today, resulted in automobiles being parked for six blocks in all directions and Tournament Park was jammed.
Officers Clear Jam
Officers were summoned to clear the jam at the afternoon demonstration of television, which will be continuous today. Arrangements have been completed with KHJ to broadcast the television from 9 a. m. to 12, and 1 to 5 p. m., which are the open house hours today.
Five major news reels were on hand for the first time, photographing the lightning show in the high tension laboratory, sparks from the tesla coil that are caught by a student with his finger, and campus activities. (Pasadena Post)



MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

Don Lee Television Draws Coast Crowds
West Coast Bureau. RADIO DAILY
Los Angeles — Don Lee installed its television receiving apparatus in the Cal. Tech Annual Electrical Progress exhibition over the week-end, sent pictures and sound more than 10 miles from its studios at 15-minute intervals over Friday and Saturday and drew biggest crowds of any exhibit of the show. Because it worked on a seven-hour daily schedule, the usual Don Lee custom of using KHJ for the sound was given up, and the ultra high frequency station, W1OXFZ was used, with pictures going out on W6XAO. (Radio Daily)

Back on the air with its New York field test television transmitter after a changeover to provide pictures of greater detail and clarity, NBC expects to devote a big share of its Spring and Summer research to program problems.
A tentative schedule is under consideration calling for four special evening transmissions a week on alternate weeks. The exact times will vary according to the test requirements. A full technical staff is to be maintained in the studio to aid program and production men.
The tests, which are being conducted in cooperation with RCA, which developed the system used, are to concern themselves with various scenes and types of performances. For looking-in purposes, the number of receivers in the New York area has been increased to more than 75, to be used only by the engineers. The transmitter is located in the Empire State Building with the studio in the network's Radio City quarters. (Andrew Smith, Birmingham News)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

Exposition Plans Television Display
It was revealed that television will form an important part in the Golden Gate International Exposition yesterday [16] as directors announced that their financial campaign had reached $2,017,983.75. Television will be used in broadcasting, with radio and movie stars as a special feature of the fair. Committees of volunteer workers are trying to get subscriptions of $7,500,000 to finance the exposition. Subscriptions obtained yesterday totaled $110,000. (Oakland Tribune, Apr. 17)

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-12:45—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W6XAO, Hollywood
8:00-8:15—Television (sound on KHJ and other Mutual-Don Lee stations).

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

CBS Gets Television Permit
Washington Bureau, RADIO DAILY
Washington — FCC Saturday [17] granted application of CBS for construction permit authorizing changes in equipment, increase in power of visual broadcasting transmitter to 7500 watts and move of transmitter to top of Chrysler Building. (Radio Daily)

Hopes of Television Are Spurred by Test
West Coast Bureau, RADIO DAILY
Los Angeles — Successful spanning of a distance of 10 1/2 miles with "sight and sound" by the Television Division of the Don Lee Broadcasting System here last week has spurred interest and hopes in the proximity of regular television broadcasts. The latest demonstrations here, piloted by Harry R. Lubcke, were witnessed by both laymen and noted scientists, among them Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Robert A. Millikan. The television programs were transmitted many times during the day at 15-minute intervals.
These repeated demonstrations were performed via the Don Lee owned and operated experimental television station W6XAO which carried the mages, and an auxiliary ultra-short wave channel which conveyed the sound. They marked the first time that high-definition television (300 lines to the image, repeated at the rate of 24 images per second) had been broadcast so great a distance. Transmitters were located in the Don Lee Building in Los Angeles while the television receiver was located in the Physics Exhibit at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, a distance of slightly more than 10 ½ miles. (Radio Daily)

Playwrights Granting Film Television Rights
In selling the film rights to a stage play, the Dramatists' Guild is now granting film companies the right to televise the motion picture produced from the play, but reserves to the author the right to televise the play with living actors, RADIO DAILY was advised Saturday [17] by Sidney R. Fleischer, arbiter for the Dramatists' Guild.
Previously the Dramatists' Guild had refused to include television rights in the sale of movie rights to a play. (Radio Daily)

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

SET FOR HEARING
NEW, Zenith Radio Corp., Chicago, CP television station 100w.

DON GILMAN TO CONFER ON TELEVISION STUDIO
San Francisco — Among matters to be taken up with NBC officials in New York by Don E. Gilman, v. p. in charge of the western division, who leaves tomorrow for the east, will be the question of whether NBC will expand its present Hollywood studios or seek more space elsewhere in order to provide for television developments.
Having just recently completed Hollywood studios, NBC is now confronted with the necessity of enlarging its quarters to meet the increasing demands for programs from the film capital, Gilman said.
Rapid extension of both Pacific networks is another reason for Gilman's trip, which will keep him east for several weeks. (Radio Daily)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

Economic Factor Is Biggest Obstacle to Home Television
V.K. Zworykin, RCA Laboratory Experimenter, Says Vision Sets Are Technically Acceptable Today for Home Use; 3 by 4-foot Screen Planned
By TELECASTER
The economic factor rather than technical imperfection is keeping television out of the home. . . . Progress in technical development has been so rapid in the past two years that sets could be placed in the home tomorrow, with excellent reception in a limited area assured. . . . The answer to the economic problem in television will be forthcoming in the "near future." , . . These statements and other interesting comments concerning progress in the field of television were made last Wednesday evening [21] by V. K. Zworykin, inventor, scientist and television expert before 200 members of the Atlantic Coast section of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers in New York City.
Dr. Zworykin, whore achievements in the RCA laboratories in Camden have won universal acclaim, described the television set-up of today, explained the relationship between the field of television and motion pictures, and, with a series of slides, pictured the multiple equipment and complexity of transmitting pictures through the air.
Ready for the Home
Questioned by this writer following his lecture whether sets developed today offered acceptable reception for home use, the inventor, assuredly replied: "Oh, yes!" He revealed for the first time at the lecture that RCA is working on a small cathode ray tube, which, with the addition of a lens could magnify the picture to a site of three by four feet. However, he stated that he was not in a position at the time to go into detail, or to reveal the manner in which the enlarged screen process is being developed.
Dr. Zworykin stated that RCA recently increased its television screen from 5 to 7 1/2 inches to 7 1/2 by 10 inches. The pictures received are sufficiently bright to enable reception in a well-lighted room. Pictures, he added, are a pinkish-yellow color, and quite an improvement over the earlier greenish tinted views.
RCA receivers in their present form resemble quite closely a large console radio set. There are at present 100 experimental sets in operation in the New York area, he said.
Each set has seven control knobs, although tuning is simple. One control knob places both sight and sound into operation. The other six knobs—three for sight and three for sound—are used to adjust the clarity of the picture or sound for one's own needs.
The noted scientist then delivered a discourse on the technical development of the transmission and reception through use of the iconoscope, which he developed, and the kinescope, better known as the cathode ray tube.
He explained the choice of ultra short waves for transmission and the limitations of these waves as to the carrying distance of the pictures. It was interesting to note that whereas 24 pictures pass through a motion picture camera per second, in television the number of pictures or frames has been stepped up to 30.
Send Pictures 45 Miles
The range of transmission at present varies from 25 to 45 miles, although the pictures transmitted in New York have been picked up in Camden, a distance of 90 miles. At that distance, however, Dr. Zworykin said, reception was inconsistent, depending on conditions.
Pictures of studio sets employed in transmitting experimental programs were exhibited. The speaker told of the cameras used for outdoor televising, the camera is equipped with f. 2.7 lens.
Results of tests made to date have proved the system is "very satisfactory," he added. The NBC handling of the equipment has proved the practicability of the system employed. The economic problem, however, is causing the delay in home development, he inferred.
Following the lecture, an open forum was conducted in which engineers questioned the inventor as to principles employed in transmission. It was during this portion of the meeting that Dr. Zworykin revealed the heretofore unknown fact that RCA was working on a smaller cathode ray tube with lens to magnify pictures on enlarged screen. The greatest problem in this regard, he said. has been to I create enough intensity of light to make the enlarged screen well illuminated. (Sunday Times, New Brunswick, N.J., Apr. 25)

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:15-12:30—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W6XAO, Hollywood
8:00-8:15—Television (sound on KHJ and other Mutual-Don Lee stations).

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:30-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1937
W9XAT, Minneapolis
12:45-1:00—Television with radio station WDGY 1180 kcs.

EUROPEAN TELEVISION RECEIVED IN AMERICA
By WATSON DAVIS
(Director, Science Service.
WASHINGTON, April 30.—Reception of some schedules of television transmitters in London and Berlin at Riverhead, N. Y., was reported to the International Scientific Radio Union and the Institute of Radio Engineers meeting jointly here today.
These signals were 40 to 45 mega-cycles, which is shorter in wave length than even the short waves commonly receivable with present short wave sets. H. O. Peterson and D. R. Goddard of R. C. A. communications explained that daily observations of these transatlantic signals had been made since the middle of January.
Such short waves are generally not considered to travel much farther than the eye can see. But direction measurements showed that at times the signal arrived from he reverse direction over the longest way around the world.
INTERSTELLAR NOISE
The noise that originates in the interstellar spaces of the universe is generally the ultimate barrier to receiving radio signals on very short waves, K. G. Jansky of the Bell Telephone laboratories told the scientists. Some years ago Mr. Pansky discovered static coming out of the depths of the universe. In the absence of man-made interference the usable signal strength is usually limited by this astronomical interference.
PREDICTING RADIO CONDITIONS
Hope that scientists will be able to predict radio transmission conditions a month or more in advance was held out by A. K. Ludy of the U. S. coast and geodetic survey and A. G. McNish of the Carnegie Institution's department of terrestrial magnetism. To correlate more closely the activity of the earth's magnetic field with radio transmission, these scientists are compiling a twice daily measure of the magneto conditions as observed at seven world-wide stations. These "character figures" will be distributed by Science Service throughout the world and are expected to reveal practically useful relations between radio and the earth's magnetism.