International photographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

A COMPLETE MEANS OF INSTANTANEOUS PARTICIPATION IN SIGHT AND SOUND T € L E V I S By Duster Evans In the eyes of the Television world, the month of July can rightfully boast of two famous days — July 4, and now, July 1! Both days, too, have much in common. Just as July 4 marked the real beginning of a great and prosperous nation, so should July 1 of this year, long be remembered as marking the real beginning of a great and prosperous new industry. "On this day," future records will read, "Commercial Television made its debut as authorized by the Federal Communicaitons Commission." The exciting fact, today, is that Television, like its bigger brother, Radio, can :now sell programs to sponsors. And those iwho should know say that this will really 'set the Television ball to rolling. It's pretty hard not to agree, looking back at Radio's spectacular history, and the important part played in its development by the commercially sponsored program. So an amazing new industry promises to get under way, right in the midst of today's great industrial activity. And yet, | a few generations ago, the idea of being able to send a picture invisibly through the 'air would have been regarded as one of the wildest and most fantastic dreams of the Jules Verne variety. But science today has no respect for the "fantastic dreams" of yesterday. Not only has it succeeded in sending pictures through the air by means of Television, but these pictures move! They show life . . . action! But this achievement was not enough. Successful experiments have been carried out, transmitting Television pictures in natural color. Television's silvery 'screen is being transformed into all of the colorful hues of the rainbow. Before long, 'Color Television may be available to the public. Yes, one can understand why Television has been called twentieth century magic at , its best. The vast majority of American people, however, have yet to witness their first Television performance. Certainly, they have a treat in store. In fact, let's sit in on a program! The lights in the room are lowered. A test pattern has already appeared on the screen of our receiver, enabling us to adjust the controls for proper focusing and brilliancy. Strains of martial music suddenly crash from the receiver, and on the screen we i see the title of a news reel. Quickly we lose ourselves in interest as history-in-the making parades before us. It is as though our neighborhood theatre has suddenly been transported to us, here within the comforts of our home. As the last scene fades, the announcer appears to tell us that a studio play will follow. We are agreeably surprised at the many clever sight and sound effects used, and soon become engrossed in a well-acted mystery plot. Lighter entertainment then flashes before us in the form of an animated cartoon. All of the pictures have been clear and flickerless, and the accompanying sound has amazed us with its startling realistic tone. For Television is now profiting from Radio's great new development known as Frequency Modulation. The Television set owner not only enjoys sharp, brilliant pictures, but he is also scheduled to receive the very finest in the way of sound reproduction. Probably the biggest thrill of Television is that it enables us to see things as they are happening. For instance, owners of Television receivers served by the NBC station in New York City have participated in a wide variety of interesting events. Their receivers have brought them numerous programs and scenes from the former New York World's Fair. They have also seen an eclipse of the sun . . . the impressive ceremonies of the Court of Peace on Pan-American Day ... a parade of the new mechanized U. S. Army units . . . the annual Fifth Avenue display of fashions on Easter Sunday ... a view of New York City from a skyliner . . . the arrival and take-off of the great transAtlantic Clipper . . . fire-fighters in action, etc. Sport enthusiasts, too, have had plenty of thrills via Television. They have witnessed a track meet where nine world records were broken. They have attended numerous colleges and professional baseball games. Football fans have also had more than their share of excitement. Tennis, boxing, the six-day bicycle races, fencing, basketball and ice hockey have all contributed to many interesting Television programs. The movie-lover, also, has been thrilled at the impressive array of educational travel and feature films that have been "televised." Then there have been grand opera, variety vaudeville shows, drama, regularlyscheduled news programs, spelling bees, the building and flying of model aeroplanes, cooking demonstrations, travel lectures and movies for arm-chair adventurers, and other interesting events. Certainly with all of this having occurred International Photographer for July, 1941 within one brief year of "Experimental Television" — what may we look forward to, now that Television has become commercialized? It seems certain the American family is going to find Television will provide the source for a new "high" in home entertainment and interest. It seems certain, too, that Television before very long will start exerting a real effect in such fields as merchandising, education, aviation, military defense and law enforcement. But most important, to ambitious young men today, the growth of Television promises to open up a bright new field of opportunity, and in work that is interesting to the point of fascination. Any young man seeking to make the most of his years ahead may well owe it to himself to fully investigate the possibilities ahead of this amazing new industry. Likewise, he may do well to consider how he can prepare to be ready for the start he needs. Any of our readers who are interested in entering the Television, Radio, and Sound Motion Picture field may secure additional details by addressing the writer of this article, care of International Photographer. Posthumous Honor to Herman A. De Vry The innumerable friends of the late Herman A. DeVry, pioneer motion picture projector inventor, engineer and founder of the DeVry Corporation, will be delighted to learn that on June 2, 1941, a posthumous honor in the form of a Doctor of Science Degree was conferred upon him by Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee. PARADISE SOUTH (Continued from page 11) color with the blooms in this paradise of abundance. Then the boatman pushed his craft silently, smoothly, through an arch of high poplars with their branches grasping together to form the vaulted arc of a cathedral arch with its myriad glints of dancing sunspots breaking through fluttering leaves, like the blinking of tiny frosted electric lights. On we floated to an altar of Nature's grandeur, while the slight slow wind played a benediction on the low flute reeds as we slowly approached an "island" covered with huge red roses. Truly, this is Paradise South, where the bitter struggle of life and scorching memories can be laid aside while the sweetness of romance beckons and holds captive. 21