The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

BM-10 TELEVISION A monthly department of Better Management devoted to new developments in television science, presented and interpreted in the light of the Cinema. Television and the Cinema An Editorial Believing that all theatremen should keep abreast of the times and be on intelligent speaking terms with developments in sciences and arts which have, or may have, a bearing on the motion picture industry, The Exhibitor in this issue of better Management offers its readers a new service, unique in motion pictue trade papers: a department on television. The proponents of television — which is more than a decade old, and not a "new” thing, as many may think — rightfully point to commercial broadcasting of visual entertainment as the coming entertainment. But whether their enthusiasm is engendered by their closeness to the infant art and a theoretical contemplation of its potentialities or whether television will actually supplant stage, screen, and radio is a question which only time holds the final answer. As commercial television broadcasting commences on April 3 0, day and date with the opening of the World’s Fair — the "World of Tomorrow" — in New York, theatremen may well ponder the subject. Television, like its older brother, the radio, does offer a threat to motion picture entertainment, but, under the present state of perfection, that threat is more hypothetical than real. Vastly superior to the equipment used by Dr. C. Francis Jenkins in 1928 in Washington, that of today still falls short in performance of that visual satisfaction created and sustained by the cinema. Three principal handicaps are effecting presentday television. First, there is the cost of receivers (from $200 up) ; second, lack of stations (telecasts extend only about 50 miles from the station; third, the picture itself, small and illy defined, save in the dead center. It must be kept in mind, however, that an industry which has spent $13,000,000 thus far has not acted without some consideration of the potential return. It is only natural to presume that prices of receivers will be reduced when mass production really starts, that broadcasting stations will be constructed and network technique perfected, that size and definition of the picture will be greatly improved. In the future, television will be more than a threat to motion picture theatres — it may even supplant them — unless the panjandrums of production snap out of it and make pictures that the public deems worth seeing. After all, in this problem as with all the industry’s problems, the exhibitor can do precious little, for his fate is in the hands of those who make the pictures. As soon as the movie moguls realize the futility of their apparent policy of millions for production but not one cent for story, the exhibitor can fight the fire of television with the fire of great cinematographic entertainment. Until then, the best the exhibitor can do is to know what is going on and be prepared for the best — or the worst — -when it comes. To this end the television department of Better Management pledges columns to the enlightenment of the exhibitor. New DuMont Receiver Out So that sight-and-sound programs may be enjoyed in utmost comfort, a console television receiver definitely aimed at one’s favorite chair is the latest development of the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., of Passaic, New Jersey. The new DuMont receiver (Model 182) is housed in a console cabinet measuring only 3 8 inches high by 20% inches wide, by 24 /i inches deep. The cabinet is finished in two-toned wood, with a split loudspeaker grill below, the cathoderay screen above. The model has 21 tubes, including the 14-inch cathode-ray tube, for sightand-sound reception. Screen image is eight by ten inches. Television Starts April 3 0 After more than 1 1 years of fitful telecasting and the expenditure of more than $13,000,000 on perfecting sight-and-sound radio, commercial television broadcasting will officially bow April 3 0 from the National Broadcasting Company’s W2XBS atop the Empire State Building, New York. Columbia Broadcasting System’s W2XAX, on the Chrysler Building, New York, is expected to follow shortly thereafter. The inaugural telecasts will be held in conjunction with the day-and-date opening of the World’s Fair 1939, New York. Monitor Rule Extended The Federal Communications Commission extended (from March 15) to September 15 the working of Rule 981. However, all licensees of relay, international, television, facsimile, highfrequency, experimental broadcast stations should immediately arrange to purchase or install frequency monitors as required by this rule, since monitors are now available from two or more manufacturers. All stations must have a satisfactory frequency monitor on or before September 15, and the FCC does not intend again to extend the deadline. DuMont Addresses Society The meeting April 13 of the Patent Office Society, Washington, was highlighted by an address and television demonstration by Allen B. DuMont, television pioneer and head of the Passaic, New Jersey, laboratories bearing his name. This was but one of the speaking engagements DuMont has scheduled for this month. Radio Dealers Enthusiastic Despite the absence of television programs from experimental transmitters these last few months, there is a steadily growing enthusiasm for television among radio dealers, according to Len Cramer, of the DuMont Laboratories’ sales staff. Servicemen Attend Lectures The intricacies of television set installation and adjustment were the topics of a recent series of lectures at the DuMont Laboratories, Passaic, New Jersey. Service men of the company were the students. SMPE Considers Tele Topics Meeting April 17 to 21 in Hollywood, California, for its semi-annual convention, the Society of Motion Picture Engineers well considered various problems of television. Among the topics discussed were: Lighting, by National Broadcasting Company’s William C. Eddy, describing NBC’s inside silvered incandescent lamps, which also have a use in cinema studios. Production, by Don Lee Broadcasting System’s H. R. Lubcke, reviewing the Don Lee facilities (W6XAO), the routine of production of an actual program (the comedy-drama, "Vine Street,” then in its 3 2nd biweekly episode). Film Scanner, by Columbia Broadcasting System’s Peter C. Goldmark, describing the first continuous type device. Application to the Cinema, by RCA Manufacturing Company’s E. W. Engstrom, G. L. Beers, stating that motion picture film will form an important part of television programs, describing the technique of using films in this connection. Studio Technique, by National Broadcasting Company’s A. Protzman, explaining the operation of the NBC New York studios, the functioning of a special circuit to aid in the creation of close-up and long-shot sound perspective without an impracticable movement of the microphone. Design Problems, by DuMont Laboratories’ Allen B. DuMont, discussing design problems in television systems and receivers. The report of the SMPE television committee — A. N. Goldsmith, chairman — was made in two parts: on television production and technique, by O. B. Hanson; on film properties and laboratory practice, by O. Sandvik. Television Signal Generator A practical, constant, portable means for supplying a radio or direct video television signal for the investigation of circuit characteristics during development and for routine production testing and servicing of television receiving apparatus is announced by the DuMont Laboratories. Type 202 Phasmajector Television Signal Generator has been developed to supply a high-definition television picture signal, with sufficient video output to modulate an external ultra-short-wave signal generator, such as the Weston Model 787 high-frequency oscillator. New Cathode-Ray Tubes Recent additions to the already extensive DuMont line of cathode-ray tubes, it was announced, include new five-inch and nine-inch intensifier types, at $3 0 (with intensifier electrode; without $27.50) and $65 (with intensifier electrode only), respectively. The intensifier electrode, an exclusive DuMont development, provides a direct means of lowering the cost of television receivers and oscillographs of given image size and brilliance. Studios Nearing Completion The two new television transmitters, spacious basement studios at the DuMont Laboratories, Passaic, New Jersey, are rapidly nearing completion. Operating on the 42,000-56,000 kilocycle band, one studio is being devoted to direct pick-up programs, using powerful lights, a television camera. The second studio will handle film pick-ups. FCC Information Office The Federal Communications Commission late last month authorized the establishment of a permanent Office of Information, to be responsible for the collection and dissemination of information for the press and the public regarding the commission’s decisions and other matters and to have such other functions as the commission may determine. April 19, 19)9