Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers (1930-1949)

programs has been the unavailability of adequate AT&T facilities to network theaters. The placement of theater television installations necessarily has been made along the routes of the coaxial cable and microwave relay facilities of AT&T. Most theaters in the country cannot be serviced by present telephone company facilities. This situation has forced theater circuits to make multiple installations in fewer cities, thus impeding theater television's early growth. Moreover, the lack of adequate AT&T long lines to theaters located on the cable and relay highways has impaired theater television's ability to develop regular program schedules. Here is a concrete example of the theater television distribution problem. At the beginning of the year, TNT projected a series of nine programs, to be presented between March 3 and April 1 3. Considerable work went into the formulation of this series, which included an opera, a Broadway musical, a famous Broadway stage show, a championship fight, championship basketball tournaments, and other sports events. TNT requested AT&T clearances for each program to installed theaters in 23 metropolitan areas at the beginning of February, requiring replies in time for effectuating the schedule. The total number of long lines clearances for cities requested by TNT of AT&T for these programs was 207; AT&T did not assure clearance of 151; thus 73% of theater television's requirements were not fulfilled for the TNT spring schedule. The lack of AT&T long lines made this program schedule impractical. Not all theater television requests have met with this fate. However, this experience pointed up acutely that the telephone situation has been a difficult road block to the rapid growth of theater television, and that AT&T has not added sufficient distribution facilities for theater television. The telephone companies have shown increasing understanding of the theater television facilities needs. As a result, it is anticipated that AT&T will free more facilities for theater television, thereby speeding the growth of the medium and increasing its own returns in this field. In this direction, the development of more reasonable telephone charges for theater television should be high on the agenda. The FCC proceedings on theater television channels will center attention on practical alternatives to these facilities problems. Although postponed in the wake of the hectic activities surrounding the lifting of the television freeze, it is expected that the FCC will reschedule the theater television hearings as soon as possible. Meanwhile, theater television must and will continue to move forward. Problems on the road to the future are being solved already. Every month the number of theater television installations increases, thus reducing the cost factors for individual theaters. Currently, there are a dozen theater television installations being made, including those of United Paramount Theatres, Warner Brothers Theatres and RKO Theatres. Valuable experience in pricing has been gained already. Programs are being formulated by TNT for production. And it is hopeful that intercity and intracity telephone facilities will become increasingly available at reasonable rates. Theater television will add fine entertainment of many kinds to its news and sports events. It will provide valuable services in the field of education, as well as specialized closed circuit services to government and industry. It is to be hoped that the growth timetable will not be prolonged by "faint heart" and "Let George do it" attitudes in the industry. The theater industry needs theater television. The public has already shown that it will go for it. Slowly simmering during the past period, theater television will erupt suddenly with its own formula for success in show business. The road may have obstacles but the future is bright. Nathan L. Halpern: Theater Television Progress 143