Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

KKATIRES (IF THE EXIIIBITUIN HALL HAVE BEEN WITNESSED HV VIEWERS AS EAR WEST AS CHICAGO AND ST. I.dUIS TELEVISION Two or three days a week NBC, ill cooperation with the Schwerin Research Corporation, conducts television audience reaction tests in the theatre. NBC also utilizes the theatre to show kinescope record- injrs of prog-rams, such as the Chesteitield Supper Club, to mem- liors of the cast. At times. RCA Victor auditions its recording- art- ists here. RCA Victor dealers, distributors and Service Company branch man- agers meet regularly in the E.xecu- tive Lounge which also serves as the setting for photographs of RCA home instruments. One day a month has been s'>t aside in the Hall's engagement book as "Electron Microscope Day". On this occasion slides, a film and dem- onstration of the electron micro- scope are presented to a* many college, scientific and professional groups as can be accommodated. Students, especially, are attracted by the variety of electronic wonders which the Hall has to offer. School classes numbering upwards of 'M),- ()()() pupils have been taken on tours and have watched motion pictures in the .Johnny Victor Theatre. RCA hospitality has been extend- ed through the E.xhibition Hall to gatherings representative of nearly every phase of American industry and institution. A typical weekly .schedule includes the names of or- ganizations such as Eastern Air Lines. United States Rubber Co., Twentieth-Century Fo.x. March of Time. A m e r i c a n Tuberculosis Assoc, Museum of Modern Art. Citizens Committee for Displaced Persons. Boy Scouts Organization. Institute of Radio P'ngineers. and .Juiliiard School of Music. Protn'ams in which these groups participate usually consist of film previews, re- hearsals, classes or demonstrations for the press. A casual visitor to the Hall's con- course level might find .lane Pickens rehearsing a concert before 70 guests, Arturo Toscanini ent°rtain- ing foreign visitors, or encounter a meeting of the Television Writers' Guild. Special Evcnls Given Attenlion Special events call for special attention by the Exhibition Hall staff. On election night the Hall remained open until .5 a.m., attract- ing capacity crowds. Returns were televised on a 6- by 8-foot screen in the .Johnny Victor Theatre and on the many receivers installed on the main fioor. This same procedure was followed for the championship prizefights and World Series tele- casts at which time special tickets had to be issued to regulate at- tendance. Jlore iieople have been introduced to television in the Exhibition Hall than at any other place. Questions E.VfllNEERINT. ASSISTANT ROSE ANN LONCNECKER CHECKS THE OPERATION OK A TELEVISION SET IN THE MAINTE- .NA.NCE SHOP OK THE EXHIBITIO.N HALL. of every nature concerning the new art are answered by a competent staff of eight public relations rep- resentatives. These young men are thoroughly instructed in every phase of RCA operations so that they may transmit this information intelligently to interested guests. Each i)iece of equipment in the Hall must be kept in perfect condi- tion, since it is used for demonstra- tion as well as display. Twelve tele- vision receivers and aiiproximatelv fifteen radios and radio-phonograph combinations are available for in- spection by an average of 3,000 persons each day. Duplicate sets are held in reserve for replacements when models on display reiiuire ex- tensive servicing or overhauling. An engineering staff works steadily on routine check-up and repairs, particularly those made necessary by visitors who are souvenir hunters. Behind the scenes, 23 nersons work diligently to keep RCA's Radio City showplace mechanically per- fect and to plan, coordinate and supervise its numerous activities. The fact that it has attracted a multitude of visitors from every state in the Union and more than a hundred thousand overseas guests indicates that the I']xhibition Hall is recognized by the public as a symbol of RCA preeminence in radio, television and electronics. [RADIO AGE 27]