Radio showmanship (Jan-Dec 1946)

iiio you a l)ctUr scat than the best in the slachuni. C(^niplinienling the three cameras on the 50-yarcl line, we'\'e added another eye-level camera running on a dolly tract parallel to ihe playing field. Shots picked up here are exactly what the headlinesman sees. In other words, you're 1 ight in the middle ol the play; the twenty-third player on the field. And we do mean player, because we've watched too many people cheer and jump to their leet as the star lidlback smacks through the opposing line lor a first down. Needless to say, sports played in more confined areas such as boxing, wrestling, basketball, and ice hockey are natmals tor the television camera. Here again your seat is ringside plus. Only too often your full enjoyment of the game is far greater than that of the guy who shelled out bcaucoup dollars, and battled the crowd only to find his so-called ringside seat is preceded by the press, celebrities, scalpers' row, and boys-in-the-know. WHO PAYS WHOM 1 ni'Ri', is a (loud on this Inaulilul iioi i /on, but it is still too carh to tell wIkiIk r it will develop into a Inii blown (\(lonc or pass as a sj)ring shower. Ihe owneis ol professional clubs, baseball, football and boxing, to mention a few, are asking themselves if television can put a ringside seat in every home in the country, what is that going to do to their life's blood, the box office. Without an audience to buy tickets, there can be no e\ent. Some say television, like radio, will make us more sports-minded. H axing got to know the players, understand the fine points of a game, we'll become converts and join the crowd through the turnstiles. That's what radio did for baseball, football and horseracing. Regardless c^f what the final decision is on this matter of who pays whom, you can place your bet on a sure thing; your teleview of sports will be from the Front Row-Center. National Broadcasting Co. was on hand to cover this horserace. JULY. 1946 • 227 •