Sound motion pictures : from the laboratory to their presentation (1929)

CHAPTER XVI TELEVISION I. Television and the Motion Picture Industry Most of the gloomy forecasts concerning sound have been made on the basis of novelty or of difficulty in foreign distribution; but more recently others have arisen in connection with what seems to be the next innovation — television. The statement made in this connection is that before sound can reach its potential audiences television will snatch them away. Since I am not any too greatly impressed by the blackness of the picture thus drawn I wish to do my share in clarifying the issue. And since the criticism does contain a tiny grain of truth, in spite of distortion and exaggeration, I wish to point out how and in what ways, as I see it, television is likely to be a matter of concern to us. That there will be some sort of problem no one can deny. That one phase of the problem, moreover, will somehow involve competition is likewise easy to foresee. A new amusement feature is almost bound to distract people away from the old, simply because newness affects us that way. Then, too, each diversion builds up its own following. In consequence the film industry must now look forward to a day when a rival attraction will call for the tactics of rivalry. There is at this moment a need of clear vision and close thinking on the part of constructive minds, for the highest resourcefulness, the readiest initiative will be required to 34°