Miss Lucyle Keeling Posing with a Television Transmitter, 1931
I recently discovered this editiorial on the early developments of television. Check out the date: 1931! Television as a nationwide phenomenon in the USA occurs only after World War 2.-EJH
Television and Radio To-day
Just where do we stand with television? A few months ago we printed a letter from Mr. E. E. Schumaker, president of the Victor Talking Machine Co., in which he predicted that a considerable time would pass before the Far-Seer, as the Germans will probably call it when it comes, will become practical for the home. Meanwhile, all sorts of prophecies of a contrary type are heard. Some tell us that in a short time the market will be flooded with television instruments.
The Etude has been endeavoring to get at the bottom of those prognostications, as they have a significant bearing upon all things musical, since television without sound, and musical sound at that, could hardly be expected to become a popular success. Moreover, when it does come, it can not possibly have the effect that radio admittedly did have upon the professional musical worker, because the jump from nothing to the world of radio was a far greater leap than that from radio to television.
The first was an unheard of novelty in sound magic, the very utility of which in the home was so unusual that it is now reported that one home in every three in America possesses a radio. This served to draw an enormous amount of interest as well as hard cash away from regular musical educational channels. For the time everything was radio. The manufacturing opportunities seemed endless to investors, and millions of money were poured into the industry. Absorption of the machines, running from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars in price, was apparently endless. The piano and other instrument businesses suffered terrifically; and many teachers, largely those of the indifferent kind, found themselves in an unfortunate condition. Then came the depression. The days of silk-shirted longshoremen reached an abrupt end. Millions were lost in the radio business, and a period of adjustment arrived.
Out of all this inevitable confusion accompanying a period of change in the world, music educational interests are emerging with flying colors. At the great Chicago convention of musical manufacturing interests, it was shown that more grand pianos were sold last year than ever before in the history of America. The same people who are sick to death of the commercial musical trash that comes in over radio have been trained to appreciate and to look for the magnificent musical treats that have come from the greatest performers of the world. What better stimulus could we possible have for music study? The only thing we can imagine might be television. One of the most human of all traits is that of imitation. Imitation is often emulation. We aspire to do as do those we admire. When television really arrives–be it now or ten years from now–added to musical performance as we now hear it over the radio will be a moving picture of the performer. All the musical people know what a stimulus to study the recitals of touring artists have been. Is it reasonable to assume that these television performances will have a similar effect upon music education? Music teachers, therefore, have little to fear from television and probably much to await with confident expectations of profit.
As for throwing the whole musical world again into confusion, by force of its novelty, it must be remembered that the sound of television can be nothing more than the sound we get from the radio already. The visual end will resemble moving pictures in smaller form. In other words, it will be a form of talking-picture in the home; and talking pictures are far from a novelty. The producers of talkies are having no end of trouble in securing attractive material that will draw crowds; and it would seem but a short time can pass before they will be obliged to add the former orchestral and other musical attractions to keep their fabulously expensive theaters open.
Broadcasting television “acts” will become a most expensive procedure. Somehow we are at a loss to know just how the advertising end of this will work out. Shall we have our beloved tooth-paste comedians preceded by a pony chorus of young ladies brushing their molars? Will we be able to see the astrologer lady garbed as a medieval alchemist? Will Vim, Pep and Vigor bounce out of the yeast pot to the music of “Casse Noisette”?
Last June the New York Times made a survey of leaders in the field with a view to finding how soon we may expect practical television in the home. There was a decided division of opinion. Powel Crosley, of the Crosley Radio Corporation said, “ So far we have seen nothing that belongs any place except in the laboratory.”
H.P. Davis, Vice President of the Westinghouse Electric Company said, “Television is yet the will-o’-the-wisp and the plaything of engineers.” He added, “We are encouraged to believe that the engineers are working upon a system which promises to be commercially practical.”
Dr. Lee de Forest remarks, “We are perhaps nearer to television in the theater and further from television in the home than the majority of people realize.”
W.S. Hedges, President of WMAQ of Chicago, stated, “Television has advanced technically to a point where it is now ready for the home.” To which he added, “Three thousand sets and seven hours of daily program are now available in the Chicago district.”
Harold A. Lafount, of the Federal Radio Commission, states, “The numerous perplexing obstacles, which first must be overcome, prompt me to say that ‘television in the home’ cannot be expected for at least three years, and that is a very optimistic estimate.”
R.H Mason, President of the Institute of Radio Engineers remarked, “It is reasonable to expect that any great stride in the advancement of television will be through some invention for simplifying the transmission problems. Otherwise progress will be comparatively slow and the public will have to wait several years for commercial results.”
EJH 1952
W.S. Paley, President of the Columbia Broadcasting System offers, “I believe television will be in operation on a commercial basis by the end of 1932. However, people should not expect too much, as there is a great deal of pioneering and experimenting yet to be done.”
Clem F. Wade, President of the Western Television Company states, “Television is in the home right now! In the Chicago area there are some thirty-five hundred receivers. Pictures received in homes have been small. A darkened room has been necessary on account of feeble illumination. This has limited the sale and use of the sets. We believe that television will receive the same impetus that the loud-speaker gave to radio, when a large picture is shown in the home without darkening the room.”
There you have it from the experts. The general opinion seems to be that the instrument is still very much in the “novelty” or “toy” stage. We personally consulted the great electrical engineer, Prof. Vladimir Karapetoff, who assured us that, great as might be the possibilities of television, the problems are so complex that as yet he has seen nothing that could be operated in the home without such frequent distortion that it would be disappointing to most amateur observers. Other difficulties are the synchronization of sound with the picture and the very practical shortcoming of making a satisfactory instrument sufficiently inexpensive to come within the limits of the average pocket book.
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