Super Rare Footage…Live Television At 1939 World’s Fair
After the opening days of the fair that were broadcast by NBC, the RCA Pavilion had a camera that visitors could walk in front of and see themselves on a monitor. It was all the rage and certificates were issued stating that the bearer had indeed been among the first people ever to be “televised”![fb_vid id=”10201188466899905″]
In 1935, two years after Radio City opened, NBC Radio Studio 3H was converted to RCA Television Studio 3H. Technically it would remain an RCA domain until the opening of the 1939 World’s Fair, at which time W2XBS, and this studio were put under the control of NBC Television. On July 7, 1936, Studio 3H […]
Exclusive New Photos From NBC Brooklyn…2 of 4 Thanks to Peter Katz, here is another of four photos taken on the set of ‘Amahl And The Night Visitors’ at NBC Brooklyn. After posting the first one yesterday and mentioning the show was finally recorded in color in 1963, we found out that someone accidentally erased […]
ABC, CBS, NBC Anniversary Shows…Saturday Through Tuesday! Over the next four days, we’ll have the commercial free anniversary shows from the Big 3! Tomorrow, we start with the oldest network, NBC. On Sunday, it’s CBS and on Monday, ABC. Then on Tuesday, we’ve got Television City’s 50th anniversary show for you. Be ready for some […]
The day before the riotous Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago, NBC broadcast color images from the convention floor, using these new cameras. Although not a product of the RCA Broadcast Electronics Division, this portable color mini camera, as it turns out, was developed by RCA’s Astro Electronics Division. The Astro Electronics Division of RCA […]
Incredible! A excellent piece of history!
Amazing footage.
The BBC Television Service were doing something very similar here in the UK. Between 1937-1939 the annual radio show at Olympia (Radiolympia), featured a television studio where members of the public could apply to be “televised”, often performing a song or a dance. Following this they were interviewed by one of the continuity announcers/presenters of the programme.
That is a great clip! Thanks for sharing!
My Dad was eleven years old when he saw this. He still talks about it. He also remembers the glass “see through” tv they had so you could see what was behind the screen.
Great clip…. Wish it was longer. Must have been 16mm Kodachrome.
Very nice movie! Just the 1939…, in this world’s fair the Hammond Novachord, first sinthetiser in the world, was presented at the world! And I own one of those wonderful instruments, practically the unique well restored in the world!
Rare clip and here is the certificate issued to the person televised:
The reverse of the certificate:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could see the real broadcast of President Roosevelt from that fair.
Wish my Mom was still here, would ask her about this, she was at the fair, lived in the area! I have a box of Gospel booklets used for evangelizing at the fair. I don’t know if they have any monetary value, but they are priceless in light of the eternity with God they were meant to share!
My Mother worked at the State of Washington exhibit at the 1939 Fair and one of her old scrapbooks contains one of those “you have been televised” cards!