Retro: New York City, July 1, 1941 (Day one of commercial TV in the USA)

[adam95]

--Can you imagine the expense and difficulty of televising a baseball game on the first day of Commercial TV? Having TV cameras set up at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn and getting the signal back to the station in Midtown? My dad says before he had a TV in his home in the 50s, he remembers taverns and bars advertising that they had TV, so guys could go there, buy some beers and see the game if there was no TV at home. I guess it was only when the wife wanted to see Milton Berle or daytime soap operas that families spent the money for a TV at home.

I've read that folks used to watch Milton Berle in large groups as well. It was when people began buying TV's for personal use that his ratings went down because the show was not near as funny when you were watching alone or with a couple members of your family. That may have untimately been his downfall.

 

[Ultimajock]

>>>WNBT, Channel 1 (now WNBC, channel 4)
5:45 PM-Lowell Thomas news

--Regarding the Lowell Thomas newscast on NBC at 5:45pm... I assume that was simply Thomas reading his radio newscast, possibly at the same time it aired on the radio. Is my memory faulty or do I remember Lowell Thomas on CBS Radio in the 70s or 80s? Didn't know he was on NBC in the 40s.

...actually, Thomas started his radio career with CBS in 1930, moving to NBC in 1932 and finally returning to CBS in 1947. He wasn't an employee of either network at the time; he was officially employed by Sunoco, the sponsor, until 1947 and set up his own production company upon returning to CBS. He also was noted for a gag epitaph he repeatedly claimed he wanted on his grave marker: "Here lies a man who was heard by millions...who themselves were waiting to hear 'Amos 'n' Andy." Thomas' program was scheduled weekdays before the serial version of Amos 'n' Andy on the Blue Network in 1934 and both were officially transferred to the Red Network the following year...