Videokarma.org TV - Video - Vintage Television & Radio Forums

- Early Color Television (http://www.videokarma.org/forumdisplay.php?f=36)

- - 1950 NTSC Hearings Screen Shots (http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=257995)

1950 NTSC Hearings Screen Shots

Well, I've been digging in the Life magazine photo archive again and this time came up with plenty of pictures that were taken in January, 1950 during the NTSC color tv hearing in Washington, DC. These are the famous hearings that caused the FCC to approve the CBS system. This is the original magazine article: http://books.google.com/books?id=_lI...b%2027&f=false

And, here is the photo series: http://images.google.com/hosted/life...777db5019.html

Many photos are obviously duplicates. The great thing is that there are several behind the scenes shots of the actors that should give a good reference for the screen image. However, many of the photos are more washed out than others. Maybe the photographer was trying different film, filters, lighting? Most likely he was using different exposure settings, or they were done while making duplicates.

It is hard to know on all the pictures which is CBS and which is RCA. Obviously, the women in front of the paintings are of the CBS system. And, they are clearly superior to the RCA. The article mentions the third system by Color Television Inc. Could some of these be from them?

I believe the brighter screen shots show the CBS color display. I can even make out the housing for the color wheel. That the dimmer shots are from an RCA triniscope is pretty evident in the sailboat screen cap.

Too bad the film is discolored.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Roper (Post 3067685)

That the dimmer shots are from an RCA triniscope is pretty evident in the sailboat screen cap.

The sailing couple with striped shirt and red outfit reappeared in later RCA literature.

Phil Nelson

http://antiqueradio.org/art/Practica...onFigure98.jpg

I think that's a different couple, but speaking of reappearing...

http://community-2.webtv.net/@HH!57!.../mailedD38.jpg

I guess it was sort of an RCA color theme at the time, a theme I approve of :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Roper (Post 3067960)

I can't see the picture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_tv_nut (Post 3067974)

I can't see the picture.

Hmm, if there were a hotlink restriction I wouldn't expect to see it either, but for anybody who can't here it is....

BTW, giving credit where it's due, the image can be found on Steve D's site.

Sure, they might be different people. The sailing couple was used in two of my 1954 RCA books, anyhow. It's a good scene for showing off color -- blue ocean, white sail, yellow boat, red swimsuit, bold stripes on the guy's shirt -- or, maybe they were just the spoiled kids of some executive :)

Phil Nelson