In light of the world of 2017, there’s something almost quaint about the the content of and mindset behind this advertisement, exemplified by the description of the kind of programming that was expected to be available: studio stage shows; movies; sports events; news.\u00a0 This was a natural reflection of the entertainment and informational “material” then available to the public, much already extant on radio.\u00a0 Understandably, the ad’s writers could not have foreseen the technological, cultural, and economic changes that – acting in synergy – would sweep the world in the ensuing decades, and continue to do so now.\u00a0 In their lack of knowledge about the future of entertainment, perhaps the copy-writers were fortunate. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n An example, perhaps, of the way that the manifestation and anticipated use of any new technology, is – at the time of the introduction of that technology<\/em> – seen in the immediate intellectual context of that time itself.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Q. How big will television pictures be? Q. What kind of shows will we see? Q. Where can television be seen now? Q. Will there be television networks? Q. What is G.E.\u2019s part in television? TELEVISION, another example of G-E research Hear the General Electric radio program:\u00a0 \u201cThe G-E All-girl Orchestra,\u201d Sunday 10 p.m. EWT, NBC \u2013 \u201cThe World Today\u201d news, every weekday 6:45 p.m. EWT, CBS.<\/span> On March 14, 1945, a few months prior to their advertisement promoting “Plastic” in both military and civilian contexts, GE ran an advertisement – with a similar 6-section graphic and textual design – presenting and explaining the economic, technical, and cultural aspects of “Television” for the postwar world. In light of the world of 2017, … Continue reading The Age of Advertising: General Electric and Television<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8,7,2],"tags":[270,269],"class_list":["post-1726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advertising","category-economics","category-sociology","category-technology","tag-general-electric","tag-television-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1726"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2048,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1726\/revisions\/2048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/230419_edited-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Q. What will sets cost after the war?
\n<\/strong>A. It is expected that set prices will begin around $200, unless there are unforeseen changes in manufacturing costs.\u00a0 Higher priced models will also receive regular radio programs, and in addition FM and international shortwave programs.\u00a0 Perhaps larger and more expensive sets will include built-in phonographs with automatic record changers.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A. Even small television sets will probably have screen about 8 by 10 inches.\u00a0 (That\u2019s as big as the finest of pre-war sets.)\u00a0 In more expensive television sets, screens will be as large as 18 by 24 inches.\u00a0 Some sets may project pictures on the wall like home movies.\u00a0 Naturally, pictures will be even clearer than those produced by pre-war sets.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A. All kinds.\u00a0 For example:\u00a0 (1) Studio stage shows \u2013 dancers, vaudeville, plays, opera, musicians, famous people.\u00a0 (2) Movies \u2013 any moving picture can be broadcast to you by television.\u00a0 (3) On-the-spot pick-up of sports events, parades, news happenings.\u00a0 G.E. has already produced over 900 television shows over its station, WRGB, in Schenectady.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A. Nine television stations are operating today \u2013 in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Schenectady.\u00a0 Twenty-two million people \u2013 about one-fifth of all who enjoy electric service \u2013 live in areas served by these stations.\u00a0 Applications for more than 80 new television stations have been filed with the Federal Communications Commission.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A. Because television waves are practically limited by the horizon, networks will be accomplished by relay stations connecting large cities.\u00a0 General Electric set up the first network five years ago, and has developed new tubes that make relaying practical.\u00a0 G-E stations WRGB, since 1939, has been a laboratory for engineering and programming.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A. Back in 1923, a General Electric engineer, Dr. E.F.W. Alexanderson, gave the first public demonstration.\u00a0 Before the war, G.E. was manufacturing both television transmitters and home receivers.\u00a0 It will again build both after Victory.\u00a0 Should you visit Schenectady, you are invited to WRGB\u2019s studio to see a television show put on the air.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Developments by General Electric scientists and engineers, working for our armed forces on land and sea and in the air, are helping to bring Victory sooner.\u00a0 Their work in such new fields as electronics, of which television is an example, will help to bring you new products and services in peacetime years to follow.\u00a0 General Electric Company, Schenectady, N.Y.<\/span><\/p>\n
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