An RCA Presentation: Television

1939 · Prelinger Archives · 9 minutes · 88 shots · Black and white

Every shot, with timecodes

• 

  Black screen, period educational film opening.

  0:00.0–0:01.4 (1.4 s) · shot 3738

• 

  RCA logo on a suitcase-style case on a table.

  0:01.4–0:05.3 (3.9 s) · shot 3739

• 

  Projector rolling film with reels spinning in a room.

  0:05.3–0:23.2 (17.9 s) · shot 3740

• 

  Scientists working on glass electronic tubes in a lab.

  0:23.2–0:28.8 (5.6 s) · shot 3741

• 

  Low angle shot of the Empire State Building towering above.

  0:28.8–0:30.9 (2.1 s) · shot 3742

• 

  Large audience seated in a darkened theater or auditorium.

  0:30.9–0:36.4 (5.5 s) · shot 3743

• 

  Close-up crowd of people watching an event together.

  0:36.4–0:41.2 (4.8 s) · shot 3744

• 

  Optical sound track printed on a section of film strip.

  0:41.2–0:50.1 (8.9 s) · shot 3745

• 

  TV studio set with cameras and crew working behind scenes.

  0:50.1–0:59.7 (9.5 s) · shot 3746

• 

  RCA emblem mounted on a wall in a studio setting.

  0:59.7–1:08.0 (8.3 s) · shot 3747

• 

  Title card reading "Television" with RCA presentation branding.

  1:08.0–1:10.8 (2.8 s) · shot 3748

• 

  Credits showing producers Frederic Ullman Jr. and Frank Donovan.

  1:10.8–1:26.0 (15.3 s) · shot 3749

• 

  Small glowing television screen in a darkened room.

  1:26.0–1:33.3 (7.2 s) · shot 3750

• 

  Historic television broadcast showing landmarks like the Washington Monument.

  1:33.3–1:41.6 (8.3 s) · shot 3751

• 

  People gathered around an early television console in a living room.

  1:41.6–1:46.6 (5.0 s) · shot 3752

• 

  Close-up of television screen displaying images with hands pointing.

  1:46.6–1:56.1 (9.5 s) · shot 3753

• 

  Group of people watching a television console in a living room.

  1:56.1–1:58.8 (2.7 s) · shot 3754

• 

  Engineers working on electronic equipment in a laboratory.

  1:58.8–2:04.4 (5.7 s) · shot 3755

• 

  Worker handling a glass cathode-ray tube in a lab.

  2:04.4–2:13.6 (9.2 s) · shot 3756

• 

  Technician installing or adjusting electronic components inside a cabinet.

  2:13.6–2:19.0 (5.4 s) · shot 3757

• 

  Test pattern grid displayed on equipment in an electronics lab.

  2:19.0–2:23.1 (4.1 s) · shot 3758

• 

  Camera capturing a test pattern through a glass lens apparatus.

  2:23.1–2:27.6 (4.5 s) · shot 3759

• 

  Worker moving a cathode-ray tube bulb on a workbench.

  2:27.6–2:31.1 (3.5 s) · shot 3760

• 

  Technician working with electronic gear in a laboratory setting.

  2:31.1–2:35.8 (4.7 s) · shot 3761

• 

  Technician assembles a cathode-ray tube inside a television chassis, 1930s style.

  2:35.8–2:40.1 (4.3 s) · shot 3762

• 

  A spherical oscilloscope or CRT display lights up with a test pattern.

  2:40.1–2:46.5 (6.4 s) · shot 3763

• 

  Interior view of a television control room with monitors and equipment racks.

  2:46.5–2:58.3 (11.8 s) · shot 3764

• 

  Exterior shot of the Empire State Building tower under an overcast sky.

  2:58.3–3:02.1 (3.8 s) · shot 3765

• 

  Close-up view of the Empire State Building top spire and antenna.

  3:02.1–3:06.0 (3.9 s) · shot 3766

• 

  A man in a suit walks into a television control room.

  3:06.0–3:14.0 (7.9 s) · shot 3767

• 

  A telephone switchboard or equipment rack with glowing indicator lights.

  3:14.0–3:18.2 (4.2 s) · shot 3768

• 

  Another shot of the Empire State Building tower and antenna.

  3:18.2–3:23.8 (5.6 s) · shot 3769

• 

  Aerial or high-angle view of a cityscape with buildings under hazy skies.

  3:23.8–3:34.3 (10.5 s) · shot 3770

• 

  Street level view of a large stone building with buses passing by.

  3:34.3–3:40.7 (6.4 s) · shot 3771

• 

  A city street corner with a pedestrian standing near modernistic buildings.

  3:40.7–3:44.2 (3.6 s) · shot 3772

• 

  Busy city street scene with pedestrians walking and traffic passing by.

  3:44.2–3:50.8 (6.5 s) · shot 3773

• 

  A mobile television broadcast van drives through a tree-lined area.

  3:50.8–3:56.4 (5.7 s) · shot 3774

• 

  Two RCA mobile television vans parked in front of an arched brick building.

  3:56.4–4:06.7 (10.2 s) · shot 3775

• 

  Crew members stand near the rear doors of parked RCA television vans.

  4:06.7–4:12.1 (5.4 s) · shot 3776

• 

  Interior of a mobile unit showing large coils of heavy cables.

  4:12.1–4:14.4 (2.3 s) · shot 3777

• 

  A crew member pulls a cable from the back of an RCA mobile van.

  4:14.4–4:17.9 (3.5 s) · shot 3778

• 

  A telescopic antenna mast being raised or adjusted against a clear sky.

  4:17.9–4:24.6 (6.7 s) · shot 3779

• 

  Two men in hats set up a television camera on a tripod outdoors.

  4:24.6–4:29.8 (5.2 s) · shot 3780

• 

  Two technicians wearing headsets sit inside a mobile broadcast van.

  4:29.8–4:32.0 (2.2 s) · shot 3781

• 

  High-angle view of two mobile broadcast vans parked outdoors.

  4:32.0–4:35.3 (3.3 s) · shot 3782

• 

  Silhouette of a man reaching up along a cable against a cloudy sky.

  4:35.3–4:38.6 (3.3 s) · shot 3783

• 

  A television camera on a tripod outdoors with operators nearby.

  4:38.6–4:42.5 (3.9 s) · shot 3784

• 

  A technician operates a patch bay or switchboard with cords.

  4:42.5–4:46.6 (4.2 s) · shot 3785

• 

  Men with binoculars and camera on racetrack, pre-war period style

  4:46.6–4:51.0 (4.3 s) · shot 3786

• 

  Television screen displaying moving images of racehorses running on track

  4:51.0–4:56.7 (5.7 s) · shot 3787

• 

  Men looking through binoculars and camera towards racetrack in the distance

  4:56.7–4:59.7 (3.0 s) · shot 3788

• 

  Television monitor displaying live footage of racehorses running on a racetrack

  4:59.7–5:08.0 (8.2 s) · shot 3789

• 

  Cameraman filming outdoors with vintage broadcasting camera and binoculars nearby

  5:08.0–5:10.8 (2.8 s) · shot 3790

• 

  Men wearing headphones sitting inside a control room or production vehicle

  5:10.8–5:14.3 (3.4 s) · shot 3791

• 

  Men standing on platform with binoculars and camera overlooking a racecourse

  5:14.3–5:19.3 (5.1 s) · shot 3792

• 

  Television monitor displaying broadcast footage of racehorses on the track

  5:19.3–5:28.3 (8.9 s) · shot 3793

• 

  Studio stage with musical instruments, lighting rigs, and crew members working

  5:28.3–5:37.5 (9.3 s) · shot 3794

• 

  Studio crew working around musical instruments and equipment in front of curtain

  5:37.5–5:41.0 (3.5 s) · shot 3795

• 

  Studio production scene with camera equipment, crew, and stage lighting overhead

  5:41.0–5:44.0 (3.0 s) · shot 3796

• 

  Studio cameraman operating a vintage television camera in front of stage setup

  5:44.0–5:49.3 (5.3 s) · shot 3797

• 

  Technician operating a complex patch panel with many hanging audio cables

  5:49.3–6:00.2 (10.9 s) · shot 3798

• 

  Control room staff looking through glass window with a wall clock visible

  6:00.2–6:03.9 (3.7 s) · shot 3799

• 

  Broadcasting crew working at control desk with monitors and electronic equipment

  6:03.9–6:09.8 (5.9 s) · shot 3800

• 

  Technician looking at a small vintage television monitor in a control room

  6:09.8–6:13.1 (3.4 s) · shot 3801

• 

  Cameraman operating a large television studio camera during a broadcast

  6:13.1–6:17.7 (4.5 s) · shot 3802

• 

  Technicians working at a control console with multiple electronic display screens

  6:17.7–6:21.8 (4.1 s) · shot 3803

• 

  Studio production equipment with technicians monitoring screens and controls

  6:21.8–6:25.6 (3.8 s) · shot 3804

• 

  Title cards showing selections from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss

  6:25.6–6:37.3 (11.6 s) · shot 3805

• 

  Orchestra performing on stage with studio lights and crew in background

  6:37.3–6:52.6 (15.3 s) · shot 3806

• 

  Conductor leading an orchestra on a studio stage with camera in foreground

  6:52.6–7:02.9 (10.3 s) · shot 3807

• 

  Control room view through a glass window with a wall clock below

  7:02.9–7:04.8 (1.8 s) · shot 3808

• 

  Large vintage television camera facing forward with visible lenses on stage

  7:04.8–7:11.9 (7.2 s) · shot 3809

• 

  Control room monitor displaying an orchestra performance on television.

  7:11.9–7:14.9 (2.9 s) · shot 3810

• 

  Television studio camera shooting a live orchestra performance with musicians.

  7:14.9–7:17.8 (2.9 s) · shot 3811

• 

  Sound engineer working in a dark control room with vintage monitors.

  7:17.8–7:23.9 (6.1 s) · shot 3812

• 

  Audio engineers monitoring a live broadcast from a dark control room.

  7:23.9–7:39.5 (15.6 s) · shot 3813

• 

  Control room view looking toward a small broadcast monitor in darkness.

  7:39.5–7:44.8 (5.3 s) · shot 3814

• 

  Concentrated audio engineer monitoring a live broadcast from the control room.

  7:44.8–7:50.8 (6.1 s) · shot 3815

• 

  Cameramen operating large television cameras during a live orchestra studio broadcast.

  7:50.8–7:56.6 (5.7 s) · shot 3816

• 

  Control room monitors showing a live orchestra performance in the studio.

  7:56.6–8:03.5 (6.9 s) · shot 3817

• 

  Large vintage television broadcast camera on a studio dolly being operated.

  8:03.5–8:11.3 (7.8 s) · shot 3818

• 

  Audio engineers at a console in a dark television control room.

  8:11.3–8:16.5 (5.2 s) · shot 3819

• 

  Studio camera operator filming an orchestra performance on a set.

  8:16.5–8:25.0 (8.6 s) · shot 3820

• 

  Studio control room monitor displaying a live television broadcast feed.

  8:25.0–8:32.9 (7.8 s) · shot 3821

• 

  Full orchestra playing on a television studio stage with a conductor.

  8:32.9–8:38.0 (5.1 s) · shot 3822

• 

  Control room view of a small monitor showing the broadcast output.

  8:38.0–8:47.3 (9.2 s) · shot 3823

• 

  Control room monitor switching to a close-up shot of the orchestra.

  8:47.3–8:57.9 (10.6 s) · shot 3824

• 

  Television monitor displaying the end title card for the broadcast.

  8:57.9–9:03.3 (5.4 s) · shot 3825