Television Pick-Up of the Pasadena Rose Tournament Parade: January 1, 1940

The first television pick-up of the Pasadena Rose Tournament Parade was made on New Year's Day, 1940. This was accomplished with the “suitcase” type portable television equipment and beam transmitter W6XDU of the Don Lee Broadcasting System. — Two television cameras were used to give long-shot and close-up views of the floats, the cameras being arranged to give instantaneous switching of scene. The distance from Pasadena to the Don Lee Building, site of the home transmitter W6XAO, is nine miles and the line of sight was interrupted by two hills and buildings. Since the portable transmitter operates on a wavelength of less than one meter, much effort was therefore directed toward erecting high and efficient antennas at the transmitter and receiver. — Diathermy machines, as used by the medical profession, were found to cause interference even on the beam transmitter frequency of 324 megacycles, indicating the need for proper shielding of such devices. — The sound portion of the broadcast was sent over the nationwide Mutual Network. Camera work and aural description were adequately synchronized. Although rain fell during the parade and the morning was darkly overcast, written statements of reception from W6XAO lookers up to 15 miles away reported clear images, enabling them to read the names on the floats and discern other items of detail.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1940-09

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J10046