Off-Screen Photos of Early American TV, 1928 - 1947

Methods to record early television broadcasts did not become practical until 1947 with the introduction of the kinescope process ... however photographs were taken of TV screens on occasion whenever the press decided to cover an experimental television event. The following are examples of early RCA/NBC broadcasts with surviving off-screen photographs that document television's lost era of early programming.
Disclaimers : (1) The photo of the television ghost is probably not from an actual episode, as surviving documents note that the show was primarily a close up of actor George Kelting's head; however the photo MAY still be an off-screen photo, done specially for publicity. (2) Photos exist from two other early shows that are not included in this video: The Queen's Messenger (1928) and The Love Nest (1936); but they are production photos that show camera crews in the picture, and therefore are not off-screen shots. (3) I was hoping to include some of John Logie Baird's early British TV experiments but found them to be under copyright restrictions, therefore I kept this video confined to American TV only.

[@arago8649]

Fascinating photographs!

[@vonyumyumcomix9318]

Remarkably unique and impeccably put together! Well done video! I absolutely love your channel, Jim!

[@spudskie3907]

Fascinating! When Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941 the CBS television station in New York covered the attack for hours. If only there was recorded footage or even a photograph!!

[@henry8084]

Nice! I like to see more! Also, where did you get these photographs?

[@JimPigMuseumOfSound]

I wish there were many more, but photos like these were not commonly made. However, there also were silent TV recordings made in Britain in the 1920’s and 30’s by John Logie Baird that you can explore on “The Dawn of TV” web page.