Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
PROGRAM QUALITY
TO Be MAINTAINED
Radio Broadcasters Will Not
Let Down on Summer
Offerings.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

Outstanding program features OF the
leading broadcaSting stations and the
national and regional networks will be
carried on throughout the coming Sum-
mer months, eliminating the seasonal
let-down in program quality that usual
ly comes after the advent of Spring.
This is promised by the broadcasters.
particularly those OF the highly COM
petitive chain systems.
1t is reflected also in the preparations
for expanding trade activity being made
in the radio retailing field. Not only
will radio sets be sold in greater num-
bers this year, but the public will soon
look to the radio dealers for the pur-
chase Of wired wireless and television
apparatus, according to o. H. Caldwell,
former member of the Federal Radio
Commission and now director of sew
eral leading electrical and radio trade
journals.
In what he calls radios half cousins"
Mr.. Caldwell sees the genesis of great
new art and industry of home entertain
ment destined to work a profound eff
feet on the home habits and living
standards of the Nation" Wired wire
less, or the reception of programs via
electric light or telephone wires, is
expected to make its formal debut some
IltI1c ILLS year. 1PlSNlSIOu 10 SILL
around the corner"
Stores to Sell "Talkies."
Mr.. Caldwell expects the radio store
to be selling allied equipment soon
also, such as home movie and ''talkie"
apparatus and home film and record
paragraphs. 1t is noteworthy, in
connection with his optimistic illusions
to television's imminence. that the an
nual report of the American Telephone
& Telegraph Co., Just issued. contains
this statement regarding the progress
its laboratories have made in the magic
field of visual broadcasting:
'TeleviSion was first demonstrated in
the Bell Telephone laboratories in 1927.
In 1928 further progress was made and
new transmitting device, which is
capable of putting upon the television
circuit outdoors scenes, was developed.
Work on television with the idea that it
might ultimately be supplemental to
the telephone is being continued.
The Bell Telephone laboratories
have scientific knowledge that would
enable them to set up circuits which
could carry instantaneouSly the human
voice and human sight around the
world, but how to make this economi-
cally practical is yet to be discovered.
Progress will undoubtedly be made by
a gradual extension OF the present
limits" according to Mr.. Caldwell.
With respect to the radio set and
accessory trade itself, the Caldwell
statement offers some enlightening side
lights. About two-thirds of the homes
of the United States are still unequipped
with radio, he points out. There are
about 100000 homes in the country,
and the most trustworthy estimates
place the total number of sets in use
at less than 100000.
That the trade in this amazing young
industry is extending itself to furnish
radio to an increasing audience is evil
dent from the enlarged set and tube
production programs already in progress
and from the plans for continued
OF sales effort through the
balmiar months, particularly through
the medium of newspaper advertising.
Greater demand has already been re-
fiected in reduced prices in most radio
commodities. A Department of Com |
merce survey just completed reveals |
that the average retail value of sets |
sold in 1928 went down to $158. SO from |
1921 in 1927.
The same survey is the basis for an |
estimate of approximately $50, 600 900 as
the retail turnover in radio equipment
in New York City last year. Chicago
ranks second, on the basis of index fig
ures, doing about $35 100000 worth Of
business. Los Angeles is third. repre-
senting a market last year for about
$4,000. 900 worth of radio apparatus.
Copyright, 1929. by North American News
paper Alliance.)