Evening star., 1949-01-23

you have to really be sliding down
mountain"
Mr.. Harris is watching television
closely, though. He knows that he
is another who has rarely turned on
the radio since installing tele-
vision receiver in the living room.
X x X
Inaugural Postscript: Bob Wolff,
WTTG and WINK sports man, has
long been due some praise for
operating on the theory that man
looking at a picture on television
screen doesn't want it described to
him. He also proved a fast young
man with a microphone during the
video coverage of Thursdays parade.
Located at the Treasury Building,
Mr.. Wolff at one point was COM
menting on picture being taken by
the crew at the Old Post Office. He
was under the impression that he
was to- give the air to another
video vantage point when he fin
ished. Now" he said, I'VE take you
:" mo! No! MOI" a couple Of
production men screamed over tele-
phone lines from master control
back here to Fifteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue" Mr..
Wolff finished with scarcely pause.
X X x X
A video bogey has been tracked
dawn and disposed of by Alton
Blakeslee, Associated Press science
reporter. There is no such thing as
"television eyes," watching tele-
vision doesn't hurt the eyes and
nobody's dog ever went cross-eyed
from watching television. Mr..
Blakeslee went to DR.. Franklin M.
Foote, executive director of the
National Society for the Prevention
of Blindness, who has investigated
the matter thoroughly, for confir-
'mation of all this.
"a few people are going to eye
doctors, complaining that watching
television makes their eyes hurt
or gives them headaches" DR.. Foote
said We've received some queries.
too. Some people ask whether
harmful radiations come from the
'television screen. But from all the
facts we can learn, there's nothing
to either idea
If your eyes do bother you when
you watch television, DR.. Foote has
a simple explanation. "A person
may have minor visual defect, like
near-sightedness or astigmatism.
He gets along without noticing it.
Perhaps he doesn't read much. or
do anything else to make his eyes
work hard. Then he gets tele-
vision set. He spends hours focusing
on small screen. His eyes have
to work. The eye muscles and
nerves get tired and he gets eye
fatigue.
He may discover he needs glasses.
But he would have needed them If
he had started to read books. or had
started going to the movies every
night Television didn't cause any
trouble. The trouble already ex-
listed.
Program Notes:
Don't be too surprised II Edgar
Bergen's temporary retirement from
radio doesn't last much longer.
Don't be surprised, either, If he
turns up with Bing Crosby and Jack
Benny in the CHS corral :.
Another television first" for history
to note will take place this week on
Ruth Cranes televised Modern
Woman" program CWMAL-TV-|
Tuesday, 7:30 PM. This will be
the first electracardiogram done on
video. The subject: Announcer
Jackson Weaver. The reason: The
Washington Heart Associations
appeal for funds. coming up in Feb
ruary. The American Forum
of the Air" a WOL-Mutual Tues
day night feature for years. moves
to Mondays at 10 pm. starting to-
morrow. The move was made so
that it could be televised (WOIC)
simultaneously. MICS Life of
Riley" was voted the most accept
able" comedy radio program in a
poll conducted by the National
Federation of Catholic Students. :. . :.
Alice Freer (WMAL-Sunday. Ais
PM today discusses some of the
social functions held in connection
with last weeks Inauguration. -.
X X Il u
That hoped for coast-to-coast
television is still several years in
the future, according to communi-
cations expert. A. T. & T. already
has transcontinental coaxial lines
for telephone use. They're not
rigged to carry television, but the
cable could be ready before the
video broadcasters want 1t. What
the video people want to do is con-
solidate their gains to date and
expand the networks already in
operation. They would prefer more
coaxial lines between East and
Midwest, TO get away from sharing
one, rather than one line linking
the coasts.