The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1950-06-22
BY CONGRESSMAN
Bob Secrest

first television show over the
Evening Star station in Washing
ton, an affiliate of the American
Broadcasting Corp. network. I
have many times broadcast
speeches over the radio and find
only three differences between
radio and television broadcast
ing. In television the microphone
is suspended several feet above
your head and the television
audiences cannot see it. Also, the
camera is about ten or twelve
feet in front of you and you must
be careful to face it at all times.
The last difference is a matter
of lighting. There are dozens of
bright lights very similar to the
lights placed on a person having
picture taken in a regular
photographers studio. In the
early days of television these
lights were very warm, but they
have now developed lights which
create less heat. In addition, the
studio from which we broadcast
was air-conditioned making for
a maximum of comfort.
The master of ceremonies for
the program was Jay Carmody,
dramatic critic for the Washing
ton Evening Star. Besides my
self, one other person was inter-
viewed. This was Phil Hanna,
star of the musical, "Brigadoon,"
which played three weeks at the
Gayety theatre here in Washing
ton. Mr.. Hanna is one of the out
standing stage actors and singers
in the world. For over a year he
starred in the play in London.
The interview was supposed to
take place at a dining table in
a corner of the Occidental res
taurant. For about one-half min
ute they showed a film of all the
people in the Occidental, then the
camera was turned to our corner
which was exactly like a corner
in the real restaurant. The illu-
sion was such that the television
audience would never suspect
that we were in a studio.
We discussed the theatre in
general and the possibility of re-
opening the old Belaseo theatre
in Washington. This magnificent
building is now being used as
government warehouse. 1t was
built in 1895 and is located with
in a block of the White House.
Some of the great actors and
actresses who have appeared in
this theatre are Ethel Barrymore,
Frances Starr, Lillian Russell,
Julia Marlowe, Ina Clair, Sarah
Bernhardt, Katherine Cornell,
William Faversham, David War
field, John Barrymore, DeWolf
Hopper, Otis Skinner and Al Jol-
son. At the present time the only
operating theatre for plays in
Washington is the Gayety which
had long been a burlesque show
until a few months ago when it
changed to the production of
legitimate plays.
There are one hundred and
four cities in the United States
with population of more than
one hundred thousand people,
but only few of the larger ones
enjoy regular stage plays. About
one thousand high schools carry
on intensive drama activities
having regular instructors to
teach dramatics and coach plays.
Most high schools in the country,
regardless of size, produce ju-
nior and senior play each year.
Here in Washington we can get
four channels on a television set
and all are as clear as any NOV
ing picture. Outside of large
cities reception is far from per-
feet, but new improvements are
being made which will eventual
ly bring clear television to all
parts of the country. 1t is des-
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