Wednesday, January 1, 2014

LIVE AND IN COLOR FOR THE FIRST TIME - THE ROSE PARADE ON NBC-TV - CIRCA 1/1/54


 
On New Years Day 1954 , NBC-TV offered a landmark moment in LIVING COLOR TELEVISION  for video viewers and  broadcast professionals, alike.

The F.C.C's ,  offer its approval of  the RCA/NBC system for compatible COLOR TELEVISION  on December 17, 1953 at 5:32 P.M, EST, which  allowed viewers with monochrome receivers to see the same shows as those with  COLOR sets( albeit in black & white ).

A few weeks later, NBC seized  upon the palette and pageantry of Pasadena, California's annual TOUNRAMENT OF ROSES PARADE to produce the nascent medium's first West to East coast, LIVE COLORCAST.

It was a perfect video vehicle to introduce the vital and vibrant technology to those few who already owned COLOR sets , those gathered to watch in  RCA viewing centers at hotels or retail outlets and those who aspired to bring color into their TV viewing routine.


Above is an image of the RCA assembly line , constructing the model CT-100, the first generation of consumer, COLOR sets made by the electronics giant. It debuted on the market in April of 1954, to positive reviews and  at an initial cost of $1000.00, but quickly was discounted to $495.00 , in an effort to increase sales.

You could buy a car for the price of a COLOR -TV in 1954.

Here from the TV DAYS YOU TUBE SITE  and  THE KINESCOPE HD ARCHIVES  is a clip from the RCA Documentary, SIGHTSEEING THROUGH COLOR TELEVISION , which details the day that that America was introduced to COMPATIBLE  COLOR TELEVISION.

Enjoy!!!!


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