the life of Philo T Farnsworth - Early Television Foundation

DEMONSTRATIONS IN LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO 231
I shall always mark it up to the everlasting
credit of the
publishers, editors, and feature writers of the Los Angeles
papers that in the news story that appeared the next day we had
headlines announcing the first
public showing of Farnsworth
television in Los Angeles and saying
it was "just like the movies"
the highest praise that could be given in the movie capital.
Not one word was said regarding the embarrassing broken tube
and delay in the program!
At the Palomar Studios
next door one of the nationally
famous orchestras played every evening and a crowd of young
people came to enjoy the dancing. During intermission they
would gather out on the patio. Looking through the window,
Moli and I would often pick out what we considered good
television subjects and then go out and ask them to come in and
be televised. We got to know what skin textures seemed to televise
best and what type of hair gave the most pleasing results.
In fact, we used to place bets with others around the studio as
to whether this one or that one would really
show up well on
the television screen.
One afternoon I was invited to a social gathering. Later the
guests were to go to the studio to see a television showing. As
we left for the studio I asked one of the guests
if she would be
kind enough to be televised. She graciously consented. Later I
learned that she was Billie Dove of the movies. Of all the people
that I have seen televised I think that she was the most perfect
Boles was the best. Both of them
subject. Among the men, John
not only had the beautiful regularity of features that shows up
well on a television screen, but they also had the proper texture
of skin to give best results.
Young Will Rogers, was Jr.,
fascinated with our developments,
and Molinari arranged a special showing for him and
his mother and family.