CBS Studio 42 At Grand Central Terminal, 1950

On January 5, 2015 - TV History

Picture Parade #4…CBS Studio 42 At Grand Central Terminal, 1950

This is Faye Emerson on her fifteen minute daily show the CBS Network. In 1947, CBS bought the RCA TK10s and 30s for their studios. These are TK30s with the exclusive CBS striped band on the viewfinder. Do you know why they were there?

Here’s the answer…these are actually handy gray scale charts that cameramen can use to keep their adjustments in line as the tubes tended to drift some. Without having to go to a test pattern chart, they could quickly swing to the camera next to them and adjust their gain, shading and alignment. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee


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5 Comments

  1. William Laing January 8, 2015

    Fascinating.

  2. Richard Michalak January 8, 2015

    I am fascinated by the fluorescent lighting I see in these shots. Does anyone know when that was first used ? I think commercial fluorescents came in in the late 30s.

  3. Mark Anderson January 5, 2015

    i’m confused. did individual camera operators shade their own cameras or was there a dedicated video operator looking at all at once?

  4. Russell Ross January 5, 2015

    I love those “reverse shots” !!! It gives someone the sense of what talent needs to contend with while doing a show. Not easy !!!!

  5. Eyes Of A Generation.com January 5, 2015

    Opps…forgot this one.