July 11, 1962…Telstar Beams First Transatlantic Television Signal

On July 11, 2014 - TV History


July 11, 1962…Telstar Beams First Transatlantic Television Signal

Fifty two years ago today, Telstar went into operation as the world’s first telecommunications satellite. In this excellent video. hosted by NBC newsman Frank Blair, we get the whole story and at the 7:15 mark, Ed Hurlihe takes over the narration with a film of the first images transmitted. Enjoy and share!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHC5fkYch0Q

50 year anniversary of the World’s First Transatlantic Television Signal More information at http://telstar50.org

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8 Comments

  1. James Stanley Barr July 13, 2014

    Amazing……a very primitive satellite by today’s standards, but the mother of all U.S. communication satellites.

  2. Wally Roper July 12, 2014

    I remember watching this and was in awe..NBC used to run a news promo showing their crews shooting film in Europe then flying it back to NY on a jet…this eventually brought the world instantly to everyone…now I can carry on a conversation with our friends in Geelong with a phone, including video if we want. Go figure!

  3. Steve Williams July 11, 2014

    There is a color film from Bell that this uses some footage from.
    I know because I happen to have a 16mm print of it.
    It is on YouTube here –
    http://youtu.be/uKH-GijnAGk

  4. Charles Chin July 11, 2014

    It was about 1963-64, I was lying on the hood of a Ford Edsel (don’t ask) in my back yard watching stars when I saw this particular star…moving! I got the chills. I ran inside and got my older brother and it turns out it was Telstar. Its probably one of the first ever man made moving object in space seen from earth.

  5. David Shipman July 11, 2014

    Ed Hurlihy would disguise his voice in public to not be noticed…

  6. Ginger Birkner July 11, 2014

    Fascinating!

  7. Kevin Moriarty July 11, 2014

    http://youtu.be/ryrEPzsx1gQ

  8. Lou Spinnazola July 11, 2014

    Still pretty amazing!