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- Today
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If i have the orientation right, this is late afternoon - sure seems dead until you notice people standing behind the display boards.
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For fellow fans of all things electronic
waynebretl replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Industrial Area
Hi Bill, You asked for it! I can identify the gear, but it would be interesting to identify the source of each monitor image. If you could please send me a higher res scan, it might be possible to read talley lights / input IDs and see what's on the small monitors. Anyway, starting with the upper row of monitors and gear, and going left to right: Monitor showing telecine output of a western movie of some kind. In one of my personal slides, this image is a SMPTE resolution test pattern slide. Monitor with color bar test signal. In one of my personal slides, this monitor has the "see yourself" image. Monitor with tight shot of man - probably studio camera (?) Two instruments: the wide short one is a vectorscope, used to check the color part of the composite signal; the taller narrow one appears to be a waveform monitor, used to check the overall amplitude and details of the complete video signal. A high resolution scan of these two might reveal which signal they are currently measuring. Two monitors with the same picture of a guitar player. One is probably a studio camera monitor or switcher "preview" and the other may be a "master" final output to the fair network. Lower row of gear: multiple camera/telecine control units. I count seven, and I think there were three studio cameras, one see-yourself camera, and two telecines. So, not sure if there was another telecine, a flying spot slide scanner (which could be what was used for the RCA logo that was permanently displayed on a TV where you entered), or what. EACH of those control units is attached to a six-foot high rack of support electronics, totaling about $100,000 in 1964 dollars for each chain of camera, control/monitor panel, and support gear, or about $800,000 each in today's dollars. The second control unit from the left is showing the western film on its monitor; the third from the left looks like it could be the "see yourself" camera. The ones on the right are too washed out and low res to guess, but are probably studio camera pictures we see up above. The large central metal console is the switching and special effects unit. You see buttons to select sources and special effects, and the T-shaped fader handles that control the fades or wipes between sources. The left part appears to be an audio console with the square areas being VU meters (not sure). If that is audio, it would seem skimpy today, but was probably considered as luxurious as the video gear then. It's strange that they seem to have something going on in the studio, but no-one is at the console. It's also possible there is nothing much going on in the studio and they have punched up the NBC network, or video tape. At the extreme upper right you see a portion of one of the video tape machines, which also could be the source currently on one of the monitors. I have a picture in which the color monitor just right of center has the RCA logo on it, and the operator at the console is looking in that direction, so that may indicate that this was the master. I also have a picture with duplicate images on the same two monitors that have duplicates here. By the way, it appears there was someone standing between the second and third color monitors, who moved while the shutter was open, but the monitor images do not appear blurred. A bit puzzling, that. -
Oh, oh!!! I know one of the things! Those are tv screens!!! That other stuff is probably just for show or something. Do I win a prize?
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I just noticed that CSPAN is running the entire CBS 1969 coverage. Tonight they aired an interview with President Johnson by Walter Cronkite. PS: Did anyone notice that CNN did several heat wave related weather forecasts, today, from in front of the Unisphere with the fountains splashing? I saw two early this morning (Friday, July 19).
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Outside the RCA pavilion, May 1965. Newly restored 35mm slide from my collection.
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A different angle on General Motors
Bill Cotter replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Transportation Area
Randy says he looks in from time to time but is really busy dealing with some projects just now. - Yesterday
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A different angle on General Motors
Bill Cotter replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Transportation Area
Not that I have noticed. I do see him on Facebook and will see if he plans to drop by soon. -
Here's a view into the control room at the RCA pavilion from September 1965. Newly restored 35mm slide from my collection. Can you list all of the equipment, Wayne?
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Has Randy been around these forums lately?
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Chasing the Moon: American Experience on PBS
waynebretl replied to sunguar's topic in Community Chat
New York Times animated presentation of the Apollo 11 Hasselblad photos presented in sync with the communications at the moment of shooting,The landing area ones are shown over a 3D outline of the lander and where they were taken with respect to the lander. Free access without a subscription providing you haven't accessed too many articles in the past month. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/07/18/science/apollo-11-as-they-shot-it-ul.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Sciencehttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/07/18/science/apollo-11-moon-landing-photos-ul.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/07/18/science/apollo-11-moon-earth-photos-ul.html -
It's all relative, I suppose, Eric. Sometimes when I consider the flow of history and think of an evident such as Apollo 11, half a century ago, I count back fifty years before that date, in this case, 1969. That would be 1919. It was the year of the Versailles Treaty, Woodrow Wilson's stroke, A. Mitchell Palmer's Red Scare and Soviet Ark, the birth of the Weimar Republic, the start of the Fascist Party in Italy, a workers' victory with a 48 hour work week in the UK, the first legal Sunday professional baseball game in the US, the Imperial German Naval Fleet scuttled by their own men at Scappa Flow, the first monoplane airliner flight, race riots in Chicago, Wilson's veto of Prohibition is over ridden in the Senate, RCA is created, the Senate rejects the League, the Canadian National Railway is established and President Wilson won the Nobel Peace Prize. Nobody knew what a vitamin is, women's dresses were ankle length, the idea of a weekend did not yet exist, The Big Bulll Market was a phrase nobody would recognize, 55 year old Senator Warren Harding was starting his affair (which would produce a daughter) with 19 year old Nan Britton, the Chrysler Building snd Empire State were still more than ten years away, nobody was yet buying on credit and the first national advertising campaign for O-Dor-O-No (a deodorant) was still several years away, people still used ice boxes, and a woman who painted her face (especially using rouge) was basically seen as a harlot, cigarettes were just beginning to be mass marketed, and Herbert Hoover, The Great Humanitarian, was still a decade from political vilification when Wilson appointed him to lead US War Relief In Europe. Films were silent and in monochrome and nobody could have even grasped the idea that in fifty years humans would walk on the moon and safely return to the Earth. In the summer of 1969, the Apollo achievement was one of several significant events: Judy Garland's sudden death at 48, the Tate/LaBianca murders by Charles Manson, Woodstock, Ted Kennedy's accident at Chappaquidick and the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, two computers (the size of tractor trailers) "talk" to each other for the first time, and tens of thousands of high school and college students would strike against the Vietnam War during the nationwide November Moratorium, the riots at Stonewall, the first Vietnam draft lottery was held, Hurricane Camille killed nearly 250 Americans, Wal-Mart is incorporated and the PLO is established, the first ATM is installed and the first smoke detector goes on sale. A car purchased in 1969 would, today, either be a classic with all of its "ahead of its time" curiosities, or a rusting hulk in a salvage yard. Ask a 15 year old if 1969 is recent events or ancient history. And none of us can imagine what the world will be like in 2069--fifty years from now--and few of us, will be here to see. Time waits for no man. Sorry this is so lengthy but I got on a roll. Best, Jim And Happy Birthday! And I have many years on you.
- Last week
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Chasing the Moon: American Experience on PBS
magikbilly replied to sunguar's topic in Community Chat
Not THAT long, JIm! July 16th was my 50th Birthday! LOL -
Chasing the Moon: American Experience on PBS
Eric Paddon replied to sunguar's topic in Community Chat
Complete CBS launch coverage was put on YT, straight from the vault with even WCBS local stuff and commercials. CBS Apollo 11 Launch Coverage -
What I've seen so far is just brilliant. Fifty years is such a very long time. PBS is bringing it all back to life.
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Got a decoder ring?
waynebretl replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Building the 1964-65 New York World's Fair
Also, I believe the white dots on the subway lines do not represent stops, they are just a graphic indication of a subway, instead of some other device like a dotted line. -
A very, very early tour
Bill Cotter replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Building the 1964-65 New York World's Fair
So it appears. -
A very, very early tour
sunguar replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Building the 1964-65 New York World's Fair
Taken on the "Avenue of Travel"? -
A peek inside the Administration Building
sunguar replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Building the 1964-65 New York World's Fair
What a hack job. And I'm sure some millennial will ask (looking at the first photo): "What are those stainless steel cylindrical objects outside of the doors?" -
Got a decoder ring?
sunguar replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Building the 1964-65 New York World's Fair
Well, just like a treasure map, you need a decoder ring. And I found it. (In the archives of this forum and Wayne's guess was correct) The map is for proposed roadway improvements dated 1960 for the upcoming World's Fair. Here is the map followed by the key: -
Got a decoder ring?
sunguar replied to Bill Cotter's topic in Building the 1964-65 New York World's Fair
See post below. -
Chasing the Moon: American Experience on PBS
waynebretl replied to sunguar's topic in Community Chat
I have it recorded and will be watching it this week. CBS Sunday Morning had a segment on the landing today, plus a segment on the women who sewed the space suits, plus a retrospective on Walter Cronkite's coverage. You should be able to find them online. -
Chasing the Moon: American Experience on PBS
icedstitch replied to sunguar's topic in Community Chat
The whole NACA to Apollo 17 story is great. From Astronauts to Mission Controllers who wrote their stories. I've felt that I've been able to relate to their stories and lives with my work. -
Bill, this is an incredible photo. I love pictures showing the whole fair. How do I get a copy of this? If its from one of your photo CD's. Which is it , caure I want one.
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Chasing the Moon: American Experience on PBS
Bill Cotter replied to sunguar's topic in Community Chat
I'll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
