“The transmission of art exhibitions by television is the beginning of an era when the public will be taught to appreciate great works of art, seeing them in their homes and at the same time that the finer points are demonstrated by an expert lecturer – in other words illustrated talks.”

…

“Animals, trick-cycling balancing acts, roller skating… are useful for the light entertainment programme of the future as being the means by which the ear will be relieved of the intolerable strain of concentration by the eye.”

Robb, E. “Internal report to DP, DIP and CE,” 10 may 1933, BBC file T16/214. Quoted in R W Burns, Television: An international history of the formative years, London: The Institution of Electrical Engineers, 1998.

Posted: March 25, 2009