[78-L] Kinescopes (WAS Average Age)

[Sammy Jones]

I'm not sure if you're implying that kinescope was not developed until 1956,
or that videotape wasn't developed until '56, but for the record kinnies
could be made as early as about 1948 or 49.  There are many programs that
exist on kinescope prior to 1956, including lots of Jack Benny and
Honeymooners.

The first practical videotape format was 2" Quad which was unveiled in 1956.
Betacam and its successors didn't come along until the early '80s.  

Beta wasn't even the first professional videocassette format.  3/4" U-Matic
was around in the '70s.  It was in use at my station until the mid-90s!

The BBC routinely uses off-air home video (and audio) recordings on their
DVD and CD releases.  A lot of Doctor Who material is a notable example.

Sammy Jones

Steven C. Barr wrote:

Prior to c. 1956, there was NO practical way of recording and thus
preserving television. Insofar as archives still exist they do so as
"kinescopes"...movie films used for delayed broadcast...! Thereafter,
Beta and its successors made it possible to record (and preserve,
although that was seldom done) television content. Not too long
thereafter, "home" video recorders became available (for VERY
high prices at first...!) so individuals could record/preserve TV
content...!

However AFAIK there is NO organized effort to collect and organize
extant TV-program "home" recordings (HINT HINT HINT...!) insofar
as they accidentally still exist...?! One hopes that to-day's "baby-
boomers" (for whom TV is a major part of their past...?!) will step
in and organize an operation to acquire and preserve "video tapes"
to the extent they still exist...?!

Steven C. Barr