First San Francisco TV Broadcast

Duration: 12:00

Year Published: 1948

Complete Record: Silent footage from the first telecast broadcast in San Francisco on May 25, 1948 from station W6XJD at the St. Francis Hotel. A series of title cards being held by attractive women in bathing suits, followed by a man in a suit who appears to be the host. Two men in suits appear, each taking a turn speaking in front of the camera. A man wearing a suit and glasses draws a cartoon of a man with a big nose on a large piece of paper. The man then draws a sketch of a woman, a mosquito, a camel with an umbrella and a hippo’s butt with the words “The” to indicate “The End” Two men wearing suits talk to each other. The host, a man in a suit, talks with a lovely lady wearing a wide-brimmed hat and lace top. The woman in the wide-brimmed hat introduces several beautiful brunette girls in bathing suits who each pose for the camera. Two men wearing suits talk to each other. Another man appears on camera with a mustache and glasses. A man in a tuxedo appears on camera and performs several magic tricks from his magic top hat - including disappearing cards, a magic wand transformed into a scarf, and shoving a pin through a box. Middle aged man with short dark hair interviews woman with 1940s style hair and makeup in a satin cowgirl shirt with a cowboy hat hanging on her back. Middle aged man with short dark hair interviews tall thin blonde woman with black feathers in her hair. She is wearing a large diamond necklace and a black sleeveless dress with irises tied around her waist. She smiles and sings to the camera Tall thin blonde woman with black feathers in her hair sings to the camera. She is wearing a large diamond necklace and a black sleeveless dress with irises tied around her waist. Shot of a puppeteer moving a marionette that sits dramatically and comically pretends to play a toy piano Balding man in suit with a thin mustache plays with marionettes. First a horse in overalls that juggles and balances balls on his nose and feet. Next a featherless chicken with crazy eyes that dances. Middle aged man with short dark hair interviews a woman with 1940s style hair and makeup in a fancy dress holding a large accordion, She plays and smiles to the camera. Middle aged man with short dark hair interviews another man in a light suit with graying hair. The latter man demonstrates the use of a clock radio to a tall thin woman with 1940s style hair and makeup in a black dress. A younger man demonstrates the use of an electric mixer to the same woman. Middle aged man with short dark hair interviews a tall man in a suit with a receding hairline and a strange thin high mustache. Middle aged man with short dark hair talks into the camera. Camera zooms out to show camera man filming host speaking to woman in straw hat with flowers attached to it and old fashioned dress. Shows cards with credits written on them. Large feather briefly show up in frame.