History of Television, 1942-2000

From Book News, Inc.
Starting where the author's The history of television, 1880 to 1941 (McFarland, 1987) left off, this sequel begins with a chapter on TV's role in World War II. A retired CBS network engineer chronicles TV developments including US wartime use of this new medium; technical advances; the rise of electronic journalism; industry competition; and introduction of the VCR, camcorder, high- definition TV, e-cinema, and a universal format for electronic media. Among his predictions for TV's future is the demise of video rental stores with the rise of pay-for-view HDTV. Includes rare illustrations and substantial reference notes. Abramson has written about the medium since his Electronic motion pictures: a history of the television camera (U. of California Press, 1955).Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Book Description
Albert Abramson published (with McFarland) in 1987 a landmark volume titled The History of Television, 1880–1941 ("massive...research"—Library Journal; "voluminous documentation"—Choice; "many striking old photos"—The TV Collector). At last he has produced the follow-up volume; the reader may be assured there is no other book in any language that is remotely comparable to it. Together, these two volumes provide the definitive technical history of the medium. Upon the development in the mid–1940s of new cameras and picture tubes that made commercial television possible worldwide, the medium rose rapidly to prominence. Perhaps even more important was the invention of the video tape recorder in 1956, allowing editing, re-shooting and rebroadcasting. This second volume, 1942 to 2000 covers these significant developments and much more. Chapters are devoted to television and World War II and the postwar era, the development of color television, Ampex Corporation’s contributions, television in Europe, the change from helical to high band technology, solid state cameras, the television coverage of Apollo II, the rise of electronic journalism, television entering the studios, the introduction of the camcorder, the demise of RCA at the hands of GE, the domination of Sony and Matsushita, and the future of television in e-cinema and the 1080 P24 format. The book is heavily illustrated (as is the first volume).

About the Author
Albert Abramson worked at CBS for over 30 years as a cameraman, videotape editor, and sound technician, and is the author of several books and articles on the history of television aside from the two-volume set from McFarland. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

In 1987, McFarland published Abramson's landmark The History of Television, 1880-1941, tracing the early history and initial development of the television medium. This follow-up volume, covering 1942 through 2000, establishes Abramson's effort as the foremost reference work on the technical history of TV. The author, who worked as a cameraman, videotape editor, and sound technician at CBS for 30 years, focuses on the major technical accomplishments during those years. Television during World War II, the rise of videotape, compact and solid-state television cameras, broadcasts from the moon, and the introduction of the camcorder are all given attention. Many black-and-white illustrations accompany the text. No reference work available in print right now matches the attention to detail that is obvious here. A significant work on how the machinery of television has evolved, this, and its companion volume, should stand as the authority for years to come. Highly recommended for communications collections in academic libraries.-David M. Lisa, West Long Branch P.L., NJ Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices