(no subject)

[noluck-boston.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of odd things in this ad.

One commenter, SherlockH5, on Flickr raises a good question.
"This is a mysterious ad. The copy mentions the year 1938 and says that was six years ago, which would make the date of the ad 1944. Note the phrase "already planned for post-war use." But regular TV programming didn't begin until about 1948.

If this was printed in 1950, I wonder if they had the ad ready to go in 1944, but forgot to change the copy.

At any rate, its a forward-thinking ad, combining TV and a fax machine"

Comments

[tudorlady.livejournal.com]

Prescient, if slightly differing in the actual manifestation. I love the newspaper being printed in adjunct to the broadcast!

[mellzie-1963.livejournal.com]

The six years ago reference is more to do with the age of the whiskey than with dating the fax-newspaper/tv thingy.

[ticktockman.livejournal.com]

There was a well-publicized demonstration of TV technology at the 1939 World's Fair. There was also plenty of advertising during WWII predicting that TV technology would be available to the general public fairly soon, but was taking a back seat to war-related production needs. It is certainly possible that this ad ran in 1944.

*daha*

[dandyads]

Mystery solved. The ad ran in 1944 and 1945.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

I am still waiting for this technology! It's like those flying cars, man!

[teamrodent.livejournal.com]

"All is going as planned... Wait, that's the Seagram's warehouse! NOOO! WAR IS HELL!!"

[magscanner.livejournal.com]

Regular TV broadcasting started in the US before WW2 began.

[meezergal.livejournal.com]

I thought so, too. It just wasn't nationwide yet, correct? I seem to recall reading about broadcasts as early as 1935.

ETA: Well, it's kinda sorta different dates, depending on what you're looking at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_television#United_States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_television#United_States)

[luke-russell.livejournal.com]

I am sure of that, too. I remember my father talking about seeing television broadcasts in 1939 at the Worlds Fair.

[mjspice.livejournal.com]

See this is what drinking alcohol does to you. It makes you think the newspapers comes out of televisions.

[1geek-queen.livejournal.com]

I like the ad, especially the bookshelf in the background.

If you're watching the news and seeing what's happening, what's the point of having a newspaper printed off? If it gives you more details or a plan of action, etc, then I get it. Other than that, it's just a fun gadget.

[ejia-arath03.livejournal.com]

He looks so angry at something just outside the focus.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

What a bleak news story to use for this ad. I'd think it would be something super cheerful and futuristic. If this ad came out before the war ended, as indicated, I'd think it would say something like 'world peace declared!' not 'three alarm fire costs lives'.

I love how they were working on fax machines in the 40's.

[tanwen.livejournal.com]

It took me a minute to realize they were fighting a fire in the picture, I though they were under attack a la War of the Worlds!.

[luke-russell.livejournal.com]

London blitz?

[cyclonestruckit.livejournal.com]

No mystery. This ran in 1944-45. They're saying they've been aging the whisky since 1938, and after the war you'll have not only a TV, but aTV with a built-in fax machine.

[luke-russell.livejournal.com]

Got it! But it was a little vague reading it 70 years in the future...obviously reading it back then it would have all been totally clear.

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

The news is depressing. Have some booze.

In a moment, the guy's Japanese boss will come on the screen and tell him he's fired and follow it up with a fax. He should have known better that to get involved with one of Needles' stupid schemes.