Your Book Review: We Present Television

In 1940, the Empire State Building reigned as the world's tallest human-made structure. Perched atop its dizzying heights, one could glimpse a glimpse of the future—namely, the inaugural NBC television broadcast transmitted across a hundred-mile expanse of the bustling metropolis. A turnstile antenna, a ring of interconnected dipoles, and a lightning rod crowning the structure formed the literal pinnacle of human achievement.

This was the lance that reached higher than ever before, the spear tip that would soon conquer the world in the realm of high radio modernism.

This sentiment was echoed by those who played pivotal roles in the inception of television. By delving into We Present Television, a compilation of essays penned by diverse figures involved in the earliest American TV broadcast systems, one gains insight into the groundbreaking nature of the technology. Acquired from a library's discard pile, the book's captivating title and its surprisingly early 1940 copyright date piqued interest.

Far from a mere depiction of a settled aspect of American life, the essays were written at the very forefront of a nascent technology, aimed at instructing a public for whom TV was a rare experimental indulgence.

The essays offer a roughly 90% technical breakdown of the state of the art, balanced with 10% visionary prophecy. While providing an approachable primer akin to Scientific American, the text also presents itself as a rare glimpse into the frenzied, propulsive birth of a transformative art form. Providing a Scientific American-style primer interwoven with moments that evoke the chilling allure of a dread grimoire, We Present Television offers a unique look into the early days of television, before its cultural titan Lucy and Desi's comedic escapades captured the public's imagination.