Jan 14, 2016 the modern era of network television began with the dumont network on january 11, 1948. The dumont tv network 19451955 had a more urban look, since they were primarily seen in big cities. The television industry had been poised for takeoff as early as 1939, when nbc, cbs, and dumont, a growing network owned by an ambitious television manufacturer, established experimental stations in new york city and began limited broadcasting to the few thousand households that had purchased the first sets for consumer use. Library eyes of a generationtelevisions living history. In the 30s, however, tv sets were merely a novelty, as there was very little actual programming being broadcast. Many people first watched tv on dumontbrand sets, the best receivers money could buy. I always thought it was tragic that about 95% of everything they did got dumped into the east river by abc in the early 1970s all the kinescopes gone. During the 1940s and 1950s, the name dumont was synonymous with the new medium of television. Dumont cameras eyes of a generationtelevisions living history.
Here is a listing of regularlyscheduled dumont network programs and air dates, primarily from the primetime evening schedule, transcribed from various sources. Bergmann, a former managing director of the du mont network, provides a rare insiders view of the networks history and its eventual demise. Id love to see a tl based on that work alone and thus make pr television stations more of a major player than otl. List of former dumont television network affiliates. This book examines dumonts programs and personalities. Dumont television network, one of the first commercial television networks, broadcasted from 1946 to 1956. Jan 25, 2019 of the many ways dumont differentiated itself, he explains in his book the forgotten network. The site was originally launched on february 5, 1999 as a onepage article on dumont with a few links, and has since expanded to what you see today. The du mont television network will intrigue television history fans, as well as communications students and media professionals. David weinstein during the late 1940s and early 1950s, the name dumont was synonymous with the new medium of television.
Then in 1949, the film studio launched the paramount television network, and poured the film studios money and talent into programming, something it had never. List of programs broadcast by the dumont television network. The story of the history of television that she describes is very fascinating and is more than can be described in wikipedia articles, and serves as an important chapter in the history oof us spanishlanguage television. Whatever happened to captain video and the dumont atlas obscura. The following is a list of dumont television network programs for which episodes are preserved by the ucla film and television archive. The dumont television network was launched in 1946 and ceased broadcasting in 1956. The lost and forgotten dumont television network geek history. John howard, anne gwynne, walter sande, john harmon. Este artigo sobre televisao nos estados unidos e um esboco relacionado ao projeto televisao. Originally a radio network, the company was spun off from the national broadcasting company in 1943, and it turned its attention to television in 1948. It should not be so, because dumont was as bold a program service as television would have. Dumont telephone providing telephone, cable tv, broadband. Previous models displayed the image on a mechanical zoetropelike spinner. This page salutes the memory of the dumont television network, a scrappy, important, innovative and almostforgotten tv network that launched.
Tune in to longforgotten dumont, early rival to nbc and cbs. With dumont television network sorted by popularity. Wdtvs log books welcome to a series of web pages devoted to the dumont television network, americas fourth television network which operated from 1946 to 1956. Not a big fish as nbc or cbs, but technologically savvy with many firsts in. The first big push to bring television to the publics attention was mounted by rca at the 1939 worlds fair in new york. Dumont television network uncyclopedia, the contentfree. Seventyfive years ago, the television musical made its debut. It is probably incomplete, for example, 2 episodes of chance for a lifetime that aired on the network may exist at the archive, but this is unconfirmed. History of the dumont television network page 2 steve. Dumont network shows that survive at ucla film and television.
All regularly scheduled programs which were aired on the dumont network are listed below, regardless of whether they originated at dumont. Allen dumont, who created the network, preserved most of what it produced in kinescope format. Years before fox, wb and upn, there was the dumont television network. Many people first watched tv on dumont brand sets, the best receivers money could buy. By 1958, however, much of the library had been destroyed to recover the silver content of the film prints. Bostonbased radio tv broadcasting historian donna halper has just written a fantastic article telling the story of big brother bob emery, who pioneered childrens radio programming in the early 1920s, went on to the dumont network between 1947 and 1952, then spent many years doing a local childrens show on wbztv boston. Anyone interested in how a technological innovator can still manage to fail should read this book. The dumont network is one of the most interesting footnotes in tv history the forgotten tv network, lost to history. Tv station alignments in selected markets chapter 2. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, dumont was americas fourth television network. But its influence in american television continues to be felt today.
Rko general ownership of charlton comics and influence on the comics industry chapter 6. Ive used du mont for the man and dumont for the names of his companies. It is often difficult to distinguish between network shows and those which only aired locally on dumont s wabd tv in new york city. The fourth, forgotten, network was the dumont television network, founded by a white television pioneer named allen b. Innovative, with stations in key east coast major markets, the dumont network was ultimately done in by a combination of forces the least of which being its uncooperative partner, paramount studios.
Andrew hamilton, the dumont television network counter. Dumont television network, american television network of the 1940s and 50s, established in 1946 by dumont laboratories and its founder, allen b. Sep 24, 2003 years before fox, wb and upn, there was the dumont television network. This series aired on the dumont television network from 1949 to 1955 and was the first scifi series on american television. A lot of dumonts early success was owed to world war ii. More viewers enjoyed their first programs on the dumont network, which was established in 1946, before abc and cbs even hit the airwaves. What if the dumont television network never went defunct.
Originally a radio network, the company was spun off from the national broadcasting company in 1943. The complete directory to primetime network and cable tv shows, 1946present. This is a rare survivorthe 32 page tour book handed out at the rca pavilion, that attempts to cover many aspects of the new media. Dumont network ushers modern television era youtube. History of the dumont television network steve hoffman.
Dumont and the birth of american television, the network made variety shows the centerpiece of. American, usa, history, du mont television network, united states general, allen balcom, 19011965, dumont television network, dumont, allen b publisher temple university press collection. Click here to learn more or to order the book from its. Dumont cameras eyes of a generationtelevisions living. A jewish life in performance and politics upnebrandeis university press, 2017, a lively biography that is part of the brandeis series in american jewish history, culture and life jonathan d. The dumont television network also known as the dumont network, simply dumont du mont, or incorrectly dumont d u. List of surviving dumont television network broadcasts. The rise and relatively swift fall of net chapter 4. As with some other early television programs, there is conflicting information about the show, with some sources reporting that the series was 30 minutes long, while other sources stating it was 15 minutes long. It was the first attempt to create a fourth network in the united states. Dumont model ra103 televisionradio 1948 here is a dumont model ra103 television from 1948, a 12inch teleset in the meadowbrook console cabinet. Dumont television network wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Dumont telephone is a proven leader in technology, as well as a proud supporter of regional economic development.
Dumont and the birth of american television, the network made variety shows the centerpiece of its. The modern era of network television began with the dumont network on january 11, 1948. Dumont telephone provides broadband, telephone and cable tv to the communities of dumont and allison. Over episodes were aired, of which about 24 survive.
Even more viewers enjoyed their first programs on the dumont network, which was established in 1946. Excellent book on the history of the television pioneer company, dumont broadcasting. It managed to limp along for almost a decade, but dropped off the air at midnight one summer in the 1950s because it didnt have enough money to pay the electric bill, and the squirrels running inside the cage powering the transmitter were. This book consists mainly of third party references to the era.
The scifi channel encyclopedia of tv science fiction. The wendy barrie show also known as inside photoplay, photoplay time, through wendys window, and whos who with wendy barrie is an american talk show hosted by wendy barrie which aired from november 10, 1948, to september 27, 1950. Seventyfive years ago, the television musical made its. After lester quit in june 1950 soon to become the star of nbcs first latenight series, broadway open house, gleasonwho had made his mark on the first. The beginnings of tv news from thats the way it is. The shows first host was comedian jack carter, who was followed by jerry lester. Premiering in january 1948, camera headlines was an attempt by dumont to present a tv news program using newsreel film footage.
Weinstein talks about his book the forgotten network. The network existed in a time when preserving television programming was not taken seriously, also, it is well known that the archive of the network was disposed of some time in the 1970s. Eventually, they all came together as the dumont network, which was officially. The dumont television network also known as the dumont network, simply dumont du mont, or incorrectly dumont was one of the worlds pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling nbc and cbs for the distinction of being first overall in the united states. American broadcasting company abc, major american television network that is a division of the disney company. The dumont television network, also known as the dumont network. Dumont and the birth of american television, published by temple university press. Wdtv now kdka, dumonts pittsburgh station, connected the east coast and the midwest by. It also shows which stations were connected to the intercity coaxial cable at that time. In this episode steve, andrew, and jonathan discuss the often forgotten dumont television network. Dumont laboratories, a television equipment and set manufacturer, and began operation on june 28, 1942. In 1953, three television stations owned by taft broadcasting company and cox communications formed the shortlived tristate network to compete with entertainment programming produced by crosley broadcasting corporation on crosley television stations in the cincinnati, columbus and dayton, ohio broadcast markets.
Wdtv now kdka, dumonts pittsburgh station, connected the east coast and the midwest by airing live. Dumont and the birth of american television temple university press, 2004. Dumont laboratories was the primary manufacturer of. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the name dumont was synonymous with the new medium of television. Dumont prided itself on quality and had prices to match. Dumont network shows that survive at ucla film and. Of the many ways dumont differentiated itself, he explains in his book the forgotten network. Dumont television network american company britannica. Savethere is a lot of entertainment and television broadcasting history found in the often lost and forgotten fourth television network created by scientist and inventor allen b. Dumont became a folk hero for his entrepreneurial spirit in bringing television to the american people. Emmy award winner life is worth living, appear in television retrospectives or are mentioned briefly in books about u. Dumont was also more interested in manufacturing than running a television network. Feedback dumont television network historical web site.
Captain video and his video rangers episode from circa 1950. Dumont, and they actually had a number of early innovations including the first consumer, all electronic television set in 1938. The book chronicles the rise and fall of the dumont network. The failure of dumont is an instructive tale told in fascinating detail in weinsteins the forgotten network. Paramount launched its own tv stations in chicago and l.
The book zeroes in on a simple regulatory decision by the fcc favoring vhf over uhf analog stations which resulted in viewers having three network choices instead of four for broacastings first three decades. Brief bio david weinstein is the author of the eddie cantor story. I enjoyed reading this book it was a bit disappointing, but i probably would have been better served by the ted bergmann book on this subject as he actually worked at dumont. Some dumont network series were actually broadcast from baltimores waamtv, chicagos wgntv, cincinnatis wcpotv, or philadelphias wfil. Ted bergmanns book the dumont television network, shows a map of dumont affiliates in 1955. A significant episode in the history of broadcasting ted bergmann, ira skutch on. This episode was written by mc brock and stars richard coogan. History of the dumont television network steve hoffman music.
Nbc, abc and cbs, and the public television network net later to be pbs, fox, the wb later to be the cw, ion television, and others. Other stations which dumont did not own, but with which it had a good relationship and was able to clear network programming some of which also originated a few network shows were wgntv, channel 9, in chicago. In 2004, i compiled a dvd of clips, including several rarities, that i distributed to teachers using my book, the forgotten network. It shows which cities were part of the dumont network during 1955.
Dumont, a television network, dissolved on august 6, 1956. One of televisions original networks has all but disappeared. The dumont television network is a now largelyforgotten american broadcast television network that fought against budget troubles for its entire lifetime. Oct 07, 2017 in 2004, i compiled a dvd of clips, including several rarities, that i distributed to teachers using my book, the forgotten network. The network was started by dumont laboratories, which was the first to bring an allelectronic tv set to market in 1938. Welcome to a series of web pages devoted to the dumont television network, americas fourth television network which operated from 1946 to 1956. Dumont television network american tv database wiki fandom. Bibliography dumont television network historical web site. The parent company was a pioneer in early television technology, but, largely because it lacked the support of a radio network, the dumont television network struggled to compete with the fledgling television networks established by radio.
Dumont was an american electronics engineer, scientist and inventor best known for improvements to the cathode ray tube for use in television receivers. More viewers enjoyed their first programs on the dumont network, which was established in 1946. The dumont network as an offshoot of dumont labs, created in 1931 by allen b. Other stations were later joined to create the dumont television network, which originated programs primarily from its new york studios, beginning at 515 madison avenue, then at john wanamakers department store, and finally at the dumont telecentre at 205 east 67th street, where new yorks channel 5 still has its studios today. Dumonts previous national news program, the walter compton news, had premiered on dumont station wttg in june 1947, then on the dumont network on august 25, 1947, but was off the air by january 1948. The dumont television network was one of the worlds pioneer commercial television networks. In jeff kisselhoffs book the box, former dumont executive ted bergmann remembered how the founder responded to the events. Most of whatever survived was later loaded onto three trucks and dumped into upper new york bay in the mid1970s.
If so, dumont would remain active with the big three. Media in category dumont television network the following 12 files are in this category, out of 12 total. In addition, we provide broadband and cable tv in parkersburg and geneva. Gleasons first variety series, which aired on the dumont television network under the title cavalcade of stars, first aired june 4, 1949. On january 11, 1954, a new the wendy barrie show premiered. This show had movie publicist compton 19121959 reading news from a script with the occasional use of slides. This was the first, and is still the largest, dumont. They also didnt have the radio stars jack benny, bob hope, etc to transfer to tv they were locked up with nbc, cbs and, to a lesser extent, abc so dumont had to create their own stars. His name is variously spelled dumont and du mont, but never dumont. These stations were not dumontowned stations but were affiliated with the network.
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