Another great ambassador : wireless!

Format:

Video

Contributor:

British Film Institute, owner.

Topical Film Co., production company.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Broadcasting.

England--London.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 video file (2 minutes, 12 seconds)) : silent, black and white.

Place of Publication:

[Great Britain] : Topical Film Company, 1924.

Summary:

"The eve of the new year, was the eve of a new era when millions in Britain 'listened in' to America". Shot of aerial mast and rooftops. "In this little hut at Biggin Hill was first heard the voice of a man speaking at Pittsburgh U.S.A.". View of hut, taken at night. "Capt West of the B.B.C. who first heard the voice from America - a voice which proclaims the beginning of a new bond between the two English speaking nations". Close- up of Captain West wearing earphones. "The nine-valve set which picked up America on a 100 metre wavelength". Shot of two men wearing ear-phones standing beside the set. "Here they are! America talking". The men listen with their ear-phones, one removing his set to use a telephone. "Switching through the voice of America to Broadcasting Station". Man turns down a switch on bench. "From Biggin Hill runs a connecting line to the broadcaster". Shot of telegraph pole. "The broadcaster". Man speaking into microphone. "'Hello! Uncle Carectatus! Can you put me onto Mars?'" Boy seen tuning in a crystal set. "And all over the country, people 'listened in' to 'Big Ben'". People shown wearing ear-phones, facing a large photograph of the face of Big Ben. "A happy new year to you all" [message scrawled across the film].

Notes:

Issue number: 645-1 ; Story number within issue: 4 of 4

Note: 'Uncle Carectatus' (presumably man speaking into microphone) is BBC broadcaster and future film director Cecil Lewis.

Series: Topical Budget.

With intertitles.