Oh, say can you see...
November 27, 2007 9:35 AM Subscribe
The first transatlantic television image was that of a fluttering American flag. My grandfather was the cameraman. Two words: Christmas gift.
For years, my mother has wanted to find a print of that flag, to give to her father. But for a seemingly iconic image, prints have proved strangely elusive. The satellite was Telstar, the image was broadcast on July 10, 1962, and my grandfather worked for Second City at the time.
Anyone know where we can procure this stray bit of American history?
For years, my mother has wanted to find a print of that flag, to give to her father. But for a seemingly iconic image, prints have proved strangely elusive. The satellite was Telstar, the image was broadcast on July 10, 1962, and my grandfather worked for Second City at the time.
Anyone know where we can procure this stray bit of American history?
Smithsonian or getty images might...might have what you're after.
posted by iamabot at 9:54 AM on November 27, 2007
posted by iamabot at 9:54 AM on November 27, 2007
Here is a low quality image, credited to Bell Labs. Perhaps someone at Bell Labs can provide a high quality version.
posted by jrishel at 9:55 AM on November 27, 2007
posted by jrishel at 9:55 AM on November 27, 2007
Go to Getty Images, search for telstar. You'll find what you're looking for, probably.
posted by iamabot at 9:56 AM on November 27, 2007
posted by iamabot at 9:56 AM on November 27, 2007
The site linked mention an issue of the Bell Laboratories Record from April 1963, which may be the source of the image. Maybe you could track down that issue and photocopy it?
posted by ALongDecember at 9:57 AM on November 27, 2007
posted by ALongDecember at 9:57 AM on November 27, 2007
Well, it turns out my university may have a copy of that issue in the engineering library. I'll go take a look and see if there's a good picture.
posted by ALongDecember at 10:08 AM on November 27, 2007
posted by ALongDecember at 10:08 AM on November 27, 2007
Best answer: Here's what I scanned in jpg
Here's a pdf of the page
Let me know if you want higher-res of these, if Getty has them that might be the best choice. That's from the July-August 1962 issue of Bell Labs Record (Vol 40) by the way.
posted by ALongDecember at 10:39 AM on November 27, 2007 [4 favorites]
Here's a pdf of the page
Let me know if you want higher-res of these, if Getty has them that might be the best choice. That's from the July-August 1962 issue of Bell Labs Record (Vol 40) by the way.
posted by ALongDecember at 10:39 AM on November 27, 2007 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Sweet! Much obliged. The next step might be to get a print made, which hopefully shouldn't be too much of a hurdle. If in doubt, I can try and check the local engineering library myself. Thanks again.
posted by laughinglikemad at 11:39 AM on November 27, 2007
posted by laughinglikemad at 11:39 AM on November 27, 2007
Getty Images has this photo. I just searched it. (I'm at work as a newspaper right now.)
There are a couple of photos of it, one a little more cropped than the other. One is from the Hutton Archive, and the other is Time/Life photos.
posted by thenormshow at 8:42 PM on November 27, 2007
There are a couple of photos of it, one a little more cropped than the other. One is from the Hutton Archive, and the other is Time/Life photos.
posted by thenormshow at 8:42 PM on November 27, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 9:50 AM on November 27, 2007