Television 90

John Wyver writes: Ninety years ago today, the BBC’s high definition television service officially went on air from Alexandra Palace. There are celebrations there this afternoon and evening, and a number of articles and posts are marking the occasion, including the BBC Canvas presentation TV90 – From Trial to Transmission by Jamie Medhurst I am delighted to make my own contribution below in the form of a lightly edited reprint of the relevant section of Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Television in Britain, which was published by BFI/Bloomsbury in January… The final item on the first night of the BBC’s official television service from Alexandra Palace (AP) was a two-minute film sequence shot and previously transmitted earlier that day. As part of the opening ceremony on the afternoon of Monday 2 November 1936, Lord Selsdon, author of the previous year’s report and now chair of the Television Advisory Committee (TAC), gave a short speech of welcome. Using their intermediate…