“More Than Meets The Eye” (1950) is a rare b&w NBC promo film that takes the viewer behind the scenes as NBC embarked on its expansion program to keep up with TV’s growing popularity. As TV was taking off during the 1950s, NBC and other networks struggled to find studio space in New York. Narrated by NBC’s first TV news anchorman John Cameron Swayze, this film details what those efforts looked like inside the famous “Radio City” 30 Rock building (30 Rockefeller Plaza is a skyscraper that forms the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center) but also at the International, Center, and Hudson Theaters and NBC’s Uptown Studios at 106th Street. The film also depicts the NBC Kinescope department and NBC Television Central Shop.

Opening credits play over different angles of 30 Rockefeller Center skyscrapers (0:07). Lobby of 30 Rock, guests walk around lobby, check-in at desk for NBC radio (0:26). Behind-the-scenes look at television studio, cameras rolling recording dance spectacle (0:35). NBC TV studios: Studio 3H (Studio 3H was for many years NBC’s sole TV studio) host to “Howdy Doody” and other popular shows (0:50). Studio 8G host to Philco Television Playhouse and other shows; Iron lighting rig system along ceiling of TV studio, catwalk quadrangle; Control board (1:13). NBC employees walk through hallways of 30 Rock (1:53). Studio 6B (Milton Berle’s favorite): theater space for theatrical-type shows, adjustments to proscenium roof, iron lighting rig system along ceiling with traveling lights (2:00). Studio 3A: Elaborate set for commercial shoot (2:28). Studio 3B: TV-drama being recorded, another scene-scape is being set up on other end of studio (2:54). Studio 8H: scaffolding covers what was previously largest concert studio and home to NBC Symphony, PNG Musicals, Bob Montgomery Show, construction underway to make it largest TV studio (today home of Saturday Night Live) (3:11). Exterior International Theatre located at 5 Columbus Circle (today the Deutsche Bank Center); 1949 NBC leased the theater and made it into TV studio “NBC Television Theatre” (4:45). Interior shots of theatre, narrator details all changes/ renovations made to space: control room at rear, extension of stage for dolly camera, stage crews at work on sets, seats for live spectators (4:55). Exterior Hudson Theatre in Midtown Manhattan’s Theater District, another NBC TV Theatre (6:24). Interior of theatre, rehearsal for “The Kate Smith Hour,” preparations for show including electricians team, seven traveler curtains, lighting system, women in dressing room (6:31). Exterior Center Theatre at Rockefeller Center (today Radio City Music Hall); Interior scenes of renovations: flare extensions for cameras, control room, elevator stage, revolving stage; Preparations for “The Firestone Hour” (8:01). The Woodstock Hotel – home to rehearsal halls (10:01). NBC’s Uptown Studios at 106th Street in old RKO-Pathé building (10:35). Further facilities to accommodate for expansion of TV needs: news broadcasting, motion picture facility, more TV studios, storage rooms for set pieces (10:58). Truck with “Theatrical Haulers” written on facade stuffed with TV paraphernalia, set pieces (12:02). Sheffield Farms Milk Plant converted to NBC Television Central Shop – interior storage area of basic scene elements, labeling sets, basement property department and props i.e. Medieval mace, Van Gogh reprints, furniture etc. (12:12). Drapery department: men and women stand over craft and sewing tables design and cut drapes (13:59). Skilled artists sketch out, paint designs for backdrops for production (14:26). Carpentry shop (14:48). Wardrobe department (15:17). Scenic design room: close-up as designer sketched meticulous blueprint for set, man operates special printer, prints handed off to studio manager (15:36). Handlers load trucks with studio equipment to fulfill order for use on set, props cataloged/ neatly wrapped packed in hampers, furniture (16:23). Kinescope Recording Department (17:20). NBC old TV Control Room leased out of facilities provided by Bell Telephone Company, expansion of Master Control 2 (18:03). NBC early 26-foot RCA remote broadcasting bus (18:46). Perhaps RCA TK10 remote broadcasting cameras at tennis, horse race (18:52). Expansion around the country: NBC / KNBH Studios corner of Sunset Blvd and Vine St, Hollywood (19:12). Studebaker Theatre, Chicago (19:13). Closing words (19:22).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com