RCA's first television sets

Today in 1939, the 1939 New York World’s Fair had its grand opening, with 206,000 people in attendance. The April 30 date coincided with the 150th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration as President in New York City. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the opening day address and his speech was broadcast not only over the various radio networks but also televised in what would be the first of only two appearances he made on television. RCA-owned NBC used the event to inaugurate regularly scheduled television broadcasts in New York City. The service aired two hours of programs a week in order to “to make the art of television available to the public.” By the end of the year, a thousand receivers were sold in the U.S. The RCA receivers cost several hundred dollars and their screens were only about five inches across.