Klaus Landsberg
Encyclopedia
Klaus Landsberg was a pioneering electrical engineer who made history with early commercial telecasts and helped pave the way to today's television networks.
He appeared in many plays during his childhood. In his early teens he combined his technical skill and expressed desire to pursue his strong artistic inclination, setting out to prove that the two could be successfully blended.
In 1936 he was called upon to assist in the history-making telecast of the Berlin Olympic Games, an event that marked television's rounding of one of the proverbial corners.
In 1937 Klaus was appointed laboratory engineer and assistant to Dr. Korm, the Inventor of picture telegraphy. During this association, Landsberg himself created many new electronic devices. The most outstanding of these achievements was the invention of an electronic aid to navigation and blind landings, considered so vital to the Third Reich that upon being patented was declared a military-secret, which Landsberg was determined to destroy as a Nazi weapon (he was successful). This basic radar
principle later became Landsberg's passport to America.
Following his arrival in the United States, Farnsworth Television, Inc. hired Klaus Landsberg as Television Development Engineer in Philadelphia in 1938.
In 1939 he went to New York for the National Broadcasting Company television division. It was during this period that Landsberg helped NBC
make possible the first public Television demonstrations in America, at the New York World's Fair
.
Allen B. DuMont
recognized Landsberg's qualifications, and signed him as Television design and development engineer for the New York DuMont Laboratories, a pioneer United States Television organization. There he supervised technical operations of the television unit at the U.S. Army Maneuvers in Cantons, New York, developing automatic synchronizing circuits.
In 1939 he was contracted to build DuMont's station WABD, as well as produce the station's first shows.
In 1941 Klaus was sent by Paramount Pictures
to Los Angeles to build W6XYZ, an experimental television
station.
He experimented from 1942 to 1947, during which year he produced Paramount's Kinescope
.
Also in 1947, KTLA
(Channel 5), a Los Angeles Television station funded by Paramount and helmed by Klaus Landsberg, began regular commercial broadcasts (the first such KTLA commercial broadcast was January 22, 1947.)
By 1948, KTLA boasted a show lineup that included Spade Cooley, Ina Rae Hutton, The Continental Lover, Time for Beany
, Korla Pandit's Adventures in Music
and professional wrestling
.
Landsberg died of cancer
in 1956, aged only 40.
He appeared in many plays during his childhood. In his early teens he combined his technical skill and expressed desire to pursue his strong artistic inclination, setting out to prove that the two could be successfully blended.
In 1936 he was called upon to assist in the history-making telecast of the Berlin Olympic Games, an event that marked television's rounding of one of the proverbial corners.
In 1937 Klaus was appointed laboratory engineer and assistant to Dr. Korm, the Inventor of picture telegraphy. During this association, Landsberg himself created many new electronic devices. The most outstanding of these achievements was the invention of an electronic aid to navigation and blind landings, considered so vital to the Third Reich that upon being patented was declared a military-secret, which Landsberg was determined to destroy as a Nazi weapon (he was successful). This basic radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
principle later became Landsberg's passport to America.
Following his arrival in the United States, Farnsworth Television, Inc. hired Klaus Landsberg as Television Development Engineer in Philadelphia in 1938.
In 1939 he went to New York for the National Broadcasting Company television division. It was during this period that Landsberg helped NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
make possible the first public Television demonstrations in America, at the New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
.
Allen B. DuMont
Allen B. DuMont
Allen Balcom DuMont also spelled Du Mont, was an American scientist and inventor best known for improvements to the cathode ray tube in 1931 for use in television receivers. Seven years later he manufactured and sold the first commercially practical television set to the public...
recognized Landsberg's qualifications, and signed him as Television design and development engineer for the New York DuMont Laboratories, a pioneer United States Television organization. There he supervised technical operations of the television unit at the U.S. Army Maneuvers in Cantons, New York, developing automatic synchronizing circuits.
In 1939 he was contracted to build DuMont's station WABD, as well as produce the station's first shows.
In 1941 Klaus was sent by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
to Los Angeles to build W6XYZ, an experimental television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station.
He experimented from 1942 to 1947, during which year he produced Paramount's Kinescope
Kinescope
Kinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program made by filming the picture from a video monitor...
.
Also in 1947, KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
(Channel 5), a Los Angeles Television station funded by Paramount and helmed by Klaus Landsberg, began regular commercial broadcasts (the first such KTLA commercial broadcast was January 22, 1947.)
By 1948, KTLA boasted a show lineup that included Spade Cooley, Ina Rae Hutton, The Continental Lover, Time for Beany
Time for Beany
Time for Beany was an American television series, with puppets for characters, which aired locally in Los Angeles starting in 1949 and nationally on the improvised Paramount Television Network from 1950 to 1955...
, Korla Pandit's Adventures in Music
Korla Pandit
Korla Pandit , born John Roland Redd in St. Louis, Missouri, was a musician, composer, pianist, organist and television pioneer. He was known as the Godfather of Exotica.-Early career:...
and professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
.
Landsberg died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1956, aged only 40.