Picture this – it’s 1928 in Schenectady, New York. Television is still brand new technology that only a few eggheads are tinkering with.
Most people have never even seen a TV set before.
That all changed on September 11th when a groundbreaking spy drama called “The Queen’s Messenger” became the first television series ever broadcast!
Let me set the scene for you…
The Play’s the Thing
Our story focuses on a British diplomat tasked with delivering secret papers to the Queen.
But little does he know, a mysterious Russian femme fatale has her sights set on stealing those papers for her own devious reasons.
The writers deliberately chose this tale of espionage and romance because it had just two main characters – perfect for the limitations of early TV. Plus, a good ol’ fashioned spy story gave them plenty of chances to get creative with props like revolvers and cracked safe doors.
The Cast & Crew Behind the Scenes
Bringing this pioneering production to life was a huge collaborative effort.
Irish playwright J. Hartley Manners wrote the one-act play.
It starred retired stage actress Izetta Jewell in the lead role, with actor Maurice Randall playing the British diplomat.
Behind the cameras, it was an all-hands-on-deck situation at the General Electric’s WGY station (experimental station W2XAD).
Electrical engineer Ernst F.W. Alexanderson developed the system to coordinate and broadcast the sound and visuals.
Director Mortimer Stewart had to reinvent how to produce a show for this new medium.
He employed a cutting-edge multi-camera setup and special effects under the guidance of the General Electric testing department.
Two assistant actors were even brought in just to provide close-up shots of hands for the tiny 3-inch screens. The broadcast was a test of GE’s 48-line television system.
Making TV Magic
Putting on “The Queen’s Messenger” was no easy feat. The crew basically had to reinvent theatrical productions for this new medium.
They used a wild multi-camera setup and cutting-edge special effects that must have seemed like sorcery back then.
Instead of the actors, they’d sometimes show illustrations that could sync up with the pre-recorded dialogue audio. Hey, it was 1928 – they were basically TV wizards!
And can you imagine how tiny those early TV sets were?
The pictures were broadcasted to screens a mere 3 inches wide. That’s smaller than your smartphone! The crew had to use enlarged props just so viewers could make out what was happening.
The Birth of Binge-Worthy Drama
While the technology seems laughably dated now, “The Queen’s Messenger” was revolutionary in its time. It proved that Television could be a viable entertainment medium for dramas and movies.
After that first experimental broadcast, theadors kept on churning out more playlets and short films. Thanks to their ingenuity, we got all the brilliant TV shows we binge annually nowadays.
So the next time you’re watching the hottest new prestige drama, give a little mental nod to that campy 1928 spy story.
After all, without “The Queen’s Messenger“, we might all just be sitting around a rock circle, listening to the radio!
