28 September 1956 “Transatlantic Telephone, Global Warming Discussion from 1956, and the first Morning Shows”

On 25 September 1956, the first Transatlantic telephone cable (TAT-1) is successfully laid.
This video is not long and worth the watch. It shows this historic moment. It has Mr. Craig, the head of AT&T making the first transatlantic call through the cable. It shows now how every continent on earth is now connected with these cables. And, fairly recently, the use of fiber optic cable has actually reverted the use of cable over the satellite system we were beginning to rely upon.
Though we had trans-Atlantic calls since 1927, they used to rely upon radio waves. But  the cables provide a much higher signal quality, avoid atmospheric interference and offer a greater capacity and security. The initial capacity is 36 calls at a time at a price per call of $12 for the first three minutes (that’s about $85 dollars in modern terms) so this didn’t cease letter writing, but (no pun intended) the writing was on the wall.

Again, so much of what is part of this modern world we now inhabit was created in the 1950’s. Think of just the move from last year, 1955, to now 1956, the very way we communicate to our friends and neighbors overseas has been radically changed. Again, the cost would be prohibitive at first, but in time it would reduce and soon calls would replace letters to catch up with old friends and family.
This is really worth listening. It is from a Radio Broadcast from this year 1956, where they are talking of Global Warming. I love that they say, “Well, Grandpa might have been right, it was colder when he was a child” It is also nice to hear it on the old LP, as this is the sound quality you would have heard in 1956.
Here they are talking already about how the burning of coal and other human forms of carbon dioxide is greater than any other natural phenomena. At this point, here in 1956, we are discussing the fact the the increase in industry and cars WILL increase global warming. Why did we never hear this continue? This really is worth a listen as it gets to the end it discusses how much man is affecting this change. I wonder how many people wrote to get this science paper number 646? I would love to get my hands on a copy.

With the assumption that no one would watch a tv program before 7 a.m., morning radio programs were presented. Here Ernie Kovacs was willing to prove them wrong. I always remember Ernie Kovacs from the later 1950’s move Bell Book & Candle, staring Jimmy Steward and Kim Novac.
This is an early version of his morning TV show. It is in three parts. The beginning starts with goldfish and then points the camera at people in the audience ( a good view of the average 1956 person).

Enjoy and Happy Homemaking.