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Yesterday Nate mentioned the Coleman Scoreboard, so I thought I would show a picture of it here. Unlike the mechanical board I showed yesterday, the Coleman board showed a graphic representation of a game in a movie theater. The operator of the machine would be receiving a ticker tape report on what was happening in the game. He would then operate the machine, such that those watching could tell what was happening in the game. In the picture above, the large white sheet is the screen. The men and the Coleman contraption are actually behind the screen. The viewers are sitting in seats on the other side of the screen. The screen was translucent, and had an image of a baseball diamond on it. The Coleman device was a series of lights, and would project images of baseball players onto the back of the screen, which could then be seen on the front. So, you could see a figure running from 1st base to second base, if that is what was happening in the game.
The outdoor boards like I showed yesterday had little mechanical figures that would advance around the bases. I still have not been able to find out what those boards were called. I saw it once, and it was a fancy name, like animatrons, or something like that, but I can not find the story that I had read on them.
Almost like the first Big Screen TV.
ReplyDeleteSo, a few days ago I commented on pitcher not pitching complete games.
Boo me if you like, but I am a die hard Yankee fan.
But being from ND, I have some interest in the Minnesota Twins.
Now to get to the point.
The Twins had a pitcher that was pitching yesterday and he went 8 solid innings. He only gave up 4 hits, no runs, 2 walks and struck out 7 in 8 innings. The manager in his infinite wisdom decided that the pitcher may be getting tired and didn't let him pitch the 9th inning. The relief pitcher came in to pitch the 9th inning and let the other team tie the score up. Then in the 10th inning a second relief pitcher never even got one man out and let them win with a home run.
Thus the Twins lose 4 to 3.
That must have been a little frustrating to go from a shut out game to watching your team lose in the matter of a few minutes.
I believe they were called "playographs"
ReplyDeleteThere is a good article and photo about the Playograph here: http://www.uniwatchblog.com/2009/12/10/photography-of-playography/
ReplyDeleteI will have to take back what I said about the manager. It was the pitcher that said he was getting tired, and then the manager replaced him and they lost the shut out and the game.
ReplyDeletegreat picture, i love old gadgets and that is one of the coolest, thanks and thanks to Rebecca2 for the information it was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteTodd from NC.
Amazing contraption that was. I wonder what the entrance fee could have been.
ReplyDeleteWatching baseball on TV can seem very slow sometimes, I can't imagine watching a game at a movie theater on this contraption. Am I correct in assuming that you go into a movie theater and stare at this white sheet for 3 hours? They must of had something else for the patrons to do, right? I mean, lets say a batter is up and he goes the full count, you could be sitting there for a-while starring at a screen with nothing happening. I don't understand this concept. Ellena, Habs had a good game last night, the Bruins better show up Sat. night.
ReplyDeleteUpon further review I guess a guy behind the screen controls the ball from the pitcher to home on each pitch so you do see a representation of the ball. Even still, it's not something that would keep my interest too long but then again if that was the latest technology I'd probably be mesmorized by it, LOL. Have a nice weekend all.
ReplyDeleteIn 1948, at the age of 11, I watched the Boston Red Sox-Cleveland Indians playoff game on WEWS, the Cleveland television station. But of course, the game itself was not televised. Instead, we were shown a picture of a large plywood diamond, and miniature players who were advanced in accord with the simultaneous radio broadcast. The Indians went on to defeat the Boston Braves in the World Series, four games to two. Thereafter, relations between the two cities were always on the cool side.
ReplyDeleteWhat people aren't taking into their head is that the only other kind of entertainment would have been going to the game itself or listening to it on the radio.
ReplyDeleteI remember sitting around and staring at the radio and listening to classic shows like "The Shadow".
So, yes it was the latest in entertainment.
Neat invention to show the game. I really like seeing pictures of innovations like this. Perhaps you have some more in your archives. (hint hint)
ReplyDeleteAny chance of a domestic update this week? we haven't seen the hen house, the peacocks or the greenhouse in quite some time (we heard about the barn).
Keep up the good work.
Graham in St. John's
RTD mentioned listening to the baseball game on the radio. Back in the days when not every car had a radio, and a/c was not even a dream, in was vry common to pull up beside a car at a stoplight and hearing their car radio, call out "What's the score?" to which the other driver would reply "The bums are losing, two to nothing" and both car would buzz off when the light turned green.
ReplyDeleteI hope every thing is OK at PJM's compound. He has not posted yet today and I am getting a little worried
ReplyDeleteHopefully it's just a computer/internet problem. Their weather is OK today and no mention of anything severe having happened yesterday.
ReplyDeleteJohn
I suppose he may be waiting until dark so that he sneak over to the neighbors bushes and log into the neighbors computer.
ReplyDeleteJust checking in. Hope all is okay your way.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well in Texas. Just checking and know that we are worried out here. Will check again tomorrow.
ReplyDeletelam
Mr. PJM, Hope everything is okay in Texas with you and yours. If this was just a technical issue we worried unnecessarily. We would like two photos posted tomorrow! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy morning coffee just didn't taste the same without your daily photo.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize I hope, that you can't go AWOL without permission.
I hope all is ok down there in the Lone Star State.
D (Up here in the cold country)