Cable Networks

• To regain household peace Parsons arranged

with the manager of the Astor Hotel to drop a
cable down the elevator shaft of the hotel and
make a television set available in the lobby.
The manager thought it would be good for
business. Little did he realize that the
television would draw so many people to the
hotel lobby that guests wouldn’t be able to
squeeze their way to the registration desk.
• Next Parsons persuaded a music store down
the street to put a set in a display window. It,
too, seemed like a good idea-until traffic jams
prompted the police chief to urge Parsons to
try something else. At that point, however, in
March 1949, Parsons made history, using cable
to connect a television reception antenna with
a customer: Cliff Poole’s music store.
• To alleviate congestion at the store windows,
Parsons extended the cable to more stores and
taverns and to homes. Within a year Parsons
had 25 places hooked up. Six months later
there were 75. he charged $125 for
installation, then $33 a month.