The Crittenden Automotive Library

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Topics: Indianapolis 500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Teenage Hotrodders #8
July 1964

A record number of 12 cameras, 30 microphones and 9 announcers will cover the closed-circuit telecasting of the world-famed Indianapolis '500' Mile Speedway Race on May 30, 1964.

Jay Michaels, MCA-TV Sports Supervisor, revealed this information after making the most extensive and exhaustive survey ever made for a single sports event. Michaels, just returned from his eighth trip to Indianapolis where he has been supervising preparations for MCA's history-making closed-circuit telecasting of the '500', states that every foot of the two-and-one-half mile track will be covered and there will be no blind spots for viewers. For the past 3 months, Michaels revealed, MCA-TV has been working with groups who have had previous experience in closed-circuit telecasting and with engineers of the national TV networks in order to make certain those witnessing the closed-circuit telecasting of the '500' will be fully informed every second of what is happening on the track and in the pits and that every Sports Arena seat will be equivalent to a seat on the starting line.

Michaels also announced that MCA-TV and the Speedway will build the largest permanent TV studio ever constructed for a single sports event right on the grounds of the Speedway. The studio will comprise all necessary facilities for a full color telecasting of the race in subsequent years, although the first one will be originated in black and white. The enormous amount of especially built equipment necessary for the telecast will begin to be installed on April 1st. Limited tape coverage will commence on May 1 with full operation scheduled by May 23rd. Thus the final two days of the qualifying time will be will be complete in all details.

Since the announcement in early October of the long-term deal between MCA-TV and the Indianapolis Speedway for closed-circuit telecasting of the '500', the response from race promoters all over the country has been overwhelming. However, no allocations of franchises have been made yet pending finalization of the just completed survey.

Michaels indicated that MCA-TV will start this phase of the operation shortly, and race promoters interested in making application for an area franchise to closed-circuit the '500' may reach him at MCA-TV, Universal City, California.

Giving full cooperation in the supervision of the survey was the entire staff of the Speedway, headed by Anton Hulman, Jr., President; J. R. Cloutier, Vice President; Clarence Cagle, Superintendent; and Albert W. Bloemker, Publicity Director.