The Bartlesville Telemovie Experiment was the test case for the first pay television. In 1957 competition from cable television resulted in a decline in movie house attendance. Henry J. Griffing, President of Video Independent Theatres Inc. and owner of the Bartlesville theatres in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, decided to bring movies into people's home via cable television. With Jerrold Electronics Corporation and General Precision Laboratories involved in the technology, the Bartlesville Telemovie System debuted with The Pajama Game broadcasting to 300 homes. Milton J.(Jerrold) Shapp, president of Jerrold Electronics, was instrumental in obtaining cooperation from the motion picture industry. Columbia, Warner Brothers and Universal gave permission to release their motion pictures for pay television. The experiment lasted less than a year.
From the description of Bartlesville Telemovie Experiment records, 1957-1991. (Cable Center, The). WorldCat record id: 47042053
