Television remained under the radar until a pivotal demonstration by Bell Telephone in April 1927 in New York. This event showcased a small two-by-three-inch screen, similar in size to a modern credit card. The broadcast featured Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover delivering an encouraging speech from Washington, followed by entertainment from an AT&T studio performance in Whippany, New Jersey.

The entertainment portion included a vaudeville comic who began with Irish jokes and controversially transitioned to blackface for "darky" jokes. This early broadcast not only marked the beginning of public interest in television but also highlighted the culture of the time, including the problematic use of racial stereotypes in entertainment.