Welcome to the Golden Bell 50th Anniversary Exhibition news channel. Let’s check out the development of the prestigious award over the past half century.
TV studio setup such as lighting and sound recording equipment, as well as a stand-by program director, can all be seen at the exhibition. Visitors can experience what it feels like to be a news anchor.
DJ Liu
Hello everyone, I am DJ Liu, a student from National Chung Hsing University.
Reporting on TV and hosting a radio show are very different skills. This special exhibition allows visitors to experience the real work environment of a professional TV and recording studio.
DJ Liu
I feel awesome [to be on air]. However, I’ve come to realize that it’s hard to be a DJ, because you have to talk a lot. Normally I can talk a lot with friends, but it becomes difficult to talk in front of machines. But, I did quite well this time and learned a lot from it.
Valuable TV, radio relics on display
The 50th anniversary exhibition presents the history and development of the Golden Bell Awards, using the voice and imagery of key figures from Taiwan’s radio and TV industry.
The displayed relics include old radios and TV sets that were borrowed from broadcasting stations around the country. For example, this antique microphone, a treasure of the Radio Taiwan International, has witnessed several historical moments.
Curator Yang Hsiao-yi
The RTI microphone is the one used by the late President Chiang Kai-shek to pay his respects to R.O.C. Founding Father Sun Yat-sen, in which Chiang announced the R.O.C.’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan.
For this exhibition, we have pestered many radio stations around the island in order to gather such antiques.
I would like to express my gratitude to institutes such as the National Science and Technology Museum, National Radio Museum, the Taipei-based Broadcasting Corporation of China, the Radio Taiwan International, and The Central News Agency, for their assistance.
Widespread popularity of radio dramas
Radio dramas used to be a daily delight before the onset of TV shows. Radio broadcasters used simple props to create an acoustic environment that complemented the story.
The sound of footsteps across a snowy ground was created by rubbing a bag of flour.
The sound of pouring rain was simulated by the shaking of a bottle full of green beans.
The sound of frogs croaking was made by scratching two scallop shells.
Even without modern high-end equipment, those modest days created simple happiness with simple props.
Golden Bell statuette on display
Visitors can also experience what it feels like to be a star. This authentic Golden Bell statuette weighs 2 kg and stands at 39 cm. The best actors and actresses were awarded the exact same one.
Exhibition visitor Ms. Wei
It’s a rare experience. They told me that this is the same as the real ones they hand out to stars. It’s heavy and I feel awesome holding it.
From radio heyday to internet era
The Golden Bell 50th Anniversary Exhibition presents history with real items and interactive installations. Visitors can take selfies with stars and upload them on Facebook after scanning a QR code to download the app.
From the early days of radio to online social interactions, the 50-year-old Golden Bell Award is the embodiment of the history and development of broadcasting in Taiwan.