W. S. Halstead, 84; Radio, TV Pioneer
Broadcasting pioneer William S. Halstead, 84, died in Woodland Hills Wednesday of pneumonia.
Halstead, whose development of multiplex was credited with leading to stereophonic broadcasting, was the recipient of the Popov Medal at the International Electronics Conference in Moscow in 1959, the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers Award for his invention of stereo sound, the Haverford College Life Achievement Award and, most recently, the Lee DeForest Award of the Radio Club of America.
In 1940 he installed the first highway advisory radio system on the George Washington Bridge between New York and New Jersey, which led to the installation in 1972 of the LAX roadside system that gives approaching motorists airline flight information.
After the war Halstead urged the Japanese Diet to adopt American TV standards and under his guidance the country created the Nippon Television Network.
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