With apologies to Edgar Allan Poe, here is a Draper TecVision version of “The Raven” for your Halloween enjoyment (hopefully)!

The RAVen

Once upon a late day dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious catalog of AV lore—

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my office door.

“’Tis some salesperson,” I muttered, “tapping at my office door—

Only this and nothing more.”

Back to my catalogs turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

“Perhaps,” said I, “since they knocked twice, someone’s in need of screen advice;

I’ll answer then, I’ll roll the dice, perhaps a myst’ry to explore—

Yes, perhaps there I’ll find a simple AV myst’ry to explore;—

Something simple, nothing more!”

Far open wide I flung the door, and, then with much scratch and splutter,

In there pounced a nervous RAVen, integrator from days of yore;

Not the least obeisance to me; not a minute stopped or stayed she;

But, rushing in without a plea, slammed behind her my office door—

Perched upon a chair of plastic after slamming my office door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then in detail deep and gainly, came the story told so plainly,

Of venues with a screen too small—of straining eyes made red and sore;

Nothing farther then she uttered—barely e’en a breath she fluttered—

Till I scarcely more than muttered “TecVision goes where none before—

And I say this ne’er too lightly, to one whose hopes have flown before.”

The RAVen said “Nevermore.”

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

“Doubtless,” said I, “this news will shock you unto your very core

Of light issues, it is master, TecVision brooks no Disaster!”

Another thing I ran past her—“wide viewing cones are not a chore”—

And as I spoke I could tell by her mien that unlike before

I’d not hear—“nevermore.”

“RAVen!” said I, “listen to me!—TecVision’s the answer for thee!

By the way, I failed to mention—another diff’rence from before—

No more mass production methods, each formula is perfected,

Each screen, one by one, is tested, for quality not seen before—

Have thou e’er heard such a tale, in all the years of AV lore?”

Quoth the RAVen “Nevermore.”

“One word more before our parting: “uniformity,” imparting

quality images throughout the room! These screens you will adore!

These surfaces can be black backed, or perf’rated, so behind stacked

Can speakers be! No, not abstract these advantages unlooked for!

TecVision’s advantages bring projection value unhoped for!”

Quoth the RAVen “Well, evermore!”

And the RAVen, never flitting, unremitting, remained sitting

For minutes on the plastic seat, stood, then walked to my office door;

And her eyes had all the gleaming of an AV Pro who’s dreaming.

Stood I in the lamp-light streaming, with my hand upon the door:

“And will you again forget projection?” asked I, hand on the door.

Quoth the RAVen—“nevermore!”