was founded in 1937 by Mr. P. Ray Swank and began operations in St. Louis as a “portable projection service.” This period predated such familiar audio visual standards as color film, 35mm slides, audio tape and television. The company’s projection service consisted of providing short entertainment films and slides, the motion picture projector, sound system and lantern slide projector. These services, along with the equipment operators, were provided at locations requested by customers, where they were conducting meetings. These local organizations, civic groups, schools and churches relied on Swank to “set up and run the show” for their entertainment.

As audio visual technologies and needs progressed and became more complicated, so did the need for new tools of providing education and information, particularly to another growing industry: the business of conducting meetings and conventions by professional associations, trade and manufacturing organizations at hotels and meeting sites across the country. As a result, Swank rapidly developed a national reputation among business and industry leaders for quality service and reliable equipment.

Swank then expanded these rental services into premier hotels and meeting facilities around the country, what is now known as the “in-house” audio visual service concept, for these hotels and meeting facilities.