NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, Inc. GENERAL LIBRARY nbc trans vtittur " ' VOL. 5 JANUARY, 1939 NO. 1 RADIO SICNALS USED TO FORECAST WEATHER Everyone knows that KDKA, NBC station in Pittsburgh, broadcasts gov- ernment weather reports and forecasts several times a day. That's not news. But it is news that Professor Robert C. Colwell of West Virginia Univer- sity, Morgantown, uses the Pioneer broadcasting station’s radio waves to make up his own prognostications. And he claims they are 90 per cent correct. Professor Colwell, who is head of the physics department, tunes in KDKA to determine the intensity of the station’s radio wave. Back in 1925 he discovered that the signals from KDKA varied from day to night ac- cording to weather conditions. If high atmospheric pressure prevailed over both the KDKA transmitter and Mor- gantown the day and night signals were of the same intensity. But if a lower pressure area were present, the night signals were much the stronger. Knowing that high pressure areas bring fair weather and that low pres- sure areas bring stormy weather, Pro- fessor Colwell was able to forecast the weather 24 hours in advance with surprising accuracy. Supplementing this unique method of observation, Professor Colwell and Professor A. W. Friend, also of the physics de- partment, send out from the trans- mitter on top of the university chemistry building, a short pulse of radio waves one ten-millionth of a second in length, at regular intervals. These waves rebound from a layer of ether waves ap- proximately half a mile above the campus. The rebound is caught by an oscilloscope in the physics build- ing and the beam of electrons in this vacuum tube machine re- cords the height to which the waves travel before they are re- flected. If a high pressure area is directly over the experimental transmitter, the reflecting layer is lower than usual and if a low pressure area prevails it is higher than usual. Weather for the next 24 hours will be stormy or fair ac- cordingly, says Professor Colwell. THE STORY OF IMBY AND HIS CREATOR By the time you read this everybody in NBC probably will have seen Bill Eddy’s NBC calendar for 1939 made up of his famous “NBC Hall of Fame cartoons that appear in the Transmit- ter every issue. (See page 8.) These cartoons were so clever in their satire of NBC departments and their con- stituents that it was decided to have a calendar made of them for distribution among NBCites and NBC’s business associates throughout the land. But this story is about Artist Bill Eddy and that character who inhabits his cartoons. For the uninformed few, Mr. Eddy — he prefers to be called Bill — is a mem- ber of the Engineering Department in New York. He is a television engineer in charge of Video Effects. He and his two assistants suggest, conceive, invent and construct such things as animated titles and figures, miniature mechani- cal sets, studio typhoons, tornadoes, snowstorms, earthquakes, and other ec- centricities of Nature. A few of the gadgets they’ve made for television (Continued on page 3) STUDIO TOURS BEGIN IN HOLLYWOOD RADIO CITY The inner workings of Hollywood Radio City were revealed to the public for the first time when NBC inaugur- ated guided tours through the new Hollywood studio building, Sunday, January 1. Although the auditorium studios have been open to the public since the inauguration of broadcasting at Hollywood Radio City, public tours were not scheduled until construction had been completed and exhibits had been arranged. Under the direction of trained guides, visitors to Hollywood Radio City are conducted through the mammoth broadcasting plant, and shown all the details of studio operation. Tours leave the main lobby at half-hour intervals, groups of twenty persons being shown the studios and exhibits on each tour. Visitors are charged forty cents for the tour. The staff of eleven guides is headed by Walter B. Davison, formerly of Guest Relations in New York. Mr. Davison was transferred to Hollywood to train the new staff and to take charge of tour promotion. Beginning with the 200-foot long Sunset Boulevard terrace, the tour includes the four big audience studios, a control room, and the sound-proof corridors separating the studios. The basement, con- taining exhibits showing everv phase of studio and radio opera- tion. is the center of interest dur- ing the tours. Visitors look through giant portholes into the 85.000-gallon water tank that serves the air-conditioning sys- tem, and the operation of air mixers, coolers and filters is de- scribed in detail. Sound effects constitute a spe- cial display arranged for visitors. A booth containing sound effects equipment has been installed, and skilled technicians demon- strate their operation. The ABC of Radio, an exhibit showing what happens to a radio program from the time it starts into the microphone in Holly- wood Radio City until it arrives in the loudspeaker of a home radio, is included in the base- ( Continued on page 8) The main lobby of Hollywood Radio City showing Ed Trum- bull’s magnificent mural which occupies the curved wall above the Master Control Room which may be seen by visitors through a large wall of invisible glass. A genie supporting a radio receiver dominates the mural which includes scenes illusAnK.ting • the activity of broadcasting. The studio tours begin and end here. 2 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC WASHINGTON by Marian P. Gale NBC BOSTON by Jim Lee WBZ Xmas Party NBC’s annual Christmas party went over with a bang on December 23. Beginning with a gala luncheon at high noon, the afternoon progressed gaily with studio entertainments, dancing and general high jinks. All members of the Westinghouse and NBC staffs participated. General Manager John A. Holman was chairman of the matinee, assisted by Receptionist Grace Edmonds, Mil- dred Carlson of the Home Forum, and Ruth Moran, Sales Department secre- tary. John McNamara, program man- ager, had charge of entertainment. Other active instigators of the festivi- ties were Sales Manager Frank Bowes and Salesmen Babe Norris and Herb Masse. Personals Pete Green, bull-fiddlist of Rakov’s Orchestra, was married to Gail Reese, New York vocalist, on January 7. Pete, who holds a pilot’s license, took his bride on an aerial honeymoon. AAA Bob White, chief announcer, partici- pated in a ‘broadcast’ at the annual Clover Club dinner of Boston cele- brities to welcome Gov. Leverett Sal- tonstall. AAA Bob Evans, Special Events, and his wife spent Christmas at the home of Bob’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Evans, in Cleveland. AAA Arch MacDonald, Program Depart- ment, is again the recipient of a deluxe Christmas gift from an anonymous admirer. This partly compensates for the recent burning of his automobile. AAA The plush-covered and chromium- hooked barrier which guards WBZ’s control room from the foyer is a lia- bility as well as an asset in Control Operator Bob Henderson’s opinion. The hook impaled itself in Bob’s hind pocket as he was hurrying to cross the threshold. Luckily he had his over- coat with him. Alumni Greetings The NBC staff received a Christmas greeting from Brother Aelred of Gray- inoor Monastery, Garrison, N. Y. He was Aiden Redmond, former popular chief announcer of WBZ & WBZA. An- other WBZ alumnus to remember his former associates was Warren Hull, now of Hollywood. Noel! Noel! Our annual Christmas party the Saturday before the holiday was a complete success from the opening of our two-bit gift packages to some al- leged harmony from the heretofore re- served brass hats. The screaming and whooping which accompanied the opening of the gift packages was con- fined to sound-proof Studio A . . . thank goodness. Vice President Russell, Manager Berkeley, Commercial Manager Dodge and Chief Engineer Johnson took the platform at one stage of the party to sing a few bars of She’ll Be Coming ’ Round the Mountain. The party was topped off with a series of ping-pong matches and some rather odd toasts by Announcer Jim McGrath. Traffic Campaign Bill McAndrew, our news editor and director of Special Events, has been appointed a member of the Traffic Ad- visory Council by the District Com- missioners. As the result of McAn- drew’s appointment the two stations, WRC-WMAL, are conducting another intensive traffic campaign. This time the drive is to determine what the peo- ple of Washington think about the pro- posed pedestrian control regulations for the District. Public hearings on pedestrian regulations are being broadcast as well as man-in-the- street programs asking passers- by what they think on the sub- ject. Hittenmark’s 20,000 Toys Gordon Hittenmark, WRC’s Timekeeper, finished his fourth annual iocal drive for Christ- mas toys for the needy with an all-time record. A total of 20.- 000 toys were donated for his doll campaign last month. One of the most amazing things is that not more than two dozen toys were second-hand. Hitten- mark says they were sent to him from all parts of the country . . . from people who had left Washington since last year’s campaign but who still wanted to make their donation. One package of dolls was willed to Hittenmark and delivered by the Executor of the estate. . . . Two of the dolls in this year’s collection came from outstanding net- work artists . . . Walter Winchell and Tommy Dorsey. The Midshipmen were on the scene again this year for the finale. One hundred and fifty taxicabs were de- tailed to Annapolis in order to trans- port 500 “Middies” to Washington for the occasion. . . . Hittenmark told them on his early morning program that their tickets of transportation would be a doll apiece. Here and There Commercial Manager John Dodge is sailing for South America on a twenty- one day cruise on January 27th. . . . Carleton Smith is master of ceremonies of the new local RCA show which fea- tures outstanding New York radio artists each week. . . . Commercial Department awarded two fifty-dollar prizes for WRC and WMAL slogan contests. . . . The contest blanks were sent out only to advertisers and agen- cies . . . the winning slogans were “To Tell — To Sell — Use WMAL” and “WRC — First in Washington.” . . . Hilmar Baukhage of the News Depart- ment found “subbing” for Earl God- win on the Farm News broadcast to the Southeast network this month was very pleasant work . . . particularly when a listener sent him some country sausages . . . one of Baukhage’s favorite dishes. The holiday spirit prevailed on the “National Farm and Home Hour" a few days before Christmas. Lucy Alexander, of the Bureau of Economics of the De- partment of Agriculture, cooked a 13-pound turkey for the Farm and Home Hour speakers. Pictured above are, from left to right, E. J. Rowell of the Dept, of Agriculture, Announcer Edwin Rogers, Wal- lace L. Kadderley of the Department; NBC Vice President Frank M. Russell, and H. L. Shrader of the Department. JANUARY, 1939 3 KYW PHILADELPHIA byJ.A. Aull THE STORY OF IMBY AND HIS CREATOR As Engineer- Artist Bill Eddy sits before his drawing board another “NBC Hall of Fame” statue begins to take shape. ( Continued from page 1) shows are now on exhibit on the Tele- vision Tour of Radio City. And as for that creature which in- habits the cartoons, whom Bill calls Imby, it was born a long time ago — fifteen years ago to be exact — when Bill was a midshipman at Annapolis and staff artist for the Naval Academy Log. Imby went through Annapolis with Bill, but not without mishaps and close brushes with the authorities, and then, after graduation, followed him to all corners of the earth on training ships, submarines, battleships, and other naval vessels. Imby has appeared in various foreign publications — Chi- nese, Spanish, Danish and Hawaiian — - as well as making personal three- dimension appearances in wood and in plaster. When Lieutenant Eddy had to re- tire from the Navy in 1934 because of a bad ear, Imby retired with him. He has been a faithful lad, this Imby, though perhaps not a brilliant one. Strangely enough, although Imby has been with NBC more than a year, he has yet to crash television. In addition to his art work, Bill also does cpiite a bit of writing on the side. He has contributed fiction stories and articles on various subjects to national magazines. But swears that those thirty-five cent words he squanders so freely on the citation plaques are not used in his serious literary output. And that, albeit sketchily, is the story of Bill Eddy and Imby. About- Those Scoops . . . Max Jordan, NBC’s famous Con- tinental European representative, is spending a few weeks at Radio City, telling the boys how he scooped all op- position on the Munich pact and Hit- ler’s speech at Linz, and laying plans for future NBC programs from the Continent. He has had his unique pass- port (a couple of yards long and bear- ing visas from some twenty European countries) photographed for the record. Santa Claus Comes to KYW KYW climaxed the year’s activities with a huge family party on Friday, December 23, in the new auditorium studio. Every member of the staff in- cluding our Westinghouse associates were on hand with the wives and children. Three very creditable shows were given for the benefit of the kids. They were produced and written by John Thorp. Various members of the or- ganization took part. After the plays, Manager Joy made a brief curtain speech, welcomed everybody and in- troduced Santa Claus. Santa appeared with the biggest pack the children had ever seen and according to the old gent himself the heaviest he had ever car- ried. In fact, there was doubt for a time whether or not he would be able to make the stairs to the stage. Santa was in the person of Leroy Miller. In spite of the very estimable air condi- tioning in the studio Roy was practi- cally swimming in his beard by the time more than 50 children had as- sembled on the stage. When the Saint had dispersed his pack to the amusement and delight of everybody, Walter Dabney held the audience at bay while the stage was arranged for refreshments. After the first taste it was admitted by everyone that Joe Rroulx had lost none of his technique at producing just the right victuals. Spot News Bill Lang, announcer and ace news commentator, has been absent from the shop for the past two weeks as the result of a badly infected eye. He is expected back soon after this writing. AAA A1 Watton, of the Program Depart- ment, is hobbling around on a cane and looks like the old man in “Every picture tells a story.” He managed to trip on Jim Begley’s front doorstep and gave his ankle a bad twist. AAA Marie Dixon, Sales Manager Jack Hammann’s secretary, is back at her desk after an absence of several weeks with bronchial pneumonia. AAA There’s plenty of activity these days on the fifth floor of the new building. The Westinghouse engineers chipped in and bought a ping pong table while the announcers have provided a dart board. Following the Christmas Party in Studio 8H, Radio City, December 23, gifts were given away to some 300 children that were present. More than one thousand members of the NBC Family in New York witnessed a Christmas play featuring Producer Madge Tucker’s child actors and Santa Claus, played by “Jolly” Bill Steinke, shown above distributing toys. 4 NBC TRANSMITTER NAMES IN THE NEWS NEW YORK Promotions Miss Edna C. Opper, of the Presi- dent’s Office, has been named secretary to Niles Trammell, newly appointed executive vice president wdio assumed his new duties in Radio City on Janu- ary 2. Miss Opper is well versed in Company affairs, having worked for various executives in different depart- ments during her more than eleven years with NBC. She has been suc- ceeded in her former post as chief clerk in the President's Office by Theodore Van Cott from the office staff of Vice President and Chief Engineer 0. B. Hanson; and Albert Crenshaw has been transferred from the President’s Office to Engineering to replace Mr. Van Cott. Mr. Van Cott has been with the Company eleven years, of which he spent ten in Mr. Hanson’s office. AAA Roderick Mitchell of Guest Rela- tions w'as chosen last month from the members of the NBC announcing school by Supervisor Pat Kelly to fill a vacancy on the announcing staff. Mr. Mitchell turned in his guide uni- form and assumed his announcerial duties on December 21. Formerly a newspaper reporter on the West Coast, Junior Announcer Mitchell has been with NBC two years. AAA Theodore M. Thompson has been transferred from General Service to the Program Department where he is now administrative assistant to Walter G. Preston, Jr., manager of the Educational Division. A gradu- ate of Dartmouth College, Mr. Thomp- son started in the Company four years ago as a page. Subsequently, he was promoted to supervisory positions in the Guest Relations staff, transferred to the Office Services Division and then to the Personnel Office. AAA B. Wright Mallory has been pro- moted from the page staff to the In- formation Division. A graduate of Dartmouth, class of 1938, Mr. Mallory joined the NBC staff last August. In college he majored in English, sang in the Glee Club, played varsity basketball, and was pledged Psi Up- silon. Burton M. Adams has been pro- moted in the Station Relations Depart- ment, and his former clerical duties have been assigned to Thomas B. Campbell from the page staff. Mr. Adams, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, has been with NBC more than two years. He also started in Guest Relations. Mr. Campbell, who will now occupy the receptionist’s desk in Station Relations, is a graduate of Colgate University, class of ’37. Newcomers Miss Marion Jostedt, a graduate of Missouri University w7here she ma- jored in journalism, has been added to the secretarial staff in the Uegal Department, in Vice President A. L. Ashby’s office. She did legal steno- graphic work in St. Louis, her home city, before coming to Radio City. AAA Miss Margaret M. Stillman, who hails from St. Johnsbury, Vermont, has been made a regular member of the Stenographic staff. She is a gradu- ate of Boston University, class of 1936, where she was active in dramatics. Miss Stillman also has had experience as an actress in summer stock. AAA Miss Mary Lesko, formerly with the International Business Machines Cor- poration, has been engaged to replace Mrs. Dorothy Muller, who resigned from the Auditing Department. AAA Miss Lucille Claus, formerly office manager of the Rosenwald Family As- sociation in New7 York, has joined the staff of the Central Files Section in General Service. A native New Yorker and graduate of the Petersburg School in Virginia, Miss Claus was in the bro- kerage business for several years be- fore her association with the Rosen- wald Family Association. AAA John Briggs, formerly with the Con- stance Hope Associates, publicity firm, has joined the Press Division, devoting most of his time to writing special mu- sic stories. A graduate of the Univer- sity of North Carolina where he ma- jored in journalism and w7as active in dramatics with the Playmakers, Mr. Briggs studied voice at the Curtis In- stitute of Music in New7 York before going into the publicity field. He has had experience as a concert singer, and also sang over several radio stations in North Carolina, his home state. AAA Miss Thelma A. Prescott has joined the Television Program Division. A photographer, journalist, fashion ex- pert and artist, Miss Prescott will handle events and programs of interest to women and will assist in the direc- tion of programs “from the woman’s angle.” She comes to NBC from Paris, France, which has been her home for the past ten years. Miss Prescott was among the first to introduce the use of informal camera pictures of society in European centers. While abroad she contributed as a free-lance waiter to leading American magazines, worked on the Paris edition of the New York Herald and on the staff of Womens Wear Daily as feature writer and artist. From 1932 to 1938, she operated her own publicity bureau, representing American and European hotels. In connection with this work she organ- ized many important social events. Miss Prescott’s formal education in- cluded art studies at the New7 York School of Fine Arts, on scholarships in New York, Paris and Florence, Italy. She has also studied photography in Paris and music in the Philippe school in France. T ransfers Miss Marjorie Milligan, who has been pinch-hitting in various depart- ments since she came to NBC last sum- mer, is now secretary in the office of Vice President Frank E. Mason, as- sisting Miss Bessie Dodican. A gradu- ate of Wellesley College and the Miss Conklin Secretarial School, Miss Mil- ligan formerly was secretary to the president of the Davis Emergency Equipment Co., secretary to the dean of Washington Square College of New York University, and a secretary at the Rockefeller Foundation in New7 York. AAA Miss Virginia Forsman, who has been w7ith NBC a year, has been trans- ferred from Central Stenographic to the Sales Department where she has replaced Miss Alma Brohard, now in Production, as receptionist. Resignations Joseph J. Novenson, resigned from the Guest Relations staff, December 20, in order to go to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to join the announc- ing staff of Station WAIR. He was en- gaged, following an audition among the members of NBC’s announcing school, to replace Don Gardiner, also a former NBC guide, wTho left WAIR to join the NBC announcing staff in Washington, D. C. Mr. Novenson had some experience as a radio singer and announcer for WTfN, New7 York, be- fore he joined NBC last summer. An- JANUARY, 1939 other graduate of Dan Russell’s train- ing school for announcers and also a former NBC guide, Roger Von Roth is also a WAIR announcer. AAA Milton S. James resigned from the Tabulating Section of Statistical last month in order to go to Baltimore where he is now employed by the So- cial Security Board. AAA William Robotham resigned from the Mail and Messenger staff on De- cember 10 in order to join his father’s advertising agency in Hartford, Con- necticut. His resignation terminated two years with the Company. Engagements Miss Elizabeth Scott, secretary to John H. Norton, Jr., of Station Rela- tions, became engaged to Richard W. Gilbert on December 27. Mr. Gil- bert is associated with the Yorkshire Insurance Company, Ltd. Both are graduates of Bucknell University where they were members of the class of ’36. Tbe wedding date has not been set. Marriages John H. Norton, Jr., Station Rela- tions, and Miss Virginia Skeen of At- lanta, Georgia, were married at an in- formal wedding in St. Bartholomew’s Church on December 16. William Hughes, of the Lambert & Feasely Ad- vertising Agency, was best man. Mr. and Mrs. Norton went to Flori- da on their honeymoon and are now back in New York where they will make their residence. AAA Gilbert Ralston, program director of Electrical Transcription Service, and Miss Mary Katherine Hart, actress, were married in the chapel of St. Pat- rick’s Cathedral on December 20. The wedding, a small informal affair, was attended only by their immediate families. The newlyweds recently returned from their honeymoon trip and are now residing at 39 East 49th Street, New York City. AAA Lester F. Miles, studio engineer, was married to Miss Jeanne Mar- chant at the Flatbush Presbyterian Church on November 26. The new- lyweds went to Bermuda on their honeymoon and are now residing at 425 East 23rd Street, Brooklyn, where Mr. Miles, who is also a licensed psy- chologist, has resumed his part-time practice as psychology consultant. Edward J. Weille, of the air-con- ditioning staff, and Miss Eleanor Covatti, who works at Blooming- dale’s, were married at the Mount Car- mel Church in Astoria, January 2. They went to Bermuda on their honey- moon, and upon their return they plan to live in Forest Hills. Stork News Andrew Ferri, of the Mail and Mes- senger Section, is the proud father of a baby girl, Barbara Rorhlach, born on December 2. AAA John Philip Malcolm, ten pounds, was born to the George Malcolms at their home in West Islip on December 18. That made three children to whom NBC’s studio host had to play Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Miscellaneous Dr. James Rowland Angell, NBC Ed- ucational Counsellor, was recently elected president of the English- Speaking Union of the United States at the annual organization meeting of the Union’s board of directors. He assumed his duties as president of the Union on January 2. Dr. Angell, form- er president of Yale University, suc- ceeds John W. Davis. Mr. Davis, who will remain a director, was named Hon- orary President of the organization in recognition of his long period of serv- ice— seventeen years as national presi- dent. AAA Vice President John F. Royal re- 5 turned to New York in time for Christ- mas after attending the Pan-Ameri- can Conference in Lima, Peru, as an unofficial observer for RCA and NBC. During his two-week stay in Lima, Mr. Royal discussed interna- tional programs with representatives of the Latin American countries and made plans for a greater exchange of radio programs between NBC and broadcasting systems in Latin America. AAA Miss Flo Cunningham of Stations Relations left Radio City on a leave of absence on December 23. She will be gone for an indefinite period. AAA Robert M. Fraser, Photo Section of Press, has returned after a month’s ill- ness. AAA Little the worse for their mid-winter vacations, Amelia Umnitz, fashion edi- tor of the NBC Press Division at Radio City, and Leonard Braddock, manager of the Information Division, have returned to work. Braddock went down Florida way and told the home folks about the wonders of Radio City in exchange for baked yams and soft southern accents. Miss Umnitz spent the holidays with her sister in San Francisco, but flew down to Santa Anita to do a broadcast at the season’s opening of the famous racing course. She described the costumes of such well known film stars as Constance Bennett, Virginia Bruce, Gail Patrick and Bing Crosby. x This is a scoop . . . but then, why shouldn’t it be? We’re the press 8 agents for the Stagecrafters. “The Pursuit of Happiness” is at last going 8 to be produced; not by Fred Allen— not by Jack Benny — not even by 8 Charlie McCarthy — but by those dilettantes of the drama . . . those Barry- S mores of the boards . . . those Fontannes of the footlights . . . the NBC q Stagecrafters ! ^ Now we don’t like blind dates and we hate to bother you when you’re ^ reading, but what are you doing on January 19th? Or if you can’t make ^ it then, how about the 26th? And if you want to meet us in Studio 8G ^ at 8:45 P. M., shoot a memo now to Ranald MacDougall, Room 255. ^ He’s First Secretary-In-Charge-Of-Where-You’re-Going-To-Sit. h We won’t go into the cast because we think our programs are cute 8 and we want you to use them for something besides doodling during inter- 8 mission. But we have peeped into some of the rehearsals and we were q so impressed we elected ourselves Vice Presidents In-Charge-Of-Telling- ^ Everybody-How-Good-the-Show’s-Going-To-Be. . . . jS EVERYBODY — IT’S GOING TO BE GOOD! ^ 8>OOOCCCCOSOQ<»QOCC«CCC<»CG<>S<>SOOGCCCOSCCCCCCCCOOOS<>SOSOch i 6 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC HOLLYWOOD Santa Claus Don Wilson Hollywood Radio City’s first Christ- mas was a joyous one. All the departments held open house, and on December 23 Lew Frost ar- ranged for a kids party in Studio D. Santa Claus (Don \\ ilson) had a gift for every kiddie attending, and plenty of laughs were provided when he start- ed pulling out gag presents for the different employes. Some of those who attended with their youngsters were Helen Wendt, Program; Sydney Dixon, Western Divi- sion Sales Manager; Cliff Anderson, Program Traffic Manager; Floyd Caton, Sound Effects; “Bud" Miller, Guest Relations; Harry Saz, Chief Sound- man. Uninsured Pickings Imagine some pickpocket’s dismay when he opened Matt Barr’s wallet, after relieving him of it in a Christmas crowd, and found it contained an ap- plication for burglary and holdup in- surance. Barr, who writes for and edits the Daily News Letter, had been putting off applying for the insurance. The oc- curence though, speeded him into fill- ing out and sending in another blank. On With The Show Joe Parker, announcer-director, was forced to receive his visit from Santa Claus from his bed, following a Christ- mas Eve auto accident. Parker had to turn sharp- ly to avoid a car that swerved in his path. He side-swiped a telephone pole. The next day found him at the studios however, ready for his stint as direc- tor on Amos ’n’ Andy’s broadcast. by Noel Corbett house they came to was opened by an elderly lady. Seeing their plight, she rushed them into the house, sat them by a roaring fire and gave them dry coats and slippers. Then despite Rocamora’s protestations that he want- ed nothing but a telephone called her chauffeur and instructed him to get out her car. Finally, though Rocamora had ex- plained several times who they were, the lady of the house suddenly blurted out to Miss Lamour: “My, you cer- tainly resemble Dorothy Lamour. You’re very beautiful."’ Reward When Mrs. Knute Rockne visited Hollywood Radio City, Soundman Ralph Amato retrieved a charm which the widow of the famous football coach dropped from her bracelet. The gra- cious lady rewarded Amato by adding her signature to the six-by-six-foot steerhide thunder drum which Harry Saz and his boys constructed. The huge sound effect has hundreds of names of celebrities already recorded. Seein’ Snakes Carlton E. Morse, author of NBC’s One Mans Family, literally saw snakes last week. In his new home in the Hollywood Hills, the writer had a beautifully de- signed fountain built into the dining room. Following its second week of use, a couple of garter snakes made their ap- pearance in the fountain. Morse had the visitors removed in a hurry, and ordered his contractor to install a netting over the drains. When more snakes appeared despite all the pre- cautions taken, Morse grabbed the phone and called the contractor. “I’ve decided to write the fountain out of the script,” he shouted, “so come up and lake it out.” Staff Notes On December 12, Frank Dellett, Western Division Auditor, and his gang welcomed Fred Bryant to the Hollywood office. Bryant, who has been with the Company for about a year, comes from San Francisco. Bill Andrews, night manager, gave his wife a swell end table which he made during his spare time in Claud Ferrel’s shop. Andrews says the only help he got was a few words of advice from Gus Bansemer, our new carpenter. Gus, in- cidentally, is a past master in the art of constructing end tables. Ken Carpenter was greeting old friends in a big way last week when the champion basketball team from his home town, Peoria, visited Hollywood Radio City. Carpenter and Bob Waddell, Guest Relations, also of Peoria, gave the twenty-five visitors a personal tour of the new building and later were all photographed to- gether in Studio B. Quick Pix Caroline Gay, newest member of the Hollywood Press Department, was a member of the Script Divi- sion in New York for over a year . . . Noontimes find at least a dozen NBCers spotted amongst the stars at the Brown Derby . . . The world-famous restaurant is only a short block from Hollywood Radio City . . . Cecil Underwood, producer of Fibber McGee’s broad- casts, spent Christmas in Hollywood with friends and his family . . . Lew Frost spent New Year’s in San Francisco, where he attend- ed the East-West game. . . . You Ought to Be in Movies W y n n Roca in ora, a s- sistant manager of the Hollywood Artists Service, accompanied Dorothy La- mour to Gail Patrick’s party the night that bad storm hit Hollywood. On their way home they were marooned, so decided to abandon their car and start ringing doorbells. The door of the first The Main Lobby of NBC's Radio City in Hollywood. JANUARY, 1939 7 NBC CHICAGO by Lynn Brandt Xmas Parties The annual Christinas party for members and families of the NBC Chi- cago staff reached a new high for at- tendance and entertainment on Friday, December 23. Studio “A” was filled to capacity as the two-hour program began at 11:00 A.M. Entertainment included a dramatization of Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs, and Santa Claus. Annette King, staff singer, was the beautiful Snow White; Don Mc- Neill, master of ceremonies of the Breakfast Club and the NBC Jamboree, was Santa; and the dwarfs were played by child actors from various script shows on NBC. A. D. Scott, Produc- tion, directed the sketch. The announcers’ orchestra, composed of Louis Roen, Bob Brown, Dave Zim- merman, Don Dowd, Don McNeill, Norman Barry, Gene Rouse, Lynn Brandt, Fort Pearson and Charles Lyon fought through two medleys of popular tunes. One school of thought holds that this orchestra reached a new low in musical entertainment, insisting that the spontaneous applause heard at various intervals was only to drown out the confusion of macabre and un- believable harmonies emanating from the announcerial musical weapons. Other features of the program present- ed Malcolm (Uncle Mai) Claire, pop- ular children’s hour story teller; a magician; and Christmas tree gifts for all the children in attendance. A swell party, but oh — that an- nouncers’ orchestra! Good Luck A farewell party in honor of John Lagen, Reception Staff, who left on December 15 to accept a position as writer on the continuity staff of NBC affiliate station KSO of the Iowa Broadcasting System in Des Moines, was staged in the bachelor quarters of Rube Carlson, Reception Staff, Saturday, Decem- ber 17. Open house was in order. One of the most enthusiastic of the party-goers was the landlady, whose repeated visits proved her interest in the Celebration- Appointment's in Sales Kenneth Carpenter, sales man- ager of the Central Division since fUtife 1932, has been appointed sales left to manager of the Blue Network of Cleve of the Central Division, and Harry C. Kopf, with NBC since 1931, has been appointed sales manager of the Cen- tral Division. Both appointments have been made so that Mr. Carpenter can henceforth devote his entire time to the development, promotion and selling of the Blue Network. Mr. Kopf, who came to NBC from the advertising sales department of the Literary Digest magazine in November, 1931, has done an outstanding job since then in selling and supervising a large percentage of the NBC Central Division accounts. Tea-Room With Florence Moeller, Sales, as chairman, the women of NBC Chicago held another of their informal get-to- gethers on December 4 in one of Chi- cago’s famous tea-rooms. Guest of honor was Esther Ludwig, Continuity. Black-haired Esther was presented with a set of NBC chimes to commemorate her recent 10th anniversary with the Company. 5-Second Descriptions Ken Robinson, Continuity chief The world’s largest book of philo- sophy, with every third page an ad- vertisement for a new script show. Gene Rouse, Announcer The deacon who, en route to serv- ice, stops long enough to check what Claus and the Seven Dwarfs entertain the guests NBC Christmas Party in Chicago. They are, from right, Don Kraatz, Dick Holland, Joe Flannery, Towne, Bill Christy, Eugene Giesler, Jackie Har- rison and Don McNeill (Santa). happened in the 4th at Santa Anita. Ed Horstman, Senior Control Super- visor The vice-president-of-the-local-Ro- tary-Club type, Chairman of the lo- cal Community Fund drive; has the best-kept lawn on his street, and is Scoutmaster of Eagle Troop No. 1. Judith Waller, Educational Director, Central Division Joan of Arc, brandishing a text- book, leading her battalion of 15- minute educational programs into battle. Planning Board The ‘ ‘crew” of your ship when it comes in. Congratulations Studio Engineer and Mrs. Glen E. Webster are the happy parents of a baby daughter whose arrival preceded Christmas by 18 days. Sandra Lynne Webster, 6 lbs., and 9 ounces, was born on December 7, 1938. Personnel Personals Miss Esther Nilsen, Sales, is home convalescing, following a series of serious operations. Miss Nilsen is ex- pected back at her post this month. AAA Bill Rosee, Press, was recently ap- pointed to rank of Sergeant in D Bat- tery, 122nd Field Artillery of the Illinois National Guard. Past and Present Tense Many of our NBC Chicagoans began careers in other professions prior to radio. For instance, Roy Shield, director of music for the Central Division, was concert pian- ist with a national reputation. Believe it or not, Staff Singer Fran (Aunt Fanny) Allison was once a school teacher. Irma Glen, staff organist, was in vaudeville at the age of 14. Ken Fry, Special Events chief, was once sports editor of the Evening Post in Chicago. Russell Stu rges, relief control supervisor, is a former professional clam dig- ger. He dug clams at Cape Cod. Mass., for $9.00 a day, digging an average of three barrels daily. There were some 1,200 clams per barrel. So let’s see — 3,600 clams divided into $9.00 equals ? 8 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC TRANSMITTER Published for and by the employes of the National Broadcasting Company from coast to coast. VOL. 5 JANUARY, 1939 NO. 1 EDITORIAL BOARD Dom Davis Editor Carl Cannon Associate Editor George Olenslager Staff Writer Charles H. Newton, Jr. Staff Writer Charles Van Bergen Photographs Bill Eddy Staff Artist N. Y. CONTRIBUTORS Reid E. Patterson Legal Shirley Metz Publicity Address all correspondence to: NBC TRANS- MITTER, National Broadcasting Company, Room 284, RCA Building, New York, N. Y. Telephone: Circle 7-8300, Extension 220. STUDIO TOURS BEGIN IN HOLLYWOOD RADIO CITY ( Continued from page 1) ment exhibits. Diagrams, exhibits and motion pictures are combined in the display, which is explained by the guide. Plans have been made to in- clude a tube exhibit, showing in en- larged form the working interior of a radio set. Television exhibits and other technical displays also will be added to the equipment installed in the basement in the near future. Following their tour of the base- ment, visitors are shown the artists’ corridor, 300 feet long, and the non- audience studios which open from it. Construction of the NBC organ studio, which is a room within a room and is so constructed as to eliminate outside sound vibrations, is explained in detail. The studio tours terminate in the main lobby. There the operation of the master control panel is explained, and visitors are shown the huge board through its partition of invisible glass, which allows inspection without inter- ference by light reflections. SALUTE THREE NEW JUVENILE PROGRAMS Dr. James Rowland Angell and Dr. Walter Damrosch were the principal speakers at a luncheon meeting in the Rainbow Room on January 12, salut- ing the return of Ireene Wicker to the NBC networks and the premiere of three new children’s programs. The new programs are the series of Hans Christian Andersen tales, told by Paul Leyssac, Danish writer and lec- turer; Renfrew of the Mounted , con- ducted by Laurie York Erskine, and Chimney House, by Pauline Gibson, of Scholastic Magazine. NBC HALL OF FAME ( 6W»T (S Proposed NBC Statue No. 10 and Citation Plaque GENERAL SERVICE At long last our satirical nickels have hit the jack pot arul produced for our subtle vivisection the Gargantuan Service Department, an ac- tivity so colossal that frequently it transcends departmental classifica- tions completely and lists itself as an Authority. Truly the melting pot of the industry, it incorporates into its lietero- morphic framework a potpourri of activities ranging from the observa- tion, analyzation, and subsequent replacement of defunct lamp bulbs to a generous helping of impassioned effervescence at fifty- five cents a tour. So complete has this alloy become that construction and destruc- tion are both filed under * routine ’ while the embarrassing index ‘priority' has been completely removed from the redundant catalogue of the project. And so with an abashed and deferential curtsy to the distaff side, so winsomely represented in the Stenographic Section, we deliver this morsel of granite to General Service, to be moved incessantly from place to place in their untiring battle against the possibility of monot- onous environment. f AN LIAR Y, 1939 9 KDKA PITTSBURGH by Kay Barr Clarence Pettit forgot KDKA's public relations at the Christmas Party and donned a white cap and Jacket to serve punch while Mary Kenney, Press, dished out fruit cake. The “customers” pictured above, all members of the KDKA orchestra, are, from left to right, Pete Murphy, drummer; Harry Azinsky, concert master and assistant conductor, and Clement landiorio, violinist. Christmas Party Members of the KDKA staff saw themselves as their colleagues see them in two amusing features of the annual Christmas party December 23, and if any of the shoes pinched no one dared say anything about it. One two-bit gift was the price of admission and Bill Jackson, vice-presi- dent in charge of gifts, stood at the door to enforce this requirement. Of course the gadgets and jimcracks made a lot of fun as well as business for the pitchmen down the street. After Clarence Pettit, vice-president in charge of refreshments, assisted by Mary Kenney, all dolled up in a white jacket and a new permanent, had dish- ed out the punch and fruit cake, An- nouncer Bill Sutherland took the floor. Acting by and with the authority of W. B. “Mac” McGill, vice-president in charge of decorations, Sutherland made a speech in spite of much heckling, and finally got around to the unveiling of a figure described as a composite picture of all the members of the staff. It was an animated “Dopey,” with the longue, eyes and tinkle bells going full blast. All the little boys and girls played with their mechanical toys and games for a while and Sutherland again called for order. This time he was acting for Derby Sproul, vice-president in charge of entertainment, who had turned his assignment over to the announcers. Bill Beal wrote a script and the trained tonsils made the 25-minute recording which burlesqued various members of the staff from Manager Sherman Gregory down. One by one each of the targets became manager of KDKA and the sequence of scenes glimpsed the activity of the station as it might be under the dif- ferent bosses. They had to run to the year 2030 in order to get everyone into the big chair in the front office. KDKA Miscellany Sales Manager Bill Jack- son’s Christmas gift to his wife and kiddies was an ad- dition to the family home in Whitaker, near Pittsburgh. AAA Harry Azinsky, concert master of the KDKA orchestra, has been made as- sistant conductor by Maurice Spitalny, director of music. AAA Bill Beal, Continuity, was drafted by NBC in New York to handle the Amer- ican end of a trans-Atlantic tongue twister tournament. The BBC presented the London end and the program was aired on Christmas Day. AAA When Announcer Dave Garroway presents his You Don’t Say program from KDKA each Sunday evening, it is 10 A.M. Monday in Australia. Fif- teen girls in a junior high school of Queensland alw'ays listen to the broad- cast as a part of their regular school work, according to a letter from them. AAA Fred Saviers, evening guide at KDKA, spent Christmas with relatives in Ohio. Janet Ross, director of the KDKA Shopping Circle programs, entertained with a family dinner. AAA Organist Bernie Armstrong had a well-equipped work shop in his basement with which he made all sorts of things. A few weeks ago he was pushing a block of wood through the groover when it twisted and he almost lost three fingers. It scared him so badly that he sold the whole outfit of jigsaws, planers, punches, etc. “First” Broadcast Recalled When KDKA made that historic “first” broadcast, November 2, 1920. giving the world the Harding-Cox election returns, a party of 300 people assembled at the Edgewood Club and got the returns from the first loud speaker. It was one of those morning-glory horns borrowed from a phonograph and was set up by L. W. Chubb, direc- tor of the research laboratories of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufac- turing Company. Many of the same people gathered at the club last December 15 to cele- brate the anniversary and to receive from Dr. Frank Conrad, assistant chief engineer of Westinghouse, a plaque commemorating the occasion. Dr. Con- rad recalled some of the early days of radio in which he was such a promi- nent pioneer, and a special program from KDKA studios was heard as an interesting feature of the celebration. $40,000 For Milk Fund With the co-operation of the Variety Club, The Pittsburgh Press and station WWSW, KDKA presented four radio benefit programs for the Pittsburgh Milk Fund last month. All work and all talent were on the volunteer basis and the programs ran until about 4 A.M. each night. Pledges totaled about $20,000 and William Zeuger, Sr., who has a birth- day at Christmas time, matched the pledges dollar for dollar, so the boys and girls in 31 charitable institutions will have $40,000 worth of milk dur- ing the coming year. An eight-foot figure of "Dopey” (with apologies to Walt Disney) was described at the KDKA Christmas Party as "the composite picture of all members of the staff.” W. B. Magi II, right, was the Dizzy Walt who conceived and created the animated character. Walter Horn, Sales, and Manager Sherman D. Gregory are at the left. NBC SAN FRANCISCO The Associated Radio Employes of NBC in San Francisco gave their second annual party at the Hotel Sir Frances Drake on December 16. These pictures, showing members of the NBC staff, were taken at the party. John Ribbe, chairman of the A.R.E. in San Francisco, dancing with Sylvia Jal- bert of Audience Mail. This is the committee that made the Christmas Party one of the Jolliest events of the season at NBC San Fran- cisco. They are Salesman Ray Rhodes (left), Kay Bow- man of Continuity Accept- ance, and Announcer Archie Presby. Photographer Bob Crawford dropped his camera to dance with Edwarda Pickett of Press. Two proud fathers receive intimate apparel for little tots at the Xmas party. They are Field Engineer Guy Cassidy (left) and Pro- ducer Arnold Marquis. It was a first-born son for each. Wanda Woodward, head of Au- dience Mail, greeted the guests to the A.R.E. party at the door. Doing the Lambeth Walk — Helen Stewart, of the Edu- cational Division, and Cliff Engle, m.c. of “Good Morning T onite.” The camera caught Program Manager Glenn Dolberg (left) and Press Manager Milton Samuel radiating Joviality. JANUARY, 1939 11 NBC SAN FRANCISCO °\ With tyoitSl (loAJLUUj, by Louise Landis Charlie Me Saves Dav \ \ (lefLOSiteA. in New rl/osJz Because Charlie McCarthy got there in time (by courtesy of the NBC Audience Mail Division) a San Francisco wed- ding took place as scheduled, although it makes one shudder to think what might have happened had not Edgar Bergen’s little friend been available. An excited feminine voice called the San Francisco listening post a few days ago, demanding to know where a dummy of the world’s most famous dummy could be obtained. Audience Mail’s Wanda Woodward wondered why, and the voice explained that a crisis was impending. It seemed that she was to be a guest at a wedding where the bride and groom were ardent McCarthy fans. Their friends had obtained a facsimile of Bergen’s bad boy, and had planned to place it, right after the ceremony, on the church steps with a sheaf of telegrams for the bride and groom. But just half an hour before the wedding some heartless burglar had absconded with the dummy. The maid of honor was delaying the ceremony by heroic means, pretending her car had broken down, while the caller was trying to replace the missing dummy. Wanda went into action (Audience Mail folks are used to having anything happen), and the wedding proceeded, with a pasteboard Charlie (contributed by Wanda’s young son) smiling cheerily at the church door. Engaged Romance is still hovering over NBC . . . and now it’s Marian Hanson, Mr. Peck’s secretary, who is wearing a diamond ring. The lucky man is Frank MacQuarrie, young Oakland real estate man. The wedding will he in the Fall. Additions to NBC Family The stork visited the Arnold Marquis home Sunday after- noon, December 18, while Director Marquis was producing the Professor Puzzlewit program, and then popped in at the Guy Cassidy (Field Engineer) residence at one a.m. the following morning, bringing William Harrison Cassidy, six pounds and fourteen ounces. The Marquis heir is still unnamed as we go to press, but he hoasts bright blue eyes, more hair than his poppa, and a permanent Christmas tree of his own. “Sandy” Pratt, father of the outdoor Christmas tree movement, was a guest on the Puzzlewit program, and heard the whispered announcement “It’s a boy!” So he presented the proud father with a beauti- ful, tiny evergreen which has been planted outside the Mar- quis house. Traffic’s Xmas Tree Speaking of trees, nomination for NBC’s most unique one goes to the Traffic Department. Teletype ticker-tape festooned it and added a lacy appearance to the boughs . . . Traffic Department also wins nomination for tops in thought- fulness as embodied in its Anita Gilmore . . . who didn’t forget her pals of Press Department days but arrived bright and early the day before Christmas with cheer for her old gang. Favored by Sanfa NBC fared well at the annual Christmas party of the San Francisco advertising club. Chester Blomsness and Lola Camaches, of the Sales Department, both won prizes. Bloms- ness came back with some nifty cocktail glasses, his loot from the drawing, and Lola won an arm-full of paints, floor wax and similar things to help her shine for ’39. Want to get on the air? This is how some of the guides and pages did it — without even rehearsing — Following the Christmas Party in <511, the boys went back to their locker room to carry on with Christmas carols . . . Guest Relations Manager Thurman heard them, liked their singing, and suggested they go up to the sixth floor to seren- ade Major Lohr . . . the blue uniforms went up en masse and sang outside the Prexy’s office . . . Major Lohr came out to see what it was all about . . . and shook hands all around, wishing the boys a Merry Christmas. From there the troubadors went down to the Program and Sales Departments where some of the executives joined in the singing . . . Sustaining Program Manager Phillips Carlin heard them . . . said they were good enough for the air . . . and the next thing they knew they were in Studio 3D singing carols in the middle of Dorothy Dreslin’s program . . . while Announcer Dan Russell explained to his listeners that what they were hearing was an impromptu feature . . . unrehearsed . . . unclocked . . . unleashed by Christmas spirit. * * * Richard A. Haggerty, music copyist, spends his time com- muting between his office in New York and Boston where he conducts the Boston Chamber String Orchestra, a non-profit organization of professional musicians . . . He started playing the violin at the age of four . . . and by the time he was fourteen he had to join the musicians’ union because he was getting around so much, playing with various orchestras. He’s a graduate of Boston University where he organized and led a campus orchestra . . . and he has an M.A. in music from Harvard. Musician Haggerty at one time studied with Shed- lovsky. He does and has done many musical arrangements for NBC programs since he became associated with the Company last spring. * * * The electric foot oscillator in the guides and pages’ locker room has massaged many a tired foot since Guest Relations Manager Thurman had it installed a few weeks ago . . . we tried it and liked it although our feet are a bit ticklish . . . it’s almost as much fun as having your back rubbed. Guides Earl Wrightson and Lewis Julian made quite a hit when they sang on Amanda Snow’s program on Sunday afternoon . . . Earl, a baritone with lots of personality in his voice, used to sing over Baltimore stations before coming to Radio City . . . Tenor Julian recently returned to the guide staff after spending many months on the road and in night clubs, sing- ing with Russ Morgan’s band . . . All of which reminds us that there’s quite a bit of uncovered talent in NBC . . . according to the names that are coming in for the forth- coming NBC Employes Show. . . . Christmas cards to be long remembered were those we got from Kay Barr, publicity chief for KDKA, whose greet- ings were hand painted on a large piece of flat cork, and from Harold Bisson of Publicity, whose card was shaped like a television receiver with a revolving card which showed, through an opening, pictures of his family and a Christmas greeting. Mr. and Mrs. Parks Johnson (Vox Pop) enter- tained several pages and guides, who were unable to go home for Christmas, with a turkey dinner on December 25. Quartermaster Hans Ruthe is still trying to figure it out ... he found on one of the Guest Relations uniforms a brass button inscribed, “Paterson, N. J., Police. ” 12 NBC TRANSMITTER Gordon V. Olmstead The NBC Transmitter salutes these members of the National Broadcasting Company who, this month, complete their tenth year with the Company. Cordon V. Olmstead World traveler, sportsman, athlete and student. We write of Gordon V. Olmstead, Supervisor of Communica- tions of the NBC Central Division. Leaving school at Marquette, Michigan, in 1922 to satisfy a de- sire for travel, Mr. Olmstead was not to be disap- pointed. Jobs passed in quick review as lum- berjack, wheat- harvest hand, and construction laborer. In fact, anything to procure expenses for further adventuring was acceptable. In 1924, Mr. Olmstead accompanied a midshipman’s cruise to Europe. When he returned to Marquette, which was prior to his twentieth birthday, he had visited 37 of the United States, and nine foreign countries. His radio communications career has extended from 1923 to the present day, and includes six years of service with the U.S.S. New York, the United States Navy radio station at Guanta- namo Bay, Cuba, and the 9th Naval District at Great Lakes, Illinois. He entered the NBC Communications De- partment on January 1, 1929, and has been in charge of the department for five years. Mr. Olmstead today is more than active in his pursuit of extra-curricular knowledge. “Navy student courses, in addition to my routine radio studies,” Mr. Olm- stead says, “covered school subjects I had passed up as a boy in order to see the world. I did a bit of cramming then, which now has become somewhat of a habit.” Last August, Mr. Olmstead was graduated by the Sheldon School of Chicago where he studied human en- gineering, business philosophy, busi- ness building, sales psychology, sales- manship and other subjects. “Ole,” as he is nicknamed by his friends, is an expert rifleman, oarsman, and boxer. He is married and has a three-year-old son named Ned. Eleanor Anted Eleanor Antell is of medium height, has light brown hair and a fair- northern complexion. She speaks quietly and very directly. In NBC New York she acts as secretary to R. L. Porrier of Artists Service, for whom she has worked almost continually since she first entered NBC in January 28, 1929. Born in Brook- lyn, Miss Antell went through her early school ing there before at- tending Barnard College from where she was graduated in 1926. When she entered NBC three years later as secretary to Sam Ross, the Artists Service Bureau was a fairly new addi- tion to full-fledged departments at the old 711 offices. Soon after this, Mr. Porrier was transferred from the Au- diting Department to take charge of Accounting for Artists Service, and Miss Antell opened a new desk in his office where she has since stayed. Besides her regular work there, she has proved very helpful in an unoffi- cial lingual capacity. For not only does she profess a knowledge of French (her major in Barnard), but she knows Swedish, Norwegian, Fin- nish, and Danish! So the puzzling press-clippings and song titles which enlarge the dossiers of many of the Artists Service’s Scandinavian artists become lucid and English through Miss Antell’s translations. Miss Antell thinks that any ordinary business, after NBC, should prove very dull. Carl Lorenz Carl Lorenz, Hollywood Studio En- gineer who celebrated his 10th year with NBC Janu- ary 14, has been a member of the RCA Family since 1926. He got his early training as an operator in the Radiomarine, a subsidiary of RCA. Mr. Lorenz was born in Germany carl Lorenz Eleanor Antell and educated at the City School in Hanover. In 1922 he came to the United States. Soon after, he became interested in radio and took a course at the old Marconi Institute which is now known as the Radio Institute of America. During that time he worked for the New York Edison Company. Mr. Lorenz has been married since 1932, and he and his wife, Louise, have one son, Carl, who recently celebrated his fifth birthday. The Lorenz’ live in Pasadena where they settled when he was transferred here 14 months ago from New York. Carl says he has just two hobbies, his work and fresh-water fishing. Charles Butler Charlie Butler always knew what he wanted to be in radio — when only 14 years old he had already won his government radio amateur operator’s license. This was back in 1919. Two years later he received his certificate as a first class First Grade Commercial Radio operator, a government certifi- cate which authorized him to operate the radio apparatus of sea-going liners. But he did not actually go to sea, until 1922, when he became an opera- tor for RCA. During the intervening years, he studied at the Massachusetts Radio & Telegraph School in Boston. Then in December, 1924, he joined the engineering staff of WTAG, Worcester, Massachusetts. A short time later, WTAG became one of the first ten stations on the Red Network, and it was then that Butler decided he’d like to be with NBC. He resigned from WTAG, therefore, and came to New York in December, 1928, to join NBC as a studio engineer. In October, 1930, he was transferred to the NBC Central Division, where he has remained since. Charlie, one of the most popular engineers in the Central Division, is rarely seen without his briar pipe. He is mar- ried and the fa- ther of two fine youngsters, Bruce 4, and Marilyn, 2. Charles Butler JANUARY, 1939 13 Marshall W. Rife On a certain day back in 1920 when first he heard the roar of a 2KW rotary gap at a friend’s amateur spark trans- mitter, Marshall W. Rife, Field Super- visor of the NBC Central Division, dialed himself into an interesting radio career. That same day he drew from the bank his entire life savings to buy a one-tube variometer receiver and a Ford spark coil. He continued with radio as a hobby at the St. John’s Military Academy in Delafields, Wis- consin; as a radio club member, and as operator of the Signal Corps station at the school. Following his graduation in 1925, he obtained his first commer- cial license and promptly pro- ceeded to New Orleans to accept a position as radio operator on a tramp freighter plying Gulf, Ca- ribbean and South American ports. Two years of oceanic travel included stop-overs on both coasts of the United States and South America at Trinidad, Cuba, Australia, India, Ceylon, Egypt and Arabia. An ambition to secure a commercial extra-first class operator’s license brought him back to the Dodges Radio School at Valparaiso, Indiana, to study additional requirements of the Ameri- can Morse Code. While in school Mr. Rife learned that the NBC Chicago of- fice was searching for additional opera- tors. A quick decision and an interview gained him a position with NBC in January, 1929. Duties as an operator in those days included studio, field, control and maintenance work. Two years later, he was placed in charge of the Field Engineering group. Marshall Rife is married, has one son, John, age 6. Marshall W. Rife Edward Nolen Engineer Edward Nolen, of the Audio Facilities Group, recently re- turned to New York from NBC Holly- wood in time to spend Christmas and to celebrate his tenth NBC anniversary in the East. He went to Hollywood last spring to assist Robert Schuetz in the supervision of the installation of broadcast equipment in the new studios. Since he joined the Maintenance Division of the Engineering Depart- ment in New York ten years ago, Mr. Nolen has accomplished many con- struction jobs for NBC. His first big assignment was the installation of new studio equipment in the old 711 Fifth Avenue headquarters for condenser microphones which were put into use in 1929. The following year he was sent to Chicago to supervise the con- struction and installation of broadcast equipment in the NBC studios in the Merchandise Mart. Later, he did some work for the old experimental televi- sion transmitters near Times Square. In 1933, as Radio City was rising out of the ground to its fullest height, Mr. Nolen supervised the immediate installation of broadcast equip- ment in the Mu- sic Hall and Cen- ter Theatre, and then he super- vised the installa- tion of the studio control equip- ment for the new NBC headquar- ters. Two years later he went to Washington, D. C., for the installation of equipment of the new NBC studios in the Capital. At that time he also did a lot of work on the experimental television studios in New York. Thus, Engineer Nolen has been kept on the go, keeping up with NBC’s rapid growth and progress. A graduate of the Ridge Technical School in Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, he studied engi- neering at the Wentworth Institute in Boston, and years later he continued his studies in engineering at New York University where he has completed three years of a six-year course. Ted, as he is known by his associates, is married and has a baby boy, Michael, who will be two years old in June. Since he was born, little Michael has travelled about 15,000 miles, following his father from one NBC job to an- other. Marjorie G. Geddes Ten years ago Miss Marjorie Grace Geddes gave up a clerical position with the telephone company in New York in order to join NBC. She had made up her mind before she made the change that it was what she wanted to do, and with characteris- tic perseverance she has served NBC faithfully ever since. She is equally devoted Marjorie Geddes Edward Nolen to her department, General Service, on whose Audience Mail stafl she has served during her decade with the Company. Though we still know her as Miss Geddes, she is now, and has been for more than two years, Mrs. Albert Knivel of Elmhurst, Long Island. Her husband is associated with the City of New York’s Department of Purchase. They were married in Elmhurst where both their families live. Born and schooled in Elmhurst, where she attended Newtown High School, Miss Geddes went to business school before going out into the busi- ness world. Once here at NBC she had to go back to business school for a week to learn how to operate key punching machines which the Com- pany had acquired to record fan mail as to the state and county of its origin, its date, the program referred to, the station that received the mail, and whether or not the contents of the mail is favorable or unfavorable to the pro- gram. Anthony j. Forino On his birthday, January 27, in 1928, Anthony J. Forino applied for a job at the NBC headquarters, then located at 711 Fifth Avenue, and the following day he was called to report for work in the Mail Room where, for a year, he served in various capacities until he was transferred to the Central Supply and Receiving Section. He is now assistant to the supervisor of the Central Supply and Receiving Section, Walter Hawes. During his nine years in the “Supply Room,” which handles practically everything that is not mailed that comes and goes from NBC, Tony Forino says that they have handled a lot of strange things. Once, they received a duck sent to Joe Penner by a generous fan. At another lime they had to take care of several crates full of snakes that were used on a program. In addition to handling the shipping traffic in and out of NBC, Mr. Forino and his associates keep our of- fices constantly supplied with “anything from paper clips to filing cabinets." Born and rear- ed in New York, Mr. Forino is now married, lives downtown, and goes fishing at Long Branch, N. J., on warm weekends. He was m arried almost three years ago — on April 25, 1936. {Coni, next page) Anthony J. Forino 14 NBC TRANSMITTER TENTH ANNIVERSARY CHIMES ( Continued from page 13) Milton W. Kitchen Milton W. Kitchen, being born in a family of builders, was brought up and educated to be an architect but after finishing his edu- cation in that field he changed h is mi n d a n d went to work for an insurance company. He did stenographic and clerical work for two years, then decided he didn’t like office work so he got a job at the telephone com- pany in New York as an inside line man. He worked at night and studied telegraphy in the daytime. His next job was with Postal Telegraph. Heeding the loud calls of a techni- cal school which offered a “future in radio, he enrolled for a course in radio telegraphy. From the radio school and Postal Telegraph, Mr. Kitchen went to sea as radio operator. The last of almost five years at sea was spent as a member of the RCA Radiomarine staff. On January 8, 1929, he joined NBC in New York. After serving seven years, alternately as studio engineer and field engineer, he was appointed to the Master Control Room in Radio City where he now' devotes most of his time to the transmission section. Elmer F. Mead During NBC’s formative years its staff was recruited from various re- lated fields, and. particularly in the Engineering De- partment, it w'as necessary to em- ploy experienced men in addition to the appren- tices. Elmer F. Mead was among those who came to NBC to form the Engineering staff. Having had three years’ experience in the installa- tion and repair department of the tele- phone company in New York, he w?as engaged for the Maintenance Division. One of his first big jobs was the supervision of the installation of NBC equipment in the old studio in the New Amsterdam Theatre on Times Square. In 1932 he was sent to Wash- ington, D. C., to assist in the installa- tion of new audio equipment for the WRC transmitter. The Master Control Board and its intricate switching system in Radio City is proudly pointed out to visitors by NBC, and Mr. Mead is equally proud of the working model he made of the system before it was installed. He also supervised the installation of the relay system in the NBC headquar- ters. In 1936, he went back to Washing- ton to work on the new studios there. KOA DENVER by Mack Switzer KOA Xmas Party The entire KOA staff frolicked again this yuletide in its annual Christmas party held in the Client’s audition room on December 24th. Preparations by a secret committee had been going on for several days prior to the event and hints now and then concerning activities whetted an already growing interest. Certainly no one was let down when the doors were finally opened. Follow- ing a luncheon, each member of the staff received an automatic pencil with the words KOA-NBC engraved on it and other presents, including gardenias for the ladies. Station Manager Robert G. Owen was singled out for a special Xmas gift from the entire staff — a pair of high power binoculars. Clarence Moore, program manager, acted as Master of Ceremonies and Santa Claus. Although approximately 55 of the station’s staff were present “broadcast- ing continued as usual.” The trans- mitter boys who were so unfortunate as to be on duty were represented to Santa Claus Moore by proxies. Personal News Marie Gregoire, Secretary to Man- ager Owen, proved herself KOA’s champion knitter, if not one of the most generous of gift givers. Marie knitted an afghan as a Christmas gift that contained 99,234 stitches. The afghan is 82 inches square, green and rust in color, is valued at $100 and required six weeks to make. (Price not based on Wage and Hour Law Stan- dard.) AAA Santa Claus and the Stork collabo- rated on Xmas day and brought a five- and-a-half-pound girl to Engineer and Mrs. Carl Schuknecht. AAA Joe Rohrer, assistant control super- visor, and Mrs. Rohrer entertained the entire KOA staff at a pre-Christmas party given at their home Sunday, December 18. AAA Betty Stulla (wife of Bill Stulla of Continuity) suffered lacerations of the face and head, and several fractured ribs as the result of an automobile ac- cident on an icv mountain road while returning from a skating party in Evergreen, Colorado. Her recovery was rapid, however, and after a few days in bed, she was able to return to her writing. Members of the NBC staff in Denver got together for their annual Christmas Party in the KOA studios on December 24th. JANUARY, 1939 15 WGY SCHENECTADY by W. T. Meenam Xmas At WCY WGY’s first Christmas in its hand- some studio building was celebrated with a huge party and the personal ap- pearance of Santa Claus. It was two nights before Christmas when all the staff members not actually engaged in broadcasting, along with several General Electric executives and some of the artists and agency representatives, assembled in the foyer about a beautifully trimmed giant Christmas tree that was brilliantly aglow with the reflected light of several floods. Santa Claus was Maurice Randall, a member of the original WGY Player group of 1922 and annually WGY’s official air Santa Claus. There was a gift for everyone on the tree and no one knew the donor. Accompanying the gift was a brief original jingle which had to be read before anyone could open his present. Tommy Mar- tin, announcer, wrote many of the jingles, displaying admirable talent for rhyming, along with a fine disregard for meter. In addition to the more modest gifts which were mostly of a humorous nature, presentations from the staff were made to Manager Kolin Hager, W. J. Purcell and A. O. Coggeshall. When all the others had received and gracefully acknowledged their presents, Jack Keane, chief usher, was given a wedding present. Jack, formerly with NBC New York Guest Relations, was married in New York, December 26, to Miss Winifred O’Rourke. The fine new kitchen studio afforded an incomparable base of operations for the caterer who served refresh- ments. In the same kitchen Irma Leinke, of the Home Economics Depart- ment of WGY, demonstrated that she knows how to cook as well as how to read recipes by delivering a variety of lollipops which were used to decorate the tree for a little while. Among the General Electric guests were E. 0. Shreve, vice-president, Chester H. Lang, manager of pub- licity, W. V. B. Van Dyck, assist- ant to President of International Gen- eral Electric Company, Boyd W. Bullock, assistant manager of pub- licity, C. D. Wagoner, manager, news bureau, Walter Reagles, art director, Henry Laning, Emerson Markham, John Sheehan and Eugene Darling- ton. The Christmas party was pronounced a great success. The committee of ar- rangements consisted of Caroline Osan and John Howe. Names In The News Manager Kolin Hager was the guest of Albany Kiwanians during the Christmas season. Mr. Hager spoke of radio’s contribution to world peace during the Czecho-Slovakian crisis and traced many of the developments which have set the stage for broadcasting’s role in the future as a powerful factor and helpful servant of all mankind. AAA Three of WGY’s announcers were able to “get home” for Christmas: Howard Tupper to Canton, N. Y., Bob Mahaney to Utica, and Rad- cliffe Hall to Erie, Pa. AAA We are pleased to welcome three new members to the WGY staff. John Carnell in the Accounting Department, Miss Catherine Anglesey at the re- ception desk, and Janies Connolly, file clerk. John Carnell is a Dartmouth graduate, formerly with NBC in New York, Miss Anglesey was with the Schenec- tady office of the New York Telephone Co., and Mr. Connolly was formerly connected with the Swift Packing Company at Albany. AAA Mrs. Lawrence Pike, who is WGY’s house- hold expert under the name of Betty Lennox, was surprised and de- lighted to note her pic- ture in Fortune maga- zine in a group of such air celebrities a- Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Don Ameche, etc. It was the advertisement of the J. Walter Thomp- son Agency. AAA WGY’s staff wishes a very Happy New Year to the Trans- mitter staff and — of course — to the whole NBC Family. ALEX ROBB TO ARTISTS SERVICE IN HOLLYWOOD Don E. Gilman, vice president in charge of the Western Division, has an- nounced the appointment of Alex Robb as manager of the Hollywood Artists Service, effective January 1. Mr. Robb succeeds Dema Harshbarger who re- signed recently. The appointment of Wynn Rocamora as assistant to the manager was an- nounced at the same time by Mr. Gil- man. Mr. Robb, who for eight years was manager of Artists Service in Chicago, has had long experience in the theatre and in radio. Previous to joining NBC, he was personal representative for Amos ’n’ Andy. Miss Harshbarger established Artists Service in Hollywood three and one- half years ago. She had been identified with artists and concert work for over twenty-six years and had been plan- ning retirement for more than a year. Mr. Rocamora joined NBC a year ago, coming from the concert field. He was associated with L. E. Behymer in Los Angeles and prior to that with sev- eral eastern radio stations as manager. Every member of NBC is a reporter of his newsmagazine — NBC Transmitter. Santa Claus (Maurice Randall) comes to the WGY Christ- mas Party. Pictured above in the foyer of the new WGY studio building in Schenectady are members of the staff and several guests from General Electric. WGY's manager, Kolin Hager, is to the right of Santa Claus. 16 NBC TRANSMITTER WTAM Staff Party For Pribble Christmas Week at WTAM was a memorable one for the entire staff. Tuesday night at the Hotel Allerton, the staff gave a dinner party in honor of Manager Vernon H. Pribble on his fourth anniversary at WTAM. Two highlights of the party were satirical sketches of the staff mem- bers by Funsters Stubby Gordon, Charles Avellone, John Disbrow and Tommy Carter, and the surprise presentation of a life-sized oil portrait of Manager Pribble painted by Sales- man-Artist Russel “Nick”’ Carter. The “ribbing” sketches, which were done in costume on a small stage, have become an important feature of the annual staff parties given Mr. Pribble. And the four actors and writers got a big hand this year for their best show so far. Artist Carter had worked on his por- trait of Mr. Pribble since last October, using a photograph as a guide. But the unveiling of the painting by Office Manager Paul Hummell came as a complete surprise to everyone, includ- ing Mr. Pribble. Carter, a veteran WTAM salesman and former adver- tising executive, spends his leisure time doing water colors, oil paintings, pastels and wood carvings. Several of his paintings are to be hung in the an- nual Cleveland Society of Artists show. On behalf of the staff. Announcer Tom Manning presented Mr. Pribble with a Browning automatic shotgun, This oil portrait of Vernon H. Pribble, painted by WTAM Sales- man Russell Car- ter, was present, ed to him at the party given by the staff to Mr. Prib- ble on his fourth anniversary with the station. with case, as an addition to his hunt- ing equipment. WTAM’s Xmas Party Manager Pribble gave the staff his annual Christmas party later in the week in Studio A. Musician Charley Avellone, dressed as Santa Claus, dis- tributed presents among the staff; Or- ganist Dorothy Crandall and Harpist Nell Steck gave a recital of Christmas music, and Jane Weaver, director of women’s activities, gave a reading of Bird’s Christmas Carol. Highlight of the party was the dra- matic moment when Mr. Pribble and Program Director Hal Metzger, both garbed in chef outfits, marched into the studio carrying a roasted pig on a large platter tray with the flames danc- ing up around the porky in true fes- tive style. Messrs. Pribble and Metzger carried out their duties as chefs by carving the meat and serving it with the assistance of Betty and Bunny Pribble, the two young daughters of WTAM’s manager. Metzger’s Wedding Program Director Metzger was mar- ried on Christmas Day to Margaret Funnell in Sandusky, Ohio. The bride is the sister of Mildred Funnell, secre- tary to Mr. Pribble. The ceremony took place in the home of the bride, with Mildred Funnell as matron of honor, and her husband Clyde Goodman, as best man. The couple left for a honey- moon in Canada. Gene and Glenn Gene and Glenn, NBC comedy team of Chicago and formerly with WTAM, visited their friends here Christmas week, following a benefit show given in Akron for the Akron Beacon Jour- nal. Tom Manning, who was the an- nouncer for the team while it was heard over WTAM, acted as master of ceremonies for the Akron theater show. Kaleidoscope Private notes from Edith Wheeler’s Little Black Book: Announcer George Hatrick turning up with his annual ankle injury . . . Stenographer Helen Forsythe getting Christmas greetings borne by a live turtle with the words “Merry Christmas” written on the shell . . . May Draxell, supervisor of the Stenographic Department, pass- ing around Christmas cookies she baked in cooking school . . . Nell Steck holding open house at her home Christmas Day . . . Musician Tommy Carter buying a Scottie pup from En- gineer Tommy Cox for a present to his two children. . . . CLEVELAND by Bob Dailey A burlesque during WTAM’s party in honor of Manager Vernon H. Pribble’s fourth anniversary with the station. They are Musician Charley Avellone as Office Man- ager Paul Hummell (at desk), Engineer John Disbrow as Program Director Hal Metzger, and Assistant Musical Director Stubby Gordon in the long skirt. Members of the WTAM staff were entertained by Manager Pribble at a Christmas Party given in Studio A during the holidays. Mr. Pribble, assisted by Program Manager Metzger (in chef's cap), is shown above carving a roasted pig at the gay occasion. Mr. Pribble’s daughters, Betty and Bunny, are also pictured, waiting in line for the eats. This and other pictures of the party were taken by John Disbrow, operations supervisor of the engineering staff. ^ rssssr NBC TRANSMI T T ER * VOL. 5 FEBRUARY, 1939 NO. 2 10,000 SEE FIRST RCA-NBC ELECTRONIC TELEVISION DEMONSTRATIONS IN WASHINGTON LONDON AND NEW YORK MAYORS HEARD IN UNIQUE BROADCAST The first transatlantic broadcast in which two persons conversed while riding in moving vehicles was staged Mayor La Guardia . . . Hello London . . . bv the National Broadcasting Com- pany, and the British Broadcasting Corporation on January 24, when Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia of New' York City, traveling from his home to the City Hall by automobile, and the Lord Mayor of London, Major Sir Frank Henry Bowater, riding in his state coach from the Mansion House to the City Guildhall, conversed for fifteen minutes while listeners on both sides of the Atlantic tuned in. The unique broadcast was heard as clearlv as local programs. The program started at 9:45 in the morning. New York time, (2:45 p.m.. London time) when the two mayors greeted each other. Major Bowater de- scribed his plans for the rest of the day and then asked Mayor La Guardia what his plans were. Mayor La Guardia re- sponded with his schedule for the da\ and then asked the Lord Mayor about the weather in London, explaining that it was snowing in New York. Follow- ing their discussion of the weather, while their vehicles brought them nearer to their respective destinations. Mayor La Guardia raised his voice and gave a boost for his city’s forthcoming fair by inviting the Lord Mayor of ( Continued on page 8) With America’s first telemobile unit, RCA and NBC gave the first showing of RCA’s all-electronic television sys- tem in Washington, I). C., in a series of demonstrations which were attended by more than ten thousand people, in- cluding prominent members of Wash- ington officialdom, from January 27 to February 3. During the seven-day period, pro- grams, composed of side-walk inter- views and outdoor views of well-known buildings and monuments, including the Washington monument and the Congressional Library, were broadcast by the RCA-NBC telemobile unit, while televiewers watched the demonstrations through RCA receivers in the National Press Club. Although it rained fre- quently during the demonstrations, all those who witnessed them were greatly impressed with the clarity of the pic- tures and the progress that has been made by RCA and NBC in television. The demonstrations aroused great popular interest at the Capital. The Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives, William B. Bankhead, opened the first demonstration on Jan- uary 27 with a short speech which, in addition to his image, was broadcast from the Mall, near the Agriculture Building, to the receivers at the Press Club, about half a mile away. Gordon Hittenmark, NBC announcer in Wash- ington, interviewed him afterwards and asked him what effect he thought tele- vising Congress might have on its mem- bers. Mr. Bankhead replied: “Well, some of them might have to take their feet off the i r chairs and straighten up a little.” Sam Rayburn, majority leader of the House of Representatives; Joseph W. Martin, Jr., minority leader, and Representative Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts, followed Mr. Bankhead before the Iconoscope of the television camera. Other Washington notables, including Frank R. McNinch, chairman of the Federal Communications Com- mission. were televised on succeeding days. Because of the weather, many of the interviews had to be conducted un- der umbrellas and a battery of lights. Those who were invited to the dem- onstrations in the Press Club included cabinet officers, members of Congress, diplomats, government officials and representatives of business, educational, religious and engineering groups. In- vitations and arrangements for local facilities were handled by Frank E. ( Continued on page 1 1 I NBC Photo by Sydney Desfor Announcer Bill Crago poses with a bevy of schoolgirls for the television camera during a recent RCA-NBC television demonstration in Washington, D. C. NBC Engineer Alfred E. Jackson is cameraman. 2 NBC TRANSMITTER WHO’S WHO IN THE NBC NETWORKS “He it was that first gave to the law the air of a science. He found it a skeleton, and clothed it with life, colour, and com- plexion; he em- braced the cold statue, and by his touch it grew in- to youth, health, and beauty.” Thus wrote Lord Avonmore of Sir William Black- stone: and thus may one speak of a. l. Ashby A. L. Ashby to- day when speaking of the law as it ap- plies to radio broadcasting in the United States. Since he joined the Na- tional Broadcasting Company ten years ago, Vice-President and General Coun- sel Ashby has guided NBC through the narrow and uncertain paths of the law. He led the baby company by the hand when it was learning to walk; he helped to give it strong legs on which to stand firmly and with which to carry its ever growing load of public respon- sibilities. Whenever any important question arises in the broadcasting field today the industry seeks his counsel and advice. His genial disposition makes it easy for NBC officials to dis- cuss company problems with him. Not only has he guided NBC in the law but he also has made many recom- mendations for drafting laws for th^ new industry. Ten years ago he cau- tioned the law-makers and said: “It is sound practice in fundamental law affectmg business and people to make haste slowly. This practice can- not be too highly commended. Ex- perience in a given field should first he crystallized over a period of time. When sound experience suggests the legal protection that is needed, then laws should he enacted. Think of the chaos that would result today if this practice had not been followed as il- lustrated by the uniform laws in force covering negotiable instruments, sales, etc. To this radio is no exception. Cau- tion now in legal enactments will safe- guard the future value of radio.” Early this month the members of the Legal Department in Radio City gave a dinner in honor of Judge Ashby on the occasion of his tenth anniver- sary with NBC. It was attended by all of the resident members of his staff as well as several former associates of his department. A. L. Ashby came to NBC from the Westinghouse Electric and Manufactur- ing Company for which he was assist- ant general attorney for eighteen years, handling among other important mat- ters, all radio cases of the firm and its associated companies. While with Westinghouse, Mr. Ashby also acted as head of the law department of the School of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh for fifteen years. His teachings there included corporation finance, and several of his former students today are regarded as authorities on the subject by the bond houses that employ them. A. L. Ashby was born in Michigan. After attending the public schools he went to Olivet College from which he was graduated in 1908. In college he was active in athletics, won honors in oratory, managed the glee club, sang in the college quartet, and distinguished himself on the campus by balancing the budget of his fraternity. Phi Alpha Pi, which was $25,000 in the hole when he joined it. It was this accom- plishment in college finance that later led to his association with Westing- house, when a contemporary fraternity brother, John J. Jackson, general at- torney for the firm, remembered him and his financial astuteness and execu- tive ability when Westinghouse was re- organizing its legal staff. From Olivet. Mr. Ashby went to New York University to study law. For two successive years he was president of his class at N. Y. U., and of his legal fra- ternity, Phi Delta Phi. He was gradu- ated in 1910 with high honors, and then he studied for another year for a doc- tor’s degree. While still in college and law school, Mr. Ashby spent his summers managing a popular resort hotel in Fort Huron, Michigan. His first job after leaving college was as teacher at Prospect Heights School for Boys in Brooklyn, where he spent three years during which time he studied law. Then he took a position at the New York University as acting secretary of the School of Commerce. It was at that time that Westinghouse, through John J. Jackson, general attorney, asked him to help organize its Legal Department. During his eighteen years with West- inghouse he gained fame as a leading corporation counsel and was granted a full professorship in finance and law7 CROUPS FORMED TO STUDY NBC DEPARTMENTS A number of members of the Gen- eral Service Department in New York have, during the past few weeks, formed study groups to learn about the functions of different departments of the Company and other matters con- cerning the radio industry. With the co-operation of the Personnel Office, these groups have acquired authorita- tive books on the subjects they are studying. Last month the study groups w'ere addressed by two authorities in their respective fields in the industry. The lecturers were Lewis H. Titterton, man- ager of the Script Division, who spoke on the development of radio drama, and Carl Menzer, director of WSUI. radio station of the State University of Iowa, who spoke on the procedure of obtaining a station license from the Federal Communications Commission. Mr. Menzer is at present in Radio City, studying network operation under a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship. The study groups are planning to have more lecturers, particularly ex- ecutives of NBC, who may help them in their studies. They also are plan- ning to do research work in various departments. Employes wishing to join these groups may apply to the Person- nel Office for assistance. by the University of Pittsburgh. He was on the board of directors of sev- eral banks and industries in Pitts- burgh during his many years in that city, where he was a leader in civic affairs. A man of wide interests and of boundless energy, Judge Ashby is to- day a member of many legal, economic, fraternal and social organizations. Among other things, he is a trustee of his alma mater, Olivet College, a di- rector of the New York County Law- yers’ Association, as well as being chairman of its Committees on Com- munications and Meetings. He is also a director of NBC’s Civic Concerts Service, Inc., and Artists Service Inc., of Massachusetts. Mr. Ashby is ad- mitted to practice before many Com- missions and before many Courts, in- cluding the Supreme Court of the United States. A. L. Ashby is married and has two children. John Lee. 20. and Marjory Lee. 16. His home is in Bronxville. where he is also active in community affairs, devoting much of his spare time to welfare projects. FEBRUARY, 1939 3 NBC SAN FRANCISCO by Louise Landis No discord in this marriage as you can see from the picture. They are newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hegelund. The groom is a member of the production staff in San Francisco and the bride was, until her mar- riage in November, with NBC Hollywood; and before that she was in the Program Traffic Department in San Francisco. Guest Speakers Lloyd E. Yoder, KPO-KGO manager, and Sales Manager William B. Ryan addressed 120 Jesuit priests and schol- astics of Alma College at a dinner re- cently held in the college, where the two NBC executives were guests of honor. Mr. \ oder discussed the Shrine East-West football game, the annual grid classic given for the benefit of the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Chil- dren and answered questions on foot- ball from the audience. Mr. Yoder was an All-American star, and played in the East-West game of 1927, which brought him to San Francisco and ultimately to NBC. Mr. Ryan talked on the social phases of radio broadcasting, and took part in the general discussion on public speak- ing as a means of communication adaptable for religious teaching. Transferred to Hollywood NBC San Franciscans transferred to Hollywood last month were Kathryn Har ris of Accounting and Charles B. Brown, Sales Promotion manager, who left with sheafs of good wishes from San Francisco. Robert J. McAnd rews has succeeded Mr. Brown as manager of Sales Pro- motion in San Francisco. Salute to The Fair Every station in the San Francisco Bay area joined NBC on January IB to salute the Golden Gate International Exposition, due to open just a month from that date. Nine stations were linked with KPO and KGO to release the program originating in the NBC studios. It is believed to be the first time that all the Bay stations were thus united. Staff Notes Two NBCites who started 1939 in the hospital are back at their desks, both recovering from appendicitis. They are Oscar Berg, Maintenance Supervisor, and Byron Mills, editor of Continuity Acceptance. * * * If NBC listeners noted an especially cheery tone in the voice of Bob Ander- sen “Your KPO Radio Reporter'’ the other morning, they were right . . . how would YOU feel if you had just been notified the ticket you had in your pocket had won a $500 prize? Bob wasted no time deciding what to do with it . . . the Andersen automobile is all his, now. * * * NBC and RCA Manufacturing Com- pany share a pair of identical twins be- tween them. NBC’s twin is Marie Good- win, acting secretary to KPO-KGO Manager Yoder, and RCA’s is her sister, Margaret Goodwin. They’re real twins, too; in person or on the tele- phone they resemble each other so closely that even Mrs. Goodwin can’t tell them apart. STARS STOW AWAY ON STUDIO TOUR During a recent tour of the NBC studios in Hollywood Radio City, Guide Miles Bohm Auer started out with a party of 20 and ended up with 25 people. Guide Auer, who incident- ally is no relation to Mischa, but who did go to school with the actor in New York, says that the original members of the party got their 40 cents worth because the five people who joined the group while going through the artists hall were none other than Claudette Colbert, Dorothy Lamour, Don Ame- che, Robert Armbruster and Wynn Rocamora. TWO ADDITIONS RAISE NBC STATIONS TO 168 The addition of two stations — one in January and the other early this month — has increased the number of NBC affiliates to 168. The recent ad- ditions are WBCM. Bay City, Michi- gan, which will serve as a supplemen- tary station to the Basic Blue Network; and KVOA, Tucson, Arizona, which was linked to the NBC networks on February 5 as a full-time station which will be available to either Blue or Red Network advertisers. NBC engineers in San Francisco receive instructions in first aid and artificial respiration from Maurice Connevy of the Employers Liability Assurance Corporation. Pictured above are Don Hall working on George Deewing, under the eye of Mr. Connevy. Looking on. from left to right, are; George Greaves, Dan Williams, Tommy Watson, Ed Parkhurst, Lee Holm, Gordon Morrison, George McElwain and Ben Palmer. 4 NBC TRANSMITTER NAMES IN THE NEWS NEW YORK Promotions The resignation of Mrs. Louise Finch and Norman Ward from the traffic sec- tion of Electrical Transcription Service last month resulted in various person- nel changes in the department. Daniel E. Schmidt III has been promoted from clerk and office boy to the position re- signed by Mrs. Finch, and Miss Marian Stuart, of Central Stenographic, was chosen to replace Norman Ward, who resigned in order to accept a position with the recording division of RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc., in New York City. John F. Becker, from the page staff, is taking over Mr. Schmidt’s for- mer duties. Mr. Schmidt, who has been in Elec- trical Transcription Service a year, was formerly with the Mail Room staff. Miss Stuart, a graduate of the College of William and Mary, was associated with the Mountain Side Hospital and the Board of Education in Montclair, N. J., her home town, before she came to NBC in December. John F. Becker joined the page force last fall, after spending the summer as writer and di- rector of a weekly half-hour script show broadcast over Station KBB in his home town, Dubuque, Iowa. He at- tended Columbia College in Dubuque where he earned an A. B. degree in three years, graduating with high honors. Following his graduation from college, he attended the School of Jour- nalism at Columbia University, New York, from which he was graduated with a master’s degree. In addition to his radio experience, he has had some experience in summer stock companies as an actor and director. While in college he wrote two full-length plays which were produced by the students’ drama group. AAA Mrs. Rae Hogrefe, who joined the Stenographic staff last October, has been appointed secretary to Miss Martha McGrew of the President’s Office. A graduate of Carnegie Tech. Mrs. Hogrefe was associated with the Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh before she came to Radio City. She hails from Chadron, Nebraska. Newcomers Carol Roehrs, formerly of Rockefel- ler Center, Inc., has been made a regu- lar member of the Stenographic staff. She is a recent graduate of the Drake Business School in New York. She was with Rockefeller Center, Inc., three years, during which she worked in vari- ous departments. Miss Roehrs is a stu- dent of horticulture, which is her chief hobby. AAA Scott W. Biggs and Harlow F. Dean have joined the staff of field represen- tatives in Civic Concert Service. Their first assignment has taken them both to New England. Mr. Biggs was formerly associated with Snellenburg and Co., Philadel- phia, as promotion display director. He was with the Snellenburg Co. seven years, and previous to that he was as- sociated with Stern Brothers, New York, in the same capacity. Harlow F. Dean comes to NBC with experience in promotion and hotel work. He is a graduate of the Univer- sity of Kentucky. AAA Miss Mildred Gillies, a new member of the Stenographic staff, is acting as secretary to Samuel Chotzinoff, music consultant, whose new office is in Room 409. A graduate of Simmons College, Boston, Miss Gillies comes to NBC with secretarial experience in the ad- vertising departments of various com- panies in Boston and New York. She is well versed in music, having studied the piano and violin for many years. AAA Miss Ann Nielsen, of Central Steno- graphic, is in the Legal Department, acting as secretary to Henry Ladner, in the absence of Miss Agnes Locherer. who took a leave of absence in order to heal a broken leg suffered from a severe fall while skiing. Miss Nielsen, who came to NBC last September, was formerly associated with an advertising agency in New York, and before that she was secretary for a year to Dr. Walter G. Cady, radio inventor, of the faculty of Wesleyan University. She is a graduate of Pratt Institute. T ransfers Miss Margaret L. Moore has been transferred from Stenographic to the Cashier’s Office in the Treasurer’s De- partment. Formerly of the Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, N. Y., Miss Moore came to NBC last Decem- ber. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where she was a member of the Mortar Board, a women’s club, and The Mirror, dramatic society. Fol- lowing her graduation with the class of 1935, she attended the Moser Business College in Chicago, after which she took a position as secretary in the Di- vinity School of the University of Chi- cago. AAA Scriptwriter Ranald MacDougall has been transferred from Electrical Tran- scription Service to the Script Division to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of James H. Hill, who left NBC in order to go back to his home in Los Angeles. G. Thornton Steil, from the Music Division, has succeeded Mr. MacDougall in Electrical Tran- scription. Mr. MacDougall, who has been with the Company almost two years, started as a mimeograph operator. Since he came to NBC some of his scripts have been produced on the air and he has written some serial plays which are now doing the rounds. Mr. Steil, a graduate of Trinity College in Hart- ford, Connecticut, who has had con- siderable experience as a pianist, writer, announcer, bandleader, and program director on various radio sta- tions, has been with NBC since last spring, when he joined the page staff. AAA Miss Betty Homann, who joined the Stenographic staff last November, has been transferred to Electrical Tran- scription Service to replace Miss Luciel Myers, who resigned from the Com- pany in order to accept a position with the World’s Fair as secretary to one of the directors. Miss Homann is from Chicago, where she was secretary to one of the executives of Needham, Louis and Brorby, advertising agency. She was graduated from the Univer- sity of Illinois in 1934. AAA Lewis Julian has been transferred from Guest Relations to the staff of the Music Library. He returned to NBC recently after an absence of al- most two years during which he sang with Russ Morgan’s orchestra in New \ork hotels and on the road. He also has been featured on several NBC sus- taining programs. He first came to NBC three years ago. after finishing his college education during which he studied music. AAA Gerald A. Vernon, of the Statistical Division, who has been doing research work in the Sales Department during the past six months, has been officially transferred to the Sales staff, where he will continue doing research work un- der the supervision of John M. Greene. FEBRUARY, 1939 Gordon G. Vanderwarker was trans- ferred from the Statistical Division to the Sales Department, February 1, to act as assistant to Charles Rynd, who is in charge of the Sales Service Sec- tion of the Eastern Division Sales De- partment. Formerly associated with R. H. Macy, Inc., Mr. Vanderwarker came to NBC a year ago as a member of the page staff. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University. Engagement's The engagement of Miss Frances Goldacker, secretary to Local Sales Manager Maurice M. Boyd, to Charles H. Ott of Philadelphia, was recently announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Goldacker of 81-20 Kent Road, Jamaica Estates. The wed- ding date has not been set. Miss Goldacker, who has been with NBC almost a year, attended German- town High School and the Taylor High School in Philadelphia and Heffley’s and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She is a member of the Hollis (Long Island) Junior League. Mr. Ott at- tended the University of Pennsylvania and is now associated with the Roberts and Mander Stove Co., Philadelphia. AAA Miss Florence E. Schwarzer, of the Photo Section in Press, recently be- came engaged to Carl L. Plock. The engagement was announced at an after- noon party at the home of her parents in Woodlawn, New York. No date has been set for the wedding but Miss Schwarzer said that it will probably be in the spring. Mr. Plock is associated with the Royal Livermore Insurance Companies. AAA The engagement of Miss Helen Eliza- beth Thomas, who joined the Interna- tional Division five months ago, to Boies E. Whitcomb of Buffalo, was an- nounced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Thomas of 26 East 91st Street, New York City, on December 28. The wedding is planned for early June. Miss Thomas was educated abroad and at the Spence School in New York. She also attended the Fermata School in South Carolina and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts of New York. She is an accomplished musician. She handles French corres- pondence in the NBC International Division. Mr. Whitcomb, a graduate of the Juilliard School, is organist of St. Luke’s Church. Marriages Miss Winifred Ross of the Traffic Department was married to James E. Hill at the Winfield Reformed Church, Long Island, on December 30, at 8:00 p.m. Only the immediate families were present at the wedding ceremony which was followed by a reception at the home of the bride’s parents in Jackson Heights. AAA Miss Elizabeth Morris of the Legal Department was married to Thomas J. Marshall of Boston at the Central Pres- byterian Church in New York City on February 4. They sailed for Bermuda on the Monarch of Bermuda that same day. Upon their return they will reside at 1160 Fifth Avenue. The bridegroom is associated with the New York office of the Chase Brass and Copper Co. Stork News H. Weston Conant, Sound Effects, announced the birth of a daughter in his family on January 23. Her name is Joyce Elizabeth and she is the sec- ond offspring in the Conant family. The elder is a boy. AAA A girl was born to the George Wat- kins’s, according to recent reports re- ceived by their friends in Radio City. Mrs. Watkins, the former Miss Evelyne McKibbon, was formerly with Civic- Concert Service, and Mr. Watkins is also an ex-member of NBC. Miscellaneous Carl Cannon, instructor of studio and television guides in Radio City, ad- dressed a recent meeting of the Buck- nell Alumni Association of New York in Town Hall. Mr. Cannon spoke on television as it is presented to visitors in Radio City who take the NBC Tele- vision Tour. Following his short speech, he answered questions from the assembly for almost an hour. He was invited to make a return appearance. AAA Charles Anderson, former KOA an- nouncer, returned from London last month after completing his studies at the British Broadcasting Corporation under the Rockefeller Foundation Ra- dio Fellowship system. He concen- trated his studies on educational pro- grams, in preparation of working with the Mountain Radio Conference, an organization in Denver set up to create educational programs. Mr. Anderson has returned to Denver to rejoin the KOA staff. AAA Victor van der Linde, Sales, is at the Harkness Pavilion in Medical Cen- 5 ter, where he is recovering from an operation on his hip which was injured several months ago when he fell while howling. AAA Four members of the NBC staff in New York are included in the list of radio experts who will give lectures during a new study course to be of- fered the evening session of the Col- lege of the City of New York which will deal with the Theory and Prac- tice of Radio Broadcasting. First on the list of NBC experts who will address the C. C. N. Y. evening students is J. Harrison Hartley, assist- ant director of special events. The others who will lecture are Bill Stern, who will talk on sports coverage and sports announcing; Edward Padula, program director in the Television Di- vision, and Robert M. Morris, develop- ment engineer, who will speak on tele- vision. AAA Mrs. Enid Beaupre of Sales Promo- tion has returned to her office after a month’s absence due to illness. AAA Dwight G. Wallace has been tempo- rarily relieved from his duties as per- sonnel manager by President Lohr so that he may devote his time to the RCA exhibit in the forthcoming World’s Fair of New York. He and Joseph D'Agostino, of Engineering, who is also working on the exhibit, are estab- lished in a provisional office on the fourth floor of the studio section. Miss Joyce Harris, assistant person- nel manager, is in charge of the Per- sonnel Office during Mr. Wallace’s ab- sence. AAA During Scriptwriter Elizabeth Todd’s illness last month, her serial, Peables Takes Charge, which is heard five times a week on the Blue Network, was off the air for two weeks. The program was resumed when she returned to her office in the Script Division. AAA Vice-President and Mrs. Frank E. Mason sailed for a West Indies cruise on February 3. AAA Leonard Braddock. manager of the Information Division, recentlv returned from a trip to NBC Chicago where he spent several days, assisting the Pub- licity Department in th° o nnn' ition of the new Information DivLio-i ‘n the Merchandise Mart. 6 NBC TRANSMITTER WCY SCHENECTADY by W. T. Meenam EXECUTIVE CHANCES IN CENTRAL DIVISION The appoint- ment of C. L. Menser as pro- gram manager of the NBC Central Division, effec- tive immediately, was announced last month by Sidney N. Strotz, acting manager Sidney N. Strotz Qf the Central Division. Mr. Menser succeeds Mr. Strotz in the post of program manager. Jules Herbuveaux, formerly assistant pro- duction manager, succeeds Mr. Menser as production manager, and Wynn Wright, formerly a member of the pro- duction staff, becomes assistant pro- duction manager. Mr. Strotz, who became acting man- ager of the Central Division with the departure of Niles Trammell for New York to assume his new post of execu- tive vice president of NBC, has been Program and Art- ists Service man- ager of the Cen- tral Division since 1933, when he joined the Com- pany. A native of Chicago, Mr. Strotz attended St. John’s Mili- tary Academy and Cornell Uni- c. l. Menser versity, leaving college to serve in the 326th Battalion Tank Corps during the World War. After the war, he was employed by the Automobile Supply Company, first as “order taker” and successively in higher positions until he became vice president. He later became vice presi- dent of the Wrap-Rite Corporation. In 1928, he organized the Chicago Sta- dium Corporation and became secre- tary and treasurer of the company, which built and operated the largest indoor arena in the country. He became president of the Corpora- tion in 1930. As president of the Stadium, he pro- moted almost every form of en- tertainment from championship Jules Herbuveaux fights to circuses, (Cont. on p. 1) WCY Conquers Lightning WGY’s 625-foot vertical antenna, which successfully withstood lightning flashes throughout the summer of 1938 was caught napping last Sunday, dur- ing a freak blizzard. At 11:40 in the morning, darkness settled down on the countryside. There was a single flash of lightning and a terrific clash of thunder — one flash and one clash — and then came the snow pushed by a 60- mile-an-hour gale. That single light- ning flash made a direct hit on the antenna. Bob Millham of our South Schenectady engineering staff was on duty. He heard a crash back of the 500,000-watt transmitter and imme- diately pushed the button that brought the emergency unit into service. Mill- ham discovered that the current meter was on fire, but strangely enough the broadcast service continued, though at noticeably reduced volume, because the flame acted as a conductor. In eleven seconds the main transmitter was off the air and the emergency equipment in service. Not a word or a note of music was lost. In seven minutes the main transmitter was back in service. Hager On Round Table Kolin Hager, WGY’s manager, met with leading educators of New York State recently to discuss the Empire State Round Table of the Air, a weekly half-hour educational broadcast car- ried by WGY. At the meeting were the presidents of five colleges, a member of the Board of Regents, the Commis- sioner of Education of the State, the president of the New York State Con- gress of Parents and Teachers and supervisors of adult education of the State Education Department. Each week, during the half-hour broadcasts international, national, and state prob- lems are discussed pro and con by competent authorities. At the conclu- sion of the formal discussion questions are invited from the audience in the Union College Chapel where the broad- cast originates. Ice Fishing While some of WGY’s staff are de- voting their spare time to such winter activities as skiing, skating and bowl- ing, a little group of technical men has become devotees of ice fishing. Howard Wheeler, Peter Narkon, Hor- ton Mosher and Ray Strong of the control staff and Announcer Philip Brook have all become ice cutters in their quest for fresh fish. Most of their fishing has been on Willis Lake, Lake Cossayuna and Lake Champlain. Their “tip-ups” have snared Northern and Wall-eye pike, pickerel and perch. Not many, they admit, but enough to re- ward them for their efforts. Skiing Partners Bill Purcell, chief engineer, and Lowell Thomas have been skiing again. Incidentally, Mr. Thomas broadcast a Sunoco program from Cannon Moun- tain up near Franconia, New Hamp- shire. The skiing partnership of engi- neer and commentator began a few weeks ago when Bill was assigned to handle engineering details in a Thomas pick-up at Lake Placid. Now it ap- pears that Bill has become the winter- remote-engineer for Sunoco programs. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, there was little snow on Cannon Moun- tain and all the skiing was confined to a forty-acre pasture. A week before, Purcell, who is trying to get himself out of the novice class, undertook to come down an Adirondack peak at Speculator. He was making pretty good time on an icy surface when he came to an area uncovered by snow. The forward progress of the skiis ended but Bill continued for a couple of hundred feet, face down and feet up. His face still shows a few minor scratches from his inverted slide. Personalities A daughter, Joyce Dana, was born January 24 to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sayre. Mr. Sayre is station engineer of WGY. AAA The Whistles, captained by John Howe of Sales, are leading in WGY’s bowling league, as of January 21. It’s a one game lead with the Faders and Ripples tied for second. Howard Tup- per, of the announcing staff is display- ing great improvement. Starting last season as an inexperienced bowler he has now 151 average for the season. AAA Betty King Donahue, Sales, has be- come a skiing addict and spends every Saturday and Sunday, weather willing, on the Adirondack slopes. AAA Wilbur Morrison, of the News De- partment, finding Plattsburg too far away for week-end visits, has induced his father and mother to take up their home in Schenectady for the winter. FEBRUARY, 1939 7 NBC CHICAGO by Lynn Brandt Newly appointed Executive Vice President Niles Trammell (right) smiles as Acting Manager Sidney N. Strotz presents him with gifts from the Chicago staff as he pre- pares to leave the Merchandise Mart for Radio City, New York. New Names, Addresses and Titles Miss Marge Niess has been appointed supervisor of the Information Division in Press, and Mrs. Viola Olden is now supervisor of Audience Mail, succeed- ing Miss Niess. Miss Beth Huffman has been trans- ferred from Central Stenographic to the Information Division. Miss Laura Skidmore has been engaged to replace Miss Huffman in Central Stenographic. Miss Gertrude Ashfield is a new- comer in Audience Mail. Newcomers to the Production staff are Roy Win- sor, formerly of WCCO, St. Paul, Min- nesota, and Harold Bean, who is well- known in radio circles in Chicago. Miss Helen O’Connor, formerly of Program, is now secretary to Sidney Strotz, acting manager of the Central Division. Miss Isabelle Cooney is now in the Program Department as secre- tary to C. L. Menser, recently ap- pointed program manager. Miss Marge Kerr has resigned from Press to join the Tom Fizdale publicity firm in New York. Marge is the wife of Phil Davis, prominent orchestra leader. Farewell Luncheon to Trammell When Niles Trammell left NBC Chi- cago early last month to assume his new duties in New York as executive vice-president of NBC, the Chicago staff gave him a farewell luncheon. As farewell gifts, he was presented with two traveling cases and a brief case. The larger case was marked, “Niles Trammell, Chicago”; the smaller, “Niles Trammell, New York”; and the matching brief case was stamped, “Niles Trammell, Hollywood.” The presentations were made by Sidney Strotz, acting manager of the Central Division. Super Salesman Reese Jack Reese, an enterprising member of the Mail Room Staff who is now convalescing from an appendectomy, earned $25.00 while lying on his hack in the hospital immediately following his operation; and thereby reduced the cost of his operation by that sum. It seems that the surgeon who performed the operation found an appendix which was five times larger than normal. News of the discovery soon hrou ght every doctor attached to the hospital staff to the scene to view the anatomi- cal phenomena. Proving that men of science are not immune to the virus of commercialization, one of the disciples of Hippocrates made a bid for the Gargantuan appendix. Though just out of the ether. Jack went into a huddle with the medico and emerged with $25.00. So if you still have your appendix you'd better have it X-rayed and ap- praised immediately. Maybe there’s gold in them thar anatomies. Revelations Did You Know . . . that Studio En- gineer Larry Dutton once worked in a night club in Cairo, Egypt? . . . that Announcer Les Griffith got a billiard table as a gift from his wife? . . . that Field Engineer Jim Thornberry is an expert movie cameraman, and that he and his colleague, Frank Schnepper, are experimenting with a new film pro- cessing? . . . that Announcers Bob Brown and Louis Roen have bought boats and joined the NBC Navy on the Great Lakes? . . . that Boh Kendall of Artists Service used to sell real estate? . . . that Soundman Don Mihan, in addition to putting in a full day’s work as sound technician, is studying law and is about to take his bar exams, and is financial adviser to several well- known radio personalities? . . . and that a boy, Julian, was born to the Ed Stockmars last month? Named Artists Service Manager James L. Stilton, formerly of NBC in New York and more recently New York representative of James L. Saphier, artists’ agency, has been ap- pointed manager of Artists Service in the Central Division. His appoint- ment becomes effective February 15. He succeeds Alex Robb who was re- EXECUTIVE CHANCES IN CENTRAL DIVISION (Continued from page 6) indoor football games and ice carni- vals. He brought Sonja Henie to this country for her first exhibition tour. C. L. Menser came to NBC in 1929, joining the production staff in New York after spending a year studying the theatre in Europe. While directing programs in New York in 1930, he brought the Victor series to the air. This was the first program to present standard stage plays and featured stage stars. Mr. Menser also brought the Goldbergs and the Vic and Sade serial to the air. When he came to Chicago, the NBC Chicago studios originated three dramatic broadcasts a week. The Central Division studios now originate more dramatic broadcasts than any other point in America. Before entering radio, Mr. Menser acted and directed on the legitimate stage and served as head of the drama- tic departments of the University of Utah and of Knox College, respec lively. He holds degrees from Heidel- berg College and the University of Michigan. Jules Herbuveaux, who left McGill University to join the Navy during the World War, was a widely known or- chestra leader from 1920 until 1931. He conducted the orchestra on the sec- , ond program over KYW in 1921, and he conducted the first NBC broadcast from Chicago in 1927. He recorded for Brunswick for ten years, and was a producer for the Keith-Orpheum cir- cuit in 1924 and 1925. Associated with radio since 1921, he was a musical director of the Central Division in 1930. Leaving the Company, he re- turned in 1933 as a member of the production staff and became assistant production manager in 1936. Wynn Wright entered radio at WWJ in 1930 as a director. He came to NBC for five months in 1934 as a director, but returned to WWJ to become pro- gram manager of that station. He re- turned to the Central Division again last Summer. cently made manager of Artists Service in Hollywood. Mr. Stirton was with NBC New York from 1929 to 1937. He started in the Company as a messenger in the Mail Room where he stayed a year before he was promoted to Artists Service as a clerk and typist. His progress in that department was rapid and when he resigned from NBC in 1937 to join the Saphier agency he was a talent repre- sentative. 8 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC TRANSMITTER Published for and by the employes of the National Broadeasting Company from eoast to eoast. VOL. 5 FEBRUARY, 1939 NO. 2 EDITORIAL BOARD Dom Davis Editor Caul Cannon Associate Editor George Olenslagkh Staff W riter Charles H. Newton, Jr. Staff Writer Bill Eddy Staff Artist Charles Van Bergen Photographs N. Y. CONTRIBUTORS Reid E. Patterson Legal Address all correspondence to: NBC Trans- mitter. National Broadcasting Company. Room 284. RCA Building, New York. N. Y. Telephone: Circle 7-8300. Extension 220. LONDON AND NEW YORK MAYORS HEARD ON NBC ( Continued from page 1) London to come and visit the New York World’s Fair. A. A. Schechter, director of News and Special Events, who was in direct charge of the New York broadcast, rod ■ in the Mayor s car. Fred Bate, NBC representative in London, described to the American radio audience the Lord Mayor’s exit from Mansion House and the colorful and medieval pageantry of the scene — the Lord Mayor’s tra- ditional robe of office, his gilt neck- chains, his mace bearer, and the other trappings of the traditional coach o! state journey to the Guildhall. A pack transmitter in Mayor La Guar- dia’s car transmitted his voice, which was picked up by an NBG mobile unit that trailed the official car and which relayed the broadcast to Radio City, whence the program was wired to short- wave transmitters that sent it to Eng- land. The pack transmitter and mobile unit were operated by Field Engineers C. H. Campbell, Dewey Sturgell and Andrew R. Thomson, and the receiving and sending equipment atop the RCA Building was operated by Harold T. Ashworth. ESSO FILM SHOWN AT NBC Several members of NBC New Vork attended a showing of A ews in llie Air, an Esso feature film, in Studio <°>G on February 10. The film showed how the news is gathered by the United Press and then teletyped to the News and Special Events Division where it is read on the air by the Esso Reporter. Arrangements for the showing were made by William 0. Tilenius, Local Sales, who is in charge of the account. NBC HALL OF FAME Proposed NBC Statue No. 1 1 and Citation Plaque TO THE ANNOUNCERS As guest artist on our sleigh-ride of the month, we bid welcome to those hot-shots of the station break — the Announcers. Ready at the gong to go into their frenzied song and dance for the “ product ” these stalwarts of Thesaurus represent radio’s reincarnation of yesteryear’ s medicine man. A profession normally based on a periodicity of fifteen minutes, it infrequently calls upon our heroes to flail the ether for hours on end, strumming their vocal cords in vain attempt to keep fireside audiences munching their hang-nails in tense anticipation as the main office insti- tutes a man-hunt through back streets for the featured parade. Therefore — to you virtuosos of the polysyllabic delivery, maestros of the tri-tonic chimes, we bow low in salute as we present this reasonable facsimile of a statue and ten cents to cover cost of handling. FEBRUARY, 1939 9 With *1/00. n. (l WCY SCHENECTADY by-W. T. Meenam STACECRAFTERS PLAN TO DO HOWARD PLAY The Stagecrafters, the dramatic brainchild of the New York employes, is just a year old this month; and, in celebration, work has been started on the production of The Late Christo- pher Bean, a comedy in three acts by Sidney Howard. The echoes of applause for June Moon and The Pursuit of Happiness can still be heard in Radio City Studio 8G, and soon the echoes will be reality, for Hubert Chain, director of Chris Bean, has announced that production is scheduled for the early part of June. Mr. Chain, a member of the Electrical Transcription staff, has forsaken the boards for this play to hold the direc- torial reins. No one who saw June Moon last year can fail to recall his splendid performance as the naive songwriter from Schenectady. Prominent in the cast are many names familiar to followers of The Stagecrafters. Among them are Bob Stone of Electrical Transcription, Bar- bara Kirk of Station Relations, and Walter Covell of Guest Relations, all of whom appeared in The Pursuit of Happiness. Appearing also is Jeanne Harrison of Sales Traffic, whose per- formance in June Moon cannot be for- gotten. New members of The Stage- crafters who have been cast in The Late Christopher Bean are Ray Girard of the International Division, Frances Goldacker of Sales, Margaret Stillman of Stenographic, and Ray O’Connell and Bill Garden of Guest Relations. The Late Christopher Bean was written by Sidney Howard especially for Pauline Lord, who starred in it in 1932 and is reviving it on the road this season. It is a simple story of a New England family and the pande- monium that ensues in their household when they suddenly discover a tremen- dous fortune within their grasp. The unfolding is odd and hilarious, and no one will want to miss it. So watch for further announcements regarding the production date of The Late Christo- pher Bean. New Record Set- Soundman Sam Monroe believes he set some kind of a record recently when he executed six sound effects in four seconds on an NBC broadcast. The job was to open and close a door, operate three recording machines, honk an auto horn, imitate a woman’s footsteps crunching gravel, and break a window. WGY’s Bowling League concluded the 1938-39 season with a Hi-Lo con- test and a banquet on April 1. High three for the two-man event was won by Winslow “Tiny” Leighton and Gene Darlington. John Howe, of Sales, president of the League during the second season of its existence, presided at the banquet and distributed the season’s prizes for the best team and individual scores. Leighton won the individual average honors, closely followed by Chester Vedder, senior announcer, who was credited with the high three for the season, as well as the high single game score. The winning team for the season was the Faders, but the winner was not established until the final game of the final match. Up to that game, the Ripples had a chance to capture the trophy but couldn’t quite make the grade under pressure. AAA WGY’S soft-ball enthusiasts — and practically every male member of the staff is keen for the game — are already in training for the first contest of the season. The WGY Staff plus the General Electric Short-Wavers are planning a picnic on Indian Ladder, a sightly mountain top from which the G-E short wave television transmitter operates. AAA Manager Kolin Hager will discuss “The Value and Use of Radio for Edu- cational Purposes” at a regional con- ference of 100 librarians, Wednesday, May 17. Mr. Hager, accompanied by Mrs. Hager, attended the dedication ceremonies of the New York World’s Fair, April 30. AAA Staff members are complaining of spring-time conditioning aches and pains. Caroline Osan began groaning after a day devoted to her perennials and annuals; Bill Purcell, in spite of a winter at skiing, found the first golf match trying; Betty Foy Stell gets painful reminders of a busy day at spring housecleaning; and Virgil Hasche, after an hour of soft-ball practice, has decided that he’s gone soft. AAA Wherever movie fans went — first- run houses or neighborhood theatres — during the week of April 16, they were confronted by Kolin Hager, WGY manager. Mr. Hager presented the appeal of the Schenectady Com- munity Chest, which has recently com- pleted the 1939 campaign for $200,000.. It wasn’t his first exper- ience as a movie subject and he put over the appeal in convincing fashion. AAA Jack Keane, WGY’s head usher, was the first of the WGY staff to take his annual holiday. Jack, accompanied by Mrs. Keane, visited relatives and friends in New York. AAA When he learned that Deanna Dur- bin was godmother to Jimmie Walling- ton’s newlyborn son, Engineer Ber- nard Cruger got busy with a slide rule to determine his, “Crug’s,” relation- ship to Deanna. It appears that many years ago, on the occasion of Wal- lington’s marriage, “Crug” served as godfather during the christening of Jimmie which preceded the marriage ceremony. AAA Mr. and Mrs. Silvio Caranchini got an early glimpse of the New York World’s Fair during their “summer” vacation. AAA Victor Campbell, until recently with stations WGR and WKBW, in Buffalo, has joined the announcing staff of WGY, succeeding Radcliffe Hall. Hall was summoned to New York to join the NBC network staff. NAMES IN THE NEWS {Continued, from page 5) Their engagement was announced in the March Transmitter, three months after Mr. Wilson’s resignation. The wedding took place May 13 in Knox- ville, Tenn. The young ladies of the Legal Department gave Miss Castel a cocktail party at the Rainbow Room Cocktail Lounge on Wednesday, April 19, and the men of the Department presented Miss Castel with a magnifi- cent corsage of orchids. AAA Catherine Lovelock, assistant to Con- cert Manager Marks Levine, was mar- ried to Ross Dugan on April 15 in Forest Hills. The newlyweds took a trip to Washington and the South for a vacation. Every member of NBC is a reporter for his news magazine, the NBC TRANSMITTER. MAY, 1939 / KDKA PITTSBURGH by Kay Barr Guide Lloyd Chapman demonstrating marching men sound effects gadget to tiny visitors at KDKA. Visitors Since Lloyd Chapman has been identified with the Guest Relations Division at KDKA, he has escorted many interesting groups through the studios. But on April 19 he guided the youngest group ever to visit the station. They were thirty-one tots, the kin- dergarten group of the Julia Ward Howe School. And their alert young minds understood enough of the sound effects demonstration and other ex- hibits to make their questions surpris- ingly good. It’s a question whether Lloyd or the kids had the most fun, with the odds on Lloyd. Marooned The KDKA orchestra, with Singers Faye Parker and Billy Sherman, played a dance engagement 140 miles from Pittsburgh and made (part of) the trip by bus. On the way home the coach broke down, leaving the group marooned for hours in the stickiest of sticks. Finally got back at 10:30 A.M. by train and had to go into rehearsal almost at once for a broadcast that night. Marriages Continuity Chief William Gordon Beal and Cynthia Cate have selected July 1, 1939, as their wedding date. Announcer Bill Hinds and Dolores Dollhopf were married May 17 in the Eighth United Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. They flew to New York for their honeymoon immediately after the ceremony. Presiding at the organ was Bernie Armstrong, KDKA staff organist. Don Dixon, KDKA librarian, presented several vocal numbers. Gloria Newell, the bride’s cousin, was bridesmaid, and Blaine Hinds, Bill’s brother, was best man. Bill and “Do” will be at home at 3415 Portola St. John Gihon, former program man- ager at KDKA, was married in Chicago May 1 to Muriel Kretlow', nationally known dancing teacher. Carl 0. Wy- man, KDKA engineer, was best man. Notes Those of KDKA who can (and do) whistle or hum are persistently pes- tered with a terribly tenacious tune. It’s Maurice Spitalny’s newest crea- tion, “Start the Day Right.” AAA Engineer Ward Landon is instruct- ing in practical astronomy a group from the Boys’ Club of the First Pres- byterian Church, Pittsburgh. June “Brownie” Marshall, evening switchboard manipulator at KDKA. is the gypsy of the staff. If she had a tent and a bandana kerchief, she could qualify as a professional palm reader, she’s that good. AAA Production men at KDKA never EXCHANGE CORNER This classified ad section is available, free of charge, to all NBC. employes. Rules: Forty- five word limit ; no regular business or pro- fessional service may be advertised. Address ads to NBC Transmitter. Room 284, RCA Building, New York. FOR SALE — Sterling Silver Mexican Fili- gree Link Bracelet. $1.75. Alice Weiden- heim. Sales Promotion Dept. NBC Chicago. WANTED — NBC young man to share room with member of guide staff. Large, clean. $3.50 apiece weekly. West 82nd. one block west of Central Park. Apply to NBC Transmitter. W ANTED — Inexpensive summer house with- in commuting distance of Radio City — to be leased by four NBC employes. Apply to NBC Transmitter. dare put a microphone close to Bernie Armstrong, staff organist, when lie's working. Bernie hobs his head in time w ith the music, and each hob pro- duces a sort of gutteral grunt. It wouldn’t do for that to go out over the air. After all. Johnny Shiliano is the sound effects genius. AAA Ed Calahan, Artists Service, and Francis Fitzsimmons, Press, will in- augurate the 1939 vacation season for KDKA. “Fitz” starts his leave May 29. and Ed leaves June 3 for Newr Bruns- wick, New Jersey, to witness the gradu- ation of his daughter, Marie Louise, from the New Jersey College for Wo- men. He will spend the remaining days on his Bucks County (Pa.) farm. AAA Marjorie Thoma is an attractive newr member of the KDKA staff. She is assisting Con- tinuity Chief Bill Beal with his writing and sten- ographic work. “Midge” brought plenty of exper- ience and train- . ing as well as a radiant enthu- siasm to the Pro- gram Depart- ment, not to mention a wealth of education at Car negie Tech and Duquesne University. Marjorie Thoma 8 NBC TRANSMITTER BE SEEING YOU AGAIN, IMBY HAVING succeeded in flooding the various niches and rotundas of our NBC real estate with plaster monoliths and granite me- morials, we drop our satiri- cal mallet and chisel, rue- fully to survey the results. With the subtle touch of a pile driver we have payed homage to you all. To those who have been punctured by our literary arrows we apologize, and to those un- touchables who have been overlooked we stress the principles of applied self- preservation. And so, for the nonce, we fold our tent and quietly steal away, may- hap to return with a full quiver in some future issue, again to drop a salvo in your midst. NBC TRANSMITTER Published for and by the employes of the National Broadcasting Company from coast to coast. VOL. 5 MAY. 1939 NO. 5 EDITORIAL BOARD Gordon Nucf.nt Editor Don Witty Associate Editor Powell Ensign Staff Writer Bill Eddy Staff Artist Charles Van Bercen Photographs N. Y. CONTRIBUTORS Emil Corwin Press Ken Ellsworth Guest Relations Shirley Metz Sales Promotion Address all correspondence to: NBC Trans- mitter, National Broadcasling Company, Room 284, RCA Building, New York, N. Y. Telephone: Circle 7-8300, Extension 220. PENGUIN S PROGRESS Once upon a time (a few days ago) there was a Penguin whose name was Horace because he had a patent-leather back and a white suede front, and for the same reason all other Penguins are named Horace and if anyone asks you why, just say, “Why not?” Now the Horace that we’re talking about lived in Central Park Zoo but he was getting darn tired of it. One day the landlord forgot to shut the door to his air-conditioned apartment and Horace found himself walking down Sixth Avenue. (If you can call what Penguins do, walking.) Everyone who has lived in New York, or who has read the New Yorker faithfully, realizes well enough that walking down Sixth Avenue will eventually get you to Radio City, and that’s what it did for Horace. Professor N. G. Torkle in his fa- mous book* points out that all Pen- guins travel in a decided left hook, and it was because of this phenome- non that Horace found his way to the NBC Main Hall. He had no idea where he wanted to go, and this lack of directional ambition gave him the bearing of a radio artist in search of a program director. Horace passed the sentinels and the magic eye of the elevator and was soon doing his left hooks all over the second floor. “May I help you?” asked a pleasant figure sitting behind a desk which gave the appearance of a smaller ver- sion of Radio City. “Awk,” answered our black and white hero. Our pleasant figure be- ( Continued on page 15) * A Hundred Million Penguins (unpub- lished). ANNOUNCER WRITES REVIEW FOR FAIR Practically the whole of the special number of the de luxe French literary review, Mesures, included in France’s exhibit at the World’s Fair, is the work of Fernand Auberjonois of the French section of the International Division of NBC. Under the general title, “Hommage A la Fitterature Americaine,” this number of Mesures contains a portion of the recent biography of Lincoln by Hearndon, a contribution by John Dos Passos which will not be published in English until later in the summer, pages never before published from the diary of Washington Irving, and poems by Langs- ton Hughes never before published in French. Mr. Auberjo- nois gathered the material, trans- lated it into French, and ob- tained the rights for publication and translation. Fernand Auberjonois The review had already published three of his articles on American life. Mesures is impressive typographi- cally, and numbers among its collabo- rators many distinguished French au- thors. Mr. Auberjonois came to NBC in 1937 as a French announcer for the International Division. He was edu- cated at Lousanne, Munich, and Zurich, and spent several years in Geneva as a League of Nations corre- spondent for French and Swiss papers. NEW DIRECTOR HAS BROAD BACKGROUND In Harold McGee, who joined the Production Division April 5, NBC has acquired another program director with a background of experience. After being graduated from Union College in 1920, he came to New York to act with the Provincetown Players. He was with them eight years, the last five of which he served on their Board of Directors. In 1933 he began producing the Soconvland Sketches, continuing until 1937. There followed several free- lance assignments, two of which were WEAF’s Snow Village series and Amer- ican School of the Air. In the past few weeks McGee has produced four Radio Guild dramas and one of the Great Plays series. MAY, 1939 9 When NBC Director Ted Sherdeman was awarded first prize (stop-watch) in the Idea Mart Contest for his program, “The Cannon Will Not Fire,” Hollywood radio men were on hand to congratulate him. Left to right are: Joe Stauffer of Young & Rubicam; Sherdeman; Tom McAvity of Lord & Thomas; and John Swallow, NBC Western Division program director. Sherdeman's half hour drama was one of ten of a series written by NBC Hollywood directors. Sports In the Annual NBC A A Golf Tourna- ment, played April 23 at Midwick Country Club, George Hatch, Guest Relations, won the trophy put up by Bing Crosby with a low gross of 80, a 10 handicap, and a net of 70. Dick Eckels, Staff Musician, tied with Hatch, but lost the trophy through a flip of a coin. AAA Competitive sports ladders have been installed in the employes en- trance at Hollywood Radio City to stimulate activity in different sports. At this writing, on the top rungs in bowling are George Hatch, Guest Re- lations, Carlton E. Morse, writer of One Mans Family, Director David Elton, and Clinton “Buddy” Twiss, in NBC HOLLYWOOD by Noel Corbett charge of Special Events, Hollywood. In the Ladies’ Division: Letty Blom- quist, PBX, Dorothy Brown, Con- tinuity Acceptance, Vava Bowers, Guest Relations, Jeanette White, Pro- gram, and Joan Chapman, Music Rights. AAA Director Ted Sherdeman and Boh Waddell, Guest Relations, are leading in ping pong, while “Buddy” Twiss and Jim Cannon are leading crib- bagers. Notes Don E. Gilman acted as Sire of the Third Annual Los Angeles Night in Bohemia at San Francisco’s famed Bohemian Club, May 11. About fifty Angelenos traveled North for the af- fair, including Sydney Dixon, sales manager, and Harrison Holliway, man- ager of KFI-KECA. AAA Director Joe Parker will leave Hollywood May 17 to spend his vaca- tion driving across the continent. The ultimate object of his trip will be to watch his cousin, Lou Nova, tangle with Max Baer on June 1st in New York. En route, Parker will visit WGPO Albany, Georgia, which he managed at one time. AAA Last month, Hal Bock, Western Di- vision press manager, drove with his NBC and CBS pages who spoke at the Joint Radio and National Youth Week day at the Los Angeles Advertising Club on May 2. Left to right: from CBS. Robert Barlow, Robert Fisk, Richard Haysel; from NBC. George Volger, Harold Haklik, Jack Sam- ways. wife to Mission San Juan Capistrano for the weekend. Most of their time there was spent visiting Father Hutch- inson. During their conversation, Bock presented the Father with a screwball pin, making him an official member of Doc Rockwell’s Screwball Club. The following week, Bock received a letter from Father Hutchinson requesting eight more pins for nuns in the Mis- sion. AAA QUICK PIX . . . Lew Frost talked at UCLA April 19 during the Occupa- tional Conference. Hi topic was “Op- portunities in Radio for College Grad- uates” . . . Matt Barr was given a baby shower on his birthday, April 12. at the Hollywood Brown Derby. The Barrs are expecting in July . . . Alfred H. Saxton, division engineer, plans to drive to New York to attend the An- nual Division Engineers Meetings. Program Building class which meets weekly in Hollywood Radio City. Standing is Lew Frost, executive assistant to Vice-President Don E. Gilman of the Western Division. Right, sitting, is Produc- tion Manager Walter Bunker. This is one of many classes designed to give NBC Junior employes a chance to learn the various phases of broadcasting. Classes are conducted similarly to those in New York Radio City (see article on page 2). About 40 young men are enrolled. The classes, with the men conducting them, are: Sales, Salesman Tracy Moore and Sales Promotion Manager Charles Brown; Program Building, Walter Bunker; Continuity. Andrew Love, in charge of Literary Rights; Sound Effects, Sound Chief Harry Saz; and Announcing. The NBC Hollywood AA Softball Team that beat KFI-KECA 7 to 6 May 5. Top row, left to right: Director Arnold Maguire; Sound Chief Harry Saz; Assistant Program Manager Marvin Young: Director Joe Parker; Program Traffic Manager Cliff Anderson; Walter Baker, manager of General Service and Maintenance; John Swallow, Western Division program director; Lew Frost, executive assistant to the vice-president. Western Division; and Production Manager Walter Bunker. Lower row. left to right: Walter Snow. Sound Effects; Clinton "Buddy” Twiss, in charge of Special Events: Matt Barr, Press; Norman Noyes, supervisor of pages: Director Ted Hediger; and Hal Bock. Western Division press manager. 10 NBC TRANSMITTER %tn\\ ^nniwainj (Efjitni# The NBC Transmitter salutes these members of the National Broadcasting Company who , this month, complete their tenth year with the Company. Bess Prince Dees Bess Prince Dees, NBC’s program traffic director in Washington, was born in Union, South Carolina. She came to Washington in 1923, shortly after receiving her high school diplo- ma. For the next four years Mrs. Dees worked at part-time jobs while attend- ing Business High and Temple Busi- ness Schools. Upon completion of her business course she worked with an insurance company and later the Daughters of the American Revo- lution. She re- signed to come to NBC in May, 1929. During these past ten years Mrs. Dees has been a member of the Program Department in Washington. She has watched the growth of WRC and WMAL ever since from that vantage point. Since joining NBC, Mrs. Dees has worked as a stenographer, as secretary to the pro- gram manager, and finally, having ability to absorb and handle Program Department details and information, as program traffic director for the two stations. Henry E. Meyer Henry E. Meyer was born in Jersey City in 1904, and has made New Jer- sey his home ever since. He has been equally consistent in his choice of work. When only fourteen he built his own spark-transmitter in West Orange, and from that “ham"’ beginning it has been radio almost all the way. After finishing West Orange High School and the East Side YMCA Radio School, he went to sea for three years as a radio operator. From 1925 to 1 928 he worked for Westinghouse Elec- tric and Manufacturing Company, mostly on short wave and facsimile. The next year or so he worked for AT&T on the trans-Atlantic telephone, which was then just starting. And from there he came to NBC. Until February he was in the Maintenance Division of the Engineering Depart- ment. Mr. Meyer has had much to oc- cupy him when not on duty at NBC. He has been married al- most ten years and has a seven- year-old girl and a five - year - old hoy. He built the first short - wave Henry E. Meyer police transmitter in New Jersey. He is one of the editors of the ATE JOUR- NAL. And on top of it all there is golf. Judging from the target practice in the garage of his Millburn home, he expects to do great things on the fairway this spring. Florence E. Marger Our memo from Personnel states that Florence E. Marger is the office manager of the Legal Department. It is not quite as simple as that. Actual- ly, Miss Marger’s responsibilities not only include working closely with Judge A. L. Ashby, NBC vice - president and general counsel, on his legal problems, but supervising the stenographic and clerical per- sonnel of the De- partment as well. In her case, manag- ing the budgetary control for the of- fice could truthfully be called just another duty. Miss Marger attended a convent school in Pennsylvania, but left to study secretarial work in her native city, New York. Shortly thereafter she became associated with the late S. S. Meyers, noted attorney. Recognizing her ability and ambition, Mr. Meyers offered to put her through law school. A long and serious illness ended a very promising career as an attorney and, to her great disappointment, eventually necessitated her resignation from her position. In May, 1929, after undertaking temporary work from time to time, Miss Marger joined the NBC Legal Department as a secretary. Six months later Judge Ashby’s secretary resigned, and he offered the position to Miss Marger. Since then — well, just reread the opening paragraph. Miss Marger’s home is in Forest Hills, where she lives with her mother. For relaxation she likes to swim, golf, drive a car, and play piano. It is said, too, that she plays a smart game of poker and pinochle. But her favorite hobby is her six-month-old niece. George M. Nelson If the circulation of the NBC Trans- mitter were limited to New York NBCites, no mention of George M. Nelson’s NBC activities would be necessary. They all know that as the interviewer of men in the Personnel Office he does an outstanding job. They know, too, that his sincere interest in those he interviews does not stop once they are employed— that, on the con- trary, ensuing advancements mean a great deal to him. As an indication of this interest, it is Mr. Nelson who plays Santa Claus to the Guest Relations and Mail Messenger locker rooms by slocking them with fruit, cake, and candy every Christmas week. Mr. Nelson was horn in Virginia at Melrose Castle, his grandfather’s es- tate. After private schooling he worked a few years before completing his education at Columbia and Harvard. When the war came he went over-seas to serve as a top-sergeant on a hospi- tal train, and probably set a mileage record there for _ — _ _ a member of the ; ^ A.E.F. For a few years after the war he acted as director of army dramatics in Washington, D. C. Next he moved back to New York to do per- George M. Nelson sonnel work for the AICP, the origi- nal U. S. charity organization. It was from there that he came to NBC, where he managed the Mail Room for sev- eral years until going to his present Florence Marger MAY, 1939 1 1 position in Personnel, the work he en- joys so much. Outside of NBC his keenest interests are in the opera and the theatre. In fact he has contributed to the latter. Several of his plays and sketches have been produced in this country, and one was staged and highly received in England. Regarding the opera, he has attended seven hundred perform- ances! Another hobby is collecting autographs of famous personages, and his collection is amazing. Frank j. Fugazzi Studio Engineer Frank J. Fugazzi celebrates his first decade with NBC this month, but radio has been a hobby with him since 1920 when he was active in amateur radio. He furthered his early experience by study at the National Radio Institute and the Loomis Radio College. Mr. Fugazzi joined RCA in 1927, and transferred to the National Broad- casting Company in Washington in 1929. Now that radio is a vocation for him, his latest hobby is movie photography. Although Mr. Fugazzi was born in the District of Columbia, he had al- ready crossed the Atlantic and visited Italy before starting to learn the three R’s in Washington schools. He is mar- ried and has a little girl. James Platz The birth in 1905 of James Platz. Central Division junior control super- visor, increased the population of Spiker, Nebraska, by 50%. During his high school days he spent several summers working on farms, which con- vinced him that farming was not meant for him. Piano tuning, which he tried next, was not the answer either. Then he tried radio and his problem was solved. After a few years ex- perience operat- ing a one-kilo- watt transmitter, as well as an- nouncing and acting, he joined NBC in 1929 as assistant station He left KFKX to take charge of AT&T’s radio program Long Lines Repeater Department (consult your local engineer!) in Omaha, Nebraska. In May, 1929, he rejoined NBC; and, as Jim says, this time “it took.” Mr. Platz has held his present posi- tion since February, 1931. He is also the secretary of Chicago’s chapter of the ATE. He is married and the father of an eight-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. His hobbies include “ham” radio (W9GY), music, and eight mm. movies. DOUGLAS MESERVEY TO NEW DIVISION Douglas W. Meservey has been transferred from Vice-President John F. Royal’s office to the Commercial Program Division. Mr. Meservey has been with NBC nearly two years, hav- ing come here in July of 1937. Prior to that his experience had been almost entirely in advertising, hav- ing been associated first with Erwin Wasey et Cie in Paris, then with Mc- Cann-Erickson in New York, and finally with the advertising depart- ment of DuPont Cellophane Company, Inc. He resigned as advertising man- ager of the latter company to take an executive post in NBC’s Program Department. JOINS TELEVISION Eddie Sobol has been added to the NBC Television Production Staff. So- bol's theatre career extends back to the flourishing days of vaudeville. Brook- lyn born, he “just naturally” gravitat- ed toward the footlights, and started out as a youthful singer. There fol- lowed ten years of touring the coun- try’s circuits as “straight man” in various comedy teams. His long ap- prenticeship served, he became an ac- tors’ agent and a producer of acts for the B. F. Keith and Orpheum circuits. When Max Gordon, now advisor on television programs for NBC, set up his own production group ten years ago, Sobol became one of his asso- ciates, and except for a year in Holly- wood has remained with him since. STUDENTS PERFORM Bill Farren took his radio guests on another trip behind the scenes May 13 on the ABC of NBC program. This week he visited Dan Russell's an- nouncing class. The members of the class read news bulletins and con- tinuity, and gave foreign pronuncia- tions. The three members interviewed were Casper Kuhn, Gene Rubessa, and Frank Shinn. WBZ BOSTON AND WBZA SPRINGFIELD by Bob Evans From the State House via the Newspaper Row grapevine we learn that John A. Holman, general man- ager of WBZ and WBZA, who, in his capacity as chairman of the Massa- chusetts Broadcasters Committee, is carrying the battle against the Bowker Bill, has the admiration and respect of all concerned. Both legislators and hard-hoiled scribes rank him as an im- pressive and singularly able leader. Fancies of Spring . . . The BZ Easy Gardeners Club has started it's annual battle with rake and hoe. Messrs. Swan, Holman, and Harder are matching wits with tulip, daffodil, and crocus again, but haven’t been getting much of a break from the weatherman. At least, that’s their story — and we suppose we ll have to accept it. Frank (“Farmer”) Bowes, sales manager, is still trying to make a swimming pool out of the old lily pond which is the principal breeding spot for mosquitos on his Hanover grounds. Bowes takes particular de- light in taking visitors out to see the pond at night because they're liable to fall in. At least that was our ex- perience— or maybe he had definite ideas along that line. It’s been sug- gested that he turn the whole project over to the WPA. Cigars for the men and bon bons for the girls were in order on April 1st, when Bob Evans of Press stag- gered off the elevator and announced, “It’s a boy.” Young Evans, who has been named “Billy” after his paternal grandfather, rattled the beam at seven pounds, six ounces. Both he and Mrs. Evans are doing nicely. Microphone Leaks . . . Arch Mac- donald, not being satisfied with put- ting in a full day at the studios, is currently spending his evenings as an actor. At present he’s rehearsing the role of a wounded war veteran for a production of the Providence Black Friars’ Guild, titled, “The Graven Images” . . . WBZ's two Kays, Leather- bee of Press and Schmidt of Program, are back in harness again after serious illnesses. It’s nice to see the girls with a natural blush again . . . Keyes Per- rin of the announcing staff becomes a vocalist on the Rakov morning show very shortly. Keyes doesn’t plan to use his own name and has been asking for suggestions. 12 NBC TRANSMITTER ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES /; Hflni Grand Ballroom of Hotel Roosevelt on April 21. From left to right: ???????!! !!!! ANNUAL AA DANCE COLORFUL SUCCESS The Athletic Association's annual dance, held Friday, April 21, in the grand ballroom of the Hotel Roose- velt, was described by Committee Chairman A1 Protzman as a rip roar- ring success. The ballroom was liber- ally bedecked with huge clusters of balloons, and flower girls were drafted from Stenographic to pin boutonniers on the lapels of male guests as they entered. At two a.m., folding time for the boys in the orchestra, the party was still going strong. So much so that practically the total attendance of six hundred people left the hotel to- gether, most of them pretty much dis- appointed at having to break up so early. However, Peter van Steeden and his men had done the usual good job. although in this case it may have been force of habit. It was the third suc- cessive A A Dance at which they had played. Of course the big feature that night was the jitterbug contest, and it de- veloped that some of the most staid members of this company could really “truck on down’’ when the oc- casion warranted. Runners-up were Ernest LaPrade of Music Division, Sales Promotion’s E. P. H. James, and Engineer Carl Dietsch. When it came to the winners, everyone seemed to have been too excited to remember getting the names! Anyone having in- formation relative to this, please com- municate with the Transmitter. We’d like to know too. Carl Dietsch is cred- ited with a good alibi for not winning. His partner “got tired.” Charlie Wall, Ford Bond, Allen Kent and Milton Cross were the judges, and were much commended for their fairness and their terpsichorean good judgment. And at this point, we think, should go the credit due to Mary Coyne of Sales Promotion. Hers was certainly the hardest work in connection with the dance, as anyone who has sold tickets before will agree. It was a bit of salesmanship of the first water, and the Committee is duly grateful. A1 Protzman and the Committee also wish to thank the NBCites for helping to make the party the success that it was. At the moment, they are giving much thought to plans for the summer outing, and information con- cerning that will follow very shortly. AAA Coif News The first 1939 tournament of the NBC AA Golfing Division will be held June 14 at the Rockland Country Club, Sparkill, New York. As usual it will be in charge of A. Frank Jones of Artists Service from whom many of you will have already received notices. All others interested in entering the tournament are asked to call Chair- man Jones on extension 851. Softball News The National Broadcasting Com- pany New York Athletic Association’s Intradepartmental Softball League got off to a start, May 2nd, not unwor- thy of its title when the stalwarts of Accounting crossed bats with the slug- gers of General Service. Although out- hit by an 18 to 11 count, the Account- ants took advantage of four costly errors which resulted in nine runs and the winning edge in an extra-inning game. The final score was 14 to 13! In true story-book fashion the win- ning run was scored in the last half of the eleventh inning when, with two out, Captain Nicol drew a walk and was immediately advanced to the home plate on a deep triple into left field by pinch-hitter D. Stewart. The Score by innings: Acctg. — 320 130 04 0 0 1—14 Gen. Serv. 124 120 210 0 0—13 Pitching for the Accountants were Cody and Henri, the latter being credit- ed with the victory; Papp caught. For General Service Hoagland and Seiler threw to Phillips, with Seiler the los- ing pitcher. We do not have the schedule, but suggest you get in touch with Chair- man Hugo Seiler of Mail and Mes- senger if you are interested. And there is no reason why you should not be. The games are played in Central Park of evenings at six o’clock. Late flash! The newly entered Guest Relations team played a 3 — 3 tie with the Mail Room outfit on May 11. Here are Alice Bradford of Press and E. P. H. James, manager of Advertising and Sales Promotion, at AA Dance. MAY, 1939 13 Members of the Engineering No. 1 Bowling Team which won the AA Intradepart- mental Bowling League Championship for 1938-39. Sitting, left to right: Pete House, Captain George Milne, Frank Opsal. Stand- ing: Frank Connolly. Paul Gallant, Ed Prince. Bowling News April brought to a close the first season of the Intradepartmental Bowl- ing League, conducted this year in place of entering just two teams in the Rockefeller Center League. Thanks to the hard work of Chairman G. O. Milne and the support of the NBC Athletic Association, headed by George McElrath, it was a highly successful season. Seven departments entered teams, with Engineering furnishing two and General Service three. Next fall it is hoped that two more depart- ments will join the League, and al- ready the Radio City Alleys have been reengaged. To the winning Engineering team, captained by George Milne, was given a silver cup, which will be permanent- ly displayed in the trophy case in the studio section once the members’ names have been inscribed on it. Stat- uettes were given as personal posses- sions to Pete House of Engineering and T. J. Dolan of Traffic for high individual average and high game respectively. In the ladies’ competition, Mary Lesko of Accounting copped both the high game score with a 204 and high series score with a 544. Misses Michel and Moyer placed second and third. Final, all-season standings in team competition were: Team Won Lost Averagi Engineering No. 1 61 20 821 Engineering No. 2 59 22 796 Treasurer’s 57 24 801 Auditing 43 38 784 Gen. Serv. No. 2 39 42 776 Traffic 37 44 761 Sales 32 49 745 Gen. Serv. No. 1 27 54 758 Artists Service . 27 54 732 Guest Relations 23 58 710 The fi ve highest individual averages were: Name Team Avg. Games House Eng. 1 184.11 69 Protzman Eng. 2 172.46 54 Milne Eng. 1 172.20 81 McElrath Eng. 2 172.12 81 Nicol Auditing 172.08 57 The three winners of high series were: Rudich, Gen. Service 2 609 Snell, Eng. 2 605 Heitmann, Gen. Service 1 600 The three winners of high single game were: Dolan, Traffic 245 Garland, Gen. Service 2 240 Burholt, Treasurer’s 237 Officers Elected The officers of the NBC AA elected in March are: George McElrath, presi- dent; R. J. Teichner and Frances Bar- bour, vice-presidents; Anthony Hen- nig, treasurer; and Lucille Lizotte, secretary. Baseball News The NBC baseball team started the 1939 Motion Picture League baseball season auspiciously by trouncing last year’s champions, the Consolidated Film team, by a score of 7 to 2, after six innings of play. In the past. Con- solidated Film has been one of our most troublesome opponents, and this victory has been taken by our players as a good omen for a successful season and possibly the league championship. Jimmy Von Frank of Guest Relations held the hard-hitting Film team to 4 hits and was very steady in the pinch- es. Manager Jack Wahlstrom’s long two-bagger of! the center field wall scoring two teammates was the game- clinching blow. The box score: Nathan, rf Gayack, 2b Wahlstrom, orter pages. to Charles e Photo Sec- xardt of the Claire Max- ations. Some went in willingly; others were “coaxed.” Al Walker's left hand seems distrustful. ig mostly for the perfect riding conditions that it offered. Here are four reasons for NBC's high standing in horse-shoe pitching circles. 10 NBC TRANSMITTER ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES All set for one of the three rides held at the AA Outing are. left to right, Ethelen Van Port, Helen Korday, Mrs. William A. Fitch, and Mr. Fitch. Riding News The clatter of hooves has died away, but the groans of the uninitiated, with their aches and pains, still echo through the halls of NBC, and the memory of one of the most successful rides of the season lingers in the mind of the members of our riding club. Between fifty and sixty equestrians en- joyed over thirty-five miles of the fin- est bridle paths in the region. Although, as we mentioned before, there is some physical unhappiness scattered throughout the company, for every ache there’s a memory of one of the finest outings in NBC history, and eager expectation for the next ride. Plans for the fall season are under way with two prize features already planned. The first event, to be held as soon as it can be arranged, is a treasure hunt through the trails of New Jersey. The second will take advantage of the full Hallowe’en moon and the ac- cordingly mys- terious country- side, when a group will ven- ture forth on a moonlight ride at a date late in October. Tennis News The tennis sea- son was con- cluded at the Outing with the playing of the finals of the Fall Tournament. Joe Merkle and Paul Rittenhouse, both of Guest Relations, were the finalists, and when the last ball had been called out, Joe Merkle emerged the winner by a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 score. His sparkling play gave him com- plete mastery of the match over his formidable opponent. There was little doubt that he was at the peak of his game as he varied his strong drives with deceptive trap shots at will, and charged to the net to make kills. Con- gratulations are due to our number one tennis player, a champion worthy of the title. Softball News If the masculine softball players seem a little chagrined, you can bet the reason is that the young ladies of the company challenged the supremacy of the brawn-trust at the outing. Though a winner was not officially announced, the girls not only did surprisingly well, but rumor has it that they showed the men how it was done. Better keep them out of next year’s tournament, hoys, they look like tough competition. The other softball game played at the Outing was between the Engineers and a pick-up group. By winning 8 to 7 in 14 hard fought innings, the En- gineers won the consolation prize. The regular league championship was not played at the Outing as it takes three out of five games to de- cide. As this goes ^3 to press. General Service has won the first game from Artists Ser- vice, their play- off rivals. FLASH! In the game between the NBC New York All-Stars and WGY Sche- nectady, the for- mer emerged vic- torious by the score of 12 to 11. The New Yorkers came close to losing as six of their good players did not arrive until the eighth inning (when WGY was leading), having been detained on the way up for speeding. Story book stuff. A. Frank Jones was kept busy directing the golf events. This svelte swatter is Dorothy Michel of the unbeatable girl’s team. Runner-up Paul Rittenhouse (left) con gratulates Champion Joe Merkle. The one inactive moment of the day for Riding Chairman D. B. Van Houten. 11 OCTOBER, 1939 Coif News To about eighty NBCites the recent Outing provided a pleasant evening to cap a day of golf. Under the usual able direction of A. Frank Jones, the Fall Tournament was held under ideal con- ditions on a sporty course. Following are listed the various prize winners: Low Gross, 36 Holes: George Frey, Sales— 74— 74— 148. Championship Handicap: Winner — Jack Green, Sales — 83 — 34 — 49. Run- ner-up— L. L. Lane, Sales — 83 — 24 — 59. Kicker s Handicap: Frank Reed, Traffic, won through a draw after finishing in a tie with Bill Abernathy, announcer, George McElrath, Engi- neering, and C. W. Earrier, Tele- vision. Members’ Consolation: Graham Mc- Namee — 96 — 1 7 — 75. Guest Handicap: Low Gross — E. C. Anderson — 75. Low Net — Robert Fa- Iace— 90— 29— 61. Ball Nearest Pin On Eighteenth Hole: Dwight Wallace, Personnel — 9 feet. High Score Of The Day: Robert Marsselle, Engineering — 133. Low Gross For Ladies: Helen Kellie, Executive Department — 119. Low Net For Ladies: Helen Winter, Treasurer’s Office — 116 — 45 — -71. Vice President John F. Royal was one of those who played golf at Outing. KOA DENVER by Mack Switzer KOA’s ten year employes. Front row, left to right: R. H. Owen, man- ager; Marie Gregoire, his secretary; and C. A. Peregrine, engineer- in-charge. Back row, left to right: C. C. Moore, program director; C. W. Schuknecht, studio engineer; J. A. Slusser, station engineer; W. L. Morrissey, control supervisor; and D. L. Newbold, auditor and office manager. Inset on left: F. A. Nelson, transmitter engineer. KOA’s contribu- tion to the October’s “Chimes” list is pic- tured on this page as well as listed in the regular column. We feel it worthy of mention that the group, as well as being large, contains seven names connected with this station for fifteen years. Those who worked here the five years when KOA was operated by General Electric Company are Miss Gregoire, Morrissey, Nelson, Owen, Peregrine, Schuknecht. and Slusser. AAA Helen Marie Briscoe and her Gen- tlemen of Jive, a KOA feature released to the NBC Red Network, were praised in “Variety” of August 16, in an ar- ticle naming the crew as worthy of anybody’s network. Helen Marie and her Gentlemen take a bow, and Ac- cordionist Dick LaSalle reaches the floor, because the writer of the article mistook Dick’s accordion for an elec- tric organ. AAA To wind up the vacation season at KOA, Gil Verba, announcer, tripped with his lady to Chicago, while Assis- tant Program Director Charley An- derson left without disclosing his des- tination; but the other day we received a card from Reno, so we suspect that Andy’s vacation is being nipped in the budget in the Fair City of San Fran- cisco. Control Supervisor Walter Mor- rissey spent his vacation in a 100% relaxed state, first at the Grand Lake \ acht Regatta, then on the rails to California. Lovely Elsa Kauerz, KOA singing star, who has appeared recently on Hollywood Today over the NBC net- work from Hollywood, is back in Den- ver on a visit. Of the seventy-odd iadios belonging to KOA people, all but two were recently tuned to Elsa’s program when she sang “My Johann,” one of the songs she does best. Mor- rissey and Stepp were fishing and missed the show. AAA KOA’s first annual tennis tourna- ment was held at Washington Park courts on August 27, with Engineer Bill Williams and Page George Hinds emerging as co-winners, no play-offs taking place as yet. Trophy was an oversize beer-mug, for possession of which the whole staff got in and bat- tled. Promoter-Announcer Ed Stout saw to it that there were plenty of refreshments for everybody. Officials were Manager Robert Owen, Auditor Dale Newbold. and Program Director Clarence Moore. Official photographer was Carl Weininger. Four of the contestants, an official, and the prize — an oversize beer mug. See story above. Left to right, Ed Stout, Bill Wil- liams, Clarence Moore, George Hinds, and Jim Campbell. 12 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC HOLLYWOOD by Noel Corbett Meet Mr. H. E. Heimueller, the expert piano technician of Hollywood Radio City. The photo was taken by Jack Hall, NBC page. Once again Director Ted Sherdeman re- ceives the “Idea Mart’’ prize, this time a portable typewriter. Left to right, Don Gilman, Sherdeman, and John Swallow. Here’s how Buddy Twiss looks when he’s hard at it sorting news of world events from the teletypes and suddenly remem- bers the premium on his car is past due. Who keeps the pianos in tune at Hollywood? Why, of course, Mr. H. E. Heimueller, the piano technician. There are over twenty-five pianos to be kept in top notch condition. With a good percentage of the transcontinen- tal shows coming from Hollywood, Mr. Heimueller has to step lively. Each day he scans the schedule to find out what stars will be using the pianos. Per- haps it will be Jose Iturbi, or maybe Bing Crosby will have some guest pian- ist on his program. When the schedule is checked, Mr. Heimueller hides him- self away in one of the studios and goes over each note on the keyboard, making it sound as true as the first day the piano was moved into the building. AAA Director Ted Sherdeman copped first prize in the Idea Mart series for the second time with his drama, “The Children’s Front”, based on peace. Vice-President Don E. Gilman awarded Sherdeman the prize, a portable type- writer, at a luncheon at Levy’s before the Hollywood staff of producers; Pro- gram Director John Swallow; Marvin Young, his assistant; Production Man- ager Walter Bunker; Wendell Will- iams, in charge Continuity Acceptance; and Hal Bock, Press head, Western Division. In handing Sherdeman his prize, Mr. Gilman pointed out that it should have been a bound volume of all Sherdeman’s rejected scripts dating hack to January 1. AAA “Fighter” O’Meara, page, and Wal- ler Baker, who keep this department posted on all softball activities, report that NBC’s team took the Owl Drug Company's champions into camp last week by the score of 10 to 9. The NBCites pulled the game out of the fire in the last inning with a five run rally. AAA The wild west spirit really caught up with Ray Ferguson, studio engineer; Max Hutto, Program Traffic; and Pages Dick O’Meara and Stan Radom, during the foursome’s Labor Day week- end at a Victorville dude ranch. Riding horseback in the moonlight, with Fer- guson in the lead, the gang got the sudden Quixotic thought of playing Train Robber with the Streamliner they heard approaching in the distance. In bandit fashion, with faces masked, they ( Continued on page 15) Here's the NBC riding group that rode September 2 through Griffith Park and the Hollywood Hills while Fred Bailes’ famous colored cook was preparing them a real old Southern chicken dinner. Later they returned to the Bailes Stable and did justice to the meal. OCTOBER, 1939 13 WBZ BOSTON AND WBZA SPRINGFIELD by Charles Gilchrist Vincent Callahan is the new assis- tant manager of WBZ and WBZA. working with New England NBC General Manager John A. Holman and Sales Manager Frank Bowes. Calla- han will supervise commercial pro- grams and assist Mr. Bowes on local business. He comes to Boston from New Orleans where, as station man- ager, he raised WWL’s power from 10,000 to 50,000 watts and boosted its business more than 100%. Prior to that he was sales manager of the NBC stations in Washington, to which he came way back in January, 1927, stay- ing until June, 1937. An official communique from the Ministry of Information, intercepted by this writer, reports Song Stylist Eleanor Lane just had her tonsils out! This officially confirms the report heard throughout New England that Eleanor’s voice has suddenly changed, become even more appealing over the air. End flash. Among the special programs arising out of the war situation was one presented over WBZ & WBZA by a former German baroness. Mrs. Gus- tave H. Lamm of New York City, the former Baroness Aletta Von Gundlach of Coblenz, Germany, praised America and Americans. Mrs. Lamm is a friend of George Harder, director of Promo- tion and News, who persuaded her to broadcast. New England radio artists and music publishers are raising a fund to aid three of their number. The popular WBZ & WBZA Rhythm Girls are re- covering from a near fatal auto acci- dent. The three girls are Claire and Cecile Descouteaux and Frances Lu- cadi. Returning from their vacation they came to the Boston NBC studios a day early to arrange their new schedule. They were on their way back to their homes when the head-on col- lision with another car occurred. Early morning homhing of Po- land brought emergency instructions into play at WBZ & WBZA. Control Engineer Elmer Lance phoned his boss, D. A. Myer, according to orders, and shouted: “Hitler is bombing Warsaw!” Sleep-befogged Myer was silent for a moment, then laconically said: “O.K. Log him !” As the news services of the world flashed bulletin after bulletin on the war crisis, two of New England’s great- W T A M CL by Bob NBCites at National Air Races in Cleve- land. Left to right: Raymond Guy, New York; S. E. Leonard, Cleveland; Mrs. S. E. Leonard; Mrs. Raymond Guy; and Mrs. J. D. Disbrow, Cleveland. If you like to eat lobster, you will have a friend in Harold Gallagher. This 32-year-old WTAM salesman not only sits down to a big red lobster almost every day, but will talk about the delights of eating this sea food on any provocation. But eating lobster is not the only claim to fame Gallagher has. This September he celebrated his est news disseminating sources joined hands to increase the efficiency of their services to the public. On August 25 the Boston Transcript, one of the northeast’s oldest and most authentic newspapers, inaugurated a daily schedule of news broadcasts over New England’s oldest radio station, WBZ. Sales Manager Frank Bowes has changed the name of his German shepherd dog from Graf to George, the new tag being in honor of Frank’s favorite dining car steward. General Manager John A. Holman returned from his United States Signal Corps training period at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York, and left on his vacation. Boh White, chief announcer and Special Events director, has handled many varied roles. Now comes his latest achievement. He played the part of the parrot in the Old Gold com- mercials on Artie Shaw’s Melody and Madness broadcast, August 22. from Boston. E V E L A N D Dailey 15th year of service with WTAM — by having lobster for lunch. It was back in 1924 that Gallagher entered the employ of WJHX as a messenger boy. That makes him the oldest employe in point of service, with the exception of three men in the engineering department. From mes- senger boy, he progressed to an- nouncer, office manager, publicity di- rector, program director, and finally to salesman — holding nearly every job in the station with the exception of engi- neering positions. Gallagher witnessed the formation of WTAM from WJHX in 1926 and its acquisition by the National Broadcast- ing Company in 1930. And since 1929 he has been one of WTAM’s ace salesmen. A well-informed speaker, Gallagher frequently makes talks on radio at luncheon clubs and civic organizations. He enjoys mixing with crowds, and once considered entering politics. He is married, has three children— and spends many of his evenings perspiring over their homework. At least that is what the Gallagher youngsters report. Labor Day in years past has given WTAM staff members a heavy workout to cover both the National Air Races and the Thompson Trophv race for WTAM and the Red Network. This year was an exception, for after elaborate preparations were made to broadcast the Thompson event, rain and a high wind postponed the race until the following day. WTAM Notes: Staff Organist Dorothy Crandall starting for a family reunion but getting lost and spending the week-end instead at Cambridge Springs. . . . WTAM girls holding a pre-nuptial shower for Receptionist Hazel Finney before her marriage to Announcer Tom Manning. . . . Office Manager Pearl Hunnnell driving to a family reunion in Wisconsin. Airing the Thompson Trophy event at the National Air Races. Left to right are Engineer John Disbrow, Announcer Tom Manning, and Timer Don Stremmel. 14 NBC TRANSMITTER KDKA PITTSBURGH by Kay Barr “Television made the Fair.” That’s what the Allegheny County Commissioners said when the Seventh Annual County Fair became history Labor Day midnight. This year’s at- tendance was upped 250.000 over last year’s million, and the demonstration of television by KDKA and NBC was credited with the increase. During the seven days of the Fair, 140 demonstration programs were pre- sented from the big stage in the center of the “Temple of Television,” and everyone who went to the Fair saw the show or else the reproductions on the television receivers in the booths of various exhibitors. So the demonstra- tion was another first for the Pioneer broadcasting station, since it was the biggest demonstration in the number of spectators and the number of re- ceiver sets that has been staged to date. C. E. Davis of RCA set up the equip- ment and got it operating. Then Chief Engineer Joe Baudino and his staff of the Westinghouse side of KDKA took over and completed the technical handling. W. B. McGill of the Promo- tion Department had much to do with getting the stage, dressing room, and other settings all lined up. Announcer Ed Schaughency was master of cere- monies for most of the demonstration, and Production Chief Charley Urquhart supervised the demonstra- tions. All because KDKA’s Manager Sher- man Gregory had the foresight and courage to bring television to western Pennsylvania and the Tri-State district. AAA Thanks to KDKA, thousands of em- ployes in the Grant Building, where the station’s studios are located, plus many other thousands who visit the building every day, are getting the European war bulletins while they are hot. Promotion and Press co-operated in erecting a bulletin board in the main lobby of the building, and latest “buns” from Lhiited Press printers are posted at frequent intervals during the day. Within a few hours after the service was inaugurated, word had spread to other buildings in the neigh- borhood, and crowds soon gathered. AAA Members of the KDKA staff and their families held the annual picnic Saturday, September 16, at “The Cot- tage,” in South Park, 12 miles from Pittsburgh. Lynn Morrow of Sales and Buddy Murphy of the orchestra ar- ranged the program of races and other activities which got under way at 3 p.m. Relda Garrett, secretary to Man- ager Sherman Gregory, planned the eats, which stopped everything else at 6 o’clock: and Walter Horn, Sales, looked after the incidental items of refreshments, etc. AAA “Designs for Dancing” is the new tag line for the KDKA orchestra. Dur- ing August a contest was conducted to find a new name for the outfit and prizes were set up for the winner and the senders of the five next best suggestions. Despite the fact that the name was to be applied to a strictly modern dance band, the grand prize winner was an elderly, white-haired lady, Mrs. David H. Vensel, of Beaver, Pennsyl- vania. So the new complete billing will be “Designs for Dancing by Maurice Spitalny and the KDKA Orchestra.” Judges were Dick Fortune of the Pittsburgh Press, Harold Cohen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Bill Lewis of the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. AAA Riggers started dismantling KDKA’s famous 718-foot antenna September 8 preparatory to its removal to the new1 transmitter site near Allison Park, only eight miles from Downtown Pitts- burgh. So Special Events Man Dave Garroway took his pet microphone to Saxonburg for a broadcast report of the proceedings. Chief Engineer Joe Baudino climbed to the top of the spire to interview two of the riggers while they removed holts 20 feet below his position. Gar- roway and Production Chief Charley Lrquhart worked into the program from the ground. AAA Edward Ochsenshirt is the newr mem- ber of KDKA’s guest relation depart- ment, filling the vacancy caused when Fred Saviers resigned to accept a po- sition in the Baltimore plant of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufac- turing Company. KDKA brought television to more than a million visitors at the recent Allegheny County Fair. Picture shows stage while KDKA Songstress Faye Parker was broadcasting a song and being tele- vised at the same time. Lloyd Chapman is at camera. For winning the KDKA orchestra naming contest, Mrs. David H. Vensel won the RCA phonograph and radio shown here. With Mrs. Vensel are KDKA Manager Sherman Gregory. Maurice Spitalny, director of music, and Dick Fortune, chairman of judges. OCTOBER, 1939 15 NBC SAN FRANCISCO by Louise Landis Kix Pliz The Bohemian Club’s annual en- campment is over but members of the famous San Francisco club are still chuckling over the morning when Vice President Don E. Gilman loyally or- dered the Grouch Club cereal for breakfast. “I want Korn Kix this morning.” said Mr. Gilman. The waiter looked puzzled for a moment then disappeared to return with a stack of smoking grid- die Ccilccs “Hey,” protested Mr. Gilman, “I said Korn Kix.” “Oh,” said the waiter, “I thought you said hot-kix!” The Groom Wore . . . First autumn bride at NBC is the former Marian Hansen, whose cherubic dimples and golden hair brighten up the Plant Department, where she is secretary to Engineer-in-charge Curtis Peck. Marian became Mrs. Frank Mac- Quarrie at a pretty evening ceremony in Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where the Rev. C. H. Hansen read the marriage service. Marian wore a gown of white net with lace inserts in the full skirt, and a short lace veil caught with a spray of white bouvardia. She carried gardenias and bouvardia. Her sister, Mrs. John Paul Jones, was her only attendant, and her eldest brother, Harold Hansen was best man. Mrs. Jones wore a gown of rose-colored moire, and flowers in her hair, and the bridegroom wore a dazed and happy expression. When he and Marian re- turn from their honeymoon motor trip they will live in Oakland, where Mac- Quarrie is engaged in the real estate business. His Better Half Sales Promotion Manager Bob Mc- Andrews brought a clean shirt and electric razor to the office the other day in order to be spick and span for the opening of The Great American Family . . . Primping after office hours, he had just shaved one side of his face when the razor suddenly gave up the ghost, and so Bob had to attend half bearded and half smooth-shaven. . . . “1 only saw half the show,” he says, “because I had to keep my girl on my well-groomed side all evening.” Shiner KGO baseball broadcaster Ernie Smith, who has been steadily engaged News! News! Man bites dog! In which Engineer Guy Cassidy’s offspring proves he has showmanship even if he isn’t a year old yet. His proud poppa caught this shot, and we thought you would like to see it. for twelve years in sportscasting and has never had an accident, appeared at the studio with a black eye. He is sticking to his story — says his wife gave it to him in a soft-ball game! Ambidiguous Gol Shennanigans Blueyscrewy, the new language in- vented by Ira Blue, KPO-KGO com- mentator on everything from radio programs to sports, is stretching its tentacles through the studio and threatens to engulf 111 Sutter Street in a James Joyce miasma. When an announcer makes a witticism Ira is apt to comment “Bolzons de fela!” — which, pronounced with a Central European accent, means “Very bad" in Blueyscrewy. If, however, Ira cries “Eltra-drametanctic, my wolfsohnian friend!” the announcer blushes with pleasure at the compliment (he hopes) . Ira’s chief weather vanes are the page boys. Jimmy Coffis, former Stanford football star, was stopped by Ira the other day and asked, “Jimmy, what was the most squirreliferous run you ever made on the gridiron?” Jim shook his head, whereat Ira snorted, “I never encountered such brastigian intellects — Jimmy is a swell guy, but upstairs he’s just plain ambitrocrical !” NBC HOLLYWOOD • ( Continued from page 12) beat their horses into a gallop to charge the Streamliner, which unfor- tunately was traveling at 110 miles an hour at the time and didn’t have time to stop. AAA Art Carter, NBC’s official photog- rapher in Hollywood, spent a week’s vacation last month on a friend’s Arizona cattle ranch. During his stay. Art borrowed a horse and his friend’s prize winning hound and started out in search of mountain lions. Finally the hound caught the scent of one and im- mediately started the chase, which Art says lasted for two whole days. Art claims his only concern after the first day was to catch up to the hound so he could bring the mutt safely back to his owner. AAA Quick Pix . . . Nadine Amos, Don E. Gilman’s secretary, vacationed at Cata- lina . . . During E. P. H. James’ west- ern trip, he and Charlie Brown visited San Francisco where James addressed agency and radio executives ... it remained for Ken Carpenter to unearth the fact that Joe Parker used to be a drummer in an orchestra . . . When Frances Scully vacationed in New York she spoke before the National Shoe Re- tailers on Hollywood styles . . . Fred Leuschner, lawyer, spent the middle of September hunting in Northern Cali- fornia . . . Dick Graham held down the fort representing NBC and RCA in Hollywood . . . Sydney Dixon attended Signal Oil Sales conferences in the Northwest during the month the Carni- val was broadcast from Coast cities . . . Orchestra leader Gordon Jenkins, Director Dave Elton, and Announcer Johnny Frazer travelled with the show . . . Marita Davis is the new’ secretary in Program. AAA Don E. Gilman left September 9 for Chicago, where he will attend a meet- ing of Blue Netwmrk station heads. He will stay in that city for the NAB meet- ing, then travel to New York for a short stay. AAA Blanche Davies, Lew Frost’s secre- tary, visited San Francisco over Labor Day. The only NBC person she met while there was Betty O’Neill. Guest Relations, Hollywood. However, Blanche did get to wTatch George Vol- ger, Hollywood Radio City page on leave, who is describing the RCA Tele- vision Exhibit at the Fair. 16 NBC TRANSMITTER As we count days, not much time has elapsed since our last reportorial effusions, but in terms of epochal me- morabilia, we have had to count, not the days, but the minutes and seconds. There was the matter of that little difficulty over in Europe, and, of course, don’t forget that this was the month of “• ' and some went the NBC Outing. Certainly those who were there won’t forget it for some time to come. A lot of people took advantage of the occasion to get in some horse-back riding; and a lot of people took advantage of the soft seats in the studio section on their first day back at work. The whole day was an active one, with every facility of the Briareliff Manor Lodge at our disposal. Some even went swimming, and our hats are off to those human polar bears who braved the chill breezes of Autumn for a farewell fling at their favorite sport. Even the food for the party was well taken care of by the serving of cold lunches to all who wanted them, and hot dinners at night. All of which sums up to a very satisfac- tory day. AAA Leaving Outing-talk gradually, we un- derstand that Charlie Whalen had a tough lime finding his way out of Ossining on his way home. With punctures in the mid- dle of nowhere and getting lost a couple of times, it was kind of tough. However, Charlie, if it’s any consolation, there are a lot of people who have trouble getting away from Ossining. AAA Of all the divisions of the company which Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public glibly misname, Guest Relations is way out in front in the number and originality of titular mistakes. Now a page naturally directs a wand- erer to Guest Relations, Public Relations, Friendly Relations, etc., as to one and the same office. But the prize of the month, which should interest our friends who handle the ticket distribution, occur- red in the Main Hall, when a gentleman recently requested to be directed to the “Friends and Rela- tions Department.” By the way, though few of us knew it — sad to say — the second place winner in the Atlantic City beauty contest dropped in to see us the other day. We hear that Otto Brandt of Station Relations was exceedingly nice to the young lady, and that he hasn't been quite the same • i • ■. » j . 1 “The day was an active one." since her visit. And yet she only won the title of second prettiest girl in the country. That’s the trouble with a lot of us, Otto, we just can’t pick a winner. AAA Twice recently, the uniformed staff has supplied talent for our NBC shows. Charles Turner began it by an appearance on Alma Kitchell’s Let's Talk It Over, in whicb he told aspiring young collegians what is and is not to be worn on our campuses today. That many pearls of sartorial wisdom dropped from his lips gives further proof, if proof is needed of the scope of knowl- edge and interest that is Mr. Turner’s. A few weeks later, four mental giants of the guide staff, Tom Canning, George Fuller, Jack Kelly, and Bill Kenneally matched wits on Dale Baxter’s It’s Up to You show. If you study the picture of these boys carefully, you'll see the whole story of the outcome written on their beaming faces. One look at the winner’s “I knew it all along” expression will identify him im- mediately. Passing from Mr. Kelly, you can find the second place winner on his left. Bill thinks that second is better than nothing, but lie’s still just a little chagrined. You have to hand it to the next gentleman. Few are able to smile in the ugly face of bitter de- feat. Tough luck. Tom — vou “musta got somethin' in your eye,” huh? Not much has to be said about the last gem of expres- sion. Third place is bet- ter than last and. anyway, “we had such a gay time, who cares who won?” (He may not have said it — but be sure looks it here!) Anyway, congratu- lations to the winner, and “better luck next time” to the rest of the boys. AAA We beg to report that no guides or pages were married during Septem- ber. . . cold lunches were served.”?!! Four of NBC's Finest as they appeared on recent It's Up To You show. Left to right, Jack Kelly, Bill Kenneally, Tom Canning, and George Fuller. (See story.) TELE FLIGHT IS SUCCESSFUL NEW SYSTEM OF RECORDING Interior of the United Air Lines plane, taken during the course of the experimental flight. ON the morning of Tuesday, October 17, a television experiment marked the twentieth anniversary of the founding of RCA. The experiment was carried on in the substratosphere. Flying over Washington at an altitude of 21,600 feet, RCA and NBC engineers tuned in Station W2XBS, New York, on a standard model television receiver now being sold in New York. The only change made in the receiver was a slight adjustment in the automatic volume control to compensate against the whirling propellers. At the prescribed time, the image of Herluf Provensen, NBC announcer, appeared on the screen. After a brief introduction, his place was taken by David Sarnoff, presi- dent of RCA, and W. A. Patterson, president of United Air Lines, which company was cooperating in the experiment. By means of two-way radio communication, a conversation then ensued between Mr. Sarnoff and Mr. Patterson in the studios, and the members of the group in the plane. Later, in response to a request from Sid Desfor, NBC staff photog- rapher, Mr. Sarnoff posed for a picture. That photograph, taken from the kinescope screen of the receiver in the plane, is printed on this page. The big thrill of the flight came on the return from Washington. As the plane neared North Beach Airport, the motion picture sequence which had been filling the screen of the plane’s receiver suddenly stopped. In its place mem- bers of the group could see a picture of their own plane as it circled the new airport. They were able to watch them- selves landing from the viewpoint of those on the ground, since the television cameras stationed below followed the incoming ship until it touched the earth and taxied up the runway to a stop. The images, as seen in the plane, were comparable to those received in the primary service area of the NBC sta- tion, which takes in a radius of fifty miles around mid-town Manhattan. However, they did suffer frequently from inter- ference of other electrical equipment in the plane, including ( Continued on page 10) A DIRECT outgrowth of Television’s pioneer work in ultra-high frequencies, the RCA-NBC Orthacoustic Recording System, has recently been introduced by NBC Electrical Transcription Service. It is an entirely new sys- tem which offers listeners the same tonal qualities found in live broadcasts. The new development will be available to all stations without the necessity of installing expensive new equipment, since it is merely a crystallization of all recording improve- ments made during the past few years, together with new innovations in materials and recording technique. Essen- tially, it offers higher quality in reproduction; elimination of distortion, particularly in high frequencies and in surface or background noises; natural, true reproduction of speech; and greater tone fidelity in the reproduction of music. The tonal qualities produced by records transcribed under the orthacoustic method have been commended both by engineers and public. The system itself represents one of the greatest technical strides forward since the introduction of electrical recording in 1925. The improvements lie in a pre-emphasis of the lower and higher frequencies during recording. Inverse characteristics are introduced into the playback equipment through a com- pensation filler, and eliminate background noise in the lower frequencies as well as scratching in the higher fre- quencies, at the same time minimizing distortion in the treble and bass. The engineering laboratories of both the RCA Manufac- turing Co. and NBC, working together, are responsible for the new development, and it will be used exclusively in the recordings made by NBC’s Electrical Transcription Service. In addition, sample recordings and instructions about the application of the greatly improved method have been prepared for distribution among NBC’s affiliated stations. RCA President David Sarnoff and W. A. Patterson, president of United Air Lines, as they were seen on the iconoscope screen of the plane's receiver. 2 NBC TRANSMITTER ARTISTS SERVICE PLANS TALENT MANAGEMENT Mr. George Engles, vice president and managing director of NBC Artists Service, is setting a precedent for the entire field of entertainment by giving ten fortunate young men an oppor- tunity to learn how to handle talent. The fact has long been recognized that such a movement as this was needed, but it wasn’t until Mr. Engles’ plans were announced that it became a reality. The talks have been designed with a two-fold purpose: to give young men an opportunity for training in the man- agement and sale of talent, and to create a supply from which the enter- tainment world may draw its future managers. The group meetings w'ill convene once a week for twenty-five consecutive weeks with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. At these meetings, Mr. Engles will in- vite famous personages of the amuse- ment world to speak. Between meetings, the group mem- bers will spend one or two nights at a play, the opera, a concert, a night club, or motion picture that Mr. Engles might suggest. Reviews will be written with emphasis on casting, di- rection, story, production, scenery, lighting, etc. Many more applications have been received than the limited size of the group permits. The selections are be- ing made now, and by the time this issue is released the members of the group will have been chosen. They will have been selected through a per- sonal interview with Mr. Engles, and consideration of written reports on various subjects, including the discus- sion of a radio program, comparison of magazines, and the future in radio for the individual. Th is plan has been termed “history making,” but Mr. Engles prefers to consider it as building the foundation for history which will be made bv the group’s members in years to come. In presenting this course, Mr. Engles is cooperating in the general training plan of the Company, which is being directed by Ashton Dunn of Personnel. Two Stations Added Two Pennsylvania stations, WJAC, Johnstown, and WFBG, Altoona, have become affiliated with the Company’s Red Network, joining the system on October 1. This brings the total to 176 stations. DAVID SARNOFF TALKS ON “RADIO AND EDUCATION’’ Following are excerpts from Mr. Sarnoff's speech, which was delivered in Albany, N. Y., October 13, at the 75th Annual Convocation of the Uni- versity of the State of New- York. The deleted parts have not been indicated, highlights of the talk having been printed as one continuous article. If I confine my remarks today to the services of a single company, it is not with any desire to withhold credit from its competitors for the many meritorious contributions they have made to education through broadcast- ing. I speak of the National Broad- casting Company because its policies and programs are more familiar to me; because its educational program services are more comprehensive than those of any other broadcasting or- ganization; because, as the pioneer of American network broadcasting, NBC has blazed a trail which other broad- casters have followed in a spirit of public service. It is important to remember that this organization is a commercial and not an endowed institution. It is a business conducted under the Ameri- can system of private enterprise. Re- gardless of the merits of its perform- ance by any other standards, it will be a failure if its revenues do not exceed its expenses; if it is unable to maintain itself and to reimburse the capital it employs. This requirement is not a handicap, it is a source of strength. It is the factor which dictates that the broad- casting network shall serve the many and not cater only to the few, that its efforts shall always be directed to bring the greatest good to the greatest number. Only 30% of NBC’s total program time is paid for by advertisers. The remaining 70% — devoted to programs known as “sustaining” — represents by far the largest element of expense in the broadcaster’s budget. The time alone, given free to sustaining pro- grams on the NBC networks, would amount to $50,000,000 a year if fig- ured at commercial rates. That sum does not include the talent and special facilities employed on these programs, which cost the company many millions of dollars each year. In any discussion of the relation between radio and education, one in- evitable question always comes up: What do you mean by “education”? f Continued on page 4) 66 BEGIN SECOND SEASON OF DISCUSSION GROUPS On Wednesday evening. October 18. Dr. James R. Angell gave the first talk, inaugurating the second series of dis- cussion groups to be held by and for New York employees. These discussions are arranged by Ashton Dunn, of Personnel, for the purpose of giving a more complete picture of the company and its de- tailed activities. They are scheduled for alternate Wednesdays throughout the winter until the first of June, meet- ings lasting about an hour and a half after 5:1 5.' The head of a different division ap- pears at each succeeding session and gives a brief, informal talk about the work of his particular province, this being followed by open discussion with the speaker of the evening answering pertinent questions. At a specified time and place during intervening weeks, persons intimately connected with the wmrking details of the division under discussion will be available for further questioning. This for the benefit of the group members who are particu- larly interested in that division; it will then be possible for them to investi- gate the work more thoroughly. Contrasting sharply to last year’s hit-or-miss schedule, the talks this sea- son will follow a definite plan. One department will be completely covered before it is dropped. While reports will not be submitted as they were last year, there will be a succession of quizzes from time to time to determine just what the par- ticipants are getting out of the course. Mr. Dunn makes it clear that the discussions are not designed to train anyone for a particular division, but to give the members a look into each one of them and a better idea of Com- pany activities as a whole. However, for those anxious to enter a particular phase of Company work, the meetings will certainlv furnish a better founda- tion for study and preparation. Interest in the discussions, even as in the last series, has been lively. Too many applications are received to per- mit everyone to enter, and selection must be by merit. 66 persons have been chosen for this particular session, including employees from Artists Ser- vice, Continuity Acceptance, Electrical Transcription. Engineering, General Service, Information. Legal. Program, Sales, and Stations. NOVEMBER, 1939 3 KNOW YOUR COMPANY No. 19 — Announcing Division “This is station WJZ . . . and an- other announcer has made his mite <>l an impression on the public ear for the benefit of NBC. How poised and pleasant are these familiar voices of Radio City, and how much hard work and organization lie behind the fact that the announcer is always there and always on key. The Division is not large. Forty- four industrious persons carry the whole load. Many people will remem- ber when there wasn’t am Announcing Division at all. Milton Cross, dean of announcers, maestro of the microphone, was carry- ing shows on WJZ nineteen years ago before NBC was a name to dial for. He has undoubtedly said more words over the air than even the Statistical Division would care to lay end to end. Eleven years ago things had come to a point where nothing less than twelve announcers would do. But Announcing was still just a part of Production. In 1929 the complexity of the job and the increasing specialization of radio work demanded a great divide, and Announcing came into its own as a full fledged Division under the im- mediate supervision of the vice-presi- dent in charge of Programs. Since then it has carried on, flying its own banner. Today there are thirty-six announcers. Head of the Division for the last ten years has been the genial and capable Pat Kelly, sitting in his office on the fifth floor within easy reach of Webster’s Unabridged. He listens in to hear what sort of job the men are doing, he tells the agencies which men are free for a commercial at a given time (making sure the same person doesn’t announce competing products), and he schedules the announcers for straight programs, spots, and nemos. But more than this, the division is a bottleneck for production. The an- nouncer is the last man in the line from the writer of the show to the actual broadcast, and Pat Kelly has to make sure that the cues for setting up and switches are correct, and that the proper channels are open at the begin- ning and the end of a program. Helping him is Dan Russell, his as- sistant, a fine linguist who is able to tell you the correct pronunciation for anything from Nishni Novgorod to Tuonela. It isn’t surprising then to find Dan Russell also in charge of Pat Kelly guiding the aspirants’ aspirates in An- nouncing’s training class for the uni- formed staff. At night Ray Diaz is in charge, aided and abetted by James Shellman, an- other assistant supervisor. An outstanding member of the Divi- sion is Miss Edna Seibel. Naturally, being the final link in production. An- nouncing has to tie in with Traffic, check up with it, and take care of all executive orders about programs as well. So this department binds to- gether all the stuff from Production and Traffic, day by day, sees that everything is straightened out, and then lines up and issues the daily logs. And it is Miss Seibel who coordinates these logs. She has been at it for ten years and is one of those “Famous People Who Hardly Ever Get A Va- cation,” which is understandable be- cause the division would be helpless without her work. Filling out the organization’s frame- work are the announcers themselves . . . thirty-six good men and true- voiced. The uninformed public gen- erally pictures them spending their time ringing the NBC chimes, spelling out B-U-L-R-U-S every hour, and wear- ing galoshes and gargling to protect their livelihood. We all know this is far from true. An announcer must have special qualifications; after a good voice the chief asset being a head. It is prac- tically a cliche, or ought to be, that it is better to have a merely acceptable voice and brains, than no brains and a voice to make the weak-willed weep. This is because of all the different things an announcer has to do. Besides his regular sustaining and sponsored shows, he must cover all sorts of spots, nemos, international broadcasts and special events. He may start the day with a straight show. He arrives in the studio, where he must be at least ten minutes ahead of time, reads his script, puts the studio on the air. and speaks his piece. Eater on he goes into rehearsal for a sponsored program and this time puts his all into a commercial. Finally he may end up by covering a late dance band. He grabs his music sheet, the list of numbers to be played, and rushes off to the Walsylvania fifteen minutes ahead of O.A., to cheek the sheet with the band leader and arrange his introductions, most of which are ad lib. But an announcer may have to spring to attention at an instant’s no- tice — witness the recent twenty-four hours a day coverage of the war bul- letins from the NBC Special Events room, with George Hicks and others giving them to the country as fast as they came off the teletvpes. Obviously the announcer must be a showman, actor, fast-thinker, and a d'nlomat. He must also be able to build a show. And through it all he must maintain a pleasant personality and a pleasant personal appearance. As a matter of fact, personal appear- ance is verv important. Remember the studio audiences and the important people and guest stars whom an an- nouncer meets. No wonder they are all such trig-looking fellows! Behind this set up in the Announcing Division, covering evervthing from Pat Kelly to the weather reports from Studio 2C, the one supreme, irrevo- cable authority is, of course. Daniel “Unabridged” Webster, original au- thor of the announcer’s Bible. He set- tles all disputes. He is the one man who can do no wrong. Backed by this authority, keeping the golden gram- marian rule, “good usage in a natural wav.” the mellifluous masticators of the language “send ’em out alive.” If by some strange chance an an- nouncer does make a mistake. Pat Kelly can always count on a heavy mail from the public. Usually, howT- ever. the announcers themselves get the ( Continued on page 8) 4 NBC TRANSMITTER DAVID SARNOFF SPEAKS ( Continued from page 2) “Education” is one of those umbrel- la words that casts a wide or narrow shadow, depending on whether you keep it open or closed. In the open sense of the word, it is an educational experience to listen to a beautiful piano concerto. In the closed sense, the concerto becomes educational only when the listener practices it on the piano, or studies its construction from a score. When Dr. Angell joined our staff, I asked him to give us his definition of education as applied to radio broad- casting. After pointing out the neces- sity for distinguishing between the use of the word as applied to schools and colleges, and its use in a non-institu- tional sense, Dr. Angell supplied us with the following: “Any program may be regarded as educational in purpose which attempts to increase knowledge, to stimulate thinking, to teach technique and meth- ods, to cultivate discernment, appre- ciation and taste, to enrich character by sensitizing emotion and by inspir- ing socialized ideals that may issue in constructive conduct. Education is es- sentially the process by which individ- uals come to adjust themselves intelli- gently to life.” I believe that Dr. Angell’s definition is one which educators will accept. When we identify education with all the processes by which character is enriched and knowledge is increased, the importance of broadcasting as one of the modern instruments of education and as a public service is self-evident. The sustaining public service pro- grams of NBC represent more than half of its total program hours, or more than 10,000 program hours each year. There are programs planned primarily for reception in the home, to furnish information, culture, and inspiration to all classes of listeners; and programs designed or suited to supplement the work of teachers in schools or college classrooms, and home-study groups. These program subjects are not hap- hazard selections. Each is a carefully chosen unit in a comprehensive pro- gram pattern. The pattern is designed with the same editorial foresight that goes into making up a newspaper or magazine. No sharp borderline distinguishes programs of the general educational tyj >e from those more specifically de- signed for students in classrooms or the home. At this very moment this ANNIVERSARY CHIMES The NBC Transmitter salutes these members of the National Broadcasting Company, who, this month, complete their tenth year with the Company. New York George W. Malcolm, Guest Relations Katherine C. Parker, Bindery Charles Reyes Carvajal, International Theodore P. Gray, Music Clement Jay Walter, Sound Effects Joseph Kendall Mason, Sales Promo- tion Erances Barbour, Sales Charles Alfred Wall, Auditing Chicago Marvin H. Eichorst, Engineering Helen Shervey, Program Hollywood Alex S. Robb, Artists Service Stephen Charles Hobart, Engineering San Francisco Byron Fay Mills, Program afternoon, for example, some six mil- lion school children throughout the United States have put aside their arithmetic and geography books, and are listening to the beloved dean of conductors, Dr. Walter Damrosch, as he directs a symphony orchestra and expounds the meaning and significance of some of the world’s great music. At the same time, millions of home listeners are equally enjoying this Damrosch Music Appreciation Hour, even though it does not get them out of any recitations. In coordination with the company’s overall pattern of public service pro- grams, the NBC Educational Depart- ment, under Dr. Angell’s direction, has mapped out its own schedule of balanced program activities. This schedule has been adopted after a care- ful analysis of what has already been done in this field, both in this country and abroad, and after consultation with prominent educators and educa- tional organizational procedure. The usefulness of broadcasting in education is now clearly established. It should grow with the years. In it, the ultimate aims of educators and broadcasters are identical. Both desire to see American standards of culture and intelligence raised to higher levels. Both recognize the power of broad- casting as a means to that end. These are days when American in- stitutions are the subject of attack, both abroad and at home. The ques- tion is again being asked, as it was in Lincoln’s time, “whether this nation LIBRARY EXCHANGE PLAN A meeting of all RCA - NBC li- brarians, suggested by Miss Marie Lugscheider, was held on Thursday, October 5, in the NBC General Library, room 463 of the studio section, with Miss Frances Sprague acting as hostess. The purpose of the group was to estab- lish an exchange system of ideas and facilities for all of the libraries con- cerned. Besides Miss Sprague, and Miss Lugscheider of the RCA Harrison Library, those attending were William M. Paisley, NBC Music Library; Miss Rose Lonberger, RCA Camden Li- brary; Miss Doris Crooker, NBC Law Library; and Miss Katherine Shana- han, who has charge of the RCA Patent Library. The outcome of the meeting has a much greater meaning than at first seems apparent. Each one of the li- braries holds books on some special field not owned by the others; Miss Sprague, for instance, has a large stock of volumes on programming and broadcasting in general, whereas tech- nical works comprise the major por- tion of the Camden and Harrison facilities. This necessarily imposed a handicap, since in one of the libraries, books covering certain subjects might be called for so infrequently that their use hardly warranted the purchasing expense. Yet they might be on file in one of the others. Under the newly ( Continued on page 15) or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.” I believe it can. But the answer lies largely in the use we make of our freedom; in the ability of our citizens to think for themselves and to govern themselves; in the ability of our self-controlled in- dustries to render a larger measure of public service than is rendered by the slate-controlled industries of other lands. Young as it is, radio is proud of its share in helping to shape that answer. Education of the masses — as well as of the leaders — is one of the bulwarks of our democracy. Radio is a mass medium. It reaches the literate and those who cannot read. It brings the treasures of education to all alike. In fact, the richest man in the world cannot buy for himself what the poor- est man gets free by radio. In no other nation of the world — even where it is endowed by the treas- uries of the state — has radio achieved so much in the cause of education and freedom as it has in the United States. NOVEMBER, 1939 Ping Pong Champ Tom Bashaw, Sound Effects. NBC CHICAGO by Lynn Brandt ON September 21, the Lincolnshire Country Club, 26 miles south of Chicago, was the scene of the fall outdoor party sponsored by the Central Division NBCAA. Golf, swimming, tennis, baseball, ping-pong, and riding occupied the attention of the many NBCites who were in attendance. Some of the prize win- ners were Ken Carpenter, Blue Sales manager, Central Division, in golf; Charles Whipple, Guest Relations, in tennis; Tom Bashaw, Sound Effects, in the ping- pong singles; Johnny Wehrheim and Bill Rosee in the ping-pong doubles. Byron Speirs, studio engineer, won the top door prize ... a swell portable radio. Again congratulations to NBCAA President Meritt R. Schoenfeld, Net Sales, and his committee workers for a successful day and evening. Outside Pickup (I to r) Engineers A. L. Hockin, W. O. Conrad, and Harold -<— Jackson. Newly-weds Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ewing (Florence Moeller). Rail Birds (I to r) Curt Mitchell, Jean Ballun, Irene Clark, Art Pearson, Esther Nilsen, Norma Aldersonn, Gene Hoge. 6 NBC TRANSMITTER NEW YORK Changes and Additions The erudite, erstwhile editor of this publication has left our suite of offices on the 4th floor to take up his stand as one of the perambulating pillars of the Script Division. Gordon Nugent is with us no more. Needless to say, the loss of his steadying hand and kindly influence will he sincerely felt by his former associates. Mr. Nugent was probably one of the most learned editors this tradition- steeped paper has ever had. He re- ceived his A.B. degree at the Univer- sity of Illinois, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He moved from there on a path of glory to Columbia University, entering on a literary scholarship and receiving his Master’s degree in English literature. Then fol- lowed four more years among books, specifically with Henry Holt and Co., publishers of textbooks. Mr. Nugent then decided to write. He first spent a year of freelancing on the West Coast, but finally joined NBC in Feb- ruary of this year. Mr. Nugent’s glowing personality made this office one of the most popu- lar watering places in the Company, and his literary style added zest and sparkle to the pages of the magazine. More times than we can readily say has Transmitter copy been spiced with his subtle quips — surely it will suffer for the loss of them. And so we tender him regretfully into the hands of Miss McBride, with the gentle admonition to care for him well. For this is the banner of genius, half un- furled. Guide Frank Shinn was officially transferred to the Production Division of the Program Department on the first of October. He replaced Frank Dodge, recently moved into a junior produc- tion director’s berth. Shinn qualified in last spring’s audi- tions and has since been a member of the announcer’s class, soon to be re- sumed under Dan Russell. And being versatile enough, he has also assisted Bill Eddy in Television’s visual effects work, the latter being an outgrowth of his experience with puppetry. He once toured the Eastern Seaboard with his own company, playing to audiences raneing from ten to twenty-five hun- dred people. A credit note to Frank at this point: He attended the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia for four semesters. Now he is putting in a full day’s work at NBC, and at the same time is carrying almost a full schedule at NYU Evening School in an effort to round out the above credits for a B.S. degree. He does have ten minutes between two of his classes and is trying to think of a way to fill in his spare time. Norman Gray was transferred to Music Library on October 1. He was taken from the tour supervisor’s desk on the mezzanine. Norm is Duke University, class of ’36. and holds membership in several fraternities: Phi Mu Alpha, Alpha Phi Omega, Theta Alpha Phi, and Helmet and Spurs. He also has a B.S.M. degree. The hoy who, in an engaging tone, used to croon, “Your tour is leaving now,” into the P.A. mike on the mez- zanine, originally came to New York to study voice with Estelle Liebling. He made his professional debut last August at Allen’s Grove Summer Thea- ter, Rutland, Vermont, singing the role of Silvio in Pagliacci. He is said to have had an interesting life. Official recognition of Martin Hoade’s transfer was recentlv forth- coming. He has been with the Com- pany since 1933, or just before the exodus from 711 Fifth Ave., with most ol the time spent in Music Division. He is now in News and Special Events. Marty has had the journalism hug ever since he went to work in the Cir- culation Department of the New York Sun, and that was back in high school days. He has taken an extension course in news writing at the Columbia Uni- versity School of Journalism, and has also studied radio at the N. Y. U. Ex- tension School. With this in back of him, it took nothing more than a world crisis to put him in the News Room. Mary Louise Fields has been re- engaged in News as secretary and keeper of the morgue. She replaces Annette Johnson, resigned. St. Joseph’s College, Maryland, is now represented in Press Department. Mary Alice Grattan is her name and she has been in town only since Au- gust, with her job in the Company coining a month later. However, she does account for several years business experience between school and now. She will act as receptionist, and also as secretary to Mr. Mullen of Press. In Sales, the details of Hugh Beville’s work is now being handled by Martha Howard. Frank Breslin has taken over her former post while Frank’s desk is now being covered by Katherine Moroney. The new operator in Telegraph is Martin Ford, who, at this writing, has been with NBC one month. He for- merly handled news traffic for the Pi ess Radio Bureau, and has also worked for Postal Telegraph. To get Charles H. Newton. Jr., you now dial Script Dept., where he has a desk and the title of junior staff writer. He was advanced from Script Routing where he has been since Feb- ruary of this year. Mr. Newton went to school in Cambridge at an institu- tion called Harvard, from which he received a degree in 1936. He then went to the Pacific side of the country to work as a cub reporter on the Los Angeles Examiner. New York’s four seasons and the National Broadcasting Co. attracted him hack in April of 1 938. There is a twist to this latest change. Cordon Nugent, who last spring vacated the old Transmitter office for Dorothy McBride, is now back in that office under Miss McBride’s wing, while Charley has Dorothy’s old office down the hall. No piize is being offered for a solution to this last paragraph. Miss Kay Bauer has recently been added to Artists Service as assistant to Madge Tucker. Miss Bauer ex- presses extreme satisfaction with her position and hopes she may be asso- ciated with NBC for a long period. Her hobby is keeping up with events in theatre, motion pictures, and radio. Charles Rynd, in Sales, now has Elizabeth Dunkerton as secretary. She is one of NBC’s newer arrivals, having joined the Company August 22. and comes under the general heading of “local girl”— Bayside, L. L, being the actual spot. She got her preliminary schooling there, later went through Packard Business School, and at pres- ent is studying nights at N. Y. U. There was also a goodly bit of business experience between then and now: at Macy’s, as secretary to a dentist, with the Guaranty Trust Co., and in her last position as secretary to an engineer w i th the World’s Fair Corp. Another Packard graduate (this column is not intended for advertising) is Katherine Moroney, who is now in charge of tickets in Sales. She comes from Brooklyn, and also attended St. Francis Xavier Academy in that subur- ban town. Her first position after busi- ness school was in the Company’s Stenographic section, which she joined in October of 1938. Up in National Spot and Local Sales, Mary Elson has taken over the desk guarding Mr. Boyd’s office. Be- fore that she had devoted some six months to Script Division, and we’ll NOVEMBER, 1939 / lei you figure out the amount of time spent in Stenographic, which started in January of this year. She has taken a secretarial course at Scudder and also attended Western Reserve University. Her business career began as secretary to tbe Prosecuting Attorney in Ashland, Ohio, and before NBC, included a year and a half w ith a publishing house and some months in the oflices of a steel company. Ashland was the home town. All the way from the West Coast comes Janet Pitch, who can now be found at the first desk to the right of that door on the left as you go into Continuity Acceptance. Coming down to specific geography, she hails from Eugene, Oregon, and attended the Uni- versity of Oregon, graduating in 1933 with a French major. This latter for tbe benefit of those francophiles in Press who are thinking of starting a club. Janet came East by a long jump and a short one. She landed first in Ithaca, N. Y., where she stayed until 1938, working at the central offices of the kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Last year found her at the Katherine Gibbs School right here in New York, and she insists that she left there with an honorable discharge to come with NBC. She replaces Jane Adams here as secre- tary to Miss Dorothy Kemble. Frank Dodge returned to NBC October 1st after six months leave of absence which was spent at the World’s Fair. He is now employed in the Pro- duction Division of the Program De- partment as a junior production direc- tor. Frank received an A.B. degree at Ohio Wesleyan University. Electrical Transcription There are so many new faces in Electrical Transcription of late that we have decided to give that rapidly expanding department its own particu- lar niche in these columns. At least in this particular issue. Robert Schuetz recently made the cross country trip to the West Coast, having been transferred from his post in New York’s Engineering Division to the position of manager of Electrical Transcription in the Hollyw'ood studios. John Gartland left the Page Staff in 1936 to become Sales manager of Star- Radio Programs, Inc. The job was more or less a result of bis first at- tempts with radio shows — a number of scripts which had been accepted by NBC and produced either locally or on the network while he was still a mem- ber of the uniformed staff. But after an absence of three years, he returned to this company the last of September, joining Transcription Sales. He will contact local stations both from here and on the road. Johnny came originally from Pas- saic, N. J., but spent most of his early days in Winchester, Conn. He attended Gilbert Prep School in the latter city and at the same time, unshaven lad though he was, batted out articles for a local magazine called By The Way. Later on he entered Columbia Univer- sity, majoring in English literature. On the distaff side, four new secre- taries are now gracing those carpeted balls, although it should be noted that they are new only to Electrical Tran- scription. B. Jean Smith, now secretary to Promotion Manager W. B. Parsons, has been with NBC since 1934, having come here from a position at Bloom- ingdale’s. Her first job with the Com- pany was assistant to J. K. Mason in Sales Promotion. She remained there four years, then moved into the office of Clay Morgan to become his secre- tary. That accounted for another year. F or the past six months she has been on sick leave, returning recently to the new position with Mr. Parsons. Lorayne T retheway entered the Com- pany in June of this year, to go through the usual period in Stenographic. The promotion makes her secretary to Joseph W. Pepper and William Young. Lorayne started in New Rochelle, stopped off in Boston for preliminary schooling, carried on in the College of Fine Arts at Syracuse University, and then started on an entirely new track as secretary to the manager of the Raleigh Hotel in Washington. From there she came on to New York by way of Europe. Jeannette K. Siewers came from Minneapolis — and not so very long ago at that. She arrived in town sometime during February last, but was answer- ing roll call in room 304 by July. She now becomes secretary to Transcrip- tion’s John H. MacDonald, replacing Ruth Allison, who found it necessary to return to her home in Chicago be- cause of illness. Back in Minneapolis, Jeannette was another one of those who believed in keeping the trade at home. She gradu- ated from the University of Minnesota, picking up her secretarial training on the way through. Amidst feverish activity in 272 we found Peggy Woodworth, recently ad- vanced to the detail-handling desk under Messrs. Turner and Ralston. She is of West Englewood, N. J., Pearl River High School. Skidmore, and the Moon Secretarial School in New York, all of which covered some twenty odd years in her life and seemed to warrant a vacation. So we learn that she has also poked around France and Ger- many for a while, by foot and railroad. However, by September of 1938 she had settled down in our much publi- cized Stenographic Section, from which she was called by Transcription last February. Miscellaneous Another NBC guide has found his way to WRTD, Richmond, in the per- son of Ken Allyn. He resigned from Guest Relations about the first of the month to take up the usual duties down there. On Thursday, September 14, a ten year get-together celebration was held by seven NBC engineers, with their guests, in the Cocktail Lounge of the Rainbow Room. The seven were stu- dent engineers together in 1929 and have remained close friends through- out the years. The following day, Friday, the entire engineering staff assembled to pay re- spects to another event. A luncheon was held in honor of Bob Schuetz, re- cently transferred to NBC Hollywood as manager of Electrical Transcription in that city, with best wishes for suc- cess as the order of the day. In attendance at the first of these sessions were: Tommy Phelan. Robert Schuetz, Beverly Frendendall. Robert Shelby, Whitney Baston, Ward Wilson (better known as “Beetle” on Phil Baker’s show), and their respective guests. We have it that the gentlemen enjoyed themselves thoroughly and are looking forward to other anniversaries which can be celebrated in a similar way. Since G. Thornton Steil joined NBC ranks, his promotions and activities have demanded almost regular atten- tion in these pages. So in this particu- lar instance, we beg leave to refer you to his latest write-up in the Transmit- ter’s August issue, and to add that he and his Novachord have resigned in order to free lance. He continues a contracted series with Electrical Tran- scription, and in addition, is working a new commercial series with Colum- bia. We also have it on very good authority that he has two more com- mercial shows lined up in the offing. It should be noted that Ted not only does solo wrork, but that he also has his Novachord group, which goes under the name of “Ted Steele’s Nova- tones,” and figures into his future con- tracts as well. Anyway, this time we’ll say so long, Ted, and good luck. The prospects look swell. 8 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC TRANSMITTER Published for and by the employes of the National Broadcasting Company from coast to coast. VOL. 5 NOVEMBER. 1939 No. 11 EDITORIAL BOARD Don Witty Editor Howard Flynn Assistant Editor Robert Schroeder Assistant Editor Charles Van Bergen Photographs N. Y. CONTRIBUTORS Jack Kelly Guest Relations William Roache Guest Relations Tom Beckett Guest Relations Address all correspondence to: NBC Trans- mitter, National Broadcasting Company. 4-A Clients, RCA Building, New York, N. Y. Telephone: Circle 7-8300. Extension 220. KNOW YOUR COMPANY ( Continued from page 3) fan mail — and plenty of it. Probably fewer mistakes are made in the an- nouncer's job than in any other com- parable position, if you can think of another line of work where a man will be making public speeches from an airplane one day and from a submarine the next. When you hear one of these familiar voices of Radio City, think of the ef- ficiency of Pat Kelly’s Division, which, through sleet and hail and electric storms, brings you your NBC chimes every hour on the hour. Ordinarily, a small space in this position would be difficult to dispose of. In this case, however, we seize the opportunity to remind you that there are some odd shopping days to Xmas. Vincent F. Callahan New assistant manager of WBZ & WBZA, working with John A. Holman, NBC New England general manager. WBZ BOSTON and WBZA SPRINGFIELD by Charles J. Gilchresf The beauty of the 400 young ladies, who, during the Boston Television Girl Contest, paraded before NBC micro- phones and RCA television cameras in the WBZ studios, explains why Con- test Director Bob Evans had no trouble in getting all the assistance he needed. Traffic Manager Gordon Swan cele- brated, in October, fifteen continuous years of active ser- vice with WBZ & WBZA. He started as an announcer, worked at various times as press agent, production man, salesman, ar- tist, news reporter, special events di- rector ... in fact every job except that of engineer. Office Manager Cy Young took a late vacation in mid - October, but since returning refuses to tell where he went or what he did. WBZ Control Engineer Lantz got exactly two birds in the first four days of the hunting season. But instead of being disgusted he oiled up his rifle for a crack at deer and bear in New Hampshire’s mountains. Ruth D. Higgins resigned her job as secretary to WBZ & WBZA Office Man- ager Cy Young to become secretary to the Athletic Director and Librarian of Colby Junior College, New London, New Hampshire. She was replaced on the NBC-Boston staff by Miss Sonya Bussinias. Addition to WBZ & WBZA staff is Eleanor Sullo, stenographer in Ac- countant Bob Halloran’s office. Partially color blind WBZ & WBZA News Editor Charles Gilchrest went shopping on his wife’s order to get a blue topcoat to harmonize with blue and gray suits. He returned with a green one which clashes beautifully. Special Events Director Bob White celebrated the opening of National Fire Prevention Week by having a swell fire in his home. It gutted the basement, destroying solid mahogany furniture, hand painted china, and oil paintings. But his wife, a radio veteran herself, refused to phone him about it until his broadcasts were over for that evening. Announcer Fred Cole celebrated Na- tional Fire Prevention Week by being carried down a ladder from the fifth floor WBZ studios on the shoulder of a fireman. Fred took his mike with him and even the grunts of the husky fire fighter went out to the New Eng- land listeners. Captain John A. Holman, United Slates Signal Corps Reserve, and Gen- eral Manager of WBZ & WBZA, ar- ranged a special series of programs over these stations for the army re- cruiting service. Television Contest Director Bob Evans flew Mrs. Evans, and the winner of the Boston Television Contest, Eleanor Aycock, to New York for a whirl of festivities in Miss Aycock’s honor. Only fly in the social ointment was the fact that both ladies were at- tired in identical gray kidskin jackets and chapeaux. The morning hour from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. has become the hottest spot of the day for D. A. Meyer’s control room engineers. Gene and Glenn are fed to the NBC-Red Network. Simultaneous- ly Harvey and Dell are fed to NBC- Blue Network. The WBZ & WBZA program at this time is “Breakfast in Bedlam.” The engineers also feed the regular Blue Network to the Yankee Network experimental station W1XOJ, and line-up tests are being made prior to feeding the Columbia network to the Westinghouse international short wave station, WBOS, at Millis, Mass. Add to all this the auditions and re- hearsals regularly scheduled and you’ll see why 8 to 9 a.m. is “Bedlam at BZ. NOVEMBER, 1939 9 NBC SAN by Dick Hello and Goodbye Really big news of the month was the announcement that Lloyd Yoder, after 10 years of faithful service in the NBC-San Francisco fold, was assigned new worlds to conquer. Lloyd, who started with NBC as an announcer and traveled on up through the publicity department into the KPO-KGO man- ager’s chair, lakes hold of things at KOA, Denver, while A. E. Nelson, formerly in charge of Blue Network Sales, steps into the KPO-KGO front office. The gang found it tough to say so long to Lloyd, and to prove it they presented him with a swell set of golf clubs encased in a leather bag ... a real smooth job. The department heads teamed up and gave Lloyd a new-fangled, shiny pipe and stand to keep him in cool smokes. There were rounds of dinners and farewell ses- sions for the out-going boss, and the welcomes for the incoming chief have only begun. Also on the “Hello" list is one Floyd Farr, latest addition to the announcing staff, who comes to San Francisco from KDYL in Salt Lake. Welcome, Floyd, and have fun. Yes, a new name tops the column from the Golden Gate city, and we say goodbye, temporarily we hope, to Louise Landis, who has carried on for lo, these many years. She has taken a three months leave of absence to be with her husband, whose business de- manded that he take up residence in FRANCISCO Bertrandias the Salinas valley. Well, Carmel is only a quick trip by horse and buggy, so things could be worse. Story of the Month It was told by Wanda Woodward, who returned from vacation with a ro- mantic tale of near drowning and sub- sequent rescue. It all happened on the Russian River . . . a maiden in distress ... a knight in shin- ing armor, only in this case it was a bathing suit. Wanda was experiencing her initial canoe ride, but no one had told her they were sub- ject to capsizing. Result: Wanda and canoe in reverse po- sitions. Things were at their worst when a welcome masculine voice floated across the water from a nearby pier. “Say,” the voice asked, “can you swim?” “No,” Wanda gurgled, “Can you . . . I hope?” He could, Wanda was saved, and her hero turned out to be a handsome offi- cer in Uncle Sam’s Navy. Nice story — what? Speaking of Vacations . . . Late vacationers included Beth Gard- ner of Music Rights, visiting old haunts in Denver . . . Doreen Witt, also of Music Rights, off to Carmel . . . Arnold Marquis, Production, where- abouts unknown . . . Guy Cassidy, spending lime at home becoming bet- ter acquainted with offspring ... Ed Parkhurst, chez lui . . . Frank Barron, busy changing residence . . . and that, with a few exceptions, just about closes the “Absent With Blessing Depart- ment” for this year. Romance Department The fact that it isn't spring doesn t seem to have much influence among radio folk . . . Dave McNutt, Press, leveals that he and a certain Miss Janet Gullmann have announced their en- gagement, the result of a University of EXCHANGE CORNER RECORD PLAYER, attachable to any radio, together with three symphonies — all brand new — to exchange for photography etpiip- ment. Call J. W. C., Ext. 878. NBC GIRLS — Single or double rooms avail- able in penthouse apartment with sur- rounding terrace overlooking Central Park. Five minutes from NBC. $8-$10. Call PL 3-2450, Apart. 116. California campus romance . . . Marion Hansen MacQuarrie, back at her desk after trip south, says she doesn't re- member whether she saw anything en- route or not, she was on a honeymoon . . . By the way, how does the writer of column announce own marriage in same? Anyway, the lucky fellow and Miss Evelyn Lopez of San Jose are sup- posed to say “yes” on October 22, and by the time the Transmitter comes out will have done so. Yes indeed. Activities San Francisco’s NBC Athletic Asso- ciation strengthened its position with another social success . . . this time a swim party, followed by a buffet din- ner, dance, and general fun at the As- sociation’s clubhouse. Highlight of the evening was a thr il ler-di 1 ler drama. Title of same was One Thousand Legs Under the Sea. Bill Holmes was in charge of aquatics, while Budd Heyde held forth as head host during the eat, drink, and caper portion. Four of the “One Thousand Legs Under the Sea." Owners are Bill Holmes and Riola Jamison. 10 NBC TRANSMITTER TELE FLIGHT SUCCESSFUL (Continued from page 1) the radio transmitter and ignition ap- paratus for the two ship’s motors. Ralph Holmes, RCA engineer, and W. A. R. Brown. NBC engineer, ex- plained that 200 miles from the trans- mitter the signal intensity was low, and no matter how slight the interference, it had serious effects on the image quality. However, as the ship ap- proached New York City on the return trip the signal became strong. Motion picture transmissions and the landing of the plane itself came out in sharp focus. '['lie experiment bore out the theory that television’s ultra-short waves travel in a comparatively straight line. In order to receive the New York broad- cast over Washington, I). C., it was necessary to take the big, United Air Lines ship above the sixteen thousand foot level. (At that height, the Air Line’s representatives supplied each of I he group with tidies, through which i nough oxygen could be breathed in to offset the effects of the high alti- tude.) Television engineers had previ- ously established that the ultra-short wave’s utility was limited roughly to an area within the visual horizon. The receiver used in the experiment was, as mentioned before, a standard model. The adjustment against the propellers was necessary, since, ac- cording to the engineers, they acted as reflectors which caused extremely rapid variations in the intensity of the re- ceived signal. The antenna used was a simple dipole type, consisting of two wires strung under the fuselage of the ship. The connection to the receiver was made through the fuselage. If anyone is interested in picking up a 1934 sedan for $125, call Magnus Opsal, Extension 804, for details. by Jim Luntzel We have it from technicians in charge that the new KDKA transmit- ting plant will be ready for operation around November 1, so by the time you read this it should be in full swing. The new location is eighteen miles nearer Pittsburgh than the old site at Saxonville, Pa., and of course will greatly increase the station’s power and volume. The last word in modern equipment has been installed, and at this writing, wiring and connections are being readied for tests which will take place about October 16. The 71 8 foot antenna is already more than half way up and is daily climbing higher. When it is actually completed you will be able to see it . from downtown Pittsburgh office buildings. :.■» Russell Pratt, KDKA’s “Doctor Sunshine,” has taken over dutie> H | of morning pro- g§ J gram ■ dint in n visor, but is also Russell Pratt continuing .his present assign- ments as a microphone entertainer. Russ has wide background as an artist and his new job should give him opportunity to make use of his inate showmanship from every standpoint. News of his recognition at KDKA will be happil) learned throughout the en- tire radio world, where he numbers his friends in legions. Editor’s note: Our new Pittsburgh correspondent has assumed a very modest altitude in neglecting to include Time — Sept. 16. Place — South Park. Ex- cuse— the KDKA picnic. Event — the big blow. any information about himself. Since he is new to the Company as well as to this column, we take this oppor- tunity to congratulate him on his re- cently assumed position and to wel- come him to NBC. KDKA News Notes Mrs. Sherman D. Gregory, wife of KDKA’s station manager, is looking forward to the dedication of the new antenna — claims she’s a “transmitter widow’’ these days — and nights. . . . Bill Jackson, Lynn Morrow, and Byron McGill, of Sales and Promotion Dept., are hopeless Gilbert & Sullivan addicts — they’ve got Page Lloyd Chapman do- ing “Three Little Maids — etc., etc.” . . . June Marshall, comely switchboard operator, being showered by Ann Ken- dlehart while there’s a blush in the voice of her singing cowboy, Roy Starkey. . . . George Meyer, studio engineer, re- turned from vacation in country, 50 miles south of Canton, Ohio — brought back 50 lbs. fragrant Swiss cheese. Byron McGill was one of those receiv- ing a gift package of the Ohio deli- cacy. . . . McGill, suffering from a cold, had cheese eaten before he recovered and even now doesn’t know how it tasted. . . . Ed Calahan of Artists Service taking bows for coordinating 140 television shows in KDKA demonstration at Al- legheny County Free Fair. ... Ed Schaughency, popular announcer, showing off to his Musical Clock fans who came from miles around. Working under television lights, Schaughency lost five pounds during week — went on vacation — gained ten. He’s thinking of starting an “I’m fat and I don't care who knows it ’ club. . . . Slim and Roy, Doc Pratt, and others of early morning shift, started their own coffee club in KDKA’s Home (Continued on page 15) NOVEMBER, 1930 1 1 WASH I NCTON by Marian P. Gale NELSON TRANSFERRED A. E. Nelson, formerly Blue Network sales manager, has taken over his duties as manager of KPO-KGO, San The NBC House of the Future on the day of its official opening. According to Kenneth H. Berkeley, WRC-WMAL general manager, ap- proximately 30,000 people have viewed NBC’s House of the Future since its official opening Sunday, October 1st. It is estimated that 100,000 will see the model home, which exemplifies the type of dwelling people will own five )ears hence, within the first month it is on display. One thousand invitations were sent to high government officials and other prominent Washington citizens to at- tend the preview held in the morning of October 1st at 9:30. At noon the doors were thrown open for the general public. L. E. Brueninger and Sons, of Washington, were the build- ers. The house is located at Massachu- setts Avenue and Jamestown Road, one block beyond the District line in Mary- land. Mary Mason, director of the WRC Home Forum , acted as hostess at the official opening. She has broadcast her daily programs from the interior of the NBC House of the Future ever since it neared completion, informing her listeners of the many housekeeping innovations the building contains. Some of the features of the six room house are: Fluorescent tubular light- ing receded in the walls, flexible com- position floors, extensive use of plate glass and glass brick for light and trim. The exterior of the modern build- ing is painted brick. Since the ground breaking ceremon- ies last May, WRC and WMAL listen- ers have been kept advised from time to time of the development in con- struction. Since that time also, tremend- ous interest has been evidenced by national manufacturing companies in ( onstruction work. Baukhage Checks Out of Berlin Baukhage, NBC Washington com- mentator and international observer, is back from the wars — back from Berlin and the various difficulties he encoun- tered going and coming. He left this country on his NBC mis- sion August 24th, via the Clipper ship. He had visas for England and France but non? for Germany. On his return trip around the first of October, Bauk- hage recalled he had spent a lot ol time in Germany, just a little in France, and none in England. As soon as he arrived in Washington he reported to the studios and recounted his trip on September 15. During the night the train was halted for two and a half hours— he had the exact time recorded in his vest pocket diary which he con- sulted. Although he didn’t know it then, at that moment German troops from the Polish front were headed for the Siegfried line. At length the train reached the Swiss bord- er at Basle, and Baukhage showed his passport which h a d been marked the pre- vious day by- police officials in Berl in. “Th is is no good,” the b order guard said, “It’s ex- pired.” Baukhage tried to persuade the officer that he had stood in line only the day before and had it checked. “But it reads 1937,” Baukhage was told. Sure enough, the Berlin police official s “9” in the written “1939” resembled a “7. Our Washington commentator and international observer was plenty wor- Francisco. Founder of Station WIBO, Chicago, in 1923, Mr. Nelson was its principal owner until 1933. The following year he joined NBC as manager of KOA. Denver. He remained there until Sep- tember of 1937, when he was trans- ferred to K.DK.A, Pittsburgh, which station he advanced to a position of leadership in national spot and local sales advertising. He became Blue Net- work sales manager in July, 1938. In his new position, Mr. Nelson will report to William S. Hedges, vice- president in charge of stations. ried, being in Germany with a pre- sumably phony passport. Luckily in the midst of their conversation an officer arrived and agreed with Baukhage that it must h a \ e been a “9.” At Basle he took the train for Spain, in- tending to go from there to Lisbon and get aboard the Clip- per. While the crossed France the French govern- ment ruled that nobody could take more than 500 francs ($10) out of France. W hen he reached the Spanish border he learned that he would have to give up about $100. He debated whether to smuggle his francs into Spain via his socks and decided against it. W hen he entered (Continued on page 15) House of the Future's living room, showing new polarized glass mantle and fire place. Baukhage (center) checks out of Berlin. 12 NBC TRANSMITTER WCY SCHENECTADY, N. Y. by W. T. Meenam “The inter-city softball game . . . didn't prove a thing.” KYW PHILADELPHIA by J. A. Aull Lesile W. Joy, general manager of KYW, again has been appointed chair- man of the Radio Committee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross. Joy also has been appointed to the Founders Day Committee of the University of Penn- sylvania for the season 1939-40. The electric organ of Art Hinett, KYW’s swing king and staff accom- panist, and the antics of Leroy Miller, KYW’s Musical Clocker, teamed up at Norristown’s Senior High School on October 19th for a special entertain- ment of students in the new high school auditorium. Apparently it’s getting to be an annual affair with the boys as this is their second appearance in as many years. Miller continues to be in much de- mand for personal appearances. Three more requests for his one-man acts were added to his October engage- ments. These include the Bond Stores, the Young Republican Club of Lans- downe, and the E. J. Lavino banquet in Norristown. Sammy Kaye, veteran orchestra lead- er who was appearing with his band in Philadelphia last month, paid a visit to KYW’s Musical Clocker, Leroy Miller, during that program. Miller promptly put the leader on the air and let him introduce his own orchestra which was about to he broadcast via the turntable. Kerby Cushing, KYW’s sportscaster, entered a new field this month with a special 15 minute news program at 6:45 p.m. Heretofore Cushing has con- fined his broadcasts to a daily sports resume. The Sunday programs will feature last minute news delivered in Cushing’s individualistic, rapid - fire style of presentation. As long as the Dr. I. Q. broadcasts remain in Philadelphia, five KYW an- nouncers will have permanent berths on the program. They are Don Hey- worth, Bill Lang, Leroy Miller, John I hrop, and Dan Munster. Each passed the audition without question. The reason Harry Wood, the only remain- ing announcer at the station, was not selected, is because he was sixth in line and the program needed only live men. Dan Munster, KYW spieler, was de- tailed to broadcast at the Villanova game this month. He motored out to the field with Kerby Cushing at the wheel and little enough time to spare. ( Continued on page 15) The inter-city softball game, at Totem Lodge on Burden Lake near Troy, between the pick of the NBC- New \ork Athletic Association and WGY, didn’t prove a thing. For the record, the score at the end of the seven inning contest was 12 to 11 in favor of the visitors. However, so many unexpected factors entered into the result that it cannot, in fairness to either team, be called conclusive. For example, six of the runs scored by the New Yorkers were actually tallied by WGY’s second string men who were playing with the visitors. You see the chief unexpected factor was a New York State policeman down in the neighborhood of Poughkeepsie. Six of the thirteen members of the New York squad were trying to make up time at Hopewell Junction. They attracted the attention of the highway patrolman who alleged that he had to travel better than 60 m.p.h. to deliver the bad news. The athletes, with a rendevous 100 miles away, were forced to cool their heels in the office of a Justice of the Peace. Part of the heavy scoring might be charged to the pitching of Leo Bolley, sports commentator of WGY, who had nothing but seams on the ball with the seams visible all the way up to the plate. When Peter Narkon went into the box, scoring automatically stopped and the WGY batters began to go to town. Even apart from the softball game the outing was a great success. Fol- lowing the game, many of the WGY staff enjoyed a little golf: others took to swimming, riding, and the various other sports the place afforded. An excellent dinner was served in the early evening, followed by a floor show, and music by Bruce Baker’s orchestra for dancing. W. J. Purcell, Howard Tupper, and Virgil Hasche were largely responsible for the success of the fall outing. With the waning of the golf sea- son, WGY enthusiasts of the pastime are engaged in an elimination tourna- ment to decide the top-flight player of the staff. Peter Narkon and Chester Vedder promoted the tournament, which calls for 36 holes of golf per day until the end is reached. The 1939-40 bowling season is under way and the WGY staff has organized a league for the third suc- cessive year. John Howe is again presi- dent, secretary, and treasurer. The teams include the Ripples, Faders, Whistles, Squeals, Howls, and Statics. Silvio Caranchini. a member of Control Staff of WGY, has been trans- ferred to New York as engineer in the Recording Division. Mrs. Caranchini, a former member of the WGY staff, will join her husband later. Waite Hoyt, pitching star for many years with the New York Yankees, ar- rived at WGY to begin a local series of sports broadcasts. Hoyt is assisted in the broadcasts by Gene O'Haire. Jack Keane, head of WGY’s Guest Relations Section, has been making a name for himself as a comedian. Jack is playing the part of Philosopher Flaherty in the half hour Autumn Breezes show. Among WGYers who have recently \ isited the World’s Fair in New York were Mrs. Caroline Osan, Virgil Hasche, and Allen Taylor. NOVEMBER, 1939 13 KOA DENVER by Mack Switzer The new NBC Blue Network outlet at Denver, KVOD, was saluted by KOA on Saturday night, September 30, when KOA’s “Old Opry House ” program was dedicated to KVOD and simultan- eously broadcast over a three-station (KOA-KVOD-KFEL) hookup. KVOD becomes a sister station of KOA, carry- ing the service of the Blue Network to Denver listeners, while KFEL will bring programs of the Mutual Net- work to radios in this territory. W. D. Pyle, president, and Tom Ekrem, man- ager of KVOD, and Eugene O’Fallon, president of KFEL and NAB director, v/ere honored at the “Opry House” broadcast in which the histories of both stations were traced and the personali- ties of the men responsible for their development were eulogized. Robert H. Owen, manager of KOA, congratulated these gentlemen on their achievement, and KOA’s “Men of the West,” singer Elsa Kaurez, 12-year-old songstress Patty Wirth, the KOA orchestra, and KVOD’s Captain Ozie Waters dedi- cated their numbers to this latest step forward in Denver radio. The studio picture shown above was taken in the midst of activities at the Opry House program. Mrs. Dale Newbold. wife of KOA’s officer manager, is in Mercy Hospital recovering from a major operation. Bob Young, formerly of KGVO, Mis- soula, Montana, is the new announcer at KOA. Bob’s following has caught up with him. for he made “air-friends” during his three years at KGVO who had moved to Denver and were glad to hear his voice again, one letter ask- ing if “that could possibly be good old Bob Young, whose voice we used to wait for in Montana.” Betty Winn Stulla, not so long ago of KOA dramatic, vocal, and continuity departments, and 2-year-old Alice Stulla, visited KOA in October on vaca- tion from Los Angeles. Mrs. Stulla’s mother lives in Denver. Albert “Pappy” Stephens, former dramatic star of “ Light On The West ” program, sponsored by the Public Service Company of Col- orado, was also a recent visitor. Engineer Stan Neal had a 45 min- ute streak of luck on Maroon Lake recently and came home with this fine mess of fish. That’s how good fishing is in Colorado. All too briefly, past-KO A- manager A. E. Nelson stopped in Denver on his way to San Francisco and his new post as manager of KGO-KPO. We wish him the best of luck and wish he could have stayed a while. A farewell party for two of KOA’s General Office employees, Jane Weller’d and Martha Krueger, was given at the home of Mrs. Lucien Morgan on Oct. 1. Everyone enjoyed themselves to a fare-ye-well, even Jane and Martha, whose sorrow at leaving was assuaged by the lovely gifts they received. Jane, who is now Mrs. Parsley, and Martha, now Mrs. Foss, will be succeeded by Virginia Anderson and Mary Mortimere. Engineer Stan Neal with “. . . a 45 minute streak of luck.” WTAM CLEVELAND by Bob Dailey Jane W eaver, who looks after wo- men’s programs and organization ac- tivities at WTAM, is gaining consid- erable attention through a new weekly inspirational program. The program is named after Mary K. Browne, nationally known tennis and golf champion of a few years ago, who also appears on each broadcast with an inspirational talk. Every pro- gram dramatizes the highlights in the life of a well-known person and illus- trates how that man or woman over- came obstacles and hardships to achieve success. It is only logical that a sports an- nouncer should never forget his calling — even while on his honeymoon. That is what Mrs. Tom Manning realized after the honeymoon was over. She is the former Hazel Finney, of WTAM staff. It happened this way: WTAM’s red- headed sports announcer and Miss Finney were married on a Saturday afternoon. They left for New' York City that same night — just so Tom could be on the scene for the first two World Series games. And then, on the following Saturday, Mrs. Manning found herself in Columbus where Tom was covering the Ohio State-Missouri football game. The next day, the couple was at home in Cleveland for the Cleveland Rams-Chicago Bears pro football game. Oh. for the life of a sports announcer’s wife! WTAM Glances: W ade Barnes, chief announcer at Canton’s W HBC. joining the WTAM announcing staff . . . Her- bert DeBrown resigning after seven years with the station to enter new fields . . . Esther Beaverstock taking Hazel Finney’s position at W TAM re- ception desk . . . Salesman Harold Gallagher off to Chicago with his family for a belated vacation . . . Li- brarian Bob Oatley entertaining his niece from Florida . . . Production Manager Fred Wilson, who several years ago was a well-known network tenor, again stepping before the mike to sing on Jane W eaver’s morning pro- gram . . . Tommy Carter, staff musi- cian, taking bows all over town for his take-off on Hitler and Mussolini at a bachelor party for Tom Manning. Ditto Bill Kennedy as Lionel Barry- more, and John Hicks as President Roosevelt . . . May Draxell, head of the Stenographic Department away on a vacation, and Helen Forsythe taking over her duties. Salute to KVOD, Denver, from KOA's Studio A. 14 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC HOLLYWOOD by Noel Corbett made assistant to Charlie Brown in Sales Promotion, than Walter came out with an an- nouncement of his own — that Mrs. Davison had pre- sented him with a 7 pound, 7 ounce baby girl, on Sep- tember 28 at 8:32 a.m. at the Good Samaritan Hos- pital. One of the last persons to leave on vacation was Walter Baker, new (I to r) A. E. Nelson; Jim Hartzel, assistant supervisor of pages; office manager ill Harry Sosnik, musical director of the Hollywood Playhouse; and Artists Service Don E. Gilman. " ‘ " . ". . . he (Nelson) was lunched at the Brown Derby by old friends.” Walter spent Ills time in the Pacific- Northwest, where he renewed many old friendships in Marshfield. Oregon, and chased the elusive salmon from one end of the Rogue River to the other. The recently formed NBC Camera Club, with Charlie Smith of Artists Service as president, is taking field trips these days under the able tute- lage of Gilbert Morgan. The boys have also showed they plan to follow through in a big way with their clubrooms in the Olesen Building (across the Radio City park- ing lot) . Establishment of three new posi- tions and co-ordination of the duties of two department executives were announced October 1 by Don E. Gil man, vice president in charge of the Western Division. Walter C. Baker occupies a newly created position as office manager of Artists Service, under the direction of Alex Robb. William J. Andrews is manager of Guest Relations Department, in charge of tour guides, receptionists, and ticket distribution. Walter Davison, who came out from New York a few months ago to set up the Tour system, is transferred to Sales Promotion Department. He will act as assistant to Charles Brown, Western Division Sales Promotion manager. The Program Department, under John W. Swallow, was rearranged so that Marvin Young assumes the duties of Night Program supervisor, meanwhile continuing as assistant program manager. While Young takes charge of Night Program, Andrews, formerly night supervisor, will continue to direct Guest Relations activities of that position. The post of General Service man- ager, formerly held by Baker, will be subdivided, and the various sub-depart- ment heads will report directly to Lew Frost, assistant to the vice-president. Things have been happening all at once for the Walter Davisons. Hardly had it been announced that Walter was (I to r) Elinor, Barbara, and Matt Barr, ‘‘Hollywood Press Department's first baby.” Members of the club include Ted Sherdemen, director; Sidney Dixon, Western Division sales manager (One of his shots, “Hollywood Radio City the day war was declared,” appears on this page); “Miv” Adams, Engi- neering field supervisor; Bob Moss, director; Paul Gale. Western Division traffic supervisor; Jack Hall and Stan R adorn, pages. Wednesday evenings finds the ice skating group hard at it again, follow- ing the pastime which was broken into by summer vacations. They ice skate twice a month and roller skate the Sidney Dixon’s ‘‘Hollywood Radio City the day war was declared.” other two Wednesday nights. Blanche Davies, secretary to Lew Frost; Kay Harris, Auditing; Carolyne Gay, secretary to Buddy Twiss; Eddie Lippert, Bob Morris and Stan Radom, pages, are some of the regulars. Quick Pix ... Joe Parker sold his song, “Holdout for Heaven,” which was featured on his Idea Mart musical comedy, to Whitmark . . . Don E. Gil- man helped familiarize A. E. Nelson with San Francisco the first week the latter arrived there to take over man- agement of KPO-KGO . . . Helen Aid- rich plaved the second lead at the Pasa- dena Playhouse in Ultimate Islands. Page Supervisor Norm Noyes took a turn for the worse a while back. Too hurried an entrance into the Noyes’ kitchen caused him to slip on a grease spot, and Norm, dishes, and strawberry jam landed happily together in the middle of the floor. He was a little late for wrork. some time being re- quired to comb the jam out of his locks. NOVEMBER, 1939 15 LIBRARY EXCHANGE PLAN (Continued from page 4) organized arrangement, however, the volumes of all the libraries will be readily available to any one of them. While here, the group made inspec- tion visits of each of the New \ork collections of the Company, and went on to make tentative plans for a visit to the Camden and Harrison libraries. In this way, each one of the librarians will keep in mind a general picture of the layout and the volumes avail- able in the other units. Miss Lugscheider for the promotion, and the other librarians for their co- operation, are to be congratulated, since the plan will certainly result in added convenience to all concerned. It might be well at this time to re- mind the New York employees that the General Library is now firmly en- trenched in its new location — room 463, which was made by joining and remodelling the client’s booths of studios 3E and 3G. Miss Frances Sprague, still very capably in charge, has extended a gen- eral invitation to come in and get acquainted. She will be glad to show around anyone interested and explain the new arrangement. And to the uninitiated, let it be said that the collection is really worth in- vestigating. The subjects covered are too many to enumerate but the door is open and everything is well catalogued. And Miss Sprague is a nice person to know. KDKA PITTSBURGH (Continued from page 10) Forum Kitchen. Club members made such a mess in the kitchen Evelyn Gar- diner gave them a putsch. Members now make coffee in studio repair shop with their own equipment (bought on easy payment plan and being paid for by 10v DECEMBER, 1939 NO. 12 ARTISTS M^t^GfRS TRAINING CROUP BEGINS DISCUSSIONS ROCKEFELLER AND SARNOFF SPEAK AT CENTER CEREMONY DAVID SARNOFF’S “creative imagination” played a large part in the development of Radio City, Nelson Rockefeller declared at ceremonies on Nov. 1 which marked the completion of the fourteenth and final building in the Rockefeller Center group. Introducing the RCA president and chairman of the NBC board, Rockefeller said that with the radio tie-up the idea of Rockefeller Center took the form that it has today. Mr. Nelson Rockefeller, after discussing the leasing of the land on which Rockefeller Center is built, continued as follows: “Having the property, there was only one thing to do — develop it. The opera was out as a nucleus for development, and the question was left — was there anything that could take its place? The answer was — radio. Opera was the great old art — radio the new. The latest thing in this con- temporary world of ours, the newest miracle of this scientific era, young and expanding. “Negotiations were begun with the group consisting of RCA, the National Broadcasting Company, and RKO. In these discussions the creative imagination of David Sarnoff played a large part. These companies had their places of operations very much scattered, and were thinking of bring- ing them together. So an alliance was made with the radio group. This was done by the signing of the largest and most important lease on record. With the radio tie-up, the idea of Rockefeller Center took the form that it has today — expressed in towering steel and concrete. The radio angle is essential to the story, the great business of broadcasting. And representing radio at this gathering here is David Sarnoff, President of the Radio Corporation of America. He’s the one to take over the microphone now, and pick up the broadcast thread of the story.” Mr. Sarnoff then said, in an address which was broadcast nationally by NBC: “Perhaps it was natural, Mr. Rockefeller, that radio, a pioneering art and industry, should have become a “first settler” in what was once a wilderness of blue-prints. We f Continued on page 2) Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, RCA President David Sarnoff and Nelson D. Rockefeller, President of Rockefeller Center, Inc., at the ceremony marking the completion of Rockefeller Center. THE first meeting '• of George Engles’ pioneer Artist Management Training Group took place in the vice president’s office of Artists Service, Tuesday night, Novem- ber 7. It was a successful beginning for a new and practical venture in this profession. Mr. Engles’ welcome to the men and his discussion of the aims and ideals of the Group were in the form of a play, a gesture to showmanship. The men and guests arrived in evening dress and were given silk programs entitled The Show Must Go On. But when Mr. Engles started to take the chair, he found himself interrupted by Allan Bengtson, who informed him that the men had decided that he too should offer his credentials for membership in the Group. Mr. Engles claimed to have had some experience in the entertain- ment field and gave a brief autobiography, including an appearance as valedictorian, a shorthand scholarship, the date of his first shave, and the beginning of his career as secretary to a publicity agent and later as an aide to Doctor Walter Damrosch. He told of his unique chance to manage Paderewski’s first post-war tour, which was made possible for him by his friend, Mr. Harry Harkness Flagler. After this resume of his early career, Mr. Engles was unanimously voted in and assumed the chair. He welcomed the “distinguished ladies” present, the Misses Brainard, Cuthbert, King, McGrew, MacRorie and Mobert. Then he turned to the business of the meeting and spoke to the men of the Artists Management Group. The thirteen men fortunate enough to be chosen from over a hundred NBC applicants are Clifford Bengtson, Thomas Donlin, Howard Flynn, William Hoffman, Jr., Edgar Kobak. Richard Ledick, Willis Myers, Robertson Schroeder, and Edward White, Jr., all from the NBC uniformed staff; Howard Cann, mail clerk; John Collins, assistant in auditions for Artists Service; Vincent O'Connell, delivery clerk, and Lewis Julian of the Music Division. Mr. Engles proposed that these men form an organization with president, vice president, and secretary and make their own necessary by-laws, the group to be known as the NBC f Continued on page 8) George Engles interviewed by his eventual successors. At this in- formal gathering the vice president, at the end of the desk, ex- plained to the Artists Management Group his plans for the course. 2 NBC TRANSMITTER QHjrisimcis Qirreim^s « « As another Christmas approaches, I should like to extend greetings to the NBC Staff through the TRANS- MITTER. « « Each of you may take pride in your contribution to this year's achievements. I have deep satisfaction that these have been made possible by your earnest and faithful endeavor, and I send each of you warm wishes for the holiday sea- son. LENOX R. LOHR. SARNOFF AT CEREMONY ( Continued from page 1) are happy to have our official home, the RCA Building, in Radio City. We are proud to be associated with this great project, which has become a focal point of the nation’s culture and commerce. “Radio needs the kind of housing that the Center affords. I need only give a hint of the amount of mechanism the National Broadcasting Company uses. In its quarters in the RCA Build- ing, NBC has twelve hundred and fifty miles of wiring, fifty tons of storage batteries, three hundred and twenty-six microphones to put programs on the air, and three hundred and seventy-five clocks to time them. “Out of this Center, the voice of radio carries news of current events, education, music, sports, and entertain- ment not only to millions in the homes of our own land, but also to the far corners of the earth. And to this mod- ern means of carrying sound through the air, there is now being added the miracle of sight. Some day, we hope, television may enable everyone, every- where, to see this handiwork of man. “There is daily inspiration for all of us in the spacious grouping of this Center’s monumental buildings, with its generous provision for sun and air, for trees and shrubbery and flowers. Our emotions are stirred by the simple grandeur of its architecture, and by the artistry of its sculptures and mural paintings. “Rockefeller Center sounds the key- note for all the cities and buildings of tomorrow’s better world. It proves that something supremely practical can also f Continued on page 9 ) TELEVISION TAKEN TO MICHIGAN BY SCHAIRER Two appreciative audiences recently witnessed demonstrations of the RCA television system at Michigan Univer- sity in Ann Arbor, when Otto S. Schairer, Vice President of the Radio Corporation of America delivered an address before 200 executives of the Transportation Industry and members of the University’s faculty, and when Arthur F. Van Dyck, of the RCA Li- cense Laboratory, lectured to a gather- ing of some 2.500 persons. The occa- sion of Mr. Schairer’s talk and the first demonstration on November 2 was the conference called jointly by Michi- gan University and Life Magazine to discuss the future of transportation. Mr. Schairer outlined hundreds of ap- plications of vacuum tubes and asso- ciated electronic devices to the field of transportation and its closely allied field of communications. At the close of Mr. Schairer’s paper, the lights of Rackham Amphitheater were dimmed, and the gathering wit- nessed television reception through the medium of six production receivers located near the speaker’s rostrum facing the audience. These receivers were energized by a program origin- ating in the lobby of the building, where a portable television studio had been set up for the purpose. Several of the attending executives were inter- viewed before the microphone and iconoscope camera, with the result that those seated in the hall were enabled to see their images and hear their voices. The popular comment was “Of course I knew television was being used to some extent, but I had no idea that such a high degree of perfection had been achieved.” Subsequently, Mr. Schairer invited the guests to inspect the iconoscope camera, the “jeep” monitoring equip- ment, the lights and other studio ap- paratus set up in the lobby and to view the process of picking up a television program. In all, four tons of televi- sion equipment were on operating dis- play. Having been requested to deliver a paper on television for the University of Michigan the following evening, Mr. Van Dyck arranged to include a demonstration in Hill Auditorium, which has a larger seating capacity. On this occasion, the Detroit section of the Institute of Radio Engineers, Uni- versity professors, and students of the electrical engineering classes were in- vited and provided with reserved seats. (El|rislntas Qircdmgs « « Naturally the world's greatest broadcasting or- ganization has the world's finest broadcasting staff. I am proud to be one of your co-workers, and glad for this opportunity to wish all of you a joyful Christmas and the happiest of New Years. DAVID SARNOFF. Other students and the general public made up a much larger total attend ance than was anticipated. Mr. Van Dyck’s talk covered the past, present and probable future of television, was illustrated with stereop- tican slides, and was followed by the NBC sound movie on television. The dramatic opening of this film seemed to release the pent up enthusiasm of the audience, which broke into cheers and applause. At the close of the mo- tion picture, the actual demonstration of television began, with the six re- ceiving sets placed at the front of the stage. Talent drawn from amongst the Michigan University broadcasting and play production classes furnished en- tertaining action and sound. As in the previous demonstration, the portable studio equipment had been set up in the lobby, where successive groups from the audience were permitted to view the pickup technique, after ob- serving the reception in the auditorium. Because of the magnitude of the audience, it was necessary to repeat the television demonstration portion of the program three times. Following the suggestion of Mr. Van Dvck, those seated in the front section of the audi torium, having viewed one complete performance, proceeded out to the lobby to see the studio activities, al- lowing the next group to move for- ward and sit within range of the re- ceiver images. In this manner, the largest television audience ever assem- bled under one roof was impartially and expeditiously accommodated. N. Y. World’s Fair Total 25.816.542 RCA Bldg. Visitors 8.079.766 RCA Television Visitors 2.333,996 DECEMBER, 1939 3 KNOW YOUR COMPANY No. 20 — Information Division THE public interest, convenience, and necessity is very clearly served by a comparatively new section of the Company, the Information Division. No relation (except in spirit) to Canada Dry’s Blue Network program, it handles the landslide of queries that comes about as a result of broadcast- ing. In fact it handles a great many that have no clear connection with our network activities, for such is the con- fidence of the public in the National Broadcasting Company that many have turned to it as a friend and counsellor. Although the Division specializes on information concerning NBC activities, there seems to be no limit to the type of question that may be asked, an ex- treme example being that of the young ladv who wanted to know where she could be married with the greatest dis- patch. The belief that questions and opinions of listeners, written, tele- phoned, or delivered in person, are extremely important to a broadcaster rendering public service, led to the formation of the Division. The tremendous volume of mail and telephone calls is significant. Approxi- mately thirty thousand letters are re- ceived each month, exclusive of those addressed to individual sponsors, art- ists, contests, etc. And to this mail the Information Division pays strict attention, for it is the pulse of the radio public. Here is truly a major means of enhancing public good will and in- creasing the number of our listeners. Even the most absurd letters are not entirely unwelcome, for they at least indicate an active interest which is the foundation for popularity and progress. The importance of the Division be- comes more and more apparent when one realizes the difficulty of individ- ual minds to get together on a general point, whether it concerns education, music, or news coverage. When the Division receives what seems to be a significant response to a particular program or policy, reports of the listeners’ opinions are compiled to guide future activities. The letters must be studied as a group and indi- vidually. Naturally the percentage of opinion pro and con is a vital statistic. The character and background of a per- son must also be judged where the sen- timent expressed is extreme or of par- ticular interest. The nature of the ma- terial covered determines the way the LEONARD BRADDOCK letters are broken down. If it is a question of bad reception, then the breakdown is prepared by states or major sections of the country. Another case of the greatest importance would be that of the war bulletins and special commentators. In this case, the public reaction was carefully tabulated for the general attitude to both the mass of material and the individual speakers, and characteristic statements were quoted to give specific examples. Information was organized as a Di- vision to carry this responsibility, in April of 1938, and is in the care of Vice President Frank E. Mason’s De- partment of Information. Leonard Braddock is the manager and devotes his all to seeing that the Division never misses the opportunity to build good will. He gives special attention to let- ters criticizing NBC and to the tabu- lations of public response. Somehow he always finds time to be friendly and helpful. If you ask him what most of the letters are about, he will reply, “Everything concerning radio.” A general coding (for statistical pur- poses) of the mail that comes in, is undertaken by the encyclopaedic Elsie Ashton and Gertrude Weightman, the former specializing on commercial pro- grams, the latter on sustaining shows. . A large part of the correspondence is made up of departmental mail and re- quests for tickets to programs, which are, of course, sent on to the proper offices. That still leaves an average of about 3,500 letters a month to be individualy answered. These are passed on to four correspondents who specialize in particular fields. Powell Ensign replies to questions about shows, NBC artists, musical se- lections, and so forth. From time to time he helps prepare reports on au- dience response to various programs. Ruth Crawford handles inquiries from schools and individuals seeking infor- mation concerning the educational and cultural activities of NBC. She is often a ghost writer behind talks and theses on the subject of radio. Technical mail is the province of Albert Rora- back. Students also ask him about television. All sorts of persons write about short wave activities. Some com- plain of reception or want to know about engineering facilities. A1 satis- fies them all, and on the side takes care of listeners seeking pen friends. (There was a girl in Turkey who wanted to get married.) The delicate problem of effectively answering letters of criticism, in gen- eral or concerning particular shows, belongs to Gordon Webber (as well as to Braddock). Much good will flows from Gordon’s pen, and then flows back to NBC. He is assistant manager of the Division, so his knowledge is pro- portionately large. Finally, there is Ken Ellsworth, who answers telephone calls, helps visitors hang up their hats, and in some unex- plained fashion finds his way out of the files each night. These files con- tain all the dope on programs, artists (including ’phone numbers) contests and offers, and television schedules. Ken is a good man to know. Down in Stenographic is a subdivi- sion of five girls who handle the mail for Woman of Tomorrow, Nancy Booth Craig’s commercial show on the Blue Network. These specialists of special- ists are Irene Bonnett. Mildred Dossett, Doris Lavazzo, Marion Little, and Janet Wallum. Quietly, ceaselessly, the Eagle Scouts of NBC carry on the good work. Noth- ing surprises them anv more — nothing. Like the sages of old. they know all, at least about radio, from the measure- ment of micro-waves to the day the mice were singing. If there is some- thing you must know quickly, Ask them anything re NBC Just by dialing 333. 4 NBC TRANSMITTER STACECRAFTERS CARRY ON The theatre is not dead. Attenuated countenances and hanging jaws have long pronounced it so, but the Trans- mitter is happy to allay any fears that you may have had. Let it be known that no less a sanctuary of the arts than 8 G will be the scene of new triumphs by the Stagecrafters. From B.H. Vienna and the pen of Paul Vulpius comes the play. Help Yourself , and from all over NBC comes the cast. Guest Relations has once again given of its own for the good of the company — its own in this instance being Walter Covell, who plays the lead. Kirk Quinn takes an eagle eye off eager scripts long enough to lend the play a suavity uniquely his. Direc- tor Bob Stone’s Thespianic yeomen number seventeen in this definitely ir- reverent treatment of [tanking houses and the confusion therein. It is whis- pered (stage whisper) that it might well have been written in the United States because . . . but who are we to spoil your fun? After attending a rehearsal, we have a friendlv word to pass along to the [toys. The secretaries’ Rockette-like crossing of legs would in itself be well worth the price of admission — if there were a price of admission. All of which is intended to remind you that there is no charge for tickets, but you must se- cure them in advance. At present two performances are planned for the week of December 11. P.S. Business Manager John Becca’s friends will want to congratulate him on recent triumphs in the mid-west. TRANSMITTER VISITS RCA The staff of the NBC Transmitter spent Thursday, November 9, visiting three divisions of the Radio Corpora- tion of America. During the morning they were given a detailed explanation of the functions and organization of RCA Communications by Engineer V. H. Brown. Among other things they learned how photographs are transmit- ted across the ocean and how radio- grams are sent all over the world. In the afternoon, Mr. J. K. Whitte- ker, chief instructor at the RCA Insti- tutes, took the men not only through the Institutes hut through Radiomarine as well. In every case the Transmit- ter staff met with the greatest courtesy and returned considerably enlightened as to the activities of these parts of RCA. Other trips are being planned to the manufacturing plant at Camden and the stations at Riverhead and Rocky Point. RAYMOND DUMONT SCUDDER An Appreciation The Script Division of the Program Department is formed of men and women with great diversity of char- acter, background and interests. In any body of “creative” people (the word is used in the sense commonly accepted in the fields of arts and let- ters) there is inevitably a heightened awareness to the meaning of those things happening in the world. In- spiration springs from casual comment dropped by a fellow worker of pene- tration and understanding. Raymond Scudder’s great contribution to the life of his friends and colleagues was his unflagging interest in the meaning of human ideals and aspirations, an inter- est tinged with that mellowing cynicism so essential to a mature personality. Raymond Scudder came nearest of all NBC writers to being “all things to all men,” not in the wishy-washy sense that that often quoted sentence has so frequently been held to indicate, but because he was always at pains to put himself out to understand the other man’s and woman’s point of view. The flights of temperament which so often are considered necessary adornments to the creative mind were on the surface not part of Raymond Scudder’s be- havior. Yet his very courtesy, breeding and quietness concealed a burning in- tensity and a determination to achieve with his pen some measure of the vision which seemed always so clear and yet so far distant. In his methodical way, his calendar held appointments made in connection with the diverse programs he was han- dling. He carried on him at his death a card with notes amplifying the re- minders of his calendar, and in his notebook were those jottings, so fami- liar to every writer, sketching out pro- jected plays and stories upon which he was working or which he anticipated starting as soon as his current commit- ments permitted. Few men could have left us so aware of their responsibilities that others, however inadequately, could take up where he left off conscious of succeed- ing to the heritage of a man scrupulous in his regard for his obligations. His friends and colleagues miss him, but their sense of loss is softened by their pride in having been associated with him. L. H. T. More than half the families which need — and get — help from the Greater New York Fund’s 9 family agencies are native horn. WISE JOINS VICTOR STAFF Ronald Wise, nationally known in the field of recorded classical music and associated with every phase of the recording art for more than 20 years, has been appointed assistant to Charles O’Connell, RCA Victor’s director of classical artists to be recorded for the famous Red Seal repertoire of classics and in arranging and supervising the actual recordings. Mr. Wise has made the recorded classics and recording both his hobbv and his career. Recognized as an au- thority on the world’s literature of classical records, he gained his first experience in this field when, as a bov of 15. he worked as a sales clerk in a Philadelphia record store. After sev- eral years of sales experience during which he continued his piano and vocal studies, he became personal secretary to Franz Proschowski. famous New York voice instructor who taught such eminent artists as Galli Curci, Tito Schipa and Paul Robeson. There he came to know most of the musical “greats” and further enriched his vocal training under Proschowski. Upon completion of a six-month tour of Europe to perfect his knowledge of recording technique. Mr. Wise joined the Victor Talking Machine Company’ in 1928 as field sales representative. He remained with Victor until Janu- arv. 1936. to become director of classi- cal recording and repertoire for the Columbia Record Company, the post which he held before taking over his present duties. CHRISTMAS AT CAMDEN PI ans are being perfected for an- other tremendous community Christ- mas celebration at the RCAM plant at Camden, following the outstanding suc- cess of the program undertaken last vear. The tentative program calls for a community sing on the block-square Johnson Park lawn in the center of the RCAM plant district, with the 11.- 500 employes of the Camden plant joining the residents of the city in a program of special music before the holiday. It is also planned to decorate again the Cooper Branch Library, which stands in Johnson Park and was built and turned over to the citv by Eldridge R. Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Last year’s decorations were of such brilliance and beauty that thousands came to see them from all parts of the cityr and surrounding territory, as it is expected they will do again this year. DECEMBER, 1939 5 WBZ BOSTON and WBZA SPRINGFIELD by Charles J. Gilchresf GROUND breaking ceremonies for the new 50,000 watt WBZ trans- mitter at Hull, Mass., November 2, were presided over by Governor Sal- tonstall backed up by a bevy of stage beauties. Others speakers included John A. Holman, WBZ- WBZA general manager, who introduced the Governor, and Plant Manager Dwight A. Myer, who represented Westinghouse. Gene and Glenn supplied the comedy and Fred Cole emceed the broadcast, mak- ing Governor Saltonstall bend low to break the first earth with an ancient Massachusetts Indian hoe while Fred’s mike rested on the ground. Best part of the whole thing to Bob Evans and George Harder was driving the musical comedy girls out and back. Chief Announcer Bob White becomes night manager and Announcer Keyes Perrin, assistant night manager. Bob has just taken out lots of new life and property insurance. On Friday the 13th, fire gutted the basement of the three-story apartment building in which the Whites live. Ten days later, an- other lire consumed the roof and ruined the apartments on the two floors above his dwelling. Hence, all the new in- surance. Assistant Manager Vince Callahan back from Pittsburgh and KDKA new transmitter festivities, praising the KDKA gang for the way it went to town. WBZ gang played host at a cocktail party to Boston advertising agency execs and radio editors. High spot of the party was two-way communication across the studio between Vince Calla- han and Gene and Glenn. Gene and Glenn also introduced members of WBZ staff to the New England radio audience on their pre-dinner broadcast. Comedy and routineing on Breakfast in Bedlam over WBZ-WBZA weekday mornings from 8 to 9 is 100% spon- taneous. Recent show rang bell as an example. Master of Ceremonies Fred Cole happened to look out the studio window during the broadcast. In the parking lot across from the studios, an attendant was loafing besides an un- usually dirty car. Cole remarked the man should clean it. Not until the at- tendant quickly grabbed a sponge and went to work did Cole realize the man bad the auto’s radio turned to the WBZ Bedlam. Dick Bower of the Control Room gave the WBZ staff a final outing on his brother’s cabin cruiser, the Mildred IV. They spent Sunday from noon until night cruising the Boston Harbor dis- trict taking in the interned German ship, the Pauline Freiderich, the army base, the Nova Scotia fishing boats, Charleston navy yard, Byrd’s two ships, etc. The WBZ-WBZA gang aboard in- cluded Dick, Frank, and Mrs. Bowes, Harry and Mrs. Goodwin, Malcolm McCormack, Fred Cole, Bob and Mrs. White, D. A. Myer. Bob Henderson and Cy Young. Sports Announcer Bob Evans claim- ing a record among football forecast- ers. On his Friday night broadcasts predicting results of the next day’s grid games Bob hit an average of .725 per- cent accuracy . . . which is werry, werry high this season. Unable to locate Cambridge’s Mayor Lyons by phone on election night, George Harder thought of a brilliant way to get an important message to him. The mayor was heading a parade at the time. George phoned the Cam- bridge Chief of Police and had the message broadcast over police radio to the squad car leading the parade. Message was relayed to the mayor im- mediately. WBZ-WBZA Sales Manager Frank Bowes spent Saturday dawnings in the marshes shooting (at) ducks instead of clay pigeons during November. He'd been practicing skeet until he was sure he was tops. But the rest of the staff predicted . . . and rightly . . . from past experience that the promised duck dinners would not be forthcoming. High spot of Frank’s 1939 duck season occurred when he spotted several mallards in a cove on Cape Cod shore. Bowes stalked them, crawling through icy marsh and cutting eel grass. As he raised his gun to shoot, a man rose from a blind almost beside him. Disgusted, the native said: “Mister, ya couldn’t eat ’em, even if ya did hit ’em. Them’s my wooden de- Dick Hammond resigned his job as control room engineer at WBZ-WBZA to become chief engineer of the new station Charles Phelan is erecting in Salem, Mass., under the call letters WESX. FRANK S. REYNOLDS An Appreciation The sudden death of Chief Drafts- man Frank S. Reynolds on November 10th was a tremendous shock to his fellow workers and many friends in NBC. One of our real pioneers, Frank Reynolds association with broadcast- ing began during early AT&T-WEAF days. It was eight years ago that Rey- nolds joined NBC to organize a draft- ing section to take care of our growing need for maps and charts. Since then, his work and that of his small but efficient section has been of a quality and type that has drawn high praise from those inside and outside of NBC. His enthusiasm for his job is typified by the fact that he worked until 10:00 P.M. the night before his death. But Frank Reynolds was more than an excellent draftsman to NBC — he was an integral part of our organization. Ever smiling, Frank was generous with his time and energy. Many is the time that he ate a sandwich lunch at his desk to do a personal favor for a company employe. We cannot be other than mindful of his unselfish devotion to his wife and three daughters, to his home and to the civic life of his community, be- cause these were so much a part of the man. But it is primarily to Frank Rey nolds as employe and fellow worker that this appreciation is dedicated. NBC will never know a more loyal and enthusiastic supporter, a more cheerful and generous servant, a more consci- entious and energetic worker. H. M. B. TALK BY HUNGERFORD Communications Officers of the U. S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves, all members of the American Signal Corps Association, were addressed at their November meeting by Mr. Arthur E. Hungerford of NBC Television. At this same meet- ing, the annual election of officers took place. Mr. Joseph J. Berhalter of NBC Traffic was elected Secretary. Our sympathies to Control Room En- gineer Bob Henderson. His father passed away suddenly No\ ember 1. Vi hat with all the Camera Clubs coming to life again in NBC. we have arranged for a contest of our own — a real, old style Transmitter contest. So have a look at page 11, and start clicking. 6 NBC TRANSMITTER NEW YORK Changes and Additions You have undoubtedly heard tell that these are stirring times we live in. Well, nothing is at present so stirred up as the Transmitter office. The fast pace of modern civilization has again caught up with our exclamatory ex- editor, Gordon Nugent. Gordon, with his fine sense for the spirit of the age, is always in a state of breathlessness, and now, after one month in the hands of Miss McBride, he has acquired a desk of his own and is a fledgling scripter. Perhaps he will have a chance to regain his breath while writing con- tinuity and sustainers. “Speak the speech, I pray you, as I set it down, trippingly on the typer.” Yet, if we know that restive spirit, he will not pause, but fly still farther on. Anyway, Gordon having deserted the lowest bough of the department, Don Witty is now legman for script. Even as he tendered the Nugent into the hands of Miss McBride, so must we, in our turn, tender him to her care. (If this keeps up, Miss McBride will have script-boy hands.) The winds of chance and opportunity did not leave Don long in office. Scarcely had he warmed the editorial chair, then we succeeded to the hot seat. Yet brief as was his career, it was also blazing. Definitely, he left his mark on the Transmitter. Last month’s issue, which will always be known as the “Witty Edition,” testifies amply to his skillful management, his sense for hu- man interest, and adroit literary style. These talents were well founded on a wide experience of the world, stretch- ing back to an attendance at Syracuse University, and even beyond. Perhaps the finest piece to come from Don’s prototypal pen was the penetrating portrait, in noble, unfaltering prose, of his former chief and co-author, the Nugent, lie noted with special regret the loss to the Transmitter of that man’s subtle quips, even as we now mourn the departure of his own terse humor, and watch our magazine slip- ping into a staid and pensive middle- age. It is an inspiration, however, to see Don around the second floor, look- ing like a cat with a bird inside it. To both these fellows, who have gone on from this jumping-off place for genius, we wish the best. We expect, with a certainty amounting to prophecy, that they will some day be a famous team of writers. With Witty’s gift for dia- logue and Nugent’s gift for monologue, they should go far. The Traffic Department has taken a turn to the right, at least so far as Frank J. Reed is concerned. He has taken up new duties as assistant to Mr. F. M. Greene, Sales Traffic Man- ager. Frank graduated from Princeton in 1934 and came to NBC the follow- ing September. He entered Statistical, remained there six months, and moved on to Traffic, where he stayed until last November 15. Familiarity with the all-important workings of Traffic in the regulation of networks and special facilities will stand him in good stead for his new position. The administra- tion of the salesmen’s time chart will be one of his major responsibilities. In occasional moments of relaxation. Frank stalks human nature with a camera and hopes someday to surprise us all with a show. The by-line Kay Barr became syno- nymous with smooth coverage of events to sport fans in Akron and, later, Pitts- burgh. NBC’s new Assistant Program Transmission Supervisor in Traffic was also with Westinghouse and later in the government service. Before coming to Radio City, he spent four years at KDKA Pittsburgh as head of Press. As you may be able to figure out, if you read this column as closely as you should, Kay Barr is stepping into those well known shoes, the ones left in Traf- fic by Frank Reed . . . Mr. Barr claims Gramercy Park is a pleasant place to live. There is a very excited young lady in the New York National Spot and Local Sales Traffic Division. She is Mary G. Leard, who was transferred there about October 25. In her new position, she will be responsible for all time clearance, availability requests, schedule changes, etc. When Mary isn’t busy talking to NBC Chicago or Holly- wood, or advising an inquirer at what time and where a certain “spot” will be open, she can probably be found practicing a high “c” in preparation for her next vocal recital. Following Mary, if not exactly like a little lamb, is the competent Gertrude Bicking. She was secretary to Vice President Frank Mason, but is now as- sistant to Mr. Lyford in Commercial Traffic. While at school, Gertrude was a member of a Spanish and a dramatic club. Aside from these subjects, her main outside interest is classical music. She is studying piano. To complete the roundelay, we give you Jessie Kline, the petite young lady now decorating the outer office of Frank Mason’s sanctum. She hails from Cleveland, where she attended the Spencerian Business School. Coming east, she joined our organization in April, 1936, entering the Stenographic Department. After three months she advanced to Press and remained there as secretary until she finally left Wil- liam Kostka for her present position. After a years absence, Florence Marks has returned to NBC and once again occupies her old desk in Press. She says she is delighted to be back. Seeing the same elevator operators, same office workers, brings a warmth to her heart . . . Florence still enjoys going to the theatre and piecing out jig-saw puzzles for recreation. Bob Fraser more or less plotted tele- vision as his future, and he seems to have gone a pretty straight course to his goal. He has acquired experience as both a radio “ham” and a profes- sional photographer. Bob majored in physics and math, at the University of Minnesota and was distinguished with a B.A. at the end of his efforts. He was granted a radio license in 1930 and became the man behind 9MNT. His short wave pals must have liked his work, for they dubbed the station “Mighty Nice Tone.” He was also a photographer on the Minneapolis Star. Later, he came to Radio City, serving as assistant to Ray Lee Jackson until becoming a staff photographer in his own right. And now Television has claimed him as an engineer. It ivas a great blow to the gentlemen in the Script Department when they learned that Virginia Jones prefixes her name with a “Mrs.” It happened be- fore she left Ohio and home, so they mustn’t feel too badly. Mrs. Jones, a Chi Omega from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, taught school for two years before coming east with her hus- band. She is now secretary to Mr. Helf- frich, who must pack a rabbit’s foot. It would seem that the State of Ohio has a special affection for New York, because a visit with Ruth Harnack re- vealed that she, too, is from that boun- teous state. Back in high school, Miss Harnack was editor-in-chief of the stu- dents’ paper, so it is most fitting that we should find her in the Script De- partment as secretary to Mr. Titter- ton. Bridging the gap in between may be found a mass of activity. Firestone look advantage of her secretarial abili- ties, for instance. Ruth studied at Ohio Slate where her particular interest was costume design. New York, she finds, has much to offer in the way of theatre, ballet, art exhibitions, and horse shows. Those entering Personnel’s trim por- ( Continued on next page ) DECEMBER, 1939 7 ANNIVERSARY CHIMES The NBC Transmitter salutes these members of the National Broadcasting Company, who, this month, complete their tenth year with the Company. New York Serge Alexander DeSomov Engineering Lester A. Looney Engineering Maude C. Archer P. B. X. Hugh Gunn Guest Relations Fred Kenneth Squires Duplicating Washington Philip J. Hennessey, Jr. Legal Chicago Ralph Sterling Davis Engineering John F. Martin Engineering William P. Scholz Engineering Helene C. Heinz Executive Offices Correction : Last month's listing of Katherine C. Parker, Bindery, should have read Katherine C. Mortlock, Bind- ery. Our apologies to Mrs. Mortlock. NEW YORK lals with hopeful mien, will be very pleasantly confronted in the future by Miss Luise B. Child. This has come about because Miss Donaldson met a Mr. Berry — but the Roving Reporter has scooped on that. Principia College in Illinois was the scene of Miss Child’s academic triumphs. Lord and Taylor first claimed her in New York. A period in the inner sancta of the legal profession immediately preceded her present position. Miss Child has ambi- tion and is therefore a young lady To Be Watched. It was this determination for success that brought her to a cor- poration offering real opportunities. Above all, Luise is a very human per- son. She says she is delighted to be in Personnel because she likes people. Days off will mean a chance to follow her favorite hobbies, music and theatre. Taylor Graves has been hired to work in Sound Set-up. Taylor has had untold experiences as stage manager and actor. He is even a world travel- ler, having toured all continents with various companies. Electrical Transcription is expand- ing, there’s no doubt about it. Sales Department Manager C. Lloyd Egner has just returned from a three weeks trip to the Coast where he established NBC’s new Electrical Transcription of- fice in Hollywood. Bob Schuetz, late of Engineering, latest of Sales, will be manager of the Hollywood office. Here in New York the Department ( Continued on page 8) AA ACTIVITIES Winter activities of the NBCAA got underway auspiciously last month as the 501st member entered the ranks and the various indoor groups were organized and held their first meetings. Dancing The dancing class, after a successful season last year, started Monday eve- ning, October 30, and plunged imme- diately into the intricacies of the tango. Perhaps the beginning attempts were discouraging, but on the following Monday the members felt more accus- tomed to the routine and finished up enthusiastic with the results. The rest of the ten lessons will concentrate on rhumbas, fox trots, and waltzes. Riding Meanwhile, the horseback riding group is planning to organize indoor canters at Aylward’s Riding Academy on West 67 Street — if enough people express interest. Outdoor expeditions will continue whenever weather per- mits. The moonlight ride on October 27 finally resulted in little riding and less moonlight. The equestrians set out from Oliver Stables, but clouds ob- scured the moon, and heavy rain soon forced them back to shelter. Another unexpected hazard was a number of woodpussies which showed great inter- est in the broadcasters and persisted in running beside them along the trail. In spite of that, dinner and dancing were held as scheduled on their return, and Alfred Patkocy of Duplication showed some movies of the paper chase held earlier in the month. The same movies were shown at the meeting of the whole A A on Tuesday, November 14, in Studio 3F, and are, supposedly, the first films ever taken of an NBCAA activity. Basketball The basketball players are still chaf- ing on some imaginary sidelines until a gymnasium can be secured. Jack Garland of P.B.X. and Accounting’s A1 Nicol are working on the problem now, and will issue a call for candi- dates as soon as a satisfactory court is found. The NBC hoopmen may enter a Radio City League later in the sea- son, to be held in the new gym over the Center garage. Art Work The clay modelling and wood and metal working classes have also aroused much enthusiasm among those who have talent. Although all are rank ANNOUNCING AUDITIONS During the last of October, Pat Kelly held the second of the semi-annual au- ditions for members of the uniformed staff who have hopes of becoming an- nouncers. Some twenty-two men were auditioned in Studio 8-G. The four chosen by Pat Kelly were Russell Dollar, John Erixon, William Ken- neally, and Robert Raleigh. These fel- lows, together with Frank Shinn and Sanford Doremus, who had previous auditions, will be trained in the rou- tines and vocal necessities of announc- ing by Dan Russell. Classes began November 6, and will continue twice weekly in Studio 2D. Dan Russell has trained many who are now announcers at different stations throughout the country. All of Radio City’s junior announcers come from the uniformed staff via this course. Best of luck, fellows. amateurs, they are making some pro- gress under the direction of Trigve Hammer, the professional instructor. On the first day of clay work, most of the embryo sculptors turned out images of various animals. Earl Harder’s miniature Russian nobleman, however, and Miss Conway’s model apartment interior were notable exceptions. The metal workers made ashtrays for their home parlors. Girls’ Gym Girl gym enthusiasts are finding their desired outlet in the exercise class which started its third straight season Monday, November 6, with a program of basketball, badminton, and calis- thenics. A1 Walker is again in charge. Bowling The bowling league continues to be a main vortex of excitement. George Milne hoped to hit 100 in his member- ship drive and has seen the number jump to 102. Leading the league, ac- cording to November 9 standing, is the General Service Team No. 1 with a record of 17 victories out of 18 games. Sales follows with 14 won and 4 lost. The Ladies Team, the only all-girl combination in the circuit, stands eighth in a field of twelve. David Henri of Auditing leads the individual scoring list with 601 in the High Series, while George McElrath of the Engineering Team No. 2 holds a 241 for High Score. The individual aver- ages have a leader in Luther of Treas- urer’s with 180 for six games played. George McElrath enters the limelight again by virtue of a 175 average for all of 18 games. 8 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC TRANSMITTER Published for and by the employes of the National Broadcasting Com- pany from coast to coast. VOL. 5 DECEMBER, 1939 No. 12 EDITORIAL BOARD John Kelly Editor Howard Flynn Assistant Editor Charles Van Bergen Photographs ASSOCIATES James Beardsley Guest Relations Thomas Canning Guest Relations Charles Turner Guest Relations James Tyson Guest Relations Address all correspondence to: NBC Trans- mitter. National Broadcasting Company, Room 317, RCA Building, New York, N. Y. Telephone: Circle 7-8300. Extension 220. Note: Due to the discontinuance of the RCA Family Circle, the NBC Transmitter will carry some of the material that formerly appeared in that organ. NEW YORK ( Continued from page 7) announces the entrance of Chicago’s John Milton Hayes, who, previously associated with Transco as sales man- ager of Syndicated Programs, has taken a position with NBC and is at present on the road. In the personal expansion depart- ment we find that C. Otis Rawalt of Transcription Sales has just been mar- ried to Roberta Mace. Mrs. Rawalt has taken a leave of absence from Bon- wit Teller, where she is associated with the Children’s Division. They were married in the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, and plan to make their home in New York City. The first, smiling face you meet upon entering Electrical Transcription is, of course, Marion Stuart’s. Why the smile? Well, she announced her en- gagement to Peter Edwards, Jr., of Glen Ridge, last October 27th. The Transmitter wishes to apolo- gize for the mistake in the last issue in the name of Mr. William Gartland. The Artists Service Department of NBC announces the following changes and promotions effective December 1, 1939: Rubey Cowan will join Artists Ser- vice in New York. Mr. Cowan, in con- junction with Mr. Von Tilzer, will handle bookings for vaudeville, night clubs, motion pictures, and television. Alexander Haas will be transferred to Artists Service in San Francisco, where he will assume the duties of manager. A. Frank Jones is appointed assis- tant to the vice president in charge of Artists Service. KDKA OPENS TRANSMITTER An event which attracted the eyes and ears of the entire world of radio took place a few days ago in Pitts- burgh when Westinghouse KDKA, the “grand daddy” station of them all, dedicated its new 50,000 watt trans- mitter, located at Allison Park, just eight miles from the Pittsburgh “Gold- en Triangle.” The dedicatory cere- monies took place just eighteen years and two days from the time KDKA first went on the air as a yowling 100 watt infant which has grown into the giant it is. In striking contrast to that original station, with its wire aerial anchored to a factory chimney is this new, sleek, streamlined marvel of engineering genius. Ideas never before incorpor- ated in a 50 kilowatt station make the KDKA transmitter the most modern, and the most simplified station of its size in the world. For the first time in radio history, a transmitter station of this size is heated by the same air which is used to cool the giant trans- mitting tubes. There is no furnace in the building. Air ducts and fins cir- culate cool air about the tubes and then recirculate the heated air throughout the building. Thus, as the station is on the air 18 hours a day, electrical heating units inside the ventilating ducts will be able to provide sufficient heat for the remaining hours. The antenna tower, which is 718 feet tall, is situated on the knoll of a hill, the elevation of which is 1,200 feet above sea level. So the structure will have a total height of approximately 1,900 feet above sea level, making it one of the tallest welded steel struc- tures in the world. Although at present the new trans- mitter will be used to send out only the standard broadcasts of KDKA, it ultimately will be used to broadcast short wave programs over the West- inghouse International station WPIT and experimental noise-free short wave programs from a “pick-a-back” aerial which will be mounted atop the pres- ent tower. One of the outstanding perform- ances of the new transmitter outfit is to take the KDKA programs which come from the Grant Building studios over special high quality telephone lines at an input power of one sixty-millionth of a watt and send them out the length and breadth of the land with the roar- ing power of 50,000 watts. Another “first” at the new KDKA transmitter is a master control set-up which pro- vides a duplicate set of controls for ARTISTS MANAGEMENT CROUP ( Continued from page 1) Artists Management Group. He ap- pointed a committee to handle this matter. Suddenly — at a wave of his hand — a recording of their Alma Mater Song, The Show Must Go On, written by Peter De Rose and May Singhi Breen, was dramatically presented to the listeners. Following this, Mr. Engles spoke of the high average of the applicants and of the exciting op- portunities ahead. He termed the pro- fession “a public service and a service to the great talent of the world,” and said that a manager must combine the qualities of an “explorer, architect, builder, doctor, diplomat, lawyer, and soldier.” The latter part of his talk dealt with the “five dominant words” of his philosophy and ethics, “Faith, Experience, Personality, Humor, and Humility.” During the discussion a special recording, The Magic Key of Entertainment Broadcast, was played for the assembled company. It drama- tized the opportunities and usefulness of the field of entertainment in Amer- ica. Finally, he mentioned all the things the men would have to learn and wished them the greatest success. The meeting was a complete triumph. The men, inspired by Mr. Engles’ dynamic idealism, formed their organi- zation the next day, and elected John Collins president, Lewis Julian vice president, and Robertson Schroeder secretary. The following Tuesday, the 14th, the group met again. The major part of the evening was given over to a stimulat- ing talk by Doctor Walter Damrosch. This was the first in a series of talks by such outstanding personages as Ed- ward Johnson, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, Major Lenox R. Lohr, John Royal, A. H. Morton, Edgar Kobak, and Bob Landry, radio editor of Variety. Plans are being made for weekly visits to the theatre, opera, and for backstage talks with producers, per- formers, and other key men in the entertainment world. At a later meeting the men presented Mr. Engles with a scroll, personally signed by all the members of the Group, which expressed their appre- ciation for his efforts in their behalf. each of three transmitter units. This enables one operator in a glass en- closed room to supervise the programs carried by all three transmitters simul- taneously. The station also boasts a push button relay device which ban- ishes interruptions of broadcasts due to burned out tubes. DECEMBER, 1939 9 WASHINGTON by Marian P. Gale A drizzling rain failed to discourage a field of 186 feminine golfers who turned out on Friday, October 27th, for the annual NBC tournament held at the Army and Navy Country Club. This year’s list of entrants was the largest of any previous tournaments. Mrs. M. K. Barroll, of Army and Navy, armed with a handicap allowance of 12 strokes, captured low net honors with a 73. She won the silver fox scarf and NBC trophy which were presented to her by Charles Barry, WRC-WMAL night supervisor. Twelve other prizes were awarded for low scores in two di- visions of low and high handicaps. A spaghetti party was given Bauk- liage by the staff a day or so before he left for his assignment in Radio City. The farewell supper was held at the home of Jimmy Seiler of the Sound Effects Department. Following the supper, Baukhage gave an informal talk to the group about his European trip. Arthur Daly, WRC-WMAL pro- ducer, resigned November 8th to ac- cept a position in the radio department of N. W. Ayer Advertising in New York. Daly produced Dreams Come True and other similar Blue Network programs originating from Washing- ton. He came to Washington about a year ago. Rodney Erickson has since been added to the writing-producing staff, replacing Daly. Erickson came to his new assignment from Kansas City where he did free lance writing and Sophie Tucker, while in Washington re- cently, presented Gordon Hittenmark with the first doll for his annual Christmas Doll Campaign. producing for KMBC. He has been in radio for nine years, starting from the time he attended the University of Iowa, and was production manager of WSUI at Iowa City which is run by the University. Since then Erickson has been doing freelance work in Chi- cago and New York for World Broad- casting Company and various adver- tising agencies. George (Wheels) Wheeler, announ- cer, returned last month from his six weeks’ tour of South America. Wheeler, who was on leave of absence, travelled the coasts of South America by plane, covering approximately 44,000 miles. Morgan Baer, NBC’s director of Mu- sic in Washington, opened at the Capi- tol Theater beginning Friday, Novem- ber 16th as guest conductor of their orchestra. Catherine Habulin, secretary to W. C. Lent, NBC director of Research and Development in Washington, was married to Lieutenant Reed Cundiff, U. S. N., on Saturday, November 4th. The bride and groom left immediately after the ceremony to establish their home in San Diego, California. Eleanor White, who will take Miss Habulin’s place as Mr. Lent’s secretary, comes to radio right out of school. She majored in mathematics and engineer- ing at Virginia Polytechnical Institute. NBC’s House of the Future, which was viewed by approximately 100,000 people during the month of October when it was on display, has been sold to Phil Hayden, local dance instructor. HERE AND THERE: Glady’s Murphy, secretary to Vice President Russell, took a belated two weeks vaca- tion this month; News room editors are checking their calendars to find convenient schedules for late vacations also . . . Commercial Manager John Dodge is planning a dinner for his De- partment celebrating last month’s tops in sales figures . . . Announcer Ed Rogers attended the Columbia-Navy game at Annapolis to see his Alma Mater defeated by Navy . . . “Mike- sters” Raymond Michael and George Gunn received so many letters of con- gratulations from listeners on their handling of the difficult George Wash- ington University vs. Georgetown foot- ball game, which was the first time the teams had met in eight years, that they have been assigned to cover all the local college games broadcast each weekend from Griffith Stadium. EXCHANGE CORNER This classified ad section is available, free of charge, to all NBC employes. Bales: Forty-jive word limit ; no regular business or professional service may be advertised. Ad- dress ads to NBC Transmitter, Room .'517, RCA Building, New York. PRESTO PORTABLE RECORDER, both 33 1/3 ami 78 r.p.m., immediate playback, two mikes, brown leather finish. For sale. Call Transmitter. OLD COPIES of the Transmitter will be available for a limited length of time. If you wish to complete your files, let us know — if you are wise enough to keep a file. PIANO WANTED — Upright piano in fairly good condition. Call Vincent O’Connell, N. Y. Extension 635. TRIP TO FLORIDA — If you know of any- one driving to Florida around Dec. 16, who wants driver and/or expense-sharer, please call Powell Ensign. Information Division, N. Y. Ex. 333. SARNOFF AT CEREMONY ( Continued from Page 2) he supremely beautiful; that when utility and art serve one another, both are enhanced. “As we look about us today and see this modern center of the world’s metropolis nearing completion, it is easy to forget the tremendous difficul- ties under which it was started. The first ground was broken in the darkest days of the depression. Employment was given to workmen who might other- wise have been selling apples on the street. There were doubters who proph- esied disaster. But the dauntless cour- age of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., carried this gigantic project through to success. He had the faith that is ‘the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ “Today, when the substance and the evidence are before our eyes, this monument to faith and courage de- serves a place in history as one of the nation’s great pioneering achievements. It was built by one who is an Ameri- can pioneer in the truest sense, and who is himself the son of a pioneer of earlier days. And now, the able Presi- dent of this great enterprise, Mr. Nel- son Rockefeller, is carrying fonvard this tradition, and adding to it his own creative talents. “Rockefeller Center is much more than a triumph of architecture. It is a triumph of the human will. It passes on to future generations the heritage of our nation’s pioneers. It expresses the modern age. It is a living symbol of the spirit of America.” 10 NBC TRANSMITTER KDKA PITTSBUR by Jim Luntzel David Garro- way, who not long ago was known to one and all at Radio City as a promis- ing page boy, at last has deliver- ed—but in a big way. Dave, now Special Events announcer at Dave Garroway. Westinghouse IvDKA in Pittsburgh, has been named as winner of the H. P. Davis Memorial Announcer’s Award — an honor be- stowed annually to the best announcer among Pittsburgh’s five radio stations. The award carries with it a cash prize of $150 and a gold medal. W alter Sickles of WWSW received First Hon- orable Mention while Bob Shield of KDKA received Second Honorable Mention. Dave’s progress as an an- nouncer has been rapid and steady since accepting the assignment at KDKA where he has firmly established himself both professionally and per- sonally as a lad of outstanding per- sonality and intelligence. Dedication Pittsburgh was in a holiday mood for the dedication of the new 50,000 watt transmitter inaugurated Nov. 4 and 5 by Westinghouse KDKA. Mayor Scully proclaimed Saturday, Nov. 4, as “Pittsburgh KDKA Day,” and the streets were decorated with red, white and blue bunting. One hundred and twenty-five executives of NBC and lead- ing advertising agencies converged on Pittsburgh for a two-day celebration. The guests were welcomed at Penn- sylvania Station in Pittsburgh by the 30-piece Kiltie Band of Carnegie Tech. At breakfast at the Hotel Schenley, New KDKA Giant Rectifiers. they were formally greeted by Mayor Cornelius D. Scully. At the speakers’ table were: Major Lenox R. Lohr, president of NBC; S. D. Gregory, general manager of Westinghouse KDKA; William S. Hedges, vice president of NBC; H. M. Bitner, editor of the Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph; Oliver Keller, publisher of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette; E. T. Leech, publisher of the Pittsburgh Press; Marvin Smith, vice president of Westinghouse Electric and Manufactur- ing Company; A. L. Billingsley, chair- man of the American Association of Advertising Agencies and president of Fuller, Smith and Ross, Cleveland; David Olmstead, Pittsburgh Conven- tion and Touring Bureau; and the heads of the Pittsburgh Senior and Junior Chambers of Commerce. A tour of the KDKA studios, a trip to the transmitter for the dedication exercises, and dinner and entertain- ment at Pittsburgh’s exclusive “Field Club” completed the first day’s activi- ties. The following day, guests were taken on a visit to one of Pittsburgh’s largest steel mills and attended the dedication broadcast that night at Car- negie Hall which was presented over the entire Blue Network. Party at The Pines The entire staff of KDKA forgot care and trouble and transmitter dedications Saturday, Nov. 11, at a party given by General Manager Sherman D. Gregory at the “Pines” in appreciation of the Hooray and up She rises! C H Major Lenox R. Lohr, Claire Trevor, and Frank Conrad. co-operation shown by the staff during the recent station activity. A floor show consisting of acts from other stations in Pittsburgh and talent from our own NBC Artists Bureau was presented, Russell Pratt, KDKA’s “Doctor Sunshine,” emceeing. Out- standing revelations at the party: (1) Francis Fitzsimmons’ ability in jitter- buggin’. (2) Lynn Morrow’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde existence as model citi- zen and Casanova. (3) Byron McGill’s ability as pseudo-psychologist and in- trepid interpreter of berserk blue prints. (4) Just why Boss Gregory had those Venetian blinds installed in his office. The only serious moment came when Boss Gregory did a three-minute ora- torical stunt and announced that every staff member would receive a silver KDKA pin. Sympathy is being extended from all quarters to Roy Hazenbalg, who is seriously ill. Ten members of the staff submitted for blood type tests, and Lynn Morrow was the first to donate. Pittsburgh's exclusive "Field Club” com- pleted the first day’s activities. DECEMBER, 1939 11 NBC SAN FRANCISCO By Dick Bertrandias The New Boss Since hitting San Francisco, the new KPO-KGO boss, A1 Nelson, has been moving so fast, many of the local folks have had little more than time to say “hello” on the fly . . . he’s lost little time discovering which wheels make what go around. He was greeted on arrival here by a Northern California Association of Broadcasters dinner, which also served as a farewell to former KPO-KGO chief, Lloyd Yoder, who is now com- manding KOA in Denver. Don E. Gil- man came up from Hollywood to at- tend and give blessings. One of Al’s first actions was to try to rectify the West Coast radio column situation. He arranged a big hook-up with the S. F. Chronicle on election night, November 7. The result was a four and a half hour airing over both KPO and KGO direct from bustling Chronicle newsrooms. The program featured everything from full orchestra offerings to interviews with candidates. The Chronicle carried a week of front page stories and inside art layouts. Newsreels rolled and are currently be- ing shown here on the Tele-News the- atre screen ... It looks good for the future. Along the same lines, the Press Boss. Milt Samuel is working with the Oak- land Post Enquirer on special radio editions. The Press Division is also busy with a novel mechanical broad- cast Christmas window for S. F. Em- porium, the city’s largest department store. It should block traffic. Story of the Month Glen Ticer, KPO-KGO sales repre- sentative, took off by plane the other day to round up spot biz in the Northwest. Friends report that the night before leav- ing, papers carried stories of two air crack-ups. On the way to the airport in the morning, papers carried scare-heads con- cerning a severe Seattle earthquake . . . and it just so happened that Seattle was Glen’s first point of con- (Left to right): LLOYD E. YODER. DON GILMAN, AL NELSON. “Good luck to you in Denver, Lloyd . . . the same to you in Frisco, Al.” tact. The epitome of courage, Glen took off on schedule . . . and, by the way, it was his first trip by air. And all for dear old NBC. On the Rostrum Still with the Sales Dept., we find Ray Rhodes talking before Santa Cruz Biz & Professional Woman s Club . . . Manager Bill Ryan conducting Mon- day night lecture classes for KPO-KGO staff . . . Bob McAndrews, promotion manager, talking to local school’s Father’s Club on radio, to Jr. Ad Club, the Stanford U. Ad Club, and so ad infinitum. Bob’s the talkingest guy . . . result of collegiate debating. Bob Seal, production manager, talks to Mills College gals on woman’s place in radio. Gene Clark, producer, finally on vacation, and John Ribbe, loaned to Standard Oil for purpose of organizing Standard School Broadcasts, back at desk. No Romance A bad month for romance, or prob- ably a calm following a rush season: we can do little more than suspect, and that’s not cricket. So, to the Athletic Association. Jennings Pierce, prexy, announces plans under way for Xmas Party and Snow Trip. Both sound like good ideas . . . still em- bryonic, however. Chess Club, under Gene Clark’s guidance, knocked over U. of California team, among others. Organized skating, ice or roller, being discussed for near future. Miscellany Agnes Ansel, mimeo, tumbled from bike . . . result, four stitches in heel. Harry Bucknell of Sales won 20 ber- ries on football pool. Sylvia Perry, announcers’ secretary, carried message to memo, leaned across panel and punched master switch . . . result: net- work off air 20 seconds . . . she claims it was accidental. Burton Bennet, an- nouncer, building new home. Jennings Pierce broadcasting from National Dairy Show on Treasure Island and Great Western Livestock Show in Los Angeles. Guy Cassidy and Don Hall have exchanged jobs by mutual agree- ment . . . Hall assumes maintenance engineer duties, and Cassidy is now studio engineer. Jim Summers repre- sented S. F. A. T. E. for second con- secutive year in New York. Welcome Richard Vail, for last three years with NBC affiliate KMJ at Fresno, now KPO-KGO announcer. Was former star St. Mary’s Col- lege debater. Too, Andy Mitchell, who served as vacation relief on technical staff, now permanent. Con- grats, Andy. Editor’s Note: This is all very fine, but in New York the up and down lights for the elevators are red and blue, stand for the networks they say. (This is what happens when you leave us a space.) A PHOTO CONTEST FOR NBC EMPLOYES PRIZES will be given each month for pictures best illustrating TITLES ot BLUE NETWORK SHOWS — for instance, a bust of Julius Caesar with a cigarette in his mouth for "Fun with the Famous." ADVENTURES IN PHOTOGRAPHY, Wednes- day nights on the Blue, will give you an idea. RULES are these: 1. Your picture must be illustrative of a title of a Blue Network show. 2. Send your print — not the negative. 3. Print must be 5'' by 7" (available at any photo finishers for 25 cents). 4. Mail your gem to the TRANSMITTER, NBC, Room 317, RCA Building, Radio City, N. Y. 5. Send your name, department, division and explanation of the picture. 6. Entries for first contest due January 8. CAMERA FIENDS GET BUSY NOW! 12 NBC TRANSMITTER WTAM CLEVELAND by Bob Dailey Tom Manning was named after . . . "■"POM MANNING” was sold down X the river the other day. No, we re not talking about the WTAM sports announcer. It was his namesake, the two and one-half year old trotting horse, ‘'Tom Manning,” that was sold to Doc Parshall, one of the foremost drivers and owners in the Grand Cir- cuit. The story goes back to the fall of 1936. William Hughes, a Cleveland provision house operator, was in bed as the result of an accident. Hughes is a devoted follower of baseball and trotting horses. But because of his accident, he could not attend the World Series. So he did the next best thing. He listened to the radio. And over the airwaves, he heard the voice of Announcer Tom Manning de- scribing the games on NBC. Evidently he enjoyed Tom’s vivid portrayal of the series, because the following year he named a promising young colt of his “Tom Manning.” The young trot- ter developed fast, and this fall won the Governor’s cup at the Ohio State Fair. And to climax the short career of “Tom Manning,” Doc Parshall became interested in him and purchased the trotter with plans for entering him in ( Continued on opposite page) A swell Job by Tom Manning. WCY SCHENECTADY, N. Y. by W. T. Meenam WHENEVER you see three or four WCY folks huddled in serious conclave these days, you can gamble the subject isn’t Santa Claus, but bowl- ing. The young women, as well as the men, have become spare and strike conscious. The men have a six team bowling league, now in its third sea- son, and the women have a four team competition approaching the fifth match of its first season. Of the WCY girls, Jeanette Swart, receptionist, has highest average with 119, a high three of 413 and a high single of 162. For most of the women, bowling is a new but very thrilling ex- perience, and they are taking up the sport very seriously. The teams have been named Feathers, Schedules, Pro- gram, and Scripts, and that’s their order in the team standing, the Feath- ers having won nine and lost three. John A. Howe, secretary of the men’s bowling league, is the promoter of the women's league. He attends all con- tests and presides as umpire, judge, in- structor, and nurse in the administra- tion of first aid. The men’s league is having its big- gest season. There are no absentees and plenty of reserves. The Howls, at the moment, have a three-game lead over the second team — in fact, three second-place teams, the Statics, Faders, and Whistles. Howard Tupper, a rookie bowler last season, blossomed forth with a new ball and immediately began to hit the timber with convincing 200 scores. At the present writing, his 242 is high single and 579 is the high three for the league. Now, everyone wants to know where and how to acquire his own and properly-fitted ball. A special committee has been organ- ized under the chairmanship of Howard Tupper to prepare for WGY’s second Christmas party in the new building. The date has been set at Thursday, Dec. 22, providing the date isn’t shifted by proclamation. The Christmas party will be a costume affair, with Yuletide trees, of course, novelty en- tertainment and dancing. Admiral Byrd’s snow cruiser stopped for a breather in WGY’s front yard, Saturday, Nov. 11, and during the brief stay we were privileged to broadcast an interview with Dr. Thomas Poulter, designer of the cruiser, now en route to Antarctica on his second Byrd Ex- pedition. A1 Zink of the News staff was the interviewer, and he did a splen- (Left to right): B. W. Cruger with pack transmitter, Al Zink, interviewer, and Dr. Thomas Poulter, designer of cruiser. did job under trying conditions, a jam of humanity and automobiles. Dr. Poulter had originally planned to by- pass Schenectady, but in spite of the numerous delays on the 1000-mile trek from Chicago, he was influenced by Ad- miral Byrd and C. D. Wagoner of Gen- eral Electric, to bring the big ship into Schenectady, right up to WGY’s door- step. It was only through expert maneuvering of the state and city police that the traffic was unsnarled at the end of Dr. Poulter’s interview and the Behe- moth resumed its lumbering journey to Boston. Howard Tupper, WGY announcer who hails from St. Lawrence County, made his first trip to New York re- cently. Highlight of the trip was to be a luncheon with a young lady- friend at NBC. The date was made and Howard waited ninety minutes at the elevator bank for his date to ap- pear. Unfortunately, he was at the wrong bank. Howard ate alone. Robert Warner, newest uniformed recruit on WGY’s Guest Relations staff, announced his engagement to Miss Jane kl ine of Fonda. The announcement was made on a morning radio program. ( Continued on opposite page) Byrd’s portable igloo came to the doorstep. DECEMBER, 1939 13 NBC CHICAGO by Lynn Brandt With Everett Mitchell’s resignation as supervisor of announcers for the Central Division of NBC because of in- creasing outside activities and country- wide agriculture broadcasts, William Kephart was appointed senior super- visor Sept. 18 last. Oldest in seniority of the present 18 announcers under his direction, Kephart will in 1940 ob- serve his 10 year Chimes Anniversary as a member of NBC. Bill, who has been active in radio since 1924, first came to NBC as a studio engineer with the Chicago office. Six months later he was transferred to the announcing staff where he has since remained. Kephart attended Morgan Park High School in Chicago. His college Alma Mater is Bowdoin, in Brunswick, Me., where he also became a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He is mar- ried, lives in suburban Beverly Hills, WILLIAM KEPHART south of Chicago. Hobbies include golf and the good book by the fireside. He is quite famous for his long vaca- tion motor trips which he plans be- forehand by actual charts containing the day’s mileage; gas consumption; wear and tear on tires and parts. Upon his return it is a foregone conclusion that his pre-trip calculations will have been verified to the last drop of gas — the exact tenth of a mile — the exact amount of change left in his wallet. Congratulations and the best wishes to “Kep.” Six young men of the NBC Chicago Announcing School have in the past six weeks auditioned successfully for announcing positions with local sta- tions in widespread sections of the U. S. All told, ten members of the school have been placed with stations in the past fifteen months. The out- standing record of the school has been maintained with the recent departure of these lads: John Conrad (John Hellquist) to KTSM, El Paso, Texas; Charles Whipple to WDAN, Danville, 111.; Bill Nelson and Mark Howard I Howard Markusson) to WDWS, Champaign, 111.; Robert McGinnis to KJN. Fresno, California; and Bob Jen- sen, WGES, Chicago. Incidentally, the 1939-40 Announcing School is now under way with a present enrollment of 20 members. New additions to the school will be accepted in the near fu- ture. Everett Mitchell, famed National Farm and Home Hour announcer, and member of the NBC Central Division announcing staff, was awarded the hon- orary “Gold Key” and “American Farmer” degree last Oct. 17 by the Future Farmers of America organiza- tion. He received this unusual award before an audience of 8,000 young farmers gathered in Kansas City, Mo. for their annual convention. The pres- entation to “Mitch” was in recognition of his years of service to vocational agriculture. Congratulations to “It’s a beautiful day in Chicago.” Oct. 27 brought another swell eve- ning of fun for members and friends of the Chicago NBC A A. In one of the large ballrooms of the Germania Club in Chicago’s north side, pumpkin time was observed in gala fashion by our NBC-ites with dancing, sipping, games, costume judging and general hey-hey! It was the first indoor party arranged and planned by the NBCAA since the association was formed last spring. Now with association bowling parties, moonlight riding, ping-pong, camera club and other activities in full swing, the Chicago NBCAA, directed by President Merritt R. Schoenfeld. will have a busy winter season planned for members of the Central Division office. Larry Larsen, staff organist, back from a rip-roaring far west hunting trip . . . Sidney N. Strotz, general mgr. Central Division, also returned from a hunting safari in the south . . . Bob White, Production, latest movie camera hobbyist . . . Ed Horstman, senior control supervisor, receiving congratulations on his election to a second term National ATE presidency . . . Bill Kostka, NY Press head, and WCY SCHENECTADY, N. Y. ( Continued from opposite page) . . . Phil Brook and family have moved into the country for the winter. They felt pretty far from civilization one morning recently when, looking out in the woods back of their home, they saw a buck calmly nibbling the foliage . . . Paul Adante of the engineering staff has also left the city with his family and is now residing at Larrabee’s Cross- ing. It is called “Crossing” because it was once the crossing of the interur- ban trolley line that, like the little man, isn’t there . . . A1 Knapp, Pete Narkon. and Howard Wheeler, engineers all. went after pheasants near Al’s camp at Round Pond in the Berlin Mountains. Thev didn’t flush any birds but they did get three shots at a red fox. The fox is still living an active life . . . Virgil Hasche was called from his adding ma- chine recently by the frantic appeals of Mrs. Hasche. Robert Allen Hasche. age fifteen months, wasn’t to he found around the house or neighborhood. Virgil arrived home in time to greet Robert as he was delivered by Jim Cornell, former WGY announcer. Jim had found Explorer Robert seven blocks from home. He had crossed sev- eral streets heavy with traffic and seemed quite pleased with the adven- ture. WTAM CLEVELAND ( Continued from opposite page) the Grand Circuit next season. That’s whv Tom Manning, the announcer, i« taking his hat off to “Tom Manning.” the trotter. For the first time in the historv of WTAM. the staff members, their wives, husbands and sweethearts held a Thanksgiving celebration. The event took the form of a luncheon at the sta- tion on the dav before Thanksgiving Dav. Office Manager Pearl Hummel and Announcer Tom Manning handled the arrangements. Wade Barnes, of Canton. Ohio, ioin- ing the announcing staff . . . Engineer and Mrs. Jimmv Hackett expecting their second child . . . Fred Llovd, a graduate of Ohio University, joining th° WTAM staff. Ben Pratt. Blue Network publicist, visi- tors in Chicago the other day . . . Paul Clark, junior control supervisor, very enthusiastic in accounts of his new home in Nile Center, 111. . . . Paul Millen has been promoted to Day Cap- tain of the Guide staff . . . and a Merry Christmas to all! 14 NBC TRANSMITTER KOA DENVER by Charles Anderson KYW PHILADELPHIA by J. A. Aull For the first time in a number of years, the Philadelphia Evening Bulle- tin opened its news room to radio on election night when KYW broadcast the returns direct from the tickers. A special staff of seven from KYW, hacked by a group of Bulletin news men especially assigned to radio, made possible the broadcast of the returns within a few seconds after they were compiled. From 11:05 to 1:30, KYW aired the results at an average of four- minute intervals. In the interim, a featured KYW elec- tion party program was going out of the studios. This included music by the KYW orchestra playing special ar- rangements under the direction of Ken Martin, vocals by Roger Williams, Jimmy Saunders and Nita Carroll, and special numbers by Arthur Hinett, Andy Arcari, Martin Gabowitz and Irving Lescbner. After a brief fall vacation, the KYW Camera Club again began operations in full swing on November 17, under the direction of James Harvey of the KYW staff. The opening meeting of the new series discussed the current Annual Salon of the Miniature Camera. Art Hinett has completed four more organ melodies for Victor Bluebird records. All classical, but rendered in Art’s unique style. Jimmy Schultz, composer-arranger with Ken Martin’s orchestra, has turned out another ballad. The song, tenta- tively tilled Turn on Your Heart , was premiered over KYW during the past month. Another Schultz composition, ]’m So In Love, the Ken Martin theme song, is now in print. Ken Martin, director of the KYW orchestra, last month added 20 more compositions to his already voluminous collection of Victor Herbert scores. Many of the scores are out of print. Westinghouse engineers at the KYW transmitter out in the wide open spaces of Whitemarsh, Pa., have been prac- tising more than radio technique this fall. They have cut 15 tons of timothy on the property. And if you know anything about today’s farm prices, that isn’t hay. Alfreda Chambers, secretarv to E. H. Gager, plant manager of KYW. was the last on the station staff to com- plete her summer vacation, one weeks rest at the end of October. Dan Munster has traded his rifle for a valve trombone. The trombone, of ancient vintage, has no mouthpiece — Our new boss, Lloyd Yoder, is cer- tainly making friends here in a hurry. His big smile makes everyone feel right at home, and his determination to have a man-to-man chat with everyone here in order to completely familiarize him- self with their work and problems, shows a keen interest in the welfare of everyone on the Staff. We’re all glad to know Mr. Yoder and work with him for a great KOA. It’s goodbye Rockies — Hello Sky- scrapers for A1 Isberg. He leaves the KOA Engineering Staff to work in Television at Radio City. A1 has a gold-star record of achievement in his field. Before coming to KOA, he did research work for several big engineer- ing companies. At the Station he was a model of an en- terprising worker, always on the job, and even after hours could be seen working on some new gadgets for the improve- ment of quality broadcasting. He’s a graduate of Col- orado State Col- lege in Greeley with Majors in Science. KOA joined with the McMurtry Manufacturing Company a few days ago to cele- brate a radio Fifth Anniversary of their program, Golden Melodies. This has been one of the Station’s most consistent programs in popularity and has been the proving ground for many of radio’s biggest stars. Jean Dickenson is a “graduate” of this fine musical show. Russ Thompson, Transmitter engi- neer, has just returned from a trip to New York. While he was gone, Mrs. Thompson took a bad spill off the “but,” savs Dan, “The rifle didn’t have a trigger.” Jim Harvey, director of the KYW Camera Club, and drummer George White have put away their “yachts” for the winter — while Joe O’Byrne, di- rector of the Hunting & Fishing Club, has taken out his rowboat for some duck hunting. porch steps and was laid up for awhile. She’s up O.K. now and promised Russ she wouldn’t try any more fancy steps next time he goes away. Incidentally, Russ tells us that Ver- non Duke, who went from here to Tele- vision in New York, has really made a name for himself in development of the latest television apparatus. P. S. Another KOA “Alum”, Rol- and Jordan, is secretly employed by the Denver Chamber of Commerce. He’s spreading those vacation folders all over Radio City. Tourist bureaus beware. The boys were pretty lonesome at the Transmitter for awhile. The Highway Department built a new road past their building, and travellers had to detour ’way off the beaten track. Everything’s back to normal now and the tourists look with admiration at the fancy fountain as they drive by the place. In connection with the Red Network Dr. /. Q. programs to be broadcast from Denver, starting Monday, Novem- ber 27, Mr. Hoban of Mars Inc., and President Grant of the Grant Advertis- ing Agency, visited us at KOA. All arrangements were made for these high- ly interesting programs to be fed to the Red from KOA each Monday at 7 for the next six weeks. General Manager Yoder, Messrs. Owen and MacPherson showed KOA to the visiting Mars officials, who ex- pressed astonishment and gratification over the completeness and efficiency of KOA studios and operations. John G. McMurtry, McMurtry Mfg. Co.; Robt. H. Owen, KOA; Lloyd E. Yoder, Mgr. KOA; W. R. McFarland, Pres., McMurtry Mfg. Co.; Al Crapsey, KOA, and the “Fifth" Anniversary Cake. DECEMBER, 1939 15 NBC HOLLYWOOD by Noel Corbett Picturesque sights and visits to in- teresting places are in store for mem- bers of the Camera Club according to Charlie Smith, Artists Service, and Gil- bert Morgan of the Morgan Camera Shop. An afternoon of exploration aboard an ancient Chinese junk anch- ored at Fish Harbor and a field trip to the country around Lake Malibu are in the offing. To further competi- tion, Morgan has offered a $2.50 mer- chandise order for the best picture se- lected and printed in the Transmitter each month, and Charlie Smith has ar- ranged for a model to accompany the field trips. Morgan and your corre- spondent are judging the pictures — not the model. This month, Frank Pittman, Sound Effects, who admits that until four months ago he didn’t know the differ- ence between a Brownie No. 2 and a Zeiss Contaflex, comes through with the prize-winning photo, “Birds of a Feather.” Sydney Dixon, Western Di vision sales manager, wins an honor- ary mention with his shot of Hollywood Radio City, and Charlie Smith’s “Yacht at Daybreak” was also good for an honorable mention. Speaking of photographs, those tak- en at the NBCAA’s Hallowe’en Party at Whitings Ranch had plenty of eye appeal. It was a whale of a party, and the gang from Hollywood Radio City and their friends (numbering over 400) afterwards came through with praisings that would gladden the heart of any song-plugger. An eclipse of the moon, which Mother Nature oblig- ingly tossed in for the event, was one of the highlights (hmmm) of the eve- ning. There were games, dancing, a bit of apple-bobbing, and. well. FUN. “IT WOULD GLADDEN THE HEART OF A SONG-PLUGGER.” (Left to right): Ted Cottrell, Stan Radom, “Whitey” Reynolds. Joe Parker. Bill Thompson, and Frankie Saputo. Here are a few promotions and changes: Helen Welty from Sales Traffic to secretary of Robert Schuetz, manager of the newly set up Transcription Ser- vice in Hollywood. Russ Hudson from Traffic to Sales Traffic. Richard Davis from Guest Relations to Traffic. Jack Parker from Guest Relations to Artists Seivice. William Nugent and Edward Padgett from New York to Hollywood Sound Effects. Virginia Long from Typing to secre- tary of Marvin Young in Program. New to NBC are Clay Mercer, Don- ald Smith and Fred Giari. all stationed on the Parking Lot. George Volger, who took a leave of “BIRDS OF A FEATHER.” Artist: Frank Pittman, Camera: Rolleicord, Filter: K 2, Time: 1-100. Aperture: F 8. Prize: $2.50. absence to work at the RCA Exhibit on Treasure Island, is back on the staff. Aubrey Ison has left the company to take a postgraduate course at Washing- ton State College. He’s already using his radio knowledge in working on the college-owned station. Armistice Day brought good news to the Henry Masses— a little fellow (4 pounds. 15 ounces). He was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital and is named Donald Henry. QUICK PIX . . . Harry Saz was a sure-fire listener to Fred Allen Novem- ber 15. Mrs. Saz was on the program . . . That diet Rush Hughes plugged on his Langendorf Show so intrigued Walter Bunker that he took a try at it. Bunkie says it worked, but it cost him Lloyd Egner, Manager, NBC Transcription Service, and Robert Schuetz, Manager of the new NBC Transcription Office in Holly- wood. plenty getting enough to eat . . . When Frances Scully dined her mother at the Brown Derby on her birthday, Bob Cobb, manager of the famous restau- rant, ordered up a magnum of cham- pagne . . . William Andrews talked be- fore the L. A. City College . . . Marv Oman, who five years ago left NBC. San Francisco, to become Mrs. Wilms- burst and live in Angels Camp, was lunched by Nadine Amos, Nell Cleary, Isabel Menden, Alice Tyler, and Mae Regan, all former Bay Cityites . . . Don E. Gilman introduced A. E. Nelson, Mgr., KPO-KGO, to the S. F. Rotary Club November 14 . . . Lew7 Frost, an- other Hollywoodian north on business that week . . . Blanche Davies wrent for a new7 1940 model, and so did Bettv Frazer . . . Elaine Forbes, Charlie Mc- Carthy’s No. 1 Fan. talks as though she’s going to transfer her affections to Mortimer Snerd . . . The horseback riding group is improving. Janette White reports that no one fell off their mounts during the last ride . . . VTien Evalvn Hermanson sailed for Honolulu October 27 on the Lurline. John Swal- low7 and his Program Department gang w7ere there to see her off. Prior to her coming to NBC a couple of years ago. Hermie worked for J. Walter Thomp- son Companv for five years . . . Dick O’Meara headed for Palm Springs but ended up at Blue Jay Ranch. The spot’s a wrinter resort and the ice-skat- ing was great until nightfall. Then Dick realized he had no heavy clothes for the trip home. . . . 16 NBC TRANSMITTER ROVING REPORTER TRANSMITTER MERRIMENT lECAUSE we have to think ahead and be sure — even before Thanksgiving I or II — that we have expressed appropriate Christmas sentiments in our December issue, we have also remembered to do our Christmas shopping early. One time we did it so early we got caught in the rush of the season before — not the shopping season, but the exchange season that follows the gift-giving. This year, however, we are happily impecunious and have finished our brief selection at the “five-and-ten and mailed out those last year Christmas cards from which we could remove our friends’ greetings to us. So. in a premature spirit of relaxa- tion, we gaze from our windows at the 5th Avenue crowds. The Christmas crush is already beginning. Bigger and bigger groups coagulate on the curbs, waiting for the lights. An occasional, hardy. Salva- tion Army Santa Claus skitters through the traffic. From up here, they all look so jolly, the pushing and shoving seem so good natured, the elbows jammed into the stomachs such a fine jest, that the holiday mood takes hold of us, and we wish you all the heartiest, fullest, most decorated Yuletide ever. IT'S A PLANT A few days ago, the Roving Reporter, on his way through Central Supplies, found himself tangling with two gargan- tuan members of Flora Unamericana. For a moment, he expected Buck Rogers to appear, but it was N. J. Farino who came j f’.'b- ®eUS,r' PR(vTT to the rescue. “No! I don’t know what ^ op n&c thev are but I’d like to set the things ‘‘°,Tin DunlaP: Dear Rembrandt. I hail you mey are, oui 1 u nxe 10 get me inmgs as a master Benvenuto Cellini Mason.” out before they push the roof off the building.” It turned out they came back from the Fair with Mr. D’Agostino to be farmed out over the winter. The suppliers wouldn’t take them — afraid of bugs. (Close in- spection revealed not an aphis.) Now, they are to be placed near a window. Quite a problem in a windowless building. Anyway, we expect them to turn up soon on television. the control desk in Guest Relations, left November 8 for Station WGNY in Newburgh to be an announcer and to assist in production and continuity, and even, it is rumored, emcee a radio amateur show. He plans to keep pretty busy — perhaps guide an occasional tour through all three studios. Gene hails from Chicago and Knox College. He came to New York chasing Thespis (a Greek character). In Septem- ber, 1937, he wandered into NBC and became a page. He went through the usual routine — guide, cashier, etc., then left to sell chromium office furniture on the road. The lure of life through a shutter got him too, and he almost became a commercial photographer. After six months, he returned to NBC. Gene was a member of Dan Russell’s announcing class. One of his more spectacular achievements was repre- senting the Guide Staff in the picture sec- tion of “Magic Dials,” Lowell Thomas’s latest opus. McGILLICUDY Vincent “McGillicu dy” O’Connell, “chief of staff” of delivery in Telegraph. Local 561, has just made a solo flight. If you don’t know McGillicudy — well, if you are looking for McGillicudy, so is the Telegraph Department. In fact, we asked, “Have you seen McGillicudy?” and the answer was, “Have you seen Franken- stein?” O’Connell later murmured some- thing about “their bark is worse than . . He would have to be a Frankenstein to contend with the ribbing he gets. Anyway, O’Connell has just made a solo flight, and that’s important. He’s the first of Paul Burton’s NBC aces to achieve this, but his modesty gives the credit to his instructor. There are other airmen in NBC. So watch this flying circus! A shadow over the RCA Building means — one of Burton's men. Who knows, it might be McGillicudy. GOOD CITIZEN DEPARTMENT ’ TW'AS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Gordon Nugent, who is very deft at slipping into these columns, does so once again by getting married. The girl, who is very attractive, is Marion Reamer until Christmas Eve. The ceremony will take place at the home of Miss Reamer’s aunt on Long Island. “A small but friendly audience” is expected to attend. We all wish them the very best. Lately, George Nelson of Personnel. Leonard Braddock of Information, Doug Ballin and Hugh Savage, both of Guest Relations, have caused undue confusion in their departments by being called for jury duty. They are all rather reticent on the subject. None of them expects to find himself locked in a room with Helen Hayes. Doug, however, who has com- pleted his service, had one reaction to report. When asked for his chief impression, he thought about half an hour and replied, “The forty dollars.” WAITING This was several weeks ago. The S.S. Manhattan was due in with Arturo Toscanini abroad. A1 Walker, the maestro’s official aide-de-camp, was waiting. “When would it dock?” “Would it get in before six a.m.?” Finally, after his fourth anxious question, he got a question himself. “What you think they got. propellers on the aft deck? CAREER MAN For those of you who take a success story as an escape mechanism, here is a real one. Gene Rubessa, last seen at YUM YUM STUFF If you have been missing something, it is probably the girl in Personnel, known to a select circle as “Yum Yum.” Ruth Donaldson, who learned to say “No” as an NBC recep- tionist, has at last said “Yes” to the man with the right question. We suspected a Gilbert and Sullivan finale, and finally she colored a delicate, tickle-me pink and confessed. The lucky, lucky man. Harold Berry, stopped taking care of other peoples’ futures long enough to insure his own by honeymooning in Havana and Sea Island. Heaven is now located at Scarsdale, N. Y. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY AND PRESS FIRMLY ON PEN 8/64 NBC LIBRARY WITHDRAWAL LIBRARY of the NATIONAL BROADCASTING CO., Inc. RCA BUILDING 30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA NEW YORK, N. Y.