Radio Digest (Oct 1923-July 1924)

■■a. r April 5, 192k RADIO DIGEST — Illustrated BEFORE THEY THOUGHT OF "MIKES" WHB ON 13 HOURS IN AIR MARATHON WORLD PROGRAMS MARKS STATION'S BIRTHDAY Kansas City Plant Starts at 7 P. M. and Ends Program at 8:35 A. M. Next Day KANSAS CITY. — Precedent for continuous broadcast is believed to have been set here recently, when WHB, the Sweeney Automotive and Electrical School station, was on the air for thirteen hours and thirty-five minutes. WHB's widely known siren announced to the world, particularly the United States and Hawaii, promptly at 7 p. m., central time, that the marathon in broadcast was on. Not until 8:35 the next Monday morning', when the minister whose sermon was put on the air the night before at the beginning of the program, was about to arise, did John Schilling, director of WHB, conclude the broadcast. The event was WHB's Second Annual International Radio program and marked the second anniversary of the dedication of the Sweeney station to the people of Kansas City. Special Hawaiian Program Emory J. Sweeney, owner of WHB, opened the long program with an address. Later the services and chimes of a local church were broadcast, followed by a score of diverse entertaining numbers ranging from solos by noted artists to ensembles. An all-Hawaiian program by natives of the southern islands was given at 11:30 p. m., when an attempt was made to reach Hawaii. The numbers included the singing of the Hawaiian national anthem in the native tongue, and other selections popular in that country. When the regular schedule of livestock quotations had been concluded at 8:30 Monday morning, Mr. Sweeney came before the microphone and delivered a short 'address marking the end of the unusual program. Sailor at Cape Horn Hears WDAP, Chicago CHICAGO. — Hearing music and news while off Cape Horn, South America, and each succeeding night, all the trip to San Pedro, Calif., is the distinct record reported by a ship operator to Station WDAP here, according to Ralph A. Shugart, chief operator of the Drake-Board of Trade station. On the night of February 22, the ship operator heard the 10 p. m. program from Station WDAP. The airline distance from Chicago to Cape horn is over 8400 miles. This is the greatest distance that reception of music from this station has been reported. Legi jionnaires Turn to Radio PHOENIX, ARIZ. — Utilizing Radio for the advancement of the American Legion and Americanization is the latest means adopted by the legionnaires to keep interest up to the highest notch. So successful have the first experiments in this direction proven that plans have been adopted for making it a regular weekly feature of the station here. Remember that little shaver that kept hold of the picture frame last week so he wouldn't fall out and into your arms? Note the crop of alfalfa he has grown in the week's interval — we mean the gentleman on your right, Arthur R. Herske of WTAM. And the other cute little fellow that sat on the rim of the circle is depicted on your left with horn-rimmed spectacles, Richard V. Haller of KGW. Read more below about the two gentlemen. No, the two babies above are not the same announcer, with and without his clothing. The one without anything more than necessary on happens to be a popular easterner, born in 1897, and recently promoted to director of broadcasting for his station. Last name begins with E. Can yojj guess it? Tell you next week. And the more fully clothed pride of his mother's heart is no less than — well, he likes pie and the ladies, plays the piano for his station under any one of several noms de plume, plays chess and dances lots, and is STILL SINGLE. We'll make you wait till next issue for his name, too. By the way, Mr. E of the East is also quite gifted, playing the piano, organ, vocal cords, trumpet, French horn and Mah Jongg. Richard V. Haller, KGW IF ANYBODY had told Dick Haller's mother that he would make more noise as he is in the mature picture than he did when he was as old as you see him in the other, his mother wouldn't have used Dick's language to express herself, but she would have been just as emphatic in contradicting the statement. Dick, who is director and chief announcer of KGW, the Morning Oregonian, at Portland, Ore., held the long distance record for bawling (as his last name almost indicates) when he was a youngster. Neighbors several doors away say that he went it once for six weeks without a stop. Some of the same neighbors back in Ohio ought to hear him announce now. Dick makes the most noise during the meeting of the Hoot Owls every Friday night when the formal type of announcing is thrown to the winds and a catch-as-catch-can method is taken on. In the Hoot Owls he is known as the Keeper of the Grand Goat, Sweet William. To the Radio audience for a thousand miles around he is known as Dick and a great many refer to KGW as Dick's station. When you write to Dick, ask him whose baby picture he substituted for his own. BOX OFFICE SALE BIG FOR AIRPHONE STARS S, R. O. Signs Disprove Allegations of American Dramatists NEW YORK. — That broadcasting pays theatrical interests and stars is again proved conclusively by the barnstorming trip of "Roxie" (S. L.) Rothafel to theaters in Providence and Pawtucket, R. I. "Roxie" and favorite entertainers from the Capitol theater here who broadcast regularly, have been greeted by "Standing Room Only" signs at all performances. Washing-ton, D. O, also had a bonanza ticket sale. This success will do much to dispute the action of the American Dramatists' society in attempting to "pinch" broadcasters for funds for the use of plays and productions. Pacific Steamer Picks Up Chicago on Initial Test LOS ANGELES. — Installation of a powerful Radio receiver aboard the California coastwise liner Harvard has been completed by the Los Angeles Steamship company. Station KYW, Chicago, was tuned in on the first? test. R. F. Cullen, general passenger agent, explained that the Radio concerts at sea had proved so popular with the traveling public that the company decided to install a large set capable of tuning in on all continental broadcasting stations. Arthur R. Herske, WTAM THE SUBJECT of this biographical sketch has black hair, but if he reads it he will probably be red headed. When Arthur Roy Herske, announcer at WTAM, the Willard Storage Battery company, Cleveland, was born some twentyeight years ago, his mother planned to make him a doctor. The less important parent wanted him to be a lawyer. Herske did what few men would be able to do. Days he attended Western Reserve university, studying law and medicine. Nights he studied science through correspondence schools to please himself. His hobby won because, unable to get ahead fast enough in either profession, he turned to his hobby for a living. That he succeeded is indicated by the fact that he now has charge of the electrical and steam equipment of the Willard Storage Battery company plant at Cleveland. When the company built WTAM, Hersku was picked as announced. It was his voice, "The Voice From the Storage Battery," that won him the place. The next time you hear "Double-U-Tee-Ay-Em, signing off at 12 p. x., good-night everybody," you will know you have been listening to a good-looking young fellow with patent leather hair who is in love with his work and his wife and lets her read his mail. Takes 59V2 Words Off Air in Minute World's Copying Record Broken at Executive Convention in New York NEW YORK. — The world's speed record for copying of Radiotelegraph code signals was shattered when A. E. Gerhard received straight copy at the astounding speed of 59% words per minute, at a contest held at the Fourth Annual Convention of the second district Radio council at the Pennsylvania Hotel, recently. Mr. Gerhard is a commercial Radio operator, and his remarkable feat of raisins: the former world's record of 56 words per minute has given him the plaudits of the entire Radio world. What a remarkable accomplishment this is can best be appreciated, perhaps, when one figures that his record is three times as fast as the usual speed used in ship Radio communication. Mr. Gerhard is here shown holding the treasured trophy awarded by the second district executive Radio council to the winner of the contest. KFAU Uses 150 Watts Well BOISE, IDAHO. — KFAU, the 150-watt station of the Boise High School here is being heard consistently throughout the western and Pacific states. Encouraged by the results already accomplished. KFAU is planning to install a 500-watt set soon. Charlotte, X. C. is the farthest east point reporting KFAU, FEDERAL OFFICIALS AT CAPITAL EXHIBIT FIRST SUCCESS MAKES FOR SHOW NEXT YEAR Attractive Booths Display History of Art and Uncle Sam's Much Heralded Radio Devices WASHINGTON, D. C. — Washington's first Radio show, March 19-26, was a declared success from the standpoint of the Radiophan and the exhibitors. A show next year is anticipated as a result of this year's success. The Navy and War departments, and the Department of Commerce had attractive exhibits. Both government and private exhibits showed Radio history in its infancy as compared with the present. During the course of the show, a number of prominent government officials spoke, including Assistant Secretary of War Dwight F. Davis, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt, Secretary of Labor James A. Davis and others. "Roxie" Entertains Radiophans Prior to the show, and during the first day, "Roxie," of the Capitol theater, New York, entertained Washington Radiophans both in person and on the air. Roxie came to Washington to give some performances, the proceeds from which were used for the purchase of radio receivers for disabled soldiers' hospitals near Washington. Among the interesting government exhibits was shown the little wooden boat that carried Radio apparatus for a party of government surveyors on a 300-mile trip through the roughest waters of the Colorado river. The exhibit of the Bureau of Standards illustrated the important part which it plays in regulating the technical problems of Radio. The Washington show was conceived, planned and promoted by Washingtonians. It was conducted under the auspices of the Radio Merchants of Washington. The three men who handled practically all of the details were William P. Boyer, pi dent of the association, Fred S. Lincoln, local Radio dealer, and Alfred L. Stern, director of the show. WTAS, Elgin, III, Opens Chicago Branch Studio ELGIN. ILL— Station WTAS opened a new Chicago studio recently. The W. W. Kimball company of Chicago, to which the new wire is connected, donated to the station the use of three rooms, one of which includes the large auditorium seating 600, for the use of the station to broadcast at least twice in each week regularly. In addition to this every Friday afternoon between 12:30 and 1:30 p. m.. organ citals of Kimball Hall will be broadcast by special Western Union wire running from Kimball Hall out to Station WTAS here. Relay Greetings to England ROCHESTER, N. Y. — Greetings and best wishes from the mayor of Roches New York, to the mayor of Roches England, were sent recently on tl trip via the relay stations of the A