Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

ARMY TANK IS SENT CRASHING THROUGH DUMMY CASTLE-FORTRESS AS PART OF THE SPECTACULAR WAR SHOW THAT THRILLED CROWD. neuvers and drills, climaxed by an "assault and capture" of an "enemv" position. An impressive spectacle was the sounding of retreat in which the Army and Coast Guard troops and massed bands participated. As bombs burst in mid-air, and the flag was lowered. Miss Monroe sang "The Star Spangled Ban- ner." Earlier in the program, the immense crowd thrilled to a di\'e bomber ex- hibition staged by the Vultee Aircraft Corporation, and enjoyed immensely the first running of the \'ictory Stakes in which four horses, ridden by jockeys representing Uncle Sam, Mussolini, Hitler, and Hirohito, competed. Uncle Sam nosed out Hitler at the finish line while Mussolini lagged far in the rear. George Hicks, Blue Network an- nouncer, who acted as master of cere- monies for the rally, gaye a post-by- post description of this race. Out of this rally must surely arise new inspiration for the war workers upon whom our armed forces depend. The fighting speeches must surely be lodged in their minds, the picture of the dive bomber, the smell of gim- powder and the sight of our fighting men must have made a lasting impres- sion. These are things, we believe, that spur men on; these things and the knowledge that they are able pe.son- ally to make an important contribution toward winninsl the war. "RED NETWORK" OUT AS NBC DESIGNATION It Becomes Unnecessary Followinci Divorce From Blue: Oriijiti Recalled NBC, EFFECTIVE September 1, dropped the designation "Bed iXetwork," as formerly applied to its affiliated stations. Since the recent sep- aration of the "Bed" and the "Blue" Networks (as the National Broadcast- ing Company and the Blue Network Company) the phrase has become un- necessarw It was in the horse-and-buggy days of radio communication (circa 1926) that the term "Red Network" came into being. Engineers of the America.i 'I'cii'plioiic and Telegraph Company were responsible for its coinage, and not the National Broadcasting Com- pari\-. In order to simplify matters the engineers used colored pencil markings Lo sliow circuit routings on their maps. Avd was used for the NBC-WEAF net- v\ork, and blue for the NBC-WJZ hookup. Not until some years later did NBC decide to make these two terms more widely knowTi among the public, and such a campaign was started on the air and in ad\ertising and promo- lion matter. The publicizing of the term soon brought irate letters from less enlight- ened listeners. They began to accuse NBC of a lack of patriotism and base designs on the American way of life. Previously these listeners had accused NBC of making the radio waves play strange melodies on their bed-springs, and felling blackbirds while in flight. Wrote one friendly correspondent who did not view the matter with alarm: "The minds of some people arc \ery easily swayed and I know for a positive fact that your slogan has been grossly misinterpreted. We all know that NBC has been and always will be one hundred per cent .American. . . ." To another letter writer in search of an explanation for the "colors," NBC, with the correct amount of whimsy. wTOte as follows: "The red, white and blue crops vip e\ery\vliere these days; this patriotic set of colors has entered into every phase of our conscious—and ^■es, unconscious ex- istence. For proof of the first, just look about you: for proof of the second, we offer the First Aid Manual published by die American Red Cross and listing red, white and blue unconsciousness. "The Red is now known as the National Broadcasting Company; the Blue func- tions as a separate and distinct com- pany, and the White is non-existent, sa\e for its use in the past as a designa- tion for certain international facilities. No, Mr.—, we can't he red, white and blue, unless it he red with embarrass- ment o\er this 'unpatriotic' situation, white \\ ith terror lest too man\- listeners disco\ er it, and iilue to know that we've disappointed vou in any way whalso- e\er. "With none but tlie kindest thoughts toward another network, we hope that when you're blue \ou'll dial to \BC; we stri\e to remember that despite the headlines, life still has its laufrliltnes!" RA DIG AGE 23