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

FISHBEIN HEADS GROUP TO ANALYZE PROGRAMS Victi mid Outrliolser Also On Coinmittee Nowcd by NBC to Determine Morale Qurtlities. ANE\\' AND SCIENTIFIC approach to the morale (jiiahties of network broadcasting was announced Septem- ber 30 by Xiles Trammell, presitlent of the National Broadcasting Company, with the formation of an ad\'isory com- mittee headed by Dr. Morris Fishbein, editor of the Journal of the Amciican Medical Association and Hygeia, the health magazine, and a leader of the medical and public health world. Associated with Dr. l>lshbcin will be Dr. Henry R. \iets, noted Boston neu- rologist, who lectures at the Harvard Medical School and is Neurologist to the .Massachusetts General Hospital. Boston. The third member of the com- mittee is Dr. W'infred 0\ erholser, fam- ous psychiatrist, who is Professor of Psychiatry. George W'ashington Uni- versity School of Medicine in Wash- ington, D. C., Superintendent of Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, in the same city, and member of several distinguished medical societies. The committee will work uudei' the super\'ision of Dr. James Rowland Angell, Public Service Counselor ol the National Broadcasting Company. President Emeritus of Vale l'ni\ersity and noted educator. In announcing the lornuilion ol the committee, Trammell stated: "The National Broadcasting C^iinpaiiy believes that radio broadcasting is one of our most important tools in the win- ning of the war and tliat its informa- tional and morale stinuilating values are of profound importance at this time. We e.xpeet this committee of scientists to study and analxze all NBC programs, particularly in relation to the national welfare and tlie war effort and to make reeoMunendations to the company for the betterment of our broadcasting ef- forts. These distinguished doctors, we feel, will brills; lo us a constructive ap- proach, particularly in the fields of pulilic health and morale." Commenting on his appointment as chairman of the NB(; consulting com- mittee, Di. I'ishbcin said: "Millions of people take their leader- ship :uid inspiration from the addres.ses, entertainnieiit and drama which come to them l)V radio. Scientific' study fo- cused on these programs should help toward intensifieation of tho.se factors most iMMufieial tor the public of a na- tion at war. Radio is essentially the luedium from which the family as a group obtains a stimulus to better li\ ing and hygienic thinking. The consultant group will ad\ i.se regarding aspects of various programs definitely related to tliese considerations. Its contribution represents a logical extension of the eduiiition program already so well es- tabiislied by \BC and vyideiy reeog- mzed under the leadership of President .•\ngell." In referring to the committee. Dr. Angell said: "The obligations of radio to the nation — and especially in these troubled times — make it imperative that vye should conscript all available intelligence to assist in the execution of its task. The distinguished experts who have ac- cepted appointment to this comnn'ttee are peeuliarlv fitted to render assistance of hji'li value.' 25,000 SERVICE MEN TAKE FREE NBC TOURS Number Includes Seueral Thousnnd Seamen of United Nations Merchant Marine NEARLY 25,000 members of the armed services of the United States and her allies, as well as several thousand seamen of the United Nations merchant marine, have been the guests of the National Broadcasting Com- pany since Pearl Harbor. NBC was the first large entertain- ment producer to remember that the seamen who man the transports carr\- ing supi^lies to oin- war fronts were as fully entitled to the courtesies of NBC as the soldiers, sailors and marines. Ar- rangements were made through the Merchant Seamen's Club for free dis- tribution of tickets for tours of Radio City and for broadcasts, and the mer- chant seamen eagerly snapped them up. The long Labor Day vyeekend, the first such prolonged holiday since the United States entrv' into World War II, found hundreds of service men crowd- ing NBC for the guided tours and broadcasts. Word has spread through- out the services and the mc reliant fleets that there is open house at .NBC for men in the services. Many of the soldiers, sailors and ma- rines receive tickets for the tour and broadcasts through the New York City Defense Recreation Center, 99 Paik Avenue, which is given a daily supply of tickets. Others simplv walk into Radio City where their uniforms have been an open sesame for tours and broadcasts. The visitors have included the group of British Commandos and .Naval and Flv'ing heroes that visited the United States in behalf of War Bond sales, as well as hundreds of commissioned offi- cers who have toured NBC. Among the latter were Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, head of Selective Service, and Maj. Gen. Sandeford Jarman, second in command of the First .Xrmv and head of all .-\nti-.\ircraft Defenses, Eastern Theatre of Operations. American service men seem to enjoy broadcasts with comedy touches while those of our .\llies favor musical pro- ductions. This is particularly true of the Norwegians, Danes and British and the merchant seamen. In addition to supplv in^ tickets daily to the New York Citv Defense Recreation Committee and the Mer- chant Seamen's Club, the National Broadcasting Company also allots tick- ets to the Masonic Service Men's C^ltib and Sloane House, largest Y.M.C.V. in the world. RCAM Saves Rubber A sKMi-PLA.STic M.^TEIUAL, madc fiom alcohol and especially tailored after months of research, has been put into service to release large quantities of rubber on the intricate machines used in making RC.\ radio tubes. RC.\ engi- neers, working with engineers ol the Resistoflex Corporation, developed the new material, which now has longevity and other distinct adv antages ov er the rubbi^r lormerlv used. 28 RADIO AGE