Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

STATIONS CONTINUED DATELINES Newsworthy News Coverage by Radio and Tv ODESSA — The nuclear explosions scheduled this week, weather permitting, in Nevada will mark the beginning of a documentary series on KOSA Odessa, Tex., which that station believes may be the most comprehensive series on the atomic age ever compiled by a radio station. KOSA, with the permission of the Atomic Energy Commission to broadcast the two atomic tests this week, will be the only Texas station on hand, it says. The live broadcasts will inaugurate a series of 24 half-hour programs. Announcement of the documentary project brought praise from Texas Gov. Price Daniels and a gubernatorial suggestion that West Texans listen to the series. The plan also drew commendations from U. S. Congressmen J. T. Rutherford and James Wright (both D-Tex.) and from State Agricultural Commissioner John White. Station Manager Doyce Elliott and News Director Lynn Thomas, for initial broadcasts in the series, will fly through the atomic cloud in a helicopter after the detonation, land across the blast area and move back toward the center on foot. SAN DIEGO — After reporting developments in the world controversy on radioactive fallout in past weeks, KCBQ San Diego has decided to add a dimension to Page 86 • June 24, 1957 the story by establishing its own radiation station. Reports on radioactivity in the atmosphere will be featured on the five daily broadcasts of Ben Shirley, station commentator who conceived the plan. Readings come from a geiger-muller counter bought by KCBQ for the purpose. In an interview some time ago with Mr. Shirley, Dr. Lester L. Skolil, chairman of the San Diego State College physics department, said that the time may not be far off when every radio, tv and newspaper weather report carries the latest radioactivity reading. If the prediction comes true, KCBQ may take credit for pioneering the effort. NORFOLK — Live coverage of the 18-nation International Naval Review last fortnight, originated by WTAR-TV Norfolk, and fed to WMAL-TV Washington and WBAL-TV Baltimore, brought the giant sea spectacle to an estimated two million viewers. Gunther beer, Baltimore, Md., sponsored the regional telecast. Covering what was called the greatest sea and air power show of all time — and perhaps the last great assemblage of naval might — was a big technical order for the Navy and media involved. In official credits issued after the job was done, the Navy acknowledged that "WTAR-TV provided both programming and technical personnel on an unprecedented scale." Raytheon Manufacturing Co. also was credited for providing equipment needed to microwave the show from a covering helicopter and the lead reviewing ship, the USS Canberra. Manning the Naval Review Information Bureau for two weeks' special reserve duty was a corps of experts from Raytheon. NBC Hollywood and stations, in addition to regular Navy personnel. WTAR-TV Chief Engineer Richard Lindell and the Naval-civilian team of technicians set up a system involving two Raytheon microwave transmitters on the Canberra beaming signals to Old Point Comfort and Little Creek, Va. This assured that signals could be picked up at all points along the 14-mile course of the review and be passed through two lines of 1 1 2 anchored warships on either side of the Canberra. To get the signals ashore, radar beacons were set up at receiving locations and transmitting antennas welded to the Canberra's masts, directing them to receiving points. Three-hour tv coverage was characterized by a steady, unwavering signal, according to reports. Engineers were particularly gratified by the picture from a helicoptermounted camera supplied by the Navy's Bureau of Ships. Tv coverage of the historic event is believed to be the first time the Navy has provided a tv hookup from a combat vessel, ship-to-shore, for use by a civilian station and network. WTAR-TV provided a mid-day live news feed for Walter Cronkite's CBS-TV news show. WTAR Radio, WVEC, WGH, WNOR and WLOW, all Norfolk, with WAVY Portsmouth, WBOF Virginia Beach and WLPM Suffolk also broadcast review reports from Naval vessels. The Voice of America sent 38 radio-tv language specialists 9 to the armada for broadcast reports around I the world. WRVA-TV Richmond got taxi I service on four Marine helicopters which II helped the station get film of the June 12 show home in time to telecast that evening. PLYMOUTH — While the modern naval might of 18 countries was on display down the coast, a 17th century squarerigger was making its primitive way into this Massachusetts harbor. When the Mayflower II arrived the next day, WPLM Plymouth fed reports of welcoming ceremonies to a total of 10 stations as far west as Indiana. For the occasion WPLM was chosen as the kickoff station for Frank Chacksfield's new London recording, "The Voyage of the 1 Mayflower." SAN DIEGO — Harold Keen, newscaster of KFMB-TV San Diego, has found that young heroes never die but are always good for 1 another story. A few months ago Mr. Keen interviewed 1 Naval pilot, Lt. Norman L. Sothan, about H an air crash in which a comrade was rescued i from the ocean. Lt. Sothan came back re I cently to break another story, this one I about himself. This time the jet flyer told the story of I his escape from 75 feet underwater by means of his plane's automatic ejector seat. After the KFMB-TV newscast other media picked up the dramatic story. LOS ANGELES — A combination of luck and independent enterprise brought KMPC here a pair of new beats inside 24 hours. Station staffer Dick Nelson was eating Sunday dinner in a restaurant when he noticed a heavy flow of police cars, fire trucks and ambulances nearby. Following them, he found a plane had crashed into a Pacoima home. He commandeered a telephone and reported to KMPC, which aired the story immediately. The next day News Director Hugh Brundage telephoned across the country for I a statement on President Eisenhower's ill I ness. He got a direct telephone report for I local broadcast from Presidential News I Secretary Jim Hagerty, KMPC reports. ST. LOUIS — KMOX here, the city's only I 24-hour station, at times stood practically I alone among communications media, as a succession of tornadoes, squalls and floods struck the metropolitan area, knocking out power lines. A harrowing week began at 1:30 in the morning June 11, when tornadic winds and torrential rains hit the area, leaving 150,000 I homes without electricity and telephone I service. Portable and transistor radios were quickly put into service by citizens who H tuned to KMOX for emergency service. The I CBS-owned station virtually became the I communications center for the St. Louis 1 area. A week of rain storms was capped Friday I p.ight by an all-night squall that left a record 1 13.75 inches of rain by 9 a.m. Saturday !i morning. KMOX emergency broadcasts [ continued more intensively, spreading traffic Broadcasting • Telecasting GEE! That's the car for me!" Commercials on WGN-TV have away of getting results — because WGN-TV programming keeps folks wide-awake, interested — and watching. For proof, let our specialists fill you in on some surprising WGN-TV case histories and discuss your sales problems. Put "GEE!" in your Chicago sales with tiiffifii » I Channel 9 Chicago