NBC chimes (Jan 1947-Dec 1948)

4 NBC CHIMES It happens at NBC THE NEW ERA: The Mail Room informs us that with the atomic age helicopters for mailboys, and motor scooters for messengers (the latter also being supplied with flareguns to speed up rescues on the long stretch between 504 and 2M2) will be in order. OF MICE AND . . . Eeeek! The vote was 16 to 12. That is, 16 in WNBC claim the thing was utterly illogical; and 12 still say it is. He was very small, practically a premature mouse. And the way he scuttled around close to the baseboards all during the day showed that he was quite inexperienced. But, during his two-day sway the offices in 416 were in a state of nervous alert awaiting the constantly recurring whoop — -"There he is!" The male staff spent their time crawling under desks, cutting off retreats and advancing on the enemy. Secretaries backed away from the latest invasion point, eyed the tops of desks speculatively and entreated the commandos to "do something." Of course, WNBC showed again that teamwork will win — and in a pincer movement to the right flank along the left wall, the enemy was finally captured. With which the secretaries sighed relievedly, went back to their typewriters — and informed the conquering heroes sternly that they considered them a hardhearted, cruel lot indeed. The men are not bitter. But they are clinging to their contention. Oh, yes, 16 WNBC staff are men, 12 are women. EN GUARD DEPARTMENT: The Don Quixote of Sound Effects, Wes Conant, was runner-up in the fencing tournament held at Madison Square Garden. QUICK, WATSON, THE NEEDLE ! : Jim Nelson and Charlie Vaill of Promotion attended the annual dinner of the Baker Street Irregulars at the Murray Hill Hotel on January 3rd. The BSI is an informal organization of Sherlock Holmes addicts and experts and includes, in addition to the aforementioned gentlemen, such people as Christopher Morley, Elmer Davis, Rex Stout, Fletcher Pratt, Ben Abramson and Manley Wade Wellman. Both Jim and Charlie are mystery story experts, Jim having recently edited "Complete Murder Sampler," which is an anthology of murder fiction; Charlie being an authority on Sherlock Holmes. His latest publication on the subject appeared in the Baker Street Journal, the official publica tion of the BSI. In this article he discussed various aspects of the expression, "Quick, Watson, the Needle!" Charlie has proved conclusively that not only was this most offensive expression ever used at any time by Sherlock Holmes, but, furthermore, by no stretch of the imagination could it ever have been used by the great Holmes, because it was so in variance with his character. LITERATI, CONT'D: Jo Dine, Trade Editor in Press and former Army Major, has published a moving article called "Infantry Chaplain" in the January issue of the Infantry Journal . . . Jack Snow, Promotion Writer and past master at the art of spectral tales, has just finished his newest collection of short stories, "Dark Music," which will find its way to the bookshelves on February 11. This attractively jacketed volume contains 18 stories which run the gamut of supernatural fantasy. There is horror, stark terror, mystery, adventure and fragile beauty — all the overtones and undertones that go into weaving of the eerie realms of the imagination . . . Ernst Noth, International Writer-Announcer, is finishing his book, "Les Ponts sur le Rhine," and Joe Carroll, also of International, is working on a play in off -hours . . . Ed Mills of Television's production staff, is the author of the original story on which the Broadway play, "Temper the Wind" is based. The play, starring Blanche Yurka, opened after the New Year and received many reviews calling it one of the most intelligent dramas of the year . . . Announcer Dick Dudley submitted a story on the NBC Announcers' Feedback Club to Walter Winchell, which the latter used in his daily column. SAINTS PRESERVE THEM: T'is a well known fact that Saint Patrick takes care of his own. So it was not too surprisin' that when Shamus McConnell (of Spot Sales) decided to take Shamus Gillis' prized secretary, Carolyn Maus, as his second girl, HE came to the aid of Gillis — a God-fearing man from Cork. HE sent him as fair a colleen as Spot has seen since Kay Murphy deserted the fold to go to work for an Orangeman. Her name is Rosemary McCarthy, begorrah, and a darkeyed Rose of Tralee she is. Rosemary seems very happy among the kindred spirits in Spot (they call them McConnell's Black and Tans) what with Eileen Burns, Marion Sheehan, Florence Hunter, Patricia Gormley, Richard Close, Shamus Gillis, Shamus McConnell and Allan Hughes to pass the good word with. Ah, yes, Spot is a darlin' place to work these days. In the AM it's "Top of the marnin'," and "Erin go Braugh" at night, shamrocks bloom on the window sills and shillelaghs hang in plain sight. Sure, they even have a leprechaun among them — Don Norman, whose Viking ancestors surely spent a little time on the auld sod of the Emerald Isle. Spot will indeed seem a dreary place come March 17 as they march in a group up Fifth Avenue. HRH MISS MAIL CAGE: When Cal Wheeler, Jack Bennett, Fred Lambert, Jack Byrne, Don Meierdiercks and Al Weisbach graduated to the Stamp Cage in the Mail Room they got to thinking. During their messenger days they had a chance to observe that NBC is long on feminine beauty. Why, they asked, wasn't some recognition made of this fact? Promptly they became a committee, and, during the month of December nine NBC girls were nominated "Miss Mail Cage." The amazed, but none-the-less flattered beauties who received this honor were Doris Greene of Engineering, Adelaide Smolen of Script, Augusta Kettler of Television, Helen Rachel of Television, Hazel Maninen of Program, Doris Paterson of Station Relations, Marjorie Petry of Promotion, Virginia Raskopf of Radio Recording and Clare Callahan of Television. The climax of the contest came at the Open House at the Waldorf. The committee searched out lovely, raven-haired Doris Paterson and announcing that she had been elected the Miss Mail Cage, presented her with a box of candy. Beamed Doris, "Nothing like this ever happened to me before." BELLS, BELLS, BELLS: Latest blushing bride in Spot Sales is Anne Pawlyshyn, Bill Roux's secretary, who tripped up on the marble aisle on February 1. And tripped right down again without the distinction of a new monicker, since, she actually found herself a lad named Pawlyshyn. New handle or not, Annie rated a shower from the other girls in Spot. It was held, with great success — and the proper element of surprise — in the 7th Floor Ladies Lounge on January 27. Her gifts were numerous — enough to warrant two weddings . . . Another trousseau gatherer in Spot Sales is Helen Knittel, Don Norman's secretary. Part of every day she turns out the lamp on her desk and types by the light of the stone on her third finger left hand. The exact date that Helen's triumphal march will take place is still a deep-dark secret but it seems certain that it will occur 'ere the Ides of March . . . Jimmy Christie, Portuguese section chief in International, beat the gun on his own formal announcement at the International Christmas Party. He's engaged to Norma Lee Hicks — of the Virginia Hickses, suh ... No one in the News Room had the slightest suspicion that something was happening over the week-end, but on Sunday morning the following note appeared on the log: "Mrs. Milton Burgh, wife of the News Director of the Mutual Broadcasting System, reports that she will be in the office as usual, Monday morning. Mrs. Burgh will be sitting at the desk occupied by the former Anna Burton Lindsey". . . Miriam Clark of Music, who has been rehearsing with an unexplainable wedding ring for some months, finally announced that she will marry George Martin on February 16. She will return to her desk in Ernest LaPrade's office after a brief honeymoon . . . One Monday morning Ann Mazzola reported for work in Research wearing a beautiful gold engagement ring. A little research on our part revealed that her fiance, Daniel Kiernan Jr., is a research analyst. These two should have no trouble working out a system of saving money or beating the stock market . . . Cute 'n' blonde Shirley Thursby is the latest member of the Traffic Department to join the ranks of the "Engaged Set." The lucky man is Ted Utz, a college student. Shay says no date has been set for the wedding . . . The question as to who would be the third girl in Controllers to follow Ginny McGowan and Carol Smith by becoming engaged was settled when Gertrude Stolz came in one morning with a dreamy look in her eyes and a diamond ring on her finger. Her fiance is Harry Holden of Jamaica. TENSHUN!: Lt. Colonel Ethel Smoak (of the Governor of South Carolina's staff) has been seen instructing the elevator operators and other variety of uniformed employees, in the intricacies of close order drill. Ethel, Horton Heath's secretary in Information, received her title upon the occasion of the Governor's last visit to New York. OUR BEWILDERING OFFSPRING : Here's the case of a father who didn't know his own son — photographically, that is. A picture of an unidentified, adventurous tot taken at the Children's Christmas Party, was referred to News Commentator W. W. Chaplin. Bill looked the lad over and, after consultations with various people in the office and Mrs. Chaplin, decided that it wasn't his Toby. "I could swear I bought him that suit, though!", he exclaimed. CLAIMS TO FAME: Betty Rapp of International has been telling how