NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

12 NBC Transmitter THE PLAY-BY-PLAY MUST GO ON So WAVE’S Oon Hill Works Miracles in Translating Wire Reports LOUISVILLE, KY.-WAVE’s Don Hill is the only radio announcer in the nation covering basketball games in play-by-play style from wire reports. On his “Cheer-L'p Club” broadcasts ever) weekday nigbt Don gives play-byplay accounts of the Lhiiversit) of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky Teachers College games, the out-of-Louisville ones being wired into WAVE. “When the sending operator watching the game from courtside is on his toes and free from error, broadcasting basketball by wire is a cinch,” said Don. “All it takes is a little imagination to fill in the color, mistakes being almost impossible unless first made by the sender.” But if the sender gets behind, loses a point or gets the score mixed up, Hill starts pulling out what’s left of his hair trying to figure out what really haj)pened. Most of the time with the aid of his receiving operators on this end the mix-ups can be straightened out. Coming in on the wire are all of the essential facts: ever) shot, successful or not; every held ball; every out of bounds, and every substitution. From his knowledge of the teams’ style of play Don makes up the passing and describes the functioning of the plays. The following is a sample of “the essential facts,” as Don calls them: “KY. PARK AND STOUGH IN, PARK OH 25, NG, REB GROZA, TIP, NG, REB, GRATE OS, DUGGER SPIN 10, NG, REB SCHU GRATE JUMP. TIP TINGLE DRIB OH CORNER GOOD. KY 2. OS 0. OS IN DUGGER TRAV, KY OB, SCHU GROZA PIVOT. NG, GROZA OWN, REB TIP. GOOD. KY 4, OS 0.” All of which means: “Kentucky’s ball. Parkinson and Stough bring the ball down tbe floor. Parkinson takes a 2.5-foot one-hander (OH), but misses fNG). Groza rebounds for Kentucky and attempts to tip in the rebound but misses. Grate rebounds for Ohio State and passes to Dugger, who takes a 10-foot spin shot that’s no good. The rebound is tied into a jump ball by Schu of Kentucky and Grate of Ohio State. Schu tips it to Tingle, who dribbles down and sinks a onehander from the corner. Kentucky leads 2 to 0. Ohio State’s ball. Dugger brings it down the floor, but is called for travel Sportscaster Don Hill ing. Kentueky’s ball out of bounds. Schu passes in on the side to Groza, who takes a pivoting spin shot, goes in, gets his own rebound and tips in a lay-up shot for the second Kentucky field goal. Score: Kentucky 4, Ohio State 0.” Ordinarily the cost of a special leased wire runs according to the distance. In the case of wire basketball the charge depends largely on the diffieulties and ineonvenience of furnishing this unusual service. If one of the teams has a game in a town off the beaten track. Supervisor E. F. Schaeffer and Sales Manager William J. Iredale of the Louisville office transport an operator and basketball rule book to the scene of the hardwood contest. From Madison Square Garden, where wires are already installed and an operator on duty, the cost is approximately •SIB. 75. Yet, to wire a game to Louisville from Greencastle, Indiana, is $90. because it necessitates detailing a man all the way from Chicago and installing a special line at the DePauw Lhiiversity gym. Dreier Pamphlet Distributed CHICAGO.— Alex Dreier, NBC Chicago commentator, is the author of a pamphlet, titled “Has Nazism Failed?” presenting a comprehensive study of the Hitler party’s hold on the German people and its success in welding them into a political and military power before and during W orld W^ar II. The jiamphlet is being distributed by the Skelly Oil Company. NBC loins Hands With A.M.A. For 10th Year of Series CHICAGO.— The advance of medical science at home and abroad during the war— and in postwar days— is spotlighted on “Doctors Look Ahead,” a weekly dramatic series which made its debut on January 6. For tbe lOtb consecutive year, NBC is joining bands with the American Medical Association to present these dramatic episodes about the nation’s distinguished medical men. The initial episode, titled “Doctors at War,” serves to introduce the series, and to outline subjects to be stressed in succeeding programs. Distinguished physicians and health officials and ranking medical officers of the armed forces will make guest appearances on the broadcasts. They will be interviewed by Dr. W. W. Bauer, director of health education of the AMA, who also will act as narrator. This program— titled “Doctors at War” for the past two years— has presented many of the nation's best-known medical personalities. These included Thomas J. Parian, Jr., Surgeon-General of the LL S. Public Health Service; Major-General Norman T. Kirk, Surgeon-General of the LL S. Army; Brigadier-General P. R. Hawley, chief surgeon of the European Theatre of Operations; and BrigadierGeneral David N. W. Grant, Air Force Surgeon of the Lfi S. Army. “Doctors Look Ahead” is written by William Murphy, continuity editor of the NBC Central division, and features wellknown network dramatic stars. Norman Felton directs. Robb to Night Program Post NEW YORK. -Arch Robb, formerly assistant to the NBC vice-president in charge of programs, has been promoted to night program manager in charge of company operations in New York, it was announced January 29 by Frank E. Mullen, NBC vice-president and general manager. In his new capacity Robb continues to report to C. L. Menser, NBC vice-president in charge of programs, and is responsible for nigbttime operations from 5 p.m. to closing time. Robb joined NBC in 1943, as assistant to the Eastern program manager.