NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

14 NBC Transmitter HEAR VOICES OF KIN FREED FROM lAP PRISON CAMPS Families ami relatives of IT San Francisco Bay Area residents ivho had just been liberated from Japanese prison camps on Luzon Island in the Philippines, gathered around the speaker in KPO's studios February 28 to hear for the first time in three years the voices of their loved ones. Arranged jointly by KPO and The San Francisco Examiner, the special closed-circuit shortwave broadcast consisted of interviews between NEC's correspondent Pat Flaherty and the liberated men resting then in the "Haven of Refuge.” After the immediate families had heard the broadcast, and it had been recorded, it was aired over KPO in four installments. HEALTH BROADCASTER ON WPTF 19 YEARS RALEIGH, N. C.-In 1926, when WPTF was a lUO-watt station, William H. Richardson—then editor of publications for the State Department of Agriculture— inaugurated the first regularly-scheduled weekly broadcast ever sponsored by a North Carolina State agency. Since then, other public service broadcasters have come and gone, but Richardson, pioneer in this field, is still heard each Saturday morning over WPTF’s 5(),000-watt transmitter in a weekly program known as “Your Health and \ou,” sponsored by the State Board of Health. During Richardson’s long experience as a public service broadcaster, he has never been late for a program. Richardson has never spoken in person over any microphone other than those bearing WPTF’s call letters; however, transcriptions of special broadcasts by him have been used throughout the state. Certain North Carolina schools incorporate the State Board of Health broadcasts into courses of study. Their classrooms are equipped with receivers, and the weekly “Your Health and You” quarter-hour, conducted by William H. Richardson, is required listening. At no time does Richardson— who is a layman— undertake to speak as a doctor. But he does take what the public health doctors tell him and translates it into broadcasts det A signed to carry a popular appeal. For a number of . years he was ac tive in the field of A journalism in three iB states — his North Carolina, William H.Richa,dson Virginia and Ten nessee. From 1921 to 1925 he served as private secretary to Governor Cameron Morrison of North Carolina. Then he worked for over a year as state news editor for the Associated Press in the Raleigh Bureau, and as agricultural editor, before affiliating himself with the State Board of Health. He has been keenly interested in radio since its beginning. He spends a good portion of his waking hours preparing and reading radio scripts, and most of his spare time iti listening to the radio in his own home. RADIO PAYS HOMAGE [Continued from page 3 I Nugent, Ethel Barrymore, Laurette Taylor, Bert Lytell, Franchot Tone, Mady Christians and Frank Fay. The show was staged by two of Broadway’s greatest producers, Arthur Hopkins and Brock Pemberton. Dr. Black directed the music. From Hollywood April 15 came an equally impressive show, featuring great names in the entertainment world. Heard were Major Meredith Willson, who directed the orchestra; John Charles Thomas, Bette Davis, Robert A’oung, Kay Kyser, Fibber McGee and Molly, Ginny ' Simms, Eddie Cantor, Joseph Szigeti, the Charioteers, Jack Benny, Ronald Colman, i Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton, Amos ’n’ Andy, Hal Peary, Ed Gardner, Bob Hope. Bing Crosby, Ethel Smith, James , Cagney, the Ken Darby Chorus, Dick J Powell, Will Hays, Shirley Ross, Edgar ) Bergen and Ingrid Bergman. The classical music world also presented a special tribute to the late President in a program featuring Mischa Elman, Dean Dixon and Stella Roman, April 14. Dr. Black directed the orchestral accompaniment. Trammell came to the microphone w ith a special memorial message on President Roosevelt at 9:30 p.m. Friday. He said: “F^pon every American the impact of our common loss has fallen in some deep and personal way. To us who work in the broadcasting industry, the death of the President means the loss of one of its warmest friends. He, more than any other man, tested and proved the tremendous potential of radio as a force in a working democracy. In a nation of great radio audiences. his was the voice that alwavs commanded the greatest number of listeners . . . his was the understanding— the deep, sympathetic understanding— which helped our industry grow and develop in a truly American way.” In closing, the NBC head said: “It would be his command that we unite with all our courage and fortitude behind our new President. As President Truman so quickly and efficiently has undertaken his new duties, so we the people pledge ourselves to follow his leadership in the winning of the war and the determination of the peaceful world envisioned by our departed commander-in-chief.” On subsequent days NBC had added tributes to the memory of “F.D.R.”