NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

10 JSBC Transmitter SERVICEMEN’S PROGRAMS SCORE OVER STATION WGY Photo by US. Army Signal Corps Staff of the Army's Redistribution Station at Lake Placid Club and WGY men who put “Meet the Returnee” program on the air. Sergeant Arthur Oakley, stage manager; Corporal Sam Alessi, vocalist; Lieutenant Larry Rhodes, announcer; A. 0. Coggeshall, WGY program director; Albert Knapp, W GY engineer; Sergeant Rennet H. Korn, writer and director; Corporal Leon Gray, vocalist; Staff Sergeant Jerry Tornann, interviewer, and Staff Sergeant Bunny Snyder, orchestra leader. Such programs have great promotional as well as public service values. And they are excellent audience-builders. A Transmitter Bio: Boy's Hobby Led to Start Of WOAY in North Oakota FARGO, N. D. — Earl C. Reineke, founder and president of WDAY, started in radio as a hobljyist. He built bis own wireless transmitter, then a receiving set, because nobody owned one, then bad to teacb another kid code so that be could use bis transmitter. Complicated, sure, but that was ’way back in 1907. Since 1907 Earl lias never given up radio. During World War I, be instructed in wireless. After tbe war bis first longwave transmitter was installed in the tower of the Cass County Courthouse. The few signal checkers that Reineke bad spotted around the countryside were faithful listeners. In 1922, WDAY was officially licensed and started operations in a one studioollice layout with the transmitter right handy in the studio. Erom the time it started, the station w’as on its own. There were no money coffers in which to dip when the sledding got tough. With Julius Hetland as chief engineer and Reineke giving him free rein, the station gradually grew to its present proportions. From a staff of two in 1922, there are now .52 people on the payroll, many of them longtime employees. In 19.31 WDAY became affiliated with the NBC network. NEW YORK.— The fourth “R”— radio —and its place in secondary school education, was explained by Doris S. Corwith, assistant to the manager of the NBC public service department, in an article in the A])ril issue of the New York State Education Journal. Mrs. Corwith said that “it behooves the alert teacher to learn how to utilize sound broadcasting so that she will he, in some measure, ready for the time— not too far distant— when sight will he added to sound.” SCHENECTADY, N. Y. WGY has introduced a star-spangled series of programs paying honor to men in the service. Under the general title, “Men of Fhicle Sam,” the station is picking up special programs originating at the Redistribution Station at Lake Placid, the Rome Army Air Station at Rome, N. Y., and the Sampson Naval Training Station at the head of Seneca Lake. Men at Lake Placid awaiting reassignment after foreign service call their show presented every third week, “Meet the Returnee.” The fliers at Rome call their performance the “Rome Air Theatre of Operations” and the navy production is titled “Bluejackets of Sampson.” The format of the Redistribution Station program includes selections by a hot dance band made up of musicians from top name bands directed by Staff Sergeant Bunny Snyder, formerly trumpet player with the late Ben Bernie. Returnees from the WCY parish are interviewed as to their experiences and a “Returnee of the Week” is highlighted with an orchestral salute. The program director is Sergeant Rennet Korn; Lieutenant Larry Rhodes is announcer and Sergeant Jerrv Tornann is master of ceremonies. The Rome Airmen feature a dramatic production written by Sergeant Gerald Cullinau. an experienced radio writer and actor. Rome also has a fine hand and most programs include solos hv John Seagle who is engaged in personnel work at the station and is known to WGY listeners through his transcribed series “Church in the Wildwood.” The Bluejacket program from Sampson includes stories of training and band music. The program is written by John Beauvais, Specialist X, Third Class. Walter Scheff, Seaman Eirst Class, is bandleader and vocalist and Seaman Bert Cohen is announcer. Each program is written, produced, performed and directed by Army or Navy personnel. In addition to the weekly half-hour Saturday shows from Sampson, Rome and Lake Placid. WGY is presenting a quarter hour afternoon show “Your Boy iii Service” which records the doings of men and women from the WG\ parish who are in the armed services. These records are based on public relations releases from various branches of service recounting promotions, battle action and decorations. Another new program is addressed particularly to the veteran and supplements NBC’s public service program “Veterans’ Advisor.” On WGY’s “Attention Veterans” reports are made on federal legislation affecting the veterans and also on regulations set up by New York State on behalf of the veteran of World War II. To inquiring veterans or their relatives the station is distributing a veteran’s handbook. Earl C. Reineke