NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

11 i June 1945 1 “Bondwagon" Rolls Again > BOND ARD — KDKA's versatile Bill *' Hinds, being awarded a special United States Treasury citation by Glenn Cooke of the War Finance Committee, “for distinguished service rendered in behalf of the U ar Finance program.” Hinds, emcee and sparkplug of KDKA's “Bondwagon” teas only the third person in Allegheny County upon whom this singular patriotic honor has been conferred. PITTSBURGH.— With Station Manager Joe Baudino in the driver’s seat, KDKA’s far-famed “Bondwagon” — bulging with staff artists and office personnel 40 strong —lunges forth on its fourth annual hondselling itinerary. In collaboration with the War Finance Committee, Baudino will steer the “Bondwagon” to various towns to entertain the populace and aid the Seventh War Loan Drive. A 15-minute salute to the communities to be visited will be broadcast on KDKA the evening prior to the “Bondwagon’s” arrival for the big open air shows and rallies. Approximately 25 artists will contribute to the evening’s two-hour entertainment, a half-hour of which will be broadcast ou Station KDKA. During the last three years the “Bondwagon” has traveled 3,000 miles to stage 28 rallies. Its endeavors have been instrumental in the sale of $4,700,000 worth of United States certificates. NORFOLK, V A.— Station WTAR purchased a magnetic wire recorder which arrived just in time for V-E Dav program transcriptions. Ten prominent Navy officers and city officials made brief talks on the meaning of V-E Day, the entire halfhour show being transcribed most successfully on the new device. The station is the first in Virginia to place the new' instrument in use. Pioneer Farm Program Reaches Its 24th Birthday; KDKA Series Brought Frank E. Mullen to Radio PI l I SBURGl L — As KDKA commemorated the 24lh anniversary of the first radio program designed specifically as a service to the rural population on May 19, it was recalled in retrospect, that it was via the ensuing KDKA “Farm Hour” that Frank E. Mullen, NBC vice-president and general manager, was initiated to broadcasting. It was May 19, 1921, within a year after KDKA was founded, that market reports were first broadcast at the re(juest of the Department of Agriculture. Government market reports and a “Earm and Home” letter on agriculture continued as a KDKA feature until September, 1922, when a drastic expansion of service to farmers was effected. At that time, E. S. Bayard, one of the country’s foremost farm authorities and current editor of Pennsylvania Earmer, then known as Stockman & Farmer, inaugurated radio’s first full-fledged farm program series. Early in 1923 he summoned young Erank Mullen from llie Sioux (iity llowal journal, where he conducted a farm news page, offering him a joI> as radio editor of Stockman if Farmer. Succund)ing to the .$7.50 salary increase young Mullen arrived in Pittsburgh to discover he was to produce a radio farm program rather than write a newspai)er column. Adopting himself to the new venture w ith energy and enthusiasm, Mullen soon cultivated an enthusiastic and wides]>read audience. Mullen continued as KDKA farm editor until 1926 when he joined NBC to begin his rapid climb to his jjresent niche. KDKA continued to exj)and its service to the rural population. Homer Martz, KDKA agricultural director, is considered one of the district’s outstanding authorities on farm produce. In addition to conducting the 6 to 7 a.m. “Farm Hour,” Martz has been active in guiding gardeners to bountiful crops during the war’s acute food situation. L.4Ul\CHU\C .4 CAREER— Frank E. Mullen— present .\BC vice-president and general manager-depicted in his first radio job as farm editor of KDKA in 192.3. l\ ithin several months Mullen's farm information had attracted 150,000 radio sets to KDKA and the nation's first , full-fledged farm program.