NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

10 NBC Transmitter Egner Salutes WTIC For NBC Thesaurus Inspiration HARTFORD, CONN.-C. Lloyd Egner, NBC vice-president in charge of radio recording, speaking on a recorded program broadcast over WTIC on June 18 inaugurating the station’s NBC Thesaurus transcription service, paid the Travelers Insurance Company station a glowing tribute for its high program standards. “Years ago,” said Egner, “when most radio stations were dependent on phonograph records almost entirely for music to entertain their audiences. The Travelers Insurance Company boldly experimented with creating their own music. They employed a large and fine orchestra composed of top-flight musicians and were among the first to experiment with employing arrangers to especially adapt music for their radio audience. Out of this grew some of radio’s finest musical programs which were carried over the NBC network for a number of years. “It occurred to us at NBC if we could transcribe musical programs of the type WTIC was broadcasting and syndicate them to manv stations throughout the country, we would vastly increase the number of listeners who could enjoy this type of music. “That was the inception of Thesaurus, and to say we borrowed liberally from WTIC’s experience is an understatement. A moment ago, you heard a selection played by the ‘Music of Manhattan’ Orchestra, so-called because it is intended to bring the best of New York’s music to radio audiences. While rehearsing for this program some one jokingly said to me that we really should call it ‘Music of Hartford’ and how true that was. The conductor, Norman Cloutier; the program director, Bert Wood; and the engineer at the controls, Mary Howard; as well as several musicians in the orchestra all had their start at WTIC.” The inaugural of WTIC’s first Thesaurus program was unique and original, the entire presentation including music and speeches having been recorded in the © Bachrach Paul W . Morencv CLASSROOM RADIO — Professor Giles, of University of Utah, has students listen to NBC Symphony. (Story at right.) studios of the National Broadcasting Company in New York. Paul W. Morency, WTIC’s general manager, telling why his station had added Thesaurus to its program setup said. “Each one of us knows that NBC is synonymous with quality. Since its inception, the National Broadcasting Company has broadcast the highest type of programs for discriminating audiences. WTIC is an NBC affiliate, an independent station associated with a great netw'ork. Because WTIC has always striven for high caliber programs — programs that are in good taste and that provide pleasurable listening— WTIC’s association has been a most happy one. “Progressive radio stations are nowthinking of the future— thinking of the world after the war and clearing the decks for vast changes and improvements. WTIC is very much concerned with the great new radio developments which are just over the horizon. We intend to take advantage of the new engineering miracles to aid reception. We already have FM radio, in fact we have had fiequency modulation for more than five years and we will have television as well. And we plan to improve the already high standards of our present WTIC programs. No wonder that we decided to give our listeners the opportunity to enjoy NBC Thesaurus, for Thesaurus is the best transcribed music available.” The radio audience also heard remarks by Thomas C. McCray, formerly WTIC’s program manager, now Eastern program manager of NBC. NBC Symphony Series Earns Credits at Utah University SALT LAKE CITY. — University of Utah students get credit in their music appreciation classes for listening to and reporting on the “General Motors Symphony of the Air” each Sunday afternoon over KDYL. Professor Thomas Giles, head of the music department, inaugurated the plan last fall and says the NBC Symphony Orchestra programs met an enthusiastic response from the 82 young men and women in the class. “We give them a half a point of credit for each concert on which they submit a concise, interpretative written report,” he said. “With 12 concerts in the quarter, that means they can earn six points each period just by listening to this splendid Sunday afternoon program.” Professor Giles pointed out further that these points have an important influence upon the student’s final grade. “If the student gets 88, for instance, in his other class room work,” he explained, “the six points he can earn from listening to the NBC Symphony will give him a grade of 94 and mean the difference between getting ‘A’ or ‘B’ on his final report.” Born in FItah, the son of Henry E. Giles, who organized the music department at Brigham Young University, Professor Giles studied music for eight and a half years in Europe, dividing his study between London, Rome, Paris, Berlin and Vienna. He has served the University of Utah music department since June, 1913. In observing that the students in listening to the Sunday broadcast have the benefit of Ben Grauer’s comments on the works. Professor Giles hastened to add that he feels the program is “equivalent to listening to the works played in ordinarv concert or in the class rooin.” Chaplin Heads Press Club NEW YORK.— W. W. Chaplin, veteran NBC war correspondent, was recentlyelected president of the Overseas Press Club and took office on July 11 following a luncheon at the Lotus Club. Chaplin returned to this country recently after three months in Europe, during which he covered the German surrender. He has resumed New York newscasts on a five-day-a-week basis.