NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

November 1945 1 1 KGW “TALKING TEXTBOOK” PROGRAMS FOR 60 PORTLANO SCHOOLS, NOW 14 YEARS OLO, AOJUDGEO HUGE SUCCESS Public Service Oepartment Members al NBC Write Books NIiW YOITK.— Two mcinhers of INlUl's pulilic service departmeiil. Margaret (iuthbert, director of programs lor women and children, and Gilbert Chase, suj)ervisor of music for the NBCi Ihuversity ol the Air, are the authors of new l)ooks. Miss Cuthbert’s work, “Adventure in Radio,” published by Howell, Soskin. is concerned primarily with the mechanics, techniques and procedures of current radio. She has given some inside details on sports, news and sound effects, incorporating authentic statements by specialists in those fields. Radio scripts— how they’re written. })roduced for the unseen audience, the perfection of word use to convey action, emotion, and plot movement are thoroughly dealt with in the new book. Miss Cuthbert is supervisor of the NLTC University of the Air series. “The World's Great Novels” which recently returned to the air. “A Guide to Latin-American Music,” written by Chase and published by The Idbrary of Congress, is all that the name implies. The Latin-American countries are taken as individual subjects and the musical growth of each is carefully traced from its beginnings. Bibliographical material includes music criticisms by native experts as well as musicologists from all parts of the world, biographical works about outstanding Latin American composers, and listings of collections on folk music. To quote from Mr. Chase’s introduction: “The function of a guide is to show the way through unfamiliar territory. . . . The retardation of musical development along traditional European lines in the New World, due to the dislocation caused by exploration, conquest, colonization and revolution, precluded anv stimulus toward the development of a strictly American musical bibliography. Publications such as the present one, and such as those issued by the music division of the Pan American Ihiion represent an endeavor to meet the most pressing needs for information on Latin American Music, which is eagerly being demanded throughout the United States.” The author brings his expert knowledge to radio listeners on the new NBC program “The Story of Music.” which is broadcast over NBC Thursdays. POlUrLANl), ( )RE. — fourteen years ago. Station KGW inaugurated the elementaiy schools’ radio educational program with one 15-minute show each week. Two years later, at the school hoard’s reejuest, the i)rograms jumped to three each week, atid arrangements were completed to transmit them by direct wire to Benson High School’s KBl^.S, where they were, and still are. broadcast to Portland’s 60 elementary schools. By 1935 K(iW was producing five 15minute programs each week during the school year. Last year a Thursday afternoon j)rogram was added to the curriculum, making six shows written and ])roduced each school week by the K(jW staff. These include: “Great Moments in Oregon History,’’ “They 11 Alway s Be Heroes,” “Science By-Ways,” “Pan America.” “How Are You Feeling?” and “Current Events.” During the entire 14 years K(iW has presented the programs as a public service to Oregon’s schools. f.acb broadcast is written with meticulous attention to accuracy, detail, and the age le\el of the listening grou|). Merrill Meade and Don Kneass of the news staff handle the eurrent events .scrijUs; f.velyn Lampman, chief continuity writer, does the history and health continuity, and Helen Alexieve the science, heroes, and Pan America scri|)ts. riie shows are cast and directed b\ Ted Hallock, assistant production manager, and presented by the K(i\\ dramatic artists. .Some idea of the ]jrogram’s \ersatilit\ may be gained by examining a typical week’s schedule including: "Magellan,” “A Tri|) to Washington Park. ” “The Aztec Legend of the Eagle and Serpent ” and “The Community's Health." Educational leaders throughout the country acclaim this uni(|ue i)ublic service, and are unanimous in ho])ing that other stations will soon waken to the limitless educational possibilities of "Talking Text Books.” BOON TO SPORTSCASTERS—W OW (Omaha, Nebraska) engineers, headed by Mark McGowan (left), created and built the unique contraption above for Tom Dailey to use in broadcasting Nebraska football games. The invention, which is a magnetized metal board with tiny lights, indicates the positions of players on opposing football teams. Dailey's spotters—one a Nebraska expert and the other representing a iSebraska opponent— switch the lights on and off, thus giving Dailey an instant accurate picture of every play.