NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1935)

Fsatures RECEPTION STAFF REVIEW "Imagine a femme radio artist: She has Beatrice Lillie's sense of humor; the personal beauty oT Olga Albani; the figr ure of Gogo De Lys; the soulful eyes of Zora Layman; the purity of voice that is Virginia Rea’s; the sartorial taste and poise of Kay Thompson; the personality of Bernice Claire; and the diction of the NBC Hostess, Elouise Dawson who lately has been taking the curse off many a commercial announcement; "-Ai rcasier (Martin J. Porter) N.Y. Journal. Day Page Vincent Ragusa last month walked off with a first prize on Fred Allen's Amateur Hour and a week's engagement at the Roxy Theatre, giving him the unique honor of being first of the uniformed staff to receive recognition by a commercial sponsor. 000000000000 A review of the leading articles in the radio and television field, together with a list of new books and pamphlets, is being issued by the NBC General Library each week. It is hoped that this list will prove of real value to the NBC employees in enabling them to review quickly the material published on broadcasting and television developments during the previous week, and in calling to their attention articles which they might not otherwise see. The list is divided into the following sections — General, Advertising, Programs and Artists, Technical, Television, If anyone wishes to see the complete articles the librarians will be glad to send the magazines in which these articles appear. In case the magazines are already on loan they will be sent as soon as they are available. A PERFECT HOSTESS MUST HAVE The style of Kay Lillis. The cool efficiency of Alice iVood. The poise of Sidney Evans. The humor of Doris Campbell. The smartness of Helen George. The nonchalance of Babe Jochum. The graciousness of Georgia Price. The beauty of Ruth Thomas. The memory of Elouise Dawson. The sweetness of Virginia Baldwi n. The thoughtfulness of Dorothy Campbel I . The geniality of Adele Fort. The southern charm of Mary Sheffield. The alertness of Florence Tyner. The friendliness of Martha Trueblood. •> The quietness of Martha Corbett. LET'S GET ACQUAINTED -because the Kemper Military School at Boonville, Missouri, 1 ists his name as honor graduate NO. 1; holder of hundred yard record for the crawl as captain of the Varsity Swimming team; member of the rifle, boxing and track teams, and commander of crack drill platoon. -because the United States Military Academy at West Point records his outstanding achievements as Captain Plebe Swimming Team and holder of the 100 yard crawl record, which still stands; yearl ing Reginnental Sergeant Major, and member of Varsity Swimming Team. -because in the summer of 1932 he was lost., in a sailboat 35 miles outside of Fire Island without a compass or water for three days. Finally, Spotted rays of light from Fire Island lightship and made way into port badly battered, but not bent. -because February 14, 1935 he acknowledges as the happiest day of his life when Miss Laura Dunn became Mrs, William S. Callender, thereby making two swell people in the same family, in our opinion. WHY OUR TEAM TOPS THE LEAGUE May 11 NBC -9 VS Radio Keith Orpheum -0 21 NBC -5 Columbia Pictures -0 25 NBC -5 Electrical Research Products Industries -2 June 1 NBC -8 United Artists Corp -4 6 NBC -15 Met ro-Go 1 dwy n-Maye r -3 13 NBC -18 at Universal Pictures Geo Washington High -3 22 NBC RKO at J Madison H i gh-Brooklyn Note Sat. Games will be played at James Mad ison High in Brooklyn until the 1st of July. * Tues. and Thurs. games will start at 6:15 p.m. and wi 11 be played at George Wash ngton High 191st Str. and Audubon Ave. , Ntenhattan. /jxm thu anaU^hu:4lkaKcni, Within the walls of NBC there are some very interesting people some are not so interesting. It's all a matter of one's own digestion. In the spirit of good clean fun, however, we have decided that there are few personalities whose respective egos should be held up to the light and shaken just to see what it is that makes them tick. Hence, Frank BlacL A head man, a thorough musician, composer, conductor, and arranger, and despite all that imposing array of accomplishments a regular guy. He arrived at NBC by way of Fox Films, the Century Theatre, Brunswick Recording Company and a now defunct nickelodeon in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was his birthplace in 1894 and the piano playing episode of the nickelodeon at the age of nine was his first venture into the field of commercialized art, which business step was cut short after several days by father and a grim hairbrush. Leaving "the injuns" to scalp each other in silence, Frank Black started out to be a chemist, but music whispered sweet nothings in his ear so he dropped the test tubes, picked up a near by baton and waved it too well. He is now "THE TOP". You can thank him for a dozen and one musical innovations. Among them are classic jazz, jazzed class ics,s ing i ng viol ins, muted voices and, of course, the now famous string symphony programs. Back in the year 1924 he met the "Revelers" and here began a series of experiments which eventually took the "barber shop" out of quartet. America sat up, took notice, and shouted for more. They' re still shouting. Just recently he made one of his dreams come true a dream which he has cherished since 1922 when he first went on the air. Frank Black wanted an orchestra of instruments and voices. On the Coca Cola program sixty-five of New York's finest musicians and a chorus of twenty-five singers performed on a coast— to-coast network. He conducts, composes, and with the aid of twelve copyists arranged the entire program. The resultant success of "The Pause That Refreshes On the Air" was phenominal. Soon again he shall realize still another ambition — the conductorship of a huge symphony orchestra. Don’t say that we told you but several offers of the handsome variety have already been received — and also refused. But there will come a time We have managed by dint of much "pussy-footing" to amass the following list of joys ip his life. We must mention first his happy marriage, then an East River apartment, a practically priceless private library of music, sixteen cylinders of Cadillac, a harpsichord, clothes by Earl Benham and a hunger for succotash. There is also one George Voutsas, a bespectacled right arm, who has developed the "Man Friday" idea to the point of perfection. We understand that Mr Black cannot sleep after six o’clock, 30 he arrives at the office around eight in the morning, and leaves about ten at night. This has been going on for years. His last day off was September 10, 1934, We asked: "Why?"' "I like my work. Music is my hobby." he said. He meant it, too. While he is kept pretty busy in the studios, he always finds time to sit behind his desk and discharge the duties of General Musical Director. We might also add that he sends no memos, and further that this shattering of a time honored NBC custom is being "viewed with alarm" by the "lads". We didn't ask for his secret to success, nor did we ask his opinion on Radio. If you get the chance sometime, just watch the half smile that occasionally lights his features. You’ll get the answer SHOULD HE HAVE FOSTER? After taking the FERRI to the Isle of MALTA, the YOUNG man met the MOLL while strolling through the GARDEN. With a TART "GOODE morning," he startled the sweet thing. However, after much persuasion he took her to his NEWHOUSE WEIR they looked at the family AHLBUM. Suddenly the sweet YOUNG thing decided the BOND between them was growing too serious. So discarding her DALY routine and being perfectly FRANK with herself as a GOODE CHRISTIAN, she wanted to get away from the FLOOD of emotions that was raising CAIN with her cor>science. It was a terrible PRICE to pay for such a GROSS misunderstanding. ,,, , -Albert Walker. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXVXXXXXXXY LOST ILLUSION We would call this article’ "Lost Illusions", for that is what happened to Bill Collins, our Main Hall man, the other day. Due mainly to the soft ca'•esses of these languid Spring breezes Bill’s soul awakened anew to the realization of the j coming of "printemps". Upon see-; ing a vision (1935 model), very trim and blonde, approaching hi« desk, his cardiac muscle startec to perform gyrations. What portended to be a lovely aftemoor ; was soon shattered, however, when the vision astounded him b) saying, "How much are the tickets tc the forty-cent tour?" Henry Weston visited Mt. Desert Island, Maine, on his vacat ion.