NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1936)

4 NBC TRANSMITTER, SEPTEMBER, 1936 NEWS FLASHES {Continued from page two) Bon Voyage The tops in acts of appreciation happened on the deck of the Monarch of Bermuda, Wednesday A.M., August 12. Friendly Milton J. Cross was making his way up the gang plank' to his stateroom when he heard a loud "surprise!” interrupt the peace and quiet of the waterfront morning. And, there, waiting to wish him bon voyage, were all the familiar faces he had introduced over the air via Madge Tucker’s Sunday morning Children’s Hour. As a remembrance of their estiem, they presented him with a beautiful bicycle for his use in Bermuda, where the auto is as rare a sight as a horsedrawn trolley in New York City. Looking Ahead See if you can dig up a copy of the August 1 issue of Broadcasting Magazine from Miss Sprague in our General Library and read Vice-Chairman M. H. Aylesworth's instructive article on Page 9, entitled, "Radio Is Movies’ Best Friend,” in which he recommends closer cooperation between tbe two industries to promote motion pictures and prepare for television. PAT KELLY & NEW BOARD . . . saves 295 seconds ■ Pictured above is Pat Kelly, NBC’s Supervisor of Announcers, seated before tbe new speed-up system recently installed in his office to facilitate the broadcasting of news bulletins. Tbe second a bulletin is received the announcer on duty can push a button which automatically connects his desk microphone to the networks without delay, and read the important news over the air. All bulletins under tbis new system are identified by a staccato hum of wireless signals heard at the opening and close of each news flash. Formerly a delay of two or three minutes was involved in rushing bulletins by messenger and setting up lines. Now, the program on the air is faded out and the announcer begins reading his bulletin within seconds after it is received, hot off the wires. As soon as the bulletin is finished, the regular program is cut back into the network. Fitch Named New Personnel Head ■ Walter G. Preston Jr., head of the General Service Department, announces that effective September 1 the Personnel Office of the General Service Department will be under the supervision of C. Walter Fitch, who resigned as Assistant Director of the WPA Housing Division in Washington to accept this new position. Changes • Leslie Joy’s status as NBC Representative at KYW Philadelphia changes to that of Station Manager effective September 1. At NBC Hollywood Sid Goodwin, Night Program Manager, replaces Cecil Underwood, resigned, as Program Manager. Richard Filers became Night Program Supervisor while Announcer Paul Gates became assistant to Chief Announcer William Andrews. Statistician Adam Yung transferred from organization statistics to the research; Tabulator Bill Callendar moved in from Tabulation to replace Adam in Organization. Mail Messenger’s Milton James to Tabulating in place of Bill; Beatrice Akling of Stenographic transferred to Station Relations as secretary to Keith Kiggins; Jane Scott, also Stenographic, moves in as stenographer to F. M. Greene in Sales Traffic. Mail Messenger Frank Macarski transferred to Building Maintenance Division of General Service Department; Bob White from Mail Room to Guest Relations; Guest Receptionists Fred Wesche and George Flood on for summer in line with Gordon H. Mills’ idea of rehiring former NBC men for temporary summer work. Both men return to school in fall. Promotions and Assignments ■ J. H. MacDonald has been named manager of tbe combined Budget— Cost Accounting Division of the Treasurer’s Department; Charles H. Thurman becomes assistant manager of the Guest Relations Division of General Service; Thomas Tart, former Coordinator of Guest Relations Operation, promoted to the post of Supervisor of the Mail— Messenger Division, replacing Mr. Thurman; Paul Rittenhouse, Assistant Supervisor of Night Floor Operations in Guest Relations, jumped to Supervisor of Guides, replacing James Burst, resigned; Main Hall Host George Malcolm moved into position of Guest Receptionist, filling a vital contact point with clients, advertising agents, artists, musicians. Let's Get Acquainted B You ought to know Frances Sprague of General Library. because . . . she has done something new and really worthwhile. In 1931 when she accepted the job of gathering together a library devoted to radio broadcasting, she was a pioneer exploring uncharted territory. No one had yet built such a collection. because . . . the pleasant smile with which she greets you is more than the librarian’s stereotyped attempt to be cheerful. She realizes the importance and the necessity of the work she is doing and she shoulders the responsibility gracefully and capably. because . . . she has her degree from Olivet College in Michigan. Her education was followed by several years’ experience as a bigh school mathematics teacher— a line of endeavor which was a natural prelude to her work with the Detroit Public Library System and the Technical Library of tbe Standard Oil Development Co. because . . . with a minimum of time and effort, she can fulfill any reasonable request for specific information as well as indicate the best possible source for obtaining same. Besides the volumes on radio itself, the General Library under Miss Sprague’s supervision bas acquired tbe usual encyclopedia and reference books which always come in for heavy duty. because ... in spite of the literary tone of her job, she enjoys exercises of the body as well as tbe mind. Riding and golf claim her moments of recreation. As a child her consuming ambition was to become a great circus performer because sbe could ride horseback standing up. because . . . sbe never does things by halves. As an example, one might pojnt out the day we found a libretto for the opera, "Santa Lucia,” on her desk. A new acquisition? Oh no, she was going to hear the opera and wanted to know about it beforehand. because ... if we do not end now, we could easily spend another page extolling her qualities we give you, Frances Sprague . . .