NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1938)

APRIL, 1938 11 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In the March issue ... I noticed an error on top of an error in a letter from J. E. Baudino. Plant Manager of KDKA, to the Editor of the Transmitter, in which he made a correction concerning the first Parabolic Microphone. If you want the whole truth — the patent for the Parabolic (Directive-Reception) Microphone was applied for January 2, 1924, and patent No. 1732722 was issued to ME October 22, 1929. This was while I was Manager of Radio Operations for the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, and before I came with NBC. Therefore, the credit can be shared by NBC and Westinghouse, although the patent was filed before NBC was formed. If this controversy gets hot, I can furnish you with a copy of the patent. The first Parabolic Microphone was made out of a solid piece of concrete which weighed several tons, and required additional bracing in the studio at KDKA, and was the cause of a row between the Broadcasting Division and the Westinghouse Plant Maintenance Department who accused us of trying to wreck the building. (Signed) C. W. Horn, NBC Director of Research and Development. Ed. — This matter, we must confess, has gotten out of our control. It may be necessary to have an official investigation to clear the whole matter up. And it all started because we innocently published in the February issue that “Ten years ago NBC made the first parabolic microphone out of a wooden chopping bowl.” — (RadioAna) WHO SHOULD GET IT? Rather than commit the original drawing of the Proposed Statue No. 1 on the opposite page to the ignominy of a waste basket or a filing cabinet — there to accumulate unworthy dust — the artist, Bill Eddy, has offered to have -it beautifully framed and presented to the NBC chime ringer who. in the opinion of his constituents, is worthy and deserving of its possession. Therefore, we entreat you readers of the Transmitter to drop us a card, memo or what-have-you naming the announcer whom you nominate to this honorable recognition. Each NBC signature will count as one vote. See the next issue of the NBC Transmitter for the name of the lucky man. KYW PHILADELPHIA by J. A. Aull Esso Scoops Again Last month the sales staff of the Standard Oil Company of Pennsylvania had a surprise first-hand opportunity of seeing how their Esso Reporter in this city ticks with “up to the minute United Press headline news.” At the last session of a three-day meeting in the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Philadelphia, KYW, now broadcasting Esso news, moved its entire news department into the hotel and put on the 12:45 broadcast direct from the meeting. United Press shipped a teletype machine all the way from Chicago for the occasion. All other equipment, including personnel and typewriters, were carted over from the KYW studios. The delegates were not told about the show until a few minutes before it went on the air. Then curtains were pulled aside revealing the miniature news room. The story break came 15 minutes before air-time when word was received of a fire in the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel directly across the street. 500 Cars Burn KYW participated in the campaign for National Used Car Exchange Week by making an exclusive pick-up of a bonfire of 500 used cars. Thousands of gallons of gas were poured on the cars before they were touched off with the result that billows of smoke and soot poured over the populace. Leroy Miller, who carried on the patter during the spectacular blaze and George Haggerty, engineer for Westinghouse, were prepared with gas masks furnished by the Philadelphia Fire Department. New Building Local papers are already heralding the forthcoming opening of the new KYW building on or about May 16. KYW was on the spot with a microphone when 500 used automobiles went up in smoke and flames during the celebration of National Used Car Exchange Week in Philadelphia. Photographed during the exclusive broadcast of the bonfire are, left to right: A1 Watton, Program; Jack Hammann, sales manager, and Leroy Miller, announcer. KOA DENVER by James Lehmann Farewell Anderson Fanfare! KOA salutes Charles Anderson. We depose our former correspondent with this issue in order to tender him congratulations and a fqrewell slap on the back. Charles Anderson, popular KOA announcer and production man, has been awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship for the study of production techniques in educational radio. Charley has been with KOA since 1936 when he left California radio to its own devices and joined the NBC staff in Denver. He received his A.B. degree from the University of Denver in 1932. and has since continued with his graduate work at that institution. For the past year he has produced the university’s educational program each week over KOA. He will begin his leave of absence the latter part of April. He knows we’ll miss him so we won’t mention it. "HO” Gauge Add screwy hobbies. Model railroading in those diminutive proportions so popular now. Among the devotees of “HO” we note Bill Stulla, scriptwriter; Anderson and Lehmann, announcers and Carl Schuknecht, engineer. Carl is a renegade, however, having deserted “HO” for “0” Gauge. Thus far none has had the temerity to tackle the construction of a locomotive . . . PICTURE! Several assorted freight cars serving as mantel decorations. Sukie Shiela O'Larry Announcer Joe Gillespie’s dog, Sukie Shiela O’Larry, Irish Setter, which is the proud mother of ten three-month old puppies, walked away with a first prize in the American-bred class at the Thirtythird Annual Show of the Colorado Kennel Club. Dogs were entered in the show from all over the country. Oh, yes — the puppies are for sale and they’re registered in the field dog Stud Book (Adv.) Sukie also won second prize in the Novice Class at the Denver Kennell Club Show last October. Wanted: Script for Operetta Carl Wieninger, musical arranger for KOA, makes his appeal with this issue for an original script for a half-hour radio musical comedy or operetta. Mr. Wieninger, whose original melodies have been aired from time to time on the networks with success, wants to thicken the plot of some clever script with music of his own composition. No lyrics necessary, says Carl ; he makes them up to fit the songs and situations as he goes along. So to any NBC scriptwriter with an extra plot or two aimlessly wandering around, here’s your chance to have the waif adopted and “done right by,” we’re sure.