NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1938)

APRIL, 1938 13 WGY SCHENECTADY by W. T. Meenam Statics Win Bowling League The Statics have captured the championship of WGY’s Radio Nuisance Bowling League. The team which included announcer Howard Tupper and Bob Elliot of Sales, withstood a last minute drive by the Ripples and finished two games in the lead. A feature of the final clash of the season was the surprising reversal of form shown by Elliot. Bob hadn’t been able to exhibit any of his reputed skill all season and then in the final match he turned in a fancy and convincing 607 to take the high-three prize for the season. Starting from scratch, that is from absolutely no experience on the alleys, he closed with an average of 144. The season of bowling finished in a blaze of glory with a high-low match and a dinner. Josephe Fredette and announcer Radcliffe Hall carried off the honors with a team total of 1052. Bob Elliot and Howard Tupper were in third position. John Howe, of Sales, secretary of the League, presided at the dinner and distributed the season’s prizes. Mr. Hager arranged for a special prize donated by WGY. Announcer Tom Martin There’s a new announcer on the staff — Thomas Emmet Martin, a native of Carthage, N. Y., and a graduate of the School of Business Administration and School of Journalism, Syracuse University. Tom was managing editor of the University paper The Daily Orange in his senior year and acquired membership in a group of Greek-letter societies that almost run the gamut of the Greek alphabet. He admits membership in Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Delta Chi. Phi Delta Epsilon and Tau Theta Upsilon and has all kinds of keys to prove it. While at Syracuse, Tom gave a weekly commentary of campus news from Station WSYR and that experience set his ambitions on radio. Upon graduation, he got a job with WSYR as announcer and news editor. Later he joined the staff of WIBX in Utica where his duties included announcing, news editing. special events, a street quiz program, production and continuity writing. Announcer-Engineer Caranchini Silvo Caranchini, a member of WGY’s announcer staff has been transferred to W. J. Purcell’s engineering personnel and is now taking a daily assignment in the control room. Silvio’s first love is the technical side of radio. Before coming to WGY he was chief engineer at Station WDEV, Waterbury, Vermont. Grover Whalen Appoints Hager Kolin Hager, manager of WGY. has been appointed a member of the National Advisory Council on Radio for the New York World’s Fair. The appointment was made by Grover Whalen, president of the Fair. By the way, both Grover Whalen and John S. Young are familiar with WGY’s setup as they were in Schenectady a few months ago to take part in a short wave broadcast addressed particularly to the countries of South America. New Studios Soon to Open With the balmy days of Spring the thoughts and hopes of the WGY staff center on the new studio building which is rapidly taking shape within fifty feet of the present studios and offices. Manager Hager is particularly interested in the dedicatory ceremonies which it is now hoped will take place the last week in May. Just at present, workmen are engaged in “floating” the studios and in running in wires. In Charge of G. E. Short-Wave John Sheehan, a former heating contractor who joined the staff of WGY several years ago as announcer and singer, later becoming one of the radio broadcasting staff of General Electric, has been made manager in charge of the shortwave broadcasting activities of that company. General Electric is now broadcasting on four short-wave channels with directional antennas to Europe and South America. Two of these channels are restricted to non-sponsored programs and it is to these John Sheehan is giving most of his attention. Bob Elliot’s Birthday Bob Elliot. Sales, had a birthday Saturday, March 19, and he made it an occasion for a week-end visit to the family in New York City. NBC WASHINGTON by Marian P. Gale Senate Broadcast Passage of the Government reorganiztion bill by the Senate recently had commentators Earl Godwin and H. R. Baukhage on the hop. Inasmuch as the Senate, unlike the House of Representatives, has always refused to allow microphones in the chamber, Godwin and Baukhage were stationed in the Senate press gallery three floors above. They worked their broadcast in relays — one remaining in the Chamber while the other talked. When the vote finally came one of the commentators rushed up stairs to the “mike” position with the final tally. Incidentally NBC had the only broadcast of the vote on the bill. Kaleidoscope George (Wheels) Wheeler, former studio guide who made his announcing debut on the WMAL Night W atchman program several weeks ago, is taking mikeman Bud Barry’s place . . . Barry sailed for Germany on the Europa March 17 . . . He will return to this country in about four months with his bride . . . Jack Roney, “Montana Jack,” is the latest addition to the announcing staff . . . When the competitive announcers’ auditions were held for the Tommy Dorsey network show recently, Dorian St. George and Bryson Rash copped the judges’ decision. Bill Crago spent a week-end in New York visiting Frank Fenton, Gertrude Lawrence’s leading man in Susan and God . . . Gordon Hittenmark has launched a drive on his early morning Your Timekeeper program to raise $5,000 for a new camp recreation building for the youthful members of the Boys Club of Metropolitan Police . . . Hittenmark is directing his appeal to the various state societies in the District . . . Night suprevisor Bill Coyle made three A’s and two B’s in his mid year law course exams. It’s Unbelievable: Gladys Murphy is reverting to her peasant ancestry — farming window boxes for her apartment . . . Jim McGrath “Brought down the house” when he made his entrance at the Gay Nineties Ball, wearing a knee-length pink beaded evening dress ... Helen Mobberley won $26 on the daily double at Tropical. Visiting V.P.'s NBC V.P.’s held a rump convention in Washington on March 12. Occasion was the White House Correspondents Association dinner to President Roosevelt. Attending were: Chicago’s Trammell; Treasury’s Woods; Program’s Royal; and Washington’s Russell. Prexy Lohr was at the head table. ‘‘Little Congress ’ to Radio City Manager Berkeley’s title has been changed to “Barker” Berkeley. He personally conducted 300 odd members of the “Little Congress” (secretaries to members of Congress) on their annual trip to NBC New York on April 1st. “Hoofprints of 1938" Spring Fever among the feminine contingent of NBC is taking a strong equestrian bent. The young ladies who weren’t able to assist at the opening of the Bowie Track on April 1 were among those present at the la-de-da socialite “Hoofprints of 1938” over at Fort Meyer, on Saturday.