NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1938)

JUNE, 1938 13 TENTH ANNIVERSARY CHIMES Blanche Davies, secretary to Lew Frost, and William Andrews (right), night manager, celebrate their tenth NBC anniversaries this month with Ken Carpenter who rings out their ’‘Tenth Anniversary Chimes” on his special set of chimes presented to him by President Lenox R. Lohr for his superlative work as an announcer and chime ringer. Picture was taken by Announcer Joe Parker. (Continued from Page 12) worked in the central office of the New York Telephone Company and in the New York Clearing House before joining NBC. Blanche Davies A world traveller and a ten-year veteran in the broadcasting business at the age of 28 is the record of Blanche Davies of the Hollywood Office. Mrs. Davies who was Blanche McLaughlin when she came to NBC, San Francisco, ten years ago the twentieth of this month, was born in Lawrence, Indiana, November 7, 1909. Inasmuch as her father was a government civil engineer whose work demanded considerable travelling, Blanche saw quite a lot of the world before she reached her teens. Three times the family settled in the Hawaiian Islands. When she was nine with as much globetrotting behind her as the average person experiences in a lifetime, Blanche came to San Francisco. There she attended the Lowell High School, whence she was graduated in 1927. NBC had less than fifty employes when she joined the organization as a typist. As the Company expanded she was transferred to Traffic, and when C. L. McCarthy was appointed assistant to Don E. Gilman, she was moved into the executive offices also. She was secretary to the late H. J. Maxwell until he resigned, and for the past couple of years has been secretary to Lew Frost. Mrs. Davies moved to Hollywood when the executive offices were transferred several months ago. She likes the change, as does her husband, Hugh W. Davies. Their home is near Toluca Lake a few blocks from the homes of Bing Crosby and Jimmy Fidler. Mrs. Davies is a brunette with black eyes. Her hobbies are reading, gardening and knitting. Her one pet is a white cat named “Baby Snooks.” William Andrews Ten years ago when William Andrews applied for a position with NBC in San Francisco, his application boasted of years of radio experience. Only 21 at the time, he had already worked as an operator, an announcer and a radio expert in a large mail order house. Mr. Andrews, who is now Night Manager in Hollywood, was born in Oakland, California, April 5, 1905, and educated there. He built his first radio set when he was in grammar school, and his interest as an amateur during his high school days led him to enroll at the Western Radio Institute upon graduation. Later, with an operator’s license in his pocket, he joined the Naval Reserve where he gained valuable experience. As chief operator of an Oakland station. Engineer Andrews often found himself pinch-hitting for announcers. Soon he began to receive fan mail, and before long came an offer to devote his full time to the mike, at a substantial salary increase. Up until last September Mr. Andrews was supervisor of NBC announcers in San Francisco. Last fall when the need for a night manager became apparent in Hollywood, Mr. Andrews was chosen and transferred. Press Views Progress Made In Television (Continued from Page 1 ) than twenty switches of action were made from one studio to another during the 25minute performance. All were made in the main control room, adjoining Studio 3H, where both picture and associated sound were monitored. Headed by Clay Morgan, director of public relations, and Wayne Randall, director of publicity, members of the Press Division staff acted as hosts to more than a thousand representatives of the press who attended the demonstrations. Amateur Drama Group Formed By Employees (Continued from Page 1) The Stagecrafters began to take form several months ago when a small group of NBC members, headed by Dorothy Allred, then of General Service and now of the Production Division, started a drive to form a drama group. Last month, after a committee of ten, assisted by George M. Nelson of the Personnel Office, had canvassed the Company for the names of employes interested in taking part in the venture and completed preliminary organization steps, election of officers took place at an open meeting in Studio 3G. Those who were elected are Dorothy Allred, president; George M. Nelson, vice president; Gilbert Ralston, director; Hubert V. Chain, business manager; Kirk Quinn, play reader; Miriam Hoffmeir, treasurer; Helen M. Korday, secretary; Frank C. Lepore and Dom Davis, publicity agents. As of June 1, more than fifty NBCites have joined The Stagecrafters. Initiation membership fees are one dollar. Most of the officers of The Stagecrafters have had previous experience in dramatics, either as amateurs or professional actors. The important post of Director is held by Gilbert Ralston who is a member of the production staff in the Electrical Transcription Service Department. Before entering the employ of NBC over a year ago, Mr. Ralston worked in the theatre for several years as actor, manager, writer and director. Assisting Mr. Ralston is another member of Electrical Transcription Service, Hubert V. Chain, scriptwriter, who will act as business manager of the group. Mr. Chain was director of the Cornish School in Seattle for three years before coming to NBC last fall. He also has had experience as an actor in college and on Broadway. Dorothy Allred, president, taught college dramatics and music in her home state, Kansas, and was associated with various professional acting groups in Chicago before coming to Radio City. The Stagecrafters are also fortunate in having George M. Nelson as one of their officers. In him they have a devoted follower of the theatre and a playwright. NBC And Westinghouse Open New KYW Studios (Continued from Page 1) RCA laboratories in Camden, New Jersey, and also along the route of a proposed television coaxial cable line between New York and Washington, D.C. Managed by Leslie W. Joy, KYW is now one of the most modern and complete broadcasting stations in the country.