NBC transmitter (Jan-Dec 1939)

10 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC HOLLYWOOD by Noel Corbett RCAM Visits NBC Vice President Don E. Gilman played host to a group of NBC’s “cousins,” January 26, when Jim Francis, Hollywood Manager, RCA Manufacturing Company, and 400 RCAM employes visited Hollywood Radio City. Standing in the center of the stage of Studio A, one of the two largest broadcasting stages in the world, Mr. Gilman talked on the progress of broadcasting in the past several years and the part NBC plays in the RCA Family. “NBC’s definite responsibility is to set the pace in broadcasting,” said Mr. Gilman, “and the public must be kept aware at all times that NBC is constantly raising the standards of broadcasting, by giving it the best there is to offer in entertainment.” After Mr. Gilman’s talk, the RCAM group toured Hollywood Radio City. Banns Posted for Sherdeman Ted Sherdeman, director, and Anne Stone, will be married February 19. Sherdeman, who formerly worked for NBC in Chicago, writes and directs the new Saturday serial, Brenthouse , starring Hedda Hopper. Miss Stone is well known as a radio actress. Trammell Visits Hollywood Executive Vice President Niles Trammell spent several days in Hollywood Radio City last month. Mr. Trammell loured the new building in company with Mr. Gilman and met most of the employes. At a press interview, Mr. Trammell talked on television, pointing out that it is out of the laboratory now, from Alex Robb, formerly of NBC Chicago and recently appointed manager of Artists Service in Hollywood, is shown greeting his wife and daughter, IVIary Lee, on their arrival in the Film City from their former home in Chicago. the technical standpoint, and that starting in April, NBC will present a series of weekly programs from Radio City, New York. Mr. Carpenter Regrets Ken Carpenter, whose chime-ringing has become a feature of the NBC networks, was invited by Leland W. Cutler, of the Golden Gate Exposition, to demonstrate the ancient art of bellringing on the 40-bell carillon just installed in the Tower of the Sun at the San Francisco Exposition. Announcing assignments over that weekend have prevented Carpenter from accepting the invitation. New Popularity Gauge Claude Ferrel, superintendent of Executive Vice President Niles Trammell was guest of honor at a luncheon given by NBC executives in Hollywood when he visited Hollywood Radio City last month. Left to right: Tracy Moore, Sales: Paul Gale, Western Division Traffic Supervisor; Frank Dellett, Auditor; Alfred H. Saxton, Division Engineer; Lew Frost, Assistant to Western Division Vice President; Don E. Gilman, Vice President in charge of NBC Western Division; Mr. Trammell, Alex Robb, Manager of Artists Service; John W. Swallow, Program Manager; Wendell Williams, Editor of Continuity Acceptance; Harold J. Block, Manager of Press Department. Left, center, Charles Brown, Manager of Sales Promotion, and right, center, Walter Baker, Manager of Building Maintenance and General Service. building maintenance, judges the popularity of an air-premiere by the number of dead flash bulbs his boys gather up after the broadcast. The new “Circle” is tops, according to Ferrel, because 20 cameramen left a total of over 1000 bulbs on the floor of studio D. Quick Pix The first annual NBC dinner dance, sponsored by the ATE, was given at the Biltmore Hotel February 11 . . . Andy Love, in charge of LiteraryRights, started radio continuity writing classes Wednesday, January 18, at the UC Extension . . . The NBCAA, which will sponsor athletic and social events at Hollywood Radio City, is now being formed. Ben Gage, announcer; Jack Creamer, Maintenance; Jack Stewart, Sales Representative; Bob Brooke, Studio Engineer; Clinton “Buddy” Twiss, announcer in charge of special events, and Harry Saz, sound effects chief, are those starting the new association . . . Ralph Amato, Sound Effects, has a lot of desert acreage for sale. It’s near Big Bear Lake, and Ralph says it is a natural for a ranch . . . The NBC Basketball team lost its first game of the season to the Jonathan Club, 45-38 . . . Helen Murray is Charles B. Brown’s new secretary. Brown, who moved his headquarters from San Francisco early this month, is Western Division Sales Promotion Manager . . . George M. Nixon, Development and Research Group, N. Y. Engineering Dept., is in Hollywood Radio City to measure the acoustical characteristic of the studios. Vice President Don E. Gilman (left) greets James E. Francis, manager of the Hollywood branch of RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc., during a recent visit of Hollywood Radio City by 400 RCAM employes. Every employe of NBC is a reporter of his magazine — NBC Transmitter.