NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1939)

APRIL, 1939 5 NEW YORK EMPLOYES' PRESENTATION The listeners and three NBC judges gave the prize for the best performance on the NBC Employes Show of 1939 to Guide Earl Wrightson who sang "Land of Degradation.’’ Baritone Wrightson says he's going to buy his bride of a few months a new spring outfit with the cash prize — $25. The annual NBC-NY Employes Program was presented Saturday afternoon, March 18. on a coast-to-coast Red Network hook-up. Members from several departments participated. The program was planned and produced by a program board composed of Mrs. Ruth Gilbert, Artists Service; Robert E. Eastman, Program: Murry Harris, Continuity Acceptance; and Dom Davis, who directed the entire program and assisted in the writing of the continuity. Three cash prizes, donated by Sustaining Program Manager Phillips Carlin in behalf of the Program Department, were announced by Master of Ceremonies Clay Morgan, director of public relations, as a surprise during the broadcast. Listeners were requested to write in telling which act or solo performer they liked best. These letters, combined with the votes of three judges, determined the winners of the cash awards. The letters had to he postmarked within 48 hours after the broadcast in order to be counted as votes. More than 500 of these were received from all over the country. The th ree judges were: Phillips Ca rlin. sustaining program manager, Edward R. Hitz. Sales, and Robert E. Smith. Artists Service. Earl Wrightson, baritone, who sang Land of Degrada tion. won the first prize of $25.00. Bo lJeep a la Radio, a dramatic sketch written by John Becker of Electrical Transcription, won the second prize of $10.00. The cast follows: Announcer — Henry Hull, Jr.. Guest Relations. Girl — Mary Lou Irvine, Treasurer’s. Commentator — Casper Kuhn. Guest Relations. 2nd Announcer — Bill Snow. Guest Relations. Bo Peep — Jean Harrison, Sales Traffic. Speaker— John Hoagland, Mail R oom. Gent from Virginia — Walter Covell. Guest Relations. Gent from Montana — Larry Wagner, Press. Policeman — Francis Shinn, Guest Relations. Narrator — Casper Kuhn. Guest Relations. Bo Peep (3rd) — Margaret Stillman. Stenographic. Mother — Barbara Kirk. Station Relations. The Bo Peep cast and author have not yet decided how to divide their $10.00 award. Becker has suggested that they all go out to lunch — a very modest one for each to make it cover the bill. Richard Barron, Guest Relations, who sang Guide Peter Perrine’s Rain in the Town and Mary Lou Irvine, Treasurer’s, who also sang, each received a large number of votes. Norman Cloutier and his NBC orchestra, Ted Slade, Soundman, and Fred Weihe. Production, were the only professional members of NBC on the show. The following NBCites gave valuable assistance: G. Thornton Steil. Electrical Transcription, who acted as accompanist at auditions and rehear These girls participated in the •Bo-Peep" travesty on radio programs. They are Margaret Stillman of Central Stenographic and Barbara Kirk (right), secretary to Vice President William S. Hedges. sals; Joseph Daly, Production, who coached the solo singers; William M. Paisley, Music Division, who obtained orchestrations, musical arrangements and other musical necessities; George Bartholomew. Guest Relations, who coached the quartet, and Robert M. Ward. Engineering, who “rode gain in the control room. The next day, Radio Columnist Ben Gross commented in the New Yorl. Daily News: “Once a year NBC baekof-the-scenes employes put on their own radio revue. Yesterday the network’s clerks, guides, stenographers and other members of the vast organization did it again (WEAF Noon). It was a humdinger of a show, which ought to be a more frequent feature. Clay Morgan, publicity chief, was the able em-cee. The catchy tunes were composed by Peter Perrine and Murray Harris. The singers and actors deserve a lot of credit too.” Acting as announcer, Guide John Simpson, a member of the NBC announcing school, made the opening announcement and introduced Master of Ceremonies Clay Morgan. Other talent heard included John Hoagland. of the mail messenger staff, with several amusing imitations; the Brass Buttons Quartet, composed of William Snow . John Crosln . Thomas Campbell, and Richard Barron, pages and guides. Snow also took an active part in the Bo-Peep a la Radio sketch. Baritone George Andrews of the Music Library won the third prize ($5.00) with "Florecita” a rhumba composed by Murray Harris of Continuity Acceptance. Harris also wrote the lyrics.