NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1939)

10 NBC TRANSMITTER Kelly Feted On Tenth NBC Anniversary WBZ BOSTON AND WBZA SPRINGFIELD by fames Lee Debbies Boston debutantes had their innings at the studio when members of the exclusive Vincent Club broadcast hit songs from their annual production. Tonight at Nine. In addition members of the Junior League took part in a program discussing symphonic music with Brookline high school students as a preview to a series of musicales sponsored by the League. Epidemic An epidemic of grippe recently incapacitated various members of the Boston staff, including George Harder, I). A. Myer, Kay Leatherbee, Jo Tierney, Ruth Higgins, Betty Baker, Cora Pitman, Avner Rakov, and Horace Rolfs. Meanwhile Kay Schmidt has been recuperating from scarlet fever at Ilion, N. Y. Busy Week The weekend of March 24 was especially busy hereabouts. In addition to the regularly scheduled local and network programs, several special events were fed to the Blue network, including Richard Himber on Friday night, the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday afternoon, and Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Club show and a speech by Governor Aiken of Vermont on Saturday night. Fast moving was maestro Rakov, who held a studio rehearsal for Massachusetts on the March, dashed to Cambridge for a Hasty Pudding rehearsal, returned to Boston for a dress rehearsal of the first item and again appeared in Cambridge for the college broadcast. Quick Pix Close cooperation between NBC and RCA Communications is evidenced in the latter’s window display in its Federal Street office of WBZ’s Radiopolis mail campaign . . . Harry Goodwin of the News and Promotion department has been taking bows as end man in his home town, Arlington, minstrel show . . . General Manager John A. Holman is spending some of his leisure moments anticipating the twitter of bird life, flutter of butterflies and other signs of spring in his garden . . . Bob Evans of Special Events has been crisscrossing New England from Rhode Island to Vermont in pursuit of General Schechter’s air scoops. One evening last month Mr. and Mrs. Pat Kelly received an invitation to a party at the New Weston Hotel. It was to be held “in honor of a visiting official of the British Broadcasting Corporation.” To make sure that the Kellys would be there, Mr. Royal called Pat up and said it was a “must” because the BBC man was particularly interested in discussing announcing with NBC’s chief announcer. So Mr. and Mrs. Kelly attended. It was March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. It turned out to be a surprise party. There was no BBC official present, but many NBC officials were there to pay homage to Kelly on the occasion of his tenth anniversary with NBC. Among them were: Vice President John Royal, Business Manager of the Program Department C. W. Fitch; Wm. S. Rainey, manager of production; Daniel S. Tuthill, managing director of Artists Service; Publicity Manager Wayne L. Randall; A. A. Schechter, Special Events director; Educational director Franklin Dunham; William Burke Miller, night program manager. The party began at 10 P.M., supper was served at midnight. High spot of the party was a short dramatized transcription entitled A Day at NBC, written by Announcer Ford Bond and acted by NBC announcers and actors. It kidded the members of the Program Department, from Mr. Royal to Mr. Kelly, who climaxed the script by chiding President Roosevelt for not having union card to speak on the air. It was generally agreed that it would not have passed muster in Miss MacRorie’s department. Speeches were made by Mr. Royal, Announcers Graham McNamee, Ford Bond, and Ray Feuerstein (because be is the youngest member of the announcing staff). Announcer Milton Cross acted as master of ceremonies. Among those who attended were: the entire announcing staff, their wives and friends; himself members of the produc Mitchell lion and sound effects director departments at Radio City Studios. Mr. Kelly was born in North Queensland, Australia. He was educated in the private schools of Sydney. Later, as a marine engineer, he travelled over a quarter-million miles on salt water. Once, while attending a party in Seattle, he was induced to sing. His song brought him four contract offers from those who were present. Fulfilling three of them kept him busy for the next few months. Later he accepted the fourth which had been proffered by the well known impresario of the San Carlo Opera Company, Fortune Gallo. This resulted in a five-year appearance on the New York stage and later an engagement with the Shuberts. The run of “Blossom Time” brought about a meeting with Mile. Yolan Pozanye, a native of Budapest, who was appearing in the production with him. The meeting resulted in marriage and was the beginning of Mr. Kelly’s command of many tongues. His wife speaks seven languages. He developed his linguistic ability so that he could hold his own in conversation with her. Mr. Kelly was appointed to his present post in 1930, one year after he embarked upon his radio career. left to right, Announcer Jack McCarthy, Pat Kelly Announcer Ray Feuerstein (standing), and Rod , and Miss Rose La Mattina. Below, A. A. Schechter, Special Events, and Wayne L. Randall, director of publicity. Photos by Ben Grauer.