NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1939)

NBC TRANSMITTER 6 WCY SCHENECTADY by W. T. Meenan STACECRAFTERS The Stagecrafters’ Production of The Late Christopher Bean: Cast Dr. Haggett Robert Stone Susan Haggett Margaret Stillman Abbv Barbara Kirk Mrs. Haggett Frances Goldacker Ada Haggett Jeanne Harrison Warren Creamer Ray O’Connell Tallant Walter Covell Rosen Bill Garden Davenport Ray Girard Directed by Hubert Chain who was assisted by Helen Wildermuth, John Becker, and the Crew — gentle, heroic, patient people all. * * * Hymns of Happiness and Paeans of Praise ! ! ! George Abbott, Orson Welles, and THE STAGECRAFTERS. Those boys certainly bang out the hits. At 8:40 in the evening of June 12, 1939, the curtain — that shimmering, golden curtain (so symbolical) of 8 G’s stage — went up on THE best amateur production of Sydney Howard’s play, The Late Christopher Bean. A well rehearsed and excellently directed cast delighted a rather less than capacity house with a smooth performance of this American comedy drama. We are not prone to cavil and would not dim the luster of a shining light, but this is the point to insert a slight criticism, not of the production but of the attendance. Requests for tickets were so numerous that it was necessary to schedule an extra performance of the play, making three in all, June 12, 15, and 17. But there were empty seats in 8 G on opening night! Many who were most anxious in their application for admittance were most conspicuous by their absence. So endeth the first lesson. As usual with Stagecrafters Productions it is most difficult to single out individual performances and award as many laurels as we would wish. This is a straight rave notice and there is no censorious criticism. Barbara Kirk’s Abby was, well, was Abby. Bob Stone’s Dr. Haggett was an intaglio of consuming cupidity illumined sharply by a remorseful and tortured conscience. (AH!!) One of Ray Girard’s lines as Maxwell Davenport sums up the whole affair. We quote, “Oh, damn comparisons. The thing’s beautiful!” And it was. To acclaim every deserving member of the cast and produc( Continued on page 11) The soft ball season has opened at WGY, and present indications are that the station will put four teams into an intra-station league. Forty men turned out for the season's inaugural clash at Endries Grove on the Saratoga Road. In a series of three five-inning elimination contests the ten men headed by A. 0. Coggeshall won the gravy. On the winning squad were Kolin Hager, Jim Connolly, George Markham, Alex MacDonald, Virgil Hasche, John Howe and Phil Brook. Other teams were made up of transmitter engineers, control operators, and musicians. Refreshments were served throughout the afternoon and included Albany Packing Co.’s new streamlined hot dogs that can’t roll over in a bun. Incidentally, Col. Jim Healey and Gordie Randall made some “rare” umpire decisions. It was voted a most successful gettogether. The next event on the early summer calendar is a grand family outing to which the young women of the staff and wives and sweethearts of staff members will be invited. AAA Paul Adante of the control room engineering staff has returned from a vacation passed at Auburn and Syracuse. He was accompanied by Mrs. Adante and son, Dick. Mrs. Adante qualified as an expert fisherwoman. On an excursion to Sacandaga Lake a short time ago she hooked and landed a 23-inch wall-eyed pike, the first fish she had ever caught. Her total catch for the day was four. Complete score for the day: Mrs. Paul 4 — Mr. Paul 0. AAA WGY' s new studio building won enthusiastic praise and approval from men who know. A meeting of the Second District of National Association of Broadcasters was held in Schenectady. One of our studios was the meeting place and thirty-five station owners, advertising managers, and others attended the all-day session. Manager Kolin Hager and Bill Purcell showed the men about the studio building and the transmitter at South Schenectady. AAA Kenneth Durkee, one of WGY’s few bachelors, is passing a three weeks’ vacation away from the control board, on Cape Cod. Ken, who hails from the Pacific Coast, is making his first acquaintance with the Atlantic shore line ... A one week’s vacation turned out to be sick leave for Mrs. Caroline Osan, secretary to Manager Hager. However, she was granted another week and devoted her time to her hobby — a flower garden . . . Robert Wilbur, former WGY announcer and assistant in the news department, and now employed by station WSUN, St. Petersburg, Fla., is acting as vacation relief announcer on WGY. Bob’s parents live in Dolgeville, N. Y., and his Florida employers have given him a summer leave of absence . . . A1 Zink, announcer, received recorded birthday greetings recently from A1 Zink, Sr., director of drama at station WEBR, Buffalo . . . Program Manager A. 0. Coggeshall has taken up summer-time residence at the family cottage on Snyder’s Lake. Coggie has his fishing license and is hopeful of duplicating his feat of three summers ago when he landed the record bass of the WGY area and was awarded a doublebarrelled shot gun which he has never used ... A son, Laning Sanford, was born recently to Mr. and Mrs. Horton Mosher. Father Mosher is a member of the control room staff . . . Gertrude Peeples passed the Memorial Day weekend with her parents in Buffalo. WGY Outing. Left, Clarinetist Peter Schmidt; right. Manager Kolin Hager. Background, a geometry class — or at least those look like cubes.