NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1939)

AUGUST, 1939 9 KDKA PITTSBURGH by Kay Barr KDKA is to have a new pipe organ. Construction work is under way and installation should be completed about the middle of August. Specifications for the modern radio instrument were John Kresge written by Bernie Armstrong, staff organist, and approved by Jesse Crawford, organist for the National Broadcasting Company. In general, the organ (Wurlitzerl will be almost an exact duplicate of the organs built for the NBC studios in Radio City and for the new Hollywood studios of NBC. It will have three manuals in a movable console that may be placed at any desired position in “A” studio, and it will be specially voiced for radio work. AAA Some 30-odd members of the KDKA staff and orchestra — that is most of them were “odd” as golfers — participated in the station's tenth annual golf tournament at Westmoreland Country Club, June 16. Announcer Dave Garroway, twice winner of the St. Louis city championship, carried off top honors with a low gross of 78, while Pat Haley, entertainer, copped the Kickers Handicap. Manager Frank Smith of WWSW, a personal guest of KDKA’s Manager Sherman Gregory, was the second best, and Aneurin Bodycombe, staff pianist, was third in the Handicap. Gregory headed the foursome that won the putting contest, his teammates being Music Director Maurice Spitalny, Announcer Bob Shield, and Saxophonist Charley Fisher. But the oddest of the odd was W. B. McGill, Sales and Station Promotion man, who was making his first and perhaps last appearance on the links. “Mac” had a thrilling four on a parthree hole, sank a 14-foot putt, made the longest drive of the afternoon, but had the highest score, 153 for the 18 holes. AAA Since Announcer Dave Garroway was placed in charge of special events broadcasts at KDKA June 16. several interesting outside pickups have been arranged. One of the best of these w'as w hen he took his pet microphone to the waterfront and told the folks about the departure of the packet Gordon C. Greene on her first Pittsburgh-Cincinnati trip of the season. Ben Lucien Burman, author of “Steamboat ’Round the Bend" and other river stories, contributed calls of the leadline men and an interesting interview to the broadcast. AAA Bill Beal, KDKA’s continuity chief, and Cynthia Cate were married July 1 in the First Unitarian Church, Pittsburgh. Bernie Armstrong, station organist, was at the console, and Program Manager Derby Sproul. Production Chief Charley Urquhart, and Announcers Bill Sutherland and Bill Hinds were among the ushers. The Beals are at home at 5615 Aylesboro Avenue, Pittsburgh. AAA Music Director and Mrs. Maurice Spitalny announced the engagement of their daughter, Jean, to Morton Fiedler, with a reception at their home, 119 Bayard Place, July 9. Jean has been acting as personal librarian for her father at KDKA. The wedding is scheduled for some time this fall. KDKA Announcer Dave Garroway (left) interviews Author Ben Lucien Burman on the deck of a river packet, the Gordon C. Greene. Organist Bernie Armstrong keeps the KDKA crew in good humor with his practical pranks, but it has cost him the confidence of the staff. They say “When Bernie tells the truth it’s news. So Bernie had to get the official sanction and moral support of Station Manager Sherman Gregory before the personnel would pay serious attention to his invitation to staff meetings at which handsome gifts were presented to three recent bridegrooms, Announcer Bill Hinds, Continuity Chief Bill Beal, and Publicity Manager Kay Barr. Names In The News The John Shilianos — KDKA sound effects — have named the new baby Lawrence Francis . . . Aneurin Bodycombe, staff pianist at KDKA, also is director of the Shrine Chanters of Syria Mosque. He selected and directed 16 picked voices of the organization in musical programs during the national Shrine convention in Baltimore the week of June 26 . . . KDKA Announcers Ed Schaughency and Bill Hinds, with their respective “troupes” of entertainers, also Russell “Doctor Sunshine” Pratt, are booked for several outside appearances each week these days. And County Fairs looming over the horizon . . . W. B. McGill. KDKA’s promotion man. is an amateur astronomer and owns a very respectable telescope. The night Mars was only 30 million miles from the Earth (7/20). he took a crow d of station men to the transmitter at Saxonburg to look at the nearby planet and at the top of the 718-foot antenna . . . Manager Sherman Gregory and W. B. McGill of sales and station promotion, represented KDKA at the NAB convention in Atlantic City . . . Bernie Armstrong. KDKA organist, was rated as the eighth best of all local programs not on a network by the national poll of Radio Guide. More than 750,000 votes were received in the Star of Stars poll. KDKA In The News The final meeting of the Pittsburgh Advertising Club for the year. June 27, was made ‘‘KDKA day,” thanks to the efforts of Manager Sherman Gregory, Sales Manager Bill Jackson. W. B. McGill of Sales Promotion, and Lynn Morrow of Sales, all members of the (Continued on page 13/