NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1939)

6 NBC TRANSMITTER NBC WASHINGTON by Marian P. Gale NBC TRANSMITTER Published for and by the employes of the National Broadcasting Company from coast to coast. VOL. 5 OCTOBER. 1939 NO. 10 EDITORIAL BOARD Gordon Nugent Editor Howard Flynn Assistant Editor Robert Schroeder Assistant Editor Charles Van Bergen Photographs N. Y. CONTRIBUTORS Spencer McNary Artists Service Shirley Metz Sales Promotion Reid Patterson Legal Address all correspondence to: NBC Transmitter, National Broadcasting Company, 4-A Clients, RCA Building. New York, N. Y. Telephone: Circle 7-8300. Extension 220. NEW PLAY CHOSEN BY THE STACECRAFTERS Now lhat the barnyard has been relegated to iLs proper position on the farm, and the followers of Thespis have combed the straw out of their hair — The Stagecrafters, emerging from a successful summer of hibernation, are preparing to delight their audience once again with the presentation of a production in Studio 8G. The play chosen for Fall production is Help Yourself, a tongue-in-cheek satire on the modern business world, written by Paul Yulpius and originally presented by the Federal Theatre during the season of 1936-37. The cast has been selected and the troupe is being whipped into shape at this point by drillmaster Bob Stone, who delighted NBCites with his portrayal of the righteous Reverend Banks in Pursuit of Happiness, and almost stole the show with his interpretation of the double-dealing Dr. Haggett in The Late Christopher Bean. Bob, when traced to his lair in Electrical Transcription, expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to direct Help Yourself, as he feels that it is “one of the most cleverly constructed and absolutely original comedies written in our time.” Enthusiasm for the play is unbounded among the Stagecrafters, and the production is certain to parallel their previous successes in 8G. So watch for further announcements regarding the dates set for the performances of Help Yourself. In the meantime please send in to the Transmitter any items that you think suitable for the Names In The News column ! Washington being a focal point for war news, WRC-WMAL news men, announcers, and other employes worked long hours during the first two weeks of the recent European crisis and war. With the two stations operating on a 24 hour basis, cots were set up in the news room and studios to accommodate those on irregular schedules. Round the clock service for a seemingly indefinite period finally made it necessary for General Manager Kenneth H. Berkeley to enlarge his staff with eight new people. The extra employes included two announcers, John McKnight and Charles Appleby, three news men, Rex Lampman, Robert Henderson, and Ralph Falvey; two page boys, Luther Dexter and Edwin Vincent Murphy; and a telephone operator, Beatrice Bulger. AAA Gordon Hittenmark, WRC Timekeeper has launched his second annual Radio Open Golden Putter Golf Tour NBC CHICAGO (Continued from page 3) 135; Ted MacMurray, 95 (but last year, Ted was playing in the high seventies and low eighties) ; Jim McEdwards, 81; Fort Pearson, 88; Ed Davies (first prize winner at last NBCAA outing), 76. Other scores were not available for obvious reasons. Red Faces Department Embarrassment de luxe! Bob Jensen, studio engineer and leading NBC amateur photographer, had one of those “most embarrassing moments” the other eve. Margaret Bourke White, internationally famous Life magazine staff photog, was appearing in our Chicago studios for a recent broadcast. Jensen, as control room engineer, took time out during recess in rehearsal to snap the young lady’s picture. With his intricate camera set-up ready for the picture, Miss White posing prettily, and the orchestra and cast as interested witnesses, Jensen pressed the trigger. Nothing happened! He pressed again. Still silence. Again and again he tried! The camera failed to operate. Finally, to the roars and jeers of the assembled group, Jensen was forced to retire, camera in hand, still-unused negatives, with his face matching the hue of the most colorful American beauty in hothouse captivity. nament at Kenwood Golf and Country Club in Maryland, which is just over the District line. Hittenmark asked all amateur golfers within hearing distance of WRC to enter the tournament. First prize, a “gold putter,” is awarded each year to the amateur holding the low score for eighteen holes. In addition to all the special features of the day, men and women golfers of the National Broadcasting Company are to battle it out in a special section of the tournament for low score and the two trophies being donated by Vice President Frank Russell and Mary Mason, WRC Home Forum director. Names of winners will appear in the next Transmitter. AAA It was a WRC-WMAL news reporter that gave the United States Government the exact time, to the split second, that Secretary Hull signed the neutrality proclamation and also the time at which the great seal of the United States was affixed to the document. Room 101 of the State Department was crowded with officials, news men, radio commentators, and photographers. When the show was over, Michael McDermott, chief of the Division of Current Information, at the State Department, wanted to know for the official archives what time the signing and sealing took place. The clock on the wall had stopped. McDermott turned to NBC’s news reporter, Bud Barry, trained to “clock” events to the second. The report was — signing, 1:34:30 p.m., EST, and sealing, 1:36:15. AAA Announcer George Wheeler has been wondering whether he is supposed to have a vacation. Fate has worked against him until recently. First his trip to Europe via the S. S. Bremen was cancelled. Then his plans for a boat trip to South America were complicated with reports of sinking of merchant ships in that vicinity. Wheeler is keeping his fingers crossed now since he booked passage this time on the Pan American Clipper to fly around the coast of South America. AAA On September 5th. News Editor Bill McAndrew released the exclusive news flash that he and Mrs. McAndrew had become the proud parents of a sevenpound baby girl.