NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1939)

14 NBC TRANSMITTER KOA DENVER by Charles Anderson KYW PHILADELPHIA by J. A. Aull For the first time in a number of years, the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin opened its news room to radio on election night when KYW broadcast the returns direct from the tickers. A special staff of seven from KYW, hacked by a group of Bulletin news men especially assigned to radio, made possible the broadcast of the returns within a few seconds after they were compiled. From 11:05 to 1:30, KYW aired the results at an average of fourminute intervals. In the interim, a featured KYW election party program was going out of the studios. This included music by the KYW orchestra playing special arrangements under the direction of Ken Martin, vocals by Roger Williams, Jimmy Saunders and Nita Carroll, and special numbers by Arthur Hinett, Andy Arcari, Martin Gabowitz and Irving Lescbner. After a brief fall vacation, the KYW Camera Club again began operations in full swing on November 17, under the direction of James Harvey of the KYW staff. The opening meeting of the new series discussed the current Annual Salon of the Miniature Camera. Art Hinett has completed four more organ melodies for Victor Bluebird records. All classical, but rendered in Art’s unique style. Jimmy Schultz, composer-arranger with Ken Martin’s orchestra, has turned out another ballad. The song, tentatively tilled Turn on Your Heart , was premiered over KYW during the past month. Another Schultz composition, ]’m So In Love, the Ken Martin theme song, is now in print. Ken Martin, director of the KYW orchestra, last month added 20 more compositions to his already voluminous collection of Victor Herbert scores. Many of the scores are out of print. Westinghouse engineers at the KYW transmitter out in the wide open spaces of Whitemarsh, Pa., have been practising more than radio technique this fall. They have cut 15 tons of timothy on the property. And if you know anything about today’s farm prices, that isn’t hay. Alfreda Chambers, secretarv to E. H. Gager, plant manager of KYW. was the last on the station staff to complete her summer vacation, one weeks rest at the end of October. Dan Munster has traded his rifle for a valve trombone. The trombone, of ancient vintage, has no mouthpiece — Our new boss, Lloyd Yoder, is certainly making friends here in a hurry. His big smile makes everyone feel right at home, and his determination to have a man-to-man chat with everyone here in order to completely familiarize himself with their work and problems, shows a keen interest in the welfare of everyone on the Staff. We’re all glad to know Mr. Yoder and work with him for a great KOA. It’s goodbye Rockies — Hello Skyscrapers for A1 Isberg. He leaves the KOA Engineering Staff to work in Television at Radio City. A1 has a gold-star record of achievement in his field. Before coming to KOA, he did research work for several big engineering companies. At the Station he was a model of an enterprising worker, always on the job, and even after hours could be seen working on some new gadgets for the improvement of quality broadcasting. He’s a graduate of Colorado State College in Greeley with Majors in Science. KOA joined with the McMurtry Manufacturing Company a few days ago to celebrate a radio Fifth Anniversary of their program, Golden Melodies. This has been one of the Station’s most consistent programs in popularity and has been the proving ground for many of radio’s biggest stars. Jean Dickenson is a “graduate” of this fine musical show. Russ Thompson, Transmitter engineer, has just returned from a trip to New York. While he was gone, Mrs. Thompson took a bad spill off the “but,” savs Dan, “The rifle didn’t have a trigger.” Jim Harvey, director of the KYW Camera Club, and drummer George White have put away their “yachts” for the winter — while Joe O’Byrne, director of the Hunting & Fishing Club, has taken out his rowboat for some duck hunting. porch steps and was laid up for awhile. She’s up O.K. now and promised Russ she wouldn’t try any more fancy steps next time he goes away. Incidentally, Russ tells us that Vernon Duke, who went from here to Television in New York, has really made a name for himself in development of the latest television apparatus. P. S. Another KOA “Alum”, Roland Jordan, is secretly employed by the Denver Chamber of Commerce. He’s spreading those vacation folders all over Radio City. Tourist bureaus beware. The boys were pretty lonesome at the Transmitter for awhile. The Highway Department built a new road past their building, and travellers had to detour ’way off the beaten track. Everything’s back to normal now and the tourists look with admiration at the fancy fountain as they drive by the place. In connection with the Red Network Dr. /. Q. programs to be broadcast from Denver, starting Monday, November 27, Mr. Hoban of Mars Inc., and President Grant of the Grant Advertising Agency, visited us at KOA. All arrangements were made for these highly interesting programs to be fed to the Red from KOA each Monday at 7 for the next six weeks. General Manager Yoder, Messrs. Owen and MacPherson showed KOA to the visiting Mars officials, who expressed astonishment and gratification over the completeness and efficiency of KOA studios and operations. John G. McMurtry, McMurtry Mfg. Co.; Robt. H. Owen, KOA; Lloyd E. Yoder, Mgr. KOA; W. R. McFarland, Pres., McMurtry Mfg. Co.; Al Crapsey, KOA, and the “Fifth" Anniversary Cake.