NBC Transmitter (Jan-Dec 1940)

4 NBC TRANSMITTER LATEST TELEVISION UNIT [Continued from page 1) the FCC Television Committee; Commissioner Frederick I. Thompson; and Commission Engineers headed by E. K. Jett, chief engineer. Representing RCA were Ralph Beal, director of Research; Dr. Charles Jolliffe, head of the RCA Erequency Bureau; Harry Sademvater, RCAM Television Project engineer; T. A. Smith, manager of RCAM Television Equipment Sales; and RCA Laboratory Engineers G. L. Bears, C. D. Kentner, W. J. Poch, W. T. Dutton and A. H. Turner. The apparatus for the demonstration was set up on the grounds of the U. S. Post Office Department Building. The activity on Pennsylvania Avenue was picked up, and various members of the Commission and others appeared informally before the ike. Expansion in another direction is also reported. Since the beginning of public television broadcasting in April 1939, NBC has been actively engaged in developing program material and production technique considered suitable for advertising purposes. During tbe first six months of regular service approximately ninety-five experimental advertising programs were broadcast. For the production of these programs NBC had the cooperation of fifty-four advertisers. No charge or revenue was collected because of the prohibitive FCC regulations under tbe present system of experimental operation. However, due to recent FCC considera tions, a plan may be worked out whereby a client would pay for at least part of the operating costs. Inset: George W. Hayes at the first RCA transmitter, used for the Dempsey-Carpen tier fight, July, 1931. At left, Mr. Hayes, now general manager RCA Victor Argentina, examines the latest type of RCA television transmitter. AA ACTIVITIES Skating Roller skating has sprung into prominence as a popular winter activity with a party held at the Columbus Circle Rink Tuesday evening, December 12. The refreshment and game booths around the hall added much — it is said — to the enjoyment of the skating. All AA members can join in future parties, which may come as often as every Tuesday at 8:15. Miss Winter of the Treasurer’s Office, who, fittingly enough, is handling the events, can get reduced rate tickets, but wants to know ahead of time how many are coming. Horses, Horses Indoor riding groups will be organized right after the New Year’s holiday, and all interested should get in touch with Mr. Van Houten. The meets will probably take place at Aylward’s Academy on West 67 Street. No fees will be collected until after January 1 when the actual riding starts. Bowling Standings at the head of the bowling league are beginning to crystallize with General Service Team 1 still in the lead and Sales close behind. The General Service alleycats have won 23 and lost 4, while the Salesmen have a record of 20 victories out of 27. The Ladies Team, we are sad to say, has dropped to tenth place from eighth since last month, with 9 wins and 18 losses on the wooden fairway. David Henri still holds the High Series championship with 601, and the High Score of 241 held by George McElratb bas also survived. Lutber of Treasurer’s remains in the individual average lead with 179 for 9 games played, but Henri has pushed into second place with 171 for 27 games. Watch that fellow. He makes news. Swimming All this athletic expansion includes an opportunity for prospective mermaids which has opened up with an offer from the Women’s Swimming Association of New York to give NBCites reduced membership rates. Twelve dollars will entitle you to a six months course of weekly lessons at the Association pool. All future Eleanor Holms should get in touch with Frances Barhour, Room 412. Artists The metal, clay and woodworking classes have been showing increased (Continued on page 9) TRAINING CROUPS BEGUN {Continued from page 1) points that may still be in doubt. It is planned to take up other departments in the same manner later on, and the classes will end in May. All the participants have done con siderable reading and turned in a large number of essays on various topics related to broadcasting activities. And besides all this, more detailed discussions are being scheduled. Representatives of such Program Divisions as Sustaining, Commercial and Music talk informally with small gatherings of men about their special responsibilities and enable the men to become familiar with certain charts, machines, records, etc., which are used. These intimate meetings, together with the opportunity offered to attend Commercial, Sustaining, Night Program and ProgramPress Board Meetings, will give the members of the group a far better view of NBC organization than was previously open to them. Both foregoing courses are, by nature and necessity, fairly general, but several divisions of the Company are giving, or planning to give, much more specific training to selected bodies of men in order to prepare them for possible entrance into the department concerned. For instance, there is Mr. Engles’ course in artist management v/hich has been successfully proceeding with its talks and studies for nearly two months. And Pat Kelly’s announcing class, as is well knowm, is the oldest training group of them all. This also is underway at present with Dan Russell doing his usual good job. Furthermore, Mr. Beville has chosen ten employes from General Service for an eight to ten weeks course in statistics which began on December 14. For an hour each week the men wdll consider such subjects as station coverage, program surveys, advertising agency expenditures, tabulating, organization records and unsolved problems of radio research. It is intended to fill future vacancies in the Research Division with members of this class, and tbe whole arrangement has been made to tie in with the general employe training policy. The men who have been selected are Percival Black. W. Beverly Buschgen, Ralph Cameron, Howard Gardner, William Halsey, Robert MacFadyen, William Materne. John Simpson and James Tyson, all of the Guest Relations uniformed staff, and Gene Kennedy, Mail Room supervisor.