NBC Transmitter (Mar-Oct 1941)

MARCH. 1941 5 SKI_PARTY in the Poconos LET'S GET ACQUAINTED A total of 58 skiers left New York early Saturday morning in 15 private cars, arriving at the Lodge for lunch. At lunch, arrangements were made for 21 beginners to take professional instruction. About 25 others were taken on novice trails by Mr. Coodale in Television and Mr. Jack Melville — a personal friend of Mr. Glenn Payne’s who volunteered his services. The rest went off by themselves or to Buck Hill Falls where there were steeper slopes and a tow. There were added attractions of tobogganing and ice skating to keep the group outdoors. The toboggan slide caused quite a bit of excitement since it consisted of solidly packed ice — 500 feet long. A few took advantage of the opportunity to go dog-sledding. After dinner on Saturday there were horse races followed by dancing to recordings. Some preferred to go outside to a village square dance which was quite a treat. However, for a Saturday night, it was pretty much like the night before Xmas — most everybody was so tired that long before midnight “not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.’’ The stock joke told was the story about the clerical work as the carloads were being revised and planned from day to day. At the top of the list was the first carload, ever unchanging — “SniffinSniffin-Stewart and Martin.’’ It sounded and looked like a law firm. jimmy James and Murry Harris seemed to be the unofficial photographers and it was nothing unusual to hear someone yell “Heh!” and find yourself looking into either of their cameras. All 58 skiers agreed it was one of the nicest NBC parties yet and, despite aches and pains and bruises, have been clamoring for the next trip. As we go to press the members of the second NBC Ski Club safari have just returned from two days at North Creek, N. Y. with tanned hides, Alpine muscles and some tall stories. Reports have it that last trip’s beginners were doing SWEETHEART of Sigma Tour Betty Randall, who sings them so warmly on the Blue Network, was inducted as an honorary member of the NBC Guide Staff. W. C. Martin, Manager of Guest Relations, set an example of restraint and decorum for his men. five mile treks this time and that progress in general was so great that an Army talent scout wanted to sign them on the spot as ski troops. There was a genuine “native” barn dance which was liberally intermixed with NBCites. For those of you who put a fine point on such matters — In the upper right corner coming down at you are Elaine Martin (Exec.) and Grace Sniffin (Treas.); sliding down the first stripe we see the finish of the toboggan, Ashton Dunn and Helen M. Korday (Personnel) with Elsa Rudiger (Rad. Rec.) in the background; Lucille Lizotte (Gen. Ser.) taking time out; and Elaine Martin learning about dog sledding. ... At the left end of stripe two, Florence Marin (Blue Sales), a guest, and Alice Cook (Television) display the latest in smiles; Dorothy Lewis (Gen. Ser.) manipulates the skis; Virginia Kelly (Red Sales) and Evelyn Sniffin (Spot Sales) greet each other in passing; Walter Giebelhaus and Dorothy Lewis (CONTINUED ON PACE SEVEN) The tennis court in back of the Hotel du Parc in Vichy is a long way from Room 302, and the Emperor of Annam plays a better game than John Q. Public. Besides, he doesn’t ask so many questions. Ask Anita Barnard. She knows. The lady who sits surrounded by cackling typewriters and screaming telephones, calmly soothing that insatiable bird, curiosity, knows all the answers. At least she did, until her phone rang and someone asked her point-blank why the devil he was seeing television in color when nobody else was. Miss Barnard of the Information Division of the Information Department, as they are wont to call it, has, in spite of herself, become a malleable combine of Beatrice Fairfax, the Encyclopedia Britannica. Dale Garnegie, and the Gallup Poll. Sounds foolish? How else would you describe somebody who is practically mother confessor to an average of 38,000 souls a month? And that’s a conservative estimate of the number of monthly inquiries, mail, telephone, and personal, that pour into the Information Division. A haven for the uninformed, room 302, has grown, in its three years of life, to the point of indispensability. For your mastication and digestion, the Information Division is comprised of ten individuals, nine of whom are slightly mad. Their heads bursting with consequential facts, they grope their way home at night babbling, ‘Yagottawriteintwoweeksaheadfortickets !’ The tenth? Miss B. Four years of rubbing elbows with the royal family of Sweden, sipping tea with Edith Wharton and Anna Case, musical soireeing with Stravinsky, Chaliapin, Rachmaninoff, and Paderewski, and, oh, yes, playing tennis with the Emperor of Annam, have m,ade her feel quite at home with John Public or John Public, Esq.