NBC Transmitter (Mar-Oct 1941)

4 NBC TRANSMITTER RADIO CITY TOUR HISTORY IS MADE On May 29th, the two NBC Tours in Radio City became one. The Studio portion now takes 45 minutes, leaving a quarter of an hour for Television. The “all-inclusive” tour’s new title is now “The Radio City NBC Tour.” The 55c tour rate, formerly the single charge for either Studio or Television, now applies to both. The combined tour used to be 90c. NBC Radio City has been the number one tour attraction throughout the country since 1932. With this new streamlining of the NBC Tour, it is believed that Radio City now has the greatest tour bargain as well. The tours will leave, as before, at ten minute intervals from 9:00 AM to 1 1 :00 PM every day in the year. The four millionth guest is expected this summer for the average number of people passing through NBC has been a half million a year. NEWS STUDIOS The need for more adequate studio space has long been felt in Radio City. Increasing demands of actual broadcasting, rehearsals, auditions, international broadcasts and Radio Recording have shown that our present facilities, large as they are, are not sufficient. When the studios here were constructed, the sixth and seventh floors of our studio section were left vacant to provide for the inevitable need for expansion. That far-seeing policy has proven its wisdom. Construction has been started on these floors to meet the present demand for more space. Two large auditorium type studios, seating approximately 450 people each, are under way. These two studios, which will at some future date be known as 6A and 6B, are similar in construction, both having ramped or inclined floors. This will afford each member of the audience a full view of the entire stage. Equipped with specially built seats, the studio will remain at a constant acoustical balance whether there is an audience in attendance or not. The stages, which will be at the west end of the studios provided a difficult problem. Their construction necessitated the removal of the steel structural framework and the substitution of an entirely new frame to permit the 40 foot long, two story-high, stage opening. These tons of new girders were raised from street level to the sixth floor by crane where they were taken in through a window and placed in position. To cut the element of danger as far as possible, this work was all done in the early Sunday morning hours when traffic and pedestrian travel was at a minimum. The remainder of the two floors will be given over to dressing rooms, an artists foyer, a new client’s audition room, a reception foyer, and some new, much needed, office space. Adequate provisions will also be made to enable us to provide our guests on tour with a back-stage glance at our newest additions. When the work is completed on October 1st, NBC will possess two of the most modern studios in the country. Studios which will be a fitting tribute to the years of research and experience that have helped make them possible and will represent another milestone of achievement. NAMES IN THE NEWS Paul Rittenhouse, assistant manager of Guest Relations, and Gerry Bicking who recently moved from Traffic to International as secretary to Mr. Elwood, will wed July 1 2. . . . Otto Brandt of Station Relations by now has wed Miss Thelma Beulow in Detroit. . . . Clementine Torrell became Mrs. Hugh James as you doubtless know, and although few of the details are available, we understand that Howard Gardner of Sales Promotion, took that fatal step. . . . Francois Pelletier of C. R. and Val Borger. Hunter Stall, and Joe Kane of the Mail Room all have received wedding congratulations. . . .Allen Bengston of Concert Service married Miss Florence Buckley of Summit, N. J., in June. . . . Russell Stretel, of Traffic became a father for the first time on June 1 6th. A baby daughter. . . . Blue Sales held a christening in May. The department’s semi-official “dope-sheet” was christened “Blue Points” as Ruth Guthrie and Bert Hauser broke a bottle of Roget 1914 over the manuscript. Ruth and Bert, by simply thinking of the same name, each won $25.00. Edgar Kobak, who is $50.00 poorer, tells us that the next time he won’t say “Duplicate prizes will be awarded in case of a tie.” Mr. John Elwood is the new manager of International Short Wave, replacing Mr. Yandell who, in turn, has moved to Blue Sales. . . . From Washington, D. C., came Charles “Bud” Barry to look over the New York “Mile o’ Dimes.” He liked it so well in Manhattan, he stayed on. You’ll find him assistant Program Manager to the Blue Network. . . . William “Bud” Mattern is Blue Sales contribution to the Navy. . . . The West Coast sends us Cliff Engle from Announcing in San Francisco and Jack Wormser of Sound Effects from Hollywood. . . . Bob Jones went from Research to Station Relations replacing Bill Whitfield who is now Chief Clerk in SR replacing Bill Davidson, now with J. Walter Thompson’s agency. . . . Horace Hagerdon may be found in