NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1942)

JANUARY, 1942 9 SAN FRANCISCO KAY BARR THE WEST COAST “Sure we've had blackouts. So what?” These strange Stygian interludes are merely rest periods in San Francisco. When the “All Clear” comes, folks pick up what they were doing, right where they left off, and carry on as though nothing had happened. Personal attitudes are fatalistic. There is the inspiring background of tradition which sets the pattern for living generations. This city has been through many disasters and risen from the ashes. That’s why the Phenix is such a significant symbol on the city seal. So many people feel obligated to live up to the heroism and courage which made the early days colorful, romantic and glorious. They must keep faith with that heritage. If some jittery nellie gets nervous, there are a dozen calm neighbors to hold her hands. Rules have been printed and broadcast many times so citizens know what to do. At first these regulations were too stringent. Some few were misinterpreted. So folks stayed at home those first few nights. Business fell off from 40 to 60 per cent in the stores, just when Christmas buying should have been approaching its peak. At the end of that first week, things looked pretty tough. Al Nelson, general manager of KCO and KPO, called 27 of the creative brains of his outfit together for a clinical discussion of the situation Sunday morning, December 14. By 4:00 p.m. they had evolved a plan to put on a “Santa Claus Time” broadcast every morning and evening until Christmas and the first show went on at 7 : 1 5 the next morning. “There’ll Always Be a Santa Claus” was the theme song, written by Frank Denke, pianist, and Announcers Frank Barton and Eddy King. Wally Ruggles and Forrest Barnes wrote and produced the shows. Ricardo directed the orchestra and Announcer Archie Presby was Santa Claus. Within two days the whole town was singing the theme song. By Wednesday, business was responding. By the end of the week, it was up to normal and, when Christmas came, merchants reported the best Christmas season they ever had. NBC stations performed many other services in connection with the Army, Navy and Red Cross. During blackouts, it was all hands on deck. Cots and couches made naps possible that first hectic week. Anyone who enjoyed two consecutive hours of sleep was lucky or sick or both. Studios and the Engineering Department were closed to visitors. Photographic identification cards were required before staff and program people could get past the Pinkerton men at the gate. Guards were posted at the transmitters and police passes were obtained for those who might need to move in the streets during blackouts. An index of cooperation with the emergency routine is seen in the fact that no local business was lost due to the silences. Every sponsor whose program was wiped out took other time gladly. Of course there were complaints from listeners who couldn’t understand why radio had to quit just because the lights were out. When told it was Army orders, they wanted to know who was running the station, NBC or the Army. Then there were the serial addicts: “At the end of the last episodes of ‘Clamorous Gertrude,’ she had just been tossed from an They just can't wait to get into that new NBC building in San Francisco. Organist Floyd Wright tries his lung power on one of the new organ pipes to hear how the new $35,000 concert instrument will sound. Charles Hirschman, who is installing the organ, directs the impromptu performance. eighteenth floor window. Why, we’ve got to know what became of her” And were they persistent ! “Ffow long is this blackout going to last?” asked one huffy hostess. “It’s a fine thing when they make me turn out my lights just as I’m having a bridge party.” One of the blackouts hit a KCO Amateur Hour broadcast at the Community Playhouse. Flashlights enabled the producers to carry on for more than two hours, much to the enjoyment of the visible audience. Helen Morgan, Budd Heyde, Wally Ruggles and Bennie Walker, together with the amateurs, kept everybody happy. Plans have been perfected for the evacuation of the city, if and when that action seems necessary. Store hours have been moved up so that shoppers and clerks can get home before dark. If they are caught on the streets in a blackout, they must get under shelter and stay there until the “All Clear.” Approved shelters, including the new NBC Building, have been designated and posted with signs for the benefit of those caught on the streets. And during those dark periods, the city is deathly quiet, except for cries of “turn out the lights,” directed at windows showing illumination. Actually no bombs have been dropped and there has been no bombardment. Alarms have been prompted by the detection of unidentified planes over the city. Confidence in the Army and Navy has eliminated the epidemic of wild rumors that prevailed the first few days. San Francisco is now taking it (CONTINUED ON PACE 15)