NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1942)

JULY 1942 5 Intyre’s column, “New \ ork Day l»y l^ay,” of Novemlier 4, 19.46 when he (iiscusserl sensational puhlicily exploitation. “Among the best known, of course," McIntyre wrote, “was the arrival of the Normandie in America. An important maritime event, hut he I Morgan I turned it into a Roman holiday. “Me aroused interest that inspired the 8-column hanner and brought the busy metropolis to a practical standstill as it lined the river front en masse to watch the vessel come up the hay and nose into the dock. One thousand extra |)olice were re(juired.” He was born (day land Tilden Morgan in Jersey City, N. J., 48 years ago. After attending public school and one term of high school in jersey (dty, he launched his business career at the age of 14. Between the ages of 14 and 19, he worked in a bank, served as an American Express Company clerk, sold fiberoid goods and specialty advertising, and took nigbt courses in the Art Students League and the Columbia L niversity advertising class. After three years on the stage — in stock and road companies — he enlisted in the New' York National Guard, served overseas in World War I as a Second Lieutenant in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and spent a half year with the Army of Occupation in Germany. In the post-war period he served three years as First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant of the 71st Infantry, New ^ ork National Guard. In 1919. resuming his business career, Morgan entered the New 4 ork office of the French Line, remaining 17 years until he joined NB(i in October, 1936. as public relations executive. He was publicity director of the French Line for 13 vears. He traveled extensively in Europe, lectured on French topics in many American cities and wrote numerous magazine articles on travel sulijects. During two vears of his association with the French Line, he also served as director of the French Government Tourist Bureau in New \ork. Morgan was decorated with the Chevalier Order of the Legion of Honor by the French Government earlv in 1910. The formal presentation took place in New \ ork the dav the Germans marched into Paris. But Morgan wears the award in the hope of a new day of freedom for the France he knew and loved. He is an active organizer and worker in various eharity drives each year. PICTURE WITH A STORY NBC's Clay Morgan and the Normandie • On February 9, 1942, when the LkS.S. Lafayette — the erstwhile French luxury liner Normandie — caught fire and capsized at her New York pier, an alert cameraman caught the graphic scene portrayed on this page. This single picture is packed with so many NBC angles that it could be used effectively to illustrate any of several articles of NBC Transmitter caliber. Most obvious news slant was NBC’s coverage of the fire — a typical on-the-scene commentary of history in the making. Then, the central figure represents another important story inasmuch as it show's the late Graham McNamee at the mike. This is probably the last photograph taken of the noted announcer, whose name will remain a trade legend throughout all of broadcasting’s future. But at the left, the man glancing at the smoking shell of the great liner makes still another story. He is NBC’s Clay Morgan. As Assistant to the President he covers radio curricularly and extra-curricularly. He is an executive who appears on deck whenever an important radio matter pops up. Radio City folk sometimes think he simply materializes at the scene of any big activity the moment it breaks. If several events calling for his presence happen at the same time, he seems to have the knack of being at all of them simultaneously. Thus, such a startling occurrence as the Normandie fire, calling for speedy and complete radio news coverage, found Clay Ylorgan at the scene along with the announcers, newsmen and engineers. But the day had deeper significance to Morgan, perhaps, than to any other observer. For it was Morgan, as publicity director of the French Line, who made the Normandie a household w ord. The maiden voyage of the pride of the French merchant marine will probably stand for many post-war years as the greatest publicity and promotional achievement in maritime history. Morgan, himself, is too modest to talk about it. So we’ll quote the late O. 0. Me