NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1942)

OCTOBER 1942 11 TRIBUTE TO A NATIONAL HERO-Young entertainers of WSYR, Syracuse, New York, inspect the American flag they made for forwarding to General Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific ivar zone. (Story at left.) WOMAN ATHLETE BECOMES STELLAR SPORTSCASTER Boys (and Girls) From Syracuse Do Their Part # 'I'he most active group of young broadcasters of WSYR, Syracuse, New York — many of them veterans of six years on the air with Ray Servatius’ “Juvenile Newspaper of the Air”— have formed a patriotic “Youth Fourth Front.” On Syracuse’s War Day, while a great parade wound through the streets of the city, the youngsters gathered in a downtown store window and began making a silk American flag as the Fourth Front’s first project. When the flag was finished, the sponsor — the Best Ice Cream Company— gave a dinner for its young “editors” and the flag and a letter from the kids was mailed to General MacArthur in Australia. The letter follows: “We boys and girls of Syracuse, N. \ .. members of the Youth Fourth Front, send you this flag, which we made ourselves, in appreciation of the fight you and your men are making to keep the Stars and Stripes ever flying over our homes, schools and churches. “This flag, personally made by a group of us, sort of symbolizes our active participation in community activities for our country. We are busy collecting scrap materials, learning first aid, working in our spare time for local defense agencies, helping more around the home and buying War Stamps and Bonds and in every way possible preparing ourselves to help preserve those things for which you and your men are fighting. We thank you, and we pledge you our support.” New Dunlap Book Peeks Into Television's Future • At a time when many observers are wondering about television’s post war status, Orrin E. Dunlap, Jr., presents a well-documented prophecy for the art of sight-and-sound transmission in his new' book, “The Future of Television,” published by Harper & Brothers on October 1. Mr. Dunlap is manager of the RCA department of information, and served for many years as radio editor of The New York Times. His professional interest in television has provided opportunities for an all-inclusive study of the art and, in his new book, he sets forth his observations in clear language tbe non-technical reader can understand. • Jill Jackson, of New Orleans, is a living example of that old adage — there is no limit to what a woman can do provided she wants to do it bad enough. Jill once had ambitions to be a firstclass athlete. And for a while it appeared as if she was well on her way to stardom after winning several city and state tennis titles, not to mention two ping-pong crowns. But even this was not enough for the diminutive New Orleans woman. So she promptly switched to golf— played about two years —and walked off with the New' Orleans Muni title and several club championships. At this bright point in her rising young career, fate stepped in. Jill Jackson sprained her back. And the doctors said — no more tennis, no more ping-pong and no more golf. But Jill took it like a regular trouper. In fact, she was a trouper. Having done a lot of radio and theatrical work in New' Orleans, she thereupon decided to combine them and seek a career in radio. That was six months ago. And in almost less time than it takes to tell, Jill Jackson was broadcasting major women’s sports events in New Orleans. The rest is history. Today she has three sportscasts a week on Station WSMB. sponsored by the Jackson Brewing Company. They include eye-witness accounts of all the major women’s sports events of the New Orleans section. NBC Press Staff News Record Spans 222 Years # A total of 222 years of newspaper and press association experience is represented in the NBC New York press department staff. Leighton Blood, w ith a background of 26 years on dailies and wire services, leads the veteran fourth-estaters in length of news experience. William Ford is second with 24 years and Everett L. Bragdon third with 22 linotype anniversaries. Runner-up journalistic vets in the department include: Samuel Kaufman, IT; William M. Miller and Jo Ransom 16; Frank Barber, 15; Edw ard Dow den. 1-1; Sydney Eiges and Woodrow Johnson. 12, and John McKay, Charles Pekor. and Richard Spencer, 10.