NBC Transmitter (Jan 1943-Sept 1944)

14 NBC TRANSMITTER BOY'S POIGNANT PLEA TO GOVERNOR EARNS KOA AUDITION AND BROADCAST • DENVER. — One recent day, KOA broadcast a special Red Cross program, during which 12-year-old Frank Farrell Brown, Jr., of Breckenridge, Colorado, played on his Hawaiian guitar and was presented to John C. Vivian, Governor of Colorado. Frank wrote the Governor to ask “a million dollar question”— it was a poignant plea for recognition of his talents, which he felt were being stifled in the small mountain town where he lives. His appeal read, in part: “I want to tell you 1 live in a small town where I cannot get an opportunity to take more lessons, only the ones I teach myself lately. We have nothing here— not even a chance to better an ambition. I would like to know if by chance you could help a wishing boy in any way make a success. If I could just get a break in life before I am too old. I’m a poor boy, but I also know there have been others like me who have gone places and did things by a little help. This step may be a little bit bold, but God helps those who help themselves and I’m writing to try. Governor, please help me, I do want to be a credit to myself. I hope this is not in vain or offend WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES GROUP • NEW YORK. — A women’s activities division, created to establish channels of communication with women directors of all NBC owned and operated stations, began to function in NBC’s public service department October 1. The group will exchange information and suggestions with the manager of the central division public service department in Chicago, and the Western division director of public service in Hollywood. Chairmanship of the activities division will rotate automatically after each four months’ period. Duties of the incumbent will be to conduct correspondence and to distribute information between Eastern, Central and Western divisions and the network’s owned and operated stations. Margaret Cuthbert will serve as chairman for the first period, Jane Tiffany Wagner for the second, and Mrs. Doris Corwith for the third. ing you. Thanks a lot. A small boy friend, Frank Farrell Brown, Jr.” Such a request for the Governor's aid was not unusual but the tone of the letter was. The sincerity of the boy’s expression of longing for a place in the sun, a chance to prove his talents, both touched and impressed Governor Vivian. He wrote Frank an encouraging response and advised him that his earnest appeal had been referred to Station KOA, here. KOA, in turn, invited young Brown to visit the studios and have an audition. On Friday, August 20, Frank appeared at KOA with his mother, father and little sister— for the promised audition— and the next night he went on the air. A bright, alert little fellow, rather small for his age, Frank appeared greatly elated at the outcome of his letter. When told that he would have an opportunity to greet Governor Vivian and thank him in person during the special broadcast over KOA, he said he was thrilled to death at his dream come true. Thus KOA helped a little boy from a small mountain town in Colorado receive an answer to his “million dollar question.” ’ CHICAGO A. A. OUTING • CHICAGO.— More than 150 NBC central division employees gathered at the Olympia Fields Country Club on August 26 for the annual outing of the NBC Chicago A. A. The group participated in golf, softball, horseback riding and swimming. There was a steak dinner and dancing in the evening. Brief talks were made at the dinner by Harry C. Kopf. vice-president and general manager of the central division, and Leonard Anderson, office manager and president of the association. William Weddell. assistant sales manager, was m.c. NBC New York guests at the outing included Charles B. Brown, director of advertising and promotion; Joseph Ecclesine, sales promotion manager, and Barry Rumple, sales research director. • NEW YORK. The NBC A. A. has launched a pistol and rifle club. Army Chaplains Featured On Camp Robinson Series © LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — In order to acquaint the civilian population with the work of Army chaplains, the Camp Robinson Public Relations Office, through Station KARK, NBC’s station for Arkansas, is conducting a Saturday 15-minute program direct from the camp’s reception center chapel. The program was inaugurated last Summer by Major Robert S. Woodson, Camp Robinson’s chief chaplain, and Staff Sergeant Robert Buice, former KARK announcer, who is in charge of radio at Camp Robinson. He is assistant to Captain Walter E. Hussman, public relations officer for Camp Robinson. “Camp Robinson's Chapel of the Air” features a short talk by one of the camp’s chaplains and explains the functions of their office. In addition several musical numbers are featured on each broadcast. Chaplain Woodson was called to active duty in February, 1941, while serving as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before being ordered to Camp Robinson. U. S. Signal Corps Photo The above photo was taken at a recent broadcast and shows, left to right: Major Robert S. Woodson, chief, chaplain section. Camp Robinson; Chaplain Maurice A. Hirschberg, assistant camp chaplain, and Staff Sergeant Robert L. Buice, radio director, camp public relations office, who prepares and announces the program. SPONSORED VIDEO CARTOON • NEW YORK. — Botany Worsted Mills has resumed its comic spot film on NBC television station WNBT. The cartoon film presents the Botany “woolly lamb” as promotion for the firm’s line of men’s ties.