NBC transmitter (Jan 1943-Sept 1944)

February 1944 11 NBC InterAmerican University Launches Literature Series by Archibald MacLeish NEW YORK. -Dr. James Rowland Angell, NBC public service counselor, has announced the addition of a significant new series from the pen of Archibald MacLeish to the curriculum of the NBC InterAmerican University of the Air. The series by the distinguished American poet and Librarian of Congress is entitled “American Story” and had its dehut on Saturday, February 5. The programs trace the history, development and fulfillment of the literature of the Americas. The series represents the first time that a contemporary literary figure has been commissioned to produce a massive cycle of inter-related literary works for the air. MacLeish has as his immense canvas the life and literature of the Western Hemisphere for the last four and a half centuries. “American Story” is the third permanent series of the NBC University of the Air. Others are “Lands of the Free" —an historical series, and “Music of the New World.” All three are designed as adult education on the college and university level. In addition to writing the scripts, MacLeish will take the part of narrator on all broadcasts. Because of the varying types of prose and literature which make up the subject matter of the broadcasts, format of the programs may change from week to week. MacLeish will employ his artistic talents and broad experience to create new forms of radio expression on the series. Many of the broadcasts will be experimental in nature. The subject matter of the series has been planned in three-year cycles, according to Sterling Fisher, director of the University of the Air and assistant public service counselor of NBC. “All of the Lhiiversity’s permanent series,” Fisher stated, “are designed to attract and instruct, through entertainment, the casual listener who may hear only one of our broadcasts. If he listens to a full 13-week cycle, he will hear a full discussion of one phase of the literature of the Americas. The regular listener, who tunes to the program week after week for the full cycle, will gather the benefits of a comprehensive college course. But we fail in our purpose if the broadcasts, however instructive, do not entertain the listener. In MacLeish, the University has obtained an outstanding scholar of American literature, and a warm and sensitive artist who can bring forth yesterday’s great works in the living, human terms of today.” MacLeish's technique will include the dramatic form, narration, straight reading from sections of great literature, a combination of the three, or variants which he will develop. In his first script, he thus described his concept of “American Story”: “It is the purpose of these broadcasts to bring together from the ancient chronicles, the narratives, the letters, from the pages written by those who saw w ith their own eyes and were part of it. the American record— the record common to all of us who are American, of whatever American country and whatever tongue— the record of the American experience common to us all. “For many centuries now we have been told of our difference from each other because our tongues are different and because our ancestors came from different parts of the Eastern Hemisphere and because we differ in look and in customs, some of us. “These differences are real and important. They have value. But what is it that binds men together even more than common blood and common speech? Is it not a common experience of the earth? An experience common to them but not to others? And have we remembered in the Americas that we share in common an experience no other men, living or dead, have known— that this experience is. indeed, our history?” Considered by many authorities as one of the most significant poets in America. Archibald MacLeish also has written a number of challenging poetic dramas for radio. Poet, humanist, lawyer, soldier, journalist and orator, he combines many exceptional talents. The author of almost a score of volumes of poetry, he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. In 1939, he was named Librarian of Congress by President Roosevelt, a post which he has filled with distinction. Stars and Bonnets A modern note was created in the artistic arrangement of NBC stars' i>liotographs in this millinery window at the H. G. Banner Company store, Schenectady, New York, arranged by ff GY. New York and Chicago See Parade of Stars Resume NEW YORK. — A pictorial pageant showing the scope and station usage of NBC's Parade of Stars promotion campaign was displayed to advertising agencies, clients and the press on January 10 and 11 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The exhibition was repeated in Chicago and is slated for the West Coast, too. Material on display explained the extent of Parade of Stars promotion on the air, in newspapers, by display cards, movie trailers and through such special devices as counter cards and table novelties. Visitors saw’ samples of the more than 50 recordings especiallv prepared for the Parade of Stars by NBC’s advertisers; scripts supplied to stations for use in building programs, and the extensive direct-by-mail suggestions which broadcasters found invaluable in promoting Parade programs. Black on Cleveland Podium NEW YORK.— Dr. Frank Black, NBC’s general music director, has been engaged as a guest conductor of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. The imminent induction of Erich Leinsdorf made it necessary to find replacements and the management of the orchestra, searching the list of leading American conductors, chose the NBC music executive and conductor to direct a series of concerts in Cleveland and on tour.