Radio Digest (May-Oct 1930)

55 his fiddle and Uncle Sam and his Old Time orchestra have been hits since the early days. Other popular entertainers and announcers too numerous to mention in detail are: Dutch and Irish: Evans Brown; Albert Fenoglio; James Weldon; Dee D. Denver, and Doctor Brinkley himself. Doctor and Mrs. Brinkley are the proud parents of an only son, John Richard the third, named after his father and grandfather. The Brinkley family is one of doctors, as that of Mrs. Brinkley. The family group consists of the Doctor's pets, his wife, boy and faithful dog Prince, now nearing old age in dogdom. "Good Old WJZ"— East's Favorite MANY years ago a Radio listener coined the phrase "Good Old WJZ." The phrase is fitting, for WJZ, voted by listeners the East's Most Popular Station, is one of the oldest stations in the country, and the oldest on the Atlantic seaboard. It will be entitled to nine candles on its birthday cake when its anniversary date rolls around October 7. The "good" part of the phrase is testified to by the Radio listeners who have selected WJZ as the most popular broadcaster in the East. September 9, 1921, the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing company was granted a license to operate a broadcasting station in Newark. After the 500-watt transmitter was installed an old cloak room was swept out and converted into a studio. Old rugs were used as wall drapes, a piano was rented and there was an old-fashioned phonograph with a large horn. A few discarded chairs, a table and WJZ was ready to go on the air October 7, 1921. Thomas J. Cowan, none other than the Tommy Cowan of WNYC, threw the switch that put the new station on the air. There were only four people in the organization, which was headed by the late Charles B. Poponoe. Cowan was announcer, master of ceremonies, artists' contact, program supervisor and general utility man. No funds were available for talent and Cowan had to talk them into making the trip to Newark to broadcast. But WJZ went on the air with programs of one sort or another, and people began to write letters. The organization expanded. Bertha Brainard came to work as assistant to Mr. Poponoe. Today she is eastern program manager of the National Broadcasting company and one of the outstanding^ executives of Radio. Cowan discovered a singer named Milton J. Cross and induced him to sing for the then small Radio audience. Cross became interested in the new business and when there was an opening for a second announcer he got the job. Broadcasting grew and WJZ's quarters became cramped. In the spring of 1923 they moved to the old Aeolian hall, staying there until September, 1927, a year after its operation was transferred to the newly formed National Broadcasting company, where it shares with WEAF. Before moving to Aeolian hall WJZ's staff accomplished many things. In the summer of 1922 a broadcast of the New York Philharmonic was successfully engineered and the same year a program from the stage of the Capitol theatre was put on the air. June 7, 1923, was another red letter day in the station's history, when WJZ became one of the four transmitters on one of the first networks. The broadcast was in connection with an annual meeting of the National Electric Light association, and Anna Case was featured as soloist. THE first broadcast from an airplane came the following summer. In 1925 2LO in London was picked up and rebroadcast. Engineers now admit that the quality was terrible, but it was a big event in the early days of Radio. In 1924 and 1925 Radio personalities began to develop. Previously WJZ's announcers had been identified by letters. In 1925 there were identified with the station such widely known celebrities as the late John B. Daniel, Andy Sannella, Keith McLeod, Ted Husin,g, Major Andrew White, Ed Smalle and Godfrey Ludlow. In November, 1925, the WJZ transmitter was moved to New Jersey and the old 500-watt plant went by the board. With the new power plant of 50,000 watts WJZ became the first regular super-power transmitter. In the meantime the quality of programs had been steadily improving. The Democratic convention had been put on the air, the inauguration of President Coolidge was described to Radio listeners, and many international celebrities had appeared before WJZ microphones. Sponsored broadcasts improved steadily, and more and more money was available for talent. Network broadcasting became an accepted fact. Then came the organization of the National Broadcasting company, and as a result WJZ, which has been taken over by the Radio Corporation of America when the station was moved from Newark to New York, and WEAF, formerly operated by the A. T. and T., were put under the NBC banner and became the key stations of coast-to-coast networks. Though identified as ah NBC station from then on, WJZ kept its own personality and to millions of listeners it still is "good old WJZ." (Continued on page 105) John Sloan, below, Scotch tenor at WNAX. Bertha Brainard, oval, eastern program director of NBC, whose intelligent supervision had much to do with WJZ success. Anna Maud Morath, small panel, character comedienne at KFOX. Albert Fenoglio, one reason why KFKB won Gold Cup. L