Radio Digest (June 1932-Mar 1933)

39 WSM Dedicates New Station NBC Co-operated — Great Artists Heard — Officials Present at "Opening" PRESENTING a fast moving program depicting the high lights of its service, WSM, The National Life and Accident Insurance Company's new fifty thousand watt station and 878 foot tower (America's highest antenna) was officially dedicated to public service on Saturday night, November 12th and again one week later with a network program extended as a very unusual courtesy by The National Broadcasting Company. The second program was carried by NBC's associated stations on the red network. Best wishes were extended to The Shield Station by many of NBC's outstanding artists who broadcast during the first hour and a quarter, beginning at 10 o'clock central standard time, from New York, Cleveland, Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. The network program shifted to the studios of WSM at 11:15, at which time Edwin W. Craig, vice-president of the company, in charge of radio activities, thanked the National Broadcasting Company and associated stations for their tributes, made a brief talk to the radio public, and presented "WSM On The Air!" On November 12th, C. R. Clements, executive vice-president of The National Life and Accident Insurance Company, officially dedicated the new station. By George D. Hay (The Solemn Old Judge) C. A. Craig, chairman of the board of the National Life, in dedicating WSM when it first went on the air in 1925, said: "Recognizing its great value to our people — commercially, educationally, socially and religiously — and mindful of the wonderful service and splendid entertainment given, it shall be our earnest endeavor to conduct a station that will reflect credit on our community and uphold the highest standards of radio." Among the guests at the opening of the new WSM were Harold A. LaFount, acting chairman of the Federal Radio Commission ; George F. McClelland, Niles Trammel and Frank Mason, officials of the National Broadcasting Company, and I. R. Baker of RCA. Guest artists were James Melton, internationally famous tenor and member of the Revelers Quartette, who began his radio career at WSM several years ago, and "Smiling Ed" McConnell, one of radio's greatest entertainers, and a former member of the WSM staff. Lambkin Kay, "The Little Colonel," director of WSB, The Atlanta Journal, who was present at the opening of WSM and was in charge of the arrangement of its first program which went on the air on October 5th, 1925, appeared as guest announcer on November 12th. In addition to Mr. Kav the following staff announcers of WSM handled the microphones : Harry Stone, A. W. (Tiny) Stowe and George D. Hay (The Solemn Old Judge). The network show on November 19th was opened at 10 o'clock by Don Bestor and his orchestra from New York. This was followed by an announcers' frolic. Then the scene shifted to Cleveland, from which point Gene and Glenn, well known comedy team played high jinks for a time. Then Ben Bernie, "The Old Maestro, Himself," assisted by "all of the lads," displayed their usual originality for a few moments. The Commodores, a quartette of male voices, came through with several delightful numbers to close the Chicago show. Francis Craig and his orchestra. Nashville boys who started at WSM, were in high spirits when their turn came to do their bit which was broadcast from the NBC studios in Denver, Colorado. The scene shifted to San Francisco where "Numb and Dumb" put on a screamingly funny bit to be followed by Anson Weeks and his orchestra. From the studios of WSM in Nashville at 11:15 the staff members (see belozv) put "WSM on the air" ! — The opening was made by the WSM Male Chorus in a Stephen Foster medley. Guests and members of WSM staff present at opening of new station. Seated, left to right: Marjone Cooney Madge West. Zena Jones, Margaret Ackerman, Christine Lamb, Emmeline Boyer Kinnebrew and Marguerite Shannon. Standing, left to right: Dean Upson, Tiny Stowe, Priestly Miller, Harry Stone, Lambdin Kay, Leslie Fox, I. R. Baker, Beasley Smith, James Melton, Deane Moore, Dad Pickard, Ed McConnell, George D. Hay (The Solemn Old Judge), George Nevins, Ovid Collins, Curt Poulton and Herald Goodman.