The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-07
RCKEEPS
OFF RADIO
SHYNESS
Station Is Fitted Up So As to
DispeI Timidity Of
Entertainers.

"A CROeSNNAO SSSSS
toned to addressing thousands,
stood before a radio microphone to
deliver an address. Perhaps half
a dozen persons were with him in
the studio. He opened his lips
and they stayed open, but he spoke
not q word. He was radio-shy.
Faxed BY Machine.
When the fiasco had been ex-
planned to the few million listeners
in, the speaker was asked why he
failed.
II don't know" he answered.
frowning in perplexity. Il guess
it was this COMPOUNDED machine. i
never talked to a machine before.
1 always had people In front OF me- "
The microphone, Is to radio what
the camera IL to the motion pic.
ture. 1t is the silent recorder OF
amusement for millions. Stars Of
the legitimate stage encounter the
same unpleasant emotions on facing
camera, instead of an audience,
that radio performers sometimes ex.
perience. Neither class is accus'
toned to performing to a machine.
The noiseless mystery Of its opera
ton makes them self-conscious.
Managers Of broadcasting stations
have worked strenuously to break
their performers OF radio-shyness:.
The boys at WRC, the station Of
the Radio Corporation Of America,
at Fourteenth street and Park Road,
fVinl
First Of all, they dispel all ner-
vousness on the performers part
by making him feel at home. At
WRC. he is brought into a cheer
full reception room, and then into
a most attractive studio. A stable
group Of professional people is al
ways present, and this helps estah-
lish a common bond between the
newcomer and the veterans.
Absent is the cold, fmpersonal at
mosphere Of the old-time broadcast.
ing stations. And when the artist
steps up to the microphone, he is
not confronted by a dangerous-look-
ing, metallic object, but by a grace
full and artistic standard. surmounted
by a disk, decorated by an Aeolian
harp.
frODIem Is SOEVe0.
In this way a difficult problem is
solved, and everybody's happy.
The studio, one Of the mast spaci-
Gus yet designed for broadcasting, is
a room furnishing an ideal at
mosphere for the entertainers. The
panelled walls are done in old ivory
and brown, while the windows are
draped with heavy hangings Of
maroon velvet. The panelled walls
are made Of wax-covered muslin laid
over heavy fireproofed felt They Al
sorb all sounds, so that there is no
repetition Of sound in the micro
phone which would ordinarily be
caused by echo or reverberation.
This acoustically correct room is a
very pleasing improvement over the
old practice Of draping studios with
heavy burlap or monks cloth. The
decoration and furnishing of the
studio have been worked out with
fine considerations of the psy-
geological effect Of the room on the
entertainers.
On one side Of the studio Is a mar.
row. curtained window of heavy
plate glass, through which one NAV
see the control and transmitting ap-
paratus in an adjacent room. The
purpose OF this window is that the
control operator may observe what
goes on within the studio at all
times; supervise the correct place
ment or singers, instrumentalSsts
and speakers. and maintain at nor.
NAL the strength of the voice or
music and its action on the trans.
a fnk
Walter L. Tesch. Familiarity
known as Bud" is in charge of
the station. He formerly had
charge Of the Radio Corporations
duplex station in New York city,
"WJZ-WJY."
His immediate assistant is George
E. Oliver, who for the past two
years was Outside engineer" for
WIZ. He is known to millions as
DON. Harry M.
attached to the radio di.
vision Of the Shipping Board for
the past three years. is WRC's
latest acquisition to the engineering
staff.
Ralph Edmunds has charge of the
program department. He is as.
sisted in the building, administra-
ton, and execution Of the programs
by Feland Cannon, Kenneth Berlke-
ley. and Bruce Lum.
Radio fans know Cannon by his
Southern vocal mannerisms. Be.
sides being a capable announcer, he
Is a musician, and often is called
upon as accompanied by vocal
artists whose assistants get lost on
the way.
Large Suggestion Files.
In common with other stations,
WRC has a great volume of CORE.
spondence. One of the strict prin-
ciples adhered to in the station is
that every letter deserves an
answer. WRC has one of the
largest Suggestion" files in the
United States, and often refers to
It in arranging new programs.
WRC sees the mission of radio as
being an educational one, and by
virtue of being in the seat of Ma.
tional Government is enabled to OBJ
tain Cabinet officers, Senators and
congressman, diplomats, business
men and scientists to address the
millions of radio fans.
Through the past fall and in De.
,ember WRC was heard in north |
western Canada and in Pacific Coast |
cities. The most recent reports have
come in from Esperance, Wash, and |
Valeo, Cal, where Mare Island Navy |
Yark maintains a station. Each |
morning brings in several reports |
from Cuban listeners-in, and fire.
1uently the Radio Corporation'sI
ships, far out at sea, state they