Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-10

National Broadcasting
Company Signs Lease
For Uptown Headquarters
ERlnAX DEC. 10

Radio broadcasting will soon have
the distinction of a great building
dedicated primarily to its purposes,
according to an announcement made
today by Merlin H. Aylesworth,
President of the National Broad
casting Company.
The fifteen story structure. now
being erected at I'll Fifth Avenue, at
the corner of Fifty-llfth Street, will
be known as the National Broadcast
ing Company Building. as a result of
negotiations recently completed. 1t
will house the greatest broadcasting
plant in the United States. Four
entire floors the twelfth, thirteenth,
fourteenth and fifteenth will be given
over to the work of the National
Broadcasting Company. 1t is expect
ed to be ready for occupancy in May
1927.
The National Broadcasting Com
pany Building will contain eight
completely equipped studios designed
for every type Of broadcasting pro-
gram. On the top floor an Auditor
ium Studio, large enough to seat an
orchestra of one hundred and fifty
musicians, as well as to accommo-
date distinguished guests who may
be invited on occasions. will occupy
almost the entire floor. The ceilings
Of the studios on the twelfth floor
will contain glass panels, so that
spectators seated on the thirteenth
floor will be able to view the artists
at the microphone. Loud speakers
will be installed in practically each
room occupied by the National Broad
casting Company with the exception
of the studios, thereby enabling
listeners with the turn of a switch
to hear any particular program
being broadcast without interfering
In any way with the actual trans
mission Of the program.
'The most advanced principles OF
studio construction and plant con-
troll will be embodied in the National
Broadcasting Company Building, 1t
10 declared in the statement issued
by Mr.. Aylesworth. 1T Is q funda-
mental fact, not always recognized.
however. that broadcasting reception
can be no better than broadcast
transmission. Heretofore plans Tor
broadcastirg studios had to be
drawn with reference to existing ia
ciIities in one building or another.
This will be the first time that the
fundamental construction of a great
building will be planned along lines
that will meet the special require
ments Of radio broadcasting."
The general plan Of construction
calls for a central broadcasting plant
from which a system of studios will
radiate fan-wise. On the rim OF this
circle win be the artists and general
reception rooms. Each studio Will
have a separate control room ada
cent to 1t.
Notwithstanding the fact that
hroadca sting programs will constant
" radiate from the National Braod-
casting Company Building to large
part Of the United States, there will
be nothing in the outward appear
ance Of the building to denate the
purpose which 1t will serve. The
great steel towers and antennae
which formerly marked every studio
connected with a broadcasting STA
stion. will be CONSPICUOUS by their aD.
renee. The antennae and towers will
be miles away from the broadcasting
studios Of the company, under the
system Of remote control which the
Engineers Of the National Broadcast
ink Company are planning.
In addition to the studios. the
building at I'll Fifth Avenue will
contain the executive Offices OF the
National Broadcasting Company,
which has signed an eighteen year
lease with the Bethlehem Engineer
ing Corporation. Floyd de L.
Brown represented the East Fifty
fifth Street Corporation and the A.
q. Mathews Company was the brok-
eT negotiating the transaction.
,Coincident with the announce
unent that the National Broadcast
ing Company would occupy its new
quarters about June 1. 1927. Mr.. |
Aylesworth made public the fact
that management contract had !!
been signed by the company with |
the Radio. Corporation Of America,
24Ar6hy the program activities o1