Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
NEW RADIO STUDIO
MARKS INNOVATION
Feature Programs Played
Behind Glass Drop Can Be
Viewed by Visitors.

Amid the clang of taxicabS, hustle
and hustle Of city trafnc and the dazzle
of Broadway's electric lights, the Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. will inaugu-
rate on March Is its Times Square"
studios atop the New Amsterdam Thea
ter The studios are located in the
roof theater and provide a large audi
forum where listeners may witness the
actual broadcasting of program fea-
lures presented from the studios.
The purpose OF the new studios Is
to provide closer contact with Broad
way entertainers, who, because OF
theater ENGAGEMENTS, find 1t difficult to
appear before the microphoneS in the
regular studios Of the company at I'll
Fifth avenue. The old roof theater
atop the New Amsterdam Theater has
been completely remodeled for the new
studios ut an estimated cost Of $4,000,
it was learned last week. They involve
many new features In studio develop
ment and are said to be the first in
the country to provide an orchestra,
balcony and boxes for the witnessing Of
broadcasting. Programs which lend
themselves well to presentation on q
stage will be broadcast from this point,
it was learned, as well as those which
are popular with listeners who ire
quently seek to witness the presenta-
| ton.
The stage has been completely re-
modelled and reconstructed In order TO
make possible pickup for broadcaSting
without acoustical defects. The floor
| has been covered with special ma
terial which prevents sound reverbera-
ton. A unique feature Is the use OF
| q large glass curtain, which may be
raised or dropped. When this glass cur
/ kat~ a. kkA q
sound shielded from the auditorium.
During such broadcastS loud speakers
will be used to allow visitors to hear
| the artists a. they perform before the
microphone and behind the glass cur
tain.
Experts Of the broadcastinR company
explain that In programs where 1t Is
desired to use the entire auditorium
microphoneS are provided which per-
! NIT pickup from any part OF the
house. In all, 30 microphone outlets
are provided, IL Of which are located
on the stage for broadcasting from that
! point and the others are located
throughout the auditorium.
Although still not complete, 1t Is the
plan Of the broadcasting company to
! erect several smaller studios in the
theater building for the broadcasting OF
special events. These will be used when
artists find it impossible to reach the
Fifth avenue studios because Of theatre
cal engagements.
An engineer Of the company explained
that the electrical apparatus is almost
identical, only on smaller scale, to
that used in the main studios Of the
company. All electrical control appa-
| ratus is located in the projection room
atop of auditorium. This room has
been Soundproofed in order to prevent
| outside disturbance. The control room
operator will watch the broadcast from
one of the windows" and monitor the
broadcast.
In wiring that auditorium it was ex-
| ulained that more than 80 miles OF
| iead-covered cable was used for the in
stallation. This wire is used for con-
veying the energy picked up by the
nnicrophoneS and does not include eIec-
trical lighting and other circuits.
Wires from the Times Square studios
will run directly to the main control
| room of the N. B. G. network at I'll
Fifth avenue, where they will be dis
| tributed to other stations associated
with the system throughout the coun-
try. Station and network announce
ments will not be made from the new
studios. however, but programs from
| This point will be handled like all Other
remote broadcasts of the company.
The inaugural program from the new
studios will be the Golfers radio houl
and will go on the air March 16 at 8:lS
pm. The program will be carried tc
| the transnitter of Station WIZ. Ad-
| mission to the inaugural program VIII
be by invitation. Programs for ootn
Stations WEAF and WIZ will originate
| in the new studios, particularly those
which attract q large visitor audience
| at the present studios.