Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20


publican nomination in Memorial Con,
tinentGI Hall in Washington.
A T the Inauguration of President Hoover, not
4 \ only the whole United States, but the whole
world, was virtually brought to the front door
of Washington. From WMAL and WRC tina
story of this event was sent out over an ex-
tended network to more than 40 stations In
the United States, and was rebroadcast by the
short-wave route to Europe Asia, Australia,
Africa New Zealand, South America and other
foreign countries, even reaching the far Ant
arctic camp of Admiral Byrd at the bottom Of
the world.
It was estimated that 100000 listeners in
the United States heard the event, and mil
lions of others in foreign countries An infant
news service extended on far-f1ung frontiert
No other news agency had ever reached so wide
a territory as radio had done at a single stroke.
No man had ever spoken to the whole civilized
world before and this was accomplished by the
President of the United States, speaking from
the Nations Capital.
In order to cover" this event for the air,
hundreds of thousands Of dollars were spent
and months were required in perfecting the un-
precedented hook-up and in completing the
intricate installations in Washington. The
National BroadcaSting Co. had force Of 20
operators and announcers stationed at various
stair, at that time numbering so; and the Co
lumbia System augmented its washington per-
sonnet with large stad of extras, thus bring
ing to the Capital the most prominent an
nouncerS and the most skilled mechanical ex-
perts of the two companies.
It was on this occasion that microphoneS were
located in the Senate chamber for the first
time in history, and these were placed at the
Speakers desk in front of which Vice President
Charles Curtis took his oath Of Office. Micro
phones also were located in the box in front OF
the Capitol where Mr.. Hoover stood while tak-
ing the presidential oath of odice and while de-
livering his inaugural address. Additional nil
crophones were placed at other points on the
Capitol Plaza, in the bandstand, at the Peace
Monument, at the Treasury Building, in sem
try box within few yards of the front door
Of the White House, where the Nation was given
the first news Of the personnel Of the new cabi-
net; at the Presidents reviewing stand on PENN
Syivania avenue and at other strategic points
along the line of march. Still another micro
phone was carried above the city streets In an
Army blimp, through which a birds-eye-view
description of the Inauguration event was given.
News covering by radio had passed the ex-
perimental stage. 1t was an accomplished and
an astonishing fact. The broadcasting conn
panieS were awake to its tremendous possible
ties and to the possibilities Of Washington as q
future source Of big news. Speaking to You
from the Nations Capital" was beginning TO
mean something in radio.
WHEN the funeral services for william How
ard Taft were held washington was again
the center Of an epoch-making broadcase
which made 1t possible for the first time In his
tory for an entire Nation to listen to the tribute
paid to departed former Chief Executive.
When the Graf Zepplin, ON its FIRST trim 10
the United States scared over Washington In
salute to the Nation, the news was broadcast
from roof top, and when Lieut. AppoID
Soucek recently made the worlds altftude