The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-05
On the Air To-day
Gertrude EderIe Will
 Broadcast From Plane


 The first broadcast from an aquaplane win be made by the Columbia Broadcasting System when network engineers attempt to pick up the voice of Gertrude Ederle as she skins along the Hud- son river at 70 miles per hour be- hind a speedboat piloted by Mrs Guy Lombardo. This feature is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday, July [, at 2:30 p. m., EDST.
 Miss Ederle, who, nearly six years ago, became the first woman to swim the English Channel, will board the aquaplane while the speedboat Is in motion. As the aquaplane is nothing more than a flat board six feet in length and will be lowed approximately 35 feet behind the boat, this presents a difficult feat, for her microphone must be guarded from the water.
 Although spray-proof and wind-proof small microphone of the hand-type variety has been constructed especially for this broadcast, 1t cannot withstand complete submersion. Because of this 1t will require all of Miss Ederle's natatorial skill to retain her balance on the board.
 A short-wave receiver will be placed on the balcony of the Hud- son River Yacht club at 92nd street and the Hudson river, New York city. Located in the seating compartment In the stern of Mrs Lombardo's fast craft will be a ohe-watt transmftter, bearing the call letters WEI. A waterproof cable. attached to the tone line of the aquaplane, will carry the microphone wire circuit to Miss Ederle, who will handle the guide ropes and the hand microphone simultaneously.
 Another one-watt transmitter WIEJ, will be installed on the clubhouse docks. Through the use of earphones, Miss Ederle will be able to conduct a two-way con- yersation with officials on the shore during a portion of the actual broadcast. She also will describe her ride up and down the Hudson river aboard the aquaplane. Harry von Zell, Columbia an- nouncer, will be ensconced in the speedboat with Mrs Lombardo and radio engineer to provide word picture of the scene for radio listeners. This marks the first broadcast from a speedboat churn- ing up the water at such a high speed. Columbia also staged the first transmission of radio pro- gram from a train. Because of the vibrations and other attendant obstacles, numerous difficulties will have to be surmounted by Colum- bia engineers, headed by Edwin K. Conan, in order to assure the success of the water broadcast.
 It was on August 6. 1926, that l Gertrude Ederle stepped into the l English Channel at Calais, France, and. after IA hours. 31 minutes | of battling with the treacherous l currents, emerged from the water l on the English shore. She was the | first woman to negotiate the dis | tance, and her time was faster than that attained by any man swimmer previous to her crossing.
 This accomplishment brought her much fame, and subsequently, | she appeared in vaudeville and swimming exhibitions. At present | she is planning to stage come back in aquatics. A number of | records made during her days as a l member of the Women's Swim ming association remain unbroken.
 Miss Charlotte Epstein, mentor of the W. s. A., wil be present | at the broadcast, as will be a num- Der of the clubs present stars, in- | cluding Eleanor Holm, back-stroke and medley champion.
 Mrs Guy Lombardo is an aqua | plane enthusiast, and with her thirty foot racer has won a num- Der of speedboat races in Long | Island waters. Guy Lombardo also is an ardent speedboat devotee, and has participated in races with his | boat. Because of a vaudeville en- gagement in Cincinnati, he will be | unable to witness his wife's boat manship.