Evening star., 1932-03-13
y KIE'S Oldest broadcasting
station, newspaper-owned
n and known iI1tarr afioooI-

- anu KNOWN International
ly for the characteristic
announcements of its directing
chieftain, Lambdin Kay, cele-
brates its tenth birthday anniver.
Sary Tuesday. Station WSB, "Tht
Voice OF the South" is not only
one OF the pioneer stations of the
country, but it is noted far anc
wide as the mouthpiece of the
South and particularly of cat
Ian-tah, Jaw-Jah."
Licensed by the Department oil
Commerce in 1922, WSB was
founded by Maj. John S. Cohen,
president and editor of the At
lanta Journal, son of a Confeder-
ate army officer, himself a vet
eran OF the Spanish-American
War and prominent figure in
American journalism. He placed
Lambdln Kay, a news man, in
cnarge OF the station at the out
set, and Lambdin Kay not only
continues to supervise its des-
TIMES but his well known voice
is still a feature on it's clear
channel Of TAO kilocycleS.
Starting as a 10O-watter in a
cigar box" studio in the news
paper plant, the station now uses
1000 watts and soon will go to
1000. 1t was the first to attempt
late night broadcasts on a regu-
lar schedule, making it well
known to the country's DIX fans.
1t was one Of the first stations
TO broadcast an entire church
service, a base ball game, a prize
hight and a theater performance.
In its studios Alma Gluck, Rosa
PonSelle and Efram Zimbalist
made their radio debuts.
Lambdin Kay is undoubtedly
as well known as the stations
call letters. Dubbed the Little
Colonel" he is noted for his
honey" Southern voice and for
his programming innovations. It
was he who introduced the three
note chimes now familiar on the
N. B. c. network. He also intro
duced the first fraternity of the
air" with bylaws, limitations,
ceremonials and regular meet
ingS and conducted the Hired
Help Skylark" of wide fame.
1t is believed that, with the
possible exception of Milton Cross
of N. B. c., Lambdin Kay Is the
Oldest announcer In point of
service still active in broadcast
ing. He is well known not only
for his microphone voice but for
his personal appearances in many
cities with the old-tine troupe
that included "The Hired Hand"
OF Fort Worth, the Merry Old
Chief" Of Kansas City and the
Solemn Old Judge" Of Memphis.
A LTHOUGH the radio manu-
IA featuring industry has not
escaped the effects of the general
depression, the American public
purchased b out $4,000, 900
worth Of sets, tubes and parts in
1881, according to reliable retail
trade statistics. This is far cry
from the figures Of the peak years
of 1928, 1929 and 1880, which ap-
proximated $500, 100000, but 1t
shows that the radio industry is
still one of some magnitude.
Radio sets sold last year, in
cluding phonograph combinations
and auto receivers, numbered
3,420,000 valued at $212,040, 900.
This is exclusive of the 472,000
sets exported last year, when ex-
ports were nearly double those of
1880. 1t Is exclusive also of tubes,
53,500,000 of which valued at
$50 $50, 900 were marketed. The
sets sold in the American market
in 1881 almost equal the total
number Of licensed radios in
Great Britain or Germany.
That the battery market still
exists Is shown by the fact that
SIS, 900 worth Of batteries were
sold in 1881. Miscellaneous ac-
cessories brought in $3.50 900
and other parts $6,000,000.
Many formerly well known
names have dropped out of the
radio trade unable to stand the
strain of the times. The latest
to decide to leave the radio field
is General Motors, which formerly
marketed a set under its own
brand but manufactured by r.
G. A. un6T an arrangement
whereby the latter company
owned 49 per cent of General
Motors Radio. On the other hand,
expansion of trade effort is seen
in the new agreement between
Westinghouse and holster Radio,
whereby the latter will manufac-
ture and sell Westinghouse re-
ceivers. Formal announcement
of this arrangement has not yet
been made, but 1t Is expected that
Westinghouse viii terminate It's
manufacturing arrangement with