The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-15
WAIR ObserDes Second Anniversary Of
 Station s EUentfuL InauguraL Ceremonies
''VOice of Waterbury" Rendering Great Public
 Service Daily

Service Daily
 Today station wATR lights two candles on its birthday cake and in their light is reflected two years of | successful service to the people of | Waterbury. Tn glancing back over | those two years, there are many steps of achievement which led up | and up to the position which the Voice of Waterbury now holds in the community.
 Beginning as . purely local sta- ton on June 15, 1884, WATR has grown by leaps and bounds until it now brings its listeners the tops in | entertainment and education from the Yankee Network, Mutual Broad casting System, and, on special oc- casion, the Columbia Broadcasting | System. In spite of this advance ment, the ofdcials of the station | have not lost sight of the para mount requisite of Q local station | to serve it's listeners in every | way possible. At all times the serv. | ices of WATR have been extended | cheerfully to any and every local l enterprise worthy of e helping hand. Perhaps the outstanding example of | this willingness to serve occurred | during the Red Gross drive for | funds for flood relief this past | spring. At the opening of the drive 1 WATR secured the necessary per- mission from governmental oflcials | in Washington to extend its operat- ing time in order to present Q five | hours program requesting contribu- tionS to the drive. Local artists, or- chestras and officials donated their | services to take part in Q program | which helped to give the Waterbury drive the impetus which drove 1t three times over it's original quota. Tn connection with this broadcast, WATR attracted statewide atten- ton by feeding part of the pro- gram to W1CC, Bridgeport.
 stunt Broadcasts
 Many will recall the stunt broad cast from on airplane staged in the early days of the station, the first of It's type ever attempted in this part of the state. The colorful lon the spot" broadcasts by WATR have been Q real service to Waterbury people and Q vitally interesting fac- tor. Last summer when Waterbury sent it's city champion baseball team to Cleveland to compete for national honor, 1t was WATR which brought the voice of the leagues president, George Casey, direct to friends in Waterbury from Cleve- land. Waterbury has come to de- pend on WATR for the most ac- curate and colorful descriptions of local sports events, parades, and holiday festivities. For the past two years, Waterbury's ofilcial Memorial Day services, usually held in public schools, have been moved into the WATR studios to reach larger au- dience. During last years local elec- tons, the Voice of Waterbury, through, the excellent work of | George Duffy and Ray Fitzpatrick, brought listeners first returns.
 Sports Featured
 Tn the field of sports broadcasts, WATR is ct present the only local station to bring Waterbury sport l fans baseball broadcasts of any kind. On weekdays major league games are presented through the Yankee | Network from Boston, and on Sum- day afternoons city amateur league games are broadcast from Hamilton park.
 On this, its second anniversary, the entire staff of WATR and espe. cially It's president, Harold Thomas, receive congratulations from all Waterbury.
 WATR Personalities
 On WATERS second anniversary 1t is an ideal time to renew old &C., quaintances on the WATR staff and to meet the new additions.
 HAROLD THOMAS, president is Q man who has advanced to his present position through his own hard work and natural ability. Starting as an engineer in the days when radio was still Q baby. MT. Thomas has gained . wide exper- fence which enables him to manage i the affairs of the station wisely and well.
 GEORGE DUFFY, studio man. ager and sports broadcaster, joined the staff of WATR shortly after the station opened in the capacity of announcer after several years ex- perience ct WTCC, New Haven. On November l6, l034 he assumed the duties of studio manager. WATERS | high standards of programming are | due In 6 large measure to his care- full planning and conscientious work.
 RUSSELL BROOKS, staff ar- nouncer, recently celebrated his first | anniversary with the Voice of Wa terhury. Russ Is 6 New Haven boy | who gained much of his experience | at WCAC, the college station, while he was attending Connecticut State | College. His pleasant manner and voice combined with 6 thorough | knowledge of his work make Russ ! very popular with the listeners. Note: He's unmarried.
 N JIMMIE PARKER, staff an- nouncer, has been with WATR for two years, one as a singer and one as announcer. His experience has all been practical. gained during the time he managed c half hour war; iety program for WATR. Jimmie is | one of New England's youngest an- i nouncers. He celebrated his 18th | birthday this month. Note: He too is single.
 VITA VAIL, woman shopper. is @ | -. A - ~ ~~~Hn