Archival Minute August 2012 WSC and Radio — P a r t T h r e e At the time the Wayne Herald / WJAG experiment came to an end, a Wayne State student, David Sanders, had a 15-minute program, listed as “David Sanders of Beemer, Nebraska,” which aired over WJAG on Saturday afternoons. It does not appear that there was any official association with Wayne State, but students from the college (besides Sanders) did appear. The Wayne Herald published an article, “Radio Program Will Include College Trios,” on February 6, 1936: The WJAG radio station at Norfolk has extended the program featuring David Sanders, Wayne State Teachers College baritone, to include two trios to alternate on succeeding Saturdays. The trios are the “Melodears,” Miss Frances Kiker, Miss Harriet Lamson and Miss Jeanne Wright, with Miss Marian Seymour [sister of future WSC president Lyle Seymour], pianist; “Three Little Maids,” Miss Wilma Flake, Miss Kathryn Greenslit and Miss Helen Jones, with Merrill Mulready, pianist. The program on which the groups appear is called “Singers of Songs,” and is arranged by Mr. Mulready of the WJAG staff. David Sanders The following week the show expanded to 30 minutes and continued most every week through May. Some weeks, however, a program bearing the title “Wayne State Music department” or “Wayne College program” was listed instead. Given that Wayne State already had program on Friday’s from March to May of 1936 (see next page) it’s probable that this was Sander’s program Marion A. Seymour under a different name. Wayne State College - U.S. Conn Library Marcus Schlichter, Archivist 402-375-7266 P a g e 2 Archival Minute Another Wayne State student also had a radio broadcast about this, though not a series. According to an April 17, 1936 article, “Brome Drama Will Come Over WJAG Sunday, April 26,” The Goldenrod reported that “Robert Brome, Wayne State freshman from Norfolk, has just written a radio drama entitled ‘The Ghost of Caesar.’” The drama, performed by the author and Wilson Buffington, sophomore from Meadow Grove, aired over WJAG on Sunday April 26. On March 26, 1936, The Norfolk Daily News did list a “Wayne college program by remote control” to air the next day (Friday) from 2:00 to 3:00. This program would air weekly through the end of May. The Goldenrod wrote about one of these broadcasts (as well as David Sander’s Saturday program) on April 17, 1936: On the broadcast Friday at Norfolk, representatives from the voice department were: “The Melodiers” trio consisting of Jeanne Wright, Wayne, Frances Kiker, Wayne, and Harriet Lamson, Neligh, with Marian Seymour at piano. David Sanders, Beemer, sang an arrangement of the Palms” with the choir ensemble. Miss Francis Rhodes, soprano at Sioux City, sang “Lullaby” by Cyril Scott. The famous “Spinning Song” from the opera “Martha” to be presented April 30, was sung by the quartet consisting of Francis Rhodes, soprano, Harriet Lamson, mezzo-soprano, Norman Leuthauser, tenor, and David Sanders, baritone. On the Saturday program, David Sanders, on his “Singer of Songs” program, included some special religious numbers to herald Palm Sunday. Dewayne Gramly, pianist, featured several pieces from his new suite “Clouds Over Spain.” On the Friday broadcast Robert Arter and Dorothy Kile played two-piano [sic] numbers, “Arrival Humlet,” Grainger, and “Gypsy Rhapsody.” P a g e 3 Archival Minute As the nine-week run was about to end, The Goldenrod noted on May 22, 1936 that The college venture into the radio field will have its final performance on Friday, May 29, at two o’clock by remote control over WJAG from the College auditorium. President J. T. Anderson will speak to the radio audience at that time, and Prof. Albert G. Carlson will give a piano recital. The newspaper commented: The nine weeks of broadcasting have been the means of bringing to the friends of Wayne State examples of many College activities. Musical organizations and many soloists, dramatic groups, short talks, lectures and news items have been used to give the College a characteristic representation. Many favorable comments have been received from Wayne territory listeners, and requests for the continuance of the broadcasts. City officials and business and professional people have been generous in their support of the project. Dr. James Brock [head of the Physical Sciences department] has served as chairman of the college radio committee, consisting of Professors Bair, Carlson, Hanscom, Keith, Drake and Ramsey [who will be discussed below]. David Sanders and Merrill Mulready have had charge of the advertising field work. Mr. Mulready has presided at the microphone for the broadcasts. After that final broadcast The Goldenrod ran another story, “Radio Programs Are A Marked Success,” in which it reported: The concluding program of the College Radio Course was given on May 29 in the Auditorium. Dean H. H. Hahn gave the farewell remarks to the invisible audience. Prof. Albert G. Carlson of the Piano Department gave a piano recital for the musical part of the program. He was assisted by Prof. Clifford Bair, tenor, who sang three songs. After detailing the various selections performed by Professor Carlson, the paper again noted the positive response, stating that “[m]any favorable comments were received on the program, and there were numerous requests foe the continuance of Wayne College Hour on the air.” P a g e 4 Archival Minute For whatever reason, however, those “numerous requests” for more broadcasts were not immediately answered, at least not too any significant degree. The Goldenrod does not carry another report of college radio activity during the remainder of 1936 and all of 1937. The 1938 yearbook, however, does provide evidence that there were some vocal performances on radio during the 1937-1938 school year. The Spizz in its review of the solo and vocal ensembles recorded that Under the direction of Professor Russel Anderson [see sidebar on next page], the members of the voice department of Wayne State Teachers College made many public appearances during the past year. They presented both formal and informal programs for the college and community of Wayne, in surrounding towns, and over radio station WJAG, Norfolk. No specifics were given regarding number or dates of the any of the performances, including those over radio. The yearbook, however, does give more specific details concerning the A Cappella choir: The A Capella [sic] Choir, under the direction of Professor Russel Anderson, was chosen from a chorus choir of one hundred voices. As one of their contributions to the college and community, the choir, assisted by the community of Wayne, presented Handel’s “Messiah” on December 19th. The Easter Cantata, “The Seven Last Words of Christ” by Dubois, was presented at Wakefield and in Norfolk on April 3rd and in Wayne on Palm Sunday, April 10. On March 27th the choir broadcasted [sic] over a State Hook-up [sic] from Norfolk on the “Nebraska White Spot” program. A Capella Choir, 1938 P a g e 5 Archival Minute Russel Anderson Russel Anderson (1904-1989) came to Wayne State in 1936 as professor of voice and music education. The choral program prospered under his direction. When he arrived the choir had only 34 members; there were 175 at the time of his retirement. The annual performance of Messiah under his direction each Christmas for 23 years was recognized as one of the state’s outstanding presentations of the Handel oratorio. He initiated tours of the choir throughout the state. The choir under Anderson’s direction (as well as he himself) also performed on radio on various occasions. Anderson was named Chairman of the Fine Arts Department in 1942. In 1945 he initiated the annual summer Music Camp “to provide an opportunity for talented students of music to come together for a week of study and performance of the better choral, symphonic, and instrumental literature. The camp will provide a means of arousing the enthusiastic interest of high school students in participation in, and appreciation of good music.” [From promotional brochure]. The camps were held for almost 6 decades before being discontinued in the early 2000s. Anderson resigned as head of Division of Fine Arts in 1964, wanting to find out “how it feels just to teach.” His desire was to devote his time to vocal instruction. The announcement in the October 1964 issue of News From Wayne State praised Anderson: “With the constant goal of ‘building the department for excellence,’ Anderson’s chairmanship has been one of the most outstanding in the school’s history. His many pupils throughout the country share with him pride in the Division’s growing reputation.” In 1954 Russel Anderson married Virginia Lynn, who had come to Wayne State in 1947 to serve as Dean of Women. She left for Pacific University in Oregon in 1950 but returned to Wayne in 1953 to accept the position of Associate Dean of Students. The two retired April 22, 1966. At spring commencement President Brandenburg presented identical Distinguished Service Awards to the couple. In announcing the retirement in January, President Brandenburg stated “Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been major forces in the building of Wayne State College. Despite their retirement, we will continue to feel their presence and be grateful for it.” Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson appeared in Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who in the Midwest. In addition, Mr. Anderson was honored in Who’s Who in Music. Anderson Drive is named after Mr. Anderson. Photo from 1950 P a g e 6 Archival Minute Solo and Voice Ensembles, 1938 P a g e 7 Archival Minute The Goldenrod does report on this March 27th performance in its March 25, 1938 article, “College Choir On Radio Program.” The Nebraska White-Spot program, originating in Norfolk, was broadcast over stations WJAG, KOIL (Omaha), KFOR (Lincoln), and KMMJ (Grand Island) at 2 p.m.