PUBLISHED BY AUDIO DEVICES, INC. Vol. 3, No. 10 444 Madison Avenue, N. Y. C. November, 1947 .y4 Radio Workshop Project 1 By Jessie M. Troupe HAGGERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL f. Haggerstown, Maryland 1 Because children begin to listen to radio before they are able to read and continue to listen through their high school careers, the schools must assume the same respon- sibility for building radio taste as they have for the development of better appreciation for motion pictures and reading. Radio workshops for training students in studio and radio techniques can he set up in any school - from the largest urban senior high school with expensive equipment to the one - room rural "studio" using a tin can as a microphone. An alert Workshop has just completed \ry its second year in the Haggerstown High School, Haggerstown, Maryland, under the capable direction of Mrs. Marjorie Hoach- laudcr. Haggerstown High School has a student body of approximately 1200 mem- bers. The town, with a population of 40,000 boasts two radio stations: WJEJ affiliated with Mutual, and WARK with ABC. Pictured above Allen Funt (seated), "the man with the hidden mike," and his staff of "Candid Microphone" Left to right: Heberer, Phil Pollard, Sonny Fox, Herb Exner, and Al In 1945 when this Workshop was organ- assistants. Nina Slep. Inset: Left - Funt conducts another "CM" interview (note mike on shirt front). Right - ized, the enrollment was limited to 25 stu- Funt baits a microphone trap for his next victim. dents because the work was to be only ex- perimental in nature. Each prospective member was asked to fill in a card giving "Candid Microphone" ABC's New Tape Recorded not only vital statistics of age, grade, etc., but also preference in radio activity: acting, Show announcing, script writing, production, re- Radio's Most Novel and Amusing Program cording operator, etc. No one with a grade The trademark conspicuously below C on any major subject was selected of radio-the microphone-is from entrees who filled cards. Auditions absent when producer Allen Funt gathers material for the newest were held before the public address system, and most novel experiment in radio, "Candid Microphone," the the instructor noting on the back of the Thursday evening ABC network feature card such traits as good speech, speech de- which presents real life conversations of fects, lack of self confidence, etc. These A Word to the persons unaware that their words are des - cards were used as basis for selection of tined for broadcast. the 25 students who would be admitted to Was Sufficient Seeking to capture the spontaneous reac- the class. All the cards were filed for future Ron Cochran, acting program mana- tions of persons in all walks of life to situa- reference. ger of WCOP-Boston, couldn't get to tions both common and uncommon, Funt After the first meeting the class was sleep a few nights ago because his next brought a new twist to the interview type divided into divisions, each student being door neighbors were having a party and of radio program early this Summer by placed according to his interest and ability. had his station's midnight disc show working with "mikes" concealed in dozens A chief for each division was elected by blaring in all directions. Thoughtfully, of different ways, depending upon the sit- the members. Girls from the commercial Cochran called Bob Brenner, the pro- uations with which he dealt. The program, department were responsible for typing gram's M. C. and asked him to suggest airing about six recorded vignettes each and mimeographing scripts. that folks listening remember that some week, brings ABC listeners the frank, un- Several meetings were given over to of their neighbors might be sleeping and rehearsed conversations of Funt's subjects reading scripts to familiarize members with tune their radios accordingly. Sure in a manner that affords amusement as well format and techniques of radio script writ- enough, the Brenner fans next door took as an insight into human nature. ing. One meeting was spent in discussing the suggestion to heart, turned down the With his portable recording equipment signs, language, sounds and engineering. volume, and let the weary Cochran have close at hand but hidden from view, Funt Thus the ground work was laid. his shut -eye. approaches his carefully conceived "human (Continued on Page 4) (Continued on Page 2) 2 AUDIO RECORD November, 1947 \4\recQr4:1, 1s VOL. 3, NO. 10 NOVEMBER, 1947 o Published monthly by Audio Devices, Inc., 444 Madison Avenue, New York City, in the rt P?c,idat interests of better disc recording. Mailed with- out cost to radio stations, recording studios, motion picture studios, colleges, vocational L schools and recording enthusiasts throughout By C. J. LeBel, Vice President the United States and Canada. AUDIO DEVICES, Inc. G NEEDS OF THE EDUCATIONAL ABC's "Candid Microphone" Most RECORDIST Novel -Amusing Program in Radio Now is an especially fitting time to dis- (Continued from Page 1) Don Wike, announcer; Don Keith, producer; cuss the subject, for this article is being and Byron Towery, engineer, record another written just as the 1947 the interest" situations with a tiny microphone Conference of KUJ tabloid sportscast of local high school Association for Education by hidden under his scarf or coat lapel, in an Radio comes football game. to a close. Many broadcast arm sling, or as a hearing aid. In and recording an office, organizations have store or home, it might be concealed in a been called to flower vase, under a book or in a cigarette KUJ's Capsule Coverage on box. advise their local educational All Victims Aren't Amused Of Local Football Games institu tions on recording Once, when Funt collusively posed as a problems and facili- barber and frightened Proven To Be A Success the light of day out ties, as our of - corre- an unsuspecting customer by bragging, in spondence shows. a trembling voice which betrayed Tabloid Sportscast Tape Recorded nervous- Hence the discussion ness, that "this is the first time I've shaved Network committments make it impos- is addressed to both anybody" - and adding "do you bleed sible for Radio Station KUJ-Walla Walla, much" the microphone was commercial broad- - concealed in Washington to air play-by-play broadcasts - caster and educa- a sun lamp near the chair in the barber of the local high school's football games, but C. J. LeBel tional recordist. shop where the connivance occurred. thanks to Don Keith, public relations man, The under -the -lapel technique was used and tape recording, the station has found Historical when Funt visited a bewildered garment a solution to the problem. Here's how. maker on another occasion to negotiate a It has been interesting to watch the tailor-made zoot suit for a boxing kangaroo. Every Play Recorded on Tape growth of American educational record- A vase was ing. Attention to educational applications used when the whimsy -loving On the day of the games, KUJ assigns producer and the banquet manager of a began shortly after Edison's original inven- its regular sportscasting crew, along with a tion, but for many years the complexities swank New York hotel - arranged an eight recording engineer and a tape recorder, to course with of wax recording restricted its use to com- dinner, caterers, for six cats cover the contest. Every play of the game, who, Funt, with mercial recording companies, and to pro- tongue in cheek, told as in a conventional broadcast, is the maitre described duction of regular catalog items. In the dc hotel, had "won blue rib- by the announcer and recorded on tape for bons in a feline beauty early thirties the process of embossing contest." presentation at a later time. However, when Not all of grooves in aluminum was perfected. Its Funt's the game is finally aired, usually the follow- ventures are quality being too poor for general profes- primar- ing evening, only the big thrills or scoring ily comical, sional use, some attempt was made to sell however. plays are heard. But, in addition to Human the it to the educators. This was not very suc- interest vies game's action, members of the two compet- with laughs cessful. Shortly thereafter recording on in some ing teams are interviewed and their inter- situations, and in lacquer (coated on aluminum) was devel- esting remarks are made a part of the trans- oped and came into limited professional others, serious scription. thoughts are pro- use. Being a cut groove, the sound quality voked as the "Can- Thus, KUJ is able to present not only the was definitely better, and some educational did Microphone" game's highlights, but also the story behind applications were found. The same factors makes its rounds. each important play. And, according to that hindered professional use were objec- tionable to the educator, viz., the blank Discs Used, Too KUJ staff members, the quarter-hour re- corded tabloid sportscast packs much of discs hardened rapidly, the cut disc devel- Since a tape re Funt, with scissors in the same wallop as the full -game broadcast. oped high distortion and noise in a short corder is used, exten- hand, edits his next time on the shelf, the record could only be sive editing is pos- broadcast. played a few times before being completely sible to avoid repetitious dialogue, before worn out, and the thread was explosively the show goes on the air. In order to obtain viewee occasionally bristles at Funt's al- inflammable. Lacquer thickness was often an entertaining sequence, often as many as ways deliberate affrontcry.