AIR WAVES" WWII NBC RADIO CITY STUDIOS TOUR FILM HISTORY OF RADIO & BROADCAST 42664z (Print 2)

Made during WWII by RKO Radio Pictures, AIR WAVES gives a brief history of the radio, and shows the development of the technology as it progressed from a crystal set novelty to an indispensable part of American life. Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Center are seen at the 2:00 mark, with the largest radio studios in the world. At 2:30, the NBC studios are seen and at 3:10 a demonstration is made of how sound effects are made using cellophane, wooden blocks, and rubber spheres. At 4:10, a studio is seen with actors rehearsing their lines, and an engineer working with the actors to make sure everything is technically okay. At 5:41, announcers Milton Cross is seen with Jack Costello and Calvin Keach. "Twin gods of radio broadcasting are the clock and the conference..." says the narrator, and at 6:00 you'll see the discussions that lead up to the broadcast of any network show on radio (and today, on TV). At 7:15, records are played on the air, scripts are produced on steno and mimeograph machines, and all sorted... The music library is seen at 7:48 with sheet music laid out. At 8:06, all stations are notified of the latest information with the new program and a dress rehearsal undertaken. The stopwatch commands the attention of everyone, and the program is finally on the air at the 9:10 mark.
At 10:00, the film dramatically shifts to show December 7th in Hawaii, and speaks about the work of NBC to sell war bonds and promote national defense and "do its share unflinchingly". The war effort is shown with men and women working on the air to help people working "at war" and boosting their morale. Lowell Thomas is shown at the 11:30 mark, keeping the public informed of the latest developments.
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[@jamesslick4790]

"...The youth of America found a new toy with witch to annoy it's elders.." The beat goes on...Same as it ever was.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

The studio featured in this film (8H) is where Saturday Night Live currently does their show. Amazing to think that 80 years later, the studio is still used by NBC for broadcasts.

[@erik_griswold]

I am told that the lectern seen here is still in use in the production of SNL.

[@BigIggy]

It's fantastic that we have the ability to look back in time like this. We live in a very ideal time for learning and sharing information old and new, we should take advantage of this amazing opportunity as much as possible. Thank you for sharing this, knowledge is the most important thing we can pass on to our children.

[@williamneumyer7147]

It IS up to the parents, and not the corrupt educational establishment.

[@hassanleo64]

Pro trick: watch series on Flixzone. Been using them for watching lots of of movies recently.

[@devonsam4297]

@Hassan Leo yea, been using flixzone for since november myself =)

[@rjmcallister1888]

Carries a 1939 copyright, just before the start of WWII; it ends at 10:14 and excludes the WWII footage. NBC still does studio tours, though these days for television. At that time, NBC operated two radio networks, the main Red Network and the secondary Blue. WEAF (later WRCA, WNBC and now WFAN) was the Red station in New York, WJZ (now WABC) the Blue. Fun fact: WABC was then the CBS flagship across town, the calls standing for the Atlantic Broadcasting Company. Good save of a time long past; looks like the film stock was really starting to deteriorate.

[@shaggydogg3786]

I miss radio programs.

[@williamneumyer7147]

Radio hasn't gone away, and old time programs are available on the radio itself, and the internet.

[@viptevb]

A trip back in time is amazing and I love this. Especially looking at it from the ears and eyes of a broadcaster

[@wiedep]

The GE clock

[@toddscallan8781]

Awesome!

[@cats0182]

At 6:25 you see Dr. Frank Black who may have still been NBC's Music Director. He was hired in the late 1920's on the basis of his work with the "Revelers".

[@fromthesidelines]

He also arranged many of Nat Shilkret's "Victor Orchestra" recordings in the late 1920's and early 1930's.

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally released in 1939. The program depicted as being prepared towards the end is "THE MAGIC KEY OF RCA", which was heard on Sunday afternoons at 2pm(et) over NBC's "Blue Network" from 1936 through 1939. Milton Cross and Ben Grauer were the show's announcers. Eric Blore's appearance (6:46) was on the December 11, 1938 broadcast. Narrated by Andre Baruch.

[@reecenewton3097]

NBC Blue became ABC in 1943. Milton Cross of course was famous as the host of The Metropolitan Opera broadcasts for over forty years.

[@fromthesidelines]

The Blue Network became indepedent of NBC after it was sold to Edward J. Noble in 1943....but it continued to be identitied as the "Blue Network" until they started adding this closing I.D. in the 1944-'45 season: "This is the 'Blue' network of the AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANY." In June 1945, they officially became "ABC".

[@gonebamboo4116]

Totally cool

[@cats0182]

Yes. The orchestra leader is Dr. Frank Black.

[@cats0182]

"Calvin Keach" is in fact KELVIN KEECH. who was on the NBC Staff.

[@donaldfoley7581]

Notice the inter-office Telautograph shown 8:07-8:16. A fac-simile machine in 1939!

[@hornet6969]

About 10 yr. or < b4 TV.

[@jayh9529]

Checkout hangman1128 channel original forest

[@isabelladgriff]

Not so fun fact: Every adult in this film is most likely dead or dying, you're listening to dead people.