Historical Moments In Radio April 1996 Events of April 1926 Historical Moments in Radio .. stories of the rich and exciting past on the a.m. radio dial .. and today I am delighted to bring you the latest news from April, 1926. These 70-year-old headlines come to you through the courtesy of the RADIO BROADCAST magazine of that date. The new 5000 Watt transmitter of WBAL in Baltimore uses a "Mixing Panel". This is a new idea for solving its studio pick-up problems. Instead of employing one microphone and having the volcalists and announcers move to it over next to the piano, WBAL will be using three microphones, possibly all at the same time. The supervising operator will be able to adjust the sound level of each microphone from full on to cutting it off as required by the program plan. The walls, floor and ceiling of the studio room have been specially covered to avoid echoes that would otherwise occur when more than one microphone is turned on. With this new equipment, WBAL will be able to adjust the sound level of piano music independent from the sound level of a vocalist in the same room. WJJD has moved to their new studio location on the 24th floor of the Palmer House in Chicago. The move was made possible when the Palmer House, added to its building, thus making it the largest hotel in the world. The new radio complex will feature two on-air broadcasting studios with a studio parlor for guests who will be able to watch the programs through large plate glass windows. Electric signs have been installed in each studio that can be used to signal, "Get ready", "On The Air", "Too Loud", "Too Soft", "Too Much Piano", etc. No microphone stands are permitted at WJJD; instead the microphone in each studio is suspended from the ceiling by means of a wrought iron arm that is adjustable to any height and to nearly any position in the room. The WJJD transmitter will remain in its modern building at Moosehart, Illinois. WFBG in Altoona is planning some upgrade changes to its program origination facilities. At present they use 18 different studios for their programs, and there is a problem trying to make the sound from a studio more than 4 miles away as good quality as the sound from a nearby broadcasting room. WFBG is regularly receiving reports now from as far away as 600 miles for their night programs, so good quality sound broadcasting is important to them. If anyone knows of documents that describe land-lines and how to make them sound better, Mr. Aughenbaugh, WFBG Chief Operator, would like to hear from you. [Now wait .. remember this item appeared just 70 years ago!] In a town with an ancient and Mediterranean name, Crete, Illinois, there is situated the new 5,000 Watt transmitter of WLS. Their studios remain at the Hotel Sherman Annex in Chicago under the watchful eye of the Sears Roebuck Agricultural Foundation. That studio complex was designed to reflect a true radio motif .. beauty not shared by all who visit or work for WLS. Every piece of equipment and furniture, the walls, ceiling and lighting fixtures emanate the speed, intensity and universality of the forces in the air; Black, red and silver are the colors .. of everything .. with representations of sound waves everywhere. One has the impression of stepping inside Dr. Einstein’s brain, reported one announcer. The main studio measures 20 feet by 55 feet with two other studios next to it. The rest of the station’s space in the hotel is taken by the usual reception room, offices, operations and battery rooms. Well, that’s the end of the news from 70 years ago this month .. let me assure you that I have read to you from one page of a 75-page magazine .. so there are one or two items I’ve omitted from this report .. such as the big WGY tests on shortwave, and an article on simple and efficient wave traps to eliminate interfering nearby local stations. And the rest is history. This is John Bowker.