University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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1952, and will be dedicated this fall. The station ' s purpose is to provide education by radio, distinguished from KDGU ' s aim of providing education for radio. Station manager and director of University Radio and Television is R. Edwin Browne. Heading the staff are Mildred Seaman, program director; Merle Harmon, sports director; Glenn Price, continuity editor, and R. P. Stringham, chief engineer. Backed by a $7,000 record library and excellent facilities, both stations offer many services to the people of the area. The KU sports network of live broadcasts originates at KANU and is relayed to 24 Kansas and Mis- souri stations. The KU tape network offers pro- grams such as the Jayhawk School of the Air to seven Kansas stations. This series is designed to be heard in the classroom by elementary grades. Last year it was estimated that 20,000 stu- dents listened to these broadcasts. In addition to the 12 full-time staff members, KANU employs many part- time students who earn as they learn about announcing, continuity writing, and other jobs. And now University eyes are turned toward television. With a minor al- teration at the top, the station trans- mitter tower can support a television antenna. The University filed applica- tion with the FCC on June 1 for a permit to construct a non-commercial TV station on channel 11, but no ac- tion has been taken. Administration officials hope the 1955 legislature will provide funds for construction. If so, KU will cooperate with Kan- sas State in joint television presenta- tion. Both schools would have a trans- mitter with a micro-wave relay link joining them. Each would have a sep- arate channel and produce half of the programs. radio dramatists An offshoot of the University sta- tions is a drama group called Radio Players, which was organized in 1950 by Mrs. Ruby Le Neve Motta, its pres- ent sponsor and production director of KANU-KFKU. Membership is by invitation, work, and selection. Auditions are held in the fall and from the tape recording of voices Mrs. Motta chooses candidates. Through a point system the candidates build up eligibility for becoming a Radio Player. At present there are 19 Radio Play- ers and 50 candidates. Officers are Terry Strong, engineering junior, presi- 21 R. EDWIN BROWNE tunes in the radio-TV high frequency set in his office to analyze KDGU ' s programming. STUDENT ENGINEERS Jim Doherty and Glen Yancey work at the panel in the well-equipped KDGU control room.

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STATION BREAK at KDGU is given by Alan Young, while another announcer, Paul Gellens, stands by at the table. home. They worked on programming, continuity, news, traffic, engineering, advertising, and still they typed on— and on—and on. Their unspoken mot- to was a carbon for everyone. Finally, at the first formal meet- ing, Prof. Dixon wisely suggested that formats be established—and that some of the endless typing be eliminated by standard station breaks and fewer script copies. Little by little problems were being solved and work was becoming easier. When classes in continuity writing and radio news and special events were able to submit scripts as part of their laboratory activity, the show was well on the road. Later, radio speaking, acting, and dramatic script writing classes were scheduled to present live broadcasts. Until then, more than 5,000 records from the Lang-Worth transcription service formed the background of the station ' s programming. Popular music is featured, since it is believed the stu- dent audience prefers that type of en- tertainment. Many visitors to the studio remark that it is larger and better equipped than many full-time commercial sta- tions. The KDGU headquarters in- clude two studios, an announcer ' s booth, a large control room, and the general office room. Radio students are proud to show guests through after all, look what they have !—and it ' s all theirs. ancestor: KFKU But the grand-daddy of radio at KU is the University ' s educational sta- tion KFKU with studios in the elec- trical engineering building behind Marvin hall. KFKU was established in 1942 as an experimental station for electrical engineers. Then when the University realized radio ' s importance in modern communications, KFKU and Lawrence station WREN agreed to share air time. Previously on the air only nine months, this year marked the begin- ning of a full year of AM broadcasts on KFKU one hour a day. KANU-FM, which operates from 1:45 to 9:15 p. m. Sunday through Friday, was inaugurated Sept. 15, RADIO Players tape a show: Gene Reynolds, Max Zim- rnerman, Terry Strong, Dave Hicks, and Geoffery Weston vocally emote for the great unseen audience. 20

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CUEING IN THE RECORD—Don Dixon checks operation as Ward Ferguson gets his cue from the script. LISTENING TO THE WIRED WIRELESS at North College hall are Sallie Callender, Jeanne Thompson, Janis Hartell, Mary Yancey, Collette Peterman; second row, Gloria Smith, Janet Hawkins, Ann Farney, Jane Reitz, Jane Sands, Joan Vogt, Susan Austin, and Sharon Low. 22 dent; Patricia Fox, college senior, vice president; Eileen Foley, journalism senior, secretary, and Russell worth, journalism senior, treasurer. This fall Mrs. Motta will conduct six elementary and six advanced shops. There ' s always something to learn, even for veteran Players, and ways something to do: rehearsals for a production take from 8 to 20 hours, depending on the complexity of the sound effect and acting problems. Radio Players for the first time this year may present a live broadcast in connection with KANU-KFKU ' s open house. All other plays have been taped and presented later. In the past the group has concentrated on children ' s programs, but the first adult series, Listen . . . Drama For You, will begin in October. Former Radio Players have gone on in the work started in the University drama club. One alumnus is working in an NBC-TV station. Radio Players do not get college credit; they work because they ' re learning to do better what they like best and they ' re hav- ing fun at the same time. radio hams, too Finally, those who are minded (we mean intellectually ing, girls) may join the Kansas versity Amateur Radio Club, better known as the ham club. This group was formed primarily to give licensed hams an opportunity to use club equipment. Each member can spend two hours a week hamming around —talking to other amateur diomen throughout the country. During the 1951 flood the sity club was very active, as during all emergencies. And two years ago bers traced a long-lost relative for a woman student. Last year ' s membership totaled 23. Officers are George Frye, engineering senior, president; Joan Johnson, cation senior, secretary, and John gen, engineering junior, treasurer. Donald G. Wilson, professor of trical engineering, is club trustee and responsible for set operation in the attic of the EES Building. And that ' s radio at KU—four phases of education mixed with entertainment —which helps train students to vide information and entertainment for others through the medium of De Forest ' s brainchild.