On Audition
November 5, 1956
WRTI looked good and sounded good last weekend when it covered Temple's Homecoming festivities. Norm Childs is to be congratulated on his planning and foresight. Norm answered all questions from his staff at a meeting the Friday before. The crew received a dittoed brief on the entire operation that resembled the flight orders for a strategic bomber crew. Apparently, the elaborate planning paid off. ---------- FROM THE MANAGER's DESK As I listen to WRTI-FM, I notice a definite trend toward an AM-type attitude. It is apparent particularly in the ad lib remarks by announcers on such shows as Compact. I'm am inclined to believe that this is due perhaps to a misunderstanding of the WRTI-FM audience. ---------- Dr. Robert L. Johnson, well-known, or at least, well heard-of, man around the Temple Campus was interviewed on LET'S TALK TEMPLE last Wednesday by also well-known Barbara Watson and Joel Albert.
Director Dick Hammer and his crew did a perfect take-off at 10 am and flew through the parade with nary a hitch. Barbara Leff and Ivan Shaner handled the majority of the announcing from their vantage point on the second floor of Mitten Hall.
Irv Margolis, assisted by Joe Shrier and Lou Zimmer, provided colorful interviews with such personalities as Dr. Gladfelter and other officials with their roving mike down on Broad Street.
Sometimes I have heard our announcers speak of our listeners as college students. Many times I hear spots begin, "Hey Kids!" While it is true that WRTI-FM has not done any extensive audience research, we do know from imperical evidence that the average FM educational radio listener is not a "kid" or a college student.
He is a somewhat sophisticated, suburban semi-intellectual. If you keep this in mind when listening to such programs as the MAN ON WATTS STREET, you will soon see why some of the material done is utter foolishness.
While it is true that RTIers are working at top capacity this semester, it has largely been a tour de force. With few exceptions, our program output lacks the polish and perfection of previous years. We are producing quantity and sacrificing quality.
Unless changes are made drastically and rapidly in program format, quality, and content, we will be forced to remove many shows and personnel from FM. If necesssary, we will cut down even more on the number of hours on the air. I am confident that this will not be necessary. Please prove that I am correct.
While Dr. Johnson chain-smoked (University Presidents are allowed certain priveleges, he said) Barbara and Joel plied him with questions covering everything from President Eisenhower to faculty salaries.
Emphasizing that "the greatest general ever should be kept in the White House," Dr. Johnson told of a little incident involving one of the teachers at Tyler, painting Mr. Eisenhower's portrait a few years back.
Touching briefly on Temple's redevelopment program, President Johnson spoke of plans underway to begin construction of a new communications building. Last week on LET'S TALK TEMPLE, Mr. Roberts, who was being interviewed, outlined these plans which would call for a building with the entire first floor devoted to WRTI studios, classrooms and offices. Mr. Roberts said later that if the State approves the plans which were drawn up this summer, the new building might be completed within five years.
Dr. Johnson, in his discussion of faculty salaries, spoke of raising them to provide an incentive for more and better professors to join the staff.
After the interview, Dr. Johnson remained at the station for a few minutes to pose for pictures.
This is the WRTI Old Gang Web Site