THE UNIVERSITY OX THE AIRWAYS_
Mrs. Marvin Krenk and Kenneth Wood, shown at a studio microphone in the extension, building;, are
directors of University-produced radio programs over Station KOAC.—Photo by Ted Bush.
Radio Wins Struggle
Two Decade Battle
Finds Radio Strong
With Eye to Future
From 1922 to 1945 is the saga
of radio on the U. of O. campus.
Sometimes it burst into gaudy,
natio n-w i d e prominence, and
sometimes fizzled out into only
city-wide scope, but nevertheless
it has persistently reared its head
on the campus scenes for 23 years.
Station KORE was the first
public outlet for University radio
talent and the school of journalism
stole the march on the rest of the
campus with weekly news broad
casts by members of Dean Eric
Allen’s senior editing class. The
broadcasts continued more or less
spasmodically until 1934 when
they were abruptly halted through
an “agreement of the broadcast
ing service, Associated press, and
United Press.” Despite the edict,
similar broadcasts have continued
through the years. The present
counterpart of the old news broad
casting program is the University
Journal which contents itself with
interesting and unusual facts and
happenings in Oregon.
Variety in Names
At various times in its rather
spotty history, the program has
suffered many name-changes—it
was once known as the “Neighbor
hood News” program—but like the
Jordan, it rolls on, turned out each
year by a different senior editing
class.
The big thing in broadcasting
around 1934 was the “Emerald
of-the-Air” series. Living or
ganizations on the campus com
peted with each other to present
talent on the show, and were
awarded prizes (and the chance
to reappear) for producing the
best. Competition was keen, and
top ranking talent was often
obtained for the program which
went out from the old KOBE
studios over the Metropolitan
store on Willamette street.
UO Station
For several years the rather
vain hope that Oregon would get
an extention radio station of its
own to compete with the “Cow
College” with 5 or 6 hours a day
of its own time over KOAC, was
the main news of the day, and in
1935 the thing looked all set with
KOAC manager Luke Roberts
(now program director for KOIN)
putting in several good words for
the idea. Unfortunately, the
scheme fell through for quite a
while because of lack of funds.
Plans had been made for studios
in Friendly hall with members of
the speech division directing radio
activities.
Roberts, who apparently
wouldn’t give up, finally instal
led a low cost remote control
system at Oregon to arouse
interest in the installation of a
full-time system, but despite the
very successful one month’s
trial, Roberts was doomed to
defeat by the same old bugaboo,
insufficient funds.
Transportation .Costs
Meanwhile, Oregon students and
faculty members made the trip to
Corvallis by bus each time they
were scheduled to appear on
KOAC,. and since tlie state paid
traveling expenses, about $3000 a
year was spent on transporting
available talent to available broad
casting facilities. Incidentally, the
professors were paid nothing for
their time given.
In 1937, Oregon hit the nation
al ether waves when NBC broad
cast a program from the cam
pus over a nation-wide hookup.
The show went on at 6 p.m.
January 27, 1937 with a full
orchestra conducted by Rex
Underwood, and two soloists,
Hal Young, tenor, an instructor
in voice at the school of music,
and Dorothy Louise Johnson,
violinist, a student at the school.
The show was relayed to Port
land over a private wire, and was
broadcast from there. Living
organizations were urged to have
an early supper and to arrive at
the broadcast in time to “furnish
applause.”
Thirty-seven was a big year in
radio at Oregon, for in that same
year, on September 26, the Univer
sity was one of about ten colleges
who were invited to appear on the
Pontiac “Varsity Show” also over
NBC. Among those contributing to
the show were Rex Underwood,
John Stehn, Dr. C. Valentine
Boyer, and ASUO prexy Barney
Hall.
KORE inaugurated the first
permanent direct campus station
in 1938 with studios in the Music
The
| right note
BOTTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY BY
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. OF EUGENE
building, George Hopkins was
featured on the first tyoadcast in
an informal piano methods lesson.
Remote Control
During the summer of '38, a
permanent Eugene-Corvallis line
was put through, and KOAC in
stalled remote control facilities in
the fall. A full lS-program sche
dule was instituted which made a
six-day broadasting week for UO
radio actors, actresses,- and musi
cians.
Another highlight of the year
was a news commentators’ con
test with Boake Carter and
Lowell Thomas as judges. A
field of nearly 200 was narrowed
down to 10 finalists, and the
finalists to two men who were
given regular posts as news
broadeastors.
The judges were so impressed by
the quality of work done by one
of the girls that they asked for a
special spot for her. The contest
was sponsored by a cigarette firm
and money, money, money was the
result for the winners.
In 1940 the studio was moved to
its present location in the exten
sion building. The new7 studio was
described as “one of the best on
the coast,” and then consisted ot
a single broadcasting studio and
control room.
Marvin Krenk
An innovation of 1942 was a
series of broadcasts presented by
the radio workshop classes under
the direction of Marvin Krenk, in
structor in speech, who is now
overseas. The group presented
original plays as well as adapta
tions of well-known classics, ana
made a terrific hit.
Bringing the radio field more or
less up to date, for the past four
years Kenneth Scott Wood has
(Please turn to page seven)
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