Radio Broadcast - 1924, January - 84 Pages, 8.2 ... - VacuumTubeEra

206 Radio Broadcastworker. She addressed her letter to the announcerand wanted to know what crime he wasconfined for, about his appearance, age, family,and did the announcer think he would makegood when discharged.Ipromptly replied toher letter answering all the questions possible,and 1 know from talking to this prisoner thatshe ismaking necessary arrangements to assisthim in making a fresh start in life upon his discharge.Another member has secured a position in acommunity band in western Kansas, becausehe favorably impressed the band-master, overthe radio, with his ability.Many telegrams read like this: "Take theband out of jail they ought to be in heaven";"If I were governor of the state I would openthe gates of the prison to them tonight aftertheir wonderful concert"; or "Buy the boys abox of cigars and send me the bill." And thenthere is the millionaire banker's daughtersomewhere in Arkansas, who, according to oneof the cornetists, sends him cigarettes, candy, etc.During a concert, the "boys" have a spiritthat goes far toward putting a program overin fine shape, and a willingness and obediencethat are hard to find elsewhere.The "boys" of the Missouri State PrisonBand have been convicted of about all kinds ofcrime from embezzlement and burglary tomurder, and the sentences imposed on themare from two years to life.They were recently given a complete receivingset with loud speaker by a large Chicagoradio jobber, and they have derived muchpleasure from listening-in to the outside world.Ninety per cent, of the members of the bandhad never heard a radio concert themselvesuntil the set was received by them but hadplayed and furnished entertainment for manythousand radio fans.Because of the small size of our studiofourteen by seventeen feet the band thatregularly furnishes the concerts from WOS iscut down to nineteen members and a bandmaster.The man who has made the prisonband concerts possible is the warden of theMissouri State Prison, Judge Sam Hill, whotakes a very warm interest in the welfare of allthe boys, especially the prison band, and hisfirst words when he meets the station staff are:"How many did we get on the last one?" referringto the number of letters and cards receivedon the last radio concert by the band.The station force at WOS isprobably thesmallest station staff in the United Statesoperating a Class "B" station. It is composedof Arthur T. Nelson, Commissioner; R. J.Engler, Chief Engineer; and J. M. Witten,Announcer and Program Director.THE OPERATING ROOM AT WOS, JEFFERSON CITY,At the desk is J. M. Witten, Announcer and Program Director.MO.Behind him is R. J. Engler, Chief Engineer of the station