"The mission of WNYC is not always entertainment or instruction. It has a grim purpose in part. Every night at 7:30 and 10:30 a man in a blue coat and prominent brass buttons sits down at the microphone. 'WNYC broadcast,' he says, 'for the New York Police Department. General alarm for Harry Martin, age 30, 5 ft. 6 in. tall, weight about 140 pounds. Dark face with bold features and frowning eyes. Has a slight limp. Dangerous man. Escaped from Welfare Island early today. Believed traveling west.' The listener rather catches his breath at such use of radio. It is an eerie thing--this pursuit of a man by air...A surprising number of these are apprehended...In a number of cases radio has made it possible promptly to broadcast descriptions of dangerous persons, with the result that their arrest soon followed. No quicker method is known to criminal procedure, and it has the power of drama as well."

Source: James C. Young writing in Radio Broadcast magazine, January, 1925.
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With sadness we note the passing of WNYC overnight host Stan David (Stan Distenfeld). For 37 years from the 60s into the 90s, Stan introduced the classics and was the regular voice of While the City Sleeps.

We also note the passing of Deborah Arkus, a friend of the archives, who was extremely generous over the years with her donations of her late husband Al Arkus' broadcast discs, tapes, papers and photographs. You can read more about Al's tenure at WNYC at: Al Arkus - The Music Maestro.