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September 13, 1938. "What next? Unborn baby's heartbeat broadcast from Washington hospital. As part of an educational program, the heartbeats of an unborn baby were broadcast today from Georgetown University Hospital. This was made possible by the use of a specially designed microphone placed on the chest of the expectant mother, Addie Gonyea, shown with (left to right) Dr. J.G. Burd, Dr. John Cavanagh, announcer Bill Coyle of the N.B.C. and Dr. Henry B. Gwynn." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
WMAL was named after its first owner, M.A. Lease, an optician in Washington.
Perfect call letters. WMAL - sick radio? Only thing more perfect would be WMED.
Washington Post, Sep 13, 1938Heartbeats of an unborn baby to be broadcast for the first time will highlight today's program. Dr. John R. Cavanagh, in charge of the dispensary at Georgetown Hospital, will supervise the demonstration which will be broadcast at 10:30 a.m. over Station WMAL. The broadcast is sponsored by the school in cooperation with the Medical Society of the District.
The sounds will be heard through the Marbel Loud Speaking Amplifier for Heart Sounds through a special microphone placed on the patient's chest. Dr. Cavanagh will explain the different types of heart and interpret the sounds, stating whether the heart is normal or abnormal, for the benefit of students and audience.
From the looks of the photos on the wall, and the expression as well as the complexion of the patient,the Doc may be in the wrong room.
I think chicken pox may be the diagnosis.
And all this time I thought that Chevrolet was the Heartbeat of America.
That's a charming set of framed photos on the wall. Just the thing for a patient to lie there and contemplate.
Are you still around? We would like to see a picture of you, either as a child or now. I bet this news story is in all the family scrapbooks and you've heard about it from every older relative. Let us know how it was to be famous BEFORE you were born. According to my calculations, you would be only 70. Write if you get work.
"The MediCats" can now be heard on WMAL.
The guy on the far right looks exactly like young Harry Morgan. Perhaps this picture was taken when Col. Potter was in medical school.
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