Edmund Albert Chester, Sr. - (June 22, 1897 – October 14, 1973) - was a senior Vice President and executive at the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
radioRadio is the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and
televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
networks during the 1940s. He also served as a highly respected journalist and Bureau Chief for Latin America at
Associated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and Vice President at La Prensa Asociada in the 1930s.
During the course of a journalistic career which ranged over two decades, he assumed a central role in the development of a viable international radio transmission network linking the
United States of AmericaThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the developing nations of
South AmericaSouth America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere...
and
Central AmericaManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
for the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
network from 1940 through 1949.
Edmund Albert Chester, Sr. - (June 22, 1897 – October 14, 1973) - was a senior Vice President and executive at the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
radioRadio is the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and
televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
networks during the 1940s. He also served as a highly respected journalist and Bureau Chief for Latin America at
Associated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and Vice President at La Prensa Asociada in the 1930s.
Biography
During the course of a journalistic career which ranged over two decades, he assumed a central role in the development of a viable international radio transmission network linking the
United States of AmericaThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the developing nations of
South AmericaSouth America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere...
and
Central AmericaManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
for the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
network from 1940 through 1949. As Director of Short Wave Broadcasts for
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
he supervised the creation of this vast shortwave service which was widely known throughout South America as the Network of the Americas (La Cadena de las Americas).
He assisted
William S. PaleyWilliam Samuel Paley , the chief executive who built Columbia Broadcasting System from a small radio network into one of the foremost radio and television network operations in the United States....
and high level diplomats from
South AmericaSouth America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere...
in the development of the intricate broadcast standards which would serve as the foundations for this vital information link during the turbulent
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
era. He also collaborated with his counterparts in
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
during the post World War II era in order to coordinate the creation of new technical broadcast standards and the expansion of the broadcast network which linked the two continents.
His endeavors were not limited to the technical development of
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
' worldwide broadcasting capabilities. As
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
' Director of Latin American Relations Mr. Chester worked in concert with the Department of State, the United States
Office for Inter-American AffairsThe Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs was a United States agency promoting inter-American cooperation during the 1940s, especially in commercial and economic areas. It was established in 1940 as the Office of Inter-American Affairs .Nelson Rockefeller was named Coordinator of...
(OCIAA) and
Voice of AmericaVoice of America is the official external radio and television broadcasting service of the United States federal government. Its oversight entity is the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio, TV and the Internet around the world in...
while supervising the development of news and cultural proramming for live broadcasts to North America and Latin America from the CBS broadcast studios in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
. These imaginative cultural initiatives served to foster benevolent diplomatic relations and high level cultural excahnges throughout South America during the 1940s.
Popular programs such as
Viva AmericaViva América - was an American musical radio program which was broadcast live over the CBS radio network and to South America over the La Cadena de las Americas during the 1940s...
http://radiogoldindex.com/cgi-local/p2.cgi?ProgramName=Viva+America showcased professional musical talent of the highest caliber in live concert and were supervised by the Department of State and the Office of Inter-American Affairs during the tenure of
Nelson RockefellerNelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States, the 49th governor of New York, a philanthropist, and a businessman....
.
He presented prominent musicians from both North America and South America for extended appearances on these broadcasts. Included among these artists were:
Alfredo AntoniniAlfredo Antonini was a leading Italian/American symphony conductor and composer who was active on the international concert stage as well as on the CBS radio and television networks from the 1930s through the 1960s.-Biography:...
(
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
orchestral conductor); Juan Arvizu (Mexican "Tenor with the Silken Voice")
http://es.wikipedia.org//wiki/Bolero; Nestor Chayres (Mexican tenor aka "El Gitano De Mexico")
http://www.bassanonline.com/1946-Nestor-Chayres-photo,i180061834647,c108730.html; Eva Garza (Mexican songstress);
Terig TucciTerig Tucci was an Argentine composer, violinist, pianist, and mandolinist.Tucci was born in Buenos Aires, in 1897. His first composition, Cariños de Madre was performed for a zarzuela at the Avenida Theatre, in 1917...
(
ArgentineArgentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires. It is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico,...
composer/arranger);
John Serry, Sr.John Serry Sr. was an accomplished concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist and music educator who performed on the CBS Radio and CBS Television networks and elevated the use of the accordion in concert with orchestral ensembles of his era.-Overview:Born Giovanni Serrapica in Brooklyn,...
(
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
concert accordionist/composer) and members of the CBS Pan American Orchestra.
In later years (1948), Mr. Chester emerged as the Director of News, Special Events and Sports for the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
Television NetworkA television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small number of broadcast networks. Many early...
. During this period he assumed a central role in coordinating the integration of the vast CBS radio network with the evolving television division.
In the course of supervising
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
' historic live television coverage of the proceedings of the
United Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:*General Assembly members*General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in November 1949, Mr. Chester demonstrated an enduring commitment to the lofty professional standards for excellence in broadcasting which served as the hallmark of the entire
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
network for decades to come.