DOG HEARING HIS MASTER'S VOICE ON RADIO BEGINS A FRANTIC SEARCH FOR HIM
White Plains, New York (JFK+50) Everyone is familiar with the RCA Victor trademark "His Master's Voice*" showing a dog sitting in front of a Victrola loud speaker, but may not be aware that something like this has happened in reality.
Back in 1925, Capt. William H. Funston left his dog behind with his daughter here in White Plains** when he became police chief in Schenectady***. Radio Digest describes how the police chief "gave a talk" on WGY Radio while his daughter tuned in to listen to the broadcast.
"Joffre" listened to just a few words and then began to frantically search for his master "racing from one end of the house to the other."
*His Master's Voice was originally an 1898 painting by Francis Barraud which became a trademark for electronic companies beginning in 1900 with Victor Talking Machine Co. & eventually with RCA Victor. It shows a terrier named 'Nipper' listening to a gramophone (phonograph).
**White Plains is an inner suburb of New York City 25 miles north of midtown Manhattan.
***Schenectady is located in Eastern New York in the same metro area as Albany.
SOURCE
"Dog Seeks Master Speaking On Radio," Radio Digest, July 11, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
