NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

National Association of Broadcasters, on behalf of the broadcasting industry, respectfully requests that the Federal Radio Commission extend terms of all broadcast station licenses for the full statutory period.” CONVENTION PLANS PROGRESS Plans for the annual membership meeting of the NAB were dis¬ cussed at the meeting of the Board of Directors by Ed M. Spence, chairman of the NAB Convention Committee. The convention will be held at White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., October 8, 9, 10 and 11, and a major part of the program will be devoted to discussion of industry business. Chairman Spence announced to the Board that he has appointed Leon Levy, WCAU, Philadelphia, Pa.; Sam Cook, WFBL, Syra¬ cuse, N. Y.; L. B. Wilson, WCKY, Covington, Ky.; Birt Fisher, KOMO, Seattle, Wash.; W. E. Hutchinson, WAAF, Chicago, Ill.; and LeRoy Mark, WOL, Washington, D. C. NR A TO USE TRANSCRIPTIONS The National Recovery Administration is offering to radio sta¬ tions transcriptions of an address relating to the use of the Blue Eagle by merchants and manufacturers in smaller communities. Notices of the availability of transcribed talks were sent to stations by W. B. Dolph, in charge of radio for the NRA, who has followed the recommendations of the NRA Committee on Radio Broadcasts in making the talk available. PROGRAM CLEARING HOUSE Programs offered to member stations through the NAB Program Clearing House are as follows: (D8:3) “TREASURE ISLAND.” A dramatic version of Stevenson’s famous adventure story, available in 13 episodes of fifteen minutes in length. Has been developed in such a way as to allow numerous merchandising tie-ins which will be sent to inter¬ ested stations upon request. Was sponsored by large mail order department store in the interests of its toy department. As a result of program the store reported the biggest toy business in years and the largest percentage increase in volume of business of any toy department in the entire chain. Fifteen characters are required in all, though no more than six are required in any one broadcast. Entire series available for $30.00. (CH 5:1) “THE KANGAROO CLUB.” An informal children’s program broadcast for a forty-five-minute period daily. Since its inception on the air in 1928, over 42,000 children have enrolled as members. Only children participate in the program, which includes historical dramas, fairy tales and other dramatic presentations. National and local accounts have used announcements on this period with great success. (D5:3) “THE LOST NATION.” Fifteen-minute program, probably most effective if used on a five-night-a-week basis. In¬ volves the story of a group of gold-seeking pioneers upon whom the Indians place a curse which causes them to shrink to the size of midgets. The development of the plot revolves about the further adventures of this strange group of people. Merchandising tie-ins are available, including maps of the Lost Nation and similar fea¬ tures. Prices available upon request. (Sp6) “THE FACT FINDER.” A series of five-minute pro¬ grams recounting little known oddities gathered from here and there. Questions such as whether fish drink, how hot is the sun, and similar matters are discussed in the continuities. These are adaptable to insertion in a fifteen-minute or half-hour program or to use by themselves. They can be combined into longer programs in which spot announcements may be inserted. The cost of the program is five dollars weekly for five daily programs. Programs may be ordered in lots of four weeks, or twenty at a time, payment upon receipt of the order. Written cancellation required at the end of each series. BOOTLEG STATIONS PROSECUTED Eighteen persons have been charged with violation of the Radio Act of 1927 as a result of the Commission’s move to eradicate air pirating in Texas. The charges have resulted from the operation of small unlicensed radio stations, programs of which have been heard across the Texas state line, and which therefore have brought the stations directly in conflict with the Federal law. Those charged with violation of the act are Rev. Sam N. Norris, militant Baptist minister; C. A. Paulger and Joe Stanton, of Lub¬ bock; Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Turner and Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Meier, of Ban Antwerp; Ed Pierce, Curry H Jackson, Willis Brooks and F. W. Burson, of Plainview; A. F. McClellan, Cleve Langford and Bill Adams, of Stamford; Ed F. Howser and E. W. Brown, of Big Spring. Penalty for violation of the act, upon conviction, is a fine of not • Page more than $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than five years in the penitentiary or both. RESCINDS SUSPENSION OF RULE 151 The Federal Radio Commission has rescinded its action of last spring whereby the operation of Rule 151 was suspended until November 1 of the current year. Rule 151 requires the licensee of a broadcasting station to maintain a minimum regular operating schedule of two-thirds the hours authorized each broadcast day, except Sundays. The revocation of the suspension of Rule 151, however, will not affect authorizations heretofore granted certain stations, upon ap¬ plication, to operate less than the time required by rule, up to but not beyond November 1, 1933. SECURITIES ACT REGISTRATIONS The following companies have filed registration statements with the Federal Trade Commission under the Securities Act during the current week: Consolidated Crude Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif. (2-145) Progressive Building & Loan Association, Washington, D. C. (2-146) The Southwest Company, Tulsa, Okla. (2-147) Sunset Gold Fields, Inc., New York City (2-148) 20th Century Depositor Corporation, New York City (2-144) TRADE COMMISSION STOP ORDERS The Federal Trade Commission has issued stop orders under the Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of the registration statements of American Gold Mines Consolidation, Inc. (2-81-1), New York, and Industrial Institute, Inc. (2-90-1), Jersey City, until they have been amended to comply with the requirements of the act and the Commission’s regulations. DUES FOR SMALL STATIONS REDUCED In line with the attitude of the National Recovery Administra¬ tion that the industry’s trade organization embrace all units, the Board of Directors of the NAB at its meeting in Washington, D. C., August 24 and 25 adopted the following resolution: “Resolved, That pending a revision of the constitution and by¬ laws, the Managing Director be authorized to accept active mem¬ berships from stations whose gross income for the year ended December 31, 1932, has been less than $15,000 at $30.00 per annum.” A membership drive is now under way under the leadership of the NAB membership committee and it is expected that within the next two weeks every eligible station will be a member of the NAB. Members of the Membership Committee are now authorized to quote the new rate to small stations. BUSINESS PROGRESS CONTINUES Despite a slowing up of activity usual during the latter part of August the general trend of business still remains strong. Produc¬ tion, during the week ending August 19 was lower than earlier in the summer, and in some lines was reported to be below current output. Automobile production was the exception to the trend and continued at the level of the preceding week. The July preliminary figure for automobile registrations in the passenger car field is 185,000 units as compared to 174,190 in June and 104,188 in July, 1932, it is stated by the Department of Commerce. Industrial production in July reached approximately 95 per cent of the 1923-1925 average, according to the Federal Reserve Bulletin for August. The advance in activity was not confined to consump¬ tion goods but included the durable goods industries, which consti¬ tute a large part of our production and which especially comprise the part that shows greater changes from prosperity to depression. Employment has expanded at a much slower rate than produc¬ tion as is usual in the early stages of recovery, since giving more work to those already on the payroll precedes the hiring of new workers. More than 1,500,000 workers were rehired during the second quarter of the current year, though the number of unem¬ ployed in June still approximated 11,000,000 persons. Department store sales in July were slightly above those of the preceding month and were approximately 6 per cent higher than those of July, 1932. Though an acceleration of business activity is to be noted gen¬ erally, the movement is still too new to be more than embryonic. PROCEEDINGS SENT TO MEMBERS Proceedings of the Commercial and Engineering Section meetings held several weeks ago were sent to all NAB members this week. BOARD APPROVES 34 NEW MEMBERS Thirty-four applications for membership in the NAB were submitted to the Board of Directors at its meeting in Washington 122 •