Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

RADIO DAILY Friday. October 7. 1949 CHICAGO By HAL TATE SEEN on Michigan Boulevard this past week were Bob Livingston, WBBM sales representative in New York City, and Wendell Campbell, general manager of KMOX-CBS in St. Louis. Ben Park, producer of the "It's Your Life" show, announced the formation of The Documentary Company, a radio package producing and consulting service. Headed by Park, the concern plans to deal mainly with radio and television shows based on "real life" subject matter. Packages are now available for both radio and television. The "It's Your Life" show, produced by Park for the Chicago Industrial Health Association, and sponsored by Johnson & Johnson over WMAQ, is an example of "real life" subject matter. Don Herbert, co-producer and interviewer of "It's Your Life," has been named executive producer for this new company, and John Leonard, tape editor of "It's Your Life" will be a writer-producer for the firm. Congratulations are in order for Mr. and Mrs. George Ramsby on the birth of a daughter, Heidi Lynn, born Monday, September 26 at St. Joseph Hospital. No lullaby problem in this family, as George is a staff musician and vocalist at WBBM. Hundreds of letters are pouring into WBBM, in appreciation for the first broadcast of "Traffic Jam," first heard on Sept. 9. The program discusses Chicago's motoring problems and ways to improve it. S)end i3irtkda 'J e tiny 5 October 7 Marjorie Carrall Charles Pekor Andy Devine Frances Moore Alfred Wallenstein Harold Davis October 8 Sherill Ellsworth Tiny Rulfner William N. Robson October 9 Robert Armbruster Bart McHuqh Walter Compton Lee Wiley John Guedel Marge Louise Stein Henry Hunter John Jackaberry October 10 Johnny Green Charles Pickard Virginia West October 11 Jeff Bryant Norman Stanley Case Opal Craven Jimmy Donnelly October 12 Goodman Ace Theodore Webb Ted Collins Tom Flynn Phil Kramer William Dekker October 13 Georgia Backus Irene Rich Harry Hershfield J. G. Shaff Mainly About Manhattan. . . • • • IT SEZ HERE: Rumored that Arizona outlets of CBS may have their affiliations cancelled by the web so that the net may accommodate a commercial sponsor who has talent owning Arizona stations. (Could the sponsor be Wm. Wrigley, and the talent Gene Autry, who owns KOOL. Phoenix, plus an interest in KOPO. Tucson?) . . . ABC trying to get Penny Singleton to return as "Blondie." ... A midwest newspaper that refused to take ads from local business outfits that bought time on radio being slapped with an anti-trust suit. . . . Three N.Y. outlets scrambling for Yankee ball game radio rights following Pope interests' buy of WINS. . . . Don't bet on the FCC okaying color TV at this time. . . . Some of the charges to be hurled at various candidates in the local elections are so bitter that radio stations will have to censor all speeches. . . . Mickey Alpert talent-hunting at Kudner with Myron Kirk ailing. . . . Bill Bertolotti hears that the pet Dodger guiz show is "Break the Yank" — and Peter Donald calls it a Subway Series because everybody's gotta stand up to see it. . . . Billy Rose due for a coast huddle with Jerry Weld. . . . NBC's Baukhage makes his video debut Sunday. . . . The FCC wants "Stop the Music" to face the music, sums up Jack (Ship's Reporter) Mangan. ft ft ft ft • • • NEW PRODUCING UNIT in town, Roger Kay Enterprises, have Mady Christians exclusively signed for a dramatic series tagged "Everything for Angela," which ABC has optioned for both radio and TV, 'and Lionel Stander set for a video comedy series called "Letter from Louie." The publicity team of Mai Braveman and Kay Norton have closed a five-year deal with Kay. ft ft ft ft • • • FEELING IN A good mood this ayem and all that sorta stuff (and how did you do in the Series?), we'd like to doff the old lid to Will Roland, who used to manage Benny Goodman's ork and who now is producing Arthur Godfrey's morning series. In a business notorious for its one-way streets. Will has proven that friendship is still more than an idle word in the dictionary. Ever since he first spotted The Mariners back in 1946, he's played musical guide and Godfather to the sensational guartet. He put them on his CBS "Nightlife" series, then "Sing Along" and finally brought them to the attention of the star-maker himself, Arturo Godfrey. Right now they're 'Roland' along with a Columbia recording contract, theatre and niterie dates, plus radio, of course — but what we started out to say is that Will has done all this for the boys as their friend, and not their manager. ft ft ft ft • • • BOB FOREMAN, BlBD&O copy writer who wrote the musical commercials on the Fred Waring radio show all season long, now finds himself the author of "Pa's Individual Mug," a musical production number of the Waring TV show this Sunday night. Foreman's novelty tune was written during the period the Waring show was on NBC. Harry Simone, of the band, set the lyrics to music 'and it was accepted as a production number on the CBS-TV show. ft ft ft ft • • • SMALL TALK: Larry Schwab offers another of his TV 'firsts' on "The Clock" next Wed. night in combining sound tape and film for outdoor seguences, integrated into live portions of the show. So many radio producers lunching at Trader Tom's these days that boniface Tom Murray expects to make them feel at home by supplying stop watches to time their meals. . . . Radio and TV deal in the works for Miklos Gafni, sensational new tenor. ... In a huddle at Lindy's: Geo. Elrick, England's only disc jock, and Geo. Goodwin, only American member of PRS, British eguivalent of ASCAP. COAST-TO -COAST Herson Signs New NBC Contract Washington, D. C— Bill Herson signed a new NBC ten-year contract this week with WRC and WNBW Television. Under terms of the contract, announced by NBC's general manager, William R. McAndrew, Herson continues his daily "WRC Timekeeper" program Monday thru Friday 6:05-9:30 AM and Saturday 6:05 to 9 AM. He will continue to appear on WNBW television programs. Herson also continues his Saturday morning (9:30) visits to the Washington homes of Congressman and Senators for his NBC network interview feature "Coffee With Congress." WLAW's Fire Prevention Show Lawrence, Mass. — Frederick P. Laffey, new program director of WLAW, observes Fire Prevention Week on Oct. 11 with a two-city hookup featuring executives of the Lawrence and Boston Fire Departments. The program will go on the air at 10:45 AM, with an alert to Lawrence central fire headquarters. Fire Chief Edward A. Retelle of the Lawrence Fire department, attired in fire-fighting equipment, will respond to a practice call to the radio studios, describing the maneuvers that get the fire-fighters on their way to regular fires. WLOW Signs Grocery Stores Norfolk, Va.— WLOW has just pacted 100 independent grocery stores to an initial 13 week contract, marking the first time in the State that independent grocers have used radio as a group. One Woman Polio Drive Worcester, Mass. — As a result of the polio announcements delivered on WTAG (and FM's) weekday "Julie 'n' Johnny" program, Julie Chase reports a one-woman campaign in the town of Winchendon, Mass. The woman, Mrs. Flora Russell, has lined up every club and organization in the town to do something for the polio drive. Consumers Aid Promotes Sales Chicago, 111. — According to Myron S. Lewis, director of Consumers Aid, Inc., — Consumers Aid plans to inaugurate an aggressive sales promotion campaign via trade papers and direct mail, designed to inform advertising agencies and food advertisers of the facts behind this vital advertising and merchandising medium. 25th Year Of "Polly The Shopper" Omaha, Neb. — Belle West, director of women's programs for KOIL, begins her 25th year in her role as "Polly the Shopper." Belle is the housewives' shopper. She personally makes the rounds of the shops and tells her radio audience at 11: 15 a.m. and 1: 15 p.m. of the shopping bargains and hints for easier homemaking.