Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

6 RADIO DAILY Monday, November 7, 1949 Say 'Language' Radio Slows Americanizing (Continued from Pa?e 1) band. He called for the rejection of bids from Beacon Broadcasting Company, Boston Radio Company, Bunker Hill Broadcasting Company and Joseph Solimene. Major stockholders of the Pilgrim Company are Frederick W. Roche and Richard Maguire, legal partners in Boston, each of whom holds 10 per cent of the stock. The other 80 per cent is divided among 20 individuals, including Arthur Haley, time salesman of WBMS, who would be general manager. Among the directors of other applicant companies was James E. Markham, formerly Alien Property Custodian here and general counsel to the FDIC. Markham is now in private law practice and (for several years was a stockholder in WEMP, Milwaukee. Markham owns 51 2/3 of the stock in Boston Radio Company, with John H. McNeil, former manager of WJZ, New York, and now manager of commercial operations for the DuMont TV net holding one third the stock of the company. Applicant Naturalized Italian Solimene, a naturalized Italian who has for some years run foreignlanguage shows on W C O P and WMEX, Boston, had proposed a substantial foreign language schedule for his station. Examiner Hutchison observed that Solimene's plans seemed primarily commercial in intent, with little intent to "familiarize (foreign-language groups) with the history, traditions and cultural development of this country." He found "of dubious merit" the proposal "to use their native languages as a medium to encourage such groups to learn English. "English is recognized as the official language of the United States," he said, "and is spoken predominantly in all sections of this country including the city of Boston. Ample opportunity, therefore, exists for persons of all ages and stations in life in this area to become familiar with English through their daily personal, business and social intercourse with native American inhabitants." Sees "No Real Necessity" He said he sees "no real necessity" for radio appeals to foreign language groups. Moreover, it appears to be fallacious reasoning to assume that such groups which have not already been assimilated into the political and social life of this country would be aided in that direction through the broadcasting of foreign language programs for their entertainment, information and convenience. On the contrary, he said, "we be WANTED Gentleman in radio needs a room in midtown or village two nights a week. Will not use it week-ends. Write Box 283. RADIO DAILY 1501 Broadway New York, N. Y. ★ THE WEEK IN RADIO * Small-Market Natl Spot Biz Gaining ====== By AL JAEGGIN =^^=== NATIONAL spot business for small-market stations in 1949 is expected to exceed that of last year, according to the opinions of broadcasters who attended the NAB's 2nd District meeting at Asbury Park, N. J. Frank Burke, editor of Radio Daily, who personally attended the various sessions, pointed out that an awareness of "the highly competitive business of commercial broadcasting in many cities of New York and New Jersey" brought a turnout of about 150 broadcasters. About 200 other broadcasters broke all attendance records at the NAB's 1st District meeting at Boston. At the opening session there, district chairman Harold E. Fellows described the turnout as "an excellent demonstration of the vitality of radio." He pointed out that "radio is a prosperous, growing business despite the expansion of TV." Radio's progress during the past 29 years was described as "the most phenomenal growth ever recorded in a single industry" by the NAB report issued last week to coincide with the opening of National Radio and Television Week. . . . Concrete evidence of this continued growth was contained in the financial report released by the board of directors of CBS. That report disclosed that the web's gross income increased from $70,904,806 for the first nine months of last year to $74,607,071 for the same period of 1949. The network's net income, however, decreased from $3,010,446 to $2,003,812 for the two comparable nine-month periods. Another chunk of network business was chalked up by MBS when Gillette Safety Razor Co. signed on lieve that, in general, such programs may tend to destroy all incentive to learn English, to anchor these groups to the traditions, customs and institutions of the countries from which they are derived and to foster in them a consciousness of racial separatism which is not conductive to assimilation into our national life or indeed consistent with the American ideal of nationwide unity of all groups and classes of citizens on an equal basis. "For the benefit of those groups of foreign extraction who possess any knowledge of English, it would appear therefore to be far more desirable to use this language as the medium for broadcasting educational and other public service programs, as well as those which are commercial in character, in order to improve their proficiency therein, rather than resort to their native tongues for such broadcasts. For the relatively small number of persons residing in Boston who may not have yet shown sufficient initiative to learn the established language of this nation, there is no argument so persuasive as the whip of necessity to compel these inhabitants to familiarize themselves with that language." the dotted line for the sponsorship of the Army-Navy Football game, Nov. 26, over the full web. Gillette also picked up the tab on gridiron classic over the NBC-TV network. . . . Longines-Wittnauer Watch Co. signed with CBS for a special hourlong simulcast for Thanksgiving Day. . . . Elgin-American compacts signed a 90-minute all-star Thanksgiving variety show on NBC. . . . Ford Motor Co. signed with CBS for two daily pickups of the United Nations General Assembly sessions, beginning today. . . . Radio receiver sales in Canada during July totalled 42,800 units with a value of $2,847,000 compared to the comparatively low 20,300 units sold for $1,290,600 during the same month of last year. . . . Although the sales and net income of the Philco Corp. for the third quarter of 1949 fell off sharply because of Summer vacation shutdowns, the president of the firm, William Balderston, said that the "marked improvement" which started in September continued through October. . . . Foote, Cone & Belding International Corp. has started to expand in South America, following the completion of "working arrangements" with seven Latin American advertising agencies. IT&T sold WKAQ, San Juan, P.R., to Angel Ramos for $325,000. Ramos is the publisher of "El Mundo," the island's largest newspaper. . . . The Yankee Network leased two of its stations, WAAB at Worcester, Mass., and WMTW at Portland, Me., to John A. Baybutt of Boston. . , . Eleven stations controlled by three major networks were put on temporary licenses until March 1, 1950, by the FCC until the complaints against the webs acting as station representatives can be decided. . . . The National Assn. of Radio Station Representatives issued, free of charge, to agencies and advertisers the first comprehensive analysis of comparative time costs on 1,874 stations in 1,160 places throughout the country. The book, known as "The Spot Radio Estimator," was compiled under the direction of NARSR managing director, T. F. Flanagan. FCC Chairman Wayne Coy reported that the blast and resultant fire in Washington's Post Office building caused less severe damage to FCC files then at first believed. The Commission went "back into business," with hearing schedules re-activated on Thursday. However, the announcement said that it looks as if the FCC law department offices will not be re-opened for many months. . . Earlier in the week, the FCC filed its answer to the networks' complaints on the "giveaway" edict. The Commission's answer denied that the ruling would "cause irreparable injury or any injury in law" to the webs. It declared that the rules were "duly adopted as a reasonable exercise of the statutory authority of the FCC, conferred upon it by Congress." Earle McGill Is Dead; Was RTDG President (Continued from Page 1) were "Columbia Workshop," "American School of the Air," "Report to the Nation," "Town Crier," and "Reader's Digest." During the recent war he directed many programs for the Army, and visited the European and Pacific war theaters, in addition to directing the Stage Door Canteen programs for the American Theater Wing. The last two programs he directed were "Smithsonian Institution," and "Journey at Sunrise," both for the Voice of America. A Founder Of RTDG McGill was one of the six founders of the Radio and Television Directors Guild. He was a graduate of Yale University, and a member of the Yale Club, the Executive Council of the American Theater Wing, and the American National Theater Academy. He leaves a son, Douglas, a student at Yale, a sister, Elsa McGill, and a brother, William. Interment will be at New Haven, Conn., his birthplace. WCBS Lands Sponsors For AM-TV Election Cover ■Continued from Page 1 ) sponsored on the CBS radio and television networks in 1948, but this is the first time a local campaign has been sponsored on both communication mediums. Top CBS radio and television news correspondents will participate in the election coverage, which will include interviews at the different headquarters and in WCBS studios. Gen. Bronze Buys Brach The General Bronze Corp., Garden City, New York, has announced acquisition of the L. S. Brach Manufacturing Corp., Newark, N. J., producer of automotive radio antennas, television antennas, and other equipment. The latter firm will be operated as a division of General Bronze. WANT TO BOOST YOUR HOOPER? Reach by mail a new complete list of TELEVISION OWNERS in all important TV markets. $18.75 per M names, addressed on your envelopes DUNHILL INTERNATIONAL LIST CO. 565 Fifth Avenue, N. Y., PLaza 3-0833