Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

RADIO DAILY: Tuesday. November 15, 1949 CHICAGO By HAL TATE MRS. TON BURRIS is critically ill at the Illinois Central Hospital following a recent stroke. Seventynine years old, she is the mother of Bill Irvin, radio editor of "The Chicago Sun-Times" and the mother-inlaw of Doris Keane, owner of the Radio Institute of Chicago. Phillips 66 gasoline is ready to renew the WLS-National Barn Dance for the 4th consecutive 13 weeks. Program is heard on 92 ABC stations and originates at the 8th Street Theater. Lambert & Feasley, Inc., N. Y., handles the Phillips account. News commentator Moulton Kelsey and his wife, who was formerly a radio actress in St. Louis, have packaged a show titled "Home Front" in which several stations have expressed an interest. With the Kelseys expecting a youngster in March, "Home Front" deals with the trials and tribulations of parents-tobe. Georgia Tells High Court FCC Right In WGST Case (Continued from Page 1) WGST, Atlanta, where the Commission insisted that the Regents of the State University System, to whom the station was licensed, exercise the powers and authority to which they were licensed, "federal power is exclusive," said State Attorney General Eugene Cook. It was -after the FCC insisted that the station abrogate a management contract with Southern Broadcasters, Inc., that a state court held the station was liable for the money which would otherwise have gone to the firm. A major stockholder of the firm is Sam Pickard, former Federal Radio Commissioner and former CBS vice-president. The Georgia Supreme Court concluded that the FCC was not clearly ruling on a matter of public interest when it ordered the WGST licensees to take over and terminate their arrangement with SBI. This conclusion is sharply scored by the state, which charged also that the state court, "in giving effect to private contractual rights superior to and in conflict with the power of Federal regulation under the Communications Act of 1934, was contrary to the prior decisions of the court." The Commission is expected to file an amicus curiae brief in this case. Calif or ti ia Commentary. » . 1 • • • New York dramatic critics may not have liked Ken Murray's "Blackouts" but this week he signed a one-year deal (Bud weiser beer) at $20,000 per week for a one-hour "Blackouts" TV show on CBS beginning Jan. 7th. Show will originate in Holly WOOd Manhattan. . . . The "Skippy Hollywood Theater," a transcribed feature since its first show years ago. will go "live" on NBC immediately after the first of the year. . . . VicePresident Alben Barkely has been added to the list of stars who will be heard on "Kids Day Salute," next Thursday, November 17th over ABC network. Harry Von Zell will emcee and Edgar Bergen, Bing Crosby. Jimmy Fidler, Arthur Godfrey, Gabriel Heatter, Bob Hope, Drew Pearson, Red Skelton, Dinah Shore, Walter Winchell and other names will appear. Gilford Phillips announced that Teevee Productions has signed a contract with Gay Forester for a TV program tentatively titled "The Show Must Go On." Miss Forester will act as raconteur and mistress of ceremonies bringing on top show business figures from the stage, variety halls, and other phases of the industry. Show will be written by Al Mannheimer. Fred Kohner and Frank MacDonald. ft ft ft ft • • • Now it's grand openings for TV stations — New Tulsa station KTOV has appointed a Hollywood agent to round up stars and ship 'em along for the premiere by air. . . . Ben Gage will originate his newest video program, "Talent Time at the Trails" featuring amateur entertainers, from his nitery beginning this winter over one of the local TV stations. . . . Allan Jones, ABC network star, has been offered a series of four starring musical productions this winter by the Detroit Civic Light Opera Assn, teeing off in January with the lead in the "The Chocolate Soldier." . . . Kay Kyser has landed a TV show on NBC, with Ford Dealers paying the bills, it starts as soon as the opening show (from New York) can be whipped together. It will be Kinescoped to the rest of the country. . . . Curt Massey set for his first waxing session with London Records. He will open with four sides. . . . Larry Kolpack, exec, veepee of Larry Finley Prods, called in all his reps for a long confab over weekend for big promotion. . . . Taylor Holmes signed with Jerry Fairbanks Studios for holiday video presentations. He and Vincent Price will narrate Charles Dickens' stories for Christmas presentation. . . . Frank Veloz, star of the KNBH "Veloz Show," has found time to write a screen story called "Waltz at Dawn," based on an early phase of his dancing career with Yolanda. ft ft ft ft • • • Tommy Dorsey is negotiating three separate deals pertaining to his big Casino Gardens Ballroom in Ocean Park — and all point to television. . . . The late Buddy Clark's recording of KFWB's Bill Anson's tune "When I Write My Song" has been released. Ironically, while several of the deejays around town have been playing it on their programs, Anson hasn't received a copy as yet. . . . Mark Finley and Jim Parson of the MBS Publicity staff will address U.C.L.A. public relations students today. . . . KECA deejay, Ira Cook and Mrs. Cook, left following stint on "Dollars or Doughnuts" show on Friday, for a four-day vacation in Las Vegas. They will revisit scene of their honeymoon. . . . Nelson Leigh, who has portrayed Christ in the LA "Pilgrimage Play" for many years, was signed to play the Ghost of Christmas Past in "A Christmas Carol." Video presentation to be filmed at Jerry Fairbanks Studios for Stokey-Ebert Prodns. . . . Hal Roach, Jr., who heads Holi/wood's Television Film Producers Assn., In NY trying to talk Petrillo out of royalties and footage demands on film production. PROMOTION "Tasteful" Publicity An unusual tie-in between an entertainment-world celebrity and a candy company was effected recently when Buddy Basch worked out a plan for The Sweets Company of America, makers of "Tootsie Rolls." The promotion included the Tony Martin record "Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye." The agreement had Sweets Company furnish Basch with cartons of "Tootsie Rolls" for disc jockeys, editors and columnists. Basch was given 224 cartons (each has 24 5c "Tootsie Rolls"), of which he kept 112. He sent 16 to a Chicago associate and 96 to one in California. A card attached to the cartons (printed in chocolate brown) tied the promotion together with its copy: " 'Tootsie Rolls' are a good-buy and Tony Martin's 'Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye' is a sweet record!" State Dept. to Send Music Series Overseas (Continued from Page 1) Broadcasting Division of the U. S. Department of State and rebroadcast world-wide, exclusive of this country, it has been announced by Ira A. Hirschmann, president and founder of the New Friends of Music and president of WABF (FM), which carries the programs locally. The broadcasts by the State Department are non-commercial and are presented solely for the purpose of furthering the Government's aim to portray to the peoples of other countries a full and fair picture of American life, culture and customs. The performances will be heard in the Far East, Latin America, Europe and Africa, where American information officers in consulates and embassies pass the recordings on to broadcasting stations for local release. WEVD 117-119 W. 46 St HENRY GREENFIELD, Mg. Director N.V.19 means Suline&S