Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

RADIO DAILY: xmfls PRomonon 14-Million In Billings Signed Up By CBS Wednesday. December 14, 1949 Pillsbury Contest Pays Dividends In Publicity (Continued from Page 1) York and a stay at the Waldorf, Pillsbury gave each finalist the GE stove they used on Monday. Keith, who called the promotional contest a "resounding success," gave considerable credit to radio's promotion of the affair and his statement was underlined when, in the course of accepting their prizes, six of the Contest Veteran Mrs. Casimir F. Shubbie of Fort Worth, Texas, who was contestant No. 88 in the Pillsbury baking awards, is no newcomer in the field of radio contestants. Mrs. Ssubbie won the "Miss Hush" award on the Ralph Edwards program in 1947 and collected $22,700 in merchandise. Her baking entry yesterday was "Apple Brittle Delight." nine top winners credited their entry in the contest to Galen Drake's plugs over his ABC show sponsored by Pillsbury. Keith said that it has not yet been decided that the contest would be an annual affair but stated that it might be. He said that radio announcements of the competition brought on the greatest rush of grocery store tear-offs for contest rules in the history of the flour company. Pillsbury sponsors, in addition to Galen Drake, the Art Linkletter show over ABC and Grand Central Station over CBS. Drake and Linkletter both move over to CBS under Pillsbury sponsorship shortly after the first of the year. The company has also signed Cedric Adams of WCCO for a five-minute five-a-week commentary over the full CBS web. Mrs. Roosevelt Participant Participating in yesterday's luncheon were Eleanor Roosevelt, who presented the final winners with their prizes, Art Linkletter, Arthur Godfrey, John Gudel, Frank Stanton, Galen Drake, Mark Woods, Cedric Adams. Linkletter emceed the presentation of prizes which was carried over CBS-TV and Cedric Adams acted as toastmaster. Philip Pillsbury, president of Pillsbury Mills, was host. Top prizes were: first place, $50,000; second place, $10,000; third place, $4,000 and additional prizes of $1,000 each to the five winners in separate baking fields. Leo Burnett Co., Chicago, is Pillsbury's agency. Joins Press Department Bob Thompson, formerly a member of the ABC press department, has been named assistant to WNEW's director of publicity and special events, Richard Pack. He served with the public relations section of the 7th Air Force in the Pacific during the war. Florence Eschmann, Aow secretary to Pack, is another new member of the WNEW department. Plan Xmas Party Boston — A birthday party aboard the aircraft carrier Kearsarge in the Boston Navy Yard for the Hub's youngest disc jockey, Betsy King of WCOP, will help acquire toys for less fortunate children. The first 400 of Betsy's listeners who write in requesting tickets will be her guests when she celebrates her 9th birthday on December 17. In addition to the tickets, her guests are asked to bring a new toy, which the Navy will distribute to less fortunate youngsters at the Navy's annual Christmas party. The party to be held on the ship's hangar deck includes movies, music, and Christmas carols by the ship's hand. Aiding TB Drive In keeping with the tradition and spirit of Christmas giving, WWJ is "giving a day" to help prevent TB and Health Society Christmas Seal sale will be made on 24 shows and newscasts originating at WWJ on Wednesday, December 14th. Throughout the day, listeners will be reminded that they can show their Christmas spirit by buying Christmas Seals. Will Play Santa Claus Carlton E. Morse, producer-author of Mutual's I Love a Mystery series, will be an international Santa Claus at a Christmas day party in Rome. Morse will carry a bag of toys for children at the Maria Beatrice Colony, an orphanage operated by the Foster Parents' Plan for War Children, Inc. The toys are only a token of a halfmillion gifts that listeners sent to his program and to Mutual's Bob Poole Show. Phoenix Businessmen Protest CBS Charge Protesting against the dropping of KOY as a CBS affiliate in Phoenix for KOOL, owned by Gene Autry, civic leaders in Phoenix yesterday addressed an open letter to all CBS affiliates giving their version of the transaction. The letter bore several signatures including those of Nicholas Udall, mayor of Phoenix; L. C. Boies, sheriff of Maricopa County; Stephen C. Shadegg, president of S-K Research Laboratories and P. M. Roca, president of the Phoenix Community Council. The letter reviewed the establishment of KOY twelve years ago by three Arizona men, Jack Williams, Al Johnson and John Hogg and commended them for their public service to the community. The station became a CBS outlet in 1937 and has remained as such until GBS "arbitrarily refused to renew its contract with KOY," the letter states. It is charged that the network negotiated the transfer to KOOL Campaign For Record Players WNEW's Martin Block is conducting a campaign on his Make Believe Ballroom for contributions to buy record players for the children's wards of 18 city hospitals. A total of 65 players will be needed to supply the hospitals. Record companies have donated over 1,100 record albums to be distributed to the hospitals with the players. Topeka Turnout The arrival of Santa Claus in Topeka, Kansas this year attracted more than 6,000 people to the Union Pacific Railroad Depot through the efforts of WREN and the North Topeka Merchants' Association. Santa was publicised over WREN, by an airplane with loudspeakers and colorful signs. When he arrived on his North-Pole-Special train, Santa was greeted by the Mayor of Topeka and interviewed over WREN. A parade and another broadcast followed. Merchants Buy Time A group of 28 independent merchants in Norfolk, Virginia are sponsoring a daily 30-minute program of Christmas music on WDOW. The merchants are featuring contests for best house Xmas decorations, best recipes, and best shopping hints. Xmas Sales On TV Santa Claus is now selling cutlery and tableware via WFIL-TV on a Monday-through-Friday fiveminute program in Philadelphia. Santa, who is WIFL's farm news commentator Howard Jones, also appears on other video shows for the station. Boys and girls who attend his weekly 5: 15 p.m. show are given a stocking full of toys. Moloney Takes News Post With WCCO, Minneapolis Minneapolis— WCCO, CBS outlet in Minneapolis-St. Paul, has named Wiley S. Maloney as director of news and special events, effective December 15. Sig Mickelson, director of public affairs and production manager for the station, has been in charge of news and special events for WCCO. He will become director of the division of discussion for CBS in New York on January 16. Maloney was with UP for 13 years before joining the public relations department of Pillsbury Mills, Inc. in 1946. through a "deal" with "a movie cowboy — radio entertainer who is not and never has been a resident of Phoenix or Arizona" and that "he has good friends who hold policy making positions with the Columbia network." Officials of CBS in New York when advised of the letter had no comment to make. KOOL is owned by Gene Autry and Is managed by Charles Garland. (Continued from Page 1) web has captured $3,800,000 in new business. CBS sponsorship renewals after the first of the year are: Procter & Gamble Co. for "Rosemary," "Big Sister," "Ma Perkins," "Young Dr. Malone," "Guiding Light'' and "Brighter Day;" Lever Brothers Company for "Junior Miss," "Lux Radio Theater," and "My Friend Irma;" B. T. Babbitt, Inc. for its 3 p.m. daytime serial; Toni Co. for "Give and Take;" Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for "Eric Sevareid and the News;" Pillsbury Mills, Inc. for "Grand Central Station;" Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company for "Gene Autry" and Continental Baking Co. for "Grand Slam." New business starting immediately after the first of the year shows Pillsbury Mills, Inc. sponsoring Art Linkletter's "House Party" and Cedric Adams starting Jan. 3; Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company assuming sponsorship of "Life With Luigi" starting January 10. Gillette Safety Razor Company on Jan. 2 will sponsor special one-time broadcasts of the Orange Bowl and Rose Bowl football games. Increased billings also will come from expansion to full network facilities of "Gangbusters" sponsored by General Foods Corp. and the B. T. Babbitt, Inc. serial. CBS adds 100 stations on the Babbitt show, taking them away from NBC's Babbitt show accounting for $500,000 in extra billings. Will Carry Documentary A special documentary program scripted by Robert E. Sherwood and Ernest Kinoy and starring Eddie Albert will be presented by NBC in cooperation with the American Civil Liberties Union. Thursday. Dec. 15, at 12:05 to 12:30 a.m. Entitled "The Battle for the Bill of Rights," the special program will commemorate the 158th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights." The full NBC web will carry the show. Anti-Histimine Discussion Dr. Pen-in H. Long, associate physician at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital, will explain and evaluate "New Treatments For Colds" on Dec. 17 on CBS' "Adventures in Science" program. Subject matter for the program is tied-in with the introduction of the anti-histimine drugs to drug store counters. The common cold, according to Dr. Perrin, is one of the most costly, dangerous and annoying ailments, and is the cause of the loss of millions of work hours yearly. On WNEW Program Sir Laurence Olivier will broadcast on BBC's Pleasure Parade over WNEW on Sunday, December 18 from 10:15 to 10:30 p.m. Gracie Fields will provide the vocal entertainment and Jean Simmons will be interviewed.