Radio showmanship (Sept 1940-May 1941)

AIRING THE NEW All the available data on new radio programs. No result figures, as yet, but worth reading about! Automobiles THE ABC OF SPORTS Familiar to thousands of Pacific Coast listeners as a football commentator, KECA's Ken Barton began a daily review of horse racing, sailing, angling, and other sporting events. Less than two weeks after its start, used car specialist Kelly Kar Co. (Los Angeles) purchased the show. Contract runs through June of next year. The "ABC" is Barton's original style of reporting. He gives the latest news of sports as he goes down the alphabet. "A" is for angling; "B" is for baseball, etc. AIR FAX: Broadcast Schedule: Daily, 5:45-6:00 P.M. Preceded By: News. Followed By: News. Competition: Music; Cheer Up Gang. Sponsor: Kelly Kar Co. Station: KECA, Los Angeles. Power: 5,000 watts. Population: 1,496,177 (1940). Agency: Smith 8c Bull, Los Angeles. Automobiles YOUTH SPEAKS Current tendency in entertainment is the rise of youthful talent. What youth Lacks ill experience is usually made up in unbridled enthusiasm. Witness the success of motion picture's Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Deanna Durbin. Two years ago, four excited Worcester (Mass.) high school boy> approached WOKC Station manager Mildred Stanton with the idea of a fast moving radio program by youth and for youth. Rather than stifle their youthful ambitions, Miss Stanton arranged a short sustaining dule. Surprisingly enough, the program clicked from the start, attracted the atten tion «»t Chrysler Plymouth dealer L. F. Harris, and has been commercially aired ever since. Program consists <>t a potpourri of yOUthfu] ideas, interviews with yOUtlg people in the news and with unusual hobbies and tal ( ommC i rail bj the DO] s them selves in their own uninhibited style. I wall) copj revolves around a visit to the sponsor's showroom or a ride in one of Chrysler's big new models. AIR FAX: Youthful producer-broadcasters of Youth Speaks are Donald Klein, announcer; Earle McCall, sports; George Baxter, interviews; and Roger Perry, news. (See Showmanscoops, Page 29.) Broadcast Schedule: Wednesday, 7:45-8:00 P.M. Preceded By: Novatime (Musical). Followed By: Public Hour of Music. Competition: Studebaker Champions. Sponsor: L. F. Harris (Worcester Chrysler and Plymouth distributor). Station: WORC, Worcester, Mass. Power: 500 watts. Population: 195,311 (1930). COMMENT: As successful as youth has been in national serial dramas, its proper place in locally-sponsored radio has yet to be found. The possibilities are unlimited, for there is little doubt that Mr. and Mrs. America would much rather hear their own daughter on the radio than all the Shirley Temples in the world. Furs INSIDE INFORMATION ABOUT FURS A ten-episode, transcribed series with all the facts and figures about furs. Pittsburgh department store Frank & Seder timed the series for presentation right at the height of fur-buying time. AIR FAX: Broadcast Schedule: Daily, 9:45-9:50 A.M Sponsor: Frank & Seder. Station: WWSW, Pittsburgh. Power: 250 watts. Population: 665,384 (1940). Groceries POT LUCK The tremendous success of Tum's Pot ()' Gold program has resulted in many closely-patterned shows being established throughout the country. Among the latest is Griffin Grocery's (Oklahoma City) Pot Luck. The show features LewPreston and bis "Men of the Range" with their songs of the West The high light, of course, is the spinning of a gigantic wheel three times to indicate the phone book, the page, and the name to be selected. Winner receives a large box of Griffin groceries. AIR FAX: Station: KOMA, Oklahoma City. PowtT t 5,000 watts. Population I 185.389. Insurance MUSICAL CROSSWORD PUZ7XE Some H> pears ago the crossword craze took U. S. puzzle-minded men and women b\ storm. I'ew dail] papers from coast to coast missed SJ1 edition without a crOSSWOrd box as part ot its contents; man] weekly, monthly publi 24 RADIO SHOWMANSHIP