U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1959)

^ HOMETOWN U.S A. BP A memo Fun for Listeners And Community Service Spark Local Promotions Many current promotions have been i^cared to comnumity public service ]jrojects as well as "fun" activity for listeners. The promotion ol l)ri(k throwing "as an exercise, a form of recreation and a release for pent-up emotions," is the project of early morning personality Rege Cordic of KDKA* Pittsburgh. It resulted in a threehour variety show attended by a reported 3.800 persons to choose a tjueen for the sport. This was the "Miss Brick Throw" beauty and talent contest, and was only one facet of the brick-throwing craze. Mr. Cordic has been kidding on the air aijout brick throws for several years, the station explains, often giving scores of mythical matches. Many area colleges and industrial firms conducted their own "Miss Brick Throw" competitions, with Duquesne, Geneva and West Liberty among the schools that got into the act. "Miss Brick Throw" was chosen from 350 contestants and received prizes from more than 100 contributing industrial and business firms, KDKA claims. The wishbones of three Trenton, N. J., area Thanksgiving turkeys turned into Christmas dinners as a result of W^TTM's annual contest conducted by Gene Graves, morning wake-up personality. He asked all of his listeners to mail him their turkey wishbones, and for the three largest received he delivered a Christmas turkey of the exact weight of the original bird. This was determined by the Mercer Coimty Sealer of Weights and Measures. Thoughts of space travel prompted WIBG Philadelphia to invite listeners to write and tell why they would like to be the first person launched into outer space. An *Denotes stations who are members of BPA (Broadcasters' Promotion Association). nouncements were made five times a day tor a week with a promised reward for the 99 best answers — an M-11 Corporal Missile (toy kit, that is). Among the winners, a "man" who wrote: "Engine trouble forced me to land here and I would like to return home. It's been 683 years since I've been home to see my parents." And in a more earthly vein, WHB Kansas City, Mo., decided to let everybody try a hand at writing its station promotion spots and, according to the station, is now having trouble fitting them all in. Based on the venerable "knock-knock" craze of the 1930's, WHB has received such gems from listeners as: "Knockknock. Who's there? Carlotta. Carlotta who? Carlotta bed and listen to WHB!" and "Isadore open so I can hear WHB!" High Hints A daily contest, WABC* New York's "Mystery Personality," has pedestrians in Times Square looking skyward in search of clues. Besides regular hints given throughout the broadcast day on the air, WABC is flashing clues on an 8-foot "running letter" electric advertising sign over Broadway and 47th Street. The listener who guesses the most mystery voices will be declared the grand prize ^vinner and will receive a trip to Rio de Janeiro and have his "name in lights on Broadway." And speaking of personalities, a disc jockey swap was engineered by ^VISN* Milwaukee when it traded morning disc jockeys for one day with sister-station WBAL* Baltimore. To promote the trade, gifts ^\ere exchanged between the mayors of the two cities and WISN paraded the Baltimore guest through the downtown area. • • • he can escape Rheumatic Heart Disease Tommy had an attack of rheumatic fever, frequent forerunner of rheumatic heart disease. Fortunately for him, his heart was not damaged. Rheumatic fever, usually preceded by a "strep" infection, often strikes the same victim more than once. With each attack comes a new danger of heart damage. Tommy's parents no longer live in fear of rheumatic heart disease, however. Through research, medical science has developed new methods of controlling "strep" infection and preventing recurrences of rheumatic fever. For more facts about prevention, see your physician or ask your Heart Association. For more research progress against the heart diseases . . . A V. S. RADIO • Januai7 1959 53