U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

Record Marathon Brings In Toys for Tots Four radio disc jockeys from KPHO Phoenix locked themselves into the station's studios in what turned out to be a seven and one half-hour "Toys for Tots" drive. "Toys for Tots" is an annual Marine effort to provide toys for needy youngsters. The disc jockeys locked themselves into the broadcasting studio, refusing to let anyone in or out until listeners delivered a total of 910 pounds of usable toys to the station's offices. From 3:05 until 10:29 p.m., they played one tune, "Little Drummer Boy," over and over. While listeners phoned in pledges, they played the record backward and forward, at regular, fast and slow speeds. The toys were weighed as they came in. After the pledges, listeners delivered the toys to the station's offices. Local car clubs cooperated by picking up toys from donors who had no means of transportation. One woman phoned offering to repair dolls for the drive. Some listeners even purchased brand new toys and brought them in. At 10:29 a car club automobile brought in 46 pounds of toys, bringing the total to 912 pounds. At 1 1:30 p.m., almost 1,300 pounds of toys had been collected, with calls still coming in the next day, KPHO states. Station Promotes Radio Through Student Training Hieh schoolers interested in a career in broadcasting now have the chance to find out what working at a radio station is like. WBCM Bay City, Mich., has developed an internship program for one of the local high school radio classes. The students work at the station at jobs that do not require extensive training, such as filing, typing, continuity and production work. In return, they find out how a station is run and get an idea of what radio work means. The internship program is optional, but the entire class reportedly has signed up for work. The city's superintendent of public schools already recommended that the program be studied by other departments and classes. D.J. Takes to the Air — In a Balloon \\'C-\U* Philadelphia radio man Ed Harvey took to the air recently — in a balloon. With the help of the Balloon Club of America, Harvey took off on a free balloon flight to let his listeners guess where he'd land. Since nobody, including the balloonist, could tell where he'd land, Harvey made a contest out of the flight. He promised a weekend in Pittsburgh to whoever came closest to guessing the actual landing spot. The contest was promoted for two weeks before the flight. Over 5,000 cards and letters guessing the landing spot came in, the station reports. Birdseed Drive Overshoots Goal By 200 Pounds Shooting lor 500 pounds of birdseed in the annual "Operation Bird Feed" of KOMA Oklahoma City, Don Hodges, seven to midnight disc jockey, prevailed on Twcetie and Sweetie, parakeet and canary respectively, to chirp five straight hours for their hungry brethren. The birds chirped "Deck the Cage (with Boughs of Holly) " over 100 times during the evening. KO^L\ reports that local telephone service was snarled for the entire evening and that over 500 long distance calls came in during the five hours the program was on the air. Grand total of pledges by wire and phone was over 700 pounds. Christmas Promotion Filled Stocking to Top Every gift that went into the Christmas stocking of KING Seattle went to a needy family in the Seattle area. The station built a Christmas stocking 36 feet high, 14 feet wide and 9 feet deep. Early morning and late afternoon programs were broadcast from a remote studio in the Christmas stocking, appealing to listeners and passers-by for their donations. Toys, clothing and non-perishable foods were solicited. When the stocking was emptied, the contents were sent to the Christmas Project Division of the Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul which determined where the gifts would be sent. Distribution was made by the King County Junior Deputy Sheriffs. Job Opportunities Explored At Broadcast Career Seminar A move to acquaint students with the career opportunities available in the broadcasting field has been made recently by WICE Providence. At the first of what it hopes will be an Annual Broadcast Career Seminar, the station filled the 300-seat Providence Library auditorium. The student response was reported by the station to be "exceptionally high." According to the seminar's director, Sherman A. Strickhouser, "it seems that almost half the high school and college students in Rhode Island" wanted to attend. The four-hour seminar began at 9 am and ran through 1 pm. Seven radio and television authorities and four advertising executives participated in question and answer panels. In addition, the session was addressed by Rhode Island Lt. Governor John A. Notte, Jr., by Dr. Francis H. Horn, president of the University of Rhode Island, and by FCC member Frederick W. Ford. The seminar was designed to give interested students a chance to learn the inner workings of the broadcast industry and to learn something about their chances for a career in the field. The station intends to conduct an annual seminar as a regular public service to advanced students. • • • ♦Denotes stations who are members of BPA (Broadcasters' Promotion Association) 44 U. S. RADIO • January 1960