Variety (Nov 1933)

Tuesday* November 14, 1933 RADIO VARIETY 3$ RADIO 1 Hand-Picked Visitors FiD Up ity Inaui By Bob Lsindry NBC sttirted the first pt & week- Ion? series of Inaugural cferemonles at Badlo City Saturday (11), wiheii a hand-a$3drt6d, .gowned, and 6tarch-bosomed assemblage of some .1,500 persons filled the miain studio to hear .an hour's broadcast.. j>artlcipatlnB in the ' program were Merlin H. Aylesworth, General . James G... Harbord, Owen D. Touiigi Sir John- Relth. From London by radio telephony Dayid SarnpfE con- ducted a three-way dialog with Messrs. Harbord, Tbung and .Reith. It was a progranrj in whicli NBC called , upon Its^ full resourees arid ■ produced In kaleidoscopic array -a muster of personalities ranging from Jane Cowl, Jessica Dragonette, Walter Daiiirosch, John Mc.Cor- mick, Marie Jeritza, Rudy Vallee, Whlteman, and; by remote .control from Milwaukee and Holly- Wood Amos 'n' Andy and Will Rogers, From viewpoint of those wi.thin the . studio Amos 'ni'' Andy stole the , show. Their amusing stunt of dropping their voices from high to low registers and impercep- tibly changing characters en route was a liovelty that left an impres- sion amidst the niany.. other claims upon memory. Rogers skirted dan- gerously close to th6 untactful with his kidding. While many per- haps would agree with, his joshing itt principle, there was some ner- vousTIess as to the occasion and fitness and whether Rogers would stop oh safe, territory. However, the slick kidder of kings and presidents adroitly put p.Ver a final twist that allowed everybody to relax a^ain. Main studio is a huge oblong with the audience arranged horizontally. This is okay in a radio studio, where It Would irritate 50% of the audi- ence if followed in a film theatre. That percentage of th^ gathering Is off-center. An extensive. mezza- nine allows the segregation froiti the masses on the maiii fioor of sponsors, agencies and other cele- brated individuals. RCA was much to the fore in the prograrn with part of the remarks addressed to its 270,000 stockhold- ersi Program began with the noise of an aeroplane picked up from the 70th story of the. RCA. building. That was symbolism and an atten- tion-caller, to the said building. Rockefeller Center, otherwise Ra- dio City,, had more cops ; on duty for the opening than Union Square rates, for a Communist mass meet- ing. M. H. Aylesworth was the first to apeak after the program was started by Announcer John B. Ken- nedy, President of NBC read a quite lengthy letter from Presi- dent Roosevelt and asked the pub- lic to continue their. . patrondge of broadcasting under tlje| 'good old American way' as, opposed to^ the foreign system .of assessing ta^fes against receivlilg sets to pay for broadcaoting's upkeepi Such NBC regulars and old-tlm-^ ©rs as Miss Dragonette, Frank Munn, Frank Parker, Elliott Shawl. Xlewls James, Wilfred Glenn, Vir- ginlia, Rca, Griaham McNamee, arid •Frank Black, naturally belonged on the first: program. And were on Black, probably one of the bus- iest guy? in radio with several commercials and his job as NBC musical tqpnptcher directed 'SOS' by Robert Braine, an interpretation .of radio's first and primary utiliza- tion, the saving of lives and .ships at sea. - A_tabic -^vith jnicr_oi)hone.s'_was_.ar NBC's Specials Extensive ceremonial pro- grams in connection w 11 h. NBC'is first week of broad- casting, from. Radio City in- clude these events: Tuesday (14) ranee's Tribute to Radio City, 2:30 p.m. Paul Whiteman's Gala Radio City Prograni, 4.30 p.m: ' Memories.—Fred Stone; Pritzi Scheif, George M, Co- hisiri, Joe Weber; 11.15 p!m. Wednesday (15) Russia. Greets Radio City, 12.4B p;m. . Italy's Radio City program,. 2.30 pirn, Canada's Tribute, 3 p.m. Germany?8 Tribute, 4 p.m. British Salute, 4,30 p.ni. 'The Stars arid Radio,' 6.15 R.rifi. -NBC'? 7th Birthday—Rosa Ponselle, M. H. Aylesworth, F'ed. Radio Comm. Sykes, 10:30 p.m. John Urskine, 11 p.m. Thursday (16) International' House, 2 p.m. Radio Burlesque from Lon- don, 4.30 p.m. Mltzl Green's Party, 6 p.rii. Rockefeller Centre Program, 10.30 p.m. Hollywood Says Hello Radio City, 11.30 pm. Friday (17) 'Radio-i920,' Drl Frank Con- rad, KDKA, 2.30 p.m. Roaming the Earth With RCA, 2.45 p.m. Radio Old "Timers, 6 p.m. Hawaii Tribute, 6.30 p.m. Labor's Tribute, William Green, 10,30 p.m. Saturday (18) Radio City Pioneers* 7.30 p.mi- South Anierica's Tribute, p.m. Pacific Coast Carnival. Agencies, Stations Discover Fear Campaigns Even Work on Sponsors PLYMOUTH BUYS OFF DAWSON CONTRACT Plymouth Motors has switched casts on the 'Elmer Everett Tess' serial. Change which went into ef- fect last Thursday (9), gave the role which Hal K. Dawson intro- duced to John Eldridge. Car manu- facturer through the Stanley Getch- ell iagency settled Dawson con- tract which had five weeks to go for a cash payment of $700, Revised cast has Ray Collins In the Mr. Joiies part ^nd Eunice Howard playing Mary Mead.' :Pro-" gram made its debut on CBS Oct, 9. OXYDOL NBG SCEIPT Chicago, Nov. 13. ' OXydbl signatured with NBC last, week for a script show to start early In Dec. Win ride five times weekly for 15 hilnuteis each afternoon. Reported as a . 52rwe.elr deal with Blackett - Saniple -. Hummert here agentlng and Involving. $450,000 in time commitments... ranged in front of the orchestra for the transoceanic telephony. This interlude, was a meciianically perfect demonstration and its sOc- cess w-as obviously gratifying to Owen D. Young and' Gen. Harbord, Exchange of salutations was by prearrnngcmcnt and. read from scripts. Sir John Reith, head of British Broadcasting (tax-sup- ported) .sat with the two RCA offl- i-ials. Sir John is an extremely tall arid dignified Briton of vast poise. Maria Jeritza, that gay Austrian blonde who used to. make hori^elf so much.at home at the Metropolitan Opera, was equally nonchalant and chummy at Radio City. Ilcr ease, and informality was a pleasing contrast amidst the ratlicr .solemn decorum of the openin.i?. ~7^S?udIos''weF<f nTe~wTtH^^ers the downstairs foyer will have the photographic enlaj-pf»ments cover- ing the w.ills as in one of the Music Hall's re.st'room.s. ' From Nov. 12 to 18, inclusive, NBC has 'dropped all sustaining dance band pickiip.«. llookup.s with dine and 'danr-o .so.iiror.s are being replaced by specially-framed pro- grams out of the W'b's new stu- dios. Present F e d e r a 1 Control May Be Merged and Ab- sorbed in Huge Bureau- cracy with Dominion Over T e I e p h one, Telegraph, B r on d c as t in g—^White House Toying with Idea REAL THREAT Washington, Nov. 13. Creation of new Federal ' radio rec|ulatory. commission — possibly along lilies projected by Senator CoMzens, of - Michfoaht is expected to be one of the footballs of Con.- gress .this winter. White House recommendations for some form of .Centralized con- trol of all communications systerii and uriifled operation of govern- ment systeriis probably is expected following a deep study now being conducted by a committee of de- partment officials and legislators. While no definite plans have been mapped out so far, there Is no doubt a new shuftling of Federal aigencles is to be anticipated, with the existing Radio Comrhissioh hie- ing made the hub of a ne-Ov setrup which, will handle comrn.erc.Ial com- munications, broadcasting, and all phases of the eommunicatlohs busi- ness. Ceiitral' idea Is an outgrowth of discussions last spring when estab llshment of.the post of Federal Co ■ordlnator of Transportation was being worked out At that time thought was given to the develop- ment of a new outfit with four major divisions—land, ir, water, and communications. Military AisRect One objective of the present sur- vey coriimittee Is unification of the communication system of the Army^ Navyi Coast Guard, and Commerce Department, all of which now have their separate radio establishments. Another goal is evolution of a far- reaching plan under which the Uriited States could assume control overnight Of all the nation's com- munication systerins in event of war. This second phase of the study has definite and direct bearing on broadcastirig. Plans being given the 0.0. call for commandeering of every broadcast station In the country in order to facilitate mo- bilization, impose an effective cen-. sorship, and control public psy- chology. TThe Couzens bill for creation of a Federal communication commis- sion, which has been kicking arourid the Senate for years, may yet see the light of day and go whooping through Congress with PresidenT RooseVelts' DaCking. its. provisions correspond in niany re- spects with the general outline now being perfected. I^igld control of rates for tele- phone, radio, and telegraph mes- sages looks probable. Congress .frequently has shown . displeasure over the way the Intesrstate Com- merce Commission has side-stepped this phase of its work arid power- ful support could be obtained for legislation which would 'provide more effective regulation of rates, ^lorger of Postal Telegraph and Western Union—last year on the verge, of becoriiirig a reiallty—looks even more likely at present. The plan being doped put will provide a way for these systems to blerid without creating a monopoly which might boost: rates to the profiteer- ing point. A national .system of radio communication <• to provi(^c comi)etition for the merged tele- ■^rrjtp 1 j^-TJ^nTf iKiniT!s^"ir=^ttgi txitcc^^^ receiving sympathetic considera-r tion. Tlir; iiitordopcndent committee is slat(;n to make a report on its woyk some time in December, rovlding ample time for brairi trustf'i-s to work out details of ni-'c-sKary lax- iJ^liVtion and for Pre.sldt-nt, lUiosr--; velt to giye the riiatter thoroufdi oon.-:i(!f>i"itifin before C'.m;;!'^rr-r app". Later the Better Washington, Nov. 13. Elder Solbrnon Lightfoot Michaeux, Columbia- Negro preacher, has a. unique theory about time of his network broadcast. Chain asked him if he would mind going on; an hour later beginning Dec. 2.' 'No, indeed,' Elder replied. 'All sirin;era stay up late. The la:ter we go. oh the more sin- ners, we'll hit.' Major MuTFay Of BBC May Be Canadian Head Ottawa, Nov. 13. Rumor In official circles Is that the Government will appoint .Itfajor Gladstone Murray of the British Broadcasting Company, London, to the chairmanship of the Canadian Radio Commission in succession to Hector Charlesworth. Charlesworth, former dramatic critic and film reviewer,, will, be given a pla,ee in the Canadian. Sen- ate.as recompense for. all his wor- ries—and this mearis a life apipolnt- rhent. Reorganization of tlie Radio Cbm- mish. is promised when the Federal Parliament sits in January. The two other commissioners are slated to return to civil llfe.^ Major Gladstone Murray is a former Canadian and has . resided in England almost continuously since the War. He was loaned to Canada last year by the Imperial government to make a survey of the broadcasting situation in the Dominion and therefore, already knows quite a bit of what if^s. all about. His appointment would be popular. Nov. 13. come so adept in .jputtin^ over fear campaigns to niake money for their <;lients that they, are now using the same fear tactics to get additional business from these same sponsoriSi Prospective clients are getting fearful telephone calls, .letters and wrarnings from agencies, stations, special representatives; recording ccrtipanles and others, telling the clients that if they don't go on the ether they'll likely neet commercla.1 disastef in a few weeks. NRA thing had added extra heat. to fear campaigns against sponsors. They are getting warnings from stations that there are rumors around that, the company Is . not strictly NRA and that the cilent shouldi for his commercial health, go on thei ether to tell the people that the company is okay acpordiner to the NRA code. It has worked in many IniatsLnces,. with the regulaJr advertisers all making certain to add that NRA tag to their shows. Tugwell bin and possibilities has the stations tearing the hearts out of the . clients with dire ^warningsL'. One company went on the air WiiW* a long list of stations anriouncing tJ-at Its product was perfectly harm- less, This followed a scare, skill- fully encouraged. Everybody in the business plenty jumpy; .have been turning out such heart-wringing copy .about halitosis,, baldness, pink toothbrush, excess weight, nervousness. Insomnia that Ihey ' themselves are meat for agencies^ and stations with extra- l)cwerful fear campaign copy about DOssible .public reaction and that only radio can save them. FRC Decision Gives Rival Unfair Edge WGN Suit Alleges Chicago, Nov, 13. Case, of WGN, Chicago Tribune station, against the Federal Radio Commission for giving WBBM perr mission to synchronize with KFAB, Li.ricbln, is "In the courts this we.ek. Decision expected with the fort- night. WGN has enjoined the . Commis- sion from permitting WBBM,. the local CBS station, froni syncing with the I^ebraska station on the grounds, that the• additional time for WBBM puts it In a stronger po- sition locally and clalrii^ that this is unfair competition arid detri- mental to the WGN business. WBBM now shares time, with KFAB. Chance's New Chance Minneapolis, Nov. 13. Al Chance, long, an announcer with W;0CO, local CBS station, has been appointed prodiiction manager of another Coluriibin. .station, WJ.S, \Vaftl)ingto.n. "Ted llidflinK'-r, formerly with XBC-arid-Avitli....-V\:J-:riC.-aJuluth...tiuc--- f eeds C'lianf.'o a.s annonncor hero.- Want Ruggles-Boland IIollwood.Nov. 13, SUr i,v t.r.vlrig to get Charles KugRl^.s and .Mary P.oland a.s an air tf-am.for li} u-ff-lis, with ojjtion.s for .■■n additional 13. li<'ilph Farrnnn i.s fndoavoi.ing to .set the dfal through I'aramount. CODE AS IS GOING iim Washington, Nov. 13. Carrying signatures of members of National Association of Broad- casters, the perfected radio code was returned to the N. R.: A. last, week and slated for early presen-- tjatlon to Administrator Hugh S. Johnson and President Roosevelt. Reports from various advisors of Deputy Adminlstnator Sol A. Rosen- blatt are still being awaited, while Rosenblatt must prepare his own analysis of . the code and report on proceedings. No serious obstacle Is In sight, however, and the only pro- test probably will come from Ed- ward N;BDCkles, operatbr of W;CFl4 Chicago, and Rosenblatt's labor advisor, who complained. about the 90-day Investigation of working hours of. brpadcalst engineers. Young & Rubicam Pilots Gen. Foods 2d NBC Hour Appropriation has been set. aside by General Foods for another hbur's cycle on NBC. . Program idea food packer Is.riiull- ing over; concern's condensed ver- .sion of recent Broadway dramatic lilt with the casts headed by legit arid picture names. Young & Rul,^ cam is handling the account.' Other hour*B stanza bankrolled by General Food.s, the Maxwell House Show Boat, Is handled by Boriton & Bowles. • Gene Austin on WBT Charlotte N. (.'.. ficnf An.stin will ^VI!T lu-vc for a .scrii'.- Jiight hro.'ulfast.M. tf'auK'd with Canrly' aft. -Vu>;tin in 'innkUiK O arl')tt<;, no wad.' \n{i a i^ox-olUfo ' tlu-atn-.'^. h'liiie in ffilK'f liccom- ;iw in ixie