Variety (Oct 1939)

42 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, October 11, 1939 APPLYING CODE HARDER THAN WRITING; CASH CUSTOMER VS. GUEST IS THE RUB Coughlin Camp Fights to Prevent N. A.B. Forcing Him Off Paid Time—Many Viewpoints Expressed by Groups and Individuals Actual steps recently taken to,week were radio's comeback at ^ply and enforce the seH-regulalion ' critics ot ttie new NAB code. Net- code ot the National Association of,' tied by complaints the document is Broadcasters has stirred up all sorts ' weasel-worded, the trade group de- of repercussions around the coun-; cided to blow its own horn and focus tiy, but it seems safe to say most j attention on the many commenda- of the agitation pivots around Father i tions. Cliarles Coughlin, the Michigan radio More than a dozen back-slappers crusader. Since he has a consider-j were quoted in the reply to such able following, several printed yelpers as the National Committee niouthuicccs, notably Social Justice, and since the threatened loss of his present paid time privileges also threatens radio stations with loss of revenue, the issue is not easily clari- fied. Despite every effort to be ai dis- creet as possible, to refrain from naming names, everybody realizes for Education by Radio.'The praiscrs included such politically potent out- fits as the National Council of Catho- lic Men, Federal Council of Churches, Civil Liberties Union, General Federation of Women's Clubs, National Education Associ- ation, and the Boy Scouts. Approval also hss been given, NAB said, by that the NAB meas,ure primarily outstanding individuals and adver- concerns and is essentially directed r tising executives, at the priest who took the anti-1 Reprint of applause came while Semitic issue into the parlors of ■ disappoiniment was being voiced America through the loudspeakers, privately over the Code Committee's Coughlin h:s persistently disclaimed failure earlier in the week to name anti-scmitic intentions, but there is ■ names in ruling Father Coughlin, liltle doubt the talks he made on'Judge Rutherford, and such spielers tlie Jewish question in view of hap-1 off paid time. While in many quar- penings in Europe frightened the ters there was agreement that the sorship. If the code as it-now stands is to hold without reasonable amend- ment, I predict we shall see an emasculation of private enterprise in broadcasting: with a solar plcxis blow to freedom in this country and an invitation for further govern- ment regulation.' Rev. Walton E, Cole, who com- plained to F.C.C. recently after WJR refused to air his 'anti-Coughlin' speech, hailed N.A.B. action as 'eminently fair.' He .said he In- tended to continue his broadcasts throughout the country 'along non controversial subjects with 'Preserve the. American "'Way ot Lite' as the basic theme." RCA-NBC Television (New York Area) radio industry in general and large se-rmcnts of the leadership of Amer- ica. I Although the NAB through its code has been inspired to 'control' what many regard as 'abuses' of free speech, the opposition to the enforcement of the NAB code has raised the question of 'censorship.' These persons say that there should be no abridgement of the right of Coughlin, or anybody else, to say what he pleases, subject only to the laws of slander. Some broadcasters reply this is hardly the sort of pro- tection against litigation or license revocation that the industry needs. The latter point out that when speakers stir up racial or religious feelings over the air, or. in any other way threaten the cracking down of retaliation, discipline or legal ac- tion, it is the station that carried the talk, not the talker, ■ who must bear the brunt NAB Pointa with Pride Washington, Oct. 9. Series of complimentary remarks by crusaders in various fields last RADIO STATION Radio (Ulion WWJ wu not only tKo /irjf tiaiion Id Amer- ica, bul it hat maintalnMl ita position ai tfw tirti ttatton in liitenn internt in Detroit line* it wKt mlakliihed, —■ fact proven by eveiy itirvey that hat ever been madel UlfJ Netionil Mtptimtalhn Gee. P. Helllngb«ry Co. N«w Uit, Ctktt*. Sm rr«Kfic«. AHmMtt pact interpreters were wise in avoid- ing personalities, some industry leaders felt it was a mistake hot to be outspoken. Value of the action was undermined, some thought, by the nice-nice way in which it was announced, although it was observed with pleasure that the Associated Press, quoting Ed Kirby, made it apparent to the general public the objective of the interpretations. The first draft of the Committee statement had mentioned the Indi- viduals who were affected, but be- fore breaking up for the day the crowd decided to use the blue pencil. Feeling that any remark which would give an excuse for discrim- ination charges would be unwise. On Borrowed Time Detroit, Oct. 10. National Association of Broadcast- ers ban on paid-time controversial subjects, adopted last week in Wash- ington, won't affect Father Charles E. Coughlin's Sunday afternoon pro- grams for some time, due to fact most of station contracts won't ex- pire until 1940. Code doesn't apply to already-cbntracted broadcasts. Although Coughlin refused to comment on the N.A.B. action, be- cause 'my attorneys are studying the ruling,' it was learned from officials at WJR here, originating station for priest's talks, that several of Cough- lin's contracts with stations expire Oct. 31. However, It is believed that, by tlie time the majority of contracts expire. Congress will have decided the nation's neutrality policy and thereby possibly eliminate necessity for priest to go off air, since N.A.B, ruling is understood to be aimed at this controversial is- sue principally. Leo Fitzpatrick, g.m. of WJR here, said priest's contract with WJR had two or three months to run and that 'under the code, existing contracts will be recognized but not renewed.' In a recent issue ot Social Justice, priest's magazine,'it was stated that Coughlin had attended preliminary N.A.B. hearings on the code and that a movement was afoot to 'drive Fr. Coughlin from the air.' Meanwhile, John F. Patt, general manager of WJR's sister, WGAR, Cleveland, blasted the new code as a step in the 'direction of censor- ship and abridgement of free speech.' Patt telegraphed the com- mittee that the move 'goes beyond mere self-regulation into the realm of strangulation, stagnation and ccn- Jesult College's- View St. Loui.s, Oct. 10. WEW, operated by the St. Louis University, a Jesuit college, and a member of NAB, will continue to broadcast the Sunday addresses of Rev. Charles 1. Coughlin,^ diespite the ruling of the code committee of the association which presumably will result in banning him from more than 400 stations in this country, if the ruling is enforced. That edict was issued last week by Rev. Wallace A. Burk, S.J., supervisor ot the St. Louis University station. From St. Mary's Hospital, where he is convalescing from a major op- eration. Father Burk said, 'The com- mittee's ruling establishes a most dangerous precedent. It eliminates free speech on the radio, arid is but one step removed from ban- ning, free speech in newspapers.' Picket Colonial Web Boston, Oct. 10. About 50 pickets representing an organization known as the 'Christian Front' paraded in front of the Colo- nial network building here Sunday afternoon in protest against N.A.B. ruling affecting Father Coughlin's commercials. Placards and portable radio sets blaring Father Coughlin's voice added color to an otherwise uneventful demonstration. An official communique issued by station WAAB informed the picket- crs that a renewal - of the radio priests contract was being nego- tiated. Civil Liberties Ancle The Civil Liberties Union rallied behind, broadcasters and answered kicks of John F. Patt, WJR, Detroit, who wired a protest that free speech has been wiped out by the pact. Through Arthur Garfield Hays, Mor- ris Ernst, and Quincy Howe, it was stated: 'What Mr. P?tt really means is that the profit has been taken out of free speech since hereafter Father Coughlin or anybody else under the rules of the new code cannot pur- chase time for the discussion of pub- lic issues,' the trio shot back. 'This Is wholly In the interest of free speech since It puts everybody on the basis of equality and puts peo- ple without money on precisely the same footing as people with it. The new code corrects a situation so ob- viously unfair to free speech as to commend itself to every reasonable person.' Thursday, Oct. 12 2:30—Bob King, ventriloquist. 2:45—Film serial, 'Th« Lost Jungle.' 3:05—Film, 'Blue Coal.' 3:15-3:30—Richard Kent, th« traveling chef, • 8:30-9:30—'Jane Eyre,'by Helen Jerome, with Margaret Curtis, Dennis Hoey, Effie Shannon, Ruth Matteson, Carl Harbord, etc. Friday, Oct. 13 8:30-9:30—June Loraine, mimic; Marjorie Entero and . Philippe Borgia, dancers; Ramon Armen- god, Mexican singer, arid a film commemorating 50th Anniver- sary of Edison's invention of motion pictures. Saturday, Oct. 14 2:00-4:30 — Football—C.C.N.Y. vs. Scranton. QUEBEC IS HOT POTATO Quebec, Oct. 10. French-Canadian Quebec where conscription (city and province both) has become a political issue, is protesting the Dominion govern- ment's ruling that no stump speeches may be picked i up. Only political talks that may go on the air are those from radio studios where the manuscript has been submitted in advance. French-Canadian situation is a hot potato for the Ottawa authorities. By calling the rule 'censorship' and cracking that the government has more authority over radio than Hit- ler In Germany the administration has been forced to defend the rule as a mild precaution. Latter points by way of contrast to the stringent ban of all politics whatsoever in Great Britain during the war. CENSORSHIP CONFERENCE IN N. Y. National Council on Freedom From Censorship will hold a two day conference on civil liberties dur- ing the coming week-end, Oct. 13-14, at the Hotel Biltmore, N. Y. Sat urday morning session will Include a round table on radio censorship, Quincy Howe will preside. Among those expected around the oval are Morris Ernst, Sidney Kaye, Elmer Rice, Frank Nugent, Arthur DeBra, Elmer Davis, and others. Banquet Friday night will be ad dressed.by Atty. Gen. Frank Murphy and Senator Robert F. Wagner. SYRACUSE SURPRISE Unexpectedly Gets lOO-Watter— Some 'Mystery' About U Jack Kcrrlean, singing announcer for WHO, Des Moines, has a new ' program for Vlcks. Syracuse, Oct. 10. Considerable mystery still veils the announcement that the FCC has granted a construction permit for a third Syracuse radio outlet, known officially as Civic Broadcasting Corp. Both WFBL and WSYR had fought the application when it was first presented a year ago, at the same time that another outfit known "as Sentinel Broadcasting Corp. also made a bid for a license. The hear- ings continued for several weeks, following which the FCC examiner filed his report, recommending that both applications be denied. The two existing outlets thought it was all over. Announcement that the com- mission had overruled the examiner, at least so far as Civic Broadcasting Corp.'s application is concerned, ap- parently caught them by surprise. Officers of the new outlet are listed as T. Sherman Marshall, an engineer, as president and general manager; I,awrence Sovik, the attor- ney who handled the application, as treasurer, and George Hughes as secretary. The latter is a radio tech- nician. Sovik has announced that th« station, a 100-watter operating on 1,500 kilos, has already selected the site for its transmitter. Call let- ters are still to be assigned and a studio location to be secured. Sitting in at the time the civic hearing was in progress were rep- resentatives of stations In Rutland, Vt., Watcrbury, Worcester, and New London, Conn., and Woodsidc, Brooklyn, and Kingston, N. Y. They offered no active opposition, how- ever. Fredericka Millet Back To Birthday Ball Job Fredericka Millet, upon the con- clusion of the Kfew York World's Fair of which she has been women's radio director, will return to the President's Birthday Ball committee in New York headquarters. She will be national radio director, her third year at the campaign head- quarters, and second with the title which Bob Bergcr once filled, WHOLESALE TONSILS Oklahoma City, Oct. 10. James Cox, newly appointed press chief lor WKY here, is out of the hospital following a tonsil snatching. Amanda Prochnau of the WKY commercial department also under- went tonsiillectom^. BALTIMORE-- TEST-TUBE" CITY! 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