Variety (Dec 1939)

\Vc^incs<lny, December 6, 1939 RADIO VARIETY 81 KANSAS CITY: A RADIO BAZAAR By EDGAR A. GRUNWALD Kansas City, Dec. 5. To put it mildly, Kapsas City is the radio lawyer's Val- halla. For some reason or another, the FCC never got around to assigning a 50,000-watter. Instead the FCC stuck in six regionals and one local. With this unique assortment stir- ring up the foam in an urban center of 620.000, it was inevit- able that part of the competitive scrapping would be done in Washington. Which is exactly what has happened, to the great—and profitable—delight of Washington lawyers.. It was furthermore inevitable that six regional stations iii a single market would sooner or later, get into a rate-card tangle. That, too, has happened—generally with WDAF (owned by the Kansas City . Star) piping the music for the merry-go-round. For WDAF, located on the splendid 610 kc band and affiliated with the NBC Red, thinks that $35 is enough for a daytime quarter-hour. This price, with maxi- mum discounts, eventually gets down to $20. So the other stations, competitively laying their sights on WDAF, rig up a rate structure in varying degrees of bargain-basement calibre. Admittedly, the rates are sometimes all right, and sometimes disgracefully cheap—all depending on how bravely the individual operators think they can go into a scrap with WDAF. There's also another angle. Since six of the seven stations are regionals, they are always tempted to shoot for network affiliation and national spot business, while the local market looms. more as a last-stand desperation measure than any- thing else. That leaves the sole local station to do the bulk of the groundwork at home; But this local ^singleton ,(KCKN) is located in Kansas City, Kans., not in Kansas City, Mo. So it's batting in a tough league right off. The ramifications occasioned by these various situations are a long, sad tale. Most of it by now is on the record books of the FCC—placed there during testimony in the endless court battles. WREN, for instance, has been in Washington who knows'how many times, periodically asking permission to move from Lawrence to Kansas City proper, once trying to sell itself to the Star (this sale was vetoed), and occa- sionally harping about its 1,220 frequency (which is'the har- monic of WDAF's 610). Arthur Church has twiddled his thumbs for months trying to get 5,000 watts nighttime for KMBC. Don Davis and John Schilling for years clamored for fulltime operation for WHB, failing which the station is now pleading for 50,000 watts daytime only. And each of these pleas, of course, is accompanied by an answering salvo of protest from the competition. As might be imagined from such a situation, the Kansas City stations generate less profit than any comparable group in the U. S. But, oddly enough, prolTt statements of small stature have been lio damper on showmanship here. In fact, several of the Kansas City operators blithely proceed under an overhead of such admirable dimensions that it is impos- sible.to see why the FCC has not treated them a little better. KMBC HAS 86 ON PAYROLL, RECORD FOR STATION OF SIZE Arthur Church (KMBC), for instance, with great pride maintains the almost unbelievable payroll of 86 people, and is spending around $150,000 annually on programming, which —so he says in promotion pieces—is 'no hay.' That's a tri- umph of understatement. Most stations of his size could get' along with $50,000 for programs. WHB, meantime, hands out pay checks to 43 people—also no hay. And WREN—the FCC's steadiest customer for new technical facilities—instead of making a deal with a hotel for cheap living quarters, a couple of years ago bought the YMCA building in Lawrence, and now has a swimming pool (dry) in the basement, and a fountain (wet) in the lobby. Which gives you a rough idea. What the whole thing sums up to is this: From the private angle, owning a radio station in Kansas City is a man-sized job; from the advertiser's angle, the city—like Dallas and Fort Worth—is a veritable Oriental bazaar of radio possi- bilities. The area, furthermore, is grade-A radio territory. Kansas City is a huge railroad center, and one of the nation's biggest focal spots for the manufacture and distribution of farm products. Parenthetically, it looks as if one of the re- cent local business drawbacks—the stench from investigation of the political machinery—has blown away. KMBC is the CBS affiliate, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Church (the latter, who built his first radio station in 1915 end the present setup in 1921, also owns a radio-television school and is a minority stockholder in KITE, another station hooked to a television school). KMBC operations, as previ- ously mentioned, are on such a grand scale that the station, considering its size, spends more coin in overhead than any other outlet visited on this trip. This can easily be observed from the following list of Church's executives: Karl Koerper, vice-president; Carter Ringlep (previously with the Iowa Network), sales service manager; Felix Adams (ex-WLW), program director; Kenneth Krahl, studio director; P. Hans FlaWi, musical director; Milt Allison (previously with Skelly Oil), publicity and promotion director; .Jimmie McConnell, artists bureau head; Mark Smith, research and merchandis- ing; Bert Lane, assistant program director; Phil Evans (pre- viously in the.livestock commission business), farm director; Kenneth Graham,, educational director; Neal Kcehn, special events; Erie Sniith, news editor. KMBC currently is doing a very nice business, 10% of it local and regional, 25% national spot, and 65% network. A single rate is maintained. Merchandising, consisting of pre- announcements, direct mail, some newspaper ads, space on the back of Yellow Cabs, etc., will soon be stepped up to in- clude an' even wider scope. Plenty of talent—including lotis of hillbilly—is kept on hand, for Church puts all of his prin- cipal performers under five-year contracts; and the artists bureau makes around 400 bookings annually. Programs of all types are kept in a future file. The big emphasis at KMBC is on-service features, and- that Includes a lot of rural stuff. Newscasts, of which five are aired daily by Erie Smith and John Farmer, are a promi- nent item; ditto livestock and poultry market reports. Mean- time a 'Food Scout' broadcast is aired mornings at 8:30 direct from the Market Ass'n; Beulah Karney spiels a 'Happy Kitchen', home economics .stanza at 9:30 a.m.; Joanne Taylor gives fashion flashes; Walfe Lochman gabs sports in season (assisted by Donald O'Brien) and gives daily sportscast at 9;3() p.m. when most stations are using web commercials; and Margaret and Gordon Munroe have a chatter serial en- titled 'Across the Breakfast Table.' Another heavy item is the 'Brush Creek Follies' Saturday night hillbilly variety show. It's currently coming from the carried from time to time, but sustainers are not taken. Masonic Temple, where admission is scaled to a 40c top. KGMO, however, is careful not to let its store and newspaper KMBC^'s house band numbers 10 pieces, but is frequently tie-ups result in any monkey-works.' For instaiice, drug and used in smaller units. Bonnie King is' the billed femme similar accounts must be placed through an agency in a vocalist ' bona fide way; and the newspaper tie-up is a true trade-out WHB is the Mutual outlet, owned by the Cook Paint & deal, since the stock ownership is in the hands of the Journal Varnish Co., and piloted by Don Davis (president and com- publisher personally. The paper itself owns no stock in mercial manager) and John T. Schilling (vice-president and KCMO. general manager). This two-man front office is a happy Programming is typically urban. There are no hillbillies affair, for Davis has a penchant for showmanship of the col- and almost no farin fare. News is aired every hour on the orful sort while Schilling quietly acU as opposite end of the hour with Hal Mulligan at the helm. At 8:30 a.m. comes • magnet. WHB acquired the one and only plaque issued by musical clock, wound by Bob Early At 11:15 a.m. is a Vahiett to a part-time station, and has been notable for two program of local city doings, and at 6:30 p.m. Lowell Law- kinds of programming: (1) a lusty, zippy sort; and (2) across- rence of the Journal gives a gossip roundup. Anne Hayes, the-board schedules. The WHB production sheet is unique also of the Journal, spiels home economics. Wes Carr does in that all programs run virtually every day That's to drum an inquiring-reporter at 1:15 p.m. Jim Coy runs a 'Melbdy them into listeners' memories, and the idea is a cardinal point Ballroom' between 2 and 3 p.m. and a 'Bureau of Missing ^^^-^f^TT, . J ... X .■ , . , Persons' in the evening—one of those heart-throb, audience WHB operates und^r three rates: a national, a regional, participation affairs. Transcribed music is liberally used, and and a local. Business is predominantly local, though there the programming all around is pretty well balanced. Well- is an appreciable amofint of national spot. The dollar volume known members of the Journal steft are often used for ether divides up thus: 60% local, 10% regional, 10%. network, and duties. 20% national spot. Merchandising is actively practiced, and KITE, owned by First National Television, is piloted by to make the proposition equitable to everyone, it is based piug Kendrick (who also has a hand In WINN, Louisville), on a unit system-so many units per dollar of time purchased. Xhe-sUtion, almost to the exclusion of everything else, harps Meantime civic affairs and stunts come in for lots of atten- on three angles: (1) hillbillies of whom there are 40 on the „ - „ ^2) merchandising; and (3) getting mail. The last-named M. H. (Mouse) Straight is sales manager for Kansas City. item.is coming to pass with a bang, for in the last five months He's been here seven and a half years, previously heading some 135,000 letters have come in. The sUtion has a single up continuity. Dick Smith, a WHB man six years after a rate, and is well in the black. National spot business is being stretch at KMBC, is program director. Nelson Rupard co- cultivated, and sales arguments all center around buying ordinates programs and handles publicity, while Frank strips across-the-board. Barhydt takes care of continuity. Virg Bingham, a blind kendrick, an oldtimer in radio and previously with WIRE, swing pianist, is musical director. holds all actual titles on the station staff. Gene Wyatt,'how- Also harping on certain service features, WHB is heavy ever, comes close to being called right-hand man, and Frank on wfeather and market reports. Regular news is aired five Dent could be assigned the title of program director. Run- times daily with Bob Caldwell, Jr., as featured newscaster, ning from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m., the station comes near setting a Among WHB's older and better-known stanzas are: 'Good record, in hillbilly programming, ranging from out-and-out Morning Girls,' a Sisters of the Skillet affair conducted by corny to the smart Texas cowboy stuff. Four news periods Dick Smith at 9 a.m.; 'Today's Top Tunes' at 9:15 a.m., pop daily. Betty Paige's home economics, a couple of serials, and music as unravelled from Vauiety's hit list; 'Story Behind a few transcriptions are about all the production not scraped the Song,' giving the history of songs and orchestras; 'Judge's off a violin or sung through the nose. Point of View,' talks direct from the municipal court; safety KCKN, the one local station, is owned by the Kansan, a messages; dramatized biographies of U. S. Presidents; a house Capper publication, and smartly run by Ellis Atteberry. For orchestra session at 11:30 a.m.. with John Wahlstedt warbling 37 consecutive months the dollar intake has been running tenor; Kenneth Kay's songs at 12:15; a second house orchestra ahead of the same month in prio^ years. Business is prac- session with Les Jarvies emceeing; Jack Grogan's man-onr tically all local, two-thirds coming from the Kansas side of the-street; a staff frolic -in which all major talent is show- the river, and one-third from the Missouri side. The station cased at 2:30 p.m.; 'Musical Milestones' wherein, at 3:30. the has a single rate, will not do any merchandising which might Varietv Radio DinEcionY's cavalcade is put to life; an all- be construed as rate-cutting, and does not accept beer or colored revue on Saturdays (Vine St Varieties); and a *Kid- liquor advertising. dies Revue' on Saturday morning, with Charles Lee steering. owne Balch, here two years after coming over from KFH, Local big business is prominently saluted via a series of biogs Wichita, is commercial manager. George Engelter (ex- on the firms and their personnel. KRNT) is program director, while Ruth Kendall handles pub- WDAF, owned by the Star, is the NBC Red outlet, and a jicity and continuity, and Ruth Royal is musical director, money-maker of first rank despite its rigid policies which Music and news are big program items. The former is bar (1) station merchandising; and (2) laxatives, beer, wine, aired every hour, with Olaf Soward featured. Other strong liquors, and even mixers used in making highballs, etc. The stanzas are: A musical clock at 7 a.m. with Betty Sweeney station has a single rate; and specializes in national spot and and Olaf Soward; film news at 8:05 a.m.; a police court broad- network business. Right now a new set of studios is being cast; Wreta Seaton's shopping hints, sold on a participating finished, representing an expenditure of around $50,000. In basis, at 9:15 a.m.; a noon-hour clock of pop music (the Sun- programming and in general policies, WDAF is ultra-con- day edition of which features hit tunes as given by VAniErri); servative. John Drake's 'Penny Pinchers,* comprised of money-saving XTTTkAl? TUr ¥ ATI? CkJ? T A VITIW household hints, at 2:30 p.m.; interviews with merchants to W UAr , I llJCi LiAltl Ur LiA 1* 11 £iEiIl, plug nationally-advertised products; a review of Kansas City ATM|-v AY CA A 'VITP'V IVIPIT 'PR/liriT' entertainment bets broadcast by Don Macon; a 'Quizzer Aill/ AL,:3\J A Vfini ilA^Ij riwril court' broadcast from various theatres Under participating Dean Fitzer is WDAF top man, holding that niche iince sponsorship; some sports news by Ralph Nelson; lots of tie- 1925 (he was previously with the paper as reporter), V. S. ^jth newspaper writers; and lots of transcribed pop Batton is Fitzer's assistant Gardner Reames is sales man- music. ager, and Harry Kaufmann handles programs and music, also ' T'Uir r'TTCTTklLf'C'DC directing the nine-piece house band. The staff overall num- iflJCj LiUd IfJJTlliiKd bers 29. National and regional advertisers using the seven Kansaa Through WDAF's heavy commercial schedule, civic and city stations are: service features shine through most noticeably -There's a J^„,„|can chWe Badger t Brownin, farm show at 6 a.m. with hillbilly music plus weather and Amsrican crnnUrry ExchanKc ; hbd&o* market reports. The Council of Churches gets a quarter- ArcUc ic« Cieam B«aumont & Hohmnn* hour daily Freddie Weingarth spiels football, being assisted ^^i^'-r^/---: — ^^^^^ in sports duties by Ernie Mehl (from the Star). AP news _)s ArmMrong cork bbd»o aired thrice daily, and flashes are liberally interspersed Anacin lackcti-Snmpie-Hummtrt where necessary Lines.to all important civic centers are maintained,, and again with the conservative-civic Idea in American poultry journal Shaffer. Brennan, Margulla mind the station h'as a stanza explaining paintings in the art . Anneiie i.anzeiie vandcrbic * Rubens gallery and has the house orchestra play light classics at l;au;no"7raboAlo;ie„.'.\\'.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\""H''w^^ 11 p.m. with Guy Runyon reading poetry. Brown-wiiiiamiion Tobmto nuaseii Ji. SeeHu WREN, the NBC Blue outlet, is located in Lawrence, Kans., 2"'"^ ■,;wVi'-'i-''"J","!! . 1 . 1 . on v-oncoo <"■;*», cronB JlHl Killer Walter E. Uiillenfielil* though the transmitter is only 20 miles from Kansas City. Briiitoi-.Myer» Young & nubicam* Owned by the same family owning the Jenny Wren Flour nond stores Se.n-noKfyr Company thestation currently is valiantly trying to get itaelf oarey^ ISl^i^^n."V.'.V/.-.'.V.V.^V.^V.-.-.V.V.V.-.V.Wpit'i^^dJIiu^; moved into the metropolis proper. No attempt is made to caidweii Benton & Bowifa* garner any Lawrence business whatsoever. Network and Canada Dry .i. m. Maih« national spot business are fair, but would naturally be much c^ongresa ??""',; • Marnehaik & rrrit , ..t , . , x* ^ 1 • At- Cooper Safety Boz^ir Direct improved with a switch in location. One rate is the policy. curiLsa Cano.v .McJunkin Merchandising is practiced along all standard lines—letters, crown Cork & .seal uenj. icahiem:.n ralU rfistribution of cards etc Continental Hoiela Harry Atklnaon' cans, aiSiriDUUon oi caros, ew. ... Coa-O-r-an Products Bo«l1 4 Jarol.p Veil Bratton, here since 1927 and once with KFWB, runs kiv„i ^og Food ......Chorioa siivfr the station. (Bing Smith is actual manager and president Reed Candy Doc-AnOeriu.n but he's now in Omaha running KOWH.) Ernest Pontius, '^^:,:tX"::::^ with the station since it started, is commercial manager. .smith uma.... , j. d. Tarcht-r* John Bondeson handles programs, the bulk of which are NBC .''laiey MiiiioK Poits-Turnbun sustainers or remotes from Kansas University (located in 'sSo' co.'.y.iiiy.'.-.'.l'.-.'.lV.i'.iiiir.V.V.V.'.;:^ Lawrence). All additional data on this station will have to sutawoy storn j. waiter Thompson' be given after the FCC decides whether or not it is to move, stunco McCann-Krickaon* Stanco McCann-Krlcki^cn' STEWART SPARK PLUGS THE ^::::::::::y.::\:--^^^^^ ATTENTION-GETTERS FOR KCMO KCMO. intimately interested in the Transcontinental net- ^ViT;"';;;^.; :;;^ work, is under new management which is doing some rip- .skruuianj photo .•■•iMvice...., Newby, Pcraon & Kiitcn.ft: ,<!norting things. Owned principally by the Crown Drug Co., sodiphene ... ..... .. Borrona Adv. iu 1 „i° 1 *u« h-^^r Twenty Urand lliizor liliide.H Aubrey, Mooro Sc Wallace the Station also has a minority stock ownership in the hands y^^-,,,^ „^„i „urnera .:.Shaffer. Brennan, Marguii. of the publisher of the Journal. This double-header back- Tnyion Kice I'owdcr Uurrant Adv. ground is an asset And on top of it, Jack Stewart, the new to... ............Allen c. Smith " , J _ 1 iiriiMT > • Utility EnKlneerlnR Inalltti e F rat United Uroa<lcn«l^r« sales and general manager (ex-WFIL), is wasting no time ,,„|„n j,„^.7„^ ..;i„^r,.f ' Beaumont & Hohmnn* going to town on promotion, stunts, and general live-wire vick Chemical Morao intcrnationni* activities. KCMO—like KXOK in St Louis—has the whistle y?'-""""/:. '-■"'■'">'■«""• Guenther-Bradrord ■ . , , ,, .L -r- i-i -Moi-i Webatcr-biacnlohr N. w. A>er tied down all the time. Jim Coy, once with NBC and •^vhlte i.nba Vm. E«iy« Blackett-Samplc-Hummert, is program direcitor, while Bert wecn rroducia .j. Waiter Thompp.-.n Riihrman hnnrllps musical chores Wllllamaon tlimdy Cn... John If. Dunham l?J,Tr^.- , ^"°','^^' ... ... . Wlllard Tablet.. No aKemy llnl^d KCMO has a national and a local trade, and its merchan- waivet • Cnmpheii-sanfrrd* dising is a lucky natural-ads and space in the Journal, on Wander Co uiaekeit-sanipie-Hummtrt the one hand, and huge tie-ups with the 93 Crown drug „„^,^,„ „,„, „„ „,„,,..k ua, onnouncemcma or cb,.in. stores on the other. Mutual netwerk commercials are also )„itu.