Broadcasting (Jan - June 1936)

THANKS to the many Advertisers and Advertising Agencies who helped make 1935 an outstanding success for WMEX. It is our hope that 1936 will be a year of continued success for all of us. WMEX Member of Inter-City Group 1500 kc — 250 w L.S. — 100 w N. HOTEL MANGER — BOSTON In America's Fourth Market TeL CAPitol 7560— Teletype Boi. 157 Progress Is Shown In Child Programs Research Group Also Observes Aids to Farmer in Radio RADIO programs for children are showing improvement, according to the radio committee of the Child Study Association of America in a survey published by the Radio Institute of the Audible Arts, established by Philco Radio & Television Corp. The report, prepared under the direction of Mrs. Sidonie Matsner Gruenberg, director of the Child Study Association, shows "distinct evidence of efforts to improve the radio's offerings along the lines demanded by an increasingly informed public." Among the recommended children's programs which the committee felt met its suggested standards of emotional emphasis, good taste, truthfulness, attitudes and sentiment, language and quality, and advertising, were the following: Singing Lady, Billy & Betty, Bobby Benson & Sunny Jim, Buck Rogers in the Tiveyity-Fifth Century, Popeye the Sailor, Let's Pretend, Girl Scouts, and Junior Radio Journal. Among the adult programs of interest to children, the following are listed: Alexander Woollcott, Hendrik Willem Van Loon, Roses & Drums, Dream Drama, Vanished Voices, Albert Pay son Terhune's Dog Dramas, Little Known Facts About Well-Known People, Echoes of New York Town, and news and sports commentators; while special interests are represented by such programs as Ani N LOUl e IVatchful £ije Every program offered for broadcast over KSD Is carefully scrutinized by the statiorj's Censor, whose sole occupation is the protection of listeners against fraud or deception. This discriminating guardianship has developed an enviable listener interest and confidence for THE DISTINGUISHED BROADCASTING STATION IN ST. LOUIS WXYZ Blue-bookers WXYZ, Detroit, is presenting two Detroit socialites, Ann Walker and Virginia Graves, both post-debs. Miss Graves has been featured for some time on three weekly programs. She is a soprano. Miss Walker was signed early last month. She sings in low register, having a twice weekly feature. Last spring she rejected radio offers because of parental objection, which now have been lifted. mal Close-ups, Chats About Dogs, and Bird Talk. The listing, which is intended as a guide to parents in directing the radio listening of their children to worthwhile features on the air, is confined to programs suitable for children up to 13 years of age, since the committee feels that past this age young people are practically adult In their radio interests. In addition to these programs specifically recommended, the attention of parents is directed to the "rich supply of material made available by the radio for the appreciative study of music, etc." The committee emphasized the fact that some programs not included may be unobjectionable for certain children and some listed may be unsuitable for others. The major consideration, it concluded, must be the individual child's age and his special needs and interests. Benefits to Farmers IN ANOTHER report, the Institute found that radio is breaking down the former isolation of rural folk. The report was based on a symposium of agricultural authorities, and among benefits of radio to farmers, the symposium found : "That radio holds special values for those on farms and in rural communities is indicated by opinions that radio strengthens rural family life and preserves the entity of community life; is a major force in breaking down rural isolation; furthers scientific developments in farming by offering the farmer valuable technical information; possesses definite and immediate monetary value in safeguarding crops by daily market quotations and weather reports; aids the rural teacher by bringing into the classroom radio addresses by outstanding authorities; and stimulates interest of rural children in study of musical instruments heard over radio." JOHN WANAMAKER'S big New York department store is using five hours a week of sponsored time over W2XR, New York high fidelity station on 1550 kc. THROUGH its local superintendent, Western Union bought 21 spot announcements for its holiday greeting service over WSB, Atlanta. Brooklyn Deletions Explained by FCC IN ONE of the longest decisions it has ever issued in a broadcasting case, the FCC Broadcast Division announced Dec. 17 that it had ordered the deletion of three stations in the so-called Brooklyn case because the stations were operated "in a negligent, slipshod and unbusinesslike manner". The stations ordered deleted are WARD, WVFW and WLTH. Along with WBBC, Brooklyn, they shared time on a four-way split on the 1400 kc. regional channel. In its statement of facts and grounds for decision the FCC recited the reasons why it had decided to award the 1400 kc. assignment in Brooklyn, one-half to WBBC and one-half to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, a new station applicant. The case has been one of the bitterest every fought before the FCC or its predecessor agency — the Radio Commission. The decision, ordering deletion of the stations, was to have become effective Dec. 23. At a full FCC meeting on Dec. 18, however, it was decided to stay the effect of the decision for one month, until Jan. 22, to permit members of the FCC to digest it fully. An appeal to the courts has been indicated. Basis of Decision IN ITS conclusions, the Broadcast Division said: "It further appears from this record in spite of much contradictory evidence, that the licensees of Stations WARD, WLTH and WVFW are far more interested in the financial return they get out of the station, than they are in rendering a good service to the listening public. This is evidenced, in part, from the practice indulged in by two of the stations of selling time and giving complete control over the programs to the person to whom the time is sold. In the case of the Paramount Broadcasting Corp., as has hereinbefore been pointed out, the licensee apparently turned over complete control of the station to its manager who, for all practical purposes, was really the licensee." Foreign programs broadcast over the stations were stressed in the decision. In the case of WLTH, the decision said that the foreign programs of that station were, for the most part, not designed to educate or to assist its large foreign populace to become better citizens, or to familiarize them with American principles or ideals, "but were primarily advertising programs stressing the sale of merchandise." Purported discrepancies in the estimated and actually assessed values of the three stations ordered deleted were analyzed in the decision. The financial conditions of the stations were questioned. Already before the FCC is a petition for reconsideration of the decision filed by WVFW. Others were indicated in behalf of WLTH and WARD. "Radio Stoiion, WflA-WSUN STUDIOS Tflmpfl • CLEflMJUATER ST. PETERSBURG ik SERVING FLORIDA'S CENTER OF POPULATION \ THE TAMPA TRADE TERRITORY i 620 KC • 5000 Watts Day • 1000 Night Full Time Station KSD— St. Louis Post-Dispatch POST-DISPATCH BUILDING, ST. LOUIS, MO. Free & Sleininser, Inc., National Advertising Representatives New York Ckicaso Detroit San Francisco Los Anseles Page 24 BROADCASTING • January J, 1936