Broadcasting (Jan - June 1936)

Communist Speech Delivered on CBS Stirs Controversy Net Time Allotment Arouses Both Resentment and Praise FREE SPEECH, pro and con, continued to figure prominently in the national news during the last fortnight with the CBS speech of Earl Browder, secretary of the Communist Party, provoking an entirely new issue that had repercussions in Congress as well as on the front pages of newspapers and in their editorial columns. CBS scheduled a 15-minute speech by the American Communist leader in compliance with the latter's request on the theory that he was an accredited representative of a registered political party. Immediately following the announcement, a torrent of criticism was hurled against the network, with the publishers Hearst and MacFadden editorially leading the crusade. CBS was picketed in New York — and had a special cordon of police around its studios the night Browder spoke — and so-called retaliatory "boycotts" against the network were demanded by a number of organizations on grounds of patriotism. The issue erupted in Congress as a half-dozen Congressmen commented. Rep. Hamilton Fish Jr., (R-N. Y.) leading "red-baiter" in Congress, answered the Browder address over CBS the following night by prearrangement. But he defended CBS in allowing the Communist to speak, asserting it at least proves that freedom of speech prevails in America. Rejected by Yankee A NUMBER of CBS stations, notably the Yankee Network, declined to carry the address. John Shepard 3d, Yankee president, issued a statement in which he said the stations which his organization owned and controlled would not carry the address because "we believe in the American form of Government and it is our understanding that the avowed intention of the Communist Party is the overthrow of our government. We can see no reason for extending our facilities to any Communist representative." Stations on the Yankee Network which did not carry the address included WNAC, WAAB, WEAN, WICC, Shepard operated, and WMAS, WORC and WFEA, affiliated stations. Pacific Coast CBS stations did not carry the program, it is understood. Hearst newspapers launched the anti-Red attack the day before Browdermadehisbroadcast. Thenit was followed up in succeeding days with other editorials. The Hearst attack, as well as that of MacFadden, was directed against William S. Paley, CBS president. The initial Hearst editorial concluded: "Perhaps it is truly about time that the United States Government took over the broadcasting systems of the nation in order to protect itself and the public against subversive misuse of them." Bernarr MacFadden, publisher of Liberty and of the New York Mirror, on March 6 issued a statement demanding the resignation of Mr. Paley because of the Browder speech. This was followed up by Page 10 RADIO WOMEN IN QUEER JOBS They Sit at Executive Desks, Cry Like Babies, Bark With Canine Fidelity and Wake You Up QUEER jobs, as well as important executive jobs, are held by women in radio. Among the queer ones are several that attracted the attention of Pictorial Review, which carried a picture page about them in its March issue. The photos are reproduced with permission. They were snapped by Ivan Dmitr. Madge Tucker, NBC director of children's programs [in center of top photo] writes, directs and casts all of her programs. She has a native gift for picking talented juveniles. Then there is Madeline Pierce [second photo] who coos like a baby, pipes like a child, cries like a vixen bambino, all with a fidelity that is strikingly natural. All she needs in the way of mechanical equipment is a nice soft pillow. For small babies, a big pillow, and for big ones, a small pillow. All she does is bury her head and cry, sob, snort and gurgle. At New York's WINS is Helen Merchant, musical clock girl [third photo], who wakes countless thousands every morning in the metropolitan area and tells them the correct time every five minutes so they can't oversleep. Bertha Brainard, director of commercial programs for NBC [fourth photo], has one of the biggest executive jobs in radio. She remembers when WJZ offered time free to advertisers who could muster enough courage to try this new-fangled thing called broadcasting. And any discussion of feminine radio folk must include Elsie Mae Gordon [at bottom], whose forte is being a radio zoo all by herself. If it's a frog or cricket or lion or dog whose realistic utterance is needed, Elsie can supply the sounds without recourse to transcriptions or gadgets. attacks upon CBS from women's organizations, the National Americanization League, and others. Counterbalancing the Hearst and McFadden editorials were those in other newspapers supporting the CBS action in allowing Browder to speak. The Republican Washington Post, significantly, said: "The Columbia Broadcasting System is to be congratulated for its fair-mindedness and good Americanism in putting its facilities at Mr. Browder's disposal. Consistency now requires that the company restrict further free radio time to Communist spokesmen in proportion to their strength throughout the country. Which means that the comrade will not be rushed in preparing his next plea over the airway." Coughlin Stations Warned ON ANOTHER front the free speech issue also blasted forth. Rep. O'Connor (D-N. Y.) who several weeks ago threatened to "kick" Father Coughlin "from the Capitol to the White House" because of his critical speeches, fulfilled his promise of warning the 32 stations carrying the Coughlin speeches that he would hold them accountable for any libelous statements made over their facilities by the militant radio priest. He wired: "Without waiving any right I already have against you for criminal libel, I hereby respectfully serve notice on you that I shall hold strictly accountable and responsible you and your company and all its officers and directors for any further libelous remarks made by Father Coughlin or any other persons about me over your station directly or indirectly." Music Publishers Form New Protective Grouj For Performance Rights FORMATION of the National As sociation of Copyright Owners a successor to the Music Publisher; | Protective Association was an nounced March 10 by John G Paine, of New York, chairman o: the board. The organization li, censes mechanical performing rights. In Washington attending th< Duffy Bill hearings, Mr. Paine as serted the name of MPPA wa: changed to open the way for en rollment of so called "standard' publishers. Heretofore its membership has been restricted almos' entirely to the popular publishint field. MPPA, said Mr. Paine, wa: formed in 1935 as a mutual or ganization and has had 37 popu lar song publishers on its rolls Governing the organization have been a series of trade practice pro visions having to do with "plug ging" and performance of musi( and designed to keep the publish ers in step with certa i ethica standards. These code n'-ovisior" he said, have never beei and many publishers o MPPA because of them. Last year MPPA was '^^ rated and at that time practice provisions were but the organization did fit through substantial en of standard members or , music publishers. With tl ' ing of the name, he said tary result already has ticed. To date, according to M . some 75 applications for ] '^''^i^'? ship in the organization ai ' °I ing, including about 30 s „ publishers and a number jil? music publishers. This cc to the MPPA membership popular publishers and five ard houses. Altogether, h there are 100 popular pul ^■^y and 90 standard publishers. ' .■'00 noil -'lio B 00'? ij io -'■rn World Musical Progr To Be Started in Autumii.i FIRST of a series of semi-annual; ;i musical concerts to be broadcast's; simultaneously from stations in all countries belonging to the Interna-^f tional Broadcasting Union at Geneva, will be staged Sept. 20. The^ programs, which will literally^ shower the world with music, will' start with a half-hour concert of American folk music to be presented jointly by NBC and CBS^ and will be relayed to other coun-. tries via shortwaves for rebroadcasting. Plans for the series were drawn at the recent International Radiol Conference in Paris. The second concert of the series will originate in Argentine in February of next year, with the third to come either from Dutch East Indies or Belgian Congo. Promotion of international good will is contemplated by the |s: series, as well as acquainting different countries with the music and culture of other parts of the world. Due to interest of foreign dele gates in American Negro folk " tsongs and spirituals, part of the e American program will consist of ] u this type of music. BROADCASTING • March 15, 1936 it!