Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

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Deletion of KELW, KTM is Proposed Yost Raps Station Practices; KECA Asks Facilities IN AN UNUSUAL report submitted Sept. 19, Chief Examiner Yost recommended the deletion of KELW, Burbank, Cal., and KTM, Los Angeles, after a hearing last July at which the stations sought to oust one another from their present assignments and thereby acquire full time. Mr. Yost found that both stations failed to serve public interest, and that their deletion would transform California from a fractionally overquota state to a fractionally under quota state. KELW uses 500 watts and KTM 1 kw. Immediately following the report, KECA, Los Angeles, now operating with 1 kw. on 1430 kc, applied for the 780 kc. channel, which would be vacated should the Commission sustain Mr. Yost's recommendation. It was understood, too, that the Hearst newspapers in Los Angeles will apply for the facilities. Mr. Yost found that KELW had frequently given broadcasting time in exchange for merchandise, laundry and garage work and other forms of service, rights and privileges, and that some of this merchandise was sold to others. He declared that the station was operated on a poor business basis, that numerous complaints had been made about its commercial broadcasts, and that the station had in broadcasts urged listeners to write to the Commission recommending that the station be given unlimited time. "It appears in some cases," he said, "that small prizes were given or promised and time on the air donated as a reward for the writing of such letters." KTM, operated by the Pickwick Broadcasting Corporation, was found by the examiner to be superior to KELW in both technical and program merit but it was brought out that the station had featured astrologers. Glendale Gets Station REVERSING Chief Examiner Yost, the Radio Commission Sept. 23 granted the application of the Cannon System, Ltd., for a new station at Glendale, Cal., to use 850 kc. with 100 watts for daytime operation. Simultaneously, the Commission renewed the license of KGIX, Las Vegas, Nev., but reduced its hours of operation from unlimited to specified, sustaining Mr. Yost. Radio Course NEW YORK University has added a course in radio speaking to its curriculum in recognition of radio's professional growth. Under the direction of Professor Wilke, the course covers composition and delivery of radio talks, standards of pronunciation, microphone technique and other points which make up the difference between radio and platform oratory. Radio Boosts Piano THE PIANO may stage a comeback, as did the phonograph, through the very medium that pushed it aside — radio — according to Capt. Taylor Branson, leader of the U. S. Marine Band. With the aid of NBC engineers, Capt. Branson recently achieved an almost perfect tonal balance between the piano, at which Helen Corbin Heinl was playing, and his band. Listeners reported that the piano stood out as clearly as though it were accompanying a symphony orchestra. Two Standards Bureau Stations Are Completed COMPLETION of the new Bureau of Standards "standard frequency" transmitting station at Beltsville, Md., and receiving station at Meadows, Md., both near Washington, is announced by the bureau coincident with an announcement of a change of schedule in the 5,000 kc. transmissions of WWV, effective Oct. 1. The transmissions, which may be used by broadcasting and other radio stations to calibrate their transmitters to exact frequency, will be given continuously from 10 a. m. to 12 noon and from 8 to 10 p. m., EST, every Tuesday hereafter. The transmissions, the bureau states, can be heard and utilized by stations equipped for continuous-wave reception through the United States, although not with certainty in some places. The accuracy of frequency is at all times better than one cycle, or one part in 5,000,000. From 5000 kc. any frequency may be checked by the method of harmonics. Information on how to receive and utilize the signals is given in a pamphlet obtainable on request from the bureau. The transmissions consist mainly of continuous unkeyed carrier frequency giving a continuous whistle in the phones when received with an oscillatory receiver. For the first five minutes the general call (CQ de WWV) is given with an announcement of the frequency. The frequency and call letters of WWV are given every 10 minutes thereafter. In announcing its Beltsville and Meadows stations, a bureau statement said that it was hoped some day to furnish this service 24 hours per day. RCA Cases Slated THE GOVERNMENT'S anti-trust suit against RCA and associated and affiliated companies will be tried before the Federal District Court at Wilmington, Del., Oct. 10, according to Warren Olney, Jr., special assistant to the Attorney General charged with the prosecution of the case. Most of the government's demands have been met by the RCA through agreement, but the case will be tried on the basic issues involving the government's charges of monopoly in manufacture and broadcasting. Geddes Will Direct All RMA Activities BOND GEDDES, for the last five years an official of the Radio Manufacturers Association, has been promoted to executive vice president and general manager as a part of a general reorganization. The announcement, made by President Fred D. Williams following a meeting in Cleveland, Sept. 15, said that Mr. Geddes would have general direction of all RMA activities. Mr. Geddes has been endorsed at the White House to fill the vacancy on the Radio Commission, but it is understood that he is not an active candidate for the post and that his friends have been acting in his behalf without his knowledge. At the same time the RMA reelected Frank D. Scott, Washington attorney, as legislative counsel, and Judge John W. Van Allen, of Buffalo, as general counsel. I YE OLD SHELL GAME I As Played By A Lithuanian Act * With Gullible Broadcastei DARN CLEVER, these Lithuanians! Operators of an enterprising eastern local station will attest the fact. They have a story to tell with a real business moral for all broadcasters, but particularly those who present foreign language sustaining programs. jt developed this way, according to information reaching your correspondent. The station, ever seeking to build its audience, decided that an all-Lithuanian program would be a real service for the thousands of Lithuanians of the community. So it put on a regular sustaining feature, with a native band, native singers and even a native announcer. All announcements were in Lithuanian. Time passed, and the program continued as a sustaining feature. One day an official of the station chanced to meet one of the city's leading Lithuanian business men, duly Americanized. "You must be making a mint of money out of the Lithuanian Hour", he remarked. "What do you mean?" asked the station official, puzzled. "Why," retorted the Lithuanian, "the program is jammed full of commercial announcements b etween each number." After the official came to, he instituted an investigation. He found that the Lithuanian master-of-ceremonies had sold spot announcements to many of the city's Lithuanian merchants, and to others. What happened to the money? Well, you guess. The program, it is understood, is now a leading commercial feature, with a Lithuanian to check on all announcements. MME. FRANCES ALDA, Metropolitan Opera singer, has opened studios in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, to coach singers for radio and to teach prospective concert and opera artists and beginners. Her students will broadcast weekly over NBC. WTMJ Doubles Musical Staff; Has Acts on Road DOUBLING of its musical staff to allow its features to make personal appearances without interrupting schedule is announced by WTMJ, Milwaukee. Bob Tamms, in charge of the WTMJ Artists Bureau, announces that three leading Milwaukee dance orchestras have been brought under c o n t r a c t — J o e Gumin, Bill Carlson and Bob Tamms — and are being carried by remote control from local restaurants and ballrooms. Other WTMJ acts are being booked for theaters and socials by Fred L. Good, former theater man who recently joined WTMJ. Most popular of the WTMJ acts is "Heinie and His Grenadiers," which is also carried Monday nights over an NBC network. Another popular feature is "The Afternoon Show," a radio vaudeville. Bill Benz, accordionist formerly with B. A. Rolfe's orchestra and with Roxy, has been added to the WTMJ staff and is heard on the "Afternoon Show" as well as on a program of his own weekly. Julanne Pelletier, pianist who recently left WTMJ to go to Kalamazoo, has rejoined the Milwaukee station. Emily Joyce Jellisen, formerly with WISN, Milwaukee, has been revealed as the WTMJ "Personality Girl." She does a piano and organ act, succeeding Elwyn Owen. With Owen's resignation, Roy L. Peterson became assistant musical director under William J. Benning. Everett Cobb, formerly of the commercial staff, is now announcing late evening dance programs. Crosley, Sr., Passes POWEL CROSLEY, Sr., father of the president of Crosley Radio Corp., operating WLW, Cincinnati, died in Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Sept. 13 at the age of 82. A former lawyer, Mr. Crosley took an early interest in wireless and bought stock in the original Marconi company shortly after Marconi's successful effort to send signals across the Atlantic. His son, Powel, Jr., took an interest in radio as a boy,: and later entered the business as a set manufacturer and broadcaster. San Juan Station GRANTING of the application of Roberto Mendez for a new station at San Juan, Porto Rico, to use 1370 kc. with 100 watts unlimited time, was recommended to the Radio Commission Sept. 23 by Chief Examiner Yost (Report No. 416). Mr. Yost found that the area needs additional service and that no objectionable interference would result. Nine Years On Air SIXTY radio headliners participated in the ninth anniversary program of the A. & P. Gypsies for an hour over an NBC-WEAF network Sept. 19, paying tribute to Harry Horlick and his orchestra. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., sponsor, is one of the oldest advertisers-on the aw*. • Page 14 BROADCASTING • October 1, 1932