Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Two Stations Lose Permits, Two Gain WPSC andWMRJ are Deleted ; Goelet Gets His License AN EVEN balance of the broadcasting station roster is being maintained — more or less — by the Radio Commission, with the ordered deletion of two stations and the licensing of two new outlets during the last fortnight. For violation of regulations and failure to operate in the public interest, WPSC, State College, Pa., operated by Pennsylvania State College, and WMRJ, Jamaica, N. Y., were denied renewal of their licenses Sept. 30. Granted was the application of Peter Goelet, Goshen, N. Y., for a new 50-watt station there to operate during week ends and to use a portion of the facilities ordered vacated by WMRJ. The Commission also granted the application of Cannon System, Ltd., Glendale, Cal., for a new local, KIEV, on 850 kc. with 100 watts, daytime. Goelet, 21-year old son of Robert Goelet, New York banker, will operate his station only eight hours a week on Saturdays and Sundays, using the 1210 kc. channel. WMRJ operated one-fourth time with 100 watts, and although the Goelet application sought only a portion of WMRJ's time, the Commission sustained the findings of Chief Examiner Yost that WMRJ be deleted. The ruling was effective Oct. 10. Mr. Goelet began his new station quest last May. He was represented by B. M. Webster, Jr., and Bernard J. Fuld, New York attorneys, and Paul M. Segal and George S. Smith, of Washington. WPSC was denied renewal of license to operate on 1230 kc. 500 watts, specified hours, by default. It had failed to appear at a hearing called by the Commission last month regarding its renewal, having been cited for violations of operating regulations. It is understood that the station has been silent for some time. On Oct. 5, the Lancaster Broadcasting Service, Inc., of Lancaster, Pa., headed by A. Z. Moore, licensee of WJKC, of that city, applied for the WPSC facilities for daytime operation. Endurance Record Set By Sponsor on WCAU WHAT is believed to be a record for single sponsorship of programs during one day was achieved by the Newton Coal Co., Philadelphia, when it paid for five hours on WCAU, Philadelphia, on the occasion of the occasion of the dedication of that station's new 50 kw. transmitter Oct. 2. F. Wallis Armstrong Co., Philadelphia, was the agency handling the account. Between 10:15 a.m. and midnight, this company offered 13 different programs with a total of 118 leading Philadelphia radio stars. A unique idea was woven about these broadcasts. At the opening and close of each period, the Newton Coal announcer was introduced with the sounding of trumpets and cheering of crowds. During the entire fwe hours of broadcasting, only 10 short announcements about the company's products were made. IPEPYS ON THE AIR Dapper DanonWFAA is Novel I — 5-Minute Household Period — OUR OLD friend, the five-minute period, has been given a new dress or, to be more specific, a new suit of clothes — and the women like it. The Morten Milling Company was faced with the problem of introducing a comparatively new quick biscuit flour in competition with an established, nationally-advertised product. Roy Henderson, of the sales staff of WFAA, Dallas, was consulted. To say "the right thing to the right people at the right time and in the right way", Mr. Henderson conceived a character, Dapper Dan, a modern Samuel Pepys — an epicurean and a gentleman who knows his appetites, especially as related to the sponsor's product. This character was chosen to interest Madame Home Manager at 11:25 a. m. Dapper Dan is a sort of an intimate news gatherer and purveyor of information about food and food uses (not the cutand-dried menu or recipe stuff that has been done to death). Introduced and closed by a special theme, words and music, the program is selling quick biscuit flour — and it isn't costing the advertiser a flour barrel of money. l,106Transmitters Purchased in 1931 BROADCASTERS in 1931 purchased 1,106 transmitters with associated equipment, 62,562 transmitting tubes and 10,225 microphones, according to the census of manufactures for that year just issued by the U. S. Census Bureau. The f. o. b. factory prices for the transmitters aggregated $2,400,257, for the tubes $1,410,188 and for the microphones $187,035. These totals include the relatively small proportion of foreign exports. The census, taken biennially, is chiefly significant in that it combines the radio and phonograph industries for the first time as phonographs are now being produced primarily by radio concerns. It shows 214 factories with 36,373 wage earners and a payroll of $35,031,461. Most of the 1931 radio and related equipment production, which aggregated $194,313,602 in value at factory prices, represented receiving sets. Last year 3,647,499 sets valued at $113,214,421 and 73,603 radio-phonograph combinations valued at $6,310,442 and only 48,276 phonographs valued at $1,674,010 were produced. About 50,000,000 receiving set tubes valued at about $27,000,000 were also produced, as were about 50,000 battery-operated receivers. The 1931 production figures, the census shows, fell 59.8 per cent from the $476,041,054 value reported for 1929, which was radio's peak year. This is attributed to the depression, although the fact that so many radios and radiophonograph combinations were produced last year would indicate that midget sales nevertheless are holding up the total volume of radio set distribution and hence are steadily increasing: the size of the radio audience. ±"hoto by A. Guilliland, Berlin MOVING WALL STUDIO— The big studio in Hamburg's Broadcasting House can be made smaller or larger by moving one whole wall. The podium on which orchestra sits can be raised bodily or lowered as required for acoustic effects. View is from "bridge" of moving wall. Ithaca Station Changes Control and Call Letters DUE TO CHANGES in operating policy and ownership, WEAI, Ithaca, N. Y., licensed to Cornell University, has acquired the call letters WESG, formerly held by the local station at Glens Falls, N. Y. The Glens Falls station has taken the new call letters WGLC. At the Radio Commission, it was explained in connection with the approval of the changes, that the Elmira-(N.Y.) Sun-Gazette, Gannet newspaper, has entered into an arrangement with the Ithaca station for its operation and for either partial or ful control. An application is pending for removal of the station to Elmira. The newspaper previously had acquired control of the Glens Falls station, which it now apparently has relinquished. An application is pending for the transfer of WGLC from W. Neal Parker & Herbert H. Metcalfe to O. T. Griffin and G. F. Bissell, and it is expected that the Ithaca station will be transferred from Cornell to WESG, Inc. Topic is Standards A JOINT meeting of the radio committee of the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the chairmen of the commercial section of the NAB is scheduled for Oct. 17 at headquarters of AAAA in New York. Amon? topics on the agenda are the standard order blank and standard rate cards. RADIO WEEKLY made its appearance Sept. 26, published by the University of California, Berkeley, Cal. The four-page leaflet lists radio programs over KMTR and KPO, as well as other data regarding the university's activities in radio. WJSV, New CBS Outlet, Opens Oct. 20 as WMAL Plans Added Features WASHINGTON'S new CBS outlet, the revamped 10 kw. WJSV Alexandria, Va., will go on the air with a full schedule of network programs on Oct. 20, as planned. An inaugural ceremony will be carried that night ovei CBS. At the same time, WMAL Washington, will leave the CBS network to concentrate on local anc national spot accounts. WMAI will also carry the CBS Dixie Network's Southern Dairies program started this month and hearc Thursdays from 7:30 to 7:45 p.m There will be no changes in ths staff of WMAL, according to Mil ton R. Baker, manager. Nurae rous new features will be addec to its schedule, including additiona remote controls from local nigh clubs and hotels. WMAL may als< be used for other Dixie Networl programs, he said. The new WJSV will be unde: the directorship of Harry C Butcher, Washington representa tive of CBS. Its inaugural progran will be heard at 9 a.m., Oct. 20 featuring artists from other loca stations and various prominen civic figures. T. W. Church ha been named program manager, am DeWalt Willard, formerly in th agency business in Baltimore, wil be chief announcer. Lester Bow man, formerly with WABC, i chief engineer, and his staff wil include Clyde Hunt, formerly witl WMAL; William Kriz, chief engi neer of the old WJSV; Bruce Geddes, Robert Meisenheimer am Harold Forry. WMAL's president is M. A Leese. Besides Mi\ Baker, th staff includes William Pearsor program director; Stanley Bel chief announcer; Frank Young Leonard Davis and Warre Sweeney, announcers; Herbert A Wadsworth, chief engineer; W. A Parks, Edwin W. Burg, Ralp Hamill and Charles Fisher, opera tors. Rev. Coughlin Progran Over 26 Station Ne CONSTITUTING the largest inde pendent network ever arranged, 2 stations will broadcast the weekl programs of Father Charles E Coughlin beginning Sunday, Oc 16, when the militant Cathcli priest resumes his radio worl "The Golden Hour of the Littl Flower" will be broadcast there after every Sunday from 4 t 5 p.m., EST, with WJR, Detro; as key for the network. Stations carrying the progran besides WJR, are WLW, KYV\ WOR, WJAS, WOKO, WMT WNAC, WEAN, WORC, WIC( WDRC, WLBZ, WFEA, KSTI WCAO, WNBH, WCAU, WFBI WGAR, WGR, KMOX, WO( WHO, WOL and WHB. Added to CBS JOHN S. ROCHE, formerly of tr staff of Editor & Publisher, whic has been a consistent foe of radi has joined the publicity staff t CBS in New York. Page 10 BROADCASTING • October 15, 193 ^