Broadcasting (July - Dec 1938)

In T exas W. Lee O'Daniel Wins in First Primary! SATURDAY, July 23rd, in Texas, W. Lee O'Daniel, Fort Worth radio flour salesman, received more votes than his eleven politically seasoned opponents combined — and for the first time in Texas Political history, a first termer won in the first primary. W. Lee O'Daniel made a sensational Radio Campaign, with Radio Station WBAP, Fort Worth, doing all the booking and making all the pick-ups — a WBAP supervised campaign — O'Daniel started his radio activities over WBAP six years ago, and since that time has always used the station with occasional additional stations. AS THE "MASTER OF THE MIKE" PHILOSOPHER SALESMAN, O'DANIEL SAID IN AN EXCLUSIVE FAMILY PARTY BROADCAST THROUGH WBAP ELECTION NIGHT— "I REALIZE THAT NONE OF THE THINGS WHICH I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE USE OF THE FACILITIES OF THAT GREAT RADIO STATION, WBAP" Star-Telegram Stations WBAP and KGKO Get things done in Texas Both have state-wide coverage O N JULY 11th, KGKO scooped the state 18 minutes when the President announced the appointment of Governor Alired to a Federal Judgeship. Last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, KGKO scooped the State with a short wave mobile unit broadcast of the San Saba floods. The truck penetrated so far into the flood district it was marooned — but got the news. The short wave mobile units of WBAP and KGKO are always on time, and in big Texas where things are happening, these units are feeding constantly hot special events programs to WBAP and KGKO. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram Stations Anion Carter — President Harold Hough — General Manager WBAP KGKO 800kc. — 50,000 Watts New York Edward Petry 8C Company 570 kc. — 5,000 Watts New York Office 630 Fifth Avenue. Columbus 5-3264 John I. Prosser, Manager WBBM Mariners EDDIE HOUSE, organist of WBBM, Chicago, and Charles Warriner, of the WBBM engineering staff, sailed in July via the Great Lakes and the Panama Canal for the opening of the Golden Gate International Exposition. The 42-foot cabin cruiser is equipped with radio transmitting and receiving equipment. They plan to record special events features for WBBM during their cruise on the Unda Maris which was built by House and named for one of the stops on the pipe organ. made the purchases and that possibly it was an oversight. He agreed that as far as he was aware conditions at WLW had not changed since he had acquired all three stations, since it has operated with 500 kw. since 1934. But he added that conditions have changed in connection with purchase of spot time and that "the little fellows are left in the cold" while the advertisers and agencies select the "big fellows". When Mr. Patrick asked whether he expected the Commission to correct economic conditions in connection with the broadcasting business, Mr. Kennedy said he did not expect the Commission to heave him a "lifeline" but that he had appeared to testify in response to a Commission subpoena. He added he was trying to make sufficient money on his station operations to improve their status and do a public service job as well as realize a profit. Regarding his three stations, he said he had purchased WCHS in 1936 for $200,000, $100,000 of which was paid cash with $25,000 installments a year for four years. WPAR was purchased for approximately $18,600, he said, while WBLK was acquired as a new station in 1936. Seeking to bear out his contention that WLW had nothing whatever to do with the Red Top situation, Mr. Patrick carried Mr. Kennedy through a cross-examination on placement of advertising. Mr. Kennedy declared that as a general rule it is placed by the advertiser and the agency on the basis of market and distribution but that the "friendship factor" has been important in some cases. WWNC ASHEVILLE,N.C Full Time NBC Affiliate 1000 Watts MILLIONS of DOLLARS — are being spent by tourists in the Asheville area the nest two months. One of America's great summer markets, this . . . and WWNC offers you the sole blanket radio coverage ! Let's get your schedules going — immediately ! Regarding Red Top, he said he had written Mr. Crosley on it and. after further questions, declared Mr. Crosley had answered him disclaiming any knowledge of the agency action. Mr. Patrick asked if he had informed Commission counsel prior to the hearing of the existence of this exchange of correspondence with Mr. Crosley, and another legal setto developed. After objections by Mr. Porter, Mr. Patrick said it was for the purpose of "testing the fairness of the witness and his freedom from bias." Chairman Case held the question was not proper but Mr. Patrick insisted that if the witness had not disclosed the correspondence it would indicate bias. Mr. Kennedy said that prior to his testimony he had told the whole story of the Red Top account to many people and that he believed he had mentioned the existence of this correspondence to Mr. Porter. He said he had no bias whatever against Mr. Crosley and that his letter to Mr. Crosley and the latter's reply were both "gentlemanly". Furthermore, he said, while he did not hold WLW or Mr. Crosley responsible for the agency's action, he felt that WLW should not have continued to carry the program. Boake Carter Program Subject of Questioning He described the agency's action as one wherein it tried to "hold a gun of denial of business" at his stations because they would not carry a "one-shot program" which sought to "try to steal away" his audience. "I would definitely think that they were bad boys," he said after reciting this incident. Mr. Patrick asked why he had not given this character of testimony at the June 6 hearings on rules and regulations when the case against superpower stations was presented by National Association of Regional Broadcast Stations and the witness said he had not been asked to take the stand at that time, again pointing out he had been subpoenaed for this hearing by the FCC. When Mr. Patrick observed there were "strange coincidences" Gov. Case, plainly angered, observed his statement was in the nature of argument and that the time for argument had not arrived. Mr. Kennedy again stated he had talked with many people about the Red Top proposition because he felt so strongly that WLW should not have run the program when it caused so much unrest, particularly since a number of stations in the West Virginia area were affected by the Red Top account. Moreover, he said, the agency threat apparently had been carried out because the Red Top program was being carried on another West Virginia station and not on his own. The Boake Carter-General Foods program next came up for scrutiny, and Mr. Kennedy agreed that the program was placed by Benton & Bowles for General Foods. He was asked whether he knew about any further cancellation of the program beyond that originally ordered through CBS but afterward rescinded. He said he had no other information but that he had not been at home for ten days and therefore might not be apprised of late developments. Mr. Patrick asked about the Page 58 • August 1, 1938 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising E