Broadcasting (July - Dec 1938)

Superpower Date Again Postponed Briefs Now May Be Submitted To FCC Up to Sept. 6 A THIRD postponement — this time until Sept. 6 — for briefs summing up arguments on the so-called rules and regulations hearings held before the FCC last June, was authorized Aug. 29 by the "Superpower" Committee which conducted the hearings. Originally due Aug. 1, the FCC on its own motion authorized postponements to Aug. 15 and Sept. 1. The last postponement, to Sept. 6, was authorized after the matter had been raised by Louis G. Caldwell, Clear Channel Group counsel. However, the postponement, it was stated, was on motion of the committee. Clear Channel Pleas At the hearings, the Clear Channel Group, represented by Mr. Caldwell, urged revision of the proposed provision in the new rules which would limit power to a flat 50 kw. on clear channels, as a means of opening the way for power grants up to 500 kw. The group also vigorously opposed any further "breaking down" of clear channels. The Regional Group, represented by Paul D. P. Spearman, advocated a maximum power of 50 kw. both on economic and technical grounds and duplication on so-called Class I-A channels, claiming greater service would thereby be provided. The case of local independents, presented by George 0. Sutton, in large measure was similar to that of the regional presentation. Havana Hiatus In addition, WOR, Newark, and WCAU, Philadelphia, made individual pleas for Class I-A channel assignments as against the I-B, or duplicated clear assignments proposed for them under the Havana treaty providing for a wide scale reallocation of channels and power. Individual applicants also presented cases in their own behalf for assignment on certain clear channels and for horizontal increases in power. Actual reallotment of assignments must await ratification of the Havana Treaty, covering assignments among the four nations of the North American continent which is not expected until December at the earliest. The treaty itself does not become effective until a year after three of the four nations have ratified it and the fourth signifies its intention of so doing. The United States and Cuba already have ratified and Canada is expected to do so shortly. The Mexican Congress does not convene until December, at which time it is expected it will act favorably. Post Toasties on CBS GENERAL FOODS Corp., New York (Post Toasties), on either Oct. 1 or 8 will begin a new halfhour variety show built around Joe E. Brown, film comedian. Weekly program will be released over CBS and emanate from Hollywood. Time is now being cleared. Talent will include comedians Gill and Demling, with Margaret McCrae, vocalist. Harry Sosnick's orchestra will also be featured. Agency is Benton & Bowles, New York. THIS is a picture of the moon. It isn't a very good moon picture. The detail is poor and there seems to be some motion. Herb Hollister, the cameraman, explains this by saying that he wasn't focusing on the moon, but on the top of the KANS transmitter, a difference of some 240,000 miles. It might, but isn't, captioned "Moon Over Wichita". Caption or no caption, it's a neat innovation in candidery by one of radio's foremost lens genuises. New Good News Series WITH Louis K. Sidney, M-G-M executive in charge of radio directing activity, General Foods Corp., New York (Maxwell House coffee), on Sept. 1 was to start the 1939 series of its Good News program on 70 NBC-Red network stations, Thursdays, 9-10 p. m. The series will be known as Good News of 19S9 and format will follow that of last season. Talent lineup will remain virtually the same. Fanny Brice, Frank Morgan and Hanley Stafford will be featured along with guest artists. Meredith Willson's orchestra and Max Terr's chorus again will augment the musical setup. Opening program will have Louis B. Mayer, M-G-M first vicepresident, speaking and Robert Young as master of ceremonies. Ed Gardner, who produced the series last season, continues in that capacity with Al Kaye as assistant. Writers are Sam Moore, Phil Rapp and Morey Amsterdam. Marcella Knapp is assistant radio director of M-G-M. Agency Affiliation Begun By Morgan and Goodkind AN AFFILIATION between Raymond R. Morgan Co., Hollywood advertising agency and radio producers, and M. Lewis Goodkind, Chicago agency, effective Sept. 1, was announced by Ray Morgan. The Chicago offices, located in the Palmolive Bldg., will be known as Goodkind & Morgan. There will be no change in name of Raymond R. Morgan Co. in Hollywood. Goodkind & Morgan will represent and service accounts of Raymond R. Morgan Co. in the midwest; the reverse applying for Goodkind & Morgan western business. Raymond R. Morgan Co., founded several years ago, handles accounts of several regional and national advertisers. Mr. Goodkind, for nine years with Lord & Thomas and formerly radio service manager of that firm's Chicago headquarters, formed his own organization a short time ago. Calvin R. Holmes is vice-president of Goodkind & Morgan. PWA Grant to WOI PUBLIC Works Administrator Harold L. Ickes on Aug. 27 announced approval of a PWA project to install a 400-foot antenna, ground system and connecting electric lines at WOI, the Iowa State College station at Ames. Total cost of the improvements is estimated at $13,640, including a PWA grant of $6,138. This is believed to be the first such project to be approved by the Public Works Administration. McFarlane Again Loses In Texas Run-off Vote REP. W. D. McFARLANE, persistent critic of radio and of the FCC in Congress, was defeated for the Democratic nomination in the primary run-off Aug. 28. Ed Gossett, 35-year-old Wichita Falls attorney, led the incumbent by about 3,000 votes, after having failed to procure the necessary majority in the primary last month. Mr. McFarlane, who had President Roosevelt's backing, made numerous speeches during the last several sessions of Congress attacking the alleged "radio monopoly" and in criticism of commercial broadcasting and of FCC regulation generally. An application for a new regional broadcasting station in Wichita Falls, in which his father originally was said to have been interested, recently was granted by the FCC over three competitive applications. John Pitts Is Manager Of WHMA, at Anniston JOHN PITTS, Southern manager of World Broadcasting System in Atlanta, will become manager of the new WHMA at Anniston, Ala., scheduled to go on the air Oct. 15, according to Harry M. Ayers, publisher of the Anniston Star, licensee. It will operate with 100 watts daytime on the 1420 kc. channel. WHMA, according to Mr. Ayers, will use Collins equipment. Mr. Pitts was one of the organizers of WSFA, Montgomery, and has been with WBS for the last five years, during which time he has toured the South. Chief engineer will be James Cobble, of Knoxville. Other personnel has not yet been selected. Langendorf News LANGENDORF UNITED BAKERIES, San Francisco (bread & cake), on Sept. 6 starts sponsoring a twice-weekly quarter-hour dramatization of news events, similar to March of Time, on 28 Pacific Coast Don Lee network stations. Series will be heard Tuesday and Thursday, time not announced, and originate from KHJ, Los Angeles. Franklin Bingman, will be narrator and Carroll O'Meara, producer. Don Clark is to write the series. This program will supplement the five weekly quarterhour Phantoyi Pilot series sponsored by Langendorf Bakeries on 22 California and Washington Don Lee network stations. Young & Rubicam, Hollywood, is agency. BALLARD & BALLARD Co. Inc.. Louisville (Oven-Ready biscuits), which will start Smilin' Ed McConneU on NBC on Sept. 16, has also contracted for five-a-week quarter-hour participation in the Martha Deane program on WOR, Newark. Agency is Henri, Hurst & McDonald, Chicago. ART TAYLOR NAMED TO POST AT KRIC ART TAYLOR, formerly of KARK, Little Rock, has been appointed commercial manager of KRIC, new local which began operations in Beaumont, Tex., last month, according to W. L. Waltman, general manager. Mr. Waltman joined the station last June, supervising its construction. He was formerly of KALB, Alexandria, La., which he built in 1936. Afterward he was with KBIX, Muskogee, Okla. Other personnel includes William McClanahan, program director, formerly of WSAU, Wausau, Wis., and KALB, Franklin Whitehead, continuity director, formerly of KBIX; James F. Manship, chief engineer, formerly of KBIX and KALB; Albert Donaldson, formerly of KFXR, Oklahoma City, and Richard Haynes, announcer; O. W. Jones, and John McDaniel, engineers; James McGrew, announcer and salesman; John Kury, office assistant and announcer; Beau Beaumier, sports announcer; Malcolm Scaife, Spanish announcer, and Peggy Brent, handling women's programs. KRIC has installed 1007c Western Electric equipment and a 154 ft. Ideco Shunt excited radiator. Studios are in a one-story brick building in downtown Beaumont, completely insulated with Celotex Acusti tile. Oppose Lamour Suit NBC Artists Service and NBC have filed a motion with the California State Labor Commission asking for dismissal of action brought by Dorothy Lamour, Hollywood radio singer and film actress. Motion asserts that the Labor Commission does not have jurisdiction. Miss Lamour filed a complaint with the Commission Aug. 15 asking arbitration of her contract difficulties with the agency and voiding of her contract. In the petition she asserts the agency failed to give proper management and obtained her signature to an inequitable contract. Miss Lamour \ ! receives $675 per broadcast on the NBC Chase & Sanborn program. New Avalon Program BROWN & WILLIAMSON TO \ \ BACCO Corp., Louisville, on Sept. , 3 starts a variety program, Sat [ i urdays, 7-7:30 on 54 NBC-Red sta t s tions, promoting its Avalon cigarettes. Agency is Russel M. Seeds & Co., which recently placed a combined disc-live half-hour program I I on seven stations for Avalon and Bugler tobacco [Broadcasting, July 15]. > [ Heads Albany Sales EDWARD KENDALL JOHNSON, '{ [ formerly of WSAY, Rochester, has ; g been appointed sales manager of i J WOKO and WABY, Albany, by Harold E. Smith, general manager. Mr. Johnson succeeds Aaron Kellert, who has been assigned as "special agent" of the two Albany i r stations, Mr. Smith declared. THE END of the world was previewed in a CBS program on Aug. 20, originating at the Fels Planetarium, Philadelphia, through WCAU. i c Alan Scott, commentator, and Wagner Schlesinger, assistant director of & the Planetarium, described the terrifying scene. Page 18 • September 1, 1938 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising