Broadcasting (July - Dec 1939)

JOHN WEST RUNYON WERE you to express a desire to meet the man behind the radio scene of Buchanan & Co. and your wish was granted, you'd be ushered into an unpretentious Hollywood office and introduced to John West Runyon, newly-appointed national radio director of that agency. He's a well-built, dark-haired, seriousminded chap of 34. Although young in years, he's a veteran in his field, with 14 years of time buying and production experience to his credit. Mention his name to radio or agency men, and their reaction is immediately one of respect and esteem. Jack, as he is familiarly known, was born in San Francisco on Sept. 8, 1905, and attended grade school there. When his family moved to Southern California, he enrolled in Pasadena (Cal.) High School. Later he went to University of California, graduating in 1926. He is an Alpha Delta Phi. A decided flare for the theatrical marked his school career. He produced musicals and also had a dance band which helped defray college expenses. Because his father, F. F. Runyon, is owner and publisher of the Pasadena (Cal.) Independent and brother Fred Graham Runyon, editor of the Glendale (CaL) Neivs Press, Jack followed tradition. He handled national display advertising for various publications during vacations and his senior college year, but after a brief fling aban I' doned his newspaper career. In July 1926, after graduation I from college, he entered the adverI tising agency business, joining Lord & Thomas, Los Angeles, as space buyer. In early 1928 he was elevated to account executive as well as West Coast radio director of that agency, advancing to the post of assistant national radio director. He remained with Lord & Thomas for approximately 14 years. During that time he produced and directed' more than 1,500 shows and not one of his own creations received a coincidental rating of less than 38%. His all-time high rating was achieved during Cali fornia's Hour, a program sponsored on the Don Lee Network, and which registered a 70% coincidental. Jack was the first producer to use Bing Crosby on a sponsored program. That was when MJB Coffee Co., San Francisco, presented the crooner twice weekly on the Demi-Tasse Revue over NBC. Other firsts included Louella Parsons, Gogo Delys, Kay Thompson, Gus Arnheim, Ted Fio Rito, Phil Harris, Tizzie Lish, Don Wilson, Conrad Nagel and others. Among the many shows Jack has produced, he numbers Amos 'n' Andy, Lxim & Abner, Armour Hour with Phil Baker, Lucky Strike Magic Carjjet, Sunkist Program with Louella Parsons, Hollywood Discoveries with Hedda Hopper, and of course the justly famous California's Hour series. At one time or another he has directed for radio practically every important star in Hollywood films. Along with his radio duties, Runyon was also director of the special service department of the agency and obtained all film name testimonials for Lord & Thomas accounts. The toughest assignment of his career was while handling the NBC Lucky Strike program. He handled the Hollywood part of the show. One. late Thursday afternoon he received a wire from the sponsor requesting him to obtain 10 Olympic winners for the following Saturday broadcast. The show, transmitted at 5 p.m., from Los Angeles, had to incorporate a simulated broadcast of the grand Olympic Ball, to be held in the Biltmore Hotel, that city, on Saturday night, at 9 o'clock. It so happened that all events of the Olympic Games had been completed, and the tired athletes were pulling stakes for home. Jack found himself confronted with the problem of rounding up 10 winners and getting them to the studio in time for the broadcast. He obtained a police escort and went to w^ork. After considerable difficulty, the ingenious Runyon -was on his way back to the studio followed by NOTES M. J. HUMPHREYS has been promoted to commercial director of CFCF, Montreal, following the promotion of James A. Shaw to manager [Broadcasting, Sept. 1]. Other changes include E. A. Smith, appointed director of publicity and sales promotion ; E. Hewetson, program director ; H. G. Young, in charge of special events and assistant in sales. L. F. CRAMER, formerly general sales manager of Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, New York, has been appointed general sales manager of Wire Broadcasting Corp. of America, New York. HOWARD S. LEROY, Washington attorney, has incorporated into a 141page book his notes and papers on Aeronautical and Radio Laic, relating largely to international communications as affected by the evolution of radio and aeronautics. The eight articles are reprints of papers published previously in various journals. FELIX GREEN. American representative of British Broadcasting Co.. with headquarters in New York, is in Hollywood surveying radio programs adaptable for transcribing. ED BOWERS, recently with MBS, Chicago, in a sales capacity, and prior to that radio director of N. W. Ayer & Sons, Chicago, has resigned to become a radio consultant and writer. He has established headquarters at 300 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. RUDOLPH MARCOUX. formerly of the Bangor Daihi Xeifs, has joined the sales staff of WABI. Bangor. Me. Olympic athletes on the rear of police motorcycles, on running boards of automobiles and in practically any conveyance handy. When they all arrived and counted noses. Jack found that he had 13 in all, including Eleanor Holm and Helene Madison in wet bathing suits. In addition he had bagged the International as well as Americ a n presidents of the Olympic Games. They were all presented on the program, some with aid of interpreters. Among the important highlights of his radio career, Mr. Runyon lists production of California's Hour, sponsored by the California Chain Stores. This show was designed to impress Californians with the necessity of defeating a controverted chain store bill of considerable national importance at that time on the ballot. So intense was the civic appeal and so superb the sho^vmanship, that the program polled a 70% listening audience, equal to that of Major Bowes over a national network. Defeat of the bill was accomplished. Subsequent articles in Time, News-Week and Fortune magazines lend authority to the important role of Jack Runyon and California's Hour. Playing no small part in the scheme of things is Mrs. Runyon, the former Decla Dunning of Los Angeles, whom he married Dec. 12, 1934. Two children make up the rest of the Runyon household. There is 12-year-old Ann (by a former marriage) and little John Carroll, aff'ectionately called Ricky, who is 2% years of age. Jack ART CROGHAN has left the commercial department of WTOL, Toledo, to become commercial manager of WJBK, Detroit, under a six-year contract negotiated with James F. Hopkins, WJBK president and general manager. Mr. Ci'oghan started in radio in 1927 with KWK, St. Louis, going to WDGY, Minneapolis, in 1930 as national sales manager. LUTHER REID, formerly assistant publicity director of CBS, has been appointed to the newly-created post of director of publicity for WABC, CBS key station in New York. Appointment is a further step in the development of WABC in its own right, which began early in 1938 when Arthur Hull Hayes was appointed sales manager of the station which had previously been represented along with other CBS managed and owned stations by Radio Sales. Mr. Reid, in addition to publicizing WABC, will also continue to handle network publicity in the New York metropolitan area. PAT BUFORD has been named manager of KHBG, Okmulgee, Okla.. with the transfer of the station to its new ownership. The staff includes Lucille Buford, commercial manager ; A. F. Schultz. chief engineer ; J. H. Smith, assistant engineer; Fred Gaye. Roy McKee and Bill Conine, announcers ; Charles Dabney, salesman. NEAL SMITH, since last fall assistant manager of WCOL, Columbus. O., on Sept. 1 was promoted to manager. HAROLD BURKE. manager of WBAL. Baltimore, with his wife and two children were among the passengers on the U. S. liner Washington returning from England Sept. 8. carrying Americans fleeing European hostilities. They had been gone about a month on a European vacation, which took them to France, Holland and England. JACK KNOTT, formerlv of KOCA. Kilgore, Tex., has joined KICA. Clovis, N. M.. as commercial manager. spends a great deal of time with his family. He takes great pride in his 30 year old farmhouse home which has been remodeled to the tastes of Mrs. Runyon and himrelf. The acre estate is homey and covered with avocado and orange trees. Seemingly way out in the country, it actually is only three minutes from his office on Hollywood Blvd. Jack loves to play host to his many friends who drop in for an evening. He enjoys exchanging ideas with them, is an entertaining story teller, has the knack of putting people at ease not only at his home but in business also. An athlete and lover of sports, Jack admittedly works best under fire and can speed up when he finds he has but a short time in which to accomplish a desired result. He was a member of the University of California crew and loves to hunt and fish. He doesn't play golf, but excels in swimming and the games of tennis and squash. Among Hollywood celebrities he numbers Lum & Abner as constant companions on his hunting and fishing expeditions. An ace production man, Mr. Runyon feels that his real forte is in the creation of ideas and their fulfillment. He is at his best when attempting to create something new for radio. As radio director of Buchanan & Co., which post he assumed Sept. 1, he is at present teaming up with Ed Gardner, agency producer of the new CBS Texaco Star Theatre, series, sponsored by Texas Co., for a bigger and better show. j BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising September 15, 1939 • Page 49