Broadcasting (Jan - June 1940)

Stations Promote ^Save Met' Drive $132,299 Already Donated by Individual Radio Fans RADIO'S part in the campaign to raise $1,000,000 to "save the Met" has elicited cooperation from the 80-odd NBC-Blue stations which carry the Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcasts, it is II shown in letters reaching NBC headquarters. ' Going beyond the routine of spot ' announcements to call attention to the drive, many station managers are presenting special local programs with talks by civic leaders i and prominent music lovers, and are enlisting the aid of sectional groups by personal appeals. In addition, practically all stations have offered to cooperate with music clubs and similar organizations in their areas, in a campaignwithin-a-campaign to aid the Met. According to available information, all stations carrying the matinee broadcasts also broadcast the Remember the Met series, Wednesdays at 11 p. m. (EST), over NBCBlue, in which opera stars and backstage personalities participate. Audience Contributions Concrete evidence of the stations' activities in promoting the drive is 'found in the fact that, as of Feb. •26, a total of $132,299 had been reIJceived from 65,000 individual radio ;fc contributors since David Sarnoff, !• chairman of the board of the drive's radio division, announced on Jan. ji 27 the part that NBC would play in ■ attempting to gather funds to perpetuate the Metropolitan's existence. In addition to reports on the vari"ous promotional ideas being employed, many of the letters from ; the individual stations contain sugjgestions for furthering the campaign. John A. Kennedy, WBLK, Clarksburg, W. Va., suggested that stations carrying the opera broadcasts make donations as "evidence of their eagerness to carry on this ^ great public service". ^ Nathan Lord, WAVE, Louisville, ' wrote he would be glad to build ; continuities centering around the ; opera to be used on 30-minute pro[ grams played by his own staff orchestra, and on other shows projLduced by the station. ; K. H. Berkeley, WRC-WMAL, [ Washington, reported that, in addiction to other activities, the stations would carry a total of 120 spot an; nouncements between Feb. 8 and March 8. t)h Liquor Advertising Measure Stymied'^ Radio Bills Are Inactive in Congress BROADCASTS 5 '72 hrs. daily in Polish to over V2 million. Poles — in addition to Italian-GermanYiddish-Spanish. JOSEPH LANG, Mgr. 29 W. 57th St. N. Y. City WITH the Johnson Bill prohibiting the radio advertising of alcoholic beverages effectively stymied by the threat of Sen. Clark (D-Mo.) to attach the controversial antilynching bill as an amendment, the sole legislative proposal touching on broadcasting affairs likely to receive Congressional consideration in the near future appears to be the Logan-Walter proposal to revise administrative court procedure. This bill likely will be brought up in the House early in March. Although the immediate horizon indicates treatment of only the administrative court bill, there is promise of more action to come, when and if a practical parliamentary course can be opened for the Johnson Bill and the House Interstate Commerce Committee acts on the Ditter Bill to amend the Federal Communications Act of 1934 [see page 19]. Walter Bill's Prospects In view of the House Rules Committee treatment of the proposal sponsored by Rep. Walter (D-Pa.) to redefine administrative court procedure, it appears the bill will be brought before the House at the first opportunity despite opposition of Administration critics holding the measure inimical to efficient functioning of Federal agencies. The Senate Judiciary Committee, after a brief appearance by Rep. Walter, during which he reviewed the provisions of his bill, substituted the House proposal for the original Senate bill sponsored by the late Sen. Logan (D-Ky.). This is believed to presage an intensive effort on the part of Senate proponents to secure action on the legislation this session. The original Logan Bill, differing only nominally from the Walter proposal, was passed by the Senate last session but called back for reconsideration at the request of Sen. Minton (D-Ind.) and Administration supporters, presumably to allow the Justice Department to suggest amendments. Although the Justice Department has indirectly indicated tentative attitudes on administrative agency matters in the monographs recently made public by the Attorney General's Committee on Administrative Procedure, no amendments as such were offered during preliminary considerations of the bill. In any event, Justice Department alterations to the proposal must necessarily come via the amendment route when the measure is considered on the floor. Following a parliamentary joust Feb. 19 with Sen. Clark (D-Mo.), during which he carried on a oneman filibuster against the bill by forcing six consecutive rollcalls. Sen. Johnson (D-Col.), after protesting against the "obstructionist policy" as not "in keeping with the dignity of the Senate", stated he was temporarily postponing pressure for immediate consideration of the bill. Sen Clark's move in serving notice that he would attach the anti-lynching bill as an amendment to the Johnson Bill when and if it came up effectively blocked the measure, at least for the time being, since Southern Senators in sympathy with the anti-liquor legislation would likely be forced to vote against it rather than support the anti-lynch measure. Johnson Amendment On Feb. 26 Sen. Johnson offered two amendments to his bill, designed to limit partially the effect of the measure as offered before. One amendment would prohibit broadcasts of alcoholic beverage advertising received or receivable in States having dry areas — of which there are 36, according to Sen. Johnson. The other would prohibit such broadcasts where they were received or receivable in States having individual prohibitions or limitations on liquor advertising via radio. The latter limitation also would reach several additional States, he said. Commenting on his bill, with the new amendments. Sen. Johnson declared the legislation is in accord with the 21st Amendment, the Democratic platform of 1932 and the NAB code. With its schedule for the next few weeks filled with other matters, principally transportation and petroleum, legislation, it is not thought the House Interstate Commerce Committee will be able to consider the Ditter Bill (HR8509) before April 1. Although its Senate sponsor has not yet been announced, there will be an identical companion measure to the Ditter bill in the Senate, it was learned. Despite some opposition from critics taking issue with "snooping questions" of the Housing Census, particularly those touching on personal financial matters, the House on Feb. 26 approved a deficiency bill providing $5,000,000 as an initial appropriation for the Housing Census, which includes a question designed to indicate the number of radio homes in the country. Another item, amounting to $2,166,000, also is included for the Housing Census in the State, Commerce, & Justice appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1941, which has been approved by both houses of Congress. The $5,000,000 initial appropriation is to cover expenses of the first year, while the smaller item extends to the second year's expenses, and the remaining $834,000 of the $8,000,000 originally authorized for the Housing Census is for the third year. Senate action on the deficiency appropriation is expected within a few days. BOSTOI¥'S BIGGEST RADIO PROGRAM (Particiiialiiip) Write for 15 Big Success Stories CANADIAN WHEAT BELT HAS MORE MONEY TO SPEND War stimulates Trade in Western Canada • The Canadian farmer is in the money . . . the mines and smelters are busy . . . business is booming in Western Canada. All this means a ready market for your product. MOVE iN ON THE CANADIAN WEST THROUGH THESE BASIC STATIONS fir%i in Listener Preference Write for Audience Figures CKCK CHAB CJOC CFAC CJCA CJAT Regina, Sask. Moose Jaw, Sask. Lethbridge, Alta. Calgary, Alta. Edmonton, Alta. Trail, B.C. BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising USA Weed and Company CANADA -All-Canada Radio Facilities Ltd. March i, 1940 • Page 73