Broadcasting (Jan - June 1940)

;MAN-SIZED in keeping with its status as focal center of a contest to find the champion expectorator 1 among the trout stream guides of Western Michigan, this brass cuspidor was presented in April to Newaygo Newt (left), famed guide and philosopher of Michigan streams and forests. Doing presentation honors is Bob Tillmans, newscaster of WOOD-WASH, Grand Rapids. The suitably engraved cuspidor, designated as the WOOD-WASH Trophy, was used during the long-distance spitting contest v/hich was a feature of the Newaygo Open Guides Meet in i April. It was selected from a welter (of proffered goboons which followed an appeal by Newscaster Tillmans for the essential old I, fashioned articles. Best in Baffin AN INTERESTING testimonial came recently to KMOX, St. Louis, from one of its listeners — an Episcopal missionary in Canada's farNorth Baffin Bay region, about 3,000 miles from St. Louis. Recently the minister, Rev. L. E. Neilson, visited Rochester, N. Y. There he met a St. Louisan, started a conversation and asked him if he knew anyone at KMOX. Explaining his query, Rev. Neilson said his radio brings in KMOX better than any other station in the States, and he asked the visitor to convey his good wishes to KMOX officials. Advised of the incident, General Manager Merle S. Jones arranged a radio salute to the missionary. NEW subscribers to Transradio Press Service are stations WINN, Louisville ; WPID, Petersburg, Va. ; KVGB Great Bend, Kan.; WISE, AshevUIe, N. C. AUDIENCE MAKES ITS CHOICE Meat Sponsor Tests Reci Preferences for Its pes and Takes Votes on Various Products RADIO cooking school, featuring tests and sampling of meat products, held early in April by the Cleveland Provision Co. in collaboration with WHK-WCLE, Cleveland, turned out so successfully that the company is making the school a permanent part of its sales campaign. Chester G. Newcomb, general manager, and William Fletcher, sales promotion manager, recently signed Florence LaGanke, cooking expert featured on the company's daily WCLE program, to present the instruction sessions regularly in a downtown auditorium. The original plan for the school was worked out by these company officials in cooperation with K. K. Hackathorn, sales manager of WHK-WCLE. Late in March, two announcements were aired on the WCLE program, inviting Cleveland housewives to the school, which was to be held in the station's largest studio. The response was immediate. Requests for tickets poured in and the 250 available were sent out at once. As the date for the school approached, demand grew and the "classroom" had to be moved to a nearby auditorium. When the day arrived, 233 of the tickets mailed were brought in, and these persons brought with them so many friends, that the auditorium was filled to capacity. Attendance was more than 500. Miss LaGanke conducted the school in much the same manner as her WCLE program, presenting recipes informally and demonstrating different ways of preparing 10 types of Wiltshire Brand meats. As she spoke, the recipes were distributed to the audience, together with a ballot form. Then the 10 types of meats were placed on display. Three slicing machines were put to work cutting the meat, and samples were passed out to everyone in the audience. The women were asked to vote for the three types they like best, and finally, when the 90-minute session was over, they were given samples of the three winning meats to take home with them. Success of the school is cited as the result of the sponsor's policy of using "name" talent on the WCLE program. Miss LaGanke writes a nationally-syndicated homemakers' w L ( business aitimoie. column, and is the author of numerous books, the latest of which, Flavor's the Thing, is a bestseller in this field. She has been on WCLE for the same sponsor continuously for more than two years. FCC Barrier Removed, WINN Ready for Debut THE show cause order against the new WINN, Louisville, issued by the FCC, which threatened to block licensing of the station, was rescinded May 8 upon "satisfactory showing as to financial qualifications" made on behalf of D. E. (Plug) Kendrick, principal owner. Mr. Kendrick, despite pendency of the order as to why his construction permit should not be recalled, had begun installation of the station with operation planned this month [Broadcasting May 1]. The FCC Nov. 20 had cited the Kentucky Broadcasting Corp., licensee, on the ground that it was not financially qualified to construct and operate the new local, which had been given assignment on 1210 kc. with 250 watts day and 100 night. ROMA WINE Co., New York, on May 1 started 30-word evening chain-break announcements six times weekly on KQV, Pittsburgh, and WFIL, Philadelphia, and will add more stations later this summer. Bermingham, Castleman & Pierce, New York, handles eastern advertising for the account. Planks on Air Freedom Sought of Major Parties PLANS to petition both the Democratic and Republican National Committees to include a "freedom of radio" plank in their platforms to be drawn up at the forthcoming conventions, were discussed at a meeting May 9 of the NAB legislative committee. The committee also discussed pending legislation, particularly in the light of early adjournment of Congress but took no foriTial action. Present were Chairman John A. Kennedy, West Virginia Network; F. M. Russell, NBC Washington vice-president; Harry C. Butcher, CBS Washington vice president; Theodore C. Streibert, WOR-Mutual vice-president; John Elmer, WCBM, Baltimore; NAB President Neville Miller; NAB Counsel Russell P. Place. Amoco Airs Preakness FOR the third consecutive year American Oil Co., Baltimore, sponsored a broadcast of the Preakness Stakes on 42 NBC-Red stations, May 11, from 5:45-6:15 p. m., in the interests of Amoco gas and oil. The Golden Jubilee running at Pimlico Race Track was described by Clem McCarthy, NBC turf expert, and Edwin C. Hill, writer and commentator, assisted by Bob Stanton, NBC special events announcer. Joseph Katz Co., Baltimore, handles the Amoco account. INSTITUTE of American Meat Packers, Chicago, on May 6 started a series of six-weekly temperature report announcements on WBBM, Chicago, placed by Leo Burnett Co., Chicago. QUESTION: WHICH RADIO STATION SHOULD I USE IN THE DETROIT MARKET TO SELL HiY PRODUCT THROUGH RETAILERS AT LEAST COST PER UNIT SALE? ANSWER: CKLW . . . BECAUSE RIGHT NOW A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF DETROIT'S LEADING RETAILERS USE THIS 5.000WATT STATION REGULARLT...FOR ITS DEFINITE LOW-COST PULLI r 5000 WATTS DAY and NIGHT • CLEAR CHANNEL Represenfaiive: Joseph Hershey McGillvra MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising May 15, 1940 • Page 75