Broadcasting (Jan - June 1943)

LANDLUBBERS were these "beachcombers" at the penthouse party Monday evening at Paul H. Raymer's, in Chicago. Guests of the station representative in this unconventional setting were (1 to r): Clair McCoullough, Mason-Dixon Group; Edgar Kobak, executive vice-president, BLUE; Beth Black, Joseph Katz Co.; Linnea Nelson, J. Walter Thompson Co., New York; Herbert V. Akerberg, CBS vice-president; Reggie Schuebel, Duane Jones Co., and Margaret Wylie, J. Walter Thompson Co., Chicago. Mark Woods Addresses Blue Session; War Not Sold to Public, Says Kobak "THE WAR has not been sold to the public," Edgar Kobak, executive vice-president of the BLUE, told 150 BLUE affiliates at a meeting at the Palmer House last Monday afternoon, coincident with the NAB War Conference. "Radio has done a good job, but not good enough. We've got to work harder and longer. In these next few months we must work with greater effort and greater determination. We all know that there won't be any radio if the war is lost." 15 Months of Progress Mark Woods, BLUE president, gave the affiliates a review of network operations since the "birth of the BLUE" in Chicago, Feb. 1, 1942. Mr. Woods' report embraced the 15 months of progress of the network. Mr. Kobak was humorously introduced as the Simon Legree of the BLUE network and opened his remarks by asserting that there was "no smugness on the BLUE" and that every member of the staff is working to improve the network. Mr. Kobak also talked about promotion and publicity, saying their objective was to get more listeners to listen more hours per day. "We're not interested in comparative surveys. We are interested in research in listener likes and dislikes, so that we can guide our programming by these facts," he said. Keith Kiggins, vice-president in charge of station relations, opened the meeting with a general network report including sales figures and revenues. Phillips Carlin, vicepresident in charge of programs, told of future programming plans. A number of musical shows under the direction of Paul Whiteman, musical director, will be emphasized. Fred M. Thrower Jr., vice-president in charge of sales, talked briefly on sales plans. Network executives of the Eastern, Central and West Coast divisions were introduced at the meeting. Vitamalt Tries 6 EL WAY PRODUCTS Corp., New York, as a preliminary to projected national advertising for Vitamalt, new mealtime beverage, will test a transcribed quarter-hour program on six small stations in various regions starting around the end of May. Product was introduced to radio listeners last February through participations and news programs on three stations in the New York area [Broadcasting, Feb. 23]. Agency is H. A. Salzman Associates, New York. Philco Realigns IN A REALIGNMENT of officers of Philco Corp., Philadelphia, James T. Buckley, president, has been made chairman of the executive committee, while John Ballantyne, vice-president in charge of operations, becomes president. Mr. Buckley will continue to share with Larry E. Gubb, chairman of the board of directors, primary responsibility for policy-forming activities. Charles J. Steinruck Jr., formerly assistant secretary, has been named to succeed the late George E. Deming as secretary. Post on 150 GENERAL FOODS Corp., New York, will start a spot campaign for Post Toasties, Post Raisin Bran and Bran Flakes on a total of 150 stations, around May 10, using transcribed announcements five-times weekly. Agency is Benton & Bowles, New York. 22 Stations Admitted, NAB Total Now Is 546 BRINGING its total membership to 522, an additional 28 stations were admitted to NAB membership last week during the War Conference in Chicago. Also admitted, aside from the stations, was the Columbia Recording Corp., of New York, as an associate member. New members are : KCMO, Kansas City, Mo.; KCRC, Enid, Okla. ; KEEW, Brownsville, Texas ; KFFA, Helena, Ark. ; KGDM, Stockton, Cal. ; KGFL, Roswell, N. M. ; KHUB, Watsonville, Calif.; KLZ. Denver, Colo.; KSAN, San Francisco, Cal.; KSCJ, Sioux City; KTBS, Shreveport, La. ; KWFC, Hot Springs, Ark.; WDAK, West Point, Ga. ; WEBR, Buffalo, New York; WGGM, Gulfport, Miss. ; WGRC, New Albany, Ind. ; WHBQ, Memphis; WJPA, Washington, Pa.; WKBB, Dubuque, la. ; WKBO. Harrisburg, Pa.; WTOL, Toledo; WWPG, Palm Beach, Fla. ; WHK, Cleveland; WHKC. Columbus; Texas State Network (four managed stations). Los Angeles Silent SOUTHERN California area stations, in second radio silence since beginning of the year, went off the air at 8:34 p.m. (PWT), April 25, for 55 minutes. Concurrent with the red alert, which followed yellow and blue alerts, silence was ordered by Los Angeles Air Defense Wing of the IV Fighter Command when unidentified targets were detected. When identified as friendly, all clear signal was given at 9:30 p.m. (PWT). Previous radio silence on March 15 lasted four minutes. Lever Games LEVER BROS., Cambridge, Mass., on April 26 started sponsorship of a sports program on WLW, Cincinnati, for Lifebuoy Shaving Cream and Lifebuoy Soap. The five-weekly five-minute program, on WLW, 6:25 p. m., features reports on baseball and other sports games by Roger Baker, who teams with Dick Bray in covering Cincinnati Reds' games on WSAI. Agency is Ruthrauff & Ryan, New York. Shortage of Tubes Becoming Critical Copper Types Increasingly Difficult to Obtain LIKELIHOOD that all copper an node and copper pin transmitting tubes will become increasingly harr to obtain and that stations wil have to rely more and more upoi rebuilt tubes because of the scarcity of these materials was predicted bj spokesmen for the Radio & Radaj Division of WPB last Wednesday at an engineering breakfast con ference held in conjunction witl the NAB War Conference. Frank H. Mcintosh, assistant chief of the division, and Johi Creutz, former Washington con suiting engineer now heading thi transmitter unit of Mr. Mcintosh': branch, recounted the equipmen outlook to some 50 practical engi neers and manufacturers' represen tatives. Going to Be Tough While the new priorities struc ture is reaching practically al material essential to maintain trans mitters, the officials said that thi going will become increasingl; difficult in particular fields. It wa urged that all discarded tube having a salvage value be returnei to manufacturers for recondi tioning. "We won't see blue sky for a lonf while," Mr. Mcintosh declared. E\ pointed out, however, that the cooperation evidenced by broadcaster and manufacturers all down th> line had tended to ease conditions Because the situation is "going fa be tough", Mr. Mcintosh suggestei stations should not ask for anyi thing more than they actually neet in critical materials. Stations wil have to get along with a minimun of such equipment for the duration he said. Regarding radio receiving se tubes, Mr. Mcintosh said he though the situation is considerably wors than indicated by a recent NA1 survey. Later, at a press confer ence, Mr. Mcintosh indicated thai the two million "victory mode! tubes" now being processed wil constitute an ample stockpile fcj take care of prospective civiliai needs. Mr. Creutz pointed out that tw< types of tubes— 893 and 893-Rpractically are exhausted. Th plants manufacturing these types he said, also are being used fJ vital war production outside thu radio field and it is difficult to gei production lines going on coppe:1 annode tubes. The 899 tubes, used largely foil FM, television and high-frequenejj service, also are becoming scar©1 and production will be severely re stricted, he declared. PA's Telescripts LATEST ready-to-air news prognii'B to be added Sundays to the Telescriptm issued by Press Assn., is a quartwB hour commentary on wartime Wasbffl ington, prepared by Joe Torbett, Wasofl ington representative of Associated Press Radio, titled Washington InsidU Out. Page 26 • May 3, 1943 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertisin