Broadcasting (July - Dec 1943)

DE CASTRO TO MBS EXECUTIVE STAFF ALLEN J. de CASTRO, sales executive with the BLUE and previously manager of the CBS Latin American Network, on Aug. 1 will become a member of the executive staff of Mutual, according to an announcement last week by Miller McClintock, president of MBS. The appointment is "predicated upon present Mutual plans," Mr. McClintock said, at the same time announcing that MBS will set up a Latin American bureau "for the purpose of analyzing commercial and marketing problems of common interest between the United States and all of the Latin American countries." He added that this development was not only in line, in his opinion, with the obvious interest and duties of broadcasting, but also had been necessitated by the rapidly growing operations between Mutual and its recently acquired affiliate, Radio MIL, whose 39 stations cover all of the Republic of Mexico." Prior to joining CBS in April 1941 as manager of that network's Latin Amer:can chain, Mr. de Castro was with the Dr. Richards Assn., and prior to that was in charge of production of The Mystery Chef radio series. He has been with BLUE sales since the first part of 1943. New Series to Hawaii CORN PRODUCTS Refining Co., New York, is promoting corn starch, oils and other products on two Hawaiian stations in a new series of transcribed announcements started July 1. Agency is Gotham Adv., New York. Hon. William S. Paley Columbia Broadcasting System New York, New York Dear Bill: Knowing your keen interest in programs, you might hke to know what the boys on WCHS ore doing at the moment. As you know. White Sulphur Springs has been taken over by C>e Government for a hospital and (military secret I hundred hoys are there from every battlefront in the world. WCHS o^d the West Virginia Network originate a half hour vnriety show once a week from the dwenbrier Hotel at White Sulphur. The show is produced, written and even the engineering is done by soldiers. Naturally, it is on a sustaining Aiasis and guite costly, but this outfit never seems to stint when it comes to public service. Maybe you would like us to feed it to your whole network ? Regards. Yrs. ALGY WCHS Charleston, W. VA. FCC Ruling Shocked Congress Brown Tells NAB 7lh District "IT HAS never been the intent of Congress that the Government should run the radio business, and I believe members of Congress were as much shocked as were you men at the recent Supreme Court decision," said Rep. Clarence J. Brown (Rep-O.), in an address in Cincinnati last Friday at the NAB meeting for the Seventh Distritc (Ohio and Kentucky). "The decision was a strong blow against freedom of the press and speech", he said. "We are right on the verge of the greatest expansion in radio and communications in the history of the world, and we don't want that expansion hampered by Federal bureaucracy. The FCC and other Commissions take advantage of every opportunity to grab more power, and that's not good for the country". I don't think the FCC has any right to say to you how your stations should be conducted, other than in matters of good taste and public policy. "Too many businessmen are afraid the Government wont compromise and readjust inequalities in laws. I say to you that Congress wants the business men of this country to come in and talk frankly, and not be afraid to speak out when some agency is dealing with them unfairly." Discussing pending legislation "to rewrite the Federal Communications Act so the Supreme Court can understand it," Mr. Brown declared: "I hope you have the courage to stand on your hind feet and tell us what kind of law you want and should have. Then we will write that kind of law, trying always to use the yardstick of common sense." In a resolution adopted unanimously, it was "resolved that this group petition the Congres of the United States to sympathetically review the present law and revise and enact remedial legislation to the end that radio may continue to serve the American people to its fullest possibilities." Nathan Lord, manager of WAVE, Louisville, and district director, presided at the NAB meeting. Among the guests was Neville Miller, NAB president. Arrangements for the meeting were made by Mr. Lord and James D. Shouse, vice-president of the Crosley Corp. in charge of broadcasting, also an NAB director. k:ds like classics Fairy Tales Preferred To Comic Serials THAT FAIRY TALES and children's classics find a substantial and appreciative young radio audience even when competing with "comic strip" adventure serials, is indicated by response to the WHCU, Ithaca, N. Y., Children's Story Hour, conducted daily by Eileen Winchell, women's editor. As an experiment to test the reaction of modern youngsters, steeped in the highly exciting "comics" serials, to the favorites of other generations, the Children's Story Hour was inaugurated in April, 1943, on a Mon.-Fri. schedule, at 4:45-5:00 p.m. Time was deliberately chosen to coincide with other types of radio programs planned for children. Beginning with "The Pied Piper of Hamlin" and "Epaminondas", Eileen Winchell urged listeners to request the type of children's stories they would like to hear. Immediate responses from children and grown-ups revealed a demand for familiar favorites such as "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Cinderella", "Snow White", "Little One-Eve, Little Two-Eyes, L;ttle ThreeEyes", as well as many of the tales by Hans Christian Anderson, and others, all of the classic type. None requested the "comic strip" adventures. Although the program is sustaining, local bookstores report a decided increase in the sale of children's books since the early broadcasts of the Children's Story Hour. Present series by Miss Winchell Religion Trend Up THE TREND in Axis-controlled Europe is toward increased religious broadcasting, according to the International Broadcasting Union in Switzerland as reported by Dr. Max Jordan, NBC director of religious broadcasts. "Germany stands out as the only deplorable exception," he said, adding that while the German Broadcasting Co. was devoting 0.3% of its total program time to religious broadcasts in 1938, there is no religion whatsoever on the air now. NBC is currently devoting approximately four hours weekly to religion, and audience mail referring: to this type of program is increasing. NAB Appointees NAB district directors in seven areas have named district nublic relations chairmen to cooperate with the NAB Public Relations Committee, according; to Willard D. EgHf, assistant to Neville M;ller. NAB president. Chairmen named are Edward E. Hill. WTAG. Woofer. District 1; Michael H^nna, WHCY. Ithaca. 2; Vernon H. Pribble, WTAM. CWol^nrl. 7; Clares T iech, WOBF-WEOA, Fva«sville, Ind.. 8: Merlo Jones, KMOX St. Louis. 10; Karl O. Wvler. KTSM. Fl P^so. 13: Harrv Buckendahl, KALE, Portland, Ore., 17. will conclude shortlv, when she will have completed the reading of "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Because of the interest created by this experiment, WHCU plans renewal of the program following the summer vacation period. IT'S A FINE PARTNER FOR WAGA The Atlanta Constitution, for 76 years one of the South's most esteemed newspapers, is now affiliated with WAGA. That means the Constitution's extensive news facilities are now identified with WAGA's coverage and interpretation of the news. It means WAGA programs have the support of daily advertisements and publicity in the Constitution. If you want action in the Atlanta market, put your message on WAGA. 1 ! If ! 1 ft f 9 H m A T L A N T A 5000 WATTS DAY AND NIGHT 590 KC. National Representatives HEADLEY-REED COMPANY BROADCASTING • Broadcmst Advertising July 26, 1943 • Page 59