Broadcasting (July - Dec 1943)

assigned to us, so we could hear the conversation between the lead plane and the control tower. Precisely a half minute before takeoff time, we heard "Hello, Hodak. A for Apple calling. Request permission to scramble." I held my breath. Then the tower answered, "Hello, A for Apple. Hodak answering. You have permission to scramble." I started talking a few moments before the lead ship came thundering down the runway toward us. Every 30 seconds a Fortress took off. Bill Crumm's ship was the third to leave the ground, and Lt. Mark Gilman of Santa Ana, Cal., the bombardier, waved to us as he went by, huddled up in the nose. I forgot about radio, and was intensely proud that I was an American. Waiting Then came a tense period . . . the waiting. Some of the planes might have to land first . . . and fast. Some planes might not come back at all. Then word came that they were com'ng in. All but two had been heard from. We saw tiny specks in the darkness growing larger every minute. One flew low over the field, dropping a flare. This meant wounded aboard, and that they would land first. The ground crews ran out and the ambulance sirened its way. We corralled Crumm's crew from "Jack the Ripper" as the lads tumbled out. I counted them as they came. There were 10 . . . the complete crew ... all unwounded. But they looked tired and cold and a bit dirty. One after the other they came to the mike — gave their full name, rank, and home town. Each spoke only about 15 seconds. Usually it was "... a tough one . . . damned glad to be back" — then they headed for H. Q. The Broadcast We had our show, but there was still much to do. Priority call to BBC, London . . . cable to BBC, New York. . . Mutual informed jf special broadcast. . . Maj. Ben Lyon of 8th Air Force Headquarters to arrange censoring . . . hasty joodby . . . fast train . . . London ind the studio . . . playback of he records. . . choice of material. Sere is what I finally chose: 1. Capt. Crumm's talk to his rew before takeoff. That reminds me — WFDF Flint iichigan regulates the length of s commercials." NEW CONCERT PROGRAM, representing substantial step-up in sponsored time by Alms & Doepke Co., Cincinnati department store, is subject of discussion of this WSAI group planning the series. Seated (1 to r) : Walter A. Callahan, general manager; and William Stoess, who will conduct the orchestra. Standing: George Moore, salesman who handled the contract; and Jimmy Leonard, program director. The new series, titled Harmony Hall, will be heard Saturdays from 7:30-8 p.m., and will utilize one of the largest orchestras ever sponsored on WSAI. Cauada Censor Policy RADIO and Press censorship in Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1943, cost $106,645, according to a report of the National War Services Dept. tabled in the House of Commons at Ottawa. A new censorship directive has been issued, placing on stations the responsibility for keeping off the air any statements that might injure Canada's war effort. Col. 0. M. Biggar, director of censorship, made the announcement at Ottawa July 16, placing Canadian radio stations in the same position as newspaper publishers. 2. Description of two ships taking off. 3. Description of two ships landing. 4. Brief statements — Crumm and his complete crew after landing. The show went out with no censorship trouble 4:15 a.m. London time. Picture us in a small studio deep underground. The records were strewn around on half a dozen turn-tables. There was no cue from New York. We started blind at 4:15 a.m. I kept thinking, "This is a gag; it's not 11:15 p.m. in New York — no one will hear this except a few shortwave listeners ... no one will hear it at all." But I was wrong. A cable the following morning stated that over 100 Mutual stations had taken the show — and more important, they liked it. The program was heard the next day at 11:15 p.m. on BBC's Home Service, and was just as warmly received. And that is the story behind the story of a Bomber Raid by our boys. We were only pioneering in this field. More is to come, and more will be done. We are preparing for actual recording in the planes themselves over the target. . . . WOKO License Hearing Waits Phelps Testimony HEARINGS on application of WOKO, Albany, N. Y., for renewal of its license were adjourned last Thursday to be resumed Aug. 3, when it was learned that R. K. Phelps would be unable to appear until that time. Mr. Phelos is the brother-in-law of Sam Pickard, exradio commissioner and vice-president of CBS, who figures in the ownership of the station through a purported gift of 24% of its stock to Phelps, while he, or Mrs. Pickard, continued to receive the dividends from it, amounting to approximately $10,000 a year. The stock appeared on FCC records from 1934 in the name of R. K. Phelps, and before that in other names, but never in the name of Mr. Pickard or his wife, although Mr. Pickard has testified that he was in fa"t the "equitable" owner of the stock [Broadcasting, June 12]. The Commission is attempting to ascertain the facts of ownership of the station since it was licensed 13 years ago. WLW Names Robinson WILLIAM ROBTNSON has been transferred from the sales office of WLW, Cincinnati, to the stat:on's Chicasro office as sales representative. He succeeds Dewey Long, who resigned July 13 because of disagreement on matters of policy. Mr. Robinson has been three years on the WLW sales staff, and before that was a salesman for WSAI, Cincinnati. America's 40th Market! You might not consider putting special sales effort in Rock Island, or Moline, Illinois, or Davenport, Iowa, singly but . . . you can't afford to overlook the TRICITIES' 211,000 war-prosperous cu tomrrs in these 1 1 contiguous cities and towns. Here's a MARKET larger than the cities of Dayton, Syracuse, or Oklahoma City! And you really SELL it with — 5000 WATTS 1270 KC BASIC jyiUTUAL NETWORK Affiliate: Rock Island ARGUS Howard H. Wilson Co., Nat. Representatives SINCERE APPRECIATION TO AMERICA'S RADIO EDITORS FOR OUR AWARD IN BILLBOARDS 6th ANNUAL PUBLICITY SURVEY! • Such recognition of WINX salesmanship and showmanship cannot be ignored by alert agencies and sponsors who want complete coverage of a major market of 1,250,000 persons whose per capita income is the greatest in the world! • Choice availabilities and prize-winning program ideas will be submitted upon request. Join the progressive advertisers! "Watch WINX in Washington!" WINX Washington, D. C. The Capital's Only Independent Station BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising July 26, 1943 • Page 61