Broadcasting (July - Dec 1943)

AS PARATROOPERS descended upon Denver Municipal Airport, Pvt. Torland, formerly of KOA, and Verne Andrews, engineer, were on hand with mike and pack set. The tactical assault on the airport was covered by KOA also from the air by Lt. Edward Brady, former KOA announcer and winner of the 1941 Davis announcing award. employed at WHOM as a censor, monitor and announcer, testified Wednesday morning. He said he had come to this country several times on a visitor's passport between 1926, when the Fascists drove him out of Italy, and 1937, when he entered as an immigrant, applying for citizenship papers shortly thereafter. Questioned at length about his duties at the station, he denied telling Joseph Lang, general manager, to fire anyone, but admitted "criticizing" certain of the station personnel. He also described his duties as censor and monitor, answering "yes" when asked if his object was to protect the listeners' morals and to teach Americanism to Americans. He admitted giving information to various Government agencies, but vehemently denied that he was an "informer". Mr. Lupis appeared to have difficulty in understanding Mr. Garey's questions and in remembering details of contacts he had had with FCC staff members and others, leading to frequent admonitions and at one point, where he answered "I don't recollect," to all questions about information he had given to Naval Intelligence, Mr. Garey stated, "The witness is obviously a perjurer." He denied that he had ever been paid for giving this information and stated that the only money he had received from any Government agency was from the FCC for getting translations of material they wanted from Italian language papers and from the OWI for broadcasting on shortwave. Asked about his contacts with numerous Italian language radio personnel, he denied using his influence to get them jobs with the OWI, and when Mr. Garey showed him a letter he had written to Lee Falk on behalf of Alberto Cupelli, assistant editor of II Mondo, who had been discharged from WOV, he admitted writing that one but was unable to recall any others. Unable to Recall Making Report to FCC Questioned about a report in the FCC files of information he was said to have given concerning the pro-Fascist sentiments of Andrea Luotto, Mr. Lupis was unable to recall making any such report to the FCC, although he said the charges against Mr. Luotto were true and that he had discussed them with a number of people. James H. Sheldon, administrative chairman of the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League, called in the afternoon, reported that his organization investigated organizations and persons suspected of engaging in pro-Nazi propaganda, doing most research in published material but occasionally making personal investigations. When the League secures information in the field of any Government agency it passes the information along, he said, but in most cases it is at the request of the agency. The League is not paid for such information, but is supported by voluntary contributions, he stated. Questioned at length about Mario Buzzi or Bossi (he was not sure which is the right name), an investigator for the League, Mr. Sheldon admitted having little knowledge about his background but said that Buzzi, like some other investigators had justified himself totally by the results of his investigations. He said that the FCC had asked the League for information about the Luottos, which the League did not have, but denied that any arrangements had been made for Buzzi to go to Chicago to investigate Stefano Luotto, as had been previously charged. FCC assistant general counsel Nathan David, representing the Commission in the absence of general counsel Charles R. Denny, distributed a press release denying that the FCC had anything to. do with the dismissal of George Brunner from WBNX and pointing out that the FCC's interviews with Wolfgang (see Tuesday report) occured in May, 1943, almost a year after the dismissal had occured. Lupis Testimony Continued on Thursday Resuming the stand on Thursday morning, Mr. Lupis admitted asking another Italian, Gabriel Sonino, to monitor certain programs on WBNX, insisting, however, that this was done as part of his general fight against Fascism and not because WBNX is a business competitor of WHOM, at which Mr. Lupis is employed. He was again hesitant in his answers to Mr. Garey's questions and inclined to deliver lengthy expositions on the Italo-American political situation, drawing from Chairman Cox a request to be more direct in his answering. Mr. Garey, who hammered the witness with constant repetitions of the questions until they were answered, was cautioned to "speak softly to Lupis or you'll be accused of trying to smear him." A letter from Lee Falk of OWI, ONE Market.. . . 11 Adjoining Cities complimenting Mr. Lupis on his understanding of the feelings of Italians in this country and stating that a commentary series by him would be "a real contribution to the war effort," was read into the record, as was a letter from Alan Cranston of FCC thanking Mr. Lupis for information about Italian movies and adding, "we are already on their trail." Reverting to the relationship of Mr. Lupis with the Luottos, Mr. Garey read a letter written to Andrew Luotto by Joseph Lang, general manager of WHOM, last September, regarding a conversation between Mr. Luotto and Mr. Lupis held in Mr. Lang's office a month before. The letter reported that "you asked Mr. Lupis if he had told anyone that you were not a good American — that he considered you a Fascist agent — or that you were in any way connected with Fascist activities." Mr. Lupis answered "No." Mr. Lupis denied making this statement, saying that A "SWEET" MARKET! The "TRI-CITIES" are potent . . . Rock Island and Moline, Illinois — Davenport, Iowa . . . plus 8 contiguous urban communities similar to the boroughs making up greater New York City. Here's a market PACKAGE larger than the cities of San Diego, Syracuse or Dayton. Disregard "city listings" when sizing up this market. Disregard claimed "outside coverage", too — because the RESULT-GETTING "salesmanfrom-within" is . 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