Broadcasting (July - Dec 1943)

Censor Listens LATEST CENSOR story comes from the Pacific, via Stanley Dixon, MBS commentator. Trying to find out which Mutual stations are carrying Dixon's commentaries, KSO Des Moines, where commentaries originate, sent out double postcard questionnaires to all 205 Mutual outlets. 38 days later, requested reply card arrived from KGMB Honolulu, stamped simply: "Examined by 2781". USO Shows-Talent On Air for Drive Sesac-Treasury Plans Ready ; Treasury Underwrites Discs AS A TIE-IN with the third war loan drive which gets under way Sept. 9, permission has been granted stations to broadcast from the camps in their area the professional talent shows presented by the USO, heretofore unbroadcast. Arrangements were completed last week by Leonard D. Callahan, SESAC, acting as radio industryTreasury Dept. liaison, and Abe Lastfogel, in charge of talent for the USO Camp shows, whereby the individual stations can carry the shows either by live remote or transcription. Stage-Screen Talent The itinerary of the units, which feature an array of name radio, stage and screen talent, will be released shortly by the USO and distributed to stations by the SESAC station relations staff. Further information on the size and types of units can be secured from SESAC, New York, whose stations relations staff is acting in advisory capacity to the Treasury. Simultaneously, the Treasury Dept. last week announced that it would underwrite the mechanical transcription costs where the stations made transcriptions on behalf of the war loan drive. This will apply to commercial or sustaining programs, and will cover only transcribing costs. It will not include engineering, talent, and other expenditures. The SESAC station relations field representatives conferred in Washington last week with Vincent F. Callahan, press and radio chief of the War Savings Staff, on various radio aspects of the drive. Meeting with Mr. Callahan were: Emil J. Gough, West coast; Charles F. Barbe, central states; Bert Squire, Midwest; C. J. Culmer, Eastern states; and Leonard D. Callahan. U.S. Drug Sponsors Help Canadian Stamp Drive COOPERATING with the Canadian drug industry in their September War Savings drive are members of the United States drug industry who have pooled a radio advertising appropriation with Canadian manufacturers to further the campaign. Fitch Band Wagon program opens the drive Sept. 12 from Toronto with Guy Lombardo's orchestra on a CBC national network. U. S. Treasury has released dance band recordings, used in a similar drive in this country, to Canadian stations which will carry at least three of these recorded broadcasts a week. Goal of the campaign is $300,000 for medical supplies for the armed forces. To aid the drive, CBC has waived its rule prohibiting transcriptions after 7:30 p.m. Sterling Products will push the Canadian War Savings Stamps and Certificates on their Album of Familiar Music (Aspirin), Waltz Time (Phillips Milk-of-Magnesia), and Canadian Theater of the Air (Ironized Yeast), all on Canadian networks. Talent to Locals USO Camp Shows, Inc., through the National Entertainment Industry Council, will make available the personnel of their shows to local radio stations throughout the country for programs in connection with the Third War Loan drive, it has been announced following a meeting of the NEIC's coordinating committee. Plans for a radio writing contest for men and women of the armed forces were projected at the meeting by Mr. Barclay Leathern, of the National Theatre Conference. NEIC radio activities which will center on the forthcoming War Loan Drive are being set up by the radio projects committee of the American Federation of Radio Artists. STAGE CALLED BEST SOURCE OF TALENT LEGITIMATE THEATERS still provide radio with the best acting and production talent, Wyn Wright, production director of the NBC Eastern Division told students at the second annual NBC-Northwestern U. Summer Radio Institute at the Evanston, 111., campus. "Successful actors need the perception and feeling of audience response before they face a microphone. They cannot get this experience from appearing before a studio audience; it can come only from years spent in the theater," he asserted. Wright also spoke on production problems, pointing out that while on occasion the industry can operate without restrictions, for the most part it must produce good drama under severe strictures of time, budget and talent. By HOWARD C. BROWN American Representative New Zealand Commercial Broadcasting Service HAVING volunteered to entertain the American armed forces in New Zealand, the National Broadcasting Service and Commercial Broadcasting Service are doing a noteworthy job in making American troops feel "at home". In addition to releasing OWI and War Department programs transcribed especially for the AEF, the NBS and CBS have devised a series of locally produced broadcasts. After offering their cooperation upon arrival of the first troop contingent, both broadcasting services, which function as a part of the New Zealand government, completed details of a radio tie-up with the American troops. Under the setup, New Zealand was the first to arrange for continuous broadcast of Command Performance, transcribed series produced under auspices of the Special Services Division, War Dept. New Zealand also was first to request other programs produced by the War Department and OWI. To meet the American-born en War Relief Fund Under Way Oct. 4 Industry and Associates Aid In Appeal for $250,000,000 NATIONAL War Fund Campaign for 1943 will officially get under way on October 4 when local campaigns will be simultaneously initiated in every part of the country to raise $250,000,000 to support vital relief work on the military and home fronts. Appeals will be made through newspapers, magazines, radio, outdoor boards and posters for contributions to the united campaign to support 17 major war relief agencies and countless local agencies aided by community chests in hundreds of cities. Radio Time Allotted Network time has been allocated by the Office of War Information for National War Fund programs during the four-week period following October 4 and time has also been allocated on local stations for special community programs. Joseph R. Busk of Ted Bates Inc. is in charge of the radio scripts and production department. Heagan Bayles, Maurice H. Bent, Hubbell Robinson, Carl Swanson and Harold Wengler compose the committee under Mr. Busk. Henry M. Wriston, president of Brown University, is chairman of public relations for the fund. Thomas D'A. Brophy, president of Kenyon & Eckhardt Inc., is chair thusiasm for baseball, arrangements were made to rebroadcast transcriptions of the 1942 World Series. During summer months the weekly Sunday New Zealand games staged by the U. S. Marines were released locally on 2ZB. ■Semper Fidelis, all-Marine broadcast, with exception of the m.c, is presented each Sunday on New Zealand commercial stations. The all-around variety show was originally designed for the United States as well as troops in New Zealand and includes a quiz, orchestra, songs, "The Mighty Marine Matinee Players" and a brief narration of Americans' experiences in the land "down under". Also utilizing AEF talent, Paging Uncle Sam and Kiwi Command Performance are produced with cooperation of the two New Zealand broadcasting services. Frequent U. S. Marine band concerts are scheduled with Marine Gunner Gus Olague conducting. In addition to these series using American talent, a weekly children's broadcast features Lt. Fred Babo. In role of "answer man", Lt. Babo attempts to answer questions of New Zealand children pertaining to America. man of the general publicity and advertising committee. Other members of the committee are Edwin Cox, Bernard Litchenberg, Thomas J. Ross, Raymond Rubicam and James W. Young. Publication advertising has been prepared by a committee representing five different advertising agencies, with John P. Cunningham of Newell-Emmett Co. as chairman. Julian Field, Howard Newton, Ted Patrick, William Brooks Smith and Walter Weir are working with Mr. Cunningham. A series of 55 advertisements have been produced by the committee portraying the need for and purpose of the National War Fund. Series will soon be distributed to local campaign committees. Chairman in charge of publicity is Bernard Litchenberg and his committee includes Carl Byoir, Gerald Swinehart, T. J. Ross, Harcourt Parrish, John W. Hill, E. M. Thierry and David Hinshaw. Outdor and poster advertising are under Paul Holder of McCannErickson and serving with him are Carl Bondus, George Dearnley, Kerwin H. Fulton and Herbert Noxon. Poster and billboard publicity will also be available for local use. The National War Fund was formed on the recommendation of the President's War Relief Control Board to present a single united appeal which would eliminate competition and duplication between relief agencies, saving time, effort, and expense. The war relief agencies represented are: USO, United Seamen's Service, War Prisoners Aid, Belgian War Relief Society, British War Relief Society, French Relief Fund, Friends of Luxembourg, Greek War Relief Association, Norwegian Relief, Polish War Relief, Queen Wilhelmina Fund, Russian War Relief, United China Relief, United Czechoslovak Relief, United Yugoslav Relief Fund, Refugee Relief Trustees, and United States Committee for the Care of European Children. UNIVERSAL MICROPHONE Co., Inglewood, Cal., which has been making the T-30 throat microphone for the Signal Corps is now making the instrument available in bulk orders to prime and sub-contractors for the government. Microphone is non-locking, thus leaving operator's hands free. To be complete, the microphone requires an extension cord CD 354 and a switch assembly CD 318 or CD 508. Latter contains press-to-talk switch. NEW ZEALAND RADIO 'GOES AEF' Two Island Broadcast Services Schedule Programs Especially for Our Troops Page 34 • August 30, 1943 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising