Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1949)

STATION HISTORIES Background, Data on Baltimore Outlets WAAM (TV) 3725 Maiden Ave. Mohawk 7600 26,100 w (TV) 13,800 w (audio) Channel 13 WHEN WAAM took to the air last Nov. 1 it was completely sold out for the day. The next day it was on 23 hours without a mishap in covering election returns. The station claims another first in a simultaneous telecast of the Hochschild, Kohn & Co. Quiz Teen Tivie with WFBR. Both outlets carried the program commercially. Officers include Ben Cohen, president; Fred Allman, executive vice president; Norman C. Kal, general manager, and Armand Grant, commercial manager. Mr. Kal is president of Kal, Ehrlich & Merrick, Washington agency. WAAM has everything under one roof, with no department more than 75 feet from any other department, including executive, commercial, program and engineering. The station is located away from the heart of the city. Just six weeks after taking the air the station moved into daytime programming with a 4 p.m. five-aweek film program sponsored by Joseph M. Zamoiski Co., local Philco distributor. WAAM is a television affiliate of ABC and DuMont. It is repre Mr. ALLMAN sented nationally by Free & Peters. Basic hourly rate is $300. RadioTelevision of Baltimore Inc. holds a CP for AM station (WTLS) with 1 kw daytime on 1010 kc but has not started construction. The company has a Class B FM application pending at the FCC. * * * WBAL; WBAL-TV 2610 N. Charles St. Hopkins 3000 50,000 w 1090 kc 32,600 w (TV) 17,200 w (aural) Channel 11 ESTABLISHED in November, Mr. BURKE 1929, by Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Co., WBAL was purchased by Hearst Radio Inc. in January, 1935. It was on NBC Blue network until Sept. 30, 1941, moving to the Red (now NBC). Power was increased that year to 50,000 w and frequency was shifted from 1060 to 1090 kc. "New World of Tomorrow" studios and offices were occupied in 1947 at 2610 N. Charles St., just north of the business center. The station has spent a million dollars on its new AM and TV facilities. It has no FM outlet but is an applicant. Operating hours of the TV station exceed those of any operation outside of New York, according to Harold C. Burke, Hearst Radio vice president in charge of WBAL and WBAL-TV, with a minimum of 60 hours on the air since last Oct. 18. The TV station was opened March 11, 1948. Daytime programs begin at noon Monday through Friday. Harold P. See is TV director and acting chief engineer of both stations. Kenneth Carter is sales manager. As of last December the TV station had 28 network and 50 local advertisers. Studio facilities are elaborate, with the main large studio equipped for a large variety of programs and filmed productions. Basic WBAL AM rate is $500 an hour. TV rate is $350. Edward Petry & Co. represents both stations. Station slogan is, "WBAL and WBAL-TV mean business in Baltimore." ^ :)< ^ V, WBMD 2 W. Eager St. Mulberry 7095 1000 w D 750 kc THOUGH WBMD just celebrated its first anniversary last Dec. 7, it has been out of the red for some time, according to the owners. Twelve stockholders, mostly Baltimoreans, founded Key Broadcast Mr. EARP ing Corp., operating the station. President is George Hull, in the automotive business. H. Shelton Earp Jr., formerly of WTOP Washington, took over management last February. He built the programming around several personalities. Ralph Powers was hired from another station for a 7-10 a.m. morning program. He is said to command a wide following. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., proceedings are in charge of Barry Kay. In the afternoon Happy Johnny presides from 1 to 5. A daily noon participation program is said to be popular with listeners who fill the station's auditorium studio. WBMD's director of women's activities, Polly Dorsey, has a 10-10:15 a.m. program. WBMD carries the Washington Redskins games under sponsorship of American Oil Co. and U. of Maryland games for Sherwood Bros., regional gasoline concern. The station's basic hourly rate is $100. National representative is Joseph Hershey TMcGillvra Inc. Merrill Carroll is sales manager of the station, with Thomas O'Connor as program director. ^ i|; ^ WCAO; WCAO-FM 1102 N. Charles St. Mulberry 0600 5000 w 600 kc 10,000 w 102.7 mc EVER since it took the air May 8, 1922 WCAO has had the same 600 kc assignment. Originally it was licensed to Sanders & Stayman, Baltimore music store, later being acquired by Brager-Eisenberg, department store, from which it was purchased in July 1926 by Monumental Radio Inc. Officers of Monumental were R. V. 0. Swartout, George Eckhardt and William Atkinson. WCAO joined CBS Sept. 18, 1927 as one of the original 16 basic affiliates. The ownership was transferred April 15, 1931 to the present Monumental Radio Co. Original officers were Lewis M. Milbourne, president; J. Thomas Lyons, executive vice president; Clarence W. Miles, secretary; L. Waters Milbourne, assistant treasurer. Mr. Lyons died in December 1938, L. Waters Milbourne becoming general manager in early 1939. Power has increased from the original 250 w to 500 w and 5001000 w, with the present 5,000 w fulltime granted Nov. 28, 1942. WCAO-FM was started experimentally Jan. 23, 1948, with 3 kw power on 102.7 mc, going fulltime with 10 kw the following Feb. 1. It duplicates the complete AM program schedule. WCAO is an applicant for a television CP should Baltimore receive additional TV channels. It originally applied for TV last March 8. The station has occupied its own modernized building in the center of the city since Aug. 4, 1947. Transmitter is located on Park Heights Ave. extended. National representative is Paul H. Raymer Co. Station slogans are "Maryland's Oldest Radio Station" and "The Voice of Baltimore." WCAO Mr. MILBOURNE ! claims to have originated the morning musical clock and likes to recall that A. D. (Jess) Willard Jr., NAB executive vice president, was an announcer on its staff. Station's basic hourly rate is * * * WCBM; WCBM-FM Harford & North Aves. ' Belmont 8400 250 w 1400 kc (CP 10,000 w D 5,000 w N 680 kc) 15,000 w 93.1 mc ORIGINAL WCBM license was issued in May, 1924 in the name of Charles Swartz, with 250 w day and 100 w night on 1370 kc. Baltimore Broadcasting Corp. was formed in (Continued on Baltimore 12) Page 10 Baltimore • January 17, 1949 BROADCASTING • Telecasting