Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1949)

P&G SUBSIDIARY To Handle Radio, Video PROCTER & GAMBLE, New York, announced last week the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary to take over radio, television and motion picture activities for the company. P&G has filed articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State of Ohio for the subsidiary which will have a capitalization of $1,000,000 and be known as Procter & Gamble Pi^oductions Inc. The subsidiary will take over radio-TV-movie activities prev'ously handled by employes in P & G's advertising department. The new company will not cause any change in relationship with P & G's advertising agencies, an official of P & G told Broadcasting. Video Activity "The growth and complexity of our radio activities and plans for television make the formation of this subsidiary advisable," a P & G announcement said. "It is believed that the radio, television and motion picture needs of the Procter & Gamble Co. will be served more effectively by the new company operating as a separate entity. The new company will continue to work directly with the advertising agencies and independent producers in conducting the business of buying and producing radio and television programs and motion pictures," the announcement added. Officers and directors of the subsidiary have not yet been designated. Butcher Promoted JESSE BUTCHER, recently named program director of KMPC Los Angeles, has been appointed assistant manager in charge of broadcasting operations, Frank E. Mullen, president of the G. A. Richards stations (WJR Detroit, WGAR Cleveland, KMPC), announced last week. Under Mr. Butcher's supervision will be the activities of the program department, including news and special events, sports, continuity acceptance, traffic and production; announcing staff; music library; orchestra and talent, and promotion and publicity department. Bonafide on TV BONAFIDE MILLS, New York (■ linoleum, roofing), will sponsor he video comedy program Stop Me If You've Heard This One on NBC's TV network, Friday, 9-9:30 p.m., starting .Jan. 28. Leon Janney will act as moderator with Mae Questal, Cal Tinney and Benny Rubin as joke tellers. R. Leon Co., New York, is the agency. Drawn for Broadcasting by Sid Hix '/ wonder if that's that high-hand television I've been hearing about on the radio?" mm FIRM manager of Outdoor Life magazine, and Eugene R. Kirshenstein. General offices and studios of the new firm are at 277 Delaware Ave. Transcription Company Formed in Buffalo FORMATION of the Richard H. Ullman Inc., new transcription firm to succeed Robert P. Mendelson Productions, Buffalo, N. Y., was announced last week. The Ullman firm will take over and continue to handle Barbershop Harmonies and Joe McCarthy Speaks, transcribed program series developed by Mendelson. Singing commercial activities of the Mendelson firm also will be continued and expanded. Richard H. Ullman, who has been with WGR Buffalo and WKBW Buffalo for over 18 years, is president of the new company, and Robert P. Mendelson is a vice president. Marvin A. Kempner, formerly with Louis G. Cowan Inc., has joined Ullman as a vice president. Additional officers and directors are; D. Bernard Simon, owner of a chain of music stores; Edward H. Kavinoky, Buffalo attorney; Fred L. Lounsberry; John A. Bacon, former general manager of WKBW and now eastern sales Mr. Ullman Penny to Walker ROYAL E. PENNY, former Atlanta office head of Raymer Co., New York station representative, will head the Atlanta branch office of the Walker Co., New York representative, as of Feb. 1. Mr. Penny, who has also been closely allied with CBS station relations in the south and southwest, having at one time been sales manager of W B T Charlotte, N. C, will replace Earl Harper. Mr. Harper has resigned to manage WNOR Norfolk, Va., a new fuUtime independent station. Mr. Penny BMB BALLOTS To Be Mailed on March 7 "ON TUESDAY, March 1, the first BMB ballots will' go in the mail — and you can depend on that," Dr. Kenneth Baker, NAB director of research who is currently on loan to BMB, told Broadcasting Thursday. The 650,000 ballots have already been printed. Dr. Baker said. More than 100,000 of the labels have been addressed and that work is proceeding on schedule. The collection of names of families . to whom the ballots will go was begun in November and is now in its final stages. The premiums are ordered and delivery will commence this week. This year's premium is a letter opener with a magnifying glass at the end. Some coasters, premiums for the first BMB nationwide survey in 1946, will also be used this time. Generally, preparations for the March mailing are going ahead in good shape, Dr. Baker reported, and barring a major catastrophe such as a railroad strike which might disrapt an orderly delivery of the ballots across the country, the second nationwide study of station and network audiences will proceed as planned. Asked about the subscription situation. Dr. Baker said that there has been "no flood of cancellations" in recent days, but "the normal ebb and flow of additions, cancellations and reinstatements." FRANCIS NAMED KGO-ABC Sales Head VINCENT A. FRANCIS, ABC network sales representative in San Francisco, has been named sales manager of ABC, KGO and KGOTV that city. He succeeds Kirk Torney, who resigned to form his own TV sales company in San Carlos, Calif. [Broadcasting, Jan. 10]. Mr. Francis joined the KGO local and ABC spot sales department in February 1947. He was named network sales representative the following September. Prior to World War II, Mr. Francis was with Music Corp. of America, San Francisco. Following war service he joined KGO's production staff in 1944. Later he worked as a salesman for KPO (now KNBC), then became manager of Radio Central. He left Radio Central to join the KGOABC sales staff. His promotion to sales manager was announced by Gayle V. Grubb, KGO general manager, at a goingaway party the station gave for Mr. Torney. Mr. Francis Ripley for Motorola MOTOROLA INC., Chicago, will sponsor Robert Ripley in a believe-it-or-not video show to originate at NBC New York and to be telecast on both East and Midwest TV circuits. First show will be telecast in the East Feb. 15, 9:3010 p.m. (EST), and a teletranscrintion will be transmitted to th^ Midwest hookup at a later date. Fifty-two week contract was placed by Gourfain-Cobb Agency, Chicago. Radio Too Potent STORY of a sponsor who cancelled his contract, not because of dissatisfaction but because it boosted hi^^ sales too much, comes from WRMS Ware, Mass. Mil+on J. Gula, owner of Gula's Market. Palmer, Mass., which had been sponsoring a 15-minute show once we?kly on WRMS, wrote the station management ". . . Since we have been advertising on WRMS our business has grown to such proportions it is impossible to handle it with the size of our physical plant. Since it is not feasible for us to enlarge at the present time, it is necessary that we discontinue our broadcasting for the time being." Page 22 • January 24, 1949 BROADCASTING • Telecasting