Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1949)

LORAIN ANTI-TRUST ^^ff^-ifL^ HEARING on the Dept. of Justice [ request for an injunction in its anti-trust suit against the Lorain (Ohio) Journal has been scheduled Nov. 15 in U. S. District Court with Judge Emerich B. Freed presiding. The government's action [Broadcasting, Sept. 26] is the first Sherman Act case against a newspaper for conspiracy to injure a compsting radio station (WEOL Elyria) by allegedly denying its white space to buyers of station time. Filing of the suit brought from S. A. Horvitz, publisher of the Lorain Journal and Times-Herald, the charge that it constitutes "a threat to the rights of every newspaper and publication in the United States." A competing newspaper, the Lorain Sunday News, said editorially „,tllat Lorain "may prove to ' be a national testing ground for the right to freedom of press and radio." Mr. Horvitz said the government is asking for power "to force the Lorain Joiirnal to accept the advertisement of any advertiser, the publication of which would not constitute a violation of state or federal laws. It goes without saying that the use of any such power , would not be limited by the government to the Journal. It would apply to all newspapers, magazines and periodicals of general circulation. That is the fundamental issue in the case. It is the only issue." WEOL is located 10 miles from RICHARDS CASE Combined Hearing Set by FCC RENEWAL applications of KMPC Hollywood and WJR Detroit were incorporated by FCC last week into the hearing it already has designated on the renewal of WGAR Cleveland, the proposed transfers of the three G. A. (Dick) Richards stations and their news policies ' [Broadcasting, Aug. 1]. I At the same time, the licenses of KMPC and WJR, which expire Nov. 1, were extended on temporary basis until Dec. 1. The consolidated proceeding is expected to begin about mid-November [Closed Circuit, Sept. 26]. FCC stated that the new order supplants its orde^^ of July 25 re.prarding the WGAR renewal and the Nov. 12. 1948, order calling for investigation of complaints against the news practices of the Richards' stations. The Commission indicated, however, that all of the original issues and other matters are retained. Mr. Richards proposes to transfer control of WGAR, KMPC and WJR to three trustees, Harry J. Klinger, Lawrence P. Fisher and John A. Hannah. The stations have until Oct. 19 to petition the Commission for revision of the hearing issues in the proceeding. Lorain, Mr. Horvitz said. "Maybe it's a case of the Journal being made a guinea pig in a move by the government to regulate and control newspapers," Mr. Horvitz said. The anti-trust act and the government's power to regulate commerce has been stretched to cover control over the news and editorial contents as well. Radio is already under the thumb of the FCC. Perhaps this case is the first step toward an FCC for newspapers." In its editorial comment, the Sunday News said advertisers have indicated "they have been exposed to remarks from Journal personnel which have borna the imprint of pressure, threats or discrimination. "Freedom of the press has been a bulwark of progress in the United States. Free press, free speech, free assembly and free worship are keystones of neighborly American living, as well as fundamentals of democracy. Danger to any of these constitutional rights is a danger to the life of every resident of Lorain and to every American. "Freedom of the press works both ways: It must mean freedom for a newspaper to print what it sees, as its editors decide, and it also must mean freedom of all newspapers, all radio stations, all media of expression to report the news — and to compete for advertising which is a form of news, as well as a revenue producer that helps publishers and broadcasters to pay news-gatherers." NAB DISTRICT MEETINGS Oct. 3-4: Dist. 13, Adolphus, Dallas. Oct. 6-7: Dist. 6, Peabody, Memphis. Oct. 13-14: Dist. 5, Roosevelt, Jacksonville, Fla. Oct. 17-18: Dist. 4, Carolina Inn, Pinehurst, N. C. Oct. 26-27: Dist. 3, Skytop Lodge, Skytop, Pa. Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Dist. 1, Somerset, Boston. Nov. 3-4: Dist. 2, Berkely-Carteret, Asbury Park. N. J. Nov. 21-22: Dist. 8, Book Cadillac, Detroit. Nov. 28-29: Dist. 16, Paradise Inn, Phoenix. Dec. 1-2: Dist. 15, Mark Hopkins, San Francisco. Dec. 5-6: Dist. 14. Utah, Salt Lake City. Dec. 14-15: Dist. 17, Benson, Portland, Ore. * * * Sept. 30-Oct. 9: Second Annual National Television and Electrical Living Show, Chicago Coliseum, Chicago. Oct. 6-7: Alabama Broadcasters Assn. Fall Meeting, U. of Alabama Campus, Tuscaloosa. Oct. 10-14: Society of Motion Picture Engineers 66th semi-annual convention, Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood. Oct. 14: AAA A Annual Central Council Meeting, Hotel Drake, Chicago. Oct. 16: North and South Carolina Broadcasters Assns. joint meeting. Southern Pines, N. C. Oct. 16-18: AAAA Annual Pacific Council Meeting, Arrowhead Hot Springs Hotel, San Bernardino, Calif. Oct. 16-19: Radio-TV-Motion Picture Clinic, American Chamber of Commerce Executives national convention, Seattle. Oct. 16-19: Pacific Coast Council of Southern California AAAA chapter convention. Arrowhead Springs Hotel, Arrowhead Springs, Calif. Oct. 20: AWB Dist. 9, Sherman Hotel, Chicago. Oct. 27: D. C. Public Utilities Commission hearing on Transit Radio, Washington. Oct. 27-29: Audio Engineering Society "Audio Fair," Hotel New Yorker, New York. Oct. 28-29: Kansas City Section ofj Institute of Radio Engineers, Presi-, dent Hotel. Kansas City, Mo. Oct. 29-Nov. 5: Canadian National Radio Week. Oct. 30-Nov. 5: National Radio and TV Week. Oct. 31-Nov. 2: IRE-RMA Engineering Dept. meeting, Hotel Syracuse, Syracuse, N. Y. Nov. 4: AFA 5th District, Indianapolis, Indiana. at dinner. Nadine Miller of C. E. Hooper Inc., spoke on "The Radio Listener's Voice." Second day's agenda included participation in a WHB Kansas City program, with luncheon and fashion show staged by Betty Rose Apparel Co. Next district meeting will be held in September 1950 in Des Moines, it was decided. A resolution was adopted regretting resignation of Pat Griffith as AWB executive secretary. Present at the District 10 meeting were: Luella Cannham, WOW-TV Omaha; Bernice Currier, KMA Shenandoah; Caroline Ellis, KMBC. Kansas City; Verna Deal Ferril, WHB Kansas City; Anne Hayes, KCMO Kansas City; Bea Johnson, KMBC Kansas City; Sandra Lee, WHB Kansas City; Mary Louise Marshall, WOC Davenport; Jo McEwen, WMT Cedar Rapids; Doris Murphy and Adella Shoemaker, KMA Shenandoah; Mrs. Raymond Smith, KSWI-KFMX Council Bluffs; June Thompson, WHB Kansas City; Betty Wells, KRNT Des Moines; Gennii Willock, WHB Kansas City; Clella Darby, Des Moines Radio Council; Ethel Mason, Kansas City Radio Council; Nadine Miller, C. E. Hooper, New York. AWB MEETINGS Two Districts Discuss Women in Radio PLACE of women in the community, and in the broadcasting business, with tips on developing women's programs commercially, provided the theme of a conference held Sept. 24 by District 3 of the NAB Assn. of Women Broadcasters at the Hotel Harrisburger, Harrisburg, Pa. Kaye Witmer, District 3 AWB * chairman, presided. Oponing the program was a roundtable moderated by Alma Cramer, WARD Johnstown, Pa. Luncheon speaker was Alma Desborough, of the Needlework Gu'ld of America. Gladys Swift, WKBO Harrisburg, moderated the afternoon panel. Speakers included Robert McMillen, Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce; Lt. Col. Leroy Greene, Republican state chairman; Mrs. Lorna Sylvester, director, Child Guidance Center. Pat Griffith, AWB executive secretary, presided at a business session. WHP and WHGB Harrisburg were hosts at a dinner, with Abe Redmond, WHP, as toastmaster. Victor C. Diehm, WAZL Hazelton, Pa., spoke on "The Women— God Bless 'Em." Attending the meeting were: Kay Carter, WLBR Lebanon; Alma Cramer, WARD Johnstown; Jo Fish, WKBO Harrisburg; Helen Gotwalt, WSBA. York: Pat Griffith. NAB; Betty Heagy, WHGB Harrisburg; Lois Huey, WJSW Altoona; Kitty Kahler, WAZL Hazelton; Miriam Krebs and Alethea Mattern, WMAJ State College; Bee Potteiger, WHP Harrisburg; Marjorie Price, WILM Wilmington; Rosemary Roach, WIKK Erie; Jane Smith, WARK Hagerstown; Gladys Swift, WKBO Harrisburg; Dori Weaver, WPGH Pittsburg; Kaye Witmer, WKBO Harrisburg; Alma Desborough, Needlework Guild of America; Betty Stuart Smith, J. Walter Thompson, New York. Two-day conference was held at the Muehlebach Hotel, Kansas City, Sept. 21-22 by AWB District 10, with Anne Hayes, KCMO Kansas City, presiding as district chairman. Following the opening day lunch Doris Murphy, KMA Shenandoah, Iowa, moderated a panel on successful women's programs. Participants were Betty Wells, KRNT Des Moines; Mrs. Raymond A. Smith, KSWI Council Bluffs; Mary Louise Marshall, WOC Davenport; Caroline Ellis, KMBC Kansas City. The Radio Council of Greater Kansas City entertained delegates First 15 Program Hooperatings — Sept. 30 Report No. of YEAR AGO Program Stations Sponsor & Agency Hooper Hooper -1 or — Pos. Radio Theatre 172 Lever Bros. (JWT) 20.7 17.3 -1-3.4 2 My Friend Irma 150 Pepsodent Div.-Lever (FC&B) 16.4 Godfrey's Talent 154 T. J. Lipton DivLever (Y&R) 16.4 15.9 -i-oTs 3 Scouts Bob Hope 151 Lever Bros. (BBDO) 16.2 14.9 + 1.3 5 McGee & Molly 165 S. C. Johnson & Son (NL&B) 16.1 Suspense 169 Electric Auto-Lite (N-E) 16.1 12.3 -1-3.8 8 Walter Winchell 283 Kaiser-Frazer '(Weintraub) 15.0 19.6 — 4.6 1 Oriq. best. 14.1 Added by 2d 0.9 Jack Benny 179 American Tobacco (BBDO) 14.7 Oriq. best. 12.9 Added by 2d 1.8' Mr. Keen 149 Whitehall Pharmacol (Murray) 13.6 12.3 -1-1.3 7 Crime Photographer 148 Philip Morris (Biow) 13.3 11.7 -1-1.6 11 Big Town 132 Lever Bros. (SSC&B) 12.9 10.5 -1-2.4 18 People Are Funny 164 Brov/n & Williamson 12.8 9.5 -1-3.3 27 Tobacco (Seeds) Bing Crosby 170 Liggett & Myers Tobacco 12.8 Inner Sanctum 156 (N-E) Emerson Drug (BBDO) 12.7 10.0 -1-2.7 23 Great Gildersleeve 151 Kraft Foods (NL&B) 12.3 9.7 +2.6 24 * Second broadcast on Sam e day in some cities provicfies more than one opportunity to hear program. Page 32 • October 3, 1949 BROADCASTING • Telecasting