Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1950)

AFRA VS. WSTV Murdock Files Dissent A DISSENTING opinion, contending that Valley Broadcasting Co. (WSTV Steubenville, Ohio) did not refuse to bargain with the Pittsburgh local of AFRA has been issued by Abe Murdock, member of National Labor Relations Board. The board had upheld a recommendation of a trial examiner that WSTV "cease and desist" certain alleged unfair labor practices in bargaining relations with the AFRA local [BROADCASTING, Jan. 2]. Mr. Murdock said he disagreed with that part of the majority's finding because the licensee was never presented with a "clear and imequivocal" bargaining demand and therefore was under no obligation to recognize and deal with the union. WKMH RINGS BELL One Spot Ties Up Phone Lines ACTION speaks louder than words in Detroit. WKMH Disc Jockey Bob ("Robin") Seymour announced on a 5:10 p.m. broadcast that the first 50 people who called a certain number would receive five gallons of gasoline absolutely free, with no strings attached. No sooner did he speak the words than the Michigan Bell Telephone System added grey hairs. Four Detroit exchanges were drowned, blocking incoming and outgoing calls and tying up every inter-exchange trunking system in the city. The condition spurred Mr. Seymour to appeal for listeners to stop calling. Next day, Michigan Bell requested it not happen again. Detroit's telephone nightmare happened when a WKMH salesman asked the station for help in convincing a prospective advertiser, who was buying time on a competing station, that WKMH could produce results. Prospect agreed to the trial one-time announcement over Mr. Seymour's program. Incidentally, the prospect, WKMH says, bought a quarter-hour across the board on the Bobbin' with Robin program. Carolina^ Fulltime network facility. Well established, profitable and in an important growing market. $75,000.00 ORANGE and grey folder sent to dealers by KSTP St. Paul explains hard-hitting promotion given by station to one of its sponsors, Grennah Cakes. Dealers are told on cover, "There's Money in It!" Over this announcement is taped a penny. Next to it is picture of cake. Inside of folder tells grocers that housewives are prepared to buy these cakes thanks to spots on KSTP. Hammer Makes Hit METAL hammer, only 5 inches in length, a six-in-one instrument sent to trade by WWSW Pittsburgh. Head acts as tap, ball peen hammer and bottle opener, and handle unscrews into large and small screwdrivers and puncher. Piece mailed to national agency timebuyers accompanied by letter describing various uses to which hammer may be put, for example, "It will keep papers in place in winds up to 30 miles an hour." Inscribed on handle are call letters, location and power of WWSW. Mail Irrigation WORKING good neighbor policy into studio promotion was project of WTTS and WTTV (TV) Bloomington, Ind. City, which has undergone heavy rains this fall and winter, eyed its overflowing reservoir and thought of New York's bathless and shaveless Fridays. Accordingly, five gallon jug was filled from city's water works and sent air express to Mayor O'Dwyer of New York City. Letter which accompanied water concluded, "Still water runs deep. Maybe this will start it rolling again into New York." Station's Goodwill GOODWILL of WCSC Charleston, S. C, was exhibited by ceremony in its studios in which Frances Meyer was presented railroad and show tickets for finals of Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program in Washington. Miss Meyer is aunt of Ralph Sigwald, finalist, who won the contest. Presentation was made by WCSC's owner, John M. Rivers. Seasonal Promotion ATTRACTIVELY printed pages of 13 Christmas Carols distributed by KYW Florida The only station in one of Florida's greatest growth markets. Profitable fulltime. An outstanding opportunity. $75,000.00 Philadelphia to local business and social groups throughout city. Top and bottom of sheets carried call letters and dial position of KYW. Sheets were especially designed for distribution to firms where carols would be sung at office parties. Memo attached to carols concludes, "P.S. You know, of course, that advertisers who use big, power-packed 50,000-watt KYW sing a happy song of success and contentment all year long." Additional promotion, timed to arrive on timebuyers' desks Jan. 3 was sheet showing bottles and glasses covered with confetti and pictures of man and woman suffering from hangovers. Piece remarks, in part, "Sales headaches vanish like magic when in-the-know timebuyers select big, power-packed KYW to deliver their sales message throughout the heart of the rich Middle Atlantic Area." Hot Notice REVIEW of The Les Malloy Show on KGO-TV San Francisco by San Francisco Examiner radio columnist Dwight Newton, reprinted by station for direct mail promotion piece advising prospective sponsors of low cost participations. Piece urges, "Better get in touch with KGO-TV's sales manager Vince Francis right away on this one — it's HOT!" WNAX Sponsorship BACKING by WNAX Yankton, S. D., of Five State Bowling Tournament has been subject of two promotion sheets by station. Copies of first piece, explaining elimination of competing teams and prizes offered by station, were sent to newspapers in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. States have been divided into 11 districts and 8,000 bowling enthusiasts are expected to compete during February, March and April. Approximately 900 copies of second piece were sent to American Bowling Congress with posters giving pertinent information enclosed. Coverage will be given tournament on Today in the World of Sports show, conducted by WNAX sports director. Lei Davis. Miniature TV Sets CERAMIC ash trays modeled after miniature television sets sent to trade by KDYL-TV Salt Lake City. Set holds pack of cigarettes and carries wording, "KDYL-TV, Channel 4, Salt Lake City," across screen. Special Announcements SMALL white cards sent to listeners and trade by KFRO Longview, Tex. drawing attention to station's special New Year's program. Card read in part, "The Longview National Bank . . . Longview, Texas presents for your listening 'Longview — East Texas — 1949'." Time of broadcast and KFRO's dial position were added. Personnel WEAV Plattsburg and WENT Gloversville, N. Y., appoint Henner Advertising Agency, Albany, to handle their advertising. IRVING M. LICHTENSTEIN named public relations and sales promotion director of WWDC-AM-FM Washing ton. He joined station's news staff year ago and assumed public relation duties in July. BOB TOMPKINS, news editor oi WWL New Orleans, named promotion manager. He replaces JACK HALLADAY, resigned to become promotion manager of Daytona Beach fFla.j Chamber of Commerce. BILL TURNER, former merchandisinjr fieldman for Chicago HeraldAmerican, added to sales promotion staff at WLS Chicago. He will specialize in sales presentations and merchandising tieins. WPCF STAFF DuKate Heads New Outlet WPCF PANAMA CITY, Fla., new ABC 250 w fulltime outlet on 1400 kc, has announced completion of its staff. Elbert DuKate Jr., formerly with WTPS New Orleans, is part owner, general manager and sales manager. Eleanor Whitelaw, formerly with V/ABB Mobile, Ala., is program director and is in charge of all women's programs and also is a sales representative. Mrs. Whitelaw has three sponsored programs five days a week and reports initial success in listener response. Elizabeth Giraudo has joined WPCF as traffic manager. Ray Hardin, announcer and sportscaster, formerly with WGYV Greenville, Ala.; Jim Lott and Leon Hance, announcer-engineers, also formerly WGYV, and Carl, Howrigan, announcer from WTYSi' Marianna, Fla., round out the staff. Station took to the air Dec. 11. It is owned and operated by Bay County Broadcasting Co. Programming stress is on local shows with women's programs highlighting the schedule. Senator Lauds WHBI VOLUNTARY suspension by WHBI Newark, N. J., of Polish program series, labeled Commu-. nist-inspired by Senate Judiciary Immigration subcommittee, drew praise Dec. 30 from Chairman Herbert R. O'Conor (D-Md.). He complimented the station for its "cooperation" with the subcommittee probing propaganda activities of Gdynia American Steamship Line, program sponsor [Broadcasting, Dec. 26, 1949]. WHBI notified the group it had discon-) tinned the broadcast effective Dec. 25 largely because it was the only foreign-language program carried, according to William Masi, program director. NINE basketball games of New Brunswick High School signed for sponsorship over WCTC New Brunswick, N. J. by G. R. Kinney Co. CONTACT THE NEAREST OFFICE OF THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVES BLACKBURN-HAMILTON COMPANY, INC. WASHINGTON, D. c James W. Blackburn Washington Bldg. Sterling 4341-2 MEDIA BROKERS CHICAGO Harold R. Murphy 333 N. Mich. Ave. Randolph 6-4550 SAN FRANCISCO Ray V. Hamilton 235 Montgomery St. Exbrook 2-5672 4.000,000 PEOPLE KWKW , Pasadena Los Angeles NATiONAL REP. FORJOE «. CO. Page 66 • January 9, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecasting