Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1950)

At Deadline... NARBA CONFERENCE SCHEDULED TUESDAY GOVERNMENT-industry conference called for Tuesday to discuss NARBA and forthcoming (Feb. 1) U. S.-Cuban sessions on respective nations' frequency assignments. Plans announced by FCC and State Dept., which said "any licensee or other person associated with or interested in standard broadcasting and its international regulation is invited to attend and participate in the (Tuesday) meeting." FCC Comr. Rosel H. Hyde, who headed U. S. delegation to Montreal NARBA conference last fall and is slated to go to U. S.Cuban session in Havana in same capacity, will be in charge of Tuesday session. It'll start at 10 a. m. at State Dept., 1778 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington. NARBA conference, currently in recess after U. S. refusal to accept Cuba's channel demands, slated to resume in U. S. about April 1, following completion of U. S.-Cuban negotiations. Meanwhile, it was considered almost certain that industry would be invited to send delegation to Cuban sessions along with official government delegates. AID OFFERED FOR STUDY OF TV IMPACT ON 'GATE' JOSEPH H. McCONNELL, NBC president, Friday afternoon offered National Collegiate Athletic Assn., on behalf of all network broadcasters, financial aid and assistance in studies to find solution of problem of impact of TV on sports attendance. He urged NCAA members in convention in New York that until facts of TV impact on sports gate are in "don't blame everything on television." Meeting, on motion of Ralph Furey, Columbia U., recommended that NCAA business meeting held Saturday appoint television committee to investigate sports attendance and report at June meeting of NCAA's executive committee. Resolution also recommended that NCAA members make no television commitments beyond 1950-1951 college year. DELAY GRANTED IN SUIT SECOND extension on suit brought by Salt River Valley Broadcasting Co., for KOY Phoenix and KTUC Tucson against CBS has been granted until Feb. 6 by Chicago Federal District Court Judge James P. Campbell. CAYTON NAMES BLACK ALLAN BLACK, director of television for Cayton Inc., New York, since 1947, has been named director of television and radio for agency, replacing late Earl McGill. MOVES TO HEADLEY-REED FRANK BRESLIN, recently with John E. Pearson Co. as radio salesman, has joined Headley-Reed Co. Mr. Breslin also has served with Young & Rubicam as timebuyer and was with NBC 12 years. LEACH JOINS B&B LAWRENCE R. LEACH, formerly brand advertising manager for Lever Bros., joins Benton & Bowles, New York, as account executive on Walter Baker chocolate products and Log Cabin syrup. IRE TO MAKE AWARDS AT MARCH MEETING INSTITUTE of Radio Engineers' 1950 Morris Liebmann Memorial Prize to be awarded Otto H. Schade, research engineer, RCA-Victor Div., Harrison, N. J., at IRE annual convention March 6-9 at Hotel Commodore and Grand Central Palace, New York. Award is for his contributions to analysis measurement technique and system development in TV and related optics field. Among those to be named Fellows — highest membership progression in IRE — are: Jack R, Poppele, vice president of Bamberger Broadcasting Service, New York (now General Teleradio Inc) and president of Television Broadcasters Assn., "for his long and continued leadership in the broadcasting field and in particular for his recent contributions to television broadcasting." Frank J. Bingley, Bamberger chief television engineer formerly of Philco Corp., for contributions in television engineering. Alva V. Bedford, research engineer, RCA Labs Div., Princeton, for contributions to sound recording and development of TV circuits. Dudley E. Foster, engineer-in-charge, Hazeltine Research, Los Angeles, for work on radio receiver design. Harry B. Marvin, project engineer. General Electric Co., Schenectady, for contributions to measurements art and pioneering work in FM, TV and allied fields. Garrard Mountjoy, chief radio engineer. Stromberg-Carlson Co., Rochester, for work on design of radio and TV receivers. Dayton Ulrey, manager. Lancaster (Pa.) Engineering Section. RCA Labs Div., for work on special purpose and power tubes. AMERICAN STORES BACK AMERICAN STORES Co. for reported first time in 10 years to use radio to boost its Acme Super Markets in Baltimore area with signing for Lauri Alwyn Show, weekdays, 12 noon12:15 p.m., on WCBM Baltimore. Placed direct. Food Fair Stores begins 10th WCBM year with renewal of weekday Dialing for Dollars, through Theodore Newhoff Agency, Baltimore. Albert F. Goetze Inc., meat packer, for seventh year renews WCBM weekday Lucky Basket, grocery giveaway, through Harry J. Patz Agency, Baltimore. KTHT PLAZA DEDICATED KTHT HOUSTON'S new studio facilities, termed "Radio Plaza" and described as one of most luxurious and complete in South, dedicated Saturday with Frank White, MBS president, scheduled to participate. Ultra-modern design to accommodate TV with only slight modifications; 200-seat auditorium included. Executive office of President Roy Hofheinz has private dining room and kitchen. WMEX CASE ARGUED COMPLEX WMEX Boston license renewal and transfer case went before full FCC Friday in oral argument on examiner's recommended report which failed to find sufficient evidence for conclusion that ownership data had been willfully withheld [Broadcasting, Sept. 12, 1949]. Commission Counsel Walter Emery in substance argued that Alfred J. and William S. Pote, who with their sister, Antoinette lovanna, would gain majority interest under proposed transfer, had assumed "real" or practical control of WMEX since inception although they were only minority stockholders technically. WMEX counsel, Arthur W. Scharfeld, contended Potes had not concealed their identity and had reported stock interests when required. He urged renewal and transfer grant as recommended by examiner. Closed Circuit (Continued from, page U) Speidel Corp. All four networks submittin shows. ESSO STANDARD OIL CO., through it agency, Marschalk & Pratt, New York, re portedly looking for television show. IL PROGRESSO ITALIANO-AMERICANC owner of WHOM Jersey City, which last wee failed to complete contract -to buy WINS Ne^ York (story page 41) because of inability t sell WHOM, reportedly intending to reappl to FCC for permission to move WHOM to Ne-' York. Such petition was withdrawn by // Pre gresso when WINS prospective purchase arose FIRST RETURNS from Electric Institut telephone survey of Washington area T" dealers and service companies on effects o CBS public demonstrations of color last wee reportedly show black-and-white set sale 'way down, service calls (from people wh tried to adjust monochrome sets to get color 'way up. Final results due this week. EYES will pop and tongues wag in at leas one district when list of nominees for NA! board elections is sent to member stations earl next month. WITH ACQUISITION of facilities of WWD' Washington (presumably to become WOL) b Peoples Broadcasting Co., licensee also c WRFD Worthington, Ohio, Fred Palme: broadcast consultant and station executive, wi become supervising manager of both prope: ties. Edgar Parsons, manager of WRFD, wi transfer to Washington as directing head c new operation. MONTGOMERY FOR LUCKIES AMERICAN TOBACCO Co., New Yor (Lucky Strike cigarettes), will sponsor Robei Montgomery [Closed Circuit, Dec. 5, 1949^ who will produce, narrate and act on hour-Ion TV dramatic show. Actor has joined NBC-T" network as executive producer. Show start Jan. 20 on NBC-TV, every other Monda: 9:30-10:30 p.m. BBDO, New York, is agenc: WHITEMAN BECOMES V. P. ALBERT R. WHITMAN, vice president c Benton & Bowles, New York, since 1942 and i charge of merchandising on all products sine 1945, has been named executive vice presider of Campbell-Mithun Inc., Minneapolis, effecti"v Feb. 1. Mr. Whitman during war was on lea\ to OWI as deputy director in charge of foo and gasoline information program and late was national director of fuel and stove n tioning. He had been with B&B in variov capacities since 1933. CONGRESS TO SEE COLOR CBS will show its color TV system to membei of Congress this month, officials said Frida: Senators invited Jan. 23, House members, Jai 25-26. All showings will be late afternoo and held at Walker Bldg. in Washingto where public demonstrations now being heh Government officials will be invited for late showings. PROSPECTS FOR SET SALES PURCHASE RATES for radios, television an players, 1950 estimate, issued Friday by U. I Chamber of Commerce Domestic Distributio Dept. Frequency of purchase and size of tram action reported as follows: Average incon families, two years, $26; above average ii come, two years, $64 ; below average incom six years, $45. Total purchases for 1950 est mated at $740,000,000, $17.60 per family, ( 7.5% of total to be spent for all product group Page 74 • January 16, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecastin