Broadcasting (Apr - June 1950)

IT'S a Hawaiian lei for Edwina Zones, start of Studio Kitchen Show on WBNS-TV Columbus, Ohio, as Dole Sales Co. launches a TV test campaign on the outlet. Gentlemen inspecting the floral gift are (I to r) Arthur L. Bersdorf and Harry W. Brinker, Dole Sales distributors, and Robert D. Thomas, WBNS-TV sales director. WORKING out some last-minute details for a new talent show, Band of Tomorrow, telecast over KTTV (TV) Hollywood, are Harrison Dunham (I), KTTV general manager, and Freddie Martin, band leader. Mr. Martin and his band are featured on the series. WATCHING TV debut of Ace Drummond, adventure serial on WSB-TV Atlanta, are its creator, Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker (I), president of Eastern Air Lines, sponsor of the show, and J. Leonard Reinsch, managing director, Cox radio and TV interests. IT looks like Father's Day for Reinald Werrenrath Jr., producer at NBCTV Chicago, but he apparently is left no time for relaxation as he strains muscles with his children. Getting a free ride are Peter Christian, 6 months; Reinald 3d, 6, and Kirsten, 9. WATCHING TV sets roll down the production line at General Electric's TV center in Syracuse, N. Y., are Fulton Lewis jr., (I), MBS news commentator, and Willard H. Sahioff, manager of the receiver division at Electronics Park. Mr. Lewis toured GE's manufacturing facilities. KRLD-TV Dallas telecast of a book review, claimed as the first show of its kind in the city, is attended by (I to r) Chris Kelley, merchandising executive, Sanger Bros, department store, sponsor; Ha Cornelius Mangold, Dallas author; Miss Herbert Emery, book reviewer; William A. (Bill) Roberts, KRLDTV commercial manager. COLOR DECISION Webster Dims Hopes Of Quick Action from applicants was cited by Comr. Webster in view of the continuing reduction of FCC staff. Because i of personnel cuts required by Congress through its appropriations measures (see story this issue). Comr. Webster saw the possibility of reduced service by the Commission even if the current reorganization increased efficiency and cut | red tape. With the FCC staff totaling 1,348 at the end of May 194& and 1,285 today, he saw FCC able to have only 1,170 employes thi? next fiscal year because of finances. POSSIBILITY the color TV decision may take longer than certain predictions optimistically indicate — in view of the "magnitude" of thr; decision and the press of other "important business of the Commission ' — was suggested last Monday by FCC Comr. E. M. Webster. Addressing the eastern regional convention of the American Taxicab Assn. at Atlantic City's Hotel Traymore, Comr. Webster expressed concern over being "forced to devote 90% of my time to problems involving broadcasting and television" when many other policy problems are pending which require careful consideration. Comr. Webster stated he has concluded the way to beat the growing work load will be to delegate specialized responsibility to individual Commissioners or groups of them. He saw FCC's current staff reorganization along functional lines as able to "alleviate the situation, somewhat." Explaining to the taxicab group that after many months of hearings on color television "we now have the stupendous job of making a decision," Comr. Webster stated: Decisions of this magnitude are just rot made overnight. There are those — and incidentally they do not have any responsibility under the Communications Act — who would have been kind enough to set up a suggested time-table and schedule for the Commission, which, if followed, would mean a decision sometime early this fall. Now, none of them has apparently given any consideration to the physical capabilities of the individual Commissioners and the staff to digest the record, study the matter thoroughly, discuss it among themselves, and render a formal decision. They forget that during all of that time we should also be attending to other important business of the Commission. Cites Demands on Time Comr. Webster indicated he is "deeply concerned" that the radio problems of the taxicab industry and other services of "vital importance" to the public "are not getting the attention that you deserve." He asked if he was "doing justice to you and the other radio services when I tell you that back in Washington I am forced to devote 90% of my time" to broadcasting and TV problems. The "dilemma," he said, is what to do "about the numerous outstanding policy problems constantly before the Commission, some of which have a direct bearing on your industry. The number of such problems flowing before the Commissioners is so great that only a few can be decided with the degree of celerity which they merit." He continued: Neither our Chairman nor the other six Commissioners can, in my opinion, be well enough acquainted with all the policy problems before us to set up priorities that would result in more efficient decision making. I have come to the conclusion that the only way we Commissioners can render the public the kind of service they have a right to expect to meet the evergrowing volume of work that is thrust upon us is to delegate to individual Commissioners, or groups thereof, limited responsibilities of decision in specialized fields of communications. Particular need for greater aid WEBSTER TALK Johnson Mulls Reference SEN. ED C. JOHNSON (D-Col.) said last Thursday he did not be: lieve Comr. E. M. Webster was "making any reference to me" in that portion of his Atlantic City speech dealing with the Commission's proposed color TV timetable (see adjoining story). The chairman of the radiominded Senate Interstate Commerce Committee offered the comment in response to speculation that Comr. Webster may have had him in mind when he stated "there are those — and incidentally they do not have any responsibility under the Communications Act — who would have been kind enough to set up a suggested timetable and schedule for the Commission which, if followed, would mean a decision sometime early this fall." Sen. Johnson pointed out that FCC Chairman Wayne Coy and Comr. George E. Sterling had made "frank statements from the beginning of the color hearings" on FCC's proposed agenda. Possible schedule for Commission action on the color question and on TV allocations had been cited by Sen. Johnson last May following a meeting with officials of the National Society of Television Producers who had conferred earlier with two Commission members on the FCC timetable [Broadcasting, May 1J. Comr. Webster had "no comment" to offer to his Atlantic City reference, or whether he had alluded to Sen. Johnson. "There are people who have made suggestions to me and other Commissioners from time to time," he remarked. Sen. Johnson added that he has "hopes" the Commission may tackle the clear channel problem before the year's end, as indicated by Comr. Sterling [Broadcasting, June 19]. He said he realizes, however, that the issue "must be associated with the NARBA problems and tied together in such a way as to render a solution that is twofold." BROADCASTING Page 60