Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

KEYSTONE ELECTS BOARD of directors of Keystone Sidney J. Wolf president and Naylor Mr. Wolf, a Chicago attorney, has Keystone since 1941, and Mr. Rogers, networli in 1942. Other new Keystone officers are Noel Rhys and Joseph Bayer, vice presidents, and Arthur Wolf, secretary and treasurer. The latter, one of the principal stockholders of KBS, is associated with the new Keystone president, his brother, in the law firm of Sidney J. and Arthur Wolf. Mr. Rhys, who has been associated with the company since 1941, is in charge of the New York office. A World War I air pilot, he was a Hollywood writer and publicist associated with the motion picture industry before joining Keystone. Mr. Bayer, a Chicago business man, has been interested in the network since 1941. Mr. Rogers has been in broadcasting since 1924 when he was a member of KNX Hollywood's first staff. A member of Radio Pioneers Club, he has been credited with many firsts, including regular broadcast of news and public events, airing of a full grand opera, and other innovations which have since become standard practice in broadcasting. He is a member of the Chicago Radio Management Club, Chicago Federated Advertising Club, and is a charter Wo// President, Rogers to Board Broadcasting System has elected Rogers a new member of the board, been secretary and treasurer of executive vice president, joined the Sidney Wolf member of the Los Angeles Advertising Club. Sidney Wolf has played an active part in the development of Keystone's national trsnscription service to small towns and rural areas from coast to coast. He recently reported to KBS stockholders that with the acquisition of a number of new national accounts in 1950, the network is now carrying more accounts th;.n ever before. He attributes the upsuige to the fact that advertisers going into television are using Keystone to supplement their TV coverage. Mr. Wolf reported that KBS now has 402 affiliated stations and reaches 8,071,430 radio homes. NEW PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUE Broadcasts from Guided Mgss!l33 Einvisioned Strictly Business (Continued from page 16) was one of two children. His father, an electrical engineer, died when Eddy was only five. The incident was a turning point in Eddy's life for he was sent to an orphanage in up-state New York. Still a youngster, who had the opportunity to complete only the seventh grade, Eddy learned the I'udiments of typogi'aphy from his foster father; a foreman at the American Type Founders, who was a printer of "the old school." Eventually Eddy sought his future in California. Convinced that the West Coast was where he wished to settle, and fired with the belief that the cellophane packaging idea would some day sweep the country, Eddy Allen started as salesman at Budget Pack. Introduction to Radio Eddy met radio's selling power during the war when some retailers were trying to make a fistfull out of the situation of scarce materials. At the outset of the war. Budget Pack sponsored Frances Scully on KECA Los Angeles. By calling to task certain department stores and other retailers for selling goods at prices over-inflated, Miss Scully created a loyal following. Whenever she would mention one of Budget Pack's products, the grocer's shelves would be depleted in 48 hours. Because of the scarcity of materials, the firm was hard put to it to replace its products. A few years later. Budget Pack was advertising again, this time with radio's blood relation — television. Eddy Allen discovered the power of the new medium on July 4, 1949. That day there was a gathering of children at the Allen house, celebrating the Fourth with fireworks. Suddenly the racket stopped when one of the younp,-sters called, " 'Beany' is on!" Amazed that there was something beyond the attraction of fireworks in a child's life, Eddy investigated. He then became acquainted with Beany, a television puppet show. Aware that Beany could draw children from the most active play, Eddy proceeded to find the program a local sponsor — Budget Pack. Now the show is sponsored by Budget Pack 6:30-6:45 p.m., Mon.-Fri., over KTLA (TV) Los Angeles. Other Budget Shows Other programs, both radio and television, have carried Budget Pack's message to West Coast listeners and viewers. Prior to the Scully sponsorship, the firm backed Tom Breneman's Breakfast at Sardi's before it was beamed nationally. It also sponsored Chef Milane on radio. Another of its TV progi-ams is Tele-Teen Reporter, telecast at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on KLAC-TV Los Angeles. Eddy and his wife, Rose, will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary next February. They have three children, Toni, 14; Judy, 11, and Robert Alexander, 9. ACCELERATED plans for psychological warfare, envisioning propaganda broadcasts from guided missiles, were revealed by the U. S. Army last week and elaborated on by Brig. Gen. Robert A. McClure, head of the Army's Psychological Warfare Division. Gen. McClure speculated that, while the idea suggested a page from Buck Rogers, such a propaganda weapon is "not too much to expect in these days of guided missiles." He said the Army's program, now being stepped up, will be coordinated with the State Dept. in addition to other military branches looking to formation of a set policy. He pictured such missiles circling over foreign countries and broadcasting messages to the population, as well as dropping leaflets. Gen. McClure's division is part of a section of G-3 under the Army General Staff, but soon may be given individual status under the Army Special Staff, he indicated. Guided missiles have come up for discussion in NSRB, defense and NAB circles in the past two months. There is speculation that they may be able to "home in" on radio and television signals, but the practicability of such a procedure was seriously questioned. Two factors expected to militate against success of such maneuvers reportedly are current creation of a permanent radar network and lesort to changes in wave length frequencies. One of the most intriguing possibilities is that missiles could be guided by "heat waves" or sound to targets pre-set by enemy direction finders. Elimination of sound noises and counteraction of heat in rural areas were felt to be the simplest defense against them. WK/D SOLD Public Auction Held WKID Urbana, 111., has been sold at public auction for $9,700 plus "encumbrances" estimated at $27,000, it was reported last week. Buyers are Elwood Fabert, former president of the station when operated by University City Broadcasting Co., and Howard K. Kemper, Mr. Fabert's business associate. Sale is subject to FCC approval. Off the air for several weeks, WKID was ordered sold at auction on Oct. 6 by the referee of bankluptcy, Federal Court, Danville, 111. The action followed petition by COMMUNICATIONS Army Expands Equipment KOREAN situation and the present increase in the size of the Army are responsible for a 500% increase in procurement of communications and other items for its combat and seiwice troops, the Army Dept. acknowledged Oct. 8. Revealing a total expenditure of $2 billion for the past fiscal year, the Army said that, from the overall standpoint, the present Army program appears to involve procurement four to five times greater than the 1950 rate, or roughly $10 billion. The signal Corps, responsible for procuring all communications equipment, is slated to spend Q.6'r of total funds obligated for fiscal 1951. The Army Ordnance Corps is tabbed for 57.8% to be spent on guided missiles and other weapons. President Truman earlier had asked S10.5 billion for overall defense (Army-Navy-Air Force), with $1.5 billion tagged for weapons and electronics, and $1 billion for electronics-coinmunications alone [Broadcasting, July 31, 24].' Latter sum was further supplemented by an additional half-billion dollars, bringing electronics to $1.5 billion. While the 6.6% represents $66 million to be expended by the Army Signal Corps, it was explained that the $10 billion figure appl'es only to acquisition of "major items" and not to Army-wide procurement or other services. Feature of Week (Continued from page 16) merchandise have more appeal than that available in Worcester (a city of 200,000 population). The drive, which began Sept. 1, is directed by Commercial Manager Herb Krueger working with Local Sales Manager Bob Brown. On the theory that "What's good for V/orcester is good for all of us," the station broadcasts hourly shop-inWorcester taglines, most of them pointing up facts re-activated by station research. Now residents are becoming aware of the availability of a flock of stores in the city, rather than the "choice few" they frequented in the past. The WTAG theme also will carry a charge account appeal and other such personalized approaches. Preceding every campaign announcement, all retailers in the city receive a form letter telling them about the idea and asking for comments or suggestions. Data is obtained through the aid of the local retail advisory committee and the Chamber of Commerce. several WKID creditors for involuntary bankruptcy. James M. Strand, announcer, was appointed trustee for liquidation of the assets. WKID is assigned 250 w daytime on 1580 kc. Mr. Fabert held about 25% of the WKID stock but was inactive in the operation of the station. Page 34 • October 16, 1950 BROADCASTING • Teleca. sting