Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

Nathan H. David enlisted in the Navy. The industry's trade association, NAB, was deeply tied into the war elfort in 1943 after a flurry of internal bickering that had marked 1942. Willard D. Egolf became head of NAB public and Mr. Egolf industry relations, coming from KVOO Tulsa. In line with government wishes, the association scheduled a war conference April 27-29 in Chicago, i-estricting attendance. Despite 1942 dissension it had 524 members who paid $343,075 in dues. The war conference devoted much of its time to war service operations, with dissension talk at a minimum. CBS President William S. Paley called on the industry to improve program service. FCC Chairman Fly urged the industry to set up a postwar planning board. Byron Price, censorship director, praised the industry for its adherence to censorship rules but warned stations not to get "smug." The conference discussed the AFM recording ban, but most industry officials said the ban had not yet hurt. NAB's board met June 3-4 and called for legislative safeguards to protect radio as a free medium. NAB Votes To Retain Miller As President Industry elements were still talking about NAB administrative changes but the board, at an extraordinary meeting July 31, voted to retain Neville Miller as president. At the same time it set up machinery for nomination of a new president after expiration of Mr. Miller's term July 1, 1944. Robert T. Bartley, Yankee Network vice president, joined NAB in August as war service director. NAB's code of practices came under attack in late summer when the CIO protested the ban on sale of time for controversial issues. Huge industry promotion drive to aid sale of time to retailers was started Oct. 12 when NAB unveiled a $125,000 motion picture, "Air Force and the Retailer," in Washington. This set off a series of showings all over the country. War service and illness took many industry leaders during 1942. Ira L. Grimshaw, NBC assistant general counsel, died Jan. 1 of a heart attack. William C. Gillespie, vice president and manager of KTUL Tulsa and supervising director of KOMA Oklahoma City, died Jan. 13 as the result of a fractured skull suffered in a fall at his home. A radio pioneer known all through the industry, I. R. Baker, died Feb. 9 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was in charge of RCA broadcast transmitter sales and .Tvas working on high-frequency apparatus at the time of death. Fred D. Fleming, news editor of KLZ Denver, died March 10 of a heart attack. Lt. James L. Carroll Jr., announcer of WCSC Charleston, S. C, was killed March 12 in the crash of an Army plane. Allan B. Miller, director of Clear Channel Broadcasting Service, died May 2 after becoming ill at the NAB War Conference. The year 1943, second wartime year, was an eventful one as the industry continued its war service and at the same time kept business at record levels. In Washington there was much bickering between politicians and regulators, but broadcasters and government war officials cooperated completely. 1944 THERE had been many exciting years for newscasters and commentators in radio's 2%decade history, but nothing could exceed 1944 for sheer drama and excitement. Packed into that 12-month period were the D-Day invasion of Europe; Republican and Democratic conventions; autumn political campaigns and November elections, and the continuing campaign as U. S. troops moved eastward. The broadcasting industry threw all its facilities into coverage of the momentous stories that unfolded during the year. As early as January networks and stations were prepared for an invasion at any time. By June 6, when troops hit the Normandy beaches, their plans were so perfect that staffs went into their routines within minutes of the first German disclosure that France had been invaded. Operating under strict War Production Board rules governing supplies and construction of facilities, the industry obtained some relief in late January when WPB eased some of the provisions to permit limited building of facilities. With 6,000 industry employes under arms, a non-military broadcaster in an official wartime role became one of the better publicized heroes of the worldwide conflict. That hero was R. Morris Pierce, chief engineer of the Psychological Warfare Branch, Allied Force Headquarters, who in November of the previous year had rigged up a haywire transmitter on the SOS frequency and had persuaded the Italian Navy to surrender. For this feat he received the Marconi Memorial Medal of Service from Veteran Wireless Operators Assn. By the end of 1944 Morris Pierce again had drawn worldwide acclaim for another feat — capture of Radio Luxembourg, with its 150 kw transmitter, in mid-November. At Office of Censorship John E. Fetzer, WKZO Kalamazoo, Mich., was named to succeed J. Harold Ryan as assistant director for radio, Mr. Ryan having been elected NAB president. Radio's wartime role again was lauded in late February by Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau. The music situation continued acute as AFM musicians remained on strike against recorders and Mr. Fetzer transcribers. Government war agencies became interested and the National Labor Relations Board panel decided in March that the AFM ban was a dispute interfering with the war effort and urged NLRB to use its powers to end the strike. National War Labor Board granted AFM's plea for a hearing. In mid-June NLRB ordered AFM to withdraw its recording ban, at the same time approving the AFM fee plan for creation of an employment fund. AFM didn't comply so President Roosevelt asked President James C. Petrillo to obey the order. The AFM president refused. Finally, RCA-NBC and Columbia capitulated in midNovember to the Petrillo royalty demands, ending a strike that had lasted more than a year. AFM was loser, however, in an effort to force NBC and Blue stations in Chicago to use AFM musicians as turntable operators, NLRB awarding the decision to NABET. Through the winter and spring months networks and stations were refining plans for coverage of the anticipated D-Day invasion of Europe. Shortly after midnight June 6 (12:37 a.m.) came the first flash tip from a Nazi source and almost immediately the broadcast coverage plans were in operation. Official announcement came in the early morning hours and broadcasting started its biggest job of spot news reporting. Few who heard the broadcasts, or took part in them, will forget the early days of the invasion as broadcasting brought the roar of guns right into the living room. History was made in heavy chunks, and rapidly, in those tense days and every American with a radio had a front seat at the proceedings. The government's wartime machine in Washington moved along smoothly, with a few personnel changes. George P. Ludlam succeeded Phil Cohen as director of OWI's Domestic Radio Bureau in April and Neville Miller was named deputy UNRRA chief in Cairo, Egypt. While networks kept large staffs operating on the European front, Howard L. Chernoff, news director of West Virginia Network, was the first independent broadcaster accredited as a war correspondent. He left in mid-summer for the front, bring Mr. Ludlam ing the voices and messages of West Virginia soldiers to the folks at home. Aside from its war coverage and service, the broadcasting industry entered the year with the knowledge that net time sales in 1948 had totaled $233.9 million, 21.8% over 1942, according to Broadcasting. Surveys showed listening was increasing. NBC announced in January its programs would be available to FM adjuncts of affiliate stations at no cost. CBS followed suit in a fortnight. FM Broadcasters Inc. held a convention in New York Jan. 26-27, laying plans for postwar expansion. FCC Chairman James Lawrence Fly said, "FM is of age and has come to stay." This set in motion an active FCC campaign to boost FM. Walter Damm Elected President of FMBI All manufacturers promised to make sets, the FMBI delegates were told. Walter J. Damm, WTMJ Milwaukee, was elected FMBI president. At the same time television interests were looking toward the postwar period. Television Broadcasters Assn. was formed Jan. 12 at a Chicago meeting. A fortnight later Dr. Allen B. DuMont, president of Allen B. DuMont Labs, was elected president. Sale of WQXR New York to the New York Times in early February for $1.1 million was first of many 1944 station transfers. 0. L. (Ted) Taylor sold minority interest in four outlets and bought KTOK Oklahoma City. KFAB Lincoln, Neb., WBBM Chicago (CBS) and WBT Charlotte, N. C, made a three-way contract in which KFAB acquired control of WBT but the deal fell through and WBT was sold to Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co. John J. Louis, agency man, bought control of KTAR Phoenix and interest in other Arizona stations. Indianapolis News bought WIBC Indianapolis. In March Marshall Field bought WJJD Chicago for $700,000. The Washington Post acquired WINX Washington for $500,000 in May and the Philadelphia Bulletin bought WPEN from the Bulova interests. Westinghouse Radio Stations bought KEX Portland from the Portland Oregonian and the Cowles interests acquired WHOM Jersey City. Cowles also bought WCOP Boston from Bulova and named Comr. T. A. M. Craven as vice president of the stations. Finally, Cowles swapped WMT (Continued on page HO) BROADCASTING • Telecasting October 16, 1950 • Page 139