Broadcasting (Oct - Dec 1950)

194 IN RADIO'S exciting history, events tumble all over the electronic escutcheon with increasing rapidity and intensity. As a result every year was more exciting than the previous year. Certainly 1945 was to be a year of superlatives, surpassing even the D-Day and other highspots of 1944. Of special significance was the fact that commercial broadcasting was 25 years old during the year, an event observed all during the 12 months and culminating in the first National Radio Week Nov. 4-10. That week found set makers, broadcasters, dealers and all related industries bound together in a celebration worthy of the occasion. January 1945 was barely under way when the government banned gatherings of more than 50 persons, forcing cancellation of NAB's May convention. The broadcasting industry was operating on a wartime basis, with 30 9f of station personnel in uniform by early spring. MacArthur Broadcasts Return of Philippines to Filipinos First major U. S. victory was brought to the nation in March when Gen. MacArthur was heard in a broadcast turning over the Philippine government to Filipinos. By April peace rumors were flying and radio was alerted for the expected event. Before it could occur, the industry was saddened by the death of President Roosevelt April 12. All commercials were cancelled as the industry and nation mourned. An estimated $3 million in advertising was thrown aside in honor of the President. One of Harry Truman's first Presidential acts was to appoint J. Leonard Reinsch, head of the Cox stations, as radio-press secretary but after newspapers protested, the post was given to Charles G. Ross, of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and Mr. Reinsch returned to his business afi'airs with a parttime role of Presidential radio advisor. The Nazi opposition in Europe was falling apart in May so an elaborate pooling arrangement was set up in anticipation of the peace announcement. May 8 was V-E Day and President Truman's peace proclamation was heard on all stations at 9 a.m. Cust«in-Built Equipment U. S. RECORDING CO. 1111 VsnMiil Av*., Warii. 9, D. C Before the day ended broadcasters had cancelled a million dollars in time charges to cover the epochal event. Voluntary censorship rules were greatly relaxed along with construction controls. Gen. Eisenhower returned to the U. S. in mid-June, with Capt. Harry C. Butcher. From New York to Kansas he was given a triumphant celebration. At a Washington luncheon he paid tribute to commercial broadcasting as a symbol of American freedom. When James F. Byrnes became Secretary of State in July he named Walter J. Brown, WSPA Spartanburg, S. C, as special assistant. At 7 p.m. August 14, President Truman announced Japan had accepted surrender terms and broadcasters repeated their performance of V-E Day. A special White House broadcast was staged at 7 : 30 p.m., with high government officials taking part. The idea came from the White House itself. As the program was closing President Truman entered the room and voiced his congratulations, saying he had been listening on his radio. Through the night networks and stations brought comprehensive coverage to listeners. In contrast, British Broadcasting Corp. read the surrender terms and promptly shut off its national service for the night after only a seven-minute program. Office of War Information Abolished by Truman President Truman abolished Office of War Information Aug. 30. Mr. Brown left the State Dept. in December, returning to WSPA Spartanburg. Office of Price Administration issued its first postwar price ceilings for radio sets in September. The broadcasting industry, with commercial business at record levels, faced the year confidently. The Broadcasting Yearbook estimated 1944 net time sales at $285 million, 25 '^r above the $228 million in 1943. With the industry immersed in plans to set up a system of uniform c o v e r a g .e measurement, Hugh Feltis, of KFAB Lincoln, Neb., was named executive head of Broadcast Measurement Bureau. COMMERCIAL RADIO Monitoring Company PKCISION FREQUENCY MEASUKEMENTS Enginaar On Duty Ad Nifhi Evary Nislil PHONE JACKSON 5302 P. O. lex 7037 KansM City, Me. In the technical field, RCA announced it had developed a TV transmitter tube that would develop 5 kw at 300 mc. National War Labor Board ruled in January that WMAL Washington must pay fixed fees to announcers for commercials. With the European war moving along nicely, station sales became common talk. First major transfer was that of WINS New York, sold to Crosley for $1.7 million. A few days later WQAM Miami was sold to the Miami News and WBYN Brooklyn to the Newark News. Jefferson Standard Buys WBT, Strauss & Blosser Get KHQ Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co. bought WBT Charlotte for $1.5 million and Straus & Blosser, Chicago brokers, bought KHQ Spokane for $850,000. Early in the year WJZ New York, ABC key, banned transcribed shows from 8:30 a.m. to midnight. In February James C. Petrillo, AFM president, placed a ban on musical performances for television. NBC dropped middle commercials from newscasts in June. Robert D. Swezey was moved up to the general managership of Mutual network. CBS named Vice President Frank Stanton general manager and director; Joseph H. Ream, vice president-secretary, was named a director as was Frank K. White, vice president-treasurer. Comdr. Mefford R. Runyon, a vice president on war leave, resigned from the board to become executive vice president of Columbia Recording Corp. Crosley Corp. (WLW Cincinnati, WINS New York), was sold to Aviation Corp. for $22 million in 1944 (Continued from page HO) cuse, died Nov. 8. Ernest H. Gager, chief engineer of KYW Philadelphia, died Nov. 19. Through 12 months of turmoil arising out of regulatory and legislative developments the broadcasting industry achieved an outstanding record of public service as it covered the major domestic and international events. The autumn weeks were spiced by bitter Presidential campaigning, in which candidates used the radio medium heavily and successfully. And when President Roosevelt was renominated for a fourth term, the entire nation heard the returns as networks and stations put them on the air. The dark days of December brought the Battle of the Bulge as American troops fought their way out of the war's last serious European crisis. Again the nation followed the fighting by radio, finally hearing the cheering news as Nazi foes were driven back. late June. CBS acquired KQW San Francisco for $950,000. Paul F. Peter, NAB research director, joined BMB as executive secretary and John Churchill, CBS research director, took a similar BMB post. Art King resigned from Office of Censorship to become managing editor of Broadcasting. The Washington Post (WINX) bought the experimental FM station operated in Washington by Jansky & Bailey, consultants. A fall business roundup by Broadcasting indicated time sales would set new records. In late July Howard Lane was named general manager of the Field Enterprises' radio division. A new development in broadcast transmission was first disclosed in early August by Broadcasting. It was Stratovision, developed by Westinghouse to provide radio networking through use of high-flying airplanes. An historic event of mid-summer was a statement of confidence in the U.S. broadcasting industry by President Truman. In a letter to Sol TaishofT, editor and publisher of Broadcasting, the President said radio was in good hands and must be maintained as free as the press. It marked the President's first radio expression since assuming office in April. Kirby Leads Tour Of European Radio Facilities A group of 10 broadcasting and four trade paper executives took off by plane Aug. 11 for an inspection of European broadcast facilities. Col. E. M. Kirby led the expedition. Mark Woods, as ABC president, assumed active direction of the network in September. When William Benton became Assistant Secretary of State, Subscription Radio folded. Mr. Benton had headed that branch of Muzak. First station sale of the autumn was that of WEIL Philadelphia, transferred by Lit Brothers to Philadelphia Inquirer for $1 million. The Boston Herald Traveler bought WHDH Boston for $850,000 from Matheson Radio Co. The Spokane Chronicle bought KHQ for $1.3 million. National Radio Week observance in November directed the nation's attention to the industry's quarter-century of achievements. During the week Broadcasting unveiled a series of four mural paintings by W. B. McGill, advertising manager of Westinghouse Radio (Continued on page Hi) SERVICE DIRECTORY Page 142 • October 16, 1950 BROADCASTING • Telecasting