Broadcasting (Jan - Dec 1935)

Mr. Charles L. Koellein, Secretary and Buyer, Tennessee Wholesale Drug Company Serving scores of druggists within a 100-mile radius of Nashville. Drug buyer applauds WSM's sales influence "The thorough way in which WSM merchandises a campaign to the retail dealers, makes it possible for us to adequately stock these dealers in advance. Most of the druggists know from actual experience that when WSM gets behind a product, sales action is going to result." — CHARLES L. KOELLEIN Ask your dealers and jobbers about WSM's sales influence in the South WSM 50,000 WATTS National Representatives, Edward Petry & Co., Inc. Owned and Operated by THE NATIONAL LIFE & ACCIDENT INSURANCE CO., Inc. Nashville, Tennessee Late-hour Program Proves Successful General Electric Getting Good Results From lip. in. Series IN THE FALL of 1932 General Electric Co. started a ball rolling. And in the manner of a small snow ball being rolled over freshly fallen snow it began to pick up other industries and professions, until now it has a selling plan that is being enthusiastically received. What was once a small snow ball is now known as GE's Better Light Better Sight movement. A score of local electric light companies, groups of welfare organizations and some apparently unallied industries are behind the GE drive. To bring this movement before a still greater audience, GE went on the air last October over an NBCWEAF network, Sundays, 11-11:30 p. m., the Melody Master, a program which is a cross between the old Tompkins Corners program and the Slumber Hour. It was the purpose of the program to be as easy on the ears as correct lighting is on the eyes. But why pick such a late hour for the program? Along about 11 p. m. the average working person is just beginning to let his thoughts slip away from the routine of the day and is thinking about retiring within the next hour. Sunday is usually spent reading the papers or other publications during the evening, and by the time the GE program goes on the air listeners are believed to be in the mood for soft music and with it educational material on eye strain. Saving the Eyes IT IS ESTIMATED that one half of the persons over 30 years of age wear glasses for one purpose or another. Those fortunate enough not to need them are apt to listen to advice on how to keep their good eyesight. The program, as can be gathered from the above, is a family plot. Everyday problems are discussed. The things that amuse and make life a muddle are all in the plot. And it is through this plot that the personal appeal of the educational talks given on this program are broadcast. This counsel, through the warmth of the human voice, is taken as from the voice of a friend. The eye consciousness instilled in the public mind by GE through the medium of the radio program has sent listeners hustling out to buy more and better light bulbs as may be expected. Still more, it has sent them to doctors for eye examinations, to opticians for glasses, to paint stores for wall tones which will be more restful on the eyes, and to contractors with orders for additional electrical outlets. And the program aids power companies by increasing the use of radios at a late hour. Welfare groups have talked themselves hoarse over these same problems which the radio program is solving. The Melody Master reaches more homes in the course of one evening than the most ardent welfare lecturer could reach in years. Welfare workers are heartily in favor of the program. Naturally the Better Light Better Sight campaign has been going places and it will continue roll Scripps-Howard Records Disc Series FeaturingiEditorial Personalities IN LINE with its campaign to i promote its two-dozen newspapers ■ by radio, Scripps-Howard Newspapers are making a test series of j transcriptions featuring their editorial celebrities. The first transcription, of nine minutes, features an interview with Talburt, Pulitzer prize-winning ScrippsHoward cartoonist. The second in the series will be a discussion of the gathering of foreign news by William Phillip Simms, the newspaper chain's chief foreign editorial writer.. The plan, it is understood, is to place the transcriptions on stations in cities in which ScrippsHoward publishes newspapers. The recordings are being made United States Recording Co., Earle Bldg.,. Washington, D. C, under the di-. rection of James C. Hanrahan, vice president of Continental Broadcasting Co., radio subsidiary of Scripps-Howard Newspapers. Should the test series work out on a sustaining or exchange basis it is planned to extend the series to a tri-weekly schedule on stations in the 23 cities in which Scripps-Howard newspapers are j published. EXAMINER ADVISES DELETION OF KGBZ DELETION of KGBZ, York, Neb., and assignment of its facilities to| KMA, Shenandoah, la., with which it shares time, has been recommended to the FCC Broadcast Division by Examiner George H. Hill. The stations share time on the 930 kc. regional channel, each with 1,000 watts night and 2,500 watts until local sunset. In his conclusions, Examiner Hill said: The showing with respect to the financial condition of the applicant, KGBZ Broadcasting Co., is unsatisfactory. The only assets of the applicant consist of the broadcasting equipment of Station KGBZ and a lease on the property on which the station is located. There are several suits pending against Dr. George R. Miller and the applicant KGBZ Broadcasting Co. Dr. Miller does not expect to continue in the broadcasting business and has been negotiating the sale of Station KGBZ. Some of the programs broadcast by Station KGBZ have been meritorious but the broadcasts of sale of stock in what may be termed "fly-by-night" corporations, promoted and organized by Dr. Miller and his associates, and medical programs containing false and misleading statements, are detrimental to the public interest and contrary to public policy. The report is subject to Broadcast Division action. ing up prestige and results for General Electric. To merchandise the radio program GE is supplying, free of charge, as much publicity as the light companies can use. Window display cards, a selection of 24 newspaper spotlight ad mats, with the station call letter to be inserted by the company using the ad, streamers, and envelope stuffers are furnished all for the asking. Letters to employes, home lighting advisers, managers of lamp departments in stores, doctors, opticians, etc., are supplied by GE. Page 24 BROADCASTING • December 15, 1935