Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr - June 1951)

Advertisement From where I sit |f />u Joe Marsh Might Say The Birds Got "Nettled" Had dinner at the Garden Tavern with Tik Bradley the other day, and over a frosty bottle of beer I found out abou t his job with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Now just exactly what do you do?" I asked him. "Shoot birds with a cannon," he calmly replies. Seems they actually do use a cannon — to shoot out a net over a flock of birds feeding on the ground. The birds start to take off at the sound of the shot, but the settling net brings them back to earth. Then they're banded around the leg so more can be learned about their migratory habits. Afterwards, they're let loose— and everyone's happy. From where I sit, it was a good example of how when you learn the real facts they're often not as bad as they may sound at first. Like with people. Get to really know your neighbor and chances are you'll be more tolerant of his preferences — even though they're not your own. Take a good look, before you jump to conclusions. In The Public Interest Copyright, 1951, United States Brewers Foundation Traffic Safety WBAL Baltimore is carrying a series of highway safety programs in cooperation with Gov. Theodore R. McKeldin and the Maryland Traffic Safety Commission. Created by William Rock, WBAL program director, the series is entitled It Can Be Done. Interviews with families of traffic victims, survivors of accidents, and actual taped conversations between motorists and state troopers are featured. One city, Rockville, Md., has adopted the name of the series as its official safety slogan. Mystery Solved WFAX Falls Church, Va., May 26 broadcast a description of a sevenyear-old girl who had been reported still missing after an all-night search by 350 volunteers. Shortly after the broadcast, a man phoned local police and said that he saw the girl go into a neighbor's house the previous evening. As things turned out, the girl had simply spent the night at the home of a playmate without letting her parents know. WFAX was given newspaper credit for helping to solve the mystery. Emergency Transportation WAYS Charlotte, N. C, helped to provide emergency transportation when city bus drivers went on strike May 24. The station offered to provide immediate cab service in an emergency need. W. H. Goan, WAYS manager, stated that for any listener in an emergency who did not have cab fare, the station would assume the cost. The mayor and traffic police chief expressed appreciation in a WAYS broadcast. Canteen Books MICHIGAN'S hospitalized veterans were remembered on Memorial Day through the efforts of WJBK Detroit Disc Jockey Jack the Bellboy. Following drive for $15,000, each veteran was provided with a Canteen Book, which he can use in the hospital PX. Last year, in conjunction with eight business girls clubs, Jack dug up $12,000 from the public. The needs of returnees from Korea prompted the Bellboy to seek the higher total this year. # * * Cancer 'Telethon' MILTON BERLE'S third annual "telethon" — 22-hour TV marathon — on behalf of the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research over NBC-TV was to have been held from June 9 at 12 noon until 10 a.m., June 10. Appearing with Mr. Berle, who was to have been on many commercial programs during the 22-hour period in order to maintain continuity, were television, radio, stage and screen stars. He and his guests assisted in accepting telephone pledges by showgirl volunteers from various New York night clubs. One hundrec telephones were installed, along with a huge on-stage blackboard tc record pledges and a breakdown ci them by TV stations on the network. -i* * * Dedication Disc DEDICATION ceremonies for e late USAF officer at Fort Dix N. J., were tape recorded bj WTOP Washington to accommo date the widow of Maj. Edwin P Doty. She was unable to attenc the dedication of an athletic fielc by his organization, a Personne Processing Group. When Maj Doty died last month and shi was unable to leave Hyattsville Md., the Air Force arranged witl George Hartford, WTOP com mercial manager, to tape-recor< proceedings and give her privatt audition. Group's PIO termed ac tion "an excellent reflection on th entire broadcasting industry" an< said WTOP had gone out of it way to accommodate one listenei Children's Friend KLWN Lawrence, Kan., throug' public service efforts has brough joy to a shut-in 3 Y2 -year-old boj recuperating from burns in Law rence Memorial Hospital. Th youngster was showered wit greeting cards, toys, candy an money as result of a request b KLWN for cards to ease his lone liness. Another 3-year-old boj lost for three hours, was reunite with his family in 15 minutes afte KLWN broadcast his descriptioi the station reports. On to Richmond WHEN the Orangeburg, S. C high school's mixed chorus ws invited to sing before the Soutl eastern Music Educators' Confe ence in Richmond, it was necessai to raise $2,500 for expenses befoi the invitation could be accepte' An "On to Richmond" fund, spoi sored by WTND Orangeburg an its newspaper affiliate, raised tl money in short order. Daily pr< grams featured the 80-voice chor group and requested donation which were acknowledged on tl Page 20 • June 11, 1951 BROADCASTING Telecastin