Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1952)

Advertisement From where I sit >Sy Joe Marsh Experienced Hand Wanted . Cappy Millefs back from visiting relatives and tells about a big snow storm that knocked out the electric power for miles around. Naturally, the local power company was doing everything possible to restore service but a good many folks kept calling in and one woman gave them a new twist. "/ don't mind not having lights," she grumbled, "but Fve got 20 cows in my barn and they all have to be milked by machine. Nobody around here knows how to milk a cow by hand any more." From where I sit, it's only too easy to forget how to do something — even as simple as milking a cow — if we don't keep at it. And that goes for practicing tolerance, too. Like forgetting our neighbor has a right to decide for himself whether or not to enjoy a temperate glass of beer. If we don't keep the other fellow's point of view in mind we're all Hable to get "snowed under" by intolerance. Copyright, 1952, United States Brewers Foundation STORM SERVICE Rendered by AM, TV WINTER storms swept across the nation in December, pointing up radio-TV's effectiveness as a public service medium as demonstrated in these reports reaching Broadcasting • Telecasting: KGEZ Kalispell, Mont.— Worst blizzard in many a year struck the Flathead Valley in mountainous western Montana Dec. 18. During two-day period KGEZ relayed messages from the stranded to their relatives, flashed weather and storm news items to listeners. Communities in storm's path were given advance warning to prepare. The storm was progressing at the rate of 20 miles per hour. WLWT (TV) Cincinnati — As cold, snow, sleet, ice carried by the storm struck Cincinnati and environs, WLWT whipped into its emergency plan, alerting the area on changing weather conditions, driving hazards and whether schools and industry would be operating. Plan was formed following last year's bitter weather experience, station reports. Simply, the plan was compilation of phone numbers by which schools, highway department and business firms could call in all storm information to either WLWT or WLW, the Crosley AM outlet. Areas included Dayton and Columbus, WWLD (TV) and WWLC (TV) respectively. Setting up and taking part in the emergency plan were Newsmen Dallas DeWeese and Peter Grant, Special Broadcast Director Katherine Fox, WLW Program Vice President William Robinson, Assistant Director of WLW TV Bernie Barth and WLWT Program Director Lin Mason. WWNY Watertown, N. Y.— Station cancelled local and network commercial programs to broadcast emergency messages to listeners, suffering from the heaviest snowfall in the city's history. Virtually all civic activity ceased. Because of WWNY's emergency broadcasts, two persons lost in the storm for hours were found; a woman who told the station her home was without fuel oil, was quickly supplied with adequate fuel. All streets were impassable, so the Watertown Daily Times, which owns WWNY, was unable to deliver copies to subscribers. Form French Assn. A NEW French Canada Broadcasters Assn., replacing the Quebec Assn. of Broadcasters, was formed at Quebec early in December with probable membership of 13 stations. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution. Membership meeting to approve this constitution is to be called early in 1952. On the committee are Phil Lalonde, CKAC Montreal; Henri LePage, CHRC Quebec, and Flavius Daniel, CHLP Montreal. Representatives of nine Quebec stations were at the formation meeting. KITE Employes Share KITE San Antonio employes have received second payment in their share of the station's profits. These employes' payments averaged an extra month's pay during 1951 for staff members with a year or more of service. Three staffers. Pearl Brewer, office manager; Alec Chesser, program director, and John Siercovich, chief engineer, have been with the station since its inception in 1947. In addition, KITE staffers are paid a sliding-scale cost of living allowance, which is hinged to the U. S. Dept. of Labor index. Besides the usual vacations, KITE two years ago established a policy of giving each employe his birthday off, with pay. , Charles W. Balthrope, KITE president general manager, described the practice as "my most expensive pastime," and added, "I still think it's a good investment, though, after four years." U. S,-CANADA To Extend Coneltad COORDINATION of broadcast and other electromagnetic radiation signals between Canada and U. S. in the event of air raids along border was subject of a U. S. -Canadian meeting in Washington last month. Group drafted first draft of diplomatic note to be exchanged between the two countries. The note is an agreement to coordinate plans for broadcast stations and other devices which radiate signals. For broadcasters, principal interest is extension of Conelrad plan to Canadian stations. Meeting followed by a week the issuance of an executive order by President Truman making the FCC officially responsible for the working of all segments of emergency operation and silence during an emergency [B»T, Dec. 17, 1951]. Group agreed to meet again by mid-January to get down to brass tacks. Those present included: U. S. representatives — Don R. MacQuivey, State Dept., chairman; Col. Gomer Lewis, USAF; William L. Wight Jr., State Dept.; Lt. Col. George L. Wells, Air Defense Command, USAF; A. Prose Walker, FCC; Robert D. Linx, FCC; Ernest C. Thelemann. FCC; George MacClain, FCC; Col. William M. Talbot, Federal Civil Defense Administration; R. H. McRoberts, FCDA; Harry E. Roderick, FCDA. Canadian representatives — G. C. W. Brown, controller of telecommunications. Transport Dept., chairman; W. A. Caton, chief radio inspector, Transport Dept.; W. B. Smith, radio engineer. Transport Dept.; Wing Comdr. E. J. Gauthier, RCAF; H. R. Finley, civil air inspector, Transport Dept.; H. T. Patterson, civil air inspector, Transport Dept.; Peter Towe, telecommunications attache, Canadian Embassy. PENTAGON'S Armed Forces Review, heard on MBS the past six months 9-9:30 p.m. EST. Friday, moved to 9:30-10 p.m. time slot Jan. 4. Program features music, documentary and military interviews. Page 40 • January 7, 1952 BROADCASTING • Telecasting