Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr - Jun 1952)

BAB BOARD of directors met before opening of NARTB convention. At meeting were (vertical row at left, front to back): Martin Campbell, WFAA Dallas; Frank White, MBS; H. Preston Peters, Free & Peters; Lou Hausman, CBS; Clockwise around table: George Hatch, KALL Salt Lake City; Gene Cagle, president, Texas State Network; Joseph E. Baudino, Westinghouse Radio Stations Inc.; Donald W. Thornburgh, WCAU Philadelphia; T. C. Streibert, WOR New York; John F. Patt, Goodwill Stations; BAB 'ROUNDUP' Ed Kobak, retiring BAB chairman; Charles C. Caley, WMBD Peoria, III., new chairman; Kenyon Brown, KWFT Wichita Falls, Tex.; Allen Woodall, WDAK Columbus, Ga.; Robert D. Swezey, WDSU New Orleans; William B. Quarton, WMT Cedar Rapids; William B. Ryan, BAB president; Gene Higgins, BAB; Adrian Murphy, CBS; William McGrath, WHDH Boston; Simon R. Goldman, WJTN Jamestown, N. Y.; John F. Meagher, KYSM Mankato, Minn. Severs Tie With NARTB BROADCAST Advertising Bureau marked its final divorce from NARTB March 31 with a "Sales Roundup" that occupied the first afternoon of the NARTB Chicago convention. The roundup was conducted with a Wild West theme, during which over 1,500 broadcasters filled the main ballroom of the Conrad Hilton Hotel. The program's purpose was three-fold: Sales assistance, BAB membership solicitation and entertainment. Edgar Kobak, retiring BAB board chairman, presided beneath an Indian-style feathered head-dress. Charles C. Caley, WMBD Peoria, made his first appearance as new board chairman. William B. Ryan, BAB president, and other staff members took part in the program. Preceding the BAB roundup, James D. Shouse, WLW Cincinnati, retiring NARTB director-at-large and chairman of the 1952 NARTB convention committee, formally opened the convention. Mr. Shouse welcomed members of NARTB and BAB as well as non-members in RAPID-FIRE narration of BAB services, aided by a sharp-shooting archer, was given by Jack Hardesty (I), local sales promotion director, and Kevin Sweeney, vice pres. vited to appear on the program. Ke spoke on behalf of the full committee, which included George B. Storer, Fort Industry stations; Harold Wheelahan, WSMB New Orleans, and Merrill Lindsay, WSOY Decatur, 111. NARTB President Harold E. Fellows greeted delegates. In opening the BAB program Mr. Kobak called for more and better radio salesmanship. He called on stations to stick to their rate cards. The rate-splitting idea was pointed up by Jerry Amster, national indoor archery champion, who shot a series of arrows up the middle of a rate card supplied by David Kimble, promotion manager of WBBM Chicago. Mr. Kimble later acted as volunteer stooge for Doc Conrad, whip cracker. Mr. Caley, garbed in 20-gallon hat, said BAB has $468,000 in sight for the next fiscal year compared to $345,000 in BAB's first year, but declared this was "only a good start." He said $700,000 will be needed by Oct. 1 and compared the budget to the million-dollar-plus • budget of the newspaper Bureau of Advertising. "Radio is not nearly big enough," he said. BAB President Ryan was introduced as "Bronco Bill Ryan" by Bob Atcher, WLS Chicago artist, who served as m.c. Mr. Ryan diagnoses radio's troubles as "only a head cold" and not "cancer," as implied by competitive media. He noted a marked change in attitude toward broadcasting, calling it "the renaissance of radio advertising." Radio is growing 50 times as fast every year as newspapers, he claimed, referring to the continued public demand for sets. Mr. Ryan urged broadcasters to hold the line on rates, even if sacrifices are required. Forty-two BAB clinics will be held this year) starting on the West Coast in April, he said. A feature of the afternoon was a drawing for door prize. Winner was D. L. Craddock, WLOE Leaksville, N. C. who was presented a live calf. Main sales feature was a series of short success stories narrated by a group of "three-minute men." They were Bert Banks, WTBC Tuscaloosa, Ala.; William J. Edwards, WKNX Saginaw, Mich.; Simon Goldman, WJTN Jamestown, N. Y. ; Julian F. Haas, KARK Little Rock, Ark.; George J. Higgins, KMBC Kansas City; Winslow Leighton, WSNY Schenectady, N. Y.; Daniel C. Park, WIRE Indianapolis; S. John Schile, KUTA Salt Lake City; C. H. Simpson, WKBI St. Marys, Pa.; Don Sullivan, WNAX Yankton, S. D.; Elmer Wayne, WJR Detroit. BAB sales services were spectacularly described by Kevin B. Sweeney, vice president, and John F. Hardesty, director of local promotion. Blow-ups around the balcony were described as Jerry Amster shot arrows, timed with a spotlight. The young archer showed uncanny precision in the case of a blowup showing photos of a girl with bare midriff and another depicting a bull. Mr. Ryan wound up the program with a review of BAB's plans for the coming year. Ben Gimbel, WIP Philadelphia, dramatized the membership drive by agreeng to join BAB if the archer could hit an application blank from the back of the room. The aim was good and WIP became a member. BAB held several private meetings during the convention, including a breakfast for state membership chairman and a board meeting at which Chairman Caley assumed office. At its March 30 meeting the BAB board, besides electing Mr. Caley chairman, took the following actions : (a) Established a special membership category to enable universities and colleges to have access to BAB's sales aids for instructional purposes. (b) Approved plans for promotional services and membership solicitation during the fiscal year beginning April 1, 1952. (c) Voiced appreciation to Mr. Kobak and commended him for his service as board chairman. (d) Appointed BAB auditor William L. Morison as assistant secretary-treasurer of the corporation. (e) Confirmed appointment to board of Adrian Murphy, president, CBS Radio, as replacement for Howard S. Meighan. (f ) Commended BAB president William B. Ryan and his staff for the (Continued on page 67) Bob Atcher, WLS Chicago, and m. c. at BAB's sales roundup, to D. L. Craddock, WLOE Leaksville, N. C, winner of this calf as door prize. April 7, 1952 • Page 27 BROADCASTING • Telecasting COWBOY DECOR prevailed at BAB sales roundup during convention. Fiftygallon hat toters are (I to r): William B. Ryan, BAB president; Harold E. Fellows, carefully adjusting tie, NARTB president; Charles C. Caley, WMBD Peoria, III., new BAB board chairman, and Big Chief Edgar Kobak, retiring board chairman and an honorary member of the Pawnee tribe.