Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr - Jun 1952)

Our Respects to . . . (Continued from page 58) Wholesale Co., Miami. Two years later, in 1921, he became treasurer of that firm. In 1924, he formed the WolfsonMeyer real estate firm with Sidney Meyer, his brother-in-law. This was the beginning of a co-equal partnership that has continued to the present time. Mr. Meyer, prior to the merger, had been general sales manager of the Old Fox Film Corp. The Wometco Theatre Circuit (Wolf son-Meyer Theatre Co.) was established in 1925 with the erection of the Capitol Theatre in Miami. The chain now boasts 37 movie houses. The motion picture industry, however, did not claim all Mr. Wolfson's activities. From early youth he had been interested in civic affairs. This led to his participation in local politics and his election to the Miami Beach council in 1939. In 1943, he was re-elected to the council with the highest number of votes received by any contestant up to that time. His high returns and his service in the city council resulted in his installation as mayor of Miami Beach. Leaves for Service Overseas Politics were temporarily shelved in September that year when Mr. Wolfson resigned as mayor to enter the U. S. Army. Military service included duty in England, North Africa, France, Germany, Austria and Belgium. Outstanding service won him promotion to lieutenant colonel. He was decorated with the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the French Croix de Guerre. The war over, Mr. Wolfson returned to Miami and the expanding theatre circuit, again becoming active in various theatre trade organizations both in Florida and nationally. It was in 1948 that Mr. Wolfson entered the video field. He applied I for and received a construction permit for WTVJ, Channel 4, in Miami. The growth of that station is Florida TV history. In 1950 and 1951, he served as chairman of the TV committee of the Theatre Owners of America. In late 1951, Mr. Wolfson was elected president of this organization, which represents more than half of the 20,000-odd movie houses in the nation. As TOA president, he has urged its members to "join with television to build a new medium of entertainment that will surpass any WKOW JOHN A. KENNEDY (I), chairman of the board, KFMB-AM-TV San Diego, is recipient of awards for "extraordinary meritorious service to the men and women of the Armed Forces" by the stations. George A. Scott, chairman of the San Diego Council of the U. S. O., made presentation. thing heretofore imagined." Mr. Wolfson married the former Frances Louise Cohen. They have three children, Louis, 24, a WTVJ public relations executive; Frances, a student at Bennington College, and Mitchell Jr., 13. In addition to professional organizations, Mr. Wolfson is an active trustee of two hospitals; a member of the Rotary, Elks, Free & Accepted Masons, the Mahi Shrine Temple, Westview Country Club in Miami, the Harmonie Club of New York, American Legion and is first assistant barker of the Variety Club of Miami. For recreation, Mr. Wolfson plays golf. Or rather, he formerly played o-0lf. In the three years since Wometco entered TV, he hasn't been on a golf course. However, Mr. Wolfson finds recreation in planning the future of WTVJ and theatre television, which to him is still an exciting threshold. WBAL Documentary DOCUMENTARY and dramatic program was fed NBC by its affiliate, WBAL Baltimore, last Thursday 10:30-11 p.m. marking the station's 25th anniversary of its affiliation. Program, touching on historical scenes and events in the Baltimore area, illustrated service and entertainment afforded listeners by NBC and highlighted audience reaction to name NBC stars and shows. WBAL is supervised by D. L. (Tony) Provost, vice president and general manager of the Radio and Television Division of the Hearst Corp. Leslie Peerd Jr. is station manager. Direct Mail Volume DIRECT mail dollar volume for February 1952 was $96,355,838— a gain of 19.9% over the same month last year — according to figures released last week by Frank Frazier, executive director, Direct Mail Advertising Assn. Total for January and February was $188,256,223, a 10% -plus increase over the corresponding 1951 period. Would Amend Atlass Contract, Renewal Bid Advises FCC OFFER to revise its management contract with Atlass Amusement Co. was made by WKOW Madison, Wis., last week in a petition to the FCC. The petition requested that the Commission reconsider its action last November in setting for hearing the station's application for renewal of license [B«T, Nov. 12, 1951]. * Hearing, which was scheduled to start March 28, was postponed indefinitely. The petition said that if the Commission feels 50%. of the net profits plus travel allowances give Atlass control of the station, the contract will be revised to pay a fiat $1,250 a month to the management consulting firm. It also would be revised to allow cancellation at the end of any year, upon three months' notice. Hearing on WKOW's license renewal application was set on intimations bv the FCC that Monona Broadcasting Co., licensee of WKOW, had abdicated its control through the contract with Atlass Amusement Co. The FCC also implied that WKOW secured a CBS affiliation after hiring the Atlass firm. Atlass Amusement Co. is headed by H. Leslie Atlass Jr., son of the CBS Western Division vice president. Last week's petition recounted the early history of the Madison station, told of $154,597 in operating deficits from Jan. 1, 1948, to Sept. 30, 1950. It also pointed out that the station cost $250,000 to build, almost double the amount estimated. Income Increase After Atlass Amusement Co. was signed as management consultant, the station's income rose rapidly, the petition stated. In 1951, WKOW had a net operating income of $293,108.02 plus other income of $3,263.63, and an operating expense of $255,815.84. Story of WKOW, as related by station executives in affidavits to the petition was as follows: Needs of the station in the early days were two — CBS affiliation and a competent manager. CBS told WKOW officials that its O&O Chicago station, WBBM, covered Madison adequately. In 1950, Chicago attorney Arthur Morse tried to buy the station for a buyer later identified as H. Leslie Atlass Sr. Stockholders did not wish to sell, set price far above its value. Subsequently, WKOW officials were invited to Chicago to meet Mr. Atlass, where they discussed their need for a CBS affiliation and a manager. Mr. Atlass turned them over to his son, who had set up as a management consultant. He also told them that recent surveys showed CBS was not being covered adequately in Madison and that it was seeking a Madison affiliate. After signing a management contract with Atlass Amusement Co., station became a CBS affiliate. Its affiliation contract with MBS was cancelled when Mutual affiliated with WJSC Madison, sharing affiliation with ABC on that station. Mr. Atlass Jr. and members of his family acquired 180 shares of stock in the station at no par value, giving them 4% ownership. At one time, Mr. Atlass Jr. had options to buy 800 shares at $30 per share, which would have amounted to 13% to 19% of the ownership. However, he did not exercise these options. Petition also related that a contract between Michael Henry, present manager of WKOW, and Atlass Amusement Co. was drawn up when Mr. Henry was being considered for employment by the WKOW board. It was drawn, petition stated, to show WKOW principals that Atlass Amusement Co. could deliver the services of the man it recommended to be station manner. Mr. Henry, then manager of WWXL Peoria, 111., never worked for Atlass Amusement Co., the petition stated, and the contract lapsed when he accepted the offer to manage WKOW. AMERICAN Newspaper Guild has applied for certification at Ottawa as bargaining agent for Canadian Broadcasting Corp. newswriters across Canada. GATES QUINCY, ILLINOIS THESE OFFICES TO SERVE YOU QUINCY, ILL. . . . HOUSTON, TEXAS WASHINGTON, D. C. MONTREAL, QUE. . NEW YORK CITY . BROADCASTING • Teleca: TEL. 8202 .... TEL. ATWOOD 8536 . TEL. METROPOLITAN 0522 . . . TEL. ATLANTIC 9441 . TEL. MURRAY HILL 9-0200 April 7, 1952 • Page 69