Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1955)

PROGRAMS & PROMOTION INSPECTING the new billboard of KVOO-TV Tulsa, Okla., in 102° heat are staffers (I to r) Ruth Bridges, Marilyn Rankin and Sidney Cummings. The red and yellow sign, atop the Akdar Temple building, is 51 ft. long, 16 ft. high at the circle and 85 to 90 ft. above ground. It is the largest ever constructed by Schelleppy Adv. and is the highest painted bulletin in Tulsa, the station claims. KVOO-TV is broadcasting from temporary studios in the Akdar Temple until its permanent building is completed. SHELDON AIRS FROM ROOF PLANS were announced last week by WRCATV New York to originate Herb Sheldon's One Is for Sheldon from the roof of the station's studio building in mid-Manhattan. The rooftop origination is set to begin in five weeks and will continue, a spokesman said, no matter what the weather is, with Mr. Sheldon and his cameramen to be attired in costumes varying from a duck hunter's ensemble to an Eskimo parka. He added the "sky-high" origination will give the program "greater flexibility" and will permit the telecasting of parades on the street below, as well as showing the audience such vehicles as fire engines, hansom cabs and antique autos. PUSHMOBILE DERBY WINNING CAR in the annual Pushmobile Derby, a soapbox race for youngsters in Wilmington, Del., was sponsored this year by WTUX there. Fourteen-year-old Bobby Palmer, who has been sponsored by the station for the past four years, captured the honors by beating out 150 other boys after three straight years of ending up in fourth place. Among his prizes was a $1,000 savings bond. WTUX, which also sponsors a Little League baseball team, likewise a winner this year, broadcast the approximately four-hour remote as a public service. 'BREAKFAST CLUB' TOUR ABC RADIO'S Breakfast Club completed a 150-mile "showboat" tour down the Mississippi River Aug. 26-27, entertaining residents of seven Iowa cities. The programs on docks and in stadiums were recorded for editing and use on radio shows of Aug. 29-31. WPAD'S 25 YEARS IN CONJUNCTION with its 25th anniversary last Tuesday, WPAD-AM-FM Paducah, Ky., has released a brochure trimmed in silver. The booklet contains pictures and biographies of station executives and personnel. A history of its operation from its first broadcast Aug. 23, 1930, until its installation of a new transmitter this year is included. DAVY CROCKETT WFAA Dallas, Tex., staged a Davy Crockett Day on his birth date, Aug. 17. Throughout the day the station aired special announcements on the hour saluting the "Hero of the Alamo." In addition, a special station break was prepared and broadcast. 'EAR ON CHICAGO' DOCUMENTARY series titled Ear on Chicago has been launched by the Illinois Institute of Technology on WBBM Chicago. Commercial aviation and how Chicago would be defended in case of an enemy air attack have been featured as subjects. Other programs in the series will deal with rehabilitation of blind war veterans at Hines Hospital and other topics. The series is produced by Kirk Logie, IIT radio-tv supervisor, with Fahey Flynn as narrator. KFAB 'NEWSBEATS' A NUMBER of "major news beats" are claimed by KFAB Omaha's special events department in connection with the Nebraska penitentiary uprisings Aug. 16-17. The station reports it was the first to (1) air a bulletin of the riots and fires, (2) broadcast directly from the scene live, (3) air developments shortwave from the scene, (4) report that the riot had ended, (5) interview one of the rioting prisoners and (6) supply direct and live network features from the scene and feed area stations with exclusive reports. KFAB's Bill Macdonald informed listeners of developments with bulletins throughout early evening hours. TIMELY INTERVIEW AN EXAMPLE of how film programs can assume an element of timeliness, particularly when they involve sports, was shown recently in connection with the Jimmy Demaret golf series distributed by Sportsvision Inc. At WHBF-TV Rock Island, 111., Sports Director Bill Lohmeier interviewed Mr. Demaret by telephone from the Ail-American golf tournament at Tam O'Shanter for an audio insert at the start of the Demaret film series two days later. The program is sponsored locally by Schlitz Brewing Co. CULMINATING arrangements for two remote broadcasts by KOB Albuquerque, N. M., from the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial held Aug. 11-14 in Gallup, N. M., are (I to r): seated, Les Thomas, secretary. New Mexico Motor Carriers Assn., sponsor; KOB's "Jonny G", narrator; standing, Mike Dillon, KOB program director; Duke Kerstein of Duke Kerstein Adv., and Bill Stevens, KOB account executive. Gates Radio Company, quincy, Illinois, u.s.a. OFFICES IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, ATLANTA, HOUSTON, and LOS ANGELES Page 86 • August 29, 1955 Broadcasting • Telecasting