Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1955)

STATIONS JOINING FORCES to finalize a St. Louis, Mo., television program deal calling for 624 half hours of tv films are these nine men. L to r: seated, George M. Bjibach, general manager of KSD-TV St. Louis, and H. V. McNamara, Chicago, president of the National Tea Co.; standing, W. H. Sievert, general manager of National Food Center Stores, St. Louis, National Tea Co. subsidiary; Carl Mclntire, host on the film series; Guy Yeldell, KSD-TV sales manager; Jack Garrison, central division sales manager of Official Films Inc.; Jimmy Allen, KSD-TV account executive; Richard Kirckhoff, president of Pevely Dairy Co., St. Louis, and Granville (Pick) Rutledge, president of Rutledge & Lilienfield, agency for the National Tea Co., National Food Center Stores, and Pevely Dairy Co. still to mature finally and be stabilized. Our technical staffs have yet to evolve the full potential of this medium, but we can be confident that its future success and public effectiveness relies on the automation that must come. The people of our nation have taken to television with a zest never previously encountered. The appetite of this medium is, in turn, insatiable, and legions of writers, scripts and talent are being regularly absorbed. This is creating no small concern among the industry program producers. "Broadcasting is a highly 'styled' business. If our product, intangible though it may be, fits the tastes and needs and desires of our audience, we achieve acceptance. If it does not, we are unacceptable. Such tastes are generally more similar than dissimilar, but tire readily. Our industry must anticipate these changes and constantly afford variations to our public that will be of interest to them. This requires investment and research without which the patient and tolerant public we serve will soon become intolerant of our complacency. This is our responsibility if the true stature of both of these media is to be preserved and not dissipated." In another session of the management conference, held Monday through Wednesday, National Sales Manager Eldon Campbell reported that gross time sales of WBC's five radio stations will be 5% higher this year than in 1954 while those of its four tv stations will be up 13.5% [B»T, Nov. 28]. Mr. Campbell and his sales staff were praised for "phenomenal" performance by President McGannon, who also commended Engineering Vice President Ralph N. Harmon, Mr. Pack and Assistant National Program Manager Bill Kaland, and Advertising-Sales Promotion Manager David Partridge and their respective staffs, and the heads of these departments at the various stations. Baskerville Appointed WALT General Manager CHARLES G. BASKERVILLE, former general manager of WNAO-AM-TV Raleigh, N. C, and WFLA Tampa, Fla., has been appointed general manager of WALT Tampa, Harold Kaye, president, announced last week. Mr. Baskerville, a native North Carolinian, has lived in Tampa for over 20 years and only recently returned from a three-year tour of duty with WNAO. Approval for the sale of WALT to Mr. Kaye and Emil J. Arnold was given by the FCC in October [B»T, Oct. 10]. Crosley Stations Name Three THREE APPOINTMENTS involving promotion duties were announced by Crosley Broadcasting Corp. last week for WLW and WLWT (TV) Cincinnati. Ray Shannon joined Crosley as director of promotion for WLWT; Robert H. Kimball was appointed promotion director for WLW, and Jack P. Reeder was promoted to director of promotional media for the Crosley stations. WOR-FM Returns to Air After Two Year Absence WOR-FM New York was set to return to the air last Friday after a two-year absence, duplicating WOR-AM's programming from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST. WOR-FM will broadcast on 98.7 mc (ch. 254) with 1.7 kw. In announcing the move, Gordon Gray, general manager of WORAM-FM-TV, said the fm operation went off the air in December 1953 because fm equipment in use at WOR-TV's transmitter in New Jersey was dismantled when the transmitter was re located atop the Empire State Bldg. WOR-FM broadcasts, Mr. Gray said, will now emanate from the Empire State Bldg. with a signal receivable by fm listeners located within a 65 mile radius of the skyscraper. Mr. Gray said the WOR management had received "numerous requests" from listeners that it reinstate fm broadcasts. He said "the renewed interest in fm stems partially, at least, from the highly stimulated interest in high fidelity equipment." He observed that fm broadcasts will be in the form of "a bonus" to WORAM advertisers as no additional charge will be made for fm coverage. FRANK WEBB DIES OF HEART ATTACK FRANK V. WEBB, 48, vice president-general manager of KFH-AM-FM Wichita, Kan., diec unexpectedly last Monday following a heanr attack. Mr. Webb worked a full day at the sta tion Monday and KFH staffers said he appeared to be in good health. He was stricken at his: home about 6:30 p.m. and was taken to Weslej Hospital where ht was pronouncec dead at 6:45. Mr. Webb entered radio in 1938 a; KTSM Santa Bar bara, Calif. (SanU Barbara News) Press), following 1( years in advertisinj and newspapei work. He moved tc KTSM from the News-Press advertis 4;h ing department. H< ran KTSM almost f single-handedly, performing as newsman, sales man, writer and broadcaster. In 1940, he joined Westinghouse as assistan sales manager in charge of advertising anc promotion for its then six stations. He was proj!; moted to sales manager of KDKA Pittsburgh and later was named manager of WGL For Wayne, Ind., then a Westinghouse outlet. Ii 1944, Mr. Webb was elected to the sales man; agers executive committee of the National Assn. of Broadcasters (NAB), predecessor t<-] the NARTB. From 1946 to 1948, Mr. Webb served as vici president-general manager of KULA Honolulu In September of 1948, he moved to Wichita t<assume operation of KFH. Mr. Webb is survived by his wife Isabella and a daughter, Barbara. MR. WEBB Quick Sale A TWO-HOUR sales episode last week at WXIX (TV) Milwaukee underscores at least one sponsor's hunger for good sports tv in the Midwest — whether on uhf or vhf. At 9:30 a.m., the CBS-owned ch. 19 station was advised it would have Saturday Big Ten regional basketball telecasts from Dec. 10 on. At 10:30 a.m., word was passed to CBS Spot Sales that the pickups were available for sponsorship. At 11:30 a.m., WXIX flashed Spot Sales to cease selling. First Wisconsin National Bank, Milwaukee, had snapped up the whole series through CramerKrasselt in that city. ■ Page 86 December 5, 1955 (Stations continues on page 95) Broadcasting • Telecastim