Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

w m OVER It mm mm* mmm. mm mm mm ^ mm KDUB-TV LUBBOCK, TEXAS K P A R T V ABILENE -SWEETWATER, TEXAS K D U B AM LUBBOCK, TEXAS NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES: THE BRANHAM COMPANY President and Gen. Mgr., W. D. "DUB" ROGERS Notional Solej Mgr. E. A. "Bun" Honett OPEN MIKE Unique Industry EDITOR: RADIO AND TV WARNED ABOUT BAD ADVERTISING. That's the king-sized newspaper headline that greeted us recently in reference to the New York address of [FCC] Commissioner [Robert E.] Lee before the Radio & Television Executives Society [B«T, Feb. 27]. It impresses me that we must be of a unique industry in that we are subject to so much criticism while newspapers and magazines go completely unattended. What does Comr. Lee think of the sizable whiskey ads, the miraculous cures for ugly and unsightly pimples, the movie ads that commonly indicate about to be or recently raped girls, the various astonishing methods for shrinking hemorrhoids, the soothing medical effects for bladder irritations or the remedies for false teeth that drop, slip or wobble when you talk, eat, laugh or sneeze? You may find just such ads on the same page as Comr. Lee's address. Speaking as an individual, I am proud of the radio industry and its ability to keep its skirts as clean as anyone's. However, as the commissioner says: "Censorship may be needed." When that day comes, Commissioner, I want to be out of the radio business. W. C. Porsow, Mgr. WNAM Neenah, Wis. Challenge EDITOR: On Feb. 27 the writer completed 25 years of sports broadcasting, all, except 15 months in Kansas City, here in the Fargo-Moorhead area. In that time I have broadcast 1,355 baseball games, 1,283 basketball games and 299 football games. In addition there have been scores of wrestling and boxing shows, track meets, hockey games and bowling broadcasts. My first broadcast of a sports event was a basketball game between North Dakota State and North Dakota U. on Feb. 27, 1931 . . . and I've been at it ever since. I wonder whether any other sportscaster can point to as continuous a career? On April 29 I will start another Northern League baseball season with 126 games to do, and despite the approach of my 60th birthday in November, I'm not looking ahead to the day when I'll have to call it quits. . . . M. M. (Manny) Marget, Mgr. KVOX Moorhead, Minn. Case for Equal Access EDITOR: The Freedom of Information Committee of the West Virginia State Broadcasters Assn. would like permission to send reprints of Judge Miller's article "The Case for Equal Access" to all West Virginia attorneys and jurists. C. T. Garten, Mgr. WSAZ Huntington, W. Va. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Permission granted.] Female Managers (continued) EDITOR: Our attention has been called to WAPL's request [Open Mike, Feb. 13]. We, the staff of KGFJ Los Angeles, feel justly proud of the tact that Mrs. Thelma Kirchner [B©T, Jan. 11, 1954] has been the active general manager of KGFJ since March 1943. .. . One of her most important contributions to KGFJ, the city of the angels, and to the good name of the industry in general, is her ever constant fight to promote the essence of good broadcasting "in public interest, convenience and necessity." This is evidenced by KGFJ's public service contributions in the past, at the present, and we feel sure, in the future. . . . Now, a poser of our own: How many radio stations in this country can boast of a feminine commercial manager? KGFJ can . . . Mrs. Molly Low. The Staff KGFJ Los Angeles, Calif. The California Story EDITOR: Larry Christopher deserves a great deal of credit for his "California Story" [B»T, Jan. 30]. But I am afraid some of my friends in Monterey County have given him some bad figures. Larry tells us the farm income in Monterey is $100 million and the fertilizer bill is $27 million. This is capable of two interpretations: one, that the soil in Monterey County is practically worn out to such an extent that 27 cents on every farm dollar has to go into fertilizer. I don't believe that is the case. The other alternative is: could it be that the source of the Monterey figures was full of the fertilizer components? Fran Conrad KNTV (TV) San Jose, Calif. [EDITOR'S NOTE: The $100 million farm income figure is a reliable estimate based on official figures and trends during the last several years; the $27 million fertilizer figure was an off-the-cuff guess which should have been recognized as far too high, despite the fact that, even with rich soil, intensive truck farming calls for lots of fertilizer.] EDITOR: "The California Story" in the Jan. 30 B«T is of considerable interest to us at the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. We were particularly interested in the Sonoma County report and the accuracy with which you have reported our growth and primary economic factors. Robert A. Clark, President Chamber of Commerce Santa Rosa, Calif. EDITOR: ... It is beautifully, convincingly, and effectively done. James Mussatti. Gen. Mgr. California State Chamber of Commerce San Francisco EDITOR: . . . It's certainly loaded with factual information and speaks for itself in terms of being a product of considerable research effort on your part. We particularly appreciated the reference to our own corporation's share in this general picture of state-wide growth. S. S. Philbrick Jr., Pub. Rel. Dept. Crown Zellerbach Corp., San Francisco EDITOR: We enjoyed very much the story regarding Imperial County. It was very well done and we appreciate your thoughtfulness in including us in your California Story. W. G. Duflock, Sec.-Mgr. El Centro Chamber of Commerce Yearbook Demanded EDITOR: Will you please forward us another copy of the new Broadcasting Yearbook and bill us for same? We find a single copy in too much of a demand. Arthur C. McCracken, Mgr. WGPA Bethlehem, Pa. [EDITOR'S NOTE: No sooner said than done. Additional copies of the 1956 BROADCASTING YEARBOOK are available at $3.00 a copy.] Page 16 March 5, 1956 Broadcasting Telecasting