Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 10 Regulation of Broadcasting Is Under Way (Continued from page 1) advance of the meeting to initiate the broadcasts immediately. All future deals for broadcasting involving industry interests of the same import likewise will be submitted to the scrutiny of the Hays organization committee, it was stated officially. The regulatory system thus installed is regarded by producers and New York home offices as all that can be attempted of a practical nature to govern the problems resulting from the participation of industry talent in radio broadcasts. Studio officials are agreed that talent cannot be kept off the air, but the programs in which film stars are to appear, by mutual cooperation of the interests involved, can be regulated so as to minimize competition with theatres, lessen the interference with production schedules caused by radio rehearsals and broadcasts of working stars, and insure against danger to the stars' reputations and popularity by proper supervision of their work on the air. These, obviously, will be the primary objectives of the producers' committee. The formation and functions of the committee were decided following the recent conference in New York of industry and radio officials at which interlocking problems were discussed. The committee will meet with network officials, advertising and talent agents and representatives of the potential sponsor of any program which proposes the use on the air of any significant studio resources, it was said. Similar action would be taken in the east on programs of the same nature originating here. Metro Is Receptive To Programs on Air (Continued from page 1) "Hollywood Hotel" program on behalf of Campbell's Soups and prepared to consider future shows under different auspices such as Lux and others. In the radio field, the impression is these may be held to approximately four to six a year. In New York, M-G-M is on record with the statement Saturday and Sunday broadcasts will not be considered. On the basis of 10 points per week, theatres traditionally compute weekend business at five, or 50 per cent of each seven-day gross. Presses Games Fight In California Town (Continued from page 1) the San Mateo County Grand Jury, J. C. Chastain said yesterday. Chastain, who is publisher of the Redwood City Weekly Standard, has been active in protesting slot machines and similar devices in the community. While active against the slot machines, the other newspapers of the county, some of which accept advertising on the theatre games, have not joined in Chastain's protests. The mayor has stated that he does not believe the theatre games are in violation of any local or state anti-lottery laws. WHN-CBSL Launch Talent Deal Soon The new WHN series featuring CBS starlets will make its debut this Thursday, Nov. 26, at 8 P. M. over the Loew-owned station. The program was devised to give air time to CBS talent who otherwise would have to remain inactive because of the crowded network schedule. The first program will have Jay C. Flippen as master-of-ceremonies, and Terrv Cooper of CBS as guest star. Other CBS acts scheduled to be heard are the Buccaneers Octette, Frances Comstock, and Vic Laurie. Irving Aaronson and his Commanders will provide the music. Busy WOR, Mutual Days WOR and the Mutual network reports a heavy new business and renewal schedule. The Taylor Provision Co., through the Monroe F. Dreher agency, begins a new series of electrically transcribed programs over WOR Nov. 24. The urograms will be aired at 8:20 A. M., E. S. T., on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Anderson Co.. through its agency, Schwab & Beatty, Inc., begins a new Transradio news series featuring commentator Frank Singiser on Dec. 6. The program will be heard Sundays at 11 P. M., E. S. T., over WOR. Beginning Dec. 19, Sears-Roebuck & Co. will sponsor a new series of electrically transcribed musical programs over WOR on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:15 A. M.. E. S. T. Benton & Bowles, in the interest of Colgate Palmolive Peet, renews the electrically transcribed program known as "Dance Music," heard over WOR Mondays through Fridays, at 5:10 P. M., E. S. T. Adolf Gobel, Inc., through Lester A. Loeb. Inc., renews "Allie Lowe Miles Club" over WOR beginning Dec. 14. The program is heard over WOR on Fridays at 10 :30 P. M., with announcements on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3 :30 P. M., E. S. T. Johnson's Wax. through Needham. Louis and Brorbv, Inc.. renews over WOR "Tom Powers Life Studies" series effective as of Sundav. Dec. 30. The program is heard at 5 P. M., E. S. T. Will Pick 10 Best Films Elza Schallert. NBC motion picture critic in Hollywood, will reveal her nominations for the 10 best films of 1936 on her program next Friday, over the NBC-Red network at 10:45 P. M., E. S. T. During the past year Mrs. Schallert has previewed more than 300 _ films on the air. Her selections will be based on three points: first, the contribution of each film to the highest advancement of the screen, second, the sreneral artistic quality of the film ; third, its general popular appeal. Before revealing her nominations, Mrs. Schallert will interview Joel McCrea. WMCA-WPA Shift Intrigues Exactly what is behind the move is not discernible at the moment, but officials at WPA headquarters and at WMCA admit to Motion Picture Daily that both organizations were contemplating shifts in bases of operation. WMCA, it is understood, will leave its present location at 1697 Broadway within the next few weeks for premises in the Hollywood Theatre Bldg., while WPA moves from 1991 Broadway to the present WMCA site. More "GoodWill" Fuss Bar associations in Chicago and in California will follow the precedent set by the Bar Ass'n of New York, which recently "indicted" the "GoodWill Court," it was learned Saturday. Attorney Phil R. Davis, of Chicago, has submitted a resolution condemning the "court," and it is understood that the committee's report, soon to be published, will be as severe as the New York findings. The secretary of the Illinois Bar Ass'n has gone on record that he is opposed to such radio programs. In the meanwhile, it is reported the sponsor of the "GoodWill court," upset by the unfavorable publicity the program has been receiving of late, will remove the program from the networks at the expiration of the initial 13-week contract, some five weeks hence, and will replace it with another program. Family Joining Cantor Eddie Cantor's wife, Ida, his daughter, Natalie, and Bobby Breen, arrive from California on Monday to join the comedian in New York. Young Bobby will broadcast with Cantor Nov. 29, after which the entire Texaco troupe will return to Hollywood. Kate Smith Joins Bernie Kate Smith will make one of her infrequent guest star appearances on the Ben Bernie-American Can broadcast of Dec. 8. Herman Bernie is the agent. Armida, Fischer, Et Al Short Shots : Armida, Mexican song bird, will be Ted Hammerstein's principal guest on his CBS Music Hall broadcast of Dec. 1. . ... George Fischer, conductor of the "Hollywood Whispers" program on the west coast, soon may be heard on a coast-tocoast NBC network. . . . Eugene S. Thomas, WOR sales manager, slated to deliver a talk on radio to college students in the near future. . . Jimmy Farrell, CBS sustaining artist, signed for a guest appearance on Mark Warnow's program of Dec. 1. . . . Ken Murray, soon to leave the networks to make room for the new Al Jolson series, will vaudeville tour pending a new commercial. . . . Ed Wynn series to be "waxed" and disks issued to several hundred small stations scattered throughout the nation. . . . Joseph Roberts, member of the Washington State Legislature vacationing here at the home of Jean Paul King, network announcer. Rochelle Hudson, Cortez Set Hollywood, Nov. 22. — On the Kraft program Nov. 26 will be Rochelle Hudson, Ricardo Cortez and Lotte Lehman, operatic vocalist. Cortez and Miss Hudson will appear in a Thanksgiving skit for NBC. Yale Broadcasts End New Haven, Nov. 22. — The first season of Yale Bowl broadcasts came to an end Saturday with the YaleHarvard game on WOR, WICCX, WTHT and WATR. Monday, November 23, 1936 K. C. STAR Station Building New Tower Kansas City, Nov. 22.— WDAF, Kansas City STAR station, is erecting a 425-foot vertical tower and suburban transmitter building near 83rd St. and Mission Road, embodying the latest type of equipment, including a new Western Electric fivekilowatt transmitter. The station's present antennae are on the STAR Building in downtown Kansas City. WOCL Is Reorganized Columbus, Nov. 22.— WOCI, 100watter operated by Wolfe Bros., has been reorganized to become part of the NBC web. Revamping of personnel makes C. Robert Thompson general manager. He previously was program director of WBNS, another Wolfe station. Others in the new executive setup are: Neal Smith, local commercial manager ; Ed Bronson, production and continuity manager ; Doris Herbst, traffic and program manager ; Jack Kelly, national sales representative ; J. H. McGillvra, station representative, and Harold Mafzger, chief engineer. New Transmitter for WKRC Cincinnati, Nov. 22. — A new transmitter at WKRC, local CBS outlet, increasing the station's daytime signal to 5,000 watts, will be completed Dec. 15, according to Jim Middlebrooks and Frank Moore, New York, handling the installation. The night signal remains at 1,000 watts. An addition to the studio will be ready late in January. Charles Koch has been added to staff of WKRC as announcer. He is a recent graduate of Xavier University. Guide and Station Tie-up New Haven, Nov. 22. — Steadfastly refused space in local daily newspapers, along with other local stations, WELI will have a weekly page for its program in Theatre News, weekly film guide. Theatre News, in turn, goes on the air over WELI, with Penetrix, commentator, and Dick Owen of the staff giving reviews. William Lyon Phelps, Yale literary critic, has promised the hour his support. Approve Youngstown Plant Youngstown, O., Nov. 22. — The Federal Communications Commission has approved a new $60,000 transmission building to be erected by WKBN here, according to Warren Williamson, Jr., president of the station. The new structure will be used only for transmitter and engineering equipment. Seek Johnstown, O., Station Johnstown, O., Nov. 22. — The Farmers Broadcasting Co., composed of C. A. Thompson and M. S. Davis, has filed application for a new station to be operated on 800 kilocycles, with 50 kilocycles limited time, the frequency of WTBO, Cumberland, Md. The petition asks that WBTO be removed. KRNT Power Increased Des Moines, Nov. 22. — The Federal Communications Commission has authorized KRNT to increase its power from 500 watts night and one kilowatt days to one kilowatt nights and five kilowatts days.