Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1937)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO Television to Require Huge Sums-Gilman San Francisco, Feb. 2. — "When it gets under way, television will require the largest investment any single industry has ever known," said Don Gilman, NBC vice-president in charge of west coast operations, addressing the Commonwealth Club here. Gilman spoke extemporaneously in the absence of Major Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, who was scheduled to attend the luncheon as guest of honor. The radio official was delayed by storms which held up the train on which he was traveling to this city from Denver. One of the largest audiences the club has had gathered in the Palace Hotel in anticipation of Lohr's speech. "Television is not just around the corner — it has rounded the corner," Gilman declared. "However, owing to the tremendous difficulties of offering it to the public in its present stage, NBC will not attempt to do so for some time." Gilman vigorously denied that manufacturers of radio sets have opposed the introduction of commercial television. "I have yet to meet a manufacturer who would not gladly accept an opportunity to sell a brand new product at any time," he said. Coordination the Problem The lag between experimental and commercial operation of television Gilman ascribed to the fact that, unlike radio, in television both receiving and transmitting sets must be coordinated. "Every single improvement in a television transmitter means rebuilding it, he said, adding: "Changes will follow one another rapidly during the next year or so, and every change means an entirely new receiving set if the image is to be picked up at all." Excessive cost of television transmission was cited by the NBC vicepresident as another major obstacle to be overcome before the new entertainment formula can be effectively worked out. The coaxial cable, which he described as the only means by which television images can be carried by wires, costs some $15,000 per mile, Gilman said, adding that even in such short broadcasts as from New York to Philadelphia, construction of midway_ amplifiers was essential. Gilman prophesied regular television broadcasts between New York and Washington "within a year or so;" adding that later such broadcasts might be extended to Chicago, but would not operate at a greater range for some time to come." Labor Leader Sues Seattle's Stations Seattle, Feb. 2.— KOL (Columbia) and KOMO-KJR fNBC) are defendants in a suit by Dave Beck, northwest labor leader, asking $550,000 damages as a result of talks given over those stations some months ago during the Post-Intelligencer strike. The Seattle Broadcasting Co., own (Continued on pane 12) More radio on page 12 Big Talent Lineup To Dedicate KFWB Hollywood, Feb. 2. — With Dick Powell, Warren William and Al Jolson alternating as masters of ceremonies, Warners will present one of the greatest array of screen personalities to appear on a single radio program when KFWB Studios are dedicated here Feb. 15. The air dedication will last from 6 to 10 P.M. over the Southern California network and negotiations are now on for the entire coast, with the possibility of a national tieup. Walter Winchell, George Jessel and Eddie Cantor in a skit with Ben Bemie will come in by remote control from the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, to time with a playlet entitled "The Irish in the U. S." by Pat O'Brien, Alan Jenkins and Frank McHugh; a radio version of "Little Caesar" by Edward G. Robinson, a dramatic piece by Bette Davis with Leslie Howard or Warren William, and an air dramatization of "The Chain Gang" by Paul Muni. Other names appearing will be: Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Eleanor Powell, Sid Silvers, Lila Lee, Jean Madden, Errol Flynn, Olivia De Haviland, Rosalind Marquis, Patricia Ellis, Sybil Jason and Eddie Peabody. Jack Warner will extend the dedication greeting, introducing Mayor Shaw. A novel feature of the broadcast will be Harry Warner's greeting on film projected on screen in the new KFWB Studio Theatre simultaneously with his speech over the air. The parade feature of KFWB talent will include Hall Wall is, Mervyn LeRoy, Sid Grauman, Harry Maislish, Connie Boswell, vocalist, and Leo Forbstein's Vitaphone Orchestra, James Melton and Beverly Roberts, with Leon Leonardi at the piano. Colonels to Receive Flood Chain Letters Chain letters will be sent out to all Kentucky colonels starting today by Louis K. Sidney for contributions for flood relief. The movement was started by WHN of which Sidney is in charge and Loew district managers throughout the country will cooperate. Each colonel receiving a letter will be asked to send it to another colonel. Sidney will act as treasurer. Si Fabian has set aside Friday night for a huge benefit at the Fox, Brooklyn, under the sponsorship of Warners, Paramount and Fabian circuits, Michaels Bros, and WMCA also will take part in raising funds for the Red Cross. Waring to Aid Boy Scouts Fred Waring's band will be heard on the air Monday, Feb. 8, from 6 to 6:30 P. M., E.S.T., in a special program in behalf of the Boy Scouts of America. Waring is donating the services of his band without charge. McLaglen to Enact "Sea Devils" Victor McLaglen will offer re-enactments of scenes from his forthcoming picture "Sea Devils" on "Hollywood Hotel" Feb. 12. Renews on Jack Benny General Foods Corp., sponsors of the Jello program starring Jack Benny, renews the program for 44 weeks beginning Feb. 28. Young & Rubicam is the agency. Music Ban May Aid Foreign Recordings Chicago, Feb. 2. — The ban on music recordings by members put into effect this week by James C. Petrillo, head of the Chicago musicians' union, may boom European recording companies, it was indicated here. Radio stations which use recordings in early morning and late night musical programs will be faced with one of two alternatives by Petrillo's action. They can hire more musicians and dramatic talent and replace their recorded shows with "live" talent, which is the union's hope, or they can use foreign recordings. The music czar grew irate when reports of the proposed importation of canned music reached his ears. Petrillo said : "If they dare to go that far, we'll take the matter to the President himself. Such talk is nonsense. The European bands cannot compete with American organizations in quality of music." The World Broadcasting Co., Columbia-Brunswick Recording Co. and the RCA Victor Record Co., were major units hit by the ban. At WJJD and WIND it was pointed out that they were not hit directly by the ban. WHK Silent on Union Charge of Censoring The American Civil Liberties Union yesterday stated that no reply had been received from WHK Cleveland, in response to a wire sent Monday charging the station with "repeated censorship" of broadcasts by officials of the Automobile Workers' Union, and the "unwarranted" termination of the broadcast contract with the union. The wire was addressed to H. K. Carpenter, director of WHK. The station is owned by the Radio Air Service Corp., in affiliation with the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, and is a member station of the CBS network. The protest was prompted by letters received from listeners in the Cleveland area, according to the Civil Liberties Union, which charged specifically in its wire to the station that speeches prepared for broadcast bv Steve Jenson, secretary of Local 45. United Automobile Workers, were repeatedly censored, and that Lewis Spisak, president of the local, was abruptly cut off the air while he was reading verbatim from a script that had already been censored and approved by the station. The Civil Liberties Union has reciuested that the F. C. C. investigate the charges. N. O. Judgment Voided New Orleans, Feb. 2. — The judgment of $21,250 obtained by the Hello World Broadcasting Co., former operators of KWKH, against the present operators, International Broadcasting Co., was set aside here today by the state Supreme Court. In its dismissal the court declared the lower court jury obviously had erred in its apolication of both law and evidence. The suit involved an alleged violation of the contract of sale of the station. H. V. McKee to Retain Post H. V. McKee, radio director at Cecil, Warwick and Cecil, will remain with the agency for at least another four weeks, he stated yesterday. While he has received several attractive offers from other agencies, his plans are still indefinite, he said. Wednesday, February 3, 1937 i Radio Personals* BERNICE CLAIRE and Patti Pickens yesterday signed contracts with new managers. RockwellO'Keefe represent Miss Claire, while Harry Bestry will guide Miss Pickens . . . "My Maryland" will be offered by Jessica Dragonette on the "Beauty Box" program Feb. 10 . . . Charles LeMaire, featured on the fading "La Salle Fashion Show" program will remain on the air in an NBC sustaining show . . . Ronnie Ames, Fred Waring's press representative, flies to Miami tomorrow . . . Ruth Etting has been secured for "Showboat" Feb. 11. + Bob Brenner, formerly of WHN, joins the announcing staff at WARD . . . Swor & Lubin, who received their air opportunity on the WPA "Professional Parade" program, will guest star on the RCA "Magic Key" program this Sunday. Others in the cast include Walter Damrosch, Fray & Braggiotti and Kirstin Thorborg . . . Al Donohue is now appearing in Boston, and is broadcasting over a Mutual wire . . . The Kirkman Soap program starring Jack and Loretta Clemens locally only over WABC, may go network shortly . . . Jack Landt, of the Landt Trio, will wed Ethel Foy in June . . . Jack Berch has recuperated from an attack of grip . . . Hal Kemp's band will play four college proms in the next month . . . + CBS Artists Bureau has signed "The Debonaire," radio trio, and Hollace Shaw, to its management . . . Laurence Stallings will be the subject of Floyd Gibbon's interview on the Nash-Lafayette "Speedshow" Saturday . . . Bobby Dolan's band and Donald Dickson have been signed as permanent members of the Sealtest "Saturday Night Party" . . . Burgess Meredith will appear as the featured guest on Rudy Vallee's program Feb. 11 . . . Gina Cigna who makes her American debut with the Metropolitan Opera this Saturday, will appear as guest soloist with the General Motors Symphony Orchestra the following evening, Feb. 7 . . . Mutual is reviving one of radio's earliest successes, "Red Lacquer & Jade," this Sunday at 10 :30 P. M., E.S.T. . . . Charles Dornborger's orchestra will furnish the music on Phil Baker's two broadcasts from Miami, Feb. 14 and 21 . . . All Mutual Officers Reelected by Board Chicago, Feb. 2. — All officers of the Mutual Broadcasting System were reelected at a meeting of the board at the Palmer House here today. Those re-elected are W. F. MacFarlane, president ; Alfred J. McCosker, chairman of the board ; B. M. Antrim, treasurer; Theodore Streibert, vice president, and Fred Weber, general manager. Additionally, a general sales meeting of the Mutual staff is now in session here. Sales plans for the coming year will be announced after tomorrow's meeting. Raymond, Sten in "Graustark" Gene Raymond and Anna Sten will star in a radio version of "Graustark" in the Lux "Radio Theatre" offering next Monday.