Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE radio DAI LY Summer Replacement Shows Bow in Over the Networks Radio Again Target Of a Connery Blast Washington, July 6. — Congressman Lawrence J. Connery (Dem.) of Massachusetts fired another blast at the radio industry in the closing days of Congress by having his remarks "extended" in the Congressional Record. In the final issue of the Record, Representative Connery extolled the services of F.C.C. Commissioner George H. Payne, who supported his resolution for a probe before the House Rules Committee, and denominated Chairman Frank R. McNinch as the "Charley McCarthy" of the radio "Pied Pipers," dancing to the music of the radio monopoly and pleading for an opportunity for the commission to "investigate its own activities." "How ridiculous this is can best be considered when we find two of the three or, at least, two of the four members of the commission he has assigned to investigate the actions of the Federal Communications Commission in creating the radio monopoly are in great part responsible for the many complaints uttered against the commission," Connery charged. FCC Hearing on Today Washington, July 6. — Oral argument will be heard tomorrow by the Federal Communications Commission on the applications of KVOD, Denver, for change of frequency from 920 to 630 kilocycles, extension of time from sharing to unlimited and increase of power from 500 to 1,000 watts; KFEL, Denver, for extension of time from sharing to unlimited and increase of power from 500 to 1,000 watts ; KFBI, Wichita, Kan., for authority to move from Abilene to Wichita, and Tri-Citv Broadcasting Co., for a new 950-kilocycle, 1,000watt station at Schenectady ; Kentucky Broadcasting Corp. for a 1,210-kilocycle station at Louisville, with 100 watts power night, 250 watts day, and Arlington Radio Service, Inc., for an 1,140-kilocycle, 1,000-watt daytime station at Arlington, Va. WOW Adds New Account Omaha, July 6. — WOW has signed several new accounts for summer aiting. The new business includes : Announcements, Union Outfitting Co., U. S. National Bank, Dresher Bros., Graham Beverage Co., Ironized Yeast and Chrysler Corp., through Ruthrauff & Ryan; Max I. Walker, through W. L. Holland; Higgins Cleaners and Uncle Sam Breakfast Food, 15 minutes daily, through Bozell & Jacobs ; Harding Co., through Beaumont & Hohman, announcements ; Beaumont Laboratories through _ H. W. Kastor & Sons, one minute daily. Foster May Gets Leave Omaha, July 6. — Foster May, WOW newscaster and candidate for Congress, has taken leave of absence from the station until Aug. 9, date of the primaries, from all programs except the daily "Man on the Street," sponsored by Iten-Barmettler Biscuit Co. Gets Quaker Account The Quaker Oats Co. has appointed Ruthrauff & Ryan to handle its account. The company has several radio | programs on the networks. A coterie of summer replacement shows, some of which are no strangers to the networks, bowed in this week, with results as variable as the weather. Those heard included : "Column Quiz," substituting for Walter Winchell ; "Win Your Lady," replacing the Tyrone Power dramas ; "Hobby Lobby," filling in for Jack Benny, and "Passing Parade," taking the place of Phil Baker. "Column Quiz," with Ben Grauer serving up the queries, will neither increase nor lose for the Jergens Co. the audience drawn to the loudspeaker by Mr. Winchell. The queries, most of which are ridiculously easy, are drawn from statements appearing in Mr. Winchell's columns, with a $25 cash prize to the winner, $15 to the loser, and several $5 consolation prizes for the also-rans. Worse audience shows have been heard before, but so have better ones. Lennen & Mitchell is the "Column Quiz" agency. Jim Ameche Unfortunate "Win Your Lady," also sponsored by Jergens, is a woebegone attempt at drama, with Jim Ameche, brother of Don, and Betty Lou Gerson struggling vainly to overcome a deadly, down-atthe heels plot. Ameche plays the part of a rich lad who desires to marry an as yet unidentified young lady named Muriel, a ward of the same lawyer who handles the Ameche inheritance. Whereupon the attorney goes to see Mr. Ameche's aunt. It then develops that the attorney and Auntie are old sweethearts who, having fallen out years ago, still carry the torch for each other. All this has a familiar ring, but bear with us. The worst is yet to come. Auntie and the lawyer then make a pact — -if the lawyer succeeds in keeping nephew Ameche apart from ward RCA Acquires Dyer Recording License RCA has acquired a non-exclusive license to patents owned by Frank L. Dyer, Inc., for electrical transcription and long playing records devices. The RCA pact is in conjunction with licenses already issued by the Dyer Corp. to Western Electric, Erpi and subsidiaries and Decca Records. According to Ralph Steinberg, president of Dyer, Inc., other manufacturers are now negotiating for licenses from the Dyer firm to avoid infringement on the electrical transcription patents. Under the Dyer patents, a single hour program can be produced on a 16-inch double-faced platter. "Hit Parade" Renewed The Lucky Strike "Hit Parade" on CBS has been renewed for 13 weeks, from Aug. 6 to Oct. 29, throusrh Lord & Thomas, the agency handling the account. Oakford Joins Ferry Edward Oakford, formerly radio director of Fanchon & Marco, has joined the Ferry-Hanly agency here as director of the radio department. Muriel, she, Auntie, will forget the cause of the argument that broke up her romance with the lawyer, and marry him. After careful thought the lawyer then hits upon a scheme which he believes will make it impossible for Ameche to win Muriel. "You'll have to win your lady," he tells Ameche, "by undergoing a series of tests." "Test" Is Unique The first test is this : A Mrs. Hetherington Weagel, a society dowager who has offended Auntie, must be spanked by Ameche and more, she must thank him for being spanked. The lawyer's secretary, a Miss Suzy Quinn, is assigned to accompany Ameche to verify the outcome of the tests. But there's little sense in going on. Ameche spanks Mrs. Weagel, is thanked for the job, and it'll go on with tests like that for 13 weeks, whereupon we'll bet that Ameche won't marry Muriel after all, but will learn that his true and great love is for Suzy Quin. Wanna bet? Dave Elman's "Hobby Lobby" is a consistently entertaining show. Dave brings hobbyists to the microphone to lobby for their hobbies, and among those he offered in the first show was a bubble blower who blows square bubbles, a coin collector, a lad who tap dances with his tongue and another who terpsichores with his tongue and lips, the inventor of the lie detector, and a collector of inanimate giraffes. Harry Salter's orchestra provides the musical background. John Nesbitt's "Passing Parade" is another dependable show which can always be counted upon to entertain whosoever tunes it in. Nesbitt provides colorful commentary about unusual persons and unusual events, and his speaking job is a first rate one. — Jack Banner WMCA Tennis Show Starting Tomorrow Responding to the requests for a tennis program WMCA tomorrow will start "Over the Net," from 4:45 to 5 :00 P. M. It will feature Lloyd Richard in a series of interviews with high ranking tennis stars. The first of the players to be heard is Walter L. Pote, captain of the American Davis Cup team, who will recount the history of the Davis Cup tennis matches. Named Music Director San Francisco. July 6. — Jack Meakin, former KPO conductor, has been appointed musical director for KSFO-CBS here. Meakin is well known for his NBC coast-to-coast swing series, "Bughouse Rhythm." New programs alreadv set for Meakin are "Old King Cole," "Village CutUps" and "Salute to Industry." To Inspect WGY Plant Schenectady, July 6. — A preview inspection of the new WGY studios and transmission equipment will be held on July 8. Following the tour of inspection by invited sruests cocktails will be served at the Van Curler Hotel. Demand B. & K. End Chicago Dual Bills (Continued from page 1) briefly with Austin Keough, Paramount vice-president, yesterday an<l that the conversations will be resumed today, possibly with Barney Balabai . Paramount president, participating. The independents contend that that B. & K. houses using duals receive eight to 10 weeks clearance over ypnpeting theatres under exisiting • cago schedules. Charging that (ne situation is inequitable, Mr. Rosenberg has said that unless relief is granted actions will be filed charging violations of the consent decree entered into by B. & K. in 1931. Indications are that the Chicago delegation will protest the Chicago clearance situation to all national distributors while here. Backers of Gambling Bill Show Strength Albany, July 6. — The strength of the movement to abolish present prohibitions against gambling from the state constitution was apparent Wednesday as debate on the proposal of District Attorney Henry Hirshberg began. The rest of the arguments were put over until tomorrow when the Constitutional Convention will ballot on the question of advancing the amendment to the order of final passage. Indications of a break in the ranks of upstate delegates were apparent when several members, including some from Buffalo, confided their intentions of voting for the bill, which bv elimination, would leave regulation of gambling entirely to the state legislature. The support of Al Smith also was announced. Air. Hirshberg, pleading for passage of his amendment, claimed that 61 per cent voted approval in a recent straw poll for a similar measure and asserted gambling should be licensed. War on Bingo Games Discussed by Allied Ways and means of combatting Bingo games in places other than theatres were discussed at a meeting of Allied of New Jersey at the EerkeleyCarteret, Asbury Park, yesterday. The consensus was that the "non-theatrical" Bingo games are cutting in heavily on theatre attendance. Irving Dollinger, president, appointed a committee to investigate the situation in the state. Cooperation in eliminating the competition, where practiced illegally, may be requested of local authorities. Tentative plans were discussed for the unit's 19th annual convention tc be held Oct. 19 to 21 at the Ritz Carl-, ton, Atlantic City. As usual, this', will also be an eastern conference oi exhibitors, with representatives from11 other Allied groups attending. The New York state unit may hold its first annual convention jointly with Newj Jersey. Indict Two for B. N. Brazil, Ind., July 6.— The Cla> County Grand Jury today brandec Bank Night as a lottery scheme ir returning indictments against Stanley Cooper and Harold Reese, theatre operators here. The two men were among 14 accused in an anti-gamblim cleanup.