Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE radio DAI LY an n er LINES ONE glance at the faces of the important radio executives in a Waldorf-Astoria elevator and it could be seen that only dignity kept the men from dropping to their knees and cooing at the young lady who had entered. She was Shirley Temple, and the broadcasters were of the I.R.N.A. group. Ill at ease and "bumpkinish" at unexpectedly meeting the cinema's young darling, the strain was relieved by dimpled Shirley who, with perfect savoir faire, smiled sweetly and said, "Hello." T Another note about juvenile performers— this one out of Chicago. Seven-year-old "Little Barbara" of the Wrigley-sponsored "Laugh Liner" series met Spanky McFarland backstage of a Chicago theatre a few days ago and he gave her — the measles. ▼ A few weeks ago, it will be recalled, the NBC television camera "caught" the death leap of a young woman. Yesterday a man climbed out on a ledge of the 17th floor of the Hotel Gotham, and for several hours clung there, while a crowd of onlookers, policemen, firemen and newsreel men pleaded with him not to jump. Television played a part in this drama, too, for NBC maintains a television setup in the building across the street from the Gotham, and the network called upon the news services to send reporters to the lab to view the sight through the television lens. The man leaped to his death at 10:40 P. M. T Richard Stoddart, the NBC radio operator who flew around the world with Howard Hughes, was tendered a luncheon by the network yesterday and was presented a gold microphone and an illuminated scroll by President Lenox Riley Lohr. Others present were A. A. Schechter, O. B. Hanson, Mark Woods, J. J. Almonte, C. W. Fitch, Robert P. Myers, G. O. Milne, George McElrath, and J. H. Hartley. Stoddart, incidentally, still is on leave of absence from the network, and to date he has not signified any intention of returning. — Jack Banner Miss Halpin in New York St. Louis, July 26. — Josephine Halpin, commentator of "One Woman's Opinion," sponsored by the St. Louis Dairy Co. on KMOX, is in New York visiting the headquarters of the National Dairy Association with James Daugherty, an agency head. Segar Ellis Forms Band Segar Ellis, who discovered and brought the Mills Bros, to New York, has formed his own band and has been booked for engagements in the Hitz chain of hotels by Ralph Hitz. NBC Signs Helen Henry Helen Henry, soprano, has been signed to a one-year management contract by NBC, following the expiration of a six-month option held by the network. Radio Editor Barred From Pirates' Field Pittsburgh, July 26. — Because he lashed out in his column at William E. Benswanger, president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, in the baseball club's suit against station KQV for alleged illegal broadcasts of games, Darrell V. Martin, radio editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, has been barred at Forbes Field. He was refused admission last week when he presented a regular newspaper pass at the press gate. The Pirates are asking an injunction restraining KQV from putting play-by-play accounts of games on the air and are also demanding damages of $100,000. The hearing is set for tomorrow in U. S. District Court. WSGN to Celebrate Year with NBC Web Birmingham, July 26. — Three anniversaries are coming up in Birmingham radio circles during August. On Aug. 1 WSGN will celebrate one year on the NBC-Blue network and is planning a celebration. WAPI will mark its first year under lease to the Voice of Alabama, Inc., and as a Columbia outlet, and Turner Jordan, radio editor of the Birmingham News, rounds out one year in that position. Also, WAPI is making plans to go on a full-time basis, technical arrangements now being made. The station has shared time with KVOO, Tulsa, for years. Continental to Have New Program on CB Continental Baking Co., currently sponsoring "Pretty Kitty Kelly" on CBS, will place another program on the same network starting Oct. 14, from 7:30 to 8 P.M., which will feature Jack Haley and Ted Fio Rito's orchestra. The program will originate in Hollywood. Benton & Bowles is the agency. A renewal for the Ford "Sunday Evening Hour" has been placed with CBS, through N. W. Ayer & Son. The show will return Sept. 11, from 9 to 10 P.M., and will be broadcast over 87 stations. Major Dalrymple Dies Washington, July 26. — Major Alfred V. Dalrymple, Federal Communications Commission attorney and for the three months immediately preceding repeal Federal Prohibition Director, died last night in a local hospital. Major Dalrymple, who was 62, was struck by an automobile last Saturday. He was a native of Texas. ► Radio Personals i BEN BERNIE here from Chicago, arriving on a United airliner. . . . Bennie Goodman is returning on the Queen Mary from a brief vacation and will be on hand for his Aug. 2 broadcast. . . . John S. Young came back from his around the world trip with a severe case of sun poisoning. + Nelson Eddy will return to the Chase and Sanborn hour next Sunday, while John Carter comes on to New York to join the Met . . . Alice Cornett is in the hospital to doctor a gland condition . . . Richard Crooks is cutting into his vacation from the Firestone program to appear as soloist at the Hollywood Bowl Friday. Dick Bard returned yesterday from two months spent on the east coast of Venezuela and the Maracaibo Lake country. . . P&G Renews 'Tower9 Series for One Year Procter & Gamble Co. has renewed for one year the daily "Ivory Tower" series over WOV. The renewal also covers continuation of the program over WPEN, Philadelphia, and WCOP, Boston, affiliates of the International Broadcasting Co. General Mills, through BlackettSample-Hummert, in sponsoring a 13week campaign over WOV in behalf of Wheaties. /. /. Fox Sponsors Berch I. J. Fox Fur Co. is sponsoring Jack Berch in two series of song programs over the local NBC stations, WEAF and WJZ, starting last night. The WJZ programs are to be presented Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 :45 to 8 P.M., and the WEAF show Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the same time. Biow & Co. is the agency. Zucker Goes to Chicago Stanford Zucker, general manager of Consolidated Radio Artists, left New York yesterday for Chicago, where he will remain indefinitely supervising operations of the Chicago, Cleveland and Dallas offices. Heads Recording Service Advertisers Recording Service, Inc., has advanced Frank R. McDonnell from sales director to president. He was formerly with the WHN sales staff. Wednesday, July 27, 19 WLW Finishe Testimony 01 KeepingPowe Washington, July 26. — Present;' tion of WLW's petition for extensio of its super-power permit was cor eluded before the Federal Commun cations Commission todayr " <,r\i test, mony by James Shouse, n',e-pres dent in charge of broadcasting, ths the station has earmarked a sufficierl sum of money to prosecute any tech] nical or program research require! under its license or suggested cl ordered by the commission. From the tenor of the testimony, 1 was indicated that the Crosley Co. wa building up a record on which to carr ; the case to the courts should the com' mission order cancellation of th super-power license. Declaring that power and program were the two major factors contribut ing to a station's popularity, Mi Shouse testified that the Crosley Cc' went into broadcasting in 1921 in thl belief that better programs would in crease the sale of receivers, of whici it was a manufacturer. The statior he said, was one of the first to us 500 watts power, and the first to us 5,000, 50,000 or 500,000 watts. Disputes "Super Power" Mr. Shouse protested the use of JhJ words super-power in dealing witl transmitter wattage, pointing out tha in the early '20's 500 watts was con sidered super-power. While the sta tion may have 500,000 watts at thi. transmitter, he explained, a listene 50 miles away receives its signal o. a power of but four ten-thousandth of a watt and at 500 miles the power i: about one millionth of a watt. Following the completion of his direct testimony, Mr. Shouse was cross examined at length by Commissiot Counsel George B. Porter, who di rected his interrogations chiefly t( the station's programs. Mr. Porte! submitted Federal Trade Commissior orders and stipulations against twe proprietary products which were af terwards advertised over WLW, buf in resonse to questions by Commissioner Case, presiding, as to his purpose, denied that he contended that the radio advertising was not in conformity with the F.T.C. orders. Will Air Fur Show Today Cincinnati, July 26.— W C K Y NBC affiliate, has arranged with the Retail Furriers' Association of Greatet Cincinnati to conduct exclusive broadcasts from the Fur Style Show, tc be held at the Netherland Plaza tomorrow and Wednesday. Reject Colonial Station Boston, July 26. — The Massachusetts Senate has rejected a bill to authorize the Colonial Network to establish a broadcasting station on Mt. Wachusett, which is owned by the state. Sponsors WNEW Show The Clark-Millner Co. of Chicago has signed with WNEW for sponsorship of "Sound Track," David Lowe's program, for 13 weeks. He Liked the Speech Cincinnati, July 26. — When Taviah Sachs, president and general manager of the Gruen Watch Co., addressed a national conference of Gruen salesmen here, L. B. Wilson, president of WCKY, conniving with Frank M. Smith, Gruen advertising executive, concealed a microphone in the flowers at the speakers' table and Mr. Sachs' address was broadcast. Mr. Wilson had the speech recorded, and took the record to Mr. Sachs the following day with the statement that he had an unusual story of the watch industry recorded by one of the erreatest voices in radio. "I'll listen, but I know I won't like it," Mr. Sachs replied. P. S.— He liked it.