Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, August 2, 19! B anner LINES HUMOR is a quality that has been sadly lacking when the networks, as is their wont from time to time, brag about the accomplishments of their special events departments. Yesterday CBS figuratively unloosed its corset strings and delivered a ukase to NBC which is as deliriously unrestrained and as Bronxcheery as CBS writing talent could make it. Of course it was only intended for private perusal by the powers-that-be at NBC, but a copy of the dispatch has reached this desk. Headed as coming frornthe "gee whiz ain't we great network," the CBS gag release was composed in answer to a general NBC release which boasted six exclusive "beat" broadcasts for that network's special events department. The CBS boys, reading what NBC was boasting about, characterized them as "so what?" broadcasts, and their answer resulted, to wit : T "Six exclusive broadcasts, all of them quote firsts unquote, and each a litle jim-dandy, is the record of the WPA project of the Columbia Broadcasting System in the four days from July 26 to July 27 inclusive, and of course Exclusive. "Dog sled, wireless and wig-wagging by Scoutmaster Paul White (not to be confused with A. A. (Grade A) Schecter) were used as the CBS network hastily flung together a block-to-block hookup to report to each patron of Joe's Bar and Grill what was going on in Patagonia (this was EXCLUSIVE), Walla Walla (this, too), Radio City (but definitely) . . . T "CBS laid 4,007,234% miles of wire to say nothing of quite an esrsj for the annual tiddle-winks championships at the Patagonia Stadium. For eight years CBS kept its listeners informed as the tiddlewinks flew in gay confusion. (This was EXCLUSIVE). Joe Rerl, CBS office boy, was responsible for the CBS exclusive when the 7:17 train arrived on time at the Walla Walla station. Suspecting something like this might happen from the Wabash timetable he hastily tossed together three executives, 8,000,475 miles of wire and a pint of Old Overholt, and another exclusive was recorded. T "The Radio City scandal was another scoop for CBS, 485 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y '., common shares 26l4, preferred 28.. Suspecting that an NBC executive was NOT grateful to the sponsors of (and this is better than one — and exclusive as hell) Charley McCarthy, Columbia quickly laid a silver plated line from its office to a spot under the left eyebrow of Prometheus, where a cowering NBC executive, brass buttons shining, was discovered slobbering over a cup of Maxzvell Coffee. It zvasn't a pretty sight, but CBS was brave and carried on. T "And little Chippewahahaha Valley. The joint was lousy with bullets as John Allen Wolf, John Allen King, John Allen Husing and John Allen Trout and three layoffs from Radio City told a waiting world, exclusively over CBS, the story of those whistling Baseball Broadcast Fight Before Court (.Continued from page 1) Vacuum and NBC, before Judge F. P. Schoonmaker in Federal Court here last week. The court is expected to hand down a decision in a few days. KQV claimed they obtained their play-by-play information from vantage points outside Forbes Field and not from within the park. In behalf of the station, Elder W. Marshall said : "The question involved here is whether a person shall be restrained from seeing things while he is on his own property and not be permitted to tell about the things he witnesses. That is a right from which we cannot be deprived." Attorneys for the plaintiffs charged that the station "unlawfully obtained information for baseball broadcasting in four ways, by Western Union subscribers, spectators in the park, authorized broadcasters in the park and spies on the outside." WAPI to Celebrate Its 16th Birthday Birmingham, Aug. 1. — WAPI, CBS station here, will observe its 16th anniversary with a special anniversary week series of celebrations and programs, Aug. 9-15. WAPI is supporting the aniversary project in extensive local campaigns via radio and newspaper campaigns. State and civic salutes will highlight the week, with testimonial programs by the governor-elect and numerous Birmingham business, political interests. Bestor Is Denied Stay N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Timothy A. Leary yesterday denied the application of Don Bestor, orchestra leader, for a temporary injunction against Consolidated Radio Artists, Inc., and Charles E. Green, its president, restraining them from claiming to be Mr. Bestor's sole booking agent for radio broadcasts. The decision was made on condition that the defendants consent to an immediate trial of the suit before a referee. Mr. Bestor claims that a contract which he made on Feb. 5, 1937, with the defendants, giving them the exclusive agency, should be canceled because of an alleged breach on their part. Dudley H. Fay Joins CBS Dudley H. Fay yesterday joined the sales staff of CBS, to handle special sales assignments out of the New York office. Mr. Fay comes to CBS from Time, Inc. A Bald Lie Des Moines, la., Aug. 1. — Bill Brown, WHO sports editor, is a bit perturbed over an honor recently given him of being voted to honorary membership in the St. Cloud Baldheaded Club, chapter of the National Baldheaded Club, Inc. Bill is 27 years old and far from bald. Instead, he has a lot of fine blonde hair. Three Standby s Are Renewed on NBC Net Three commercially sponsored script standbys on NBC have been renewed, each for one year. "Just Plain Bill," Monday through Friday on the Red, sponsored by the Kolynos Co. ; "John's Other Wife," Monday through Friday on the Red sponsored by Affiliated Products Co. and "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," Monday through Friday on the Red, sponsored by Midway Chemical Co., are the programs. The renewals for all will become effective Sept. 26. Blackett-Sample-Hummert, Inc., is the agency handling the three programs. Monogram Signs Air Act Des Moines, la. Aug. 1. — Monogram Pictures have signed "The Northwesterners" Iowa Network hillbilly unit, for another picture following their work in "Starlight Over Texas." The Northwesterners, now in Hollywood with Ranny Daly, program director of KSO-KRNT, will stay there a few weeks longer meanwhile broadcasting their Iowa Mutual Network show, "Tall Corn Time," from KHJ, Los Angeles. bullets. It was quite a story and was heard exclusively over CBS. The 'whistling bullets' were signed to a CBS contract. Mack Davis set the deal." T There was more in a like vein, but enough has been lifted to indicate what the release was like. How those NBC eyes must have popped when the special messenger showed up at Radio City with a copy for each of the important officials there. And the hearts of those whose eyes popped must be thirsting for r-r-revenge. — Jack Banner KGFW Increases Power Kearney, Neb., Aug. 1.— KGFW went on the air today with increased power, 250 watts, under a new manager, William Baker, and with entirely new equipment and new 160foot antenna tower. Mr. Baker succeeds Clark Standiford. Wells Guest at Party NBC is tendering a party today to Linton Wells, commentator of the RCA "Magic Key" program, who returned this morning from a fourmonth trip through South and Central America. Mr. Wells will report some of his observations to the press. Hearst Official III Oklahoma City, Aug. 1. — Neal Barrett, manager of KOMA, Oklahoma City, and vice-president of Hearst-Radio, Inc., has been in a Fort Worth. Tex., hospital with streptococus infection for the past 10 days. Finch Facsimile Deal The Sparks-Withington Co., of Tackson, Mich., manufacturers of Sparton Products, have taken nut a facsimile license under the Finch patents. New Production Manager Oklahoma City, Aug. 1. — Marvin Krause, WKY staff announcer, has resigned to join KOCY's staff here as production manager, effective today. ► Radio Personals WILLIAM M. MILLER has r, signed from the press section i the Housing Authority to join NBC publicity staff . . . Quincy Porter, wt' has written two works for the CB Composer's Commission, has 0t named dean of the faculty of the^K-e England Conservatory . . . Marth Deane returned from a Maine vacj tion yesterday to resume her WO] I broadcasts . . . + Hollywood Hanson "Buck" Hathaway, Iocs newspaper and publicity man, ha joined KMTR as publicity director political commentator and continuit writer. . . . Conrad Nagel will beconi the star of the half-hour prograr sponsored by the Union Oil Co. whei "The Seventy-Six Revue" replace the "Passing Parade" on the NB( Red Coast network Monday night; David Broekman's orchestra, Jame Newill, soloist, also will be featured Welch Grape Juice Co., sponsorinj Irene Rich's program on NBC, ha j taken up her option on the 15-minut Sunday programs, for another yea starting Aug. 14. . . . "Music Americ; Loves" is being prepared by CBS fo possible sponsorship, and is beinfj waxed. David Broekman's orchestr; and Charles Bulotti, Jr., as announcer will be on the disc. . . . The Philij Morris Co., makers of Paul Jone: cigarettes, has contracted for 26 week: sponsorship of "News with Kno> Manning," on KNX until Jan. 27 1939, through the Biow agency. . . Florence Davidson and Carlton Kat7 KFWB secretaries, have had then ardor for sailing dampened. A stift breeze capsized their boat off SanU Monica, and for half hour they stayec in the water until they were rescued P & G Sponsors One Show on Three Webt Procter & Gamble is sponsoring the unusual setup of three broadcasts a day over three different networks, oi the "Vic and Sade" show in the New York area, starting today. The program will be heard on transcription at 8:30 A.M. over WOR, at 11:15 A.M. over the NBC-Blue in a live broadcast, and at 1:15 P.M. over CBS in a repeat live broadcast. This is the only case at present of a show being heard three times each day within the space of five hours in one locality. New Radio Agency Here Weill & Wilkins, Inc., a new radio agency, has been established here. Bernie Wilkins has held various positions here with stations, having_ been WMCA account executive, assistant sales director of WNEW, WHOM's managing director. Norman Weill has been an advertising counselor. Sid Schwartz is serving as publicity representative for the new organization. Frescott Off Allen Shou Jane Martin and Norman Frescott are out of the summer Bristol-Myers NBC show which has replaced the Fred Allen series, and in their stead Harry Von Zell and Col. Stoopnagle will carry on until Allen's return tc tht air.