Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

r Thursday, August 4, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO B anner LINES THE promotional output devoted to boosting Jimmy Fidler occasionally has stressed that it requires the aid of dozens of persons for • "one-man Jimmy" to prepare his col )imn and broadcasts. Perhaps Mr. Fider has the aid of too many persons. The other day his column in the Mirror had Evelyn Keyes in a Hollywood studio . . . "and in trying to bring out the true loveliness of her face the director kept ordering more and more lights until the sound stage glowed like the inside of a blast furnace," he wrote. The same day Mr. Fidler was reporting Miss Keyes in a scorching Hollywood studio, Screen Commentator Sam Taylor was interviewing the actress in the air-cooled studios of WHN in New York. A recent broadcast of "Big Sister," sponsored on CBS by Lever Bros., featured an emotional scene between lovers. The climax was reached when the Boy offered the Girl his most hallowed possession, a bracelet which formerly belonged to his mother. "Priceless, priceless," murmured the Girl, gazing at the bracelet. Here the action faded out and Fred Utell, the announcer, broke in with a statement that "Big Sister" had a message to deliver to the audience. The message: For 15c — in cash, not stamps — and a box top, the listeners might have a copy of the "precious" bracelet. Canadian listeners must pay five cents more, she specified. As Skolsky might put it: But don't get me wrong, I love radio. Not many people look a gift horse in the mouth, but some do, as Stan Shaw, who conducts the all-night "Milkman's Matinee" on WNEW, has learned. To celebrate an anniversary of the program, Mr. Shaw yesterday tendered a party, attended by the radio press and radio entertainers. Among the various commodities sold on the "Milkman's Matinee" is a certain brand of cigarette. Inviting one of the attendants over to the mike, Mr. Shaw asked him to sample a cigarette and tell the air audience what he thought of the smoke. The ingrate took a puff at the weed and calmly told the listeners that it tasted just like dried macaroni. — Jack Banner RCA Stock to McGrady Washington, Aug. 3. — Edward F. McGrady, former Assistant Secretary of Labor, held 100 shares of RCA common stock when he became a director in that organization June 25, it was disclosed today in a semi-monthly summary of the Securities and Exchange Commission. 'A lexander 9s Ragtime Band ' A Hit as Air Show Material Eugene Ormandy Signed It is Eugene Ormandy who has been signed to conduct four broadcasts for the Ford Motor Co., not the Philadelphia Orchestra itself. Yesterday's issue of Motion Picture Daily stated that the Philadelphia Orchestra had been signed for the Ford broadcasts, which was an error. (.Continued from page 1) new picture should, if it were to follow the usual bent in describing a theatrical opus, concern itself first with the aura of tinsel which goes with such an event; it should tell of the hordes of fans who crowded about CBS Playhouse No. 1 on West 45th Street who came to view and participate in the broadcast; it should quickly and reverently introduce those celebrities by name. It should concern itself with a number of other accepted matters in treatises such as this — but the thought expressed in the very first sentence refuses to wait upon such inconsequentialities. The all-important factor is that thirty million Americans listened to a motion picture sales message. Moreover, the program was broadcast on sustaining time, which means that, save for some production expenses, it did not cost 20th Century-Fox any money. Carried by 116 Stations The broadcast, aired over the entire CBS network — 116 stations ■ — from 9:30 to 10:45 P.M., was unquestionably the most elaborate radio promotion in behalf of a motion picture ever aired. It culminated weeks of advance effort, during which time the airwaves vibrated with frequent admonitions to listeners to set their dials for the broadcast of "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and with frequent renditions of songs from the picture. The radio effort cannot but help having a decidedly salutary effect on the boxoffice when the picture is nationally introduced, beginning with tomorrow's opening at the Roxy in New York. Details of the broadcast were in the hands of Charles E. McCarthy, 20th Century-Fox's advertising and publicity director. Industry attendants spotted in the audience last night included Darryl Zanuck, Herman Wobber, C. C. and Joseph Moskowitz, Joseph Bernhard, William Sussman, William Geiger, Leon Netter, Sidney Kent, Ralph Cohn, Jesse Lasky, John O'Connor, Joe Vogel, Spyros Skouras, S. Barret McCormick, Sam Harris, Max Gordon, Truman Talley, Major Albert Warner, W. C. Michel, Merlin Aylesworth, William Kupper and Herman Place. Zanuck and Berlin Heard Appearing in the broadcast from New York were Mr. Zanuck, Irving Berlin, Walter Winchell, John Steele, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Tyrone Power, Sophie Tucker, Ben Bernie, Lew Lehr, Al Goodman and orchestra, the Brox Sisters, Connie Boswell, Ethel Merman, Ted Husing, Paul Whiteman and Louella Parsons. From Chicago Rudy Vallee's band was cut in; from Hollywood Alice Faye was heard, accompanied by Tommy Dorsey's orchestra. Miss Parsons, in an interview with Mr. Zanuck, drew from him the details of the making of the motion picture. The idea for the picture, Mr. Zanuck said, came to him more than two years ago while lunching with Mr. Berlin, to whose career the picture is devoted. Asides observed at the broadcast: Irving Berlin, his thin face showing KVOO to Celebrate A special broadcast hailing the full-time affiliation of KVOO, Tulsa, Okla., with NBC, will be broadcast Aug. 9, from 9 to 10 P.M. Lenox R. Lohr, president of NBC, will participate in the show. Two Seek Approval For New Stations Washington, Aug. 3. — Authority to construct two new broadcasting stations has been asked of the Federal Communications Commission. Applications filed with the commission included requests of John F. Colan for permission to build a 1,310kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station at Steubenville, O., and of the Bowling Green Broadcasting Co. to build a station at Bowling Green, Ky., to operate on the same frequency with 100 watts night, 250 watts day. The commission announced that authority had been granted to WGRM, Grenada, Miss., and WKAT, Miami Beach, Fla., to increase their day power from 100 to 250 watts. A number of examiners' reports were received by the commission, including one in which Examiner George H. Hill recommended the granting of the application of KATE, Albert Lea, Minn., to increase hours of operation from day to unlimited with 100 watts power night, 250 watts day. Other reports recommended dismissal or denial of applications of Anne Jay Levine for a 1,370-kilocycle station at Palm Springs, Cal. ; State Broadcasting Corp. for a 1,370-kilocycle station at Gretna, La. ; Kammeraad-Smith Broadcasting Co. for a I, 200-kilocycle station at Holland, Mich., and WKEU, Griffin, Ga., for change of frequency from 1,500 to 1,310 kilocycles, extension of hours from day to unlimited and increase of day power from 100 to 250 watts. WNEW Adds Business Two new WNEW contracts are Canadian Fur Trappers, participating in "Make Believe Ballroom," six quarter hours a week ; and Jordan's Women's Apparel Shops. the effects of the tribute to him, kissing Mr. Zanuck; Walter Winchell, Sophie Tucker and Al Jolson, almost burning his nose against Ben Bernie's cigar, following the end of the broadcast. Miss Parsons, also after the broadcast, leaning over the footlights to whisper to a friend in the front row : "I was terrible, but wasn't Mr. Zanuck marvelous?" The broadcast, originally scheduled to last 60 minutes, ran over another 15 into the time of the Household Finance Corp. program. Ted Husingc announced that the Household Finance management had notified 20th Century-Fox that it would not charge the picture company for the time, that it could be considered that company's contribution to Irving Berlin, and the announcement drew a burst of applause from the audience. ► Radio Personals 4 AL CAPP, creator of the United Features cartoon strip, "Li'l Abner," arrived here from the coast yesterday to confer with Tom Cochran, writer, regarding scripts for a radio program based on the strip. San Francisco KPO organist Paul Carson will be transferred to the Hollywood studios in September. His place will be taken by Edna Fischer, staff pianist. . . . Hal Gibney, KPO announcer, subbed for Benny Walker as "em cee" on "Magazine of the Air," daily KPO and Red network coast feature, during Walker's three-week vacation. . . . Dick Aurandt, KSFO's new organist, is being featured in "Nickelodeon Nightmare," recalling early day film tunes. ... Ed McCallum, former KYA manager, has returned from Hollywood to open a local radio agency. New Tulsa Station Opens in September Tulsa, Okla., Aug. 3. — Tulsa's third radio station — a 250-watt transmitter expected to cover a 25-mile radius — will go on the air early in September, when KOCW, named in honor of the "Oil Capital of the World," starts broadcasting on a frequency of 1,310 kilocycles. O'Keefe Wins a Point On application of Walter O'Keefe, plaintiff in a $48,750 damage suit, N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Peter Schmuck yesterday ordered the examination before trial on Ausr. 11 of Chester LaRoche, as president of Young & Rubicam, Inc., and of an officer of the Packard Motor Car Co., defendants in the suit. At the same time Justice Schmuck denied the request of the defendants to strike out O'Keefe's reply to the defendants' answer. O'Keefe is suing on a contract made in November, 1937, whereby he was allegedly hired to broadcast for 22 weeks beginning Jan. 1, 1938. He claims that he was unlawfully discharged on March 1, and has asked the court to fix $48,750 as his damages. Buy Into Taylor Series Alkine Laboratories, Inc., starting Oct. 3, will buy participation in San Taylor's Hollywood gossip stint on WHN. The contract is for 26 weeks, and was placed by the Kiesewetter agency. Ed McConnell Signed Acme White Lead Co. has signed Smilin' Ed McConnell to appear in a program of his own over the NBCBlue, Tuesdays and Thursdays for 39 weeks, starting Sept. 27. Henri Hurst & McDonald handled the account. State to Sponsor Series The Pennsylvania State Publicity Commission has signed for participation in the "Travel Man" series over WNEW, five times weekly for four weeks. Walker & Downing is the agency.