Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1939)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 8 Case Is Confirmed For FCC; Inquiry Demand Renewed Washington, Feb. 6. — Radio matters occupied the attention at both sides of the Capitol today, with the Senate confirming President Roosevelt's renomination of Norman S. Case for another term on the F. C. C, while, in the House, Representative Wiggles worth (Rep.), Mass., renewed his demand for Congressional investigation of the Commission. "No one can read the provisions of the act without realizing its objectives have not been reached," Wigglesworth declared, asserting there is "mounting evidence" of virtual monopoly by NBC, CBS and Mutual, _ "fostered practically by Government itself." The Massachusetts Congressman attacked the Commission for permitting continued transfers of licenses at prices far in excess of their value, criticized Chairman McNinch for his "purge" of F. C. C. personnel, and charged that the Telephone Co. investigation was one-sided. Taking up, one by one, all of the matters before the Commission, he said it has developed no national communications policy, no standards for programs and no position on newspaper ownership, and declared Congress should investigate the entire situation. Announcers at KPO Reject AFRA's Bid San Francisco, Feb. 6. — NBC announcers at KPO-KGO have voted down a proposal to affiliate with the American Federation of Radio Artists. The mikemen decided they were "better off" as members of the web's "house union" here, Associated Radio Employes, which provides for higher commercial fees and base salary schedules than those sought by A.F.R.A. NBC announcers here are paid $25 for announcing a commercial while the local A.F.R.A. is seeking $15 for each commercial, plus $5 for rehearsal. Pilot Sets Newscast Pilot Radio Corp. will sponsor a new commercial on WOR for one year, beginning Feb. 28, featuring transradio news broadcasts by Arthur Hale. The schedule is for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 11 to 11:15 P. M. Austin & Spector set the deal. Plan Television Lab A television testing laboratory is being constructed by the National Radio Union Corp. When completed the laboratory will be placed at the disposal, free of charge, to radio set makers in the design and manufacture of their sight receivers. WIND to CBS Chicago, Feb. 6. — Independently owned station WIND will join the CBS network shortly, according to report. Ralph Atlass operates WIND and WJJD. His brother, H. Leslie Atlass, is head of the CBS Chicago division. FCC Appropriation Dropped from Bill Washington, Feb. 6. — Funds to continue the Federal Communications Commission beyond June 30, next, were today eliminated by the House Appropriations Committee from the independent offices appropriation bill, in which the money needs of the radio agency normally would be carried. The committee explained that F.C.C. funds will be considered in a subsequent appropriation bill, and have been omitted from the independent offices bill pending action by Congress on the President's recommendations for reorganization. The appropriation bill was submitted to the House today simultaneously with release of testimony taken during consideration of the measure by the appropriations subcommittee, which showed that while the F.C.C. fund was eliminated, members of the commission were questioned regarding the needs of the commission. Members of the Appropriations subcommittee in charge of the bill questioned Chairman McNinch extensively regarding his activities since becoming head of the F.C.C. and interrogated Commissioner Paul A. Walker regarding the $1,500,000 telephone company investigation on which, it was disclosed incidentally, a final report will be submitted to Congress before July 1. . Practically all of the controversies which have rocked the commission in the past year were called to Chairman McNinch's attention by committee members, who were particularly interested in last summer's "purge" of personnel, the monopoly investigation and the new setup established by the chairman to expediate the handling of cases coming before the commission. Urge Cooperation of Broadcaster, Dealer San Francisco, Feb. 6. — Northern California Broadcasters' Association has adopted a resolution urging greater cooperation among radio dealers and manufacturers and broadcasters. Plan calls for dealers to use greater amount of radio advertising to sell sets, and to lend window display space for radio programs. The idea was suggested by Edward M. Kirby, N.A.B. public relations director, dur.ing his recent visit here with N.A.B. President Neville Miller. De Luxe Lab Closes WPA Film Contract De Luxe Laboratories has obtained a Government contract for printing WPA films, calling for an expenditure up to $10,000 during 1939. This is a renewal of a contract held by De Luxe last year, when the Government ordered about $3,000 worth of printing. Bulk of the work, including production, is handled by Pathe News. Fair Film Music Done Recording of music and choral sequences for the New York World's Fair film has been completed by RCA. Sound tracks of the Andre Kostelanetz orchestra and a chorus of 40 voices were made in the Fox Movietone News studios. Fred Waller and Warren Murray were the producers. R. B. Austrian was in charge for RCA. ► Radio Personals i ELLIOTT M. SANGER, vicepresident and general manager of WQXR, has accepted an invitation to discuss radio censorship at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on Thursday. . . . Walter Huston cast for the Vallee program Thursday. . . . Gene Autry, now in New York, will guest appear on the "Tune Up Time" program Feb. 16. . . . Gene Trace, formerly WLW, now program director of WMBD. + Jo Ranson, radio editor of the Brooklyn Eagle, has been signed by Loew Theatres to produce stage quizzes in Loew Houses. Plan will get its try out Feb. 15 at the Borough Park Theatre in Brooklyn . . . Tommy Riggs will leave for Hollywood March 4 for six weeks of broadcasting from that point. Pedroso to W3XAU Nicholas Pedroso has been appointed Latin American program director of W3XAU, Philadelphia international station affiliated with CBS. He formerly was public relations counsel for several U. S. firms trading in South America. FCC Calendar Washington, Feb. 6. — Federal Communications Commission will hear oral argument Feb. 16 on the following broadcast cases : Applications of Orville W. Lyerla for a new 1,310-kilocycle station at Herrin, 111., with 100 watts night, 250 watts day, and WJBL, Decatur, 111., for change of frequency from 1,200 to 1,310-kilocycles, extension of time from sharing to unlimited and increase of day power from 100 to 250 watts; WBOW, Terre Haute, Ind., for change of frequency from 1,310 to 1,200 kilocycles; WJBC, Bloomington, 111., for extension of time from sharing to unlimited ; WEBQ, Harrisburg, 111., for extension of time from sharing to unlimited ; KFVS, Cape Giardeau, Mo., extension of time from sharing to unlimited, and KTBS, Shreveport, La., for change of frequency from 1,450 to 620 kilocycles and increase of day power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts. Other hearings also were scheduled by the commission, as follows : March 7 : Applications of Panama City Broadcasting Co. for a 1,200kilocycle station at Panama City, Fla., with 100 watts night, 250 watts day, and KRSC, Seattle, for increase of power from 250 to 1,000 watts. March 21 : Applications of Southern Oregon Broadcasting Co. for a 1,310-kilocycle, 100-watt station at Grants Pass, Ore., and KFJZ, Fort Worth, for change of frequency from 1,370 to 930 kilocycles and increase of power from 100 watts night, 250 watts day to 500 watts. March 27: Applications of Spartanburg Advertising Co. for a 1,370kiolcycle station at Spartanburg, S. C, and WSUI, Iowa City, la., for increase of power from 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day, to 1,000 watts night, 5,000 watts day. Tuesday, February 7, 1939 FCC Won't Renew WLW Superpower Washington, Feb. 6. — F. C. C. tonight brought to an end experiments in superpower, announcing decision to deny application of WLW for ff ' ~\n ■ sion of its 500 kilowatt experin. al authorization. The commission's decision will be effective within the next few days, following issuance of a formal order and opinion. In announcing the decision, the commission stated WLW "had failed to sustain the burden of showing that special authorization requested is necessary in order to accomplish a proposed program of experimentation which will offer promise of substantial contribution to radio art." Chase and Sanborn Again Rated Highest New agency ratings show the Chase and Sanborn Hour to retain its ranking as the most popular show on the air. Jack Benny's program is second; Lux Radio Theatre is third, and the Bing Crosby program is fourth. Remaining rankings of top shows are Major Bowes following the Crosby Hour; Rudy Vallee's program and Burns and Allen in a tie in the next position ; and Kate Smith's program, the M-G-M show and Edward G. Robinson's "Big Town" series all bracketed in eighth place. Howard, Shelton Signed Tom Howard and George Shelton, who substituted for Pick and Pat on the U. S. Tobacco series for two weeks while the latter vacationed, have been signed to replace the latter team of the CBS program. Delay Expected in Radio Legislation Washington, Feb. 6. — New radio legislation will not be introduced in Congress for a week or 10 days, it was indicated today by Senator Wheeler (Mont.), chairman of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee, who, with Senator Wallace White (Maine), last week conferred with F.C.C. Chairman McNinch. It was disclosed that McNinch will not write the bill, but will merely prepare a memorandum outlining what he believes should be done. Senator Wheeler himself is expecting to write the legislation. Differences of opinion as to the best way to proceed with reorganization of the F-C.C. already are manifesting themselves at the Capitol, leading to possibilities that the legislation will not be finally enacted until next year unless they can be compromised.