Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1941)

8 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, May 15, 1941 Fly Gagged By Miller at NAB Meeting Off the Antenna ANEW program will bow from Hollywood Saturday, May 31, over 45 CBS stations. Called "Stars Over Hollywood," the program will be heard 12:30-1 P.M. and will feature film talent in original radio plays. Among those signed for the series are Mary Astor, John Howard, Gail Patrick, Chester Morris and Margaret Lindsay. Bowey's, Inc., makers of Daririch products, will sponsor the series, discontinuing "News and Rhythm" which has been on the network for two years. • • • Purely Personal: Kent Cooper, general manager of the Associated Press, has composed a s'ong, "Dixie Girl," which will have its premiere on "Cities Semice Concerts" Friday on NBC-Red. . . . John Hurley has joined CBS publicity. . . . George Maynard, assistant to Wilfred Roberts, NBC eastern production head, has returned from a Florida vacation with his bride, the former Lois Jordan, zvho zvas assistant executive at WIOD, Miami. . . . H. Arthur Gilbert, WHN sound effects man, and Maria Besbeck have become engaged. . . . Gabriel Heatter, master of ceremonies on "Wo, the People" for the last four years, will take his first vacation from that program June 3. . . . Richard Norman, formerly zvith WOV, has joined the announcing staff of W71NY. • • • Three sports events are on NBC's television schedule for next week: Amateur boxing on Monday night; horse racing from Belmont Park Wednesday afternoon, and big league baseball from Ebbets Field Saturday afternoon. • • • Program News: Sylvia Press ivill start a new program over WIN'S tonight at 8 called, "Press Clippings'." It will feature human interest stories behind the news as it is published. . . . Knox Gelatine Co. has renewed Bob Garred for 13 weeks over the CBS California hookup. . . . The Walter Readc theatre circuit here has signed a contract zvith WHN for station break announcements. Ample Theatre Television Program Material Is Seen Trust References Out of BMI Action N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Dennis Cohalan yesterday ordered all references to anti-trust law violation stricken from the complaint of the 14 song writers who are suing a large number of defendants, including NBC, CBS, BMI, Neville Miller, Niles Trammell and Edward Klauber for $1,217,500 dam -nth ages. The song writers, allfe but one of whom are members of Ascap, allege that the defendants conspired to drive Ascap out of business. {Continued from page 1) NAB president, suddenly adjourned the meeting. This action caught the delegates offside and although afterwards Miller extended an invitation to Fly to speak before the convention, the indications were that he would not avail himself of the belated accommodation. Ethridge is general manager of the Louisville Courier-Journal and a former NAB president. He resigned his appointment by President Roosevelt to study the concentration of control in the radio broadcasting industry because of his own disapproval of the FCC's monopoly report. This was reported yesterday by Motion Picture Daily. The commission's order, which directs drastic revisions in the broadcasting industry's internal structure, to be made within 90 days, seems to take for granted that the affiliates of the networks "are economic serfs whom it must take into protective custody to protect them from the socalled power of the networks," Ethridge said. "The fact is," he continued, "that every licensee who holds an affiliation contract with one of the networks has entered into it voluntarily, and prizes it as a valuable franchise, eagerly sought after. "I believe, moreover, that they may have the effect of gutting small stations. It is perfectly true that the Commission has undertaken to provide against that, but the provision is in the form of a threat. "Regulation, to be successful, should be intelligent and deliberate. The new order, both from its text and from the tone of the utterances of its authors in public and in private is founded on a basis of bad temper, impatience and vindictiveness. It is intended to be punitive, not constructive. _ It will impair the very service which it is charged with protecting. "To my mind the Commismission has embarked upon a continuing process of adjustment that will lead us sooner or later to the easy solution of having the whole thing taken over. The chairman of the Commission has denied that is his intention and, of course, he speaks in all good faith, but people who set houses on fire frequently do not intend to do it, too." "In fairness I must point out to you the chairman's statement of yesterday that he is willing to sit down with responsible representatives of the industry to discuss the implementation, the timing and the procedure in connection with the rules and regulations. I venture the personal comment that the offer is equivalent to asking you whether you want six or eight pallbearers and whether you want to be cremated or put underground." Ethridge urged that "all groups, individuals and interests concerned with radio and its development recommend the passage of the White resolution and thereafter participate in hearings." {Continued from page 1) Long Island University, Broadway Arena and Ridgewood Grove. Others include Aqueduct Race Track, West Side Tennis Club, Jamaica Arena, Belmont Rack Track. Jamaica Race Track, Bostwick Field, Roosevelt Raceway. Jones Beach. Woodbridge Auto Racing, Ruppert Stadium, Roosevelt Stadium, Nutlev Velodrome, Winchcliffe Stadium, Pegasus Club, Goshen Track and Bear Mountain. Says Exhibitor Fear Is Groundless Halpin also believes that exhibitor fear of FCC regulation at this time is unfounded. It is his opinion not more than 20 per cent of the programs at most will be interstate in character as far as New York houses are concerned. All others will be intra-state. "Furthermore," he continued, "it appears obvious according to the recent FCC rulin~ that as much encouragement as possible in view of the defense situation is bei<'"v given to television and the FCC appears willing that television shall move forward." Looking over the metropolitan theatre field, RCA believes there are 44 non-competitive zones for theatre television. There are seven in Manhattan; eight in Brooklyn; three in the Bronx; nine in Queens; two in Staten Island; three on Long Island; three in Westchester, and nine in New Jersey. From O'Gara & Co., realtors handling the New Yorker Theatre, it was learned yesterday that RCA plans to give up the house on June IS. RCA has had the house under the lease for its large screen experiments and demonstrations. The company, it is understood, takes the position that the equip ment is now ready for use and, the industry having had an opportunity to see it, RCA has no further use for the house. From Local 306 it was learned that about 100 operators completed the RCA course on handling of television equipment and that the union could supply operators if needed. No Decision on Home Sets Meanwhile, RCA has made no decision on the manufacture of home television receivers. David Sarnoff, president, has previously stated that the FCC monopoly report and the defense situation would have to be studied before a decision to go ahead could be made. Generally, it is expected that the decision will be made within the next two weeks but there is no hope of a sizeable amount of receivers being on the market before July 1, when commercial television operation is permitted to start. The FCC this week issued forms for commercial television applications. Skouras Says Medium Is Box-Office Now Additional comment on the reaction of exhibitors to theatre television, as demonstrated by RCA at the New Yorker Theatre last Friday night, was received yesterday from George P. Skouras, head of Skouras Theatres. He said : "My opinion is that television as demonstrated at the New Yorker Theatre has reached the stage of being box-office entertainment. The expense of the equipment is of no importance if the supply of product is available. Possible Government control through the FCC need not be alarming unless theatre television is used for something else other than entertainment." Senate Group Seen Backing FCC Probe Washington, May 14. — Indications that the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee would give its approval to the resolution introduced yesterday by Senator Wallace H. White of Maine for investigation of the FCC monopoly report were seen today in an admission by Chairman Burton K. Wheeler of Montana that he was concerned over the allegation that 85 .per cent of the night broadcasting power was affiliated with the two major networks. Senator Wheeler, however, would not comment on the Commission's new network regulations. He said he was interested in the preservation of free speech and free and open competition in broadcasting, the prevention of undue control of radio by individual organizations and separation of the operation of networks from the operation of stations. The Senator also said there should be no artificial barriers raised against the development of new networks. CBC Is Under Fire In Canadian House Ottawa, May 14. — The Canadian Broadcasting Corp., which has been discussed on the floor of the House of Commons several times recently, today was made the subject of a direct inquiry by M. J. Coldwell, acting House leader of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation. Coldwell in a series of 14 questions asked for details of the operation of CBC as it concerns Gladstone Murray, general manager, and Auguste Frigon, assistant general manager. Coldwell asked information on the functions, duties, salaries and expense allowances of the two officials, and the reason why the assistant general manager was recently transferred from Montreal to Ottawa. He also asked if anv amendments have been made to CBC by-laws and if any are contemplated. WCAX to 1,000 Watts WCAX, CBS station in Burlington. Vt., has received FCC permission to boost its power from 250 watts to 1,000, full time. At the same time it was granted permission to change its frequency from 1,230 k.c. to 620 k.c. Adds Sunday Shows DeKalb, 111.. May 14. — Five acts of Sunday vaudeville have been added at the Egyptian Theatre here.