Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Wednesday, January 5, 1955 Motion Picture Daily 7 Results of 'Fame' Radio Poll NBC, Y &R Publicity Services Voted Best for 1954 in 'Fame' Radio Poll National Broadcasting Company's radio publicity service, which is headed by vice-president Syd Eiges, was voted the best of the networks' press services by a majority of the American newspaper and magazine radio editors, critics and columnists participating in the 19th annual Motion Picture Daily-Fame poll. The radio editors and columnists also voted Young and Rubicam's Bureau of Industrial Service as the provider of the Best Individual Publicity Service for the year. Harry Rauch is Y & R vice-president in charge of the radio-television publicity in the Bureau. In winning the top award, NBC radio publicity has displaced the Columbia Broadcasting System, which had won the title for five consecutive years previously. The 1954 Fame award to Y & R is the fifth consecutive honor bestowed on Rauch's radio and TV departments. CBS was second in the Best Network Publicity Service voting, and the Mutual Broadcasting System was third. J. Walter Thompson Co. was in second place in the Best Individual Publicity Service and Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn was in third place for 1954. Harry Rauch Syd Eiges 14 Firsts to NBC, 7 to CBS in Poll Complete THE complete list of first, second and third place winners in Motion Pict ure Daily's 19th annual Radio Poll for Fame, as voted by radio editors, critics and columnists of American newspapers and magazines, are published herewith. Sponsors, advertising agencies, networks and broadcast times (E.S.T.) are given for first place winners ; networks only for second and third place winners. BEST NETWORK PROGRAM 1. Friday With Garroway (Multiple sponsors, no agencies, NBC Fridays, 8:00-8:30 P.M., shifted from Sundays). 2. Jack Benny Show (CBS). 3. Lux Radio Theatre (NBC). BEST PERFORMER 1. Dave Garroway (Friday With Garroway, see best network program, NBC.) 2. Jack Benny (CBS). 3. Bob Hope (NBC). MOST PROMISING MALE STAR 1. Jimmie Nelson (Highway Frolics, sustaining, ABC, Sundays, 7 :358:00 P.M., now discontinued). 2. Gary Crosby (CBS). BEST COMEDIAN 1. Jack Benny (Jack Benny Show, American Tobacco Co., Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, CBS, alternate Sundays, 7 :30-8 :00 P.M.) 2. Bob Hope (NBC). 3. Groucho Marx (NBC). BEST COMEDIENNE 1. Eve Arden (Our Miss Brooks, Toni-Whitehall, Weiss & Geller, CBS, Sundays, 8:00-8:30 P.M.) 2. Marion Jordan (NBC). 3. Mary Livingstone (CBS). BEST COMEDY TEAM 1. Fibber McGee & Molly (Multiple sponsors and agencies, NBC, Sundays through Thursdays, 10 :0010:15 P.M.) 2. Amos 'n Andy (CBS). 3. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (NBC). BEST VARIETY PROGRAM 1. Friday With Garroway (See best network program). 2. Edgar Bergen Show (CBS). 3. The Breakfast Club (ABC). BEST POPULAR MALE VOCALIST L Perry Como (Liggett & Myers, Cunningham & Walsh, CBS, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:00-9:15 P.M.) 2. Eddie Fisher (All stations). 3. Bing Crosby (CBS). BEST POPULAR FEMALE VOCALIST 1. Dinah Shore (Chevrolet Motor Div., General Motors Corp., Campbell Ewald Co., NBC, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:00-8:15 P.M.) 2. Rosemary Clooney (All Stations). 3. Jo Stafford (All stations). BEST CLASSICAL MALE VOCALIST 1. Robert Merrill (ABC, guest appearances on other stations). 2. Ferruccio Tagliavini (All Stations) . 3. Ezio Pinza (All stations). BEST CLASSICAL FEMALE VOCALIST 1. Rise Stevens (ABC, guest appearances on other stations). 2. Patrice Munsel (All stations). 3. Roberta Peters (All stations). BEST DRAMATIC PROGRAM 1. Lux Radio Theatre (Lever Brothers, J. Walter Thompson, NBC, Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00 P.M.) 2. Hall of Fame (CBS). 3. Suspense (CBS). BEST MYSTERY PROGRAM 1. Dragnet (Liggett & Myers, Cunningham & Walsh, NBC, Tuesdays, 8:30-9:00 P.M.) 2. Suspense (CBS). 3. Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons (CBS). BEST MASTER OF CEREMONIES 1. Dave Garroway (See best network program). 2. Art Linkletter (NBC). 3. Don McNeill (ABC). BEST NEWS COMMENTATOR 1. Edward R. Murrow (Amoco, Joseph Katz Co., CBS, Mondays through Fridays, 7:45-8:00 P.M.) 2. Morgan Beatty (NBC). 3. Martin Agronsky (ABC). BEST ANNOUNCER 1. George Fenneman (NBC — multiple shows). 2. Tony Marvin (CBS).3: Don Wilson (CBS). BEST SPORTSCASTER 1. Bill Stern (ABC multiple shows). 2. Mel Allen (all stations). 3. Harry Wismer (MBS). BEST CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA 1. N. Y. Philharmonic (CBS, sustaining, Sundays, 2:30-4:00 P.M.) 2. Firestone (ABC). 3. NBC Symphony and Telephone Hour tied (Both NBC). BEST POPULAR ORCHESTRA 1. Guy Lombardo (Leibman Breweries, summer show only, WRCA, New York only). 2. Sauter-Finegan (All stations). 3. Ralph Martieri (All stations). BEST CLASSICAL MUSICAL SHOW 1. Voice of Firestone (Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Sweeney & James Co., ABC, Mondays, 8:309:00 P.M.) 2. N. Y. Philharmonic (CBS). 3. Telephone Hour (NBC). BEST POPULAR MUSICAL SHOW s> 1. Perry Como Show (See best popular male vocalist). 2. Dinah Shore and Bing Crosby Show tied (NBC and CBS, respectively) . 3. Friday With Garroway (NBC). BEST COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW 1. Grand Ole Opry (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., William Esty Co., NBC, Saturdays, 9:30-10:00 P.M.) 2. Saturday Night Country Style (CBS). 3. Tennessee Ernie and Old Dominion Barn Dance tied (CBS). BEST QUIZ SHOW 1. Groucho Marx Show (You Bet Your Life, De Soto Motor Corp., Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, NBC, Wednesdays, 9:009:30 P.M.) 2. Two for the Money (CBS). '3. Stop the Music (CBS). National Broadcasting Company's 1954 radio performers and programs captured 14 of 27 first place honors in the 19th -annual Motion Picture DAiLY-Fame poll of newspaper and magazine radio editors, critics and columnists. .< NBC took 14 first place honors, six second place awards and nine third places. There are 27 classifications in the 19th annual poll, with tabulations made for first, second and third places in each. The voting for Best Network and Best Individual publicity service is considered a separate category, apart from programs and performers, and is not counted in the comprehensive poll standings. Columbia Broadcasting System was in second place in the 1954 poll standings, winning seven first place honors, 14 seconds and eight third places. American Broadcasting Co. followed with six firsts, one second and four third places. Mutual accounted for one third place in the balloting. NBC swept first, second and third places in the -iballoting for the Best Public Service" ^Program. The ne^wor^s score is a switch on the win, place and show tabulations of the 1953 poll. In the poll a year ago CBS led with 15 first places, 14 second places and nine third places. There were 28 classifications in that year's poll. NBC was runner-up with 12 firsts, nine seconds and 12 third places. ABC had one first, two seconds and five thirds. BEST CHILDREN'S PROGRAM 1. Let's Pretend (CBS, now discontinued) . 2. Big Jon and Sparkle (ABC). BEST DAYTIME PROGRAM 1. The Breakfast Club (Don McNeill, host, multiple sponsors and agencies, ABC, Mondays through Fridays, 9:00-10:00 A.M.) 2. Arthur Godfrey Time (CBS). 3. House Party (CBS). BEST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM 1. Meet the Press (Pan American — Revere Copper §r Brass, J. Walter Thompson — St. George & Keyes, NBC, Sundays* 10:3011 :00 P.M.) 2. Invitation to Learning (CBS). 3. Youth Wants to Know (NBC). BEST PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM 1. Meet the Press (See best educational program). 2. Weekend (NBC). 3. American Forum of the Air (NBC). BEST NETWORK PUBLICITY SERVICE 1. NBC 2. CBS 3. MBS BEST SERVICE, INDIVIDUAL PUBLICITY OFFICE 1. Young & Rubicam's Bureau of Industrial Service 2. J. Walter Thompson Co. 3. Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn