NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1943)

WASHINGTON 6, D. C. Vol. 11, No. 28, July 9, 1943 1 760 N STREET, N. W. More Details on the War Advertising Council Broadcast Preliminary information regarding the nation-wide broadcast under the auspices of the War Ad¬ vertising Council and OWI was given in last week’s NAB REPORTS (page 291). Chester La Roche, chairman of the War Advertising Council, advises that James F. Byrnes, director of war mobilization; Judge Marvin Jones, food administrator; Elmer Davis, OWI director; and Donald Nelson, WPB head, will appear in addition to La Roche himself on this outstanding program. Time of the broadcast has been lengthened and will start at 1:15 p. m., eastern war time, over the complete facilities of the NBC, and will continue to 2:00 p. m., giving ample time for all speakers to present fully their views. The purpose of this program is to enlist the cooperation of the important business elements in every community in aiding the war effort by judicious placement and use of advertising budgets. This subject is one of deep interest to all advertising media and particularly to radio broadcasters. In many communities large luncheon meetings are being arranged so that the community business leaders may be gathered in one place to listen to the broadcast. These luncheons are the joint under¬ taking of all of the advertising media. In other communities leading business organizations are being urged to hold meetings of their key executives in board rooms to listen to the broadcast. Some radio stations advise that they have invited a list of outstanding business and community leaders to gather in the studio to hear the broadcast. It is unnecessary to point out to all broadcasters the tremendous importance of this program. It marks the beginning of new phases of the War Advertising Council’s activity. In fact it might be termed the culmination of much of the activity which has gone before. Broadcasting more than any other medium, is now in a position to cash in on this plea to business men and advertisers to assist in the campaign of advertising the war. We should make the most of the opportunity. SENATOR WHEELER AGAIN SAYS HE WILL HOLD FCC HEARINGS Senator Burton K. Wheeler, chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, reaffirmed his intention to give regulation of radio broadcasting by the Federal Communi¬ cations Commission a “thorough airing” when members of Congress return from summer recess in an interview re¬ ported July 8 by the Associated Press. Senator Wheeler made this statement in connection with comments he gave AP on Senator Robert Taft’s speech (see Special Legislative Bulletin No. 8 enclosed with this issue of the Reports) in Congress July 8. WAR LABOR BOARD HOLDS HEARING ON PETRILLO CASE The National War Labor Board is holding a public hearing today (Friday) to determine whether the con¬ troversy between the music transcription companies and James Caeser Petrillo and his union is a labor dispute over which the Board should take jurisdiction. On July 5, the Secretary of Labor certified the strike of the musicians to the Board. Four days earlier, the U. S. conciliation service of the Department of Labor, to whom the transcription companies had submitted the dispute, saw negotiations between them and Petrillo break down completely. At that itme, Petrillo said his union would not make transcriptions any more at any price, observing that if the transcription companies gave his union their entire gross receipts of $4,000,000 a year, “it’s still small peanuts to the Federation.” He also said it was the broadcasting stations that he was after. At the public hearing Fidday, A. Walter Socolow, attor¬ ney for the transcription companies, will ask the Board to exercise its jurisdiction and order the striking musi ( Continued on page 302) July 9, 1943 — 301