NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

created by the AFM ban. Mr. Murray was not opti¬ mistic. Mr. Petrillo had found ways of impeding this development during the last recording hiatus, he pointed out, and added that it was difficult to meet American tastes and standards by this means. With Mr. Murray at the witness stand were Edward Wallerstein, Columbia Records, Milton Rackmil, Decca Records, and Jack Pearl, Hub Record Co. Richard S. Testut, Associated Program Service, one of two representatives of the transcription industry who testified Friday afternoon, termed the record ban “a most serious interference with the freedom of choice of American citizens” and suggested that the anti-trust laws should be made applicable to labor unions. Mr. Testut urged further that union members should be allowed to express their own views through demo¬ cratic ballots before strikes or work stoppages were called by union leaders. After talking with many members of the AFM, Mr. Testut said : “I have found none who is not most willing to work for us. However, he added, “I have found none who would ever admit that they told me these things.” While predicting that “Petrillo and those who dictate AFM policies can’t get away with this suppression of an art and a business which is so definitely in the public interest,” the second transcription company repre¬ sentative, Gerald King of Standard Radio Transcrip¬ tion Services, Inc., told the Committee, “he may ruin me and many other small operators by trying.” “Since 1925,” he said “I cannot recall ever winning an argument with the AFM, local or national. It’s difficult to bargain with a guy who has a gun at your head.” The final witness on Friday was Joseph E. Maddy, president of the National Music Camp of Interlochen, Mich. Hearings will resume today (19). Representatives of the four networks and two broadcastei's, Harry Ban¬ nister, WWJ, Detroit, and George Coleman, WGBI, Scranton, will testify as the industry presentation is concluded today and tomorrow. Mr. Petrillo is sched¬ uled to appear Wednesday. Australian Broadcasters Greet NAB R. Dooley, secretary of the Australian Federation of Commercial Broadcasting Stations, has transmitted to Advance "Freedom Train" Schedule The “Freedom Train” today is at Little Rock, Ark. Following is the schedule of the train for the week of February 9 : Monday (9) — Open date, Harlingen, Tex. Tuesday (10) — Corpus Christi, Tex. Wednesday (11) — Austin, Tex. Thursday (12) — San Antonio, Tex. Friday (13)— Del Rio, Tex. Saturday (14) — El Paso, Tex. Sunday (15 ) — Santa Fe, N. M. C. E. Arney, Jr., NAB secretary-treasurer, greetings from the Fedei’ation’s annual convention, held in Mel¬ bourne in November. “Our Members have received many courtesies from you and other Members of your Organization for many years now for which we are very grateful,” the letter said. “As commercial broadcasters, we have many common problems, and we always watch with interest the prog¬ ress and development of broadcasting in your Country.” Network Liaision Members Join Committees The four national networks, associate members of the National Association of Broadcasters, at the invita¬ tion of the NAB have named liaison members to serve in advisory capacities with six NAB standing committees. Purpose of the invitation, the NAB announcement of the naming said, was to coordinate all segments of the industry, in matters handled by the six groups, the Engineering Executive, Public Relations Execu¬ tive, the Program Executive, the Legislative, the Employee-Employer Relations Executive, and the Re¬ search committees. Liaison members named to serve with the groups are as follows: ENGINEERING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Frank H. Marx, ABC; William B. Lodge, CBS; Earl Johnson, MBS; and 0. B. Hanson, NBC. (Continued on next page) Patience Is Asked of Members .A.n unusual rush to obtain hotel reservations for the 26th Annual NAB Con¬ vention in Los Angeles, May 17-21, was beginning to develop last week, with the Biltmore and other hotels receiving requests, and some requests coming to NAB headquarters. C. E. Arney, Jr., NAB secretary-treasurer, asked that all members withhold their requests until they receive the official forms. “As in past years,” Mr. Arney said, “NAB has contracted with the Bilt¬ more and other Los Angeles hotels for a sufficient number of rooms to accom¬ modate the expected attendance. None of these rooms will be reserved by the hotels unless the requests are certified by NAB headquarters. The usual method of handling hotel reservation requests will be followed again this year, and some time within the course of the next month, forms will be mailed to all who are eligible to attend. “Members are urged to withhold their hotel requests until the forms are received, and to use only the forms in making them. The handling of this asignment is a difficult task at best, and unless some system is followed in keeping check on it, confusion will result. We hope that we may have the complete cooperation of the membership.” JANUARY 19, 1948-47