NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

Reason ing""that the change in its rules would “pre¬ vent a multiplicity of hearings and would expedite the handling of Commission hearings,” the FCC announced that the new regulation will become effective, with¬ out further ado, on March 15th. Broadcast Advertising Frank Pellegrin Resigns from NAB Post; Will Be President and Manager of Firm Frank E. Pellegrin has resigned his position as director of the NAB Broadcast Advertising Depart¬ ment to join a new St. Louis broadcasting company as president and general manager. The firm, Radio St. Louis, Inc., holds a construction permit for a 1,000watt daytime station on 690 kilocycles, and a Class B FM permit. Mr. Pellegrin came to NAB in 1941 as the first director of the Broadcast Advertising Department. He was on leave of absence from 1942 until Sept. 17, 1945, during which time he served in the United States Army, at home and abroad. He was a lieutenant colonel when released from duty. In his new position, Mr. Pellegrin will be associated with James H. Grove, president of Grove Laboratories, who will be chairman of the Board of Radio St. Louis, Inc. Application for changing the structure of the concern from a partnership to a corporation has been filed with the Federal Communications Commission. Subject to FCC approval, Mr. Pellegrin will become a principal stockholder, as well as an officer, of the new corporation. Other associates will be Franklin C. Salisbury, Washington radio attorney, vice president and general counsel; E. W. Grove, vice president; and E. E. Haverstick, Jr., secretary-treasurer. Mr. Haverstick is a member of the firm of Smith, Moore and Co., St. Louis investment brokers. The NAB execu¬ tive’s resignation becomes effective March 1. With Central Chain. Before joining the broadcast¬ ing association, from 1938 to 1941, Mr. Pellegrin was sales manager and assistant general manager for the Central States Broadcasting System. He was presi¬ dent, Omaha Junior Chamber of Commerce in 19391940, a member of the board of directors, Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and director, Omaha Adver¬ tising Club. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Omaha Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1940. Following his graduation from Creighton University in 1931, Mr. Pellegrin was director of public relations, assistant professor of journalism and director of the Creighton University of the Air from 1931 to 1938. During his army service, he won the Bronze Star Medal and the European-North African-Middle East Service Medal with five battle stars and bronze arrow¬ head. During his NAB career, he wrote the “Manual of Radio Advertising” (1941) and numerous articles on radio and advertising, and was co-author of “Radio for Retailers” (1945). He was co-originator of the “Retail Promotion Plan for Radio” conducted nation¬ ally by NAB during 1942-43, and originated the “Re¬ tail Advertising Check List,” now widely in use among stations, as well as many other station administration and sales aids. Stations to Get Reprint of Sales Piece Reprints of an interview with Howard P. Abrahams, manager of the sales promotion division of the Na¬ tional Retail Dry Goods Association, on record use of radio advertising, are in production and will be mailed to member stations for use as a sales aid in the near future. The interview with Mr. Abrahams, which appeared under a banner line on page one of Radio Daily on Feb. 2, predicted that retailers’ use of radio adver¬ tising, which set new records in 1947, will reach new heights in 1948. Of the 7,500 NRDGA members. Mi*. Abrahams said, over 70% of the department stores and more than 50% of the specialty stores use radio. He added that although some retailers will cut advertising budgets in 1948, most will raise them, and at least one retailer will increase his radio budget 50%. The interview will be reprinted in full on a single page for handy use by station sales forces. Engineering FCC Proposes Change in License Posting Amendments of rules and regulations governing commercial radio operators have been proposed by the FCC to alter posting of licenses by holders who per¬ form operating duties at two or more stations, and by first or second class license holders performing duties at one or more stations. The amendment would permit: Holders of any class of license performing duties at two or more stations to post the license or permit of the diplonaa form, as distinguished from the card form, at one station and to post a duly issued verified state¬ ment (FCC Form 759) at the other. Holders of radiotelephone or radiotelephone first or second class licenses who perform service or mainte¬ nance duties at one or more stations to post the license at the transmitter involved whenever the transmitter is in actual operation while service or maintenance is being performed or, in lieu of posting license, to carry on the person a license or verification card (FCC Form 758-F) or, if operating duties in addition to service and maintenance are performed, to comply with sec¬ tion 13.74 (a) above. The amendment would also provide for entry into the station’s operating or maintenance log pertinent data as to the responsible operator’s work. Objections to the proposed rule making should be filed before March 1, 1948, the FCC notice said. FEBRUARY 9, 1948-104