Radio Digest (July 1924-Apr 1925)

February 14, 1925 RADIO DICES T— Illustrated SONG COMPOSERS IN NEW WAR ON RADIO BACK BILL FOR MORE CONTROL OF WRITINGS American Society Believed Instigator of Proposed Legislation Aimed to Throttle Broadcasters Anew WASHINGTON. — Song composers have broken out with a new war on Radio. Up to very recently they were willing to license stations to broadcast their music. Now they would take away that license, even to the extent of cancelling privileges 'already bought and paid for. The latest move is a lobby here in support of a new copyright bill, supported and promoted it is said by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The new copyright bill, needless to say, is stronger than any protective copyright measure ever considered before, and contains, of course, a clause indicative Of the American society's Radio throttling policy. The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Perkins of New Jersey, has been referred to the House patents committee, which likewise has been a reception committee during the past few weeks for a lobby composed of song composers, playwrights, authors and artists galore. The American society, incidentally, is reported with having notified broadcasters whom they have licensed that broadcasting of certain late popular songs, which they name, must be stopped forthwith because one of their members (Arthur Hammerstein) objects. The society even goes so far as to suggest cancellation of licenses. In explanation this means that a broadcaster has no assurance that he may broadcast the' music which the society claims to control, even after he pays for a license. Amateur Quebec Bands Play for La Presse Trophy MONTREAL,, Can. — Keen competition has been aroused in the province of Quebec for the silver cup offered by La Presse station, CKAC, for the most popular local amateur bands. Bands from Joliette, St. Hyacinthe, St. John and Drummondville have already gone through the ordeal of broadcasting their musical programs and the mayor of each town has waxed eloquently on the values of their individual cities. The cities of Three Rivers, Quebec, Sorel, St. Jerome and many others have entered the contest, and especially good band programs are promised listeners who choose to dial on the 425 meter mark each Sunday afternoon between 4:30 and 6:30, eastern time. Talks on Home Lighting CHICAGO. — The first of a series of ten lectures on "home lighting" was given recently from Station WQJ by C. E. Johnson, speaking under the auspices of the lighting educational commission. STARS FOR KIDDIES FROM UNCLE WALT CHICAGO. — "Uncle Walt," the 5:30 o'clock story teller at WGN, Chicago, has become so engulfed in requests from young listeners for "shooting stars" that he has set aside certain days for children with certain names. On Tuesday, February 10, all little girls named "Mary" who wrote to Uncle Walt and asked for a star received one, and nobody but the Marys got one that evening. The next evening, it was "Johnny's" turn, and all John's who had written to the fat fellow found a star shot into the heavens for them. Every night will be dedicated to another name — Thursday, February 12, "Margaret's or Peggy's" night; Friday, February 13, "James' or Jimmy's" night; Tuesday, February 17, "Helen's" party; Wednesday, February 18, "Paul's" show; Thursday, February 19, "Louise's" time, and Friday, February 20, "Tom's or Thomas' " turn. Each evening at 5:30 Uncle Walt conducts Skeezix time at WGN. "Cuckoo," the impudent bird, is custodian of the children's stars. He tacks the names of the children on the twinkling stars in his star-shooting machine; then there is a "boom" and a sky-rocket whir — and Uncle Walt points the children's attention to the place in the sky where that star is. 'Uncle Walt" HEAR U. S. BUSINESS MEETING PUT ON AIR WASHINGTON. — Even the United States government can have a business meeting. Radiophans learned this recently when the semiannual business meeting of the government was broadcast for the first time. The principal feature of the evening was an address of President Coolidge and the report of Gen. H. M. Lord, director of the budget. Ten stations, well scattered about the country, broadcast the entire meeting. The ones carrying the program included WCAP, Washington; WEAF, New York city; WOO, Philadelphia; WJAR, Providence, R. I; WDBH, Worcester, Mass.; WEEI, Boston; WCAE, Pittsburgh; WMAQ, Chicago; WW J, Detroit, and WOC, Davenport, Iowa. All stations reported good reception of the program. TRAIN FANS iAKEUP CHURCH COLLECTION SASKATOON, Sask. — The old joke that Scotchmen prefer Radio church services because of the absence of collection plates will have to be discarded. When the Continental Limited, a Radio-equipped Canadian National railway train, approached here on a recent Sunday morning the passengers heard the services from the Westminster Presbyterian church in this city. They also heard the sermon by Rev. George A. Dixon of Knox church in Calgary, Alta. Both pleased the passengers in the Radio observation so much that a collection was taken and handed to the minister of the Westminster church when the train reached this city. The minister was much surprised by the unexpected contribution. LEAVES STAGE TO BROADCAST Maxine Brown, musical comedy leading woman, who is the first to quit the stage for Radio. She is now a paid entertainer at Station WTAS, Elgin, 111. Miss Brown is well known to thousands of theatergoers, having played in "Odds and Ends," "Floradora" revival, "Moonlight," "The Bight Girl" and "Plain Jane." MAINE WOULD ERECT STATE BROADCASTER Bill Will Be Introduced Soon in the Legislature AUGUSTA, Me. — A bill will be introduced soon in the Maine legislature by Senator Benedict F. Maher of Kennebec county seeking the establishment of a state broadcasting station at Augusta. It is proposed to tell the world about Maine through this medium, giving out news as to the agricultural, tourist and industrial resources of the state. The bill will call for an initial appropriation of $30,000 for the establishment of the service and $25,000 a year for the maintenance for the first two years. The nearness of the proposed station to Europe and that it would be America's most easterly 500-watt broadcasting station is being emphasized. German broadcasting stations have commenced transmitting conversations and lectures in English to enable their listeners to learn the language. For a long time past French lessons and some Spanish talks have been included in British programs, but the results have not reached expectations. Hammerstein Would Control Music Used Producer Takes Rap at American Society's Workings NEW YORK. — Arthur Hammerstein, producer of "Rose-Marie" and other large musical productions in recent years, has announced that he would st\.p the publication of sheet music of the tunes of any of his future productions and that he would reserve for himself the rights to the disposition of this music for use by Radio, victrolas and orchestras. "The composer of shows in whose production I have risked hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Mr. Hammerstein, "by arrangement with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, permits these melodies which I have popularized to be played everywhere. "At the end of the year the revenue is divided between this organization and the composer, this despite the fact that I have been directly responsible for creating the demand for the music. "In the future the composer will have to consent to giving me the sole rights of his work, and if he is a member of the American Society he will have to resign or disregard its rules." FAMED ANNOUNCERS TO TRAVEL TO WDAF MEET IN KANSAS CITY FOR RADIO-ELECTRIC SHOW Hired Hand, Solemn Old Judge, Bill Hay, Lambdin Kay and Gene Rouse Gather KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Interest of Radiophans all over the country will be centered in Kansas City during the week of March 2, when the Kansas City Electric club will hold its Radio and Electrical show. For during that week the best-known announcers in the United States will be grouped together for the first time in the history of broadcasting. Announcers who have already accepted the invitation of the Electrical club include the Hired Hand of WBAP; George Hay, the solemn old judge of WLS; Bill Hay, of KFKX; Lambdin Kay, the voice of the south, WSB; Gene Rouse of WOAW; and two Kansas City announcers, John Schilling of WHB and Leo Fitzpatrick, the merry old chief of WDAF. All programs of WHB and WDAF will be broadcast from a special glass-front studio in Convention hall, where the show is to be held, and all the announcers will take part in directing and announcing. Samuel Furst, who managed the Radio show held in the Hotel Muehlebach in 1923 and also the Electrical show last year, has been elected manager of the show. Leo Fitzpatrick, Radio editor of the Kansas City Star and director of WDAF, will be in charge of entertainment and broadcasting from the hall. NAA Gets 1,000-Watt Set; Only Waiting New Wave WASHINGTON. — Fans living within a thousand miles of Washington may soon pick up a "new" and powerful broadcasting station. But the call is an old one in the east; it is "NAA," Arlington, Va., the pioneer naval Radio station and government broadcaster. A new 1,000-watt set has been installed and the station will start using it just as soon as a suitable wave length can be secured from the department of commerce. The old wave of 435 meters, it is said, would interfere seriously with the two local stations, WRC and WCAP. On account of the increased power, a lower or higher channel is being sought. Lutheran Church Plans to Broadcast Gospel Services ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Following the news that the Paulist Fathers would establish a Roman Catholic broadcasting station in New York city, the National Lutheran council announced recently the Lutheran Church in America would shortly broadcast messages through Station KFUS here. In experimental broadcasting, the council said, it had been heard from Colorado to Massachusetts. Prominent Lutherans will appear on the program from time to time. ENGLISH IN DRIVE ON OSCILLATING FIENDS LONDON, England. — Easily the most hated man in the British Radio world is the oscillating fiend who persists in ruining the relaying of every American program in this country. The British Broadcasting company has promi s e d to ruthlessly track him down. The howling and screeching he sets up by trying to pick up the Pittsburgh station direct cannot be cut out by the B. B. C. set and consequently are heard in most parts of Britain, as the American station is re transmitted from every British station, being relayed from Biggin Hill. Re-radiators have become such pests that a special department has been set up by the British Broadcasting company to deal with them. This department is using direction-finding apparatus to track down the culprits. According to Captain Eckersley, chief engineer of the B. B. C, a re-radiator can effect reception over a radius of quite five miles from his set. This is because the apparatus used in Britain has not been raised to the high standard of selectivity used in America. The accompanying cartoon is reproduced from a recent issue of the London Evening News, and illustrates the feeling current here. The Re-Radiator