Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

$10,303,600 IN BOND SALES Blue Network's One-Nkjht Campaign Results in Record Total-. Sparkling Cast of Entertainers Draws Mountain of Pledges to Support the War. AUGUST was supposed to be tlie . month in which the radio industry conducted its big drive to sell Uncle Sam's war bonds. There had been spo- radic appeals by networks and indi- vidual stations, but when the 29th of the month rolled around the collections liud fallen far short of the goal. The situation called for a grand climax drive. Before August had run its course, the Blue Network, youngest of the chains, had just such a campaign in mind. Without fanfare, its program managers and technicians started plan- ning for a show that would push the industry o\er the top. Orson Welles was soimded out, and he agreed to act as master of ceremonies for the big bond night. Recruits included Jane Cowl, Carl Sandburg, Dinah Shore, jack Pearl, Lanny Ross, and a fine siu- rounding cast. The Blue Network's office group, with no prospect of glamour but an excellent opportunity to help their country, responded almost 100 per cent to an in\itation to work all night on the 29th. Extra desks and tele- phones were heaped into the Blue offices, maintenance men dusted off three huge blackboards for keeping score of bond sales, and preparations were made for feeding the one-night bond armv. The broadcast was to begin at 9; 30 p.m. on the 29lh, and was to conclude seven hours later. Affiliate stations from coast-to-coast arranged to wire in their totals. .\ battalion of office workers \ ir- PHILLU'S CARLIN RELAXES AFTER CHALKING UP THE SCORE l.N BLUE NET^VORk's "bOND night" campaign, which KAH SUHP.\SSED GOAL. tualiy chained themselves to the tele- ])l]oiu's to receive indi\ idual orders. 15lue officials confided that if they could raise sl\ or seven million dollars Blue Bond Night would be a success. The Blue team, with Orson Welles calling signals in jam-packed studio 6H, kicked off promptly at 9; 30. Down in the network offices, more than 100 persons ran oxer their signals, like ner- \ous gridders before a big game. At 9:45, 'phones began jangling. Western Union boys blocked for each other to get into the room with wired orders. Edgar Kobak, the Blue's executi\ e vice president, stood perspiring at the big board with his tie unknotted, catching pieces of chalk tossed by a file clerk on the all-night trick. With the other hand, Kobak snagged a wet rag to wipe off the bond sales figures that became antiquated in less than five minutes. This, some one remarked, was radio in a democracy—at work. B\- midnight, the $6,000,000 goal had been passed. The blackboard, sec- tioned off for returns from "East," "Cential," and "Pacific," was a gray smudge. But there were seven figures on the totals now, and that's all that mattered. Except eats. The workers were getting hungiy, and when the coffee and sandwiches arrived thev staged a local Commando raid. Phillips Carlin, Blue program chief, relieved Kobak at the board. At 3 a.m., the total was $9,000,000 and only a few of the group managed to get away. The show in 8H had been over for hours, but big-name dance bands were lilaring awa\- natioiiallv be- tween bond appeals. The room was lit- tered with empty coffee cups and sandwich wrappers. Tabulating ma- chines clattered mcrrilv and three newspapers called to ask how much had been pledged. At 9 a.m. Sunday morning a Blue worker, who had checkeel out of bond headquarters at 5:00, straggled into liis office, switched on the lights, and ordered up some breakfast. He was about to bite into a chunk of crisp, i)rown toast when a 'phone jangled across the room. "I lieard your broadcast. I want to buy a $50 bond." said the caller. That brought the total up to $10,303,600. 18 RADIO AGE