Radio daily (Apr-June 1937)

Thursday, AprU 1. 1937 RADIO DAILY 3 HOWARD PREXy OF CR; AYLESWORTH ON BOARD ( ^'uittiitucil frdin I'uijc 1 ) has been elected a member of the board of directors. Others include Bickel, Howard, Paul Patterson, who is comptroller and general counsel for both the newspaper chain and the radio company, and Hawkins. William G. Chandler was not re-elected to the board, desiring to devote all his time to his regular post, general business manager of the ScrippsHoward newspapers. James C. Hanrahan continues as vice-president of the Continental. New officers were elected at a meeting of the board of directors of Continental on March 18, but release was not authorized until yesterday. Around the trade it is believed that the whole set-up of Continental was discussed at the annual conference which was held at Scripps' ranch, "Miramar", in San Diego county last January. Reports were current at that time that Aylesworth would take an active interest in Continental, but officers of Continental would not confirm. Jack Howard, son of Roy Howard, chairman of the executive committee of the Scripps-Howard chain and president and publisher of the New York World Telegram, has been in the radio field since April, 1936, when he joined WNOX, Knoxville, owned by Continental. Last fall he was shifted to Washington as Continental's representative, then to New York as assistant secretary of the company. Continental was formed by Bickel in August, 1935, incorporated under the laws of Ohio. WCPO, Cincinnati, WNOX, Knoxville, WMC, WNBR, Memphis are now owned by the company. FCC is Optimistic Over Havana Confab Results yCoiiiiuitcd from Paiic 1) can delegation, which arrives here next Monday, indicate that an agreement will be reached on the short wave problems involved, Ring told RADIO DAILY. Another conference of wider scope will be held in Havana in November. Eddie Garvie Auditioned Eddie Garvie has auditioned his medicine show for a big sponsor and is awaiting reports. B April 1 Greetings from Radio Daily lo Eddie Duchin Dave DriscoU Arthur King NEW PCCeCAMS-ICEA/ Flexible Personal Program "Strictly Personal," heard over WHEC, Rochester, N. Y., on Wednes i days at 7:30 p.m. and sponsored by Gray's Ideal Arch Shoes, presents a new slant in program ideas. Composed of several departments, it is subject to change if the mail response warrants. Actually it is an opportunity for the audience to express itself in almost every conceivable way. The present setup includes a department devoted to tales of "How I Met My Husband (or wife)", a liars' club, a problem clinic, in which listeners air their views concerning civic problems or personal problems common in a great many households. Contributors are presented with theater passes. So many letters were received following the first broad cast that passes could be given only to those whose contributions were used. The liars' club proved to be a popular feature, and the results will rank with the best of tall stories. Francis Owen and Ken French originated the idea and produce the show. Medical Science Series Baltimore — A new series of educational programs will be launched by WBAL, on April 7 It will be broadcast every Wednesday, 4-4: 15 p.m., under the direction of the Baltimore Retail Druggists Association. Each week's program will tell an interesting story of some recent discovery in medicine and will consist generally of airing valuable and timely health preservation information. Varied Viewpoints Air Salesmanship An Art in Itself THE most important feature of any radio broadcast should be the selling of a sponsor's product or service. I think it's silly to spend thousands of dollars in building a presentation to get public interest to spend thousands more to hold that public interest and then fail to get the most from the commercial announcements. Salesmanship on the air is an art in itself, calling for persuasion, intelligence of mass psychology and an ability to sway the multitude to your way of thinking. This cannot be accomplished with the average run of stereotype announcements. — MARTIN BLOCK. U: S. and Canadian Amity Unparalleled THE high standard in international broadcasting amity that exists between the U.S.A. and Canada is unparalleled between any other two nations in the world. In Europe, virtually every nation frequently finds cause for diplomatic expressions of protest over certain programs crossing international borders. Severe protests have been made over propaganda injected into programs and the violations of domestic copyrights in music and script material. However, the radio relations of the U.S.A. and Canada, which by reason of the long coast-to-coast borderline tend to a great program interchange, have always been maintained on a most friendly level with no friction whatsoever. The American advertiser purchasing time on Dominion stations 're alizes that the easiest way to sell his goods is to first win the good-will of the Canadian listener. This calls for especial care in program preparation to eliminate any disapproval on the part of the listener across the border. It is the seemingly minor points that must be watched. For example, certain jokes about King Edward's abdication and the Dionne Quintuplets — who are wards of the Crown — would not register well from a commercial angle when broadcast in Canada, although they might be considered in good taste on a domestic program. Free speech is not involved on this point. The American advertiser can build his programs along the lines he desires, but he should not forget that this prime purpose is to win the goodwill of the listener who is his prospective customer; it's bad business to offend him.— JOSEPH J. WEED. Popular Music Tastes Enhanced by the Radio RADIO has given greater breadth to the musical tastes in popular music in 20th century America than any nation has possessed in the history of the world. While it is true that currently there is much hue and cry over the frenzied type of jazz known as swing — very similar to the popular music immediately after the World War — the radio listeners are equally enthusiastic about symphonic, operatic, and semi-classical selections. I have been pleasantly astonished at the tremendous favorable response to my introduction of simple folk tunes into my orchestral programs. American songs like "Reuben, Reuben, I've Been Thinkin' " and "Oh, Susanna!" appeal to listeners of every age both in rural districts and in the metropolitan area. — ANDRE KOSTELANETZ. 2-HOUR DEDICATION EOR WEEITRANSMITIER (Continued from Page i) of Massachusetts, C. F. Hurley will do the official dedication. Program will be under the personal direction of Harold E. Fellows, WEEI manager. Present from the CBS New York offices will be Mefford Runyon, Kelly Smith, and John Karol. Column ads in the outlying newspapers on Saturday and Boston papers on Sunday, will tell the public about the dedication. Short-Waving Thomas During Foreign Trip Lowell Thomas will be heard on the NBC-Sunoco program for portions of the quarter-hour while he is en route to and from Europe and will also do some broadcasting direct from the ships he will use to cross the Atlantic. Thomas sails April 28 on the Europa. and will be heard from sea on the Sunoco program, April 30. From Paris on May 5 another program will be short waved. The entire quarter-hour on May 12, Coronation Day. will be used by Thomas for a short wave description of the event, speaking from London. Another program will originate from London on May 18. He sails for home via the Queen Mary on May 19 and will do a broadcast from the ship two days later. Guest commentators will substitute for Thomas while be is abroad. Warren and Dubin are in town and have just played for us what we sinCBrely believe is the GREATEST score these prolific tunesmiths have ever written. Pardon our enthusiasm but . . . The 'Singing Marine' . . . tunes from the WARNER BROS, production will startle the music world. I>iih!isli('(l !))■ Remick Music Corp. New York