Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

VOL. 1, NO. 5 NEW YORK, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1937 FIVE CENTS NBC Biz at Record High RADIO ELEGY Time signals toll the knell of parting day; (he networks swiftly sppn the land and sea, and soon the Liiejoy orchestra will play, and Blotz's yeast will stage a symphon — ee. Let not ambition mock the sponsor's toil to give us entertainment that we crave, and tell about Ma Whortle's Salad Oil and Gimlet razor blades — and how they shave! Far from the maddening crowd's ignoble strife we sit and fish for programs far away, or in our cool sequestered vale of life we hear what Walter Wimple has to say. The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, the baritone whose golden voice exalts, await alike the ending of the hour when the announcer plugs for Fishbein's Salts. Full many a quip or bit of humor clean, or a Joe Miller joke that's passing fair, is like a flower, born to blush unseen, when Minnie Mouse is singing on the air. — C. F. MPPA Off theAir License Clarified by John G. Paine WOULD BAR NEWSPAPERS FROM OWNING STATIONS By GEORGE IV. MEHRTENS RADIO DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — Senator Wheeler, chairman of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee, announces that he will introduce a bill to bar newspapers from owning radio broadcasting stations. The purpose is to prevent monopoly of the channels of public information, he says. The Montana senator revealed data, furnished him by FCC, showing that at present there are 150 stations owned or controlled by newspaper interests. Of these stations, 52 were acquired by newspaper interests in the past year, and there are more than 100 applications now pending (Continued on Page 8) Anti-Auto Radio Bill Causes Wide Concern Boise, Idaho — Wide concern over Senate Bill No. 72, introduced by Senator R. E. Whitten, is indicated by numerous requests received from all parts of the country for permission to be heard in connection with the measure. Hearing has been set for Feb. 18. Tax on Radio Shows Is Proposed in Ohio Columbus — A tax of 10 per cent on commercial radio programs is proposed in a bill introduced in the Ohio legislature by Rep. Joseph Duffey of Cuyahoga County. The measure would require each station to obtain a franchise from the secretary of state before operating in Ohio. John G. Paine, chairman of the Board of the Music Publishers Protective Association, is seeking to clarify the move of the MPPA in licensing the off-the-air recorders, especially since numerous agency, laboratory, broadcasting and other men in the trade have the erroneous opinion that it applies to the record New Calif. Studios Go Into Use March 1 Hollywood — California Radio System's new KEHE studios will go into use March 1, when the business and executive offices move out of their present overcrowded temporary quarters. The new chain has been operating since the end of December, with six California stations, KEHE, Los Angeles; KYA, San Francisco; KFBK, Sacramento; KWG, Stockton; KM J, Fresno, and KERN, (Continued on Page 2) OF COURSE, the most important happening last week was the advent of RADIO DAILY. In Washington, Congressman William P. Connery, (Dem., Mass.) informed the RADIO DAILY that the House sub-committee of the Rules Committee would hold a hearing this month relative to his resolution call ings off the air for the purpose of playing the programs in local spots not covered by the original network show. These shows, such as Ed Wynn, "Personal Column of the Air," etc., are licensed for use of music through the usual channels. It also appears that trade papers (Continued on Page 8) Intercity System Adds Station WGAL Donald Flamm, prexy of WMCA, key station of the Inter-City Broadcasting System, announced the association of WGAL, Lancaster, Pa., to the net, before sailing for a ten-day cruise to Havana. WGAL, operating full time, is owned and operated by KGAL, with an operating power of 250 watts days and 100 watts nights. Station is the only one city, with a population of (Continued on Page 8) ing for investigation of alleged radio monopoly. Foreign radio outlay by American radio advertisers was being increased some 300 per cent this year... one concern expecting an increase in business that corresponds to a similar percentage ... Spot broadcasting (Continued on Page 2) $3,541,999 January Billings Top Year Ago by 32 Per Cent National Broadcasting Company gross billing for January reached the record-breaking total of $3,541,999, an increase of 32 per cent over the same month a year ago, making it the highest January in NBC history. Breakdown as to webs gives the NBC-Red $2,374,633, which compares with $1,725,172 for the same web a year ago and shows an individual increase for this network of 37.6 per cent. The NBC-Blue contributed $1,167,366, which is 22 per cent above the January, 1936, total of $956,643. The NBC grand total in gross billings for January, 1936, were $2,671,815. NBC figures are based on the contract rate as listed above. Originally, through an error in the statistical (Continued on Page 8) TElEVISIONllNELS UP TO JE PRESIDENT President Roosevelt will be called upon to decide the number of channels to be allotted commercial television interests and his decision will play an important part in determining just how soon commercial television will get under way in the U. S., Radio Daily is advised. The Army and Navy and other (Continued on Page 5) "Prof. Quiz" Is Signed For Kelvinator Program Kelvinator Corp., Detroit (refrigerators) , has signed the CBS sustaining program "Prof. Quiz" for its CBS program which is tentatively set to begin March 6 at 8-8:30 p. m. Walter (Continued on Page 5) Radio Ed. Reforms Harry Algus, assistant radio editor of the New York American, becomes a full-fledged attorney today when he is sworn in as a member of the New York Bar. Algus received his Bachelor of Law degree from St. Lawrence University and his Master of Law degree from St. John's University. He has been writing radio copy for the American for five years. Colonels I'ontrih. To date $4,529.40 has been turned over to the Red Cross by Louis K. Sidney, managing director of WHN, as the amount thus far collected by General lack Ali coate, publisher of RADIO DAILY and FILM DAILY, and Sidney from contributions by Kentucky Colonels and radio listeners to aid the needy in the flood areas. Collections are still being solicited. * THE WEEK IN I Al H * . . . Connery to Press Investigation ^^^m^^i. By M. H. SHAPIRO