Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

Serving the Better Interests of Commercial Radio and Television VOL. 1, NO. 8 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1937 FIVE CENTS Clash On Dickstein Bill looking On Lv • ■ • • AND LISTENING IN THERE is probably nothing that r AL>£> CQn jje Jong about it. but the urge to imitate is continually proving a quick death to many air programs which otherwise might hold public interest for considerable time. Look what happened to the amateur shows. The inquiring reporters, the quizzers, the spelling bees, the listener-speaks and several other fads likewise are going the same route. It is not an exclusively radio problem, this parroting of the other fellow's idea, but the radio might have profited from the fatal results of such duplication in other fields of amusement. By the way, whatever became of "swing music"? AMITY BARRING indiscriminate ex Al 11 1 I pansion of studio audiences, there is no more reason for the movie theaters to fear radio competition than there was for the newspapers. The daily press started to fight the radio, wound up by cooperating with it. and now both are better off for it. Circulation and advertising income of the newspapers and magazines last year showed a percentage gain almost as big as the increase in radio listeners and revenue. Lately there have been signs out in Hollywood that the film studios, instead of quarreling with the radio over the competition for talent, will embark on a policy of cooperation. Fighting means fearing down on both sides. Cooperation results in mutual benefits. Rewarding Fibbers Murine Co., Chicago (eye wash), is offering three Elgin wrist watches to the three listeners sending in the best lies of the week. Lies are used on Mutual program as part of the "Burlington Liars' Club." Program is heard from coast to coast on Tuesdays, from 8:30 to 9 in the evening. AMER. TOBACCO RENEWS OVER 70 NBC STATIONS American Tobacco Co., New York (Lucky Strike cigarettes), has renewed "Your Hit Parade and Sweepstakes" for 13 weeks on 70 NBC-Red network stations, Wednesdays, 1010:30 p. m., effective March 10. Lord & Thomas, New York, has the account. PETE DE LIMA QUITS CBS BUREAU ON COAST West Coast Bureau, THE RADIO DAILY Los Angeles — Pete De Lima, head of Columbia's artists' bureau on the Coast, resigned yesterday and entrained for the East. Columbia had no statement to make in the matter. Kentucky Derby Rights Are Acquired by NBC The exclusive rights to broadcast the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs, Ky., on May 8 has been awarded to NBC, it was learned yesterday. It is also understood that the broadcast of the race will be sponsored by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co., Louisville (Kool & Raleigh cigarettes), over NBC. Inasmuch as May 8 is outside the 90day contract clause, no time period or network has been set. That Clem McCarthy will do the event is very probable. CBS had the radio rights to the Derby last year with Brown & Williamson as sponsor. Arthur Pryor, vice-president of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, Inc., New York, B. & W.'s agents, personally supervised the broadcast last year. Tibbett Appears For, and Damrosch Against, Measure to Curb Alien Talent Honeymoon Influence Lincoln — Reginald B. Martin, station manager of KFAB-KFOR, has started rebroadcasting the WLW (Cincinnati) "Moon River" period on KFOR. He heard it being done while on a recent New Orleans trip, honeymooning. NELSON EDDY TO HEAD CHASE-SANBORN SHOW Nelson Eddy, baritone, now featured on the Vick's Open House Program on CBS, which terminates March 21, has been signed by Standard Brands, Inc., (Chase & Sanborn coffee) for a new series of programs to begin next fall. The contract with Eddy was signed in Chicago last week. It is reliably understood that the present program, "Do You Want to be An Actor," will not be renewed after the March 14 broadcast which completes the first 13 weeks of this show in the Sunday, 8-9 p. m. spot (Continued on Page 8) Socony Again Sponsors Yale Football Schedule Socony-Vacuum has contracted for sponsorship of the Yankee Network broadcasts of Yale University Football Schedule for the 1937 season, starting over WICC, Bridgeport and (.Continued on Page 8) President's Court Proposals Stir Record Debate on Radio Big Gains Are Shown In Instant Recordings Reflecting big gains in the use of instantaneous recordings among radio stations both here and abroad, busi(Continued on Page 8) President Roosevelt's judiciary reorganization proposals have prompted more radio discussion than any single piece of legislation in the history of radio, according to a survey by National Broadcasting Co. Within 16 days from the time the (Continued on Page 8) By GEORGE IV. MEHRTENS RADIO DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — Arguments for and against the Dickstein bill were presented by Lawrence Tibbett and Walter Damrosch, respectively, at yesterday's hearing on the measure before the House Immigration Committee. Tibbett, as president of the American Guild of Musical Artists, declared he favored the bill with modifications so that there would be a (.Continued on Page 6) NBC JAN. DAY BILLING INCREASES 94 PER CENT National Broadcasting Company's daytime revenue for the month of January amounted to $961,866, which represents an increase of 94 per cent over the same month last year and tops all previous January daytime figures. Sunday daytime gross billing for January was $297,577 an increase of 78 per cent over the same period a year ago. Censorship and Tax Bill In State of Washington Portland, Ore. — A bill has been introduced in the Washington state legislature calling for a state board of radio censors to pass upon radio programs originating in the state. The measure also provides for a 2 per cent tax on local business of radio stations. Equal Rights Lincoln — John Edwards, legislative commentator for KFAB here, succeeded in gaining for radio equal rights with the press In the press box during the present and all future sessions. Senator Charles Dafoe introduced the resolution pertaining to "accredited newspapers" and added "accredited radio stations." The motion prevailed.