Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

Wednesday. March 24. 1937 RADIO DAILY, RE-SALE OE LICENSES ATTACKED AT HEARING NEW PCCeCAMS-IDEA/ (Continued from Page 1) ownership as well as trafficking or resale of licenses, a practice which he declared should be stopped since such licenses are many time sold for fees over and above their actual value. "In light of evidence brought before the Appropriations Committee during recent hearings, it is obvious we are confronted with monopoly owned and controlled by the big networks, CBS, NBC and Mutual," Wigglesworth said, "and despite our legislation we have failed to wipe out private ownership." Forty of the clear channels, Wigglesworth said, are owned or operated or controlled by members of big three. Of 2,500,000 watts less than 60,000 are given to independent stations, he said. And 97 per cent of the night time is given over to big three. In addition to this, he said, there were several states such as Utah, Rhode Island and North Carolina where not a single independent station was operated at night. "The interest of independent stations is at stake," Wigglesworth declared, "for without adequate time and power they cannot operate. Furthermore there have been a great many stations acquired by newspapers and a question has been raised whether two mediums of public opinion should be under one control." Hearings will be continued, although no definite date has been set. Jack Block With New Firm Jack Block, formerly of Columbia Broadcasting System, will head the radio division of the new press relations council and publicity firm known as Continental Press Association. N. J. Plumbers on WINS Newark — New Jersey Master Plumbers Ass'n will conduct an institutional campaign over WINS, running 13 weeks, six times weekly. GUEST-ING LUCILE WATSON of the stage hit, "Yes, My Darling Daughter," on George K. Arthur's Broadway First Nighter program tonight (WQXR, 6:45 p.m.). BOB HOPE and TONY SARG, on Rudy Vallee's Royal Varieties tomorrow (NBC-Red, 8 p.m.) . MARY BOLAND on James Melton's Sealtest Saturday Night Party, March 27 (NBC-Red, 8 p.m.) . MILLS BROTHERS, in first American engagement since returning from abroad, on Leo Reisman's Schafer beer program next Sunday (WOR, 9 p.m.). MITZI MAYFAIR, on Hammerstein's Music Hall, April 6 (CBS, 8 p.m.). "Jean" Sessions from Studio i Jam sessions have been done before, mostly on remote broadcasts, but WTMJ, The Milwaukee Journal station, brings the musicians right into its studios every Monday afternoon from 4 to 5 and they "go to town." The big attractions are nationally famous "name" bandmen who get together for a little "jamming" when they're in Milwaukee. Typical of the kind of orchestras this program presents, the original Dixieland Jazzband, creators o f "Tiger Rag," "Swing Mr. Charlie," and other famous numbers and featured recently over an RCA Magic Key broadcast, have been guests. Other top musicians and singers are invited to "turn on the heat" when they are in town. Musicians all over Milwaukee and Wisconsin have become vitally interested in the way these bandsmen "swing out" on their specialties. No end of interest has been expressed in the vocalists and their singing of hot rhythm numbers. The "Swingsters," featured WTMJ artists directed by Frank Werth, supplement the music of the guest stars. In this way, leading local musicians take a turn at putting on their own jam sessions. Meanwhile; cocktail parties are livened by the "jam," as wives about town practice the latest in swing when they're getting dinner ready. "Answer Me This" on WARD WARD, Brooklyn, is launching a new series of programs to be known as "Answer Me This," series is a social science program covering current events, economics, civics, government and other related subjects. The ability of the listener to answer the ques 5th Ave.-Main St. Easter On Easter Sunday NBC will broadcast the highlights of the Easter Parade on Fifth Ave., New York, and "Main St.," Sycamore, 111., a town of 4,000 population. Elsa Maxwell, Society's official hostess, along with Ben Grauer and George Hicks, NBC announcers will interview celebs along Fifth Ave., and Frank C. Dean, editor-publisher of the Sycamore Tribune, will talk at his end, over NBC-Red network, 12:30-1 p.m., under supervision of A. A. Schechter, director of news and special events. More Sponsors on WHN Washington State Apples, Inc., will sponsor a portion of the Ida Bailey Allen show every Monday, Wednesday and Friday over WHN. Contract runs for four weeks. J. Walter Thompson Co., N. Y., is the agency. Barney Clothes, at present sponsoring a six-a-week one-hour program from 11 p.m.-12 mid., has added the Sunday night spot at the same time to its schedule, for nine months. Program is entitled, "Calling All Parties," and consists of recordings. Schillin Advertising Corp. is the agency. tions is challenged and he is instructed to jot down what he believes to be the correct answer as he hears the question read. Correct answers are given at the end of the program. Suitable for adults as well as for college and high school students. The subject dealt with is covered by twenty odd thought provoking questions asked by Bob Harris the Questionmaster. The program will be heard every Saturday evening at 10:30 p.m. College Talent Series "Varsity Varieties," utilizing talent uncovered at various colleges of northern California, made its debut Friday over KYA, San Francisco, and the CRS network. Program will be aired every Friday, 9:30-10 p.m. PST. Participants in the first show came from the San Francisco State College. Walter Rudolph and the CRS Orchestra provided the musical background, with Will Smith as m.c. Local Scrapbook on WDNC Highly interesting and rarely known facts about things in general and the city of Durham, N. C, in particular constitute the basis for a new WDNC show featuring George Adams, who for some ten years has kept scrap-books and diaries of unsual happenings which he has seen or of which he has heard. The program is broadcast Tuesdays at 8: 45 p.m. Musical Weather Forecast KFAB, Lincoln, has started a musical weather forecast. Stunt is to give the weather prediction by states, playing the state song ahead of each delivery. Lodged as Lincoln is within easy listening distance to Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Missouri, and Kansas, it's a neat trick. CBS Contracts Wright William Wright, heard on the Ford Motor Dealers program over CBS Tuesday nights, and who begins his own series of sustaining broadcasts today at 3 p.m. over CBS, has been signed to a two-year management contract by Columbia Artists, Inc. Wright began radio career at CBS station, KFRC, San Francisco, and came east with Al Pearce as a member of the gang. New Gillette Song Book Gillette Razor, through its agency, Ruthrauff & Ryan, is going to press with the second series of its Community Sing song book, ready for distribution in about three weeks. First volume had a distribution of about 300,000. Guy Lombardo says CARELESSLY is the best song in years! Norman Ellis Music Pub. 113 West 57th St. New York City WLW'S WEB A REALITY; WEIL, KQV ARE IN IT (Continued from Page 1) programs and a wire from WHN to RCA Victor studios will further facilitate the recordings for various purposes including auditions. Cost of wire to agencies for audition purposes will not entail more than $30, and this will again aid both WLW individually and the affiliated outlets as part of the web. Transamerican Broadcasting & Television Corp., which is the sales organization for the network, is lining up the commercial aspect and becomes the medium of a link between Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie talent. Since the Transamerican head, John L. Clark, is heavy on television foresight, this angle is expected to be more than a mere indirect tie-up within the next year or two. Frank N. Smith, commercial manager of WLW, now in town, will remain for another week in connection with the web and other WLW details, working out of Transamerican offices. From the WLW angle, it gives this big watter a psychological playup and place in the New York sun wherein it can more or less control the situation. According to unofficial WLW sources, there is no intention at present to branch out westward, unless in the future a good prospect arises and on a profitable basis — that is — avoidance of excess wire costs. Wire to New York runs through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia anyway and entails no additional costs to plug in KQV or WFIL, etc. Situation regarding Mutual will remain as is, in so far as WLW is concerned. There is no intention of disturbing the arrangement unless Mutual does something along this line. Understood that WOR has too much time sold for clearance that would give WLW control of the situation as it has in the WHN tie-up, and also allow for Transamerican to handle the sales. Donald Withycomb, who returned to Philly from New York late yesterday, told RADIO DAILY over long distance that some details of the hookup hadn't been worked out yet, but that WFIL had been invited to join the plan and was standing by, willing to cooperate in any way that would not conflict with its Mutual or NBC Blue affiliations. "BARON MUNCHAUSEN" JACK PEARL RALEIGH and KOOL CIGARETTES WJZ-10 P. M. E.S.T.— Friday NBC Network Dir.: A. & S. LYONS, Inc.