Radio daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

FIVE CENTS VOL 3. NO. 27 NEW YORK, N. Y.. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1938 I Craven Opposes Gov’t Operation CRITICS’ FORUM QUESTION NO. 6 Should radio be (1) government controlled, (2) government regulated, (3) government censored? ANSWER Yes No Government controlled 9% 91% Government regulated 70% 30% Government censored 8% 92% WITH very little qualifying comment, the radio editors and T critics of the nation have expressed themselves overwhelmingly opposed to either control or censorship of radio by the government, though favoring by generous margin the present form of regulation as exercised through the Federal Communications Commission. This is the verdict elicited by RADIO DAILY’s First Annual Forum. Out of some 150 radio editors responding, only a dozen or so gave anything but a definite “yes” or “no” reply to this three-part question. The few who volunteered comment pointed out various obvious detriments to public interest that would result from government control or censorship. Two editors pointed to the inferiority of British radio entertainment and the backwardness of radio art in that country under government operation. Another cited the situation on the continent, where the public is permitted to hear only such programs as propaganda-minded governments decree. Favorite programs, according to types, will be announced in tomorrow’s issue. ASCAP'S FLU. TEST SUIT SET FOR TRIAL MARCH 3 Jacksonville — Ascap suit to test constitutionality of the recently enacted Florida anti-Ascap law will be heard March 3 in Federal District Court, New Orleans. Presiding will be Federal Judges Foster of the Circuit Court of Appeals, Strum of the Western District of Florida and Long of the Northern District of ( Continued on Page 7) Mass. High Court Bans Airing of Legal Advice Boston — Broadcasting of “legal advice” in Massachusetts has been ruled illegal by State Supreme Court. Decision, based on a discontinued case “reported” for consideration of its legal aspects by the high court, held that such broadcasting was “contrary f Continued on Page 7) Southern Sales Directors Draft Recommendations Memphis — Broadcast Sales Directors of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, meeting at the Peabody Hotel here last week, drafted recommendations for submission to the national committee of sales directors, scheduled to meet in Washington the day preceding the NAB convention. Those in attendance at (Continued on Page 7) Mutual January Billings Mutual gross billings for January totaled $234,352, compared with $214,038 the previous month and $212,966 a year ago. Town Meeting Epilog Santa Barbara, Cal. — K T M S, NBC outlet here, has built up a big following for its own "Town Meeting" which is aired directly following the network "America's Town Meeting of the Air." Local meet is held in public library, with both local and national questions discussed. Attendance now runs over 300, says Budd Heyde, KTMS manager. McKee Made Vice-Pres. In Erwin-Wasey, Chicago Chicago — Homer McKee, veteran agency man and president of company bearing his name, has joined Erwin-Wasey & Co. here as vicepresident. Robert McKee, secretarytreasurer of McKee agency, which is being absorbed, also joins E-W. Homer McKee was associated with Sears-Roebuck for years, and portion of that account will be handled (Continued on Page 7) Sponsoring Tigers Games On Nine Michigan Stations Official announcement was made in Detroit this week that the games of the Detroit Tigers this summer, except those in New York, will be broadcast over nine stations under the joint sponsorship of Kellogg Co. and White Star Refining Co. Ty Tyson of WWJ and Harry Heilmann of WXYZ and the Michigan network will be at the microphones. Besides the two Detroit stations the ( Continued on Page 7) Central States System Signs With Technicians Omaha — Don Searle, Central States Broadcasting System general manager, has signed an agreement with ABT negotiators giving the 23 technicians at KOIL, Omaha, and KFOR and KFAB, Lincoln, assurance of a 48-hour, six-day week with minimum wage standards. Wage scales agreed to by Searle are: technicians, starting at $130 to $216.66 for 5-year man; supervisors, starting at $216.66 to $238.33 for 3 ( Continued on Page 2) New Station in Toledo Being Dedicated Feb. 27 Toledo — Formal dedication program for WTOL, new local station, is set for Feb. 27 at 1-6 p.m., according to Lester Mitchell, program director. Mrs. Mary M. West is the latest to be added to program department, which also includes Allan Grigsby, Ralph Sisson and Elaine Beeson. FCC Member Says Public is Best Critic — Urges Radio Freedom The American system of broadcasting “has been proved beyond question to be the best for our country” and “the operation of all the broadcasting facilities by a government conflicts in many respects with the basic principles of democracy,” declared Commissioner T. A. M. Craven of the FCC in a talk Sunday night over CBS. Speaking to the general public, in an address based on the recent report of the FCC Engineering Department, Craven said he was certain that “the vast majority of thinking people will quickly recognize the perils to our political system of any ( Continued on Page 7) LUM AND ABNER SIGN WITH GENERAL FOODS General Foods (Postum), through Young & Rubicam Inc., about March 1 will sponsor “Lum and Abner” on a national network three times weekly. Sponsor will probably take the 6:45-7 p.m. period on CBS immediately following the new General Foods-Boake Carter series which starts Feb. 28 at 6:30-6:45 p.m. on 80 ( Continued on Page 7) "Valiant Lady" Joining CBS "Gold Medal Hour" Chicago— General Mills is moving “Valiant Lady”, serial tested on WGN, to its “Gold Medal Hour” on CBS starting March 7, replacing “Hollywood in Person”. New show ( Continued on Page 7) Underestimated Boise, Ida. — Having the "recession" in mind. Commercial Manager Walt Weaver of KIDO, in setting 1938 quotas at the turn of the year, put down what he considered a fair figure for January. The figure was a half-inch under normal. Actual results of the past month, however, totaled as much as the combined figures set for January and February.