Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

Tuesday. October 25, 1949 RADIO DAILY Town Hall's Status Explained By Denny (Continued from Page 1) world tour with Town Hall, Denny disclosed that he will meet shortly with ABC officials for the purpose of working out a "paying" plan for incorporation in a new contract replacing the current deal which expires in the first week of January, 1950. Denny spiked trade rumors that Town Hall was considering a switch to another network with the assertion: "When you have 265 stations carrying your program at a prime evening time, you don't shift unless there is a good reason for it." He also emphasized that relations between Town Hall and ABC have been very good throughout the 14Y2 years the web has carried the program, adding that "the stations and ABC have been very loyal to Town Hall." Denny stressed the point that he was merely answering the specific questions of the reporters and was not discussing the deal through the press with ABC. The rumors of a switch were prompted some time ago when it learned that ABC was dissatisfied with the income it was deriving out of the co operatively sponsored "Town Meeting." Currently, the program is sponsored on 60 ABC stations, most of which are middlesized or small outlets. Statement By Denny "We know that ABC won't renew it (the contract) on the same terms," Denny said. "But we are not worried at all. There are other ways to finance it. The prestige we have gotten on our trip has helped us immeasurably." Under the present contract, Town Hall is guaranteed $3,000 per week from ABC to cover the package Presently, ABC has both the AM and TV rights. Last year, the web tele vised the show from Town Hall by merely sending in a few cameras. Denny is now considering building the program as a special simulcast with the possible addition of props for the video coverage. Also under consideration, along with the simul cast, is a shortening of the program from its present full-hour to one half hour. But, Denny pointed out, the amount of money saved by re ducing the length of the show would have to be spent to employ additional men to handle the television problems. "I am trying to find out everything I can about television before we reach a decision," Denny commented. "We may do some experimenting before we decide. We are going to talk with ABC about these things when we have gathered all the facts." In discussing the financial difficulties experienced under the current contract, Denny declared: "We will have to work out some plan by which we can get $3,000 per week. We have to have that amount of money to do what we want." He disclosed that the program lost $1,000 California Commentary. . . 1 • • • CBS will audition "Crime Correspondent" series originated by actor Paul Frees. Series stars Frees, who scripts the show together with Adrian Gendot. Gordon T. Hughes will produce and direct and music will be under the baton of Marlin Skyles. HollyWOOd ' " ' I'mmY Durante will train out of Hollywood Nov. 11, for New York where he will appear at the Copacabana for a period of six weeks starting Nov. 17. Durante will be joined by the members of his NBC radio cast — Don Ameche. Vera Vague, Candy Candido, Sara Berner. Five shows will originate from New York. . . . Jeff Clark, 25-year-old baritone, formerly heard on NBC's Henry Morgan show now featured with Eileen Wilson on NBC's "Your Hit Parade." Joe Parker who owned and wrote the former NBC hit show of 1941-42, "The Best of the Week," starring Benny Rubin, is packaging the show for TV with Rubin again at the helm. Marilyn Hare, former hit of "Meet the People," and currently at Larry Potters, will be the featured singer with the show, which has a format exploiting of the best song, best joke, and generally best of everything of the week. i* tc ix ft • • • Jimmy Wakely has recorded an album of six Christmas Hymns for Capitol, backed by Buddy Cole, the Mellow Men and with a narration by Ann Whitefield, with words by Cottonseed Clark. . . . Pat Patrick," Ercil Twing" of the Edgar Bergen show, is currently MC and sharing the stellar spotlight with comedian George Beatty at Charley Foy's Supper Club. Beatty recently completed 30 weeks on KHJ with "Plantation Jubilee." . . . The Jo Stafford concert tour, with Paul Weston's orchestra and the Starlighters, moves to Fort Wayne, Ind. after playing to packed houses at South Bend, Ind., Grand Rapids and Saginaw, Mich., and Toledo, Ohio. . . . Louella Parsons had a flock of guest stars on her radio show Sunday, including Ava Gardner, Esther Williams, Ben Gage, Diana Lynn, John Lindsay, George Montgomery, Dinah Shore, Betty Hutton, John Wayne, Joan Crawford, Vera Ellen, Rock Hudson, Hymie Fink, Nat Dillinger, Corinne Calvet, Ann Blyth, Roddy MacDowell and Sonja Henie. The interviews were recorded at the annual Society < f Hollywood Press Photographers Ball at Ciro's Sat. Oct. 15. . . . Lum and Abner time has been changed: instead of returning Saturday October 22, they will be on the CBS comedy lineup Wednesday evenings. First show is November 2 at 7:30 (PST). Station Men Attend BMI Clinic In N. Y. per month before it became a co-op. Presently, ABC is taking in "slightly less" than $1,500 per week from its affiliates for talent costs. It was understood that the web was collecting about $3,000 per week for talent costs when it was sponsored previously on three of its owned and operated outlets in addition to affiliates. At that time, the program netted in talent costs about the same amount which was guaranteed to Town Hall. Denny said that Town Hall's round-the-world tour incurred a deficit of about $11,000. The entire tour cost a little over $60,000. The public appeal made on several broadcasts before the tour began netted a little less than $50,000. The auditor's report on the trip will be presented to the public, as promised, on a future broadcast, Denny said. He doubted that another "dollars for democracy" appeal would be made to make up the deficit. Utah Copper Co. Buys Daily Farm Show On KSL Salt Lake City— The Utah Copper Division of the Kennecott Copper Corp. has signed a 52-week contract for sponsorship of "This Business of Farming" Monday through Friday on KSL. Elvon Orme, KSL agricultural supervisor, will interview farm and stock raising experts, and Joseph Kjar, KSL announcer, will handle farm news and market reports. The contract was placed through the Axelson agency. (Continued from Page 1) stant reference to recordings to fit every conceivable situation. Speakers at today's sessions, to be held in the WMGM studios at 711 Fifth Ave., will include: James L. Howe, president and general manager, WCTC, New Brunswick, N. J., "Fundamental Principles for Successful Management of the Independent Station"; Ted Cott, vicepresident, WNEW, New York, "Building Station Personality Through Programming"; Arnold B. Hartley, vice-president, WOV, New York, "How To Program Foreign Music," and Israel Diamond, BMI's director of logging, "Operation Log." Lebhar To Speak Afternoon speakers: Bertram Lebhar Jr., director, WMGM, "How Aggressive Can You Afford To Be in Programming?"; Norman Livingstone, manager of commercial programs, WOR and WOR-TV, and Arthur Rothafel, assistant to director of TV programs, CBS, "A Double Look At Television." A list of those attending the clinic follows: Lawrence A. Coney, Prog. Dir.. Harry J. Frank. WHAI, Greenfield, Mass.: Milt Mitler. Dir. of Prog., WTTT, Coral Gables, Fla.: Charles Barclay. Progr. Dir.. WGYN. New York City; Charles J. Hines, Prog. Dir.. John Wiegand. Announcer, WGCH, Greenwich, Conn.; James A. Wimmer, Mus. Lib., WOAK, Chicago. 111.; George Birdas, WLNA, Peekskill, N. Y.; Edward H. Brigham. Prog. Dir., John Rahe, Mus. Lib., WCMD, Cambridge, Md. ; Lawrence Webb, Ass't to Pre6., WJW, Cleveland, Ohio: Janet Lee, Mus. Lib., WTTM. Trenton, N. J.; Gene Pierce, Rec. Lib., WMBD, Peoria 2. HI.; Wally Buman, Prog. Dir., Mrs. Wally Buman, WKOP, Binghamton, N. Y.; Joe Webster, Prog. Dir., WVPO, Stroudsburg, Pa.: George F. Shepard, Prog. Dir., WALL, Middletown, N. Y.; John H. Stenger, 3rd, Prog. Dir., WBAX, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Allan Marvin, WVBC, East Paterson, N. J.; Marilyn L. Neff, Prog. Dir., L. S. Gross, Mrs. Jean Brown, Radio Broadcasting Co., Philadelphia. Pa.; Clyde A. Bennett. School of Radio Tech., New York City; Mrs. Elmer E. Heinze, WCKY, Cincinnati, Ohio; Milton Slater, Prog. Dir.. WCAX, Burlington. Vt.: Bob Nelson, Prog. Dept., WHTC, Holland. Mich.: Jess Jordan, Prog. Dir.. WTBF. Troy, Alabama; Bob Crager, Prog. Dir., Mrs. Bob Crager, WWCO. Waterbury. Conn.; David Russell, Script Dept.. Jack Shaefer, Lib., WGHF, New York City; T. E. Kruglak, Jack White, Martin Beck. Katz Agency, New York City; Forest W. Cooke. Prog. Dir., Donn V. Richey. Lib.. WHBF, Rock Island, 111.; Ralph D. Foster, Pres., Leslie L. Kennon, Asst. to Pres., KWTO. Springfield, Mo.: Steve Cisler, WKYW, Louisville, Kentucky. 'Bird Warblers' Renewed Chicago — The American Bird Products, Inc., renewed its spon sorship of the "American Bird Warblers" program for another 26 week period over Mutual, Sundays, 1:30-1:45 p.m., EST. Sam Insull, Jr. Resigns StewartWarner Post Chicago — The resignation of Samuel Insull Jr., as vice-president of the Stewart-Warner Corp., effective Nov. 1, has been accepted "with regret" by James S. Knowlson, Stewart-Warner board chairman and president. Insull will return to the insurance field. •He joined Stewart-Warner as assistant to the president in January, 1947, and was elected a vice-president the following December, heading Stewart-Warner Electric, the firm's radio and television division.