Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

RADIO DAILY= Five Stations Tell FCC Their Petition Yr. Old COAST-TO-COflST (Continued from Page 1) petition for immediate consideration, pointed out that there has been no action at all on either of his two filings. The stations include WNYC, New York; WOI, Ames, la.; WKAR, East Lansing, Mich.; WNAD, Norman, Okla.; and WHCU, Ithaca, N. Y. Cohn wrote that: "The inactivity of the Commission in connection with this matter has had the effect of denying to the public an opportunity of hearing programs in the public interest. Equally important, this very inactivity has effectively denied the petitioners their rights under Section 4 (d) of the Administrative Procedure Act and Section 1.702 of the Commission's rules which specifically provide that petitions may be filed to institute rule making proceedings. I am aware of the great volume of work before the Commission. Nevertheless, I think it is unfair to the petitioners effectively to deny their petition by inactivity. If the Commission desires to deny the prayers of the petition, it should act upon the petition and deny them rather than to continue to ignore them." More Co-operation Urged By Missouri Newsmen Jefferson CUy, Mo. — The Missouri Association of Associated Press Broadcasters, meeting here, emphasized radio's role in the exchange of news and directed that the Association's Continuing Study Comnvttee exolore the matter further. The greatest challenge, according to the meeting, lies in developing a cooperative spirit on the news front. The news broadcasters agreed, by a majority hand vote, to accept collect calls from other members when the members wished to relay news of primary importance to the accepting station. Bruce Barrington, news director of KXOX, was elected president of the group and Jim Monroe, KCMO. vice president. Merrill Chilcote, managing editor of the St. Joseph News-Press was guest speaker. He discussed the prejudice, among newspapers, against sharing a story with another member in the same territory. Emerson Dividend Emerson Radio stockholders will receive a 10 per cent stock dividend on December 23, 1949, the company has announced. The board of directors in voting the dividend said that rapid expansion of television dictated the necessity of conserving funds to meet any requirements that might arise. The Emerson Radio and Phonograph Corporation paid cash dividends of $1.30 per share in the fiscal year ending October 31, 1949. WTTM Editor Interviews Guest Trenton, N. J. — Commemorating the 204th broadcast of the Rutgers University Forum, aired over WTTM each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Arnold Snyder, station news editor, will act as one of three interviewers on the Saturday, November 29th broadcast featuring as guest speaker Dr. Charles R. Erdman, Jr., commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Economic Development. Disc Jockey Defeated Washington, D. C. — Jerry Strong, WTNX morning man and disc jockey, has been spinning the records his listeners want to hear for the past ten years. However, Strong was forced to admit defeat recently, when he received the following from a request listener. "Please play Margaret Truman's recording of 'Mule Train.' Any morning between 7 and 8 will be fine. WDAR Covers B-29 Search Savannah, Ga. — WDAR sent its Program Director, Milton Bellah, and Chief Engineer, Howard Jewett, out to cover the search for the survivors of the B-29 which crashed while flying to Bermuda. These two men were airborne for seventeen hours, and while the plane they were on did not locate the survivors, they came back with an interesting story for a fifteen-minute broadcast. Urges More Simplicity In Planning Advertising Roanoke, Virginia — The need for simple and straightforward advertising was emphasized by Leonard W. Trester, chairman of the Advertising Committee of the United States Chamber of Commerce, in an address before the Roanoke Advertising Club last week. Trester said there is a challenge to those engaged in advertising to answer critics "not only by creating a better public understanding of the purpose and function of advertising, but also by cleaning the stables where necessary." He continued "The Federal Trade Commission has been looking with a jaundiced eye on distribution methods which in particular lines are inseparable from nationally advertised brands." The Chamber of Commerce representative told the club that "Consumer publications, generally critical of our distribution system and of its keystone-advertising have tripled in circulation since the war. Also, according to the Psychological Corporaiton, the number of people who believe advertising increases the cost of goods is at an all-time high." Trester, who is also Director of Public Policy for the General Outdoor Advertising Co., Inc., said public opinion was made locally. He urged clubs to reach people through local action. U. S. Rep. Speaks On WDRC. Hartford, Conn. — United States Repasentative A. A. Ribcoff, who has just returned from a six-week's tour of Europe, describes his reactions and his opinions on foreign policy in a broadcast over WDRC, Monday, Nov. 28, at 6:30 p.m. The broadcast was arranged by the Foreign Policy Association. Lux Contest Res»lts Dayton, O.— The WHIO-Lux Radio Theater "Prettiest 15-Year-Old Girl Contest" came to a climax in the WHIO listening area November 21, with the announcement of Betty Jean Tompkins as local winner during Bob Campbell's "Teen Time" program on WHIOTV. Ho't Resigns WHAY Post New Britain, Conn. — Hillis W. Holt has resigned as general manager of radio station WHAY to become chairman of the board of directors and chief engineer. This announcement is made by the stockholders of the Central Connecticut Broadcasting Company. WCSI Airs 1C Contest Columbus, Ind. — Radio Station WCSI-FM again this year has completed arrangements to broadcast the Big Four Christmas basketball tournament, The Indiana Classic, to be held in Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis. This is the second year that WCSI has broadcast the event. Five New Programs Being Packaged By CBS CBS has packaged five new shows which have been auditioned and may become part of the web's schedule within the next few months. All were created by the network's program department under veepee Hubbell Robinson. "The Show Goes On," full-hour variety series starring Robert Q. Lewis will be auditioned as a simulcast on Dec. 1. If it clicks, CBS may spot it in the 10 P.M. period on Tuesdays. "Up For Parole," a halfhour dramatic series based on case histories of decisions granted by state parole boards, has been developed and now waits programming action. A five-a-week daytime serial "Halfway To Heaven" also awaits action as do two 5-minute quiz shows, "Spell A Tune" and "How Do You Rate." Round Table Discussion Set Cambridge, Mass. — "Are Christianity and Capitalism Compatible" will be the topic of a special ABC forum from Cambridge High and Latin School on December 3. Author Clare Booth Luce and Dr. Reinhold Neibuhr of Union Theological Seminary will speak. A students' round table will follow the discussions on the full-hour broadcast. Monday, November 28, 1949 Hyde Reports To FCC On NARBA Problems (Continued from Page 1) tatives, and that he cannot tell yet how it will come out. The NAB resolution of last month, by NAB's Fourth District, did not help matters at all, he said. The NAB group had called for economic sanctions against the Cubans, and for permission to American stations now bound to protect Cuban broadcasters up to their power and effectively spoil the Cuban signal because of charges that Cuban stations have for several months been interfering with American stations in contravention of the expired agreement. Statement by Hyde "I have no desire to spat with NAB" Hyde said, "but it is unfortunately true that the resolution did make it more difficult for us to negotiate with the Cubans." He said that although Mexico is not formally participating, there is a Mexican observer on hand and that he is hopeful there will be no great difficulty with Mexico once a new aggreement is achieved. Big Brother Grouo Seeks Aid Of Radio Philadelphia— The Big Brothers of America, a leading volunteer aeency in the fight aeainst juvenile delinquency, has enlisted the aid of sponsors and stars of network radio shows to oromote the observance of Big Brother Week throughout the U. S. and Canada Jan. 15-21. Members of the Public Relations Advisory Committee for Big Brother Week include Donald W. Thornburgh, president of WCAU; H. A. Batten, president, N. W. Ayer and Son, and Norman W. Geare, of Geare-Marston, Inc. The Advertising Council is also cooperating in the observance. NAB Sends FM Members Revised Ownership Study Washington Bureau of RADIO DAILY Washington — NAB announced Friday that it is sending FM members a revision of its 1948 study "Procedures for Determining FM Set Ownership by Communities." The study is by Dr. Kenneth H. Baker, research director, and outlines inexpensive methods to estimate set ownership for those stations which need special circulation figures. It was suggested that now or early next year is an excellent time for such studies. Patton Joins ABC, Chi. Chicago — Appointment of Phillip G. Patton as executive producer for ABC here was announced last week by Fred Killian, Central Division program director, Patton will be in charge of directors and program assistants and will maintain general supervision over continuity and film departments.