Radio showmanship (Sept 1940-May 1941)

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Fifth Column Activities in Australia Are Built Into a Series of Dramatic Transcribed Programs There's drama in the headlines! The movies found that out long ago, and such stirring photoplays as Escape and The Mortal Storm are merely celluloid reproductions of the great conflict across the sea. And now radio follows suit. There are headlines in The Enemy Within, a dramatic new series of transcribed radio programs. The series deals with Fifth Column activities, points out how undercover espionage actually worked in Australia, shows how the Anzac Secret Service smashed the spy ring in that country. If that isn't news, then news has lost its importance, and headlines don't mean anything. The Enemy Within was first produced in Australia, with an allEnglish cast. The Australian Secret Service, a branch of the regular Army, cooperated in its preparation and supplied most of the details and facts around which the series was built. Then the Board of Radio Censors passed on the story before it was permitted to be released, for they wanted no facts on which the Secret Service was working to be released until it was practical to do to. The program «vai sold immediately for sponsorship to the Douglas Drug Company and broadcast over 17 Australian stations, (on f i ;k f WSJ for ^2 times, but after t) or eight broadcasts, it was extended to 90 programs, subsequently increased to i 208-time dtlle, and present indications point to its being continued indeti nitely because of public demand. Arrangements were made for United States and Canadian distribution through Kasper-Gordon, Inc., syndicated transcription company. Publicity was released to all radio stations and important radio advertising agencies. But, at first, the series didn't sell. After hearing audition samples, prospective sponsors agreed the show was superbly done, and everything in it was worthwhile, but they were afraid some people might take offense at exposes of sabotage and espionage. Jack Barton, president of Barton Dry Cleaners, had no such fears. Located in the heart of a section containing about 70% foreign born inhabitants (Youngstown, Ohio), he signed for the series as a test, promptly renewed after the series got under way over station WKBN. A canvass of 1,000 people proved that from 35% to 50% knew the show and listened to it. and could name the sponsor. Barton, who keys his advertising to up-to-the-minute events, backed the program with a three column-full advertisement in the Youngstown newspapers, showing pictures of himself and executives of WKBN signing the first commercial contract in the United States on The Enemy Within. He invited people to listen to this dramatic expose of I'itth Column activities, then tied up with Barton Cleaners, The Ennui Within, and went on with the si of his company and services. Other ada followed, and Barton's dry 18 RADIO SHOWMANSHIP