Radio showmanship (Jan-Dec 1942)

AIR FAX: First Broadcast: August 13, 1941. Broadcast Schedule: Wednesday, 8:30-8:55 P.M. Preceded By: Big Town. Followed By: Elmer Davis. Sponsor: First National Exchange Bank. Station: WDBJ, Roanoke, Va. Power: 5,000 watts. Population: 84,041. COMMENT: Competition is one of the essentials of showmanship. First National Exchange is utilizing this psychological factor to create good will in an interesting and effective way. SAMPLE script AVAILABLE Newspapers GOOD NEIGHBOR CONTEST Characteristic of neighborliness is a tendency to drop in for a social call, discuss the latest news and gossip over a cup of tea. AVith Uncle Sam playing the role of good neighbor to his friends across the Rio Grande, more and more of his representatives are interested in putting out the hand of friendship. Doing its part in cementing the bonds of neighborliness is the Washington Times-Herald, whose Good Neighbor Contest was featured by Leon Pearson, \\'OL's news commentator. Newsman Pearson made two simple statements relating to countries below the Rio Grande. Additional pairs of statements were made on each of the next three successive broadcasts. Problem for listeners: were the statements true or false? Additional* brain tickler: 50 words on What the Good Neighbor Program Means to Me. To the winner it meant two tickets for a 12-day luxury cruise aboard a Grace Liner to the Caribbean, touching at the Netherlands West Indies, Venzuela, and Columbia. Other prizes: cash awards and LatinAmerican handiwork. air FAX: News commentator Pearson is heard every Friday night, is also columnist for the Times-Herald. First Broadcast: November 18, 1941. Broadcast Schedule: Friday, 8:15-8:30 P.M. Preceded By: Bayuk Cigar's Cal T^nney. Followed By: Mutual Sustaining. Sponsor: Washington Times-Herald. Station: WOL, Washington, D. C. Power: 1,000 watts. Population: 521,886. COMMENT: As a business stimulant, a modified quiz program of this kind has 98 splendid possibilities. That all listeners have an equal chance at winning prize money is an important point in its favor. Naturally, the value of the prize plays an important part in the success of the quiz. Newspapers LET'S SPEAK SPANISH Newspapers, magazines and books wTitten in the Spanish language are more plentiful in public libraries than ever before. Radio programs which originate in the South American countries are available even on cheap receiving sets. International conditions emphasize the need for better trade relations and greater friendship between the United States and LatinAmerica. For these reasons, night classes in Spanish are among the most popular branches of adult education in all major cities in the United States. Bringing such instruction into the living rooms of \VNOX listeners is the Knoxville, Tenn., News-Sentixel and the University of Tennessee. Accenting the importance of knowing our "good neighbor" language, the course is heard twice weekly. Air lessons are based on printed texts published each Sunday in the News-Sentinel, ^VNOX Scripps-Howard newspaper affiliate. AIR FAX: Broadcast under the auspices of the NewsSentinel and the University of Tennessee, the course was instigated by WNOX under educational director Kenneth E. Huddleston. James O. Swain, head of the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Tennessee gives the instruction. First Broadcast: October 6, 1941. Broadcast Schedule: Monday and Thursday, 7:157:30 P.M. Preceded By: Monday, South American Way (Music); Thursday, Musical Roundup. Followed By: Monday, Gay Nineties Revue; Thursday. Patriotic Parade. Sponsor: News-Sentinel. Station: WNOX, Knoxville, Tenn. Power: 5,000 watts. Population: 10,000. COMMENT: Never before has radio or its sponsors had a greater opportunity to serve than it has today through the medium of public service features. Since Spanish is now the most popular of all foreign languages, a course of this kind is sure to develop a radio following. RADIO SHOWMANSHIP