Radio showmanship (Jan-Dec 1943)

SHOWMANSHIP IN ACTION Promotions and merchandising stunts that will lift a program out of the ordinary. Hnme Furnishings FUNNY MONEY MAN Because steel production must be maintained, patriotic citizens anxious to speed the war to victory are reminded that Ju?ik Ain't Junk Xo More. From the American Industries Salvage Committee comes the reminder that every pound of scrap helps make two pounds of fighting equipment. Man. woman and child are being asked to get in the scrap. AMiile in run-of-the-mill broadcasts. Funny Mo?iey Man gives away real money for w'orthless items, his theme song for one entire week was that Junk Ain't Junk Xo More. His purchases throughoiu the week were pieces of scrap metal, with the American Industries Salvage Committee donating prize money. Grand finale: a. special salvage purchase of a huge piece of scrap metal. Into the melting pot went old boilers, fire escapes and automobile fenders. air FAX: Series heard over WWNY is sponsored by the Morrison Furniture store on a three-a-week sked. Listeners send in Funny Money club memberships to become eligible for cash-on-the-line awards for worthless items. Membership total 30 days after show was first aired: 860! First Broadcast: February 23, 1942. Broadcast Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:15-8:45 A.M. Preceded By: News of the World. Followed By: Sun Dial, Sponsor: Morrison Furniture Store. Station: WWNY, Watertown, N. Y. Power: 1,000 watts. Population: 32,205. Producer: Allen A. Funt. all-out gestures as the one here. Business has already won its spurs in its efforts to aid the war effort, and this fact will be remembered by a grateful public in the post-war period. (For pic, see Showmanscoops, p. 51). Beverages GRAB BAG Ea erybody who reads pirate stories, or dreams of treasure-trove has heard of Spanish pieces-of-eight, the Spanish dollar from which the American dollar got its name. Called a piece-ofcight because it was worth eight hits or reales, the hit, was about equal in value to the English sixpence and interchangeable with it. Our phrases "two bits" (for a quarter), "four bits" (for a half dollar), etc., come from it. A real treasure chest for WOL listeners who rake in the pieces-of-eight is the Grah Bag, aired for the Globe Distributing Co., advertisers of Arrow Beer, Washington, D. C. Quizees selected from a studio audience answer listener-sent brain teasers, receive 40 pieces-of-eight for each correct answer. If a question is missed, the Jack Pot claims the five bucks. Xew twist: Jack Pot treasure-trove goes to listeners who become eligible for the prize money by sending name and address on the back of a penny post card to the Grah Bag program. To the nest-egg built up through unanswered questions. Arrow Beer adds 25 smackers. At show's end, the total is given to the person whose penny post card is drawn from the Grah Bag. Mail pull: 500 cards a week for the weekly show! air FAX: Participating members of the audience reach into the old fashioned grab bag in Bill Herson's quiz show. First Broadcast: August 19, 1941. Broadcast Schedule: Tuesday, 8:30-9:00 P.M. Preceded By: What's My Name? Followed By: Gabriel Heatter. Sponsor: Globe Distributing Co. Station: WOL, Washington, D. C. Power: 1,000 watts. Population: 521,886. Agency: Katz Agency, Baltimore, My. COMMENT: 1 hat this may in time come COMMENT; While most quiz shows are to be known as The War That Busi streamlined to give studio audiences ness Helped Win is indicated by such maximum rewards, prize money for 62 RADIO SHOWMANSHIP