Radio showmanship (Jan-Dec 1947)

structors throughout central Iowa, inviting the teachers to encourage pupils to audition for the program; air plugs and street car cards. In addition, outstanding contestants make guest appearances on KRNT personality and live talent programs. AIRFAX: Program director, Chuck Miller, emcees the show, interviews each contestant briefly, sets the pace for the half-hour talent show. Auditioning and rehearsing is handled by Daisy Mae Gaylord, staff organist, who also accompanies contestants when necessary. AH contestants audition at least a week in advance and rehearse a half-hour before program time. First Broadcast: 1941. Broadcast Schedule: Saturday, 11:00-11:30 a.m. Preceded By: Hymn Time. Followed By: Women's Club of the Air. Sponsor: Rath Packing Co., Waterloo, la. Station: KRNT, Des Moines, la. Power: 5,000 watts. Population: 167,048. COMMENT: For both sponsor and station, a program of this type represents excellent public relations in that it intimately identifies both with community life and the development of local talent. (For pic, see Show?nanscoops, p. 23.) Newspapers QUIZDOWNS In St. Louis, Mo., there are Qiiizdowns in the air, with attention focused on KMOX and the St. Louis Globe Democrat. Functioning with the blessings of the St. Louis Board of Education, the weekly half-hour Qiiizdown brings together public and private schools of the city in team competition for school and individual prizes. Counted among the list of participating grammar schools: over 100 schools. Basic idea, presently being employed in nine other major cities, includes the formation of grammar school teams from fourth, fifth and sixth grades. In St. Louis, participants go before Qiiizmaster Howard Dorsey each Saturday morning for the cutting of a transcription before a live studio audience, with the show broadcast the same day at 4:30 p.m. Questions related to classroom activity are submitted by the classmates of the participating teams. Teachers check the (}ucstions lor conformit) with cuiicnt classroom curricular, and (jucsiions may only be submitted by children of a comparable grade level wiih that of the performers. Students whose questions arc used on the broadcasts receive prizes. What co-promoters, KMOX and the C.lobe Democrat had to report: after a mere three weeks of promotional effort, teams were booked solid for the entire school year. Additional listener stimulant: informal (hfizdoxuns held throughout the area as the various schools prepare for their air turns. AIRFAX: First Broadcast: October 12, 1946. Broadcast Schedule: Saturday, 4:30-5:00 p.m. Station: KMOX, St. Louis, Mo. Power: 50,000 watts. Population: 1,557,479. COMMENT: A list of over 100 participating schools emphasizes the value of cooperative promotions. Restaurants 'ROUND THE TOWN As wounded veterans still in the service hospitals of the nation well know, the cost of freedom comes high, but in Lawrence, Mass., WLAW listeners aren't allowed to forget the man for whom the flags waved yesterday. In Arthur Flynn's meanderings 'Round the Town, he makes a weekly call upon a service hospital. A veteran still under treatment is selected each week and after a brief review of his war record, listeners are asked to participate in a postcard shower for him. Maloney's Restaurant, sponsor of the (l&^ series, makes the cards available to patrons without cost, also pays the postage. First veteran saluted on the series received 500 cards. AIRFAX: Between 50 and 100 individuals are mentioned by name by sports reporter and iightcaster Flynn in his weekly quarter-hour stint. Broadcast Schedule: Wednesday, 8:15-8:30 p.m. Sponsor: Maloney's Restaurant. Station: WLAW, Lawrence, Mass. COMMENT: New twist here to the common garden variety of gossip program makes it good public service, is most certainly a listener stimulant. JANUARY. 1947 • 33 •