Radio showmanship (Jan-Dec 1949)

Father's Day Fun To help small fry pay proper honor to the head of the house on Father's Day this year, WGN Chicago began a series of telephone calls on each day's broadcast of its "Let's Have Fun" program. Rewards went to tots with the best answer to quiz man Hank Grant's query, "What do you like best about your dad?" Any child between ages of four and thirteen was eligible to be called. Grant repeated over the air the answers to the question made to him over the telephone and all answers were recorded. A panel of three judges selected the winning reply from those recorded during the entire Father's Day contest. A big jackpot of merchandise went to the winner. In addition, each child telephoned received a gift for Dad. Awards Given in Spelling Bee Spelling bees are stepping out of the classroom and into the radio studio in California. And the move has been a profitable one for those who know how to juggle the alphabet. A $600 scholarship and a gold wrist watch were awarded recently to the winner in the second annual Central Valleys Spelling Bee. The award was made by McClatchy stations and newspapers in California. Stations KFBK Sacramento, KMJ Fresno, KBEE Modesto, KWG Stockton and KERN Bakersfield took part in the event. Store Promotion Launched To promote its newest store at Burlingame, Lucky Stores, Oakland, California (supermarkets) are launching an extensive spot campaign over KSMO and KVSM San Mateo, California. Agency is Botsford, Constantine & Gardner. WOMAN'S SHOW (Continued from page 2) other personal information requested. This kind of feminine interchange is particularly dear to the hearts of her listeners and it is the constant playing on that female quality which keeps her list of fans multiplying. As a testimonial to Jeanne's success with "The Woman's Voice," she was selected by the Los Angeles Advertising Women as the outstanding woman in advertising fields for 1947. Along with that selection she was presented with the cherished Frances Holmes award. In the publication field, she received Honorable Mention from Billboard Magazine for a leading woman's program among all 50,000 watt stations in the nation. Radio Best magazine tabbed her the outstanding femme commentator in the Southern California area. One of Jeanne Gray's initial awards was her selection by the National Retail Dry Goods Association in conjunction with the National Association of Broadcasters, as having the leading woman's program— sponsored by a department store — in the United States. Other memorable stops in her career include the commendation received from the Department of Agriculture for her "Budget for Four" and her appointment by the Women's Division of the Lcs Angeles Chamber of Commerce as radio chairman. To the merchandising of "The Woman's Voice," Jeanne Gray, as well as KMPC, has devoted much effort. Jeanne feels her listeners are her first responsibility and quickly acknowledges all mail from them. She set up the "Woman of the Year" award. Listeners were requested to select the woman they believed was outstanding in the nation during that year. It was then asked that contestants whose names were submitted be voted upon. In 1947, the winner was Frances Langford for her work in veterans' hospitals while in 1948 Irene Dunne was chosen for her many civic and charitable activities. Jeanne has also established a year-round practice of selecting women who have risen above the usual standards of achievement and presents them with a "Woman's Voice" certificate of appreciation. JULY, 1949 23