Radio showmanship (Jan-Dec 1949)

show. His informality has been teimed "new, different, utterly original, bombastic, blunt, brazen and brisk." ACCEPTABLE RIBBING Newman gives straight-from-the-shoulder discourses about everything from his sponsors to the radio station president, and somehow he makes his ribbings acceptable with his easy manner and jovial nature. His show runs from the sublime to the ridiculous, and anything can be expected. And everyone loves Eddie . . . listeners and sponsors alike. Show backers take his ribbings gracefully, and come back for more. Newman's increasing cult o admirers jams the WPEN studios nightly. There are about 150 in the studio audience during the week, while 300 crowd in on weekends. The wee-hour disc-jockey has become so well known that the Steel Pier executives asked for "The Eddie Newman Show" as a major attraction, and now Newman is heard every Monday night, broadcasting direct from Steel Pier, "the showplace of the world" in Atlantic City; the program is aired by Eddie's home station, WPEN, and station WMID Atlantic City. BABY SITTING CONTEST Newman has many gimmicks up his sleeve such as the "Baby Sitting Contest" . . . Eddie "baby sat" for the winners and did his broadcast from the front lawn of these proud parents. Another of his gimmicks was a broadcast from South Mountain Manor Hotel in the Pocono mountains. There is no end to Eddie's expounded energy . . . it's as tremendous as his bulk (that's 250 pounds). Even though he is awake most of the night, he spends most of the day enteitaining. He goes to the Morris Pool in Swarthmore to visit tiny tots that are polio victims. Each time he goes he takes large quantities of candy and little gifts for the children. Through his listeners he finds out about disabled vets and trys to establish them in a business or find them odd jobs if they are able to work. As another part of his public service he is rallying listeners for the Blind Golfers' Fund. Starting with $500 the first week, Newman aims to create a 10 G chest for the blind golfers via his late evening show. This great response in his appeals to listeners is evidence of the fact that Eddie is steadily gathering listeners and holding them. SUCCESS WITH SPONSORS Of even greater evidence is the repeated success Eddie has in selling his sponsors' products such as razor blades, furniture, radio and television sets, restaurants, night-clubs, and clothing; Newman can and does sell anything from soup to nuts. In one hour he sold $1 1,500 worth of merchandise for a Philadelphia radio and television concern. That Philadelphians have taken to "The Eddie Newman Show" is proven by the fact that Eddie has received as high as 2,701 replies to a single announcement. This disc heavyweight has been gathering listeners like a party line ever since he crashed into quiet homes with his "high octane spirit" over six months ago. But the members of his listening audience aren't all devotees. They tune in either to curse or acclaim him, but what's most important . . . they tune in . . . "There's no neutrality over Newman," and he's a tonic for the late-hour listener and the sponsor. Camera Fans Hold Radio "Meetings" Pittsburgh's WWSW has launched a new show for camera fans. Called the "People's Camera Club of the Air," radio "meetings" will be held every Friday evening from 7 to 7:15 P.M. A group of experts from all phases of the photography field will meet to discuss the pros and cons of the pucture taking and making methods and answer queries submitted by club members. OCTOBER, 1 949 17