Radio today (Jan-Dec 1938)

APR 19 1938 Staff— Darrell Bartee G. H. Mayorga N. McAllister M. H. Newton R. Neubauer B. V. Spinetta Vinton K. Ulrich Lee Robinson Sales Manager ©C1B 374634 Orestes H. Caldwell " Editor M. Clements Publisher Copyright 1938 Cald well-Clements, Inc. 480 Lexington Ave. New York, N. Y. Tel. PLaza 3-1340 Vol. IV, No. 4. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations NATIONAL MUSIC TUNE-UP * Opening event of the big National Music Week celebration, May 1-7, is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1. C. M. Tremaine, secretary of the Music Week committee, will interview RCA's David Sarnoff, committee chairman, on the Magic Key program on the NBC Blue network. Other network features will follow during the week, to mark the period as a nation-wide stimulation of local music talent. As the National Association of Music Merchants points out, "The Richest Child Is Poor Without Musical Training." INTRODUCING THE NARAR * The National Association of Radio and Appliance Retailers got under way March 21 when some fifty dealers from the eastern half of the nation met in New York City to line up all U.S. dealer groups under one banner. Members of the new organization are to be the various radio and appliance associations and leagues, with special provision made for individual dealers in areas where no such group exists. The purpose is to clean up the trade and to give the dealer a national voice. The officers elected were Bussell A. Atkinson, Brooklyn, N. T., president; Homer C. Davis, Philadelphia, vicepresident; W. H. Frederick, Wilmington, Del., recording secretary; Ralph Wegner, Fort Wayne, Ind., treasurer, and B. H. Poucher, Philadelphia, executive secretary. Mr. Poucher's offices are now in the Architects Building, 17th at Samson St. Regional vice-presidents and various committees will be named later. The next meeting is scheduled for July, in Chicago. The association went on record as favoring (l)stabilization of prices, (2) the sale of radio and appliances through established dealer outlets and the elimination of discount houses, cooperative buying groups, • corporation buying and utility purchasing. (3) control of production, (4) uniform trade-in allowances, (5) the labeling of merchandise for manufacturer identification, (6) the elimination of cruises, spiffs, prizes, etc., (7) the use of a police policy among its members, (8) the elimination of misleading ads, (9) the exchange of ideas and ideals, (10) cooperation with other similar associations, and (11) special support for manufacturers and distributors who cooperate with the association. FAVORED FLASHES * A big section of the American public flatly prefers to get its news from the radio, rather than from the newspapers, according to figures revealed in Fortune Magazine's Survey of Public Opinion. Of the persons C. E. Carpenter, Philco tube manager, presents $5,000 first prize in recent mystery contest. contacted, 23.5 per cent said that their main source of news was the radio, while 45.2 per cent said they depended upon newspapers, mostly. Radio's popularity in this field ia therefore an amazing thing, since it is only a youngster as compared with the newspaper, and radio's long suit is supposed to be entertainment, anyway. Among those who said that they preferred radio as a news source, the reasons were given as follows : Per cent Gets news more quickly 28.4 Less time to find what's going on 19.5 More interesting, entertaining 11.9 Just don't read newspapers 7.6 Radio fairer than newspapers 6.9 Radio more complete than papers *. 6.6 Newspapers more confusing 4.3 No mistakes on radio 3.3 Work and listen at same time 2.8 Easier 1.6 Cheaper 1.2 All other 5.3 Don't know 6 PARTS SHOW EXTRA * Progress in the planning of the Radio Parts Manufacturers National Trade Show, at the Stevens Hotel in Chicago, June 8-11, indicates that the event will this year have extra features, extra interest, extra scale. The Show management reports that attendance will break all records. With two months yet to go, more booths have already been contracted for than were occupied at the show held last June. Representatives of the trade from Canada and foreign countries will have their own headquarters on the exhibition floor. Another new wrinkle is the formation of a Personal Service Bureau, which will take advance registrations and will act as a sort of hospitality center during the show. Recently announced also is a new feature — a display built around the story of the radio station donated to the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island. Eighteen companies made donations, and will be represented in the display. 8 Radio Today