Radio today (Jan-Mar 1939)

IT'S A RECORD YEAR CBS entry into disc field announced; Sale of 45 million platters forecast CBS BUYS RECORD FIRM, PLANS BIG EXPANSION There's a swing to records, bigger each year. Radio dealers are adding it to their line as radio-phonograph combinations and player attachments, growing in popularity, provide a better market for sale of discs. In 1939, there will be 45,000,000 records sold, say those in the know. Anxious for some of that business, Columbia Broadcasting System in December purchased the American Record Corp., producers of Columbia, Vocalion and Brunswick labels. First step in Columbia's annexation was to appoint Edward Wallerstein, pioneer record man and RCAVictor's sales manager for Bluebird and Victor discs, as president of the new CBS affiliate. Other officers, these on a temporary basis, are: Frank K. White, treasurer; C. C. Boydston, assistant treasurer; Ralph F. Colin, secretary. Said CBS President William Paley : "The popularity of home records has grown tremendously during the last few years and there is every indication that future increases are assured. Our primary purpose will be to find new patterns for both serious and popular music. . . . We plan to accelerate sales by both vigorous business management and by innovations in production and marketing. Spe cial interest will be paid to the field of education." LOW COST RECORD SET-UP Radio men are turning to record departments more and more as the sale of radio-combination sets goes speedily ahead. Others hesitate because they think it means too much capital. Holds 135 records on the counter. To offset this fear, along comes A. Bitter Construction Co., 27-01 Bridge Plaza North, Long Island City, K Y., with news of low-priced installations. The Bitter firm is offering a metal disc display unit for $4.50 and another one that may be hung on the wall or put on the counter, for $6.75. Then there is an upright wooden rack, holding 1,000 records, available at $40 (the metal racks hold more than 100 discs). Sound-proof demonstrating rooms may be had from the same outfit at $200. These and the racks are in unit system, so a radio man may start modestly and add to the department as business gets better. As smart as these folks' evening clothes is the new G-E wireless record player which sends music through the nearby radio without wiring fuss. RCA SEES DISC SALES AT NEW HIGH FOR 1939 RCA Victor's year-end record business was so good that it required three shifts, six days a week to keep up with the demand, reports President G. K. Throckmorton. With Frank Walker as recently-appointed manager of Bluebird and Victor disc sales, 1939 should be even better, says RCA Mfg. prexy. High artistic standards and the expenditure of approximately $1,500,000 in advertising and promoting records and RCA Victrolas helped create the demand, Throckmorton believes. He sees full speed ahead in the next twelve months. Commenting further on Walker's appointment, Throckmorton says: "In his added responsibilities, Mr. Walker will be assisted by the group of specialists and their staffs who have been largely responsible for the development of the company's record and Victrola business : W. T. Walker, manager of record manufacturing (no relation to Frank Walker) ; Max Batsel, in charge of recording research activities which in addition to records includes sound motion picture films ; Fred Wilson, director of field sales activities; Vance Woodcox, vice president in charge of package good sales; Eli Oberstein, in charge of popular recordings; Charles O'Connell, director of Red Seal recordings; Tom Joyce, advertising and sales promotion manager; Julius Haber, publicity director. "This group of men, and others, together with the more than fifty RCA Victor wholesalers and thousands of loyal RCA Victor dealers, under Frank Walker's leadership will assure the continued progress and leadership of RCA Victor in the recording field." WAX WORTH WATCHING RUDY VALLEE and his Connecticut Yankees playing Surprises, No. 1 with VR by Red Stanley, No. 2 with VR by Cyril Smith— Bluebird B10069. GENE KRUPA and his orchestra playing Jeepers Creepers with VC by Leo Watson and Say It With a Kiss, with VC by Irene Daye, both from "Going Places" — Brunswick 8280. EDDIE DELANGE and his orchestra playing What This Country Needs Is Foo, with VR by Elisse Cooper, and I Ups to Her and She Ups to Me with VR by Eddie DeLange— Bluebird B10074. SAMMY KAYE playing The Umbrella Man with VR by the Three Barons and chorus, and You're Gonna See a Lot of Me with VR by Charles Wilson— Victor 26117. GUY L0MBARD0 and his Royal Canadians playing The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish from "Garden of the Moon" and I Must See Annie Tonight, both with vocal trio — Decca 2195. MARY MARTIN with Eddy Duchin and his orchestra, singing My Heart Belongs to Daddy and Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love— Brunswick 8282. 20 Radio Today