Radio today (Sept 1935-Dec 1936)

St. Louis ordinance would exclude auto radios * No radio set may be operated in any automobile in the city of St. Louis, if an ordinance introduced before the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Nov. 8, is enacted. The proposed ordinance has the support of Major Lambert of the Police Commission. Local radio and automotive interests are vigorously opposing the measure and have called for a public hearing, pointing out that tests have shown auto radio to be a positive safety factor in keeping drivers alert and awake. No city or state has yet passed any measure banning autoradio. Can they drive and listen? * Question of whether drivers may safely listen to broadcasted torch songs while they do 50 miles per on an improved highway, has for some time worried lawmakers, as well as dealers in auto radio sets. The National Safety Council, headed by the able W. H. Cameron, has had long discussions but has not made a survey. The question is very serious to operators of big strings of commercial motor vehicles, who would like to check up on whether radio voices will sing their drivers to sleep, or keep them awake. The argument has also added gray hairs to the heads of radio salesmen who daily approach ordinary car owners on the subject. Eesearch men of General Motors, Virgil Graham, indefatigable leader of RMA standardization, has joined the Hygrade-Sylvania staff at Emporium, Pa. operating out of Detroit, recently worked up the final answer to the question of whether radio programs are a genuine distraction, in a dangerous way, to car drivers. The data gathered from 2 million questionaires definitely revealed the program-listeners as driving slowly and safely. The survey became a powerful argument for the use of radio sets in cars. The GM investigators found young drivers mostly wanting radio sets in their cars, more so than adult drivers — and the young set reported that radio music positively did not inspire high speeds. Nothing in their replies indicated that they could not drive and listen at the same time, safely and successfully. "Jail House Follies" * Broadcast each Monday by WJAY from the Cuyahoga County Jail in Cleveland, the "Jail House Follies" while becoming one of the station's most popular programs, is having its ups and downs. Talent on the show is furnished from the ranks of the prisoners and each week approximately 400 inmates gather in the jail chapel to watch the show. Recently one of the judges sat in during a performance and one of the prisoners sang "Just One More Chance". The following week two of the regular entertainers were given a break when they appeared in court ; another was not so lucky. He drew a three-year term. The unlucky man, by the way, is the one who drew tears to the eyes of General Pershing at the dedication of the unknown soldiers' graves at London and Paris when as representative of the TJ. S. Army he blew taps. This man, an exceptional musician, was formerly assistant director of the U. S. Military Academy band at West Point and trumpet soloist with Vincent Lopez. 9-meter broadcasts for N. Y. * An ultra high frequency transmitter to operate on 9yi meters and carry the regular WABC program, is being erected on the roof of the Columbia Broadcasting building, 485 Madison Avenue, New York City. This 50-watt unit will be used for experimental purposes, to investigate the geographic range of these very short waves for carrying highfidelity programs. The region around %Yi meters is clear of noise and in Ben Abrams, president Emerson Radio, and chairman membership committee RMA, celebrates 20 years in radio this month. terferenee, except for automobile ignition, and is viewed as a possible broadcasting development. Already similar ultra-high-frequency broadcasts are being carried on at Buffalo and Rochester, and recently newspapers unable to get broadcast stations in the regular broadcast band, have turned longing eyes on the 7-9meter field. E. K. Cohan, CBS technical director, expects his new roof-top station to cover well beyond the visible horizon, reaching a metropolitan concentration of population numbering many millions. September and last month's Radio Today listed six manufacturers producing sets reaching down to 31,600 kc. (9J4 meters) and beyond: Espey 5181; Garod 512, 514, 520; General Electric A-25 ; Patterson PR16 ; RCAVictor C13-2, C15-3, D22-1, and Zenith "Stratosphere." 122 broadcast stations owned by newspapers * Queer angle to pressradio "war" is large number of broadcasting stations (some among the. most powerful) owned by newspaper interests. Broadcasting estimates that 122 radio stations in the United States are newspaper-controlled. That is about 20% of the total of 600; 27 other newspapers are seeking licenses. Radio Today