Radio today (Sept 1935-Dec 1936)

RADIO'S 90% YARDSTICK * Recent conclusion that 90 per cent of homes is a reasonable figure toward which to push radio saturation right now, strongly supported by studies of the current report on family radio ownership issued by the Joint Committee of the National Association of Broadcasters, American Association of Advertising Agencies, and Association of National Advertisers. Report indicates many large communities exceeding 90 per cent in radio ownership. A few important W. R. G. Baker of GE Radio, who spoke for RMA during the Washington re-allocation hearings. ones, mixed cities and states, are California, Connecticut, Washington, D'. C, Miami, Milwaukee,, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Boise, Wichita, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Tulsa, Portland (Ore.), and Wheeling (W. Va.). Many hundreds of additional communities are on or near the 90 per cent mark if the counts of the Joint Committee are used along with an average of 4.3 persons per home. TWO HANDSOME FIGURES * Flashy increase in radio turnover for August passed even the rankest predictions of the optimists. The 5 per cent Federal tax on radio and phonograph apparatus for the month netted the government 55.3 per cent more than for the same period last year. The sum for August 1936 was $495,792; last year it was $319,331. These figures are the latest and among the healthiest. Look at the fat increase also reported in tax collections on mechanical refrigerators : August, 1936, $1,063,873 ; same month last year, $629,921. RADIO DATES AHEAD Election Day, Presidential and State Elections, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Automobile Show — Grand Central Palace, New York City, Nov. 11-18. Tenth Anniversary, National Broadcasting Company, Nov. 15. Rochester Fall Meeting, LRE — Sagamore Hotel, Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 16-18. Auto Servicing Show — Navy Pier, Chicago, Dec. 9-13. National Conference on Educational Broadcasting — Washington, D. C, Dee. 10-12. I.R.S.M. Convention and National Radio Industry Trade Show, Hotel Sherman, Chicago, April 2-4. National Radio Trade Show — Chicago, May or June. NBC, HAPPY 10-YEAR OLD, NOVEMBER 15 * NBC continues to mark up a strong series of double-feature items to celebrate its Tenth Anniversary. Birthday period is splendidly spotted with international hook-ups, special concerts, feature dramatizations of chapters in the network's history, guest appearances of radio's top personalities, on-the-spot airings of special events. Credited with "a century of progress in a decade of broadcasting," NBC will be the subject of a roundthe-world salute on its actual birth date, Nov. 15. Meanwhile the daily program lists are continually surprised by whatever festive broadcasts the happy 10-year-old can think of. VERSATILE RECEIVERS * Moves in the direction of greater receiver adaptability, continue to mark new radio developments. The "AC-DC set" was brought out to work on either central-station supply. Then a plug-in auto-radio was developed to work on 6-volt car battery or 110-volt AC house current. (Recently these chassis have become particularly popular for trailers.) Other sets have been workable on 25 to 60 cycles, and 95 to 250 volts. Dr. C. F. Burgess of Burgess Battery fame, whose purchase of Thordarson Elec. Mfg. Co., has just been announced. Newest step in versatility is Zenith's new farm duplex set. With this the dealer can satisfy needs for either 2-volt or 6-volt radio, without carrying duplicate stocks. A neat little power-pack is added for 6-volt operation; without it the set is ready for 2-volt. Fred Williams, vice-president International Resistance Co. and treasurer RMA, a leading factor in shaping up the coming Chicago trade show. October, 1936 11