Swing (Jan-Dec 1948)

THE GREAT TENNIS NET ENTHUSIASTIC tennis fans, who follow the thrilHng annual broadcasts of the National Tennis Matches, have an extra treat in store this year. Because of the tremendous success of this air series, the sponsor, A. G. Spalding and Brothers, has purchased broadcast rights for the 1948 Davis Cup playoffs. Both tourna' ments will be played in September at Forest Hills, Long Island. The story behind these broadcasts is unusual, inasmuch as they are not carried by any one of the regular networks. Instead, they are aired over a number of key American stations tied together by special arrange ment for the duration of the tournament only. This "custom-built network'' is the work of the Stanley G. Boynton Radio Advertising Agency, and represents a distinct accomplishment in the field of radio. Boynton's first experience in constructing such a ticup was a baptism by fire. It came 18 years ago, when Congress was considering an agriculture bill which farm leaders felt would be detrimental to their best interests. The Boynton Agency was asked to arrange an emergency nation-wide broadcast which would point out the undesirable features of the proposed legislation. Within 24 hours, they had succeeded in connecting 32 stations from coast to coast with special Grade A telephone lines for a one-hour period. Before 11 a. m. of the following day, more than 2 50,000 telegrams poured into Washington, protesting passage of the bill . . . electrifying response, indeed! This was the fir5t instance in radio history where a "one-shot" network was built, in an effort to reach a major portion of the American radio audience when the regular networks would not furnish time. Although Boynton's did not try to exploit the custom-built network business, the reputation it gained from this beginning venture placed it first in the field. It was this reputation which led Elmer Layden, then president of the National Football League, to call Stanley Boynton to Chicago to arrange the broadcasting of such contests as the All-Star game and the National Professional play-offs. Within ten hours after landing in Chicago, Boynton had built an SO-station chain; cleared the time; arranged for the construction of all lines, loops, and connections; hired the necessary engineers and technicians; handled all financial arrangements for the sponsor — Wilson Sporting Goods — including payment of rights to the Pro League; and procured Harry Wis ^adio Station WHB in Kansas City will present the National Tennis Matches, September 18 and 19, at 2 p. m. CST. The broadcast will also be carried by these stations: WNEW New York WPDQ Jacksonville WQXR New York WWL New Orleans WSPR Springfield (Mass.) KTRH Houston WCOP Boston WRR Dallas WIP Philadelphia KTBC Austin WARL Arlington KFEL Denver KQV Pittsburgh KUTA Salt Lake City WBNY Buffalo KWKW Pasadena WKMH Dearborn KFVD Los Angeles WKRC Cincinnati KGER Long Beach WCFL Chicago KYA San Francisco WMIN Minneapolis KXA Seattle KXLW Clayton (Mo.) WPAT Poterson WREC Memphis WGAR Cleveland WGST Atlanta KROW Oakland mer as announcer. To make the story even more incredible, Boyton obtained for his network every one of the 80 sta' tions which he contacted. With this experience in manufacturing net' works, it was only natural that Boynton would be on hand when tennis entered the scene, six years ago. Up to that time, tennis matches had never been broadcast on a national (Continued on Page 54)