U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1959)

BPA memo Marathon Broadcasts Have Their Rattles and Rolls A believer in coiuiiuioiis broadcasting— as well as listening — KIMN Denver has conducted the latest in a series of marathon shows. Disc jockey Pogo Poge has conducted a marathon broadcast Ironi the window of a downtown jewelry store. In addition to attracting many onlookers, Pogo Poge was not alone in the window. He was accompanied by an assortment of snakes — rattlers, cotton-mouth moccasons, a boa constrictor, among others. With the assistance of two professional snake handlers, the KIMN disc jockey broadcast with the snakes weaving and rolling over his arms. 'Listen to a Story' Is Made Into a Book Scripts from a IG-year-old program lor children. Let's Listen to a Story, heard on WMCA New York, have been published in book form. Written by WMCA director-writer Lilian Okun, the book contains a foreword by Helen Sachs Straus, who with her husband, Nathan, bought control of the station in 1943. Mrs. Straus explains thai when the series was founded, she believed that "programs based on the simple story-telling technique of the mother or friend or teacher reading to a group of children would also be successful on the air," just as it is in the home and at school. This "read me a story" idea produced the program and now the book. Miss Okun's work contains scripts of children's stories that have been adapted to radio. Radio Personalities Lead Sheltered Lives A newsman and a "musicaster" from iwo stations — KMGM Albuquerque, N. M., and KTUL Tulsa— ran for shelter last month as part of promotion campaigns by their stations at state fairs. D on Jackson, KMGM newsman, was sealed inside a Civil Defense fallout shelter in the interest of civil defense, according to the station. Living on emergency rations, he stayed in the shelter for seven days and nights during the New Mexico State Fair. Mr. Jackson made hourly reports to KMGM and talked with people attending the fair through an intercommunication system at the shelter. Lee Parsons, KTUL "musicaster," was placed in a storm shelter for six days and nights during the Tulsa State Fair held last month. Preceding the opening of the fair was a parade Avhich included two KTUL mobile units, one of them carrying Mr. Parsons and six models. Upon arrival at the site of shelter, the models escorted him to his new "home" with a promise to be on hand when he came out six days later. Mr. Parsons broadcast from 6 to 1 1 p.m. each evening while in the shelter. Telephone facilities enabled KTUL's listeners to call him and ask questions concerning his adventure. Best Ad-Lib Commercial Wins Disc Jockey Prize Disc jockeys on 180 radio stations in 40 major markets competed with each other in creating original oneminute commercials for "Trig" rollon deodorant in a nationwide contest sponsored by the Products Division of Bristol-Myers Co. The contest was conducted on the basis of copy-points which were supplied by the manufacturer. Doug Pledger, KNBC San Francisco disc jockey, won the first prize of $500 for doing the best ad-lib commercial for the product. He was also named "Trig Radio Salesman of the Year— 1959." Midnight Golf Game Creates Listener Interest According to WCAU* Philadelphia, Ed Harvey, its morning personality, may go down in history as the man -isho invented nighttime golf. Mr. Harvey, an avid golfer who normally shoots in the low 80's, found his golf game suffering be cause his early morning show kept him in the studios six days a week until 9 a.m. When he finally got to the golf course, it was usually too overcrowded. Because of this, he decided to take to the greens at midnight, and recently teed off on the Presidential Golf Course in Philadelphia. Phosphorescent golf balls and four caddies helped him navigate his course. Also, a professional golfer accompanied him. Listeners to the Ed Harvey Show were asked to send in cards telling what they thought his score would be and at what time he would complete the game. Periodic reports were relayed back to the station and were reported to the late night audience. Many fans were on hand to watch the game. Mr Harvey finished the 18 holes in two hours and 25 minutes with a score of 88. One entry predicted the score and was only five minutes off. The highest score guessed was 253. WCAU awarded 100 winners with a dozen luminous golf balls each as prizes. Listeners Given Means Of Curbing D. J. Chatter In an attempt to curb chatter and give more platter to listeners, WCAE Pittsburgh Program Director Paul Ruble has installed an automatic talk-stopper. A remote control switch was placed at the desk of the station's chief engineer. Turning the switch on starts an automatic tape player which comes in over the announcer's chatter with four words — "All Right, All Right." Upon hearing this, the announcer stops talking and plays more music. WCAE has invited listeners to "tab the gab." A special phone line was installed in the studio and listeners are given the opportunity of calling the special number and repeating the "silencer," "All Right, All Risfht." The station savs that during the first hour, 50 people called the disc jockey who was on the air. He took the hint. *Denotes stations who are members of BPA (Broadcasters' Promotion Association) 50 U. S. RADIO • November 1959