U. S. Radio (Jan-Dec 1960)

March of Dimes Donations Bail Out Jail-Bound Deejay Money for the March of Dimes rolled into the city prison when it was requested in the form of "bail" for deejay Vinnie Vincent of WAYS Charlotte. The deejay was arrested for playing the piano in a city square as he solicited funds for the 1960 drive. In granting permission for the deejay to broadcast remote appeals from his cell, the court stipulated that when 1 1,000 was raised for his bail it would he turned over to the March of Dimes. Besides remote broadcast equipment, Vincent was provided with a piano and a special telephone number for pledge donations. He broadcast every hour, pleading for pledges from listeners and playing requests for contributing visitors. Charlotte volunteer policemen donated their time and picked up telephone offerings. According to the station, they collected over $1,000 within 24 hours. Listeners Adopt Plan To Become Foster Parents By reaching a little way into their pockets, listeners of KDKA* Pitts burgh have "adopted" two children through Foster Parents' Plan, Inc. Through the efforts of annoiuicer Bob Tracey, contribiuions have come in for the support of a sevenyear-old Italian girl and a nine-yearold Greek boy. The station reports that by its listeners' support, the children will be assured that their basic food, clothing and medical needs will be met. For about eight dollars a month for each child, the "foster parent" can receive this kind of message fiom the children: "I received the $8 you sent me for September, as well as another $6 to buy shoes with. I bought a nice pair of sturdy shoes, two pairs of socks and six hankies." Kids Love Rewarding Their Favorite Teachers WLOS* Asheville, N. C, felt it was about time the teachers in the area received recognition due them. The station ajDpealed to its younger listeners to send in the name of their favorite teacher for an "Apple for the Teacher" contest. Each week the name of one of the teachers was drawn. The lucky one received a basket of fruit delivered to the class room personally by a station staff member. According to the station, the kids loved it, especially when their efforts bore fruit. 3-Day Broadcast Comes Live From a Taxicab One way to introduce a disk jockey to a city is to have him ride the taxicabs for three days. KENO Las Vegas went one step further. It gave deejay Don Hinson a two-way radio and let him broadcast live from an operating taxicab continuously for 74 hours and 49 minutes. The "Taxi-thon" promotion, purchased by a local taxi company, was carried out while cabbies operated-as-usual, cruising and carrying fares all over the city. Hinson broadcast all program material, spots and tags directly from the front seat of the cab. He interviewed passengers, stopped at Strip hotels and waited in taxi lines for fares. He aired a gasoline commercial while the taxi was fueling up. He took celebrities to movie sets. All of this took place wliile he was on the air. Four drivers took turns driving the cab, which was painted oiUside with information about the (Cont'd on p. 54) These Men Capture Listeners! WGY offers advertisers a unique (for Its area opportunity to sell specific adult groups Through personality shows such as "The Chanticleer" and -'Breakfast With Bill," WGY captures specific and mature audience groups in its market area: Northeastern New York and Western New England. This varied programming earns top Hstenership among ail aduhs — listeners who spend the money for your products. With spots on WGY, you can pin-point your sales message to individual buying groups (farmers, housewives, sports fans, many others) — an advantage no competing station offers. \ aried programming makes WGY your best area imy for a class or mass message. For availabilities, contact the Henry I. Christal Co. or WGY, Schenectady, N. Y. 50,000 Watts • NBC Affiliate • 810 Kilocycles A GENERAL ELECTRIC STATION U. S. RADIO March 1960 53