Variety (Jan 1936)

S2. B % D 1 O Wedneis'day, January 8, 1935 Telephone Co. Witnesses Tough With EC.C. Ready for Battle ■Washington, Jan. 7. esumptloh of hearings on American Telephone and Telegraph Company'e application to Install an experlniiental coaxial cable, between' New Tork and Philadelphia led off, Monday (6) with an attempt, to Btraight-arm thfe Federal Communications Commission Into abandoning its efforts to cistabllsh Just how deeply television may he Involved In the phone company's plans. Attorneys for A. T. & T,, Westetn Union and Postal Telegraph moved Immediately to exclude all testimony regarding the ultimate commercla.1 use of the cable, although Monday's hearing had been '-•-called for the express purpose of dl^iisslng 'commercial aspects' of the proposed cable. Evidence that the Cbmmlsh was in fighting iriood was seen when, after, a long recess, the full membership of seven Commissioners returned to the, hearing room with the announcement that the motion was overruled. .Starting with . a memorandum from the flies of the A. T. & T., which proved quite embarrassing for Tel & Tel witnesses during the hearing, XJommilsh .counsel dinged away at the motives 'underlying the phone company's expressed desire to use the cable primarily for experimental work in the field of telephony. Commlsh claims that television is main purpose of the phone group's interest In the cable. . Harry S. Foland! employee of the long lines engineering depaftment cif A. T. & T., authored the memo, following a . conference held on April 2, 193B, at the company's taeadquartefs. Slugged 'Subject: T«leiVlslon. Coaxial cable trial,' message contained a couple of paragraphs over which Commlsii attorneys growled like dogs with a bone. Denials Albert E. Stephan, Commlsh attorney, persisted in translating the paragraph as a direct bid for television privileges,' rousing. A. T. & T. witnesses to elpqaent denials, patient and involved Explanations, satire and general beating about the bush. Financial acrobatics, of .the big phone company 'and its . subsidiaries left the Cbmihtsb' so dizzy that it ^as unable, to unearth: .anything of value to Its campaign. Aftermion hearing was taken tip with t^stiWony of A. B. Clarlc, Tel & Tel a,ccountant, who .had prepared a ctatement giving estimated, cost of the cable experiment, but. after hearing that the nature of such de velopments was such that it was impossible to compute within 100 percent of the actual .costs, Com mlsh decided that attempt,.. to pry further Into money angle of the company's affairs should be aban doned. txMc Criticism Ends Proposed Ap|iointinent Of I. W. ScUesinger Elaborate Audition Is Postponed by Columbia Elaborate audition of a new program for. Colgate-Palmollve-Peet was planned by CBS for SundajvDec. 29, but failed to mateflallzei. Web handed out hundreds of ducats to its New York playhouses among employees, sponsor aiid agency (Benton & Bowles), but alt iih V last minute had to «end out notices saying that the audition .wa.s ho igo. At that, a big enough crowd showed up to require Impromptvi enterta,ln/ment. Prospective program was a New lork .vs. Hollywood type of hahter featuring Georgle Jessel and Ken Murray. One to clown in New York and the other In the film colony. Hitch developed w.hen the Hollywood end of the duo wasn't ready with its stint. 1st Ulbra-Shortwaver Ofh ReguIar Schedule Is W8XH of Buffalo News Buffalo, Jan. 7. venlng News has begun intensive campaign to publicize Its flve-rmeter transmitter, W8XH. Claims for station signals of the highest fidelity of any station anywhere, due to recently installed ultra-modern equipment. Station Is expected to. complement WBEN. papier's standard ba,nd transmitter, by furnishing to fivemeter llsteriiers those 'NBC network programs which "WBEN Is too crowded to take. Included will be Cheerio, Magic of Speech, Eklucatlon In News and Forum on Character Building. Ahothei' W8XH exclusive will be dinner hours, devoted to music. Standard stationd can't provide this on account of quantity of 16-mlnute shows for kids at .time. Hamilton Woodle is manager of the station. Ultra-shortwaver will carry' signals only to horizon but newspapec figures Buffalo area can be covered effectively witii W8XH as. fitson as five-meter reception her comes more general lit standard radio receivers. W8XH is the country's first station to broadcast ultra-shortwave programs on a regular dally schedule. The Radio Touch Philadelphia, Jan. 7; Lit -Brothers department store arranged with WFIL to originate a series of amateur programs for kids in the store restaurant. Merchants figured -. it would BtlmulatO' luncheon biz. Instead the fond mammias brought lunch boxes 'With homermade sandwiches. Store supplied tables* and silverware. mm RADIO Washington, Jan. 7. Radio advertising by members bir 'the Distilled Spirits Institute ceased Jan. 1, following a decision of members to quit airing merits of . booze In response to rising' tide of public criticism.. Declaring that majority of industry ihenibers never have used radio facllltltles t6 publlcizer their products,. Dr. James M; Doran, former prohibition czar and Institute head, said the action was 'another step in the direction of self-imposed regulation -which Is regarded in the puV lic interest.' , New policy Is binding on makers' of apppoxlnnatley 9g to 95% of the domestic output of hard liquor, but has no effect on rectifiers, distributors, wholesalers or dealers. Likewise brewers, who have their own trade associations, are not affected, by the distillers' decision. Less , than a half dozen distillers ever made use of radio as an advertising^ medium, according, to the trade group, while only two of national prominence — Seagram's and iSchenley's — have sponsored programs on a major scale. Seagram outfit turned to broadcasting last fall, sponsoring a sports review during the fpotbali season, and Schenley bias been sponsoring an amateur hour over WHNi New York, which Is fed to two others, A smattering of small firms, especially in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California, have employed radio in a 11 Ited -way. Philadelphia, Jan. 7. Liquor accounts are. no-dice at WPIL under a hew ruling. Station carries only on such sponsor currently and that one will sklddoo when contract winds, up next month. It's not teetotaler ptoposlsh with broadcasters*. Just going in for temperance with light wine, and beer accounts. FCC's Washington Docket Capetown, Dec. IS. ;South African Minister of Posts and Telegraphs has Issued the folIdwlhg official statements "Due to :crltlclsm In the press, Afr. Schleslng^r has felt oblig;ed to notify his Inability to. acceiit the chairmanship of the new Broadcasting Corporation, and is hot prepared to be personally^ssoclated with tiie ' Board." The proposed Intention to appoint I. W. Schleslnger as chairman of the Public. Utility Trust to run the South African Broadcasting as from April 1, 193T, when the African Broadcasting Company (Schleslnger) will be taken over by the Government, met with opposition from the newspapers and public, and there was no other remedy for I. W. S. but to decline • the honor. Clearly proved he was hot wanted, th6 public tiring of a one-man monopoly. It l6 stated that I W^ Schles'Inger will claim $16,000,000 for his assets, in the transfer of his l>foadcastlng concern to' the Gov•^••rnment, He will receive debeh.tures. fi>r .the amount to, be agreed 'vfion, and no dasU. ' ' | '; • Washington, Jan. 7, 1938. Terminating fortnight's holiday, members of the Federal Communications Commission this week will return to their custom of regular meetings. Christmas and New Year's interfered badly with activities of the broadcast division, th& commissioners taking no action on matters pending before the group during the past two weeks. Three examiners' repocts were turned in during last week, with only three applications rec^ved^ State Capital Broadcasting Association, Austin, Tex., applied for a construction permit to erect new transmitter to operate on 1120 kc -with BOO watts nights, 1 kw days, specifying all hours not used by WTAW, College Station, Tex, Only other new station application received was from Berks Broadcasting. C<>mp.ahy, PottsyllIe, Pa., -which seeks to operate on>€40 kc with 250 wattS; daysi Station WTjS, Jackson, Tenn., asks change In frecluency from 1310 ta 920 kc. Examiners' Reports Hopes of three residents of Los Angeles to become, radio station owners lln 1936 were put on the' skids by Examiner R, H. Hyde, who recomimended to the commission that their application for per Isslpn to build a transmitter at ^Pomona, Calif ., be denied. Leon 3. Packard, Lewis Stebblns and Alden C. Packard, the latter a radio engineer with KNX, Los Angeles, were turned down principally because of Interference whlcli. would arise between the proposed station and transmitters located In' L&a Aingeles.. ..Station XBFL, Tla Juana, Mexico, also would be Involved. Dry, rocky oonditl9ns in the San Jose hills, site picked -for the station, were blamed for the probable interference trouble. "The three-man partnership, -which had planned to operate as the Valley Broadcasting -Company, asiced daytime operation on an 1160 kc frequency, with 260 watts. New station for Redding, Calif.,, received the nod from Examiner Melvln H, Dalberg, testimony bringing out that there, -was a need for additional service in the area and that the applicants are well-heeled. Outfit would operate as the Qolden Empire Broadcasting Company, on the 1200 kc frequency with 100 watts. Power boost for KFPY, Spokane. Wash., id in the cards, despite an increase of :36 ^unlts in the already oyerquota daytime conditions existing In the state zone, If the appllcatldn goes through. Examiner George H, Hill recommended granting of the KFPY plea, on grounds that the peculiar quota situation of the State of Washington justifies consideration 'Of the application and because th6re Is a definite need in an area not now being served by CBS . members, Afnilated with Columbia, KFPY now serves approximately 300,000 people, report pointed Out, and Juicejump would bring CBS . programs to 196,000. Station, whltih operates , on :890 kc, has heen uslnc^ 1 kw, but asks daytime Jump to 5 kw, with night ;a,SBlghmeixt,ve)nM^.i'}g.ti^^ ' T Canada Peeved at Mexico Interference of High-Powered Mexican Transmitter Cramps CRCT, Toronto One Less Troex Plans to have three members of Ernest True?' family .in 'The Johes Family* radio sketches have been definitely abandoned. Marital troubles in family took Mrs. Truex away from. ..da^jt. ^ few ..days ago. Originally only Ernest TrueX; and his son were spatted In sketch. Then role was written in for femme character, -with Ruth Roland scheduled to takei It. This was changed so that Mrs. Truex could play the part. Program seemed to be all set -when Truex informed producers that 1 3 wife would hot continue because, she expected to sue for divorce. Agnes Moorebead goes into role set for ' Mrs. Truex. Columbia Broadcasting has one-rmonth option on series of sketches. ' Roger White Productions are staging' the programs. Girls m Random Hunt Through Phone Book Seek WBAL Contracts Baltimore,' Jan. 7. In order to build up its 'A. M. R«VB€,' daily half -hour of niuslc interpolated with spot announcements, WBAL-has taken on couple of girls and put 'em In sales department in special category. Femmes. sit at phones all day, leafing through phone books, choosing flrnns at random and . calling 'em up and spearing for quick sales of small number (one or riiore) of spots. Work on small salary and commlsh, and if click wlii get regular jobs and other young gals will be taken oh In their places for same sales stuff. Idea Is old onei in newspapers, but first time radio advertising has ever been peddled that way around here, where alr-selling has always been rather staple and pretty good paying propoplsh for all engaged. WFBL's StafiF Bonus Syracuse, Jan. 7. WPBL, Syracuse, gave two weeks salary to all employes as ' a New Year bonus. Business at WFBL during 1936 topped the stations history. Charley Phillips manages WFBL. After moving entire commercial Staff do-wnstairs WFBL has remodeled entire eleventh floor of Onondaga Hotel which houses Program, News, Sports and Publicity departments. Thelma Jean MacNeil, formerly staff pianist and hostess at WFBL, Is now Assistant Program Director and w<. -nan announcer. WSGN-Union in Pact Birmingham, Jan. 7. A contract -with the operators union has been signed by WSGN, ending a long dispute between operators and union men. ^An agreement was reached sevlei-al weeks after R. B. Boyles, ow.ner of the station; resumed operation as Ormondr. Black who had the station, w^ent out. Huston for Kraft Walter Huston goes on tlie Kraft (NBC) show for one shot Feb. 6. Set by CurUs & Allen, Actor will, -work from Los Angeles, where hLs legit show," 'Dodsworth,' ill be playing at the time. NBC ITTEB SMU Hollywood, Jan. 7. National Broadcasting reps have •been huddling with Southern Methodist university band for a weekly broadcast for commercial account. Network .also wants tooters to tie -up with its artiste* bureau for road tour after school closes. Badio Back at City Hall Philadelphia, Jan. 7. iriaugural last night of S. Davis Wilson as mayor marked re-entry of radio into local city public affairs picture. Function was broadcast by three . stations, first time in four years .stations have been welcome af city Hall doings. Former Mayor. J. Hampton Moote shunned the ntlke. Toronto, Jan. 7. , llesentment against Mexican radio is rapidly jgrpwlng In Canada owing to interference (particularly noticeable In that area served by CRCT Torphto). Rei)resehtation3 are liow" being mad<9 to the Dominion offlclala to seek sonie solution to the problem. Situation is. Intensified by the fact that there la no Canadian minister to Mexico who could present' Canada's case directly and that protests are now being handled by the circuitous route of British diplomatic channels. Refusal thus far; of the Mexican government to co-ojper,. ate with "the other nations of the North American continent in the distribution of wa-ve -lengths is another point in the controversy. At present, :Mexlcan Interference Is practically destroying the usefulness of CRCT, Toronto, after dark. The solution submitted to Ottawa is the esteibllshment of a high-power station which will drown the Mexican interference in Canada. While the Mexican stations desire to obtain the largest effective coverage in the United States, the 'field toward which their ether advertising is directed, their appropriation of .Canadlar wave-lengths is taken as not to be the deliberate invasion of Canadian broadcasting but rather th9 attempt of the Mexican stations to avoid the situation whereby they might mess up American broadcasts. The plan now is to step up the power of CRCT, Tbronto, which would not only damage the reception of Mexican broadcasting all ver the northern area of the United States but which might Induce Mexico to come into the North America radio agreement. CORN PRODUCTS' 4-WAY Dim ON CREDITS New Corn Products show which starts on Columbia Jan. 20 will bally Llnlt, Karo. Kre-rael and Mazola,' each product being set for different one of four days a week program is broadcast. Goes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, for 16 minutes. Known as 'Musical Reveries.' Lou Radernian's orchestra, Stewart Churchill and Orson Welles are artists oh program, which was produced by Roger White Productions. Placed through E. W. Hellwlg & Co. Trent' Back to CBS -Chicago, Jan. 7. *Romance of Helen Trent,* dally script show for Edna Wallace Hopper cosmetic product, returns to a Columbia web on Jan. 20, WGN, the Chicago Tribune station and one of the four key stations of the Mutual web, continues as its local transmitter. Show has. been off and on a CBS spread for the past two years, switching back to a WGN local shot when not on the hook-up. Lee Roberto at KYA San Francisco, Jan. 7. Lee S. Roberts, composer of •Smiles' and local business man, has. Joined KTA. Hearst'-statlbn. Will have control of. programs "and productions. East year he -was heard on KPO In trl --weekly feature, 'Old Memory Box,' ... LorUIard May Ketum P. Lorlllard, In signing off Thornton Fisher's 'Sports Parade' after a 6B-week march on the NBC red loop, stated, via Announcer Ben ;Grauer, that it ?hoped to return In the .spring with a big program.' Salvo advertised Old Golds, Muriel . Cigars and Brlggs Toboco. 2 Out at CBS CBS last week dipped the personnel setup of its band booicing department. Affected by tlie move were Warren Miller and Louis Mlndllng. Miller handled the one-night stands. While Mlndllng covered the hotel spots ai-ound New "York. Ervin L. randell, formerly -with Transatlantic Telephone Sn-vlce of A T. & T., now chief engineer of WHDH, Boston Fills vacancy left )y Watson Kownaskl, now with New England Tel.' & TeL