Variety (Mar 1936)

34 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, Mareli 25,1935 i. m NEW PACT EORi Closed File of WNBF Case Made Available NETWORKS AND UNION New York musicians' union and the' national networks have agreed on a new year's agreement, replac- ing the'one that expired. March 4. Under the terms of the new con- tract the sustaining salary" remains where it is, $100 a week, but a staff man may not be employed more .than five hours out of eight hours per day, NBC' and Columbia are also required to put on a substi- tute each seventh day at $25. It is figured that the . new ; work- ing conditions will add to NBC's mu- sical payroll $100,000 V year and to CBS's, "about ^O.flOO for the com^ -ing year.: Maim source of the boost is the Aye.-hours..within .eight at>. rangeme.nt, with the. webs planning to. put on extra hieri instead of al- lowing' overtime' to staff musicians. Networks • and: the' union' got to- gether, on. a compromise as regards the, firing clause.. -The union had asked that a staff man be consid- ered employed' for >" year if' hot Blveh his hotice^ in"'four-weeks. As provided for in the new-agreement, each, staff man rnust^ receive eight weeks' notice or else be paid o'ffV Students' Snappy Style Is News Coal at KfOR-KFAB; U. of Neb. Gives Credits • t Lincoln March 24. Radio -stations KFOR-TCPAB have * deal with . the University of. Nebraska's journalism' department ^whereby' two 'senior students will • work with the. station in the prepa- ration. Of news bulletins for broad- casting, Students will get a few- bucks and school creditst for the Work done. Station-gets manpower • cheap; . plus the advantage of the fresh viewpoint and snappy style the ■students .are expected to. provide; yv Regular staffman Dick Kiplinger Is kept- plenty busy as over a dozen ne"wcast > periods daily are handled • by the twin stations whos.e-.boss Dee Dirks is strongly news-minded. FR0MAN TO CHANT FOR COAST CHAIN STORES Hollywood, March 24. Jane Froman, Warner contract player, has been signatured for se- ries, of weekly broadcasts over WHJ starting April 14. Program labelled 'Califoniia "-Hour/ will ,be sponsored by -com- . bined chain stores of California. CONNOLLY JOINS BRANHAM Newspaper Rep Into Radio Next Month j James H. Connolly, radio time; buyer for the N., W. Ayer agency, has been named by the Branham Co., newspaper rep which recently added radio to its repertoire by acquiring the selling rights for.KRLD, Dallas, to head up the new. ether depart- ment; Connolly becomes associated with the outfit April 1 and will work tinder Vice-President Monroe ' H. (Pete) Long in New York.' Two more men are to be' added shortly, one for Detroit and one 4Tor Chicago. Neither of these phiifj as yet. Meantime Branham is. defining Its radio policies as aimed only at those stations -whose newspaper parents Branham now represents. A list of such stations would include the fol- lowing: WSB, Atlanta; WHAS, Louisville; KTBS and KWKH. Shreveport: WTJS, Jackson (Tenn.); WMC, Memphis; KTItH, Houston; KFH, Wichita; and KXYZ, Houston. Stuart Doyle Due in June Sydney, March 4. Stuart F. Doyle, Australian show- man, is due In. New York in June. Primarily a _picture man Doyle is also managing director of Common- wealth Broadcasting here and.seeks ideas on American, radio show- manship. Will also visit London and con- tinent. "Washington, March 24. Federal Communications Commission last week quietly removed seals from documents complied dur- ing lengthy investigation of bribery and favoritism- charges growing but of controversy over New York state radio assignments. Papers were made public by general agreement Wednesday (18) after the Jus- tice Department declared there was no objection to releasing reports of sleuths who Interviewed persona involved in the so-called Willard Hotel incident. Fantastic tale of amateur detective work by A. Mortimer Prall, son of Chairman Arining S, Trail, is one- of the principal points of the. papers, which com- prised sworn statements or numerous.Commlsh em- ployees and persons interested, in getting.better, fa- cilities for WNBF, Binghamton. N. Y. Other note- able, angles which came to light included: 1. Disclosure: that Commlsh engineers strongly op> posed granting of application by Knox Broadcast! Co. for new station at Schenectady, - N. Y. 2. Inability of Commlsh examiners and attorneys to account foi: unusual handling of rival requests' by Knox and the Howitt-Wood Co., which owns WNBF, 3. ' Revelation that hearing on the Knox applica- tion speeded up at the request of the Broadcast- ing, Division arid 'the chairman's- office.' 4. Assertions that Senator Robert F. Wagner of New. York .was. interested in the Knox plans. ; ,5..-. 'Evidence.;that! the Knox group was. listed telephone, directory. as. $ .broadcasting station before application., for permit to build a transmitter was ftled.. : . Vigorous denial by, Commissioner-Eugene O. Sykes,. chairman of broadcast division, that he was on the. payroll of Columbia Broadcasting System or had been. approached' in - connection with the Sche- nectadyrBinghamton tiff. The intricate web of. gossip, hear-say evidence, un- substantiated 'accusations, .and conflicting testimony contained a half-dozen emphatic • disclaimers that persons interested in- WNBF ever discussed—.as w a s charged by Chairman Prall's. son—they were willing to pay $26,000 or $50,000 to get new facilities for their station or had. talked about possibility of influencing the Commlsh. through Harry Butcher, local CBS man-, ager and-, web ^vice-president. G- Men's Part Evidence , submitted to thej Commlsh by Justice De- partment agents who worked for several weeks on the, case showed that the G-men were called' into action initially last September by Chairman Prall and Sec- retary. Herbert C. Fettey, were called off by Prall be- cause the 'psychological moment' frfr pressing the in- quiry had passed, and reappeared in the radio muddle in" Decemer at the invitation of the entire Com- mission. Senator" Wagner Was involved, confidential papers reveal, by Chairman Prall who assertedly told Butcher, that the Knox group had been recommended in a letter from the Senator. The record contains no de- nial that the Senator is interested in helping the Schenectady crowd win consent for a new station. Butcher testified that Prall told him 'while the Se'nr atoi* never made any requests of Mr. Prall for favor- able or unfavorable consideration in any given case, nevertheless a friend of Senator Wagner's was a friend of his as he felt very kindly toward Senator Wagner and that they were . old friends and that he knew Senator-Wagner did not,recommend anyone who was not right.'. A second Senator figured in the probe in a second- ary capacity, but was not shown to, have taken any part in the tiff: He is Senator Hugo L. Black of Alabama, who refused to give G-men the name of a reporter friehd who told him there were rumors about money passing in connection with the WNBF-Kriox rivalry for the 1210 assignment. ' Efforts of the Commission's five-man investigating body to clear up puzzling angles in the handling «f the competing applications Were shown to ; have failed as two examiners and two attorneys were at a loss to account for extraordinary speed in the WNBJ' case, Quartet of Commlsh hired hands likewise wiu. unable to explain conflicting recommendations In the pair of examiners' reports. . .. Examiner John P. Bramhall, who heard the WNBF application, testified someone Inquired how soon his report would. be ready, but insisted no one tried to ihfluenco his conclusions ' discussed the case with him. Examiner P. W, Seward, who took testimony on the Knox pica, said he was quite certain nobody talked With him about his report, although possibly an Inquiry might have been made about -when his findings would be submitted. Both examiners in-, slsted they had not talked about each other's cases, although Seward said he might have read the un- favorable Binghamton report before writing up his report, Which recommended favorable action on the Schenectady application. One angle which interested the Inquiring group .and was riot wholly cleared up was how Bramhall happened "to get in his report in much less time than he customarily requires. Commissioner Iryin Stew- art, who directed the probe, emphasized that the WNBF report was dubrtiitted in one month a,nd 23 days while Bramhall, as shown by examination of JT;other cases, usually took two months and 26 days} The Examiner, saying he felt that In the Bingham- ton case he took 'a little longer than I usually take,' maintained there was. no significance to this aspect of the case. Examiner Seward minimized his recommendation that; the Commlsh disregard fact .that 'granting the Schenectady application would farther increase the excess in facilities assigned to New York State, say- ing 1 have recommended the grahtirig of several ap- plications where the state Was overajuota if : I-felt'the granting of the application would be equitable and afford a local community broadcast service which it did not enjoy.' No Orders to Lawyers The two .attorneys, John Wesley Weekes (who handled the WNBF case) and Tyler Berry, also were firm in their insistence no one told them how to .han- dle their cases.- . Each lawyer was quizzed closely about the possibility he had .been advised to present a strong or a weak case for the Commission but de- clared there were no orders from higher up. During Berry's appearance before the investi- gators, evidence was produced showing the Commlsh engineering division had submitted a strong adverse recommendation on'the .Knox application Which Ex- aminer Seward disregarded. Berry admitted he had seen a memo from Andrew. D. Ring, chief broadcast engineer, saying the Sche- nectady station should not be established because the state was considerably' overquota, possible inter- ference might be expected,., and the area already was adequately covered by programs. from other stations. In the face of these objections, Berry sided with Seward in justifying the favorable recommendation and the disregard of quota conditions. The attorney told the Commlsh that stations are 'quite frequently* allowed although states have more than their equi- table share of facilities, adding 'I am sure there are innumerable cases in which grants have been recoitt-- mended in spite of quota conditions.' Senator Wagner's name was brought in by testi- mony of Aaron Kellert, sales manager of WOKOy Al- bany, While C. M. Jansky, transmitter engineer re- tained by WNBF, also said, there was discussion of the possibility the New York solon- '-was taking a hand in the controversy. Kellert told G-men that in conversation with Herbert Gordon, member of the Knox group, there Was intimation that Wagner was batting for the Schenectady people. N. J. MAY KEN MURRAY CBS SHOW AIRS FROM WOR'S SPOT -CBS now has six places whence it is originating commercial broad- casts in New York. Latest source added to the ilst is the studio atop the New Amsterdam theatre. Ar- rangement in the latter instance Is Oh a per.' roadcast basis, which also allows- WOE, Nlw York, to con- tinue the smaller, seater whenever required. CBS show coming from this spot Is Rinso's Tuesday night stanza- with Ken Murray, Phil Regan and Russ Morgan's band. NetWork has under regular lease three Times Square theatres, the Hudson, Little and Avon, while be- sides the studios in its headquarters building at 4S5 Madispn it makes occasional use. of Carnegie Hall for commercial originations. Extend Pickford Show Mary Pickford and the National Ice Industry have come to terms on a renewal to oxteiid for six weeks only beyond the present 13-week deal. Miss riokford wants to go to Europe for the balance of the summer. Renewal period starts May 12. Sponsor has an option ,of the re- maining se\Mi woeks of the 13- weok stretch following Miss Pick- ford's six, but is undecided whether to build another show for that brief period or let the CBS Tuesday eve- ulng spot go and droi> off the air. CBS AUDITS OWN SURVEY Mew Data Not for Price Waterhouie Checking Latest survey which CBS has launched in several towns to find out the popularity rating of local stations will have the network not Only interpreting the findings hut auditing its own returns.. Latter function in previous inquiries was handled by Price WaterhoUse. Questionnaire now being cir- culated among listeners uses as the return address, Radio Research Bureau, 4S5 Madison Aye., instead of a postofflce box, as was the previ- ous practice. The Madison avenue address is that of Columbia's home offices. WIND Joins Insult Web Chicago, March 24. Ralph ALlass last week okayed a deal .with the new Samuel Insull re- gional Affiliated Broadcasting com- pany network which will make WIND the Chicago coverage outlet for the chain. According to the deal- Atlass will serve as the local ABC outlet for any and ail commercials when time Is available on the station. ABC will pay regular card rates lor the time. WIND will also pick up sustaln- ings from the chain, the choice of sustaining pk-k-ups being strictly at the option of the station. Understood that there is no sig- natured contract between ABC' and Atlass, all agreements being sealed merely on an exchange of letters. ARTHUR BARTON IS WPA RADIO DIRECTOR IN N Y. TO RADIO Radio -stations with studios trahsmltter3':in New jersey are wa^, ing a campaign against tho r <£ posed. Radio-Photograph bill, now up in the New Jersey legislature which would bar radio microphones and news photographers front 411 courtrooms In the state. Other sta- tions are reported interested in squelching measure because of precedent for pther. states to follow. Broadcast officials are combating drive for this bill on angle that spectators do as much jo obstruct, and.injure dignity of court as. pros* ence; of', radio; newsreel and camera, operatives.. Other ammunition 1b that such a bill would tend , tjo ob- struct freedom of the press and radio. Clear Hobby Broadcaster; Static During WSGN Labor Strife Deemed Innocent irmingham, March 24; Charges against Claude M. Gray,. Jr., of violating the communications act of 1934 were dropped last wfeek by the ir, S. district attorney's office. Gray' was accused of causing inter-> ference with WSGN during the sta- . tion's labor troubles while OrmdndV . Black was manager;. '-'i Gray' contended that $e had '' amateur's license to operate, a code;, transmitter and that he hoi beefct- made a victim of circumstances, He contended, his station was operated only on particular night when re* ceptlon was bad for WGNS. Gray's equipment was seized by federal of- ficers after raiding his place. It was- returned to him after the charges were dropped. Arthur Barton, lm press agent and Broadway playwright, has been appointed to head .the WPA* radio division in New York. Formerly with 20th Century-Fox and Columbia pictures, Barton is author of two plays, 'Wonder Boy' and 'Man Bites Dog.' In New York S: C. Vinsorihaler, ICLRA, Little Rock, A, L. Chilton, WCST. Atlanta. J. Thomas Lyons, WCAO, Balti- more. John C. McCormaek, KTBS, Shreveport. Guy C. Hamilton, KFBXX, Sacra- mento. James W. Baldwin, NAB, Wash- ington. Elton Johnson, Toronto. Albert A. Cormier, hlladel- phia. In Chicago Earl Gammon, WCCO, Minne- apolis. Wm. Ellis, WFAA. Dallas. Harry Burke. WOAV, Omaha. Don Gillln, Wow, Omaha. Herschell Hart, Radio Editor News, Detroit. Paul White, CBS, New York. Bill Ensign, CBS, New York. T. C. Hagman, WTCM, Minne- apolis. A. S. Foster, WWL, nSi 5,000 Watt Regional* Up for F.C.C. Attention Washington, March 24, First move on a proposal to ih«: crease maximum night power on re* glonal channels to five kilowatts, came last week with 13 transmitters crowding each other for juice-jumps to the new limit. Entire gang will be heard by the Broadcast Division of__ the ' Federal CommunlcajloriS Commission, probably in a joint hearing. • Commlsh has been stalling off the rush for several weeks as recom- mendation to increase regional night power has been on hand 6lnce It was sent up from the engineering division some time ago. Four of the stations applying are sharing the • regional frequency of 940 kc; two each are on 590,900 and 950 kc, channels, and one apiece on 920, 1,430 and 1,300 kc. The ma- jority are operating at present with 1 kw. power. The quartet on the 940 kc. assign- ment are WDAY, Fargo. N. Dak., re- questing, night jump from 1 to 6 kw.; WAVE, Louisville,'Ky., power Increase from 1 to 5 kw. unlimited; KOIN, Portland, Ore., night boost from 1 to 5 kw., arid WCSH, Port- land, Me., whlMi requests jump from 1 kw. nights, 2% kw. days, 5 lnv. nll times. WEEI, Boston, Among 'Em WEEI, Boston, operating oii D90 kc. with 1 kw.. unlimited, wants Hie 5 lew. jump applied to bpth night and day operation. Station KHQ, Spo- kane, M r ash., transmitter on the same frequency, demands Increase, from 1 kw. nights 2 kw. days, to 6 kw. unlimited. On the 900 kc. channel, KIIJ, Don Lee station of Los Angeles, Calif., asks unlimited increase from 1 to 5 kw, while WJAX, Jacksonville, F la *. requests night boost to the new maximum. WRC, Washington,. D. C, operating on 950 kc. with 1 kw days and 600 watts nights, and lCFWR Hollywood, Calif., on the same fre- quency with 1 kw. nights and 2% kw. days, both demand 6 kw.power night arid day. Station WWJ, Detroit. Mich* operating on 920, and ICKCA, Los Angeles, Calif., are applying for plain night jumps, from 1 to 5 lew., w|» w WIOD-WMBF, Miami. Fla.. renue^W frequency change from 1,300 to 97f kc. with unlimited boost from 1 x ? 6 kw.