Variety (Feb 1938)

VARSETY 3T Seies ;No) Vaiiiie in CalUng; Public Attention to ; Meb^ bf Special Bro^ ■ '■'st; ;Paui,hFeb;'^iv':.., kSTP has a local: ptecpdent.'iri^ eiabbrate ^ broadcasts from : several jioints. df; pibkup/;w^ the first .at- . ternpt. of Its kind uSed in; the star iion's ■ broadcasts.. of the , ist. IJ.au] iWintei:' -Carnival,^ ; (i29;) afternQQhi ■ N process .elimr; ■ iiiaies- entirely .the. practice of' re-; yealing backstage machinery for; t^ iriiigis, arid the; tedious, technic .'of ^'Take ;'it:\aiway^-.:Ge^ v:'V ^: During the parade pickup, which was carried fi:pm^ four widely-sepa- rated points: the pack, a skyline ; p.oint, the mobile, unit .in the parade,- ; arid , the mUriie, auditorium where, ;the • pageant vw up; KSTP ; got through ai 45-minute broadcast with-!:: put. ever • once usirig the 'tHte ' iand ti riie-worn method; of, *And .• n^w; lip; ahead; in bur mobile.' unit, we liaye, , jpe Zilch it's yours, Joe.' Series of hidden cutes was v/orUed out,! . which made - the stirit ■ click.; None of .cues' duplicated,: and hever : oriipeUntruded." •■ : Coririne Jbrdan/^ director, ■in-the riipfailie unit, meritiohedf^ •thing about airplanes pyerhead arid, . speculated pn; . what : a;, bird's-^eye. •View might" be like. : That waS; one :bf the. cties ,td - th^e-; roof to^te^ it' /ewirty;;.: ■.■.;-:■■ I ■:]'■ r: In the;; bpeningi station set thC' ..pictuire pf its^facilities: fPr covetiritg! then, forgot them, with 'a. resultant smdoth performarice.;. '^j ■ ' V ■ • .KQrinethM. Harice,. KSTP's- asr ■. sistarit general ^ jmanager^^^ summed. Tjp.;the ne>v <ieparture in sub rpsa • 'The • tinie ; when amazed. at elaborate • machiriery ; fpi? , such broadcaistsi is past. The job hoSy lis to put oyei' the .isribw. T ; we're trying tp. do. There's.^ riidre s on for m britientng-t4ie-mecIiamciH Charge: NQn-Sup|>ort .^/ .^pld . Bachelor's CNight' ;'being'. :;fi;ani.ed: by:^Parks .Jbhrisbri- and' Wially ' B.utterwbi'th- for itheir .• ypjt-Popr' ■•:■.;;; : . Idea : is^ tb . have, only Vrriar- riage duckers on the ihteryjeW- i jrig brPadcast;! T^ : ::;5\ver : all questions ;subriiitted . : Only .by'worrieftv. ' \'■'-^ " than; thei'.e: iis for ^ actors on ^a " stage lb break down arid; say, .'0;K., Brli, giye us:'this back light npv\f fb^^ vthe sunlight, effect;'\ ; >; bmdha, Feb. 1. . Freddie • Ebener, ; local orchestra; leiider, .;Has'., beeri- appointed as • riiu- , Rical director for station • Wbw: by ;Mahager ; John.' Gillin.; : Ebener,. wili ; direct studio- ienseriible of 12 pieces, ■Started Suridhy: - ■' v . Station will sperid $25,000; on house rinisic in next year and expects tO ■ ii§e at ;lcast ;;prie - hour ' daily^- No sj)onsors ori docket yet, but . planned tb;. woi"k crew into comrnerciai ,p6s.- .sibiMty;..' . •;\ ; v;; -.':;; ;;WqW first brna^^^^ Station: to get .■under. wii-e •with .;d.efinite set-up. re- ; quired" by' recerit^AMA pact.-;: ; ;' ■:■ '... . Salt/take City,.'Feb, I, > .KSL Prchestra of . 22 pieces . wili play at the; tlriivefsity Of •-Utah ;jun.ipr promehadp Feb. lS in Salt La.ke C ;;CBS-Pacific- airing is .beiiig- sibughtV Lew Parker with CBS .;; Columb:aArtistsy ;lnc,;; fins signe.d ';iew-^-Pnrl<<^r ; ft^^^ ' Dn' ether.'bliiIduji: as a;.r.ad' o • cPriiic'.' .' .Parker-js^new; tb; the ' Fr^om ^Vallc.^e,.^with. severai-'fl j musIeaV ■:comec|yr ■]'!..:" WHL Professes Ignorance; Moves Quiz Show Opposite DittaonA : Philadelphia, Feb. 1. ; WIP execs ;dpirig- a sizzle with aii-. npuncemeht by WFIt t^ is rhovirig its quiz sKoW to exactly the same time as. WtP's. . Latter car- ries . 'Gliriosity Cbiirt' fbr Shell .Oil Co; Wednesdays at 8 p.m..: WFIL's, querier,.:tabbed ;'Let'5 ;^ ti on,', has been ■ shifted from Thu'rs-- day to Wednesday at 8. . Prograrii departmerit; at WFIIi said' It 'didn't; eVen knPw WliP had that k1 nd of show', arid was merely mak- ing the switch : to accomriiodate a commercial it 'hopes; to get.' Which Avais Only tossing petrol on WIP's blaze. --^ .'-^r '''I ' •'■ •' 802 PULLS STRIKE ON WHOM, NEW YORK N e t wo r k ..A|Ii^ ■ JFiUed.; Evening^ Means Many - of; New .Union ; Airree!meht; Stiaff,. Orches- tras Will Be Usecl Morn- ings and Aft^rnoons^^j^ cipally'-—Mutual Sustain- ers ' ;57v7 Outsiide - New " .'Ydrk'>::--?^V'.:\--; ;--;:^'':' WLW POLICY Arden Waxing; for Chev ■Victor. Ardeh .• renews Tecbrcling' of .;tvah s.crlptiOns for Chevrolet Feb;; V7v QericriU letddWii of'th^^ motor induis- iry. had held up further recording.s .which had been completed to* Feb. .27;.; ;';y-- ■ :•; . . ■;:'/..■■;:■ ....;; .' . New series for March, April and May.'; ; Ard.en. Graham: McName'e, Songsmiths Qtiartette and guest ai-.tists. will turn them out. ■... '■; Tom Dawson resigned '■■ from P HIs- .bury Flour. Mills', advertising dept. to join WCCO;; Minneapolis, sales staff on Monday (24 ).• DavOison's first j adio e.Npcrience. ' WHOM and WFAB, pair of N,Y.- part-time indies, are operating sans- livie music as i result of strike de- clared over the weekend by Musi- cians' local 802'. Union isought, in signing a ricw,piact;with the stations, which; are .jointly conducted.: to ;dou- bl'e tiie. riumber Pf windja^ up the ;wage scale, .thus lifting the broadcasters out. bf Class G; classili-;; 'catiori.s to Class B. • ;'. .; ^Station bpierators Pbjecfea" to" Kay^ in^/to;add; tp'the:six;musici^ ^yho had always been, employed, and re- fused to squi ggle an agreement. Af ter a debate during which both sides are 'understood to have made con- cessions on their.original stands, ne- gotiations came:tO a stands^^^^^^ uniori- pulled its; naen.. ■ l^I'egotiations: •have since ;oeascd and had riot re-; Slimed: up toll late yesterday (Tues- day). Studios of the two stations; which arc jointly Pccupied,: are being picketed by 802. Rush Hughes' Commersh ■;'■■■.. ^San Francisco. Feb. 1.. ■ ■Rush; .ifugh.^s'.' riew (Quarter-hour Tvvc::' -\vcek ;'ij.rpg -for ''Borden's; niilk. tabbed 'Hughesrccr,' debuted ?/ronday • (31) over a coast-to-coast ,NBC red web from the local NBC s I Li j io.Si;. Or! g'i n a 11 y. in ten ded for. a ;New York' briginatibni the. ;i:30 •p.rri., .P3T,; .pi'pgVnms . wiU ; fas; aired from Sari'.' Francisco fbr - the: first 13 weeks. .H.i,ighes^L\v;i;ll-go- bjS.s May, ■ returji;-; irig West; 'iri'- 'J.urie'.foi'- a'stretch' frbiri •Hollywood. .■ "' '.;'.; ; ; - .'■•;;: ..;': ; '■Hu'ghc.«;reGl': -; , ; patto.rried;;ahe.T a ■forriier Gpast com'mercidl .' whl Hughe.s. ;.presented ;;£or:; Langericlbrf ■Bakei'ie.9i aridwhich ; was"' called'' the .'•Lange'ndbrt.vPi'Ctpi-iai,,''; Borden-'-. V cpunt-^va^Vpia.coci by: Y cam.r^ ,. '•'•'.' • '••..'• ••. Those Rambling Levys Philadelphia;. Feb. 1.. .It'cliing-fopt.-teyy^ Doc .and Ike. prez' and v.p. respectively Of WCAU,' are at it again; . pbe ieft^'^^^^ week for Florida and Ike will shortly 'join him ;for three-week; stay. Latter j,us'i I'eturned frorii: California! ." . As . soon pair gets back frprii Miami, they're skedded to hegira-to Hollywood- to ' atlerid dedication of Coluriibia ■ Brpadcasting's. rie.w ;• build-, irig there, '^y- 'r '•s.'- ..■.•.;;' '.-v -.'.' ; ' By BOB LANDRY '; ; In conriectioti with the trend to locally produced, radib pi'ograms,. as; a spiirce network sustainers '(xe- pprted in last week's - yAjRiE^^^^^^ the ;exainple ' ; of ^Mutual, - practically fbiinded; Pn this principle, . is espe- cially pertinent at a time ;when> the iriauguratibn of local -^taif brchestras is -direcltirig stdt network at- tSritipri'- in that .directibn.;^ t •. ■;-. •' •. :. Synopses pf what Mutual gets.;for sustainers, and ;where, follows: ' ;• . WLW: Feeds 3'45>; hpurs >«reekly.- ;CJ^ilbert land' Sullivari o Hoosier Housewarmers, Theatre Di- gest aind '^Aces High' .plus dance pick- ups-are iricludedi'l - ,:■:'■- WCAE, Pittsburgh: Dance pick- ups plus Carnegie Tech symphony J About four hours weekly. ;.- '■ WCLE, Cleveland (al.so WHK. same bwilerShit)):.,v.T\V:iri stations ac- tive in local productiori feeds tb web. Lou ;Rich orchestra; predominates! Local actis heard include . Harriibri- atreSTTJean Kirig,^^ O'Heren, Gene Lavelle, Grace - .'WiJliams,' Jimmy AguCi Golden Girls, tirio. Six .and a guar ter- hours vyeekjy avei-age.',: ; ;; - ; CKLW, Detroit-Windsor: An prgan- ist. Bill; Lewis, arid a pianist, Gor- don Flemirig, teanied as 'Black and White' ,are-,freiquerit;fceds to^^M Two and a half hburs weekly. WAAB, Boston: ;Frarict;s. Mc- ppnaid's ....'Marriage ,._Gli ic.'_ cpnsid-. ered the best. sho.w ; land sponsor .pPssibility );.o.f the weekly;sUiff going, to Mutual, , Bpbb.v -Nbrris'. 'Sin.t{lng 'Strings' and John Metcalf's 'Choir LjOft' are'^vfiye-a-'Nyeeke.r ;bn' MBS.' Special events from New England fill out. ;'~^ ■■'•:.-;^: ^-;;:' ■"■ '. KSO,; :De.s Moine.s: • 'Tall Corn •Time,' a hillbilly fiesta, js. a new Mutual .show. -[ -./. 'X Canada: Exchange deal with the government ...chai ';fetclles three hours plus weekly to iMutiuvi,'. Some ''bxcellent ^well-rehearsed; ' ' ;; in particular. Sam Her.senhore'n, Bill Mort orchestra. Lloyd Bullon, Margpry - Dailies are . some of; ;thc talent.. Ca.nadians ma.v .not be names to,;American .;l.lsteriers-.hut' the enter- tainment avera;; '. alb.ng;; stair.dar'd lines,'is . rated okay. . ~ ■■! ^ v; .\ ;; ^ .WBAL, Baltimore: >Kick',s.'in oric- ciuartor.:hour a week,. 'Cri.riie CI'Pic' with local coppers: ■'■ >yWVA, ;WhceIing, W.;;Va.: This ?mall ■tPwn;station,--.s'e.nd;s ..t^^ network; - :cora)riorcial; •produced by station's prdg'rii.hn .ciirector,' V/a'lter Pattol^sbri;-a7^d; sponspi-ed ;by^-.the;'to Sto.el comyuliy. .•;' -...','. ■.;..;.',. :.'■ KWK, St. Louis: (Contributes' • danqe pick-ups arid ,«:pecial.s\' ; ■; WKRC. 'Coiiinibusi ;■ -.s\arr' prcliesi .tra.; vinder .;Abram;'^Ravinsi:y:; is the mainstay. ■-;: ';.■. -';; WOL, Washington: Thi.s is the clearance .-.'pipirit '.for ; :iots.-pr:^^ events,'; ;Mutuar. tries to maintain near-parity :with the' blKger vvebs; on capitai dpiri'g.^r .Ted" 0 ranilv''s 'Forurn. American; wild life' talks' are WOL feeds regularly,'. ';' '' V; , ' ';,:.■;W■F^^J...H^ladelp.hia^.Suppl i.o;>; dance pick-ups. arid. :irite'i:-coJregjate'.debate<; at present. ■ ■' ■.■ ■/.-•; •/■. ; .-'-.'-':. .'KH:J:; .:Don;: Le.e. avei:age.<:. five hbur.s weekly to Mutual, Due .for a con- siderable perk-up beyond, pre.^ont ■dimensibris, th'!is month. ' I.iq>v budg- etted; .ihcrcased;'; prograrii. facilities, talent, etc.;. ■; • ■.;'■''• '■ '..":; :'..KfUO; St. Louis; ;ResppriVi.ble'bnce Theory Vs. Praclice Dale Carnegie'^; the ■pnan 'who advbcates poise in his^writings;, and 'i -the a;ir, suffered ai-.-.pc-' culiar experience last week .that • handed' bis friends a. chuck I.e. 'Making ; recprdirigs for World, Carnegie had made siifc or . errors in fine; wax- job-.wheri;'.h:'e. suddenly blurted out: ;: can't understand itW^e^ time I face riiikc, I go to- :piecesi' ',.'. ■ '■; '■;;; .';; . ■.';■,• Then the boys started on a re- take. .'.-•'■■..'; ' •■.•":; WITH HOUSE SHOWS '• . Philadeiphia, Feb. 1. WFIL salesmen and all other available employes must jiow :attend school three hbiirs evprjoSaiurd'ay afternoon.' StatiPn is platWrizirig all npw sustaining shpws' and plays therii back duririg the. sessiPn for benefit bf: the staff. ■ :[ 'l, ''X' '"''': Idea is -to get solicitors kno^ving what they have to offer- .iand to; let other .sUtfTers ; make; Suggestions.:fpr improvements. •■; . ' '■; ■ Lyrici Indpls., Alters 'C:/: Folicy f or ■ Economy . Iridiariapolis, Feb. 1. ; ; Lyric, Indianapolis indie vaud-^ filmer, is altering its Stage shpv/pblicy as an economy measure:: ,House Ayill ;no longer play. ,big-bpodle hcadliners, but .will try ; out policy of presehta^ tion shows; . "These .will be headed by an iti.c. arid dreiised up with, specialr ty acts, in the;$250-$3Q0 brackets. Pit bahd will be; shunted up oil.the stage. ; ; 'change permi.ts. pperator Charlie Olsen tp piut on: shows- for around $2,500, weekly, several pegs under the nut in. the past. Policy gets under \yay hexf;Ayeek with Johnny ;Perkiris in for a Stretch .as m.c.^ Art Jarrett follows.. ■ • ;. J ;. . ;Rochoster, N. y.i Feb.. i. • .; Wjth, rie\y.. .s WHEC's . . I.bcal .programs .tbtal. 10.6, about 25 % of station' . tbtal. Statipri;;;.has; .Jiad trouble a.t times ^ maintaining . local percentage because bf network de- mahdis' foi^.. time piushing off newlyr ■'. laurichfed .programs.General; Mari- •' agcr. Gunriar ■ ;Wiig stresseis- 'iriiporr ^ ■ l.wc.e:of;;lpc.al?.'5hots^^^ fabbsting .-lis-' .' .t;en.s.r; ihterest,;; holding tha^^^ the customers evbn wheh nbt up to; network standiard, especially if they ; ofTer riovelty angles. " ;.... ';•. '- v; -•;.' Case in; point is .'drama work.shbp in which plays are. written arid acted by staff riiembers with quality irii. :; sbcprid • to • uriiqueriess, and ;.;caustic ;. cr,Uicismv:by air audience just as;^ come as prai,se. ' .■; '.;,:■''■ .; station aisp.;gpes In-for tieu'ps with ■,; •speciail grptips,; ,celebra;tibri^s,; foreigrir' • . .speakirig'sPcieties and programs with educational tWist.to bfoiaden; scope Pt. . air .appeal. . . .■;.,•' .' ; ;; ■; • ■-: a'weekTfPr'haTf h'bur of Lu WXYZ, Detroit: Popular Lprie Ranger cPmmerCial is MBS. statistical• breakdo\v'ri. fay the net- work , indicates: that . 57.7 of. the Mutual shbws;Pri,giriate .Outside New York (WQR)..and;.?.4..'j bi;ttside New YOrJc and Ghicagp (WGN). Latter p.rovide.s, among others,'.the Chicago Symphony. . ;' ' ...•■;"'■ Ciricinnati, Fob. 1, . ■With apppintment of Jo.scph Clrer- niavsky,' the-.; CrosTcy sutler-Waltci-,; .■WLW. will. haVc tvvo;full.-tiriic ra^^ c'al cpn.Uuctpr.s. V/il.liam' St.oe.<i.s.'con- tinues: as'rcgular stafTTnusic: director. Chcrniaysky.i who.is due in Feb. 14 after fulni 1 ing. ;a; Buffalo theatre on:; .fjagcrnerit;-. will:: speciali.zc .;' 'idea" flhoy,'.; ■.. In all 'there arc St) hiI'rs^ : (and arrangers'), ori'the (biioslcy; 'pay- roll.;.. .• ■ :;■;,;. ..'■ ^■■: ' ^ ■ . Policy .;b.f ; WLW.:'is'.;to- try . tp. gel- at least ;i5 •minutes of:rhu.sic. into, every 'broadcast ; hour:' throutlh ■ 'trio ;day.. Ma n.a geme n t; h as; f b r soriae ti hi c ' b.ee ri ' ;anxiniis; to k6cp;shoer gab, especially in the ;'afibrnobri s,} from 'drpriching the .pro-*^-i^am-:,scHpdulc:.,4rivdialp.g. ••;-t- ■.•■" Daytime ;prcs?!ht.s."a: paradox^-f rom a' progi'ammih.'j" ,*itandpoin.t. S buycr.^ of . radio advert:i.sing: a.s Prbc-^ .ter- & Gamble have repPatedly; found that :scria:l r.strips ;'pu.tclraw thc; best music... ..A recent ;telcphp;ne^ survey ..pf- 12.600-; calls .'rnade in. - this. ai'oa - fay WLW .again .brings out this fact, . Cro.sley. policy ;and ;t:hc problem ay broUf'ht;;o'ut■: by. GrPS 1 e.v ,• cXperienpo .frii'Uch: ,gi*eate.r- than; v/ith moStv-.star tio'n.s.' because WLW ha.«!. alv/ays b.Ccri a ;bi.g prpdriccr:;ot loeal shpws'):..is pai": t'cularly applicable at :thiK ; time tb the .rSi.tuation;-iri rarlip gcnera.)ly. .rib\y :,that ':sb mariy .stations have .:ho.u,sc .orchcistras; fpf; the; first t.iriie- '. It. is . o.b V ipus' th;at 'network- a ft i 1 i ales are apt ;to.-; have many or-"., most;'of ; their eyeriing periods earnriarked for- net- work, commercials arid .that. .for .thi.S: rea'^pri. the .new local house' prc'hos- ras^ ■ will be -'iUSed:; ' . - the day l-ighi hours to a cphsiderable extent. Los Angeles, Feb. 1,, Two major stations, KFI .arid KHJ, got busy . last week on; their musical; setup to fall in line, with the AfM dictate. Don Lee outfit went .cplos- sal on itsf butlayV lauri.ching a' 754.; piece (count 'em) Prehestra, which will give but' with- symphbnized-. swing every Thursday, So that thi . super-super can soak up all. the available .lis^nirig .saiudienc^^^^ Mutual stations will cut ;in. .-fOr ' helping, . ;v; ■.;;;'.;;';■;■';;V ■.-,■■■' Elias Breeskin, ; onetime; violitt .sPlpist;: with Minneapolis symphbny.; orchestra, prgahizer of . Pittsburgh symph and; lately conductor and band .orga,nizer for Dave. Rubinoff,' \yTirlds^h"6"^b^StbriT^Sp^^^ have : been called in to give pop numbers a symphony treatment.. ■. At KFI. Manager Ha.rris.pn ;.Holli-^ way has installed a;; I3-piece crew under Earl -.Towner's' d^ function as , the studib band and' giyeri the trick tag of 'chorcstra.' ; .- .^pebutbf KHJ's stuperidous aggirc- gatiori calls for faig civic event, with General Manager Lewis Alleiv Weiss; and his aide, 'Willet Brown, personally supervising the;.dress.' up affair - and rounding up the .town's music; Vleaders. and biggics in ; all pursuits. .'-■'" NO HELP TO WFIL ■ . Plriiadelphia. Feb.'1, i ; -Plans anriburiccd.iby WFIL cPupla mbriths agPt. tb. su'bs.titute for 'its pwii'; dramatic crevy ,1 ittlp th'eatre groups ■. culled;;fro.m the >city and nearby, have- .fi>:zbdV' 5 ;:^>-. '^:''' ''.'-..'-■' Outlet .firstTm^^ritordiff^ ing; sijffi'eient riumb .organized : am the.sp.s. h'ndjthcn.,di.scbver.od it al--: . mo.st an iriippf'sibility: to - get • -therii into rphears.iiand shows on.tiriie. No. ca.'-'h inducement. ' .- ' X Now experimeriting.. with" only' one gang, all garnered from .Bessie Hicks School of Draniatic Art, . iCYW's Music Status Qiao ■ ; . . .Philadelphia, Fe'o. 1. • ' Binder, between NBC arid Philly Mu.sicians; local' was inked iri NeW;. York Ibst weck.-.fjr;kYW 'h^ Gontract \for:;-twb-: years,' ■■provides :.<;a-me terms'- a's ■te^ipo^ary;^ag^.ee^hcrit;' uh.(lcr.;which-brphestra'. was working. Calls for $45 per week foe 16 mea ;'vWo h-nirs a day,; 6 days; weeki ■They; can play'" sustaining only* with riro r'ata; redUcfr allowed bh tifne. p'aid lat-.cpmmer'ciai' rates.;' . -" '-•