Variety (Sep 1938)

Wednesday September 7, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 3S KOL Withdraws 250G Conspiracy Suit Vs. CBS, Sen Bone, KIRO, Saul Hass Seattle, Sept. 6. 50,000 damage suit, filed June inst U. S; Senator and Mrs. omerT Bone, Mr. arid Mrs. Saul Hass, Columbia Broadcasting System and station K1RO. by station KOL ^ dismissed Friday (2) by super- ior court Judge F. G. Remann in • T DLsml'ssal came on stipulation of lawyers lor the plaintiff, except as to CBS. Attorney for latter said CBS suit would be dismissed later. Archie Taft, v.p- of KOL, said: •This law suit was begun in good faith. It was based upon informa- tion reported by former representa- tives and by other persons not di- rectly interested, who, for what now appears to be reasons of their own, volunteered what at the time seemed, to be facts. 'After the suit was filed and formal denial was filed, we felt it our duty to further investigate the facts as- serted and denied. Upon that inves- tigation, particularly of the files of the Federal Communications Com- . mission, we found that the allega- tions could not be substantiated. We also found that the assertions made against Senator Bone were without foundation. We therefore felt it our right and duty to dismiss the action.' When, informed that the suit had been dismissed, Senator Bone said, 1 can't do anything but commend the sense of fairness which induced the plaintiff in this action to act hon- estly upon the facts. discovered. If they believed the former statements, I can't blame them for filing the suit. Since upon discovery of the truth they dismissed the suit, they certain- ly have evidenced a good American sense of decency and sportsmanship.' . Suit had claimed, damages for al- leged conspiracy to. transfer the CBS franchise, formerly held by KOL in Seattle, to KIRO in Seattle. Failure' to dismiss the suit against CBS, along with the others, was be. cause of a technicality raised by CBS FCC CHAIRMAN McNINCH BACK AT WASH. DESK Washington, Sept 8. After absence of nearly two months, FCC Chairman Frank R. McNinch was back at the desk last veek. Still taking thing;, easy, but ready to plunge i_to the mass of adr ministrativs chores when the dol- drums end. Mc inch left his post early in July, f jr a short rest, but was confined to the Naval Hospital most' of the rronth. Subsequently he has been regaining strength at a.seashore spot. WFIL, Philly, Attempting Disguised Talent Quest Philadelphia, Sept. 6. , Talent hunt conducted for three months last season by WFIL, which admittedly flopped, is being resumed shortly, but heavily camouflaged. It has been retagged, 'WFIL. Musical Festival.' Instead of inviting individuals to. participate, station, has asked only, glee clubs, schools, choral organiza- tions and the like. It will award prizes to outstanding glee club; quar- tet, trio, baritone, soprano, blues and pop chirpers. Best of the lot in the eight-week test is. promised a 13- week cuffo spot on Mutual. Pete Peterson Joins Kastor Agcy. in Chi Chicago, Sept. 6. M. H, (Pete) Peterson joins the H. W. Kastor agency here as radio director this :week. For the past six rronths Peterson has been handling time sa'.es for Mutual web locally. This marks a return, to the agency business for. Peterson, who was for- merly radio director here' for Black- ett-Sample-Hummert FAN COLUMN AD PAID ADV. RATES lone Ranger,' Sustainer 7 Years Ago, WiD Earn $1000,000 in 1938 Portland, Ore,, ith the local'dailies in revolt against printing any .radio news or chatter, KOIN has come forth with the idea of a paid ad radio column. It goes in at display rates and is edited by Les Halpin, of KOIN. To.get attention, KOIN is offering, a $50 prize for a title to the column, accompanied by ideas on what makes the best reading. Widdifield with Seeds Chicago, Sept. 6. Freeman Keyes, Russell M. Seeds, agency chief, has brought in Cecil Widdifield to handle radio scripting and production supervision. Widdifield was formerly with the Schwimmer & Scott agency locally. and the chain's refusal to file an answer to the suit, according to A. J. Westbery, attorney of KOL. Formal dismissal later is only formality. Senator Bone charged at the time of filing of the. suit that it was mere- ly a political attempt to embarrass hi in his campaign for re-election. Now She's Grown Up Philadelphia, Sept. 6. Ginger Manners, now appearing here at the Forrest in Max Gordon's revue, 'Sing:'Out the News,' did a guester Sunday (4) morning on her alma.mater, Horn & Hardart kiddies show from WCAU. Fem'nie broke in, on the show from WABC, when that station al- ternated with WCAU. each week in its presentation. NEW $25,000 SUIT VS. KEEN, SEATTLE Seattle, Sept. 6. KVLj Inc., operators of KEEN, part time platter indie, is on the re- ceiving end Of a suit for $25,000 filed in the Superior Court against it. the ' Seattle Little Business Men's Bureau: and others by E. B. Fish, labor relations expert. Station only a few days ago defended itself against the appointment of a re- ceiver to protect a judgment of $12,- 500 secured by Howard Ryan, ad agency head. According to the complai , a broadcast that the Little Business Men's Bureau made Aug. 9 over KEEN, was alleged by Fish to have been done 'maliciously' and to 'ex- pose' the plaintiff to hatred,' con- tempt, ridicule, etc;, and to injure the plaintiff in his employment. Other defendants include Frank Olson, charged with preparing the statement as an agent for the Bu- reau. New WWNC Home Spartanburg, S. C, Sept. 6. WWNC, one of largest stations in Carolinas, will be housed, in new plant of. Asheville Citizen-Times, scheduled for completion early next year. Station is now located in Flatiron building and is owned and operated by Citizen Broadcasting Co., sub- sidiary of newspaper publishing com- pany. 'Crimson Trail' From Hollyw'd Set for Canada Toronto, Sept 6. First"... built-in-Holly wood r a d i o show aimed exclusively at Canadian listeners, 'The Crimson Trail,' shoves off. Oct. 3 under sponsorship of Maple Leaf Milling Co., makers of Red River Cereal.' Empire-building series of 65 epi- sodes (15 mins.) will go out thrice- weekly at supper-time to catch the juve listeners of CFRB, Toronto; CFCF, Montreal; CBO, Ottawa; CKY, Winnipeg; CKCK,. Regina; CKWX, Vancouver; CJAT, Trail; CHNS, Halifax; CFCY, Charlotte- town; CFNB, Fredericton; CKLW, Windsor; CHSJ. St.. John.. Promotion and merchandising by . Cockfleld- Brown, Toronto; Chicago, Sept. 6. From a sustainer seven years ago, 'Lone Ranger' show this month be- comes a $i,00b,000-a-year proposi- tion. In this, its seventh year, and sixth as a commercial, the show will gross around $000,000 on the air and will snatch an additional $400,000 from its various; sidelines. Alan Campbell, general manager of WXYZ, Detroit, who has been the nurse and guardian of the program since, its inception, last week signa- tured a deal for an additional 35 sta- tions for the-program, bringing the number of. station^ carrying 'Lone Ranger' 16 a total of 87. New com- mitments are through the south and southwest, primarily for the Ameri- can Baking Co. Campbell has now licensed 48 out- side companies, to ti -in with the 'Lone Ranger' popularity. Products include such items as chewing gum,, candy, department store displays, caps, irigiblcs, cowboy hats, suits, books, animated cartoons, pop-guns, handkerchiefs; balloons. Also there has been the 'Lone Ranger' picture serial- and this week the 'Lone Ranger' newspaper cartoon strip hits some 120 dailies from coast-to-coast through King Features syndication; Campbell has already started 'Lone Ranger' oh the radio in the foreign market, having set the show in Au- strali , South Africa, Canada and other English-speaking countries. Trendle's Braln-Child Original idea for 'Lone Ranger* was the brain-child of George Tren- dle, of the King-Trendle' radio flrni and Paramount theatre circuit part- ner and operator. Following In the wake of 'Lone Ranger' is the other WXYZ serial, 'Green Hornet,' which is aired on Tuesday and Thursday; alternating with 'Ranger' on the ether. .Just as the 'Ranger' program has been re- strlcted almost completely to baker* ies, 'Hornef Is aimed at sponsorship by dairy companies.