Variety (Sep 1938)

Wednesday, September 28, 1938 RA DIO VARIETY 41 MORE RUTHERFORD GRIEF . + • ———. Inactive Special Relay licenses Will Be Canceled by FCC Second Boomerang Within Several Months as Leader of Jehovah Witnesses Opens Up Again on Cath- olic Church CUT OFF AIR Washington, Sept. 27; Complaints against several Colo- rado transmitters which last week aired an anti-Catholic speech by Judge Joseph J. Rutherford of the Jehovah's Witnesses cult have been lodged with the Federal Communica- tions Commission, officials revealed Saturday (24). Though not at liberty to disclose call letters of the stations involved, or names of com- plainants, members of the Commish legal department admitted that 'sev- eral' squawks had been received from individuals outraged by the hour-long tirade against the Catho- lic Church. Believed that KFKA, Greeley, was chief target for the criticisms, since other stations hurriedly cut off Rutherford when knob-twiddlers protested by telephone. KFKA al- lowed the broadcast to run the full hour, but other transmitters threw the switch after approximately 25 minutes. Representing the second time in four months that Western transmit- ters have burned their fingers on a Rutherford program, tirade was aired over KFKA and KLZ and KVOR, Denver. Blast was also contracted over WKY, Oklahoma' City. Last three transmitters were warned be- forehand and stood ready to take emergency actoin if Rutherford's talk got too hot for listeners, accord- ing to reports from Denver. Commish law division still ponder- ing complaints received last June, when a similar situation arose over a Rutherford broadcast aired on the Pacific Coast. In that instance KOL, Seattle, was principal offender, but KMO and KVI, Tacoma, KIT, Yakima, and KVOS, Bellingham, also carried the sizzling attack on the Catholic and other religious faiths. Squawk to the Federal agency named KOL. More Apolpgies Trouble over the Witnesses' program in the State of Washington was duplicated in last week's Colo- rado incident. Public apologies were run in local papers by KVOR and other transmitters attempted to paci- fy listeners by airing their regrets. Same tactics- were adopted by Wash- ington stations last summer—par- ticularly when outraged churchmen boycotted goods advertised over the transmitters involved. Eastern stations apparently . have adopted a,policy through which ad- vances of Rutherford and his Wit- nesses can be politely ducked. Group —which is well-heeled by contribu- tions from followers—has tried un- successfully to buy time on several important stations located on the At- lantic seaboard. Squawks against the Washington and Colorado stations will be studied by the Commish legal department, but nature of punishment, if any, probably will remain a secret until winter business gets under way. WBNS' Dilemma Columbus, Sept. 27. In answer to Catholic criticism of Judge Rutherford's transcribed talks on WBNS, Manager Richard A. Borel has asked a board of citizens of various religious faiths to pass on all broadcasts of a controversial nature. Rutherford's London speech touch- ed off the Catholic attack. * An edi- torial in the Columbus Catholic Co- lumbian and severe criticism of the Rutherford speeches from the Catho- lic pulpit was followed by threats of a boycott of the station. Local Catho- lics brought pressure on merchants who use WBNS. WBNS is in a peculiar position in regard to the Rutherrord talks. Sta- tion was formerly owned by Ruther- ford organization, Jehovah's Wit- nesses, operating as WCAH. When station was purchased by the Wolfe newspaper interests it was stipulated in the contract that WBNS should continue to broadcast Rutherford's ■ discs, without recompense, as long as the Judge's organization wished, as part of the purchase price. WBNS is currently broadcasting the Rutherford transcriptions daily at 6:30 a.m., with two broadcasts on Sundays. Toscaninl Due Oct. 5 Arturo Toscanini starts his new series of concerts on NBC Oct. 15. Is due in U. S. Oct. 5. WHK School Offshoot Cleveland, Sept. 27. Outgrowth of WHK's series of 15- minute educational programs for schools last semester is a new short- wave station, operated by municipal school board, which began broad- casting the three R's Monday (26) to 138,000 kids in public school system. Station is a 500-watter, operating on-41.5 megocycles, and will be heard in 150 schools equipped with receiv- ing sets. Each one also has a p.a. system reaching all class-rooms. Helen Diller, Canadian cowgirl yodeler, who guested on WLW's Boone County Jamboree show Sept. 16, has become a regular member of the Crosley talent staff. Washington, Sept. 27. General tightening of government supervision over relay broadcast sta- tions has been started, with more than two-dozen such transmitters put on temporary license basis. Purge of licensees who make little or no use of the facilities is scheduled. As has been done with holders of experimental permits, the Federal Communications Commission expects to hale on the carpet relay station owners who do not seem to be ex- ploiting their assignments to the maximum. Sloths will be knocked off the roost, in an endeavor to pre- vent waste of limited number of facilities. Kay Kittendorf, Vi Thompson, Jean Burnet, Nick Mariana and Tom Campbell are additions to the cast of 'Dude Ranch,' 60-minute dramatic musical show over KGVO, Missoula, Mont. will sell goods. Another user demonstrates its value ! People listen to WSAI. Long a source of the better programs. Favorable signal location on the dial. NBC and Mutual outlet. Popu- lar through advantages of big brother WLW. Constant accumulation of "results" im- presses local buyers. Extremely wary local advertising dollars insist on knowing who got what—refuse to buy on opinion. Satis- fied sponsors write, talk freely, and act de- cisively. (See* letter). LOCAL BOYS SEE WSAI MAKE GOOD Local dealer household appliances after year and a half on WSAI led in Cincinnati sales of Norge appliances. Gives WSAI much credit. Positive that momentum from this advertising carried him splendidly through last spring slump,—but "give away" knife— hardly mentioned on recent program, bring- ing 127 people to store clinched his faith in WSAI efficacy. Si,, ** ll *etoa -ifi" 1 * ^^rou tot .7, #a W*M, °»r J"a«t t** truly <6. / CINCINNATI TRAN^AMERICAN^ «*National Spot Representatives NEW YORK, CHICAGO, HOLLYWOOD