Variety (May 1939)

Wednesday, May 17, 1939 RADIO VARIETY 21 Compedtioii, Florida Style Florida broadcasters are regarded by agency time buyers aa th« toughest buncli of brealter-downers in the business when it comes to trying to wean away an account on a competitive station. The Florld- ians have no.compunction, say the agency men, about making a re- cording ol a competitor's broadcast and shipping the disc to the agency involved with a note sneering at the way the program was handled and remarking that it ought to be moved over to a good station.' The letters state that .the off-the-air recordings are primarily being forwarded to show the agency "how its show is being abused, and then follows the suggestion that results inight not be so bad if better facilities were afforded, subh as that available on the writer's station. The agency men pay scant attention to these needling methods, since they realize that a competitor in taking off a program isn't likely to invest the job with the utmost technical care. Room for Newscasters in Congress If Tourists Don't Get There First Washington, May 16. Radio's answer to cbntinued ritz- Ings .by the Washington pr«ss corps was sieen last week in the organiza- tion of the Radio Correspondents' Association, comprising radio re- porters and newsgatherers in the Capital. New victory was gained by the radio scribes 1%ursday (11) when final recognition was given them by the White House and all Government Departments. News- casters, who gained admittance to the House and Senate press, gal- leries fortnight ago, are now prlvi- teged to attend the President's press conferences and news huddles held by various cabinet members. President of the new organization •-which must compete with the White House Correspondents' Asso-. ciation and the memberships of the Capitol press galleries—is' Fulton Lewis, Jr., Washington.commentator for MBS—for many years a regular news correspondent for Universal News Service. Albert E. Warner, former boss of the New York Her- ald Trib's Washington bureau who was snapped up by DBS when he quit over a difference of editorial opinion, is vice-president of the new R. C. A., With William McAndrews, Washington news editor for NBC, elected secretary. Frederick Mor- rison, Congressional correspondent tot Transradlo Press Service, ap- pointed treasurer. More ttian 25 radio correspondents, ^mmentators and reporters have Joined the organization. Considerable muttering among the newspaper pencil-pushers over the letting up of a separate press room (or the radio hoys. Reservation of a front row in the public gallery of the House, adjoining the regular press gallery, also was greeted with hoots of derision, when scribes dis- covered that gallery tourists almost Invariably crowd their way into the aacred radio precincts. Newsmen are protected from' the lioi-polloi by having their own sec- tion of the gallery, fenced .off from the' sightseers and' acee^ible only through the news room. - Radio re- porters, so far, must be content with k single shelf—covered with snappy blue billiard cloth—on which to rest their elbows and scribble their notes. Gallery-gawkers have shown % tendency to push past the radio inen without noticing that they are invading a work-space. THE SIEGE OF FORT KELLOGG N. Y. agency man back from the scene last week reported that it's tough getting accommodations in the hotels in Battle Creek, Mich., be- eause they're loaded up with ad men trying to get the Kellogg account nway from J. Walter Thompson. He said that he knew of at least £4 agencies that have talked to the new powers-that-bie in the cereal organization about granting them a hearing when and if it decided to change agencies. Bradley Casps for Air Hollywood, May 16. Truman Bradley is reviving his commentator turn for summer spon- sorship. Writer who used to whip up his scripts has been called here from Chicago. Bradley is under contract at Metro but is permitted an outside air shot. SEARCHING THE TITLE Original Antfior Lost in Rewrite*— Holds Up Campbell Deal Campbell Soup will start a day- time strip on Columbia as soon es it can be reasonably sure that no litigation will result from the pro- gram. The show has been rewritten so many times that those currently concerned with it have lost sight' of the creator .of the original idea. Food canner apparently Intends to confine Itself to -script programs, with the newcomer supplementing the Amos 'n' Andy series. Account drops the Orson Welles show June 2. Biffs From Balto \ Mfn >« MMMMM > MM « By ROD REED Baltimore, May 16. Amooo sponsored the Preakness, even though all participants in the race used a rival fuel, hay. We repeat that Winchell has been renewed on radio for a year just in case you missed the story last week, Adolf. Radle cowboys alarmed at WLS rodeo act They're scared of horses. Kids may counter-protest against grownup cliflhangers which so en- gross mama she lets the roast burn. Don Ameehe's typed as Alex. In film as Alex Graham Bell and Alex Ragtime Band and on air he plays Smart Alex. MoMe: Don't ridicule the amateurs —they probably make more than you do. Reprise Disasters mount up by the dozens While jestert joke of aunts and COUStTlS. John Steel, Bil Shirer Dne Over on Maiden Trip On New Maoretania CBS and Mutual have already ac- cepted the invitation of the White Star Cunard Line to assign repre- sentatives to the maiden voyage of the new S. S. Mauretania. The boat will leave Liverpool June 17 and arrive in New York June 23. Tech- nicians from the British Broadcast- ing Co. will man the facilities aboard, as happened in the case of - the Queen Mary's maiden trip. The American networks are expected to put on at least three broadcasts from the ship. Mutual will have its European rep and commentator, John Steel, on the Mauretania, while William Shirer, CBS' Central European rep, will use the occasion also as his homeward lap for a several weelcs* vacation. NBC has yet to decide on a ship commentator. HEAVY NAME BARRAGE ON SCREEN GUILD SHOWS Hollywood, May 16, Screen Guild is loading up on names for next two Gulf programs May 21 and 28. Lineup for first date comprises Reginald Gardiner as emcee, Robert Benchley, Constance Bennett, Maxie Rosenbloom, Errol Flynn and Gertrude Niesen.. Taking their turn on the' relief show the following Sunday will be Roland Young as emcee. Fibber McGee and Molly, Ann Sheridan, Nelson Eddy and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Harry Ackerman Is back on the program as assistant producer after Illness of two months. Gulf summer show carries tag of Gulf Musical Playhouse. Erno Rapee's orchestra and Vocalists Jane Froman and Jan Peerce carry on for the 13-week hiatus of the Guilders. Thomqaest Quits WSAI Cincinnati, May 16. Jack Thornquest resigned Satur- day (13) as WSAI sales manager. No successor to be appointed. Duties will be assumed by Dewey Long, general manager of the sta- tion. CHmSBIOU PAOGBAMS WAAP Chicago, M.ay 16. Richard Chindblom has been ap- pointed program director of WAAF, the Drovers Journal station in the Palmer House. Chindblom was formerly assistant program/ director at Columbia- WBBM here. PUTS AUDIENCE REACTION IN AUDITION Audience at CBS Playhouse No. 2, New York, were given a glance at a new quiz program Saturday night (13) immediately after the PhiUp Morris 'Johnny Presents' show went off the air. Jack Johnstone and Max Marcin, director and writer of the Morris show, requested the audience to stick around while .they sneak previewed the unnamed quiz in broadcast style. Program was recorded with audi ence reaction, platters to be used for auditioning purposes. Horlick's Takes 'Ranger* Chicago, May 16. 'Lone Ranger' program on WGN here has snagged a new sponsor, Horlick's Malted Milk company, which takes over' the plugging rights on the show on June 9. Con- tract is for 52 weeks. Ri)che, Williams & Cunnyngham agency set Uie deaL Mrs. Carrinston's New Script New Elaine Sterne Carrlngton 19- minute serial, 'When a Girl Marries,' is set to start May 29 over Columbia network. ' Sponsored by Prudential Life Insurance. Program airs at 2:4B p.m. Monday through Friday. N.A£. Frowns Upon RCA Victor Offer of Its Red Seal Records As a Time-Chiseling Device DOLE STAY INDEF Pbll Baker Show May Be Replaced By Cheaper Frogram Phil Baker winds up for Dole July 8 and conferences are slated between the. account and the agency, Young & Rubicam, for this week to decide whether to run another but cheaper show through the summer. Baker program is on CBS Satur- daj' nights. L & T. Prodoction On District Attorney'; Lord Just Collects Pepsodent will replace the Bob Hope show for the summer on the NBC red (WEAF) link Tuesday nights with a half hour version of 'District Attorney,' the serial now running on a sustaining basis in the blue (WJZ) network's 7-7:19 p.m. niche. The starting date of the scripter for Pepsodent is July 27. Hope is due back in the spot Sept. 19. 'District Attorney' goes off July 16 as a sustainer.. Lord 8c Thomas will assume the show's production, with PhiUips H. Lord dohig noth- ing but collecting a royalty on the idea. If the script clicks during the summer it will become a second show for Pepsodent on the blue link. WNEW FINAUY SETS NIXON'S SUCCESSOR Publicity and special events di- rector post vacated by Larry Nixon several months ago at WNEW, N. Y, was filled yesterday (Tuesday) i>y Dick Bard, formerly with NBC 'and CBS In similar capacities. Nixon left the station for free-lance writing. Bard was also with WHN, N. Y., for a time. He takes over from Judy Dupny, who has filled in since Nixon's exit She'll remain to carry on her usual duties and assist Bard. Simeone Joint Waring Hollywood, May-16. .Harry Simeone late this month joins Fred Waring as director of the band's choral group and assistant conductor. He has been granted six months' leave from his music duties atKNX. ' Simeone had his own program, 'Styles by Simeone,' on the Columbia station and directed the choruses oh severed network programs. Union Fdes $4,000 daiin Under Wage-Hours Law; Cites 4 in St Louis St Louis, May 16. Harry M. Brady, business repre- sentation of IBEW, Local No. 1, has presented claims totaling approxi- mately $4,000 for time and one-half allegedly due members of the local between the time the wage and hour law became effective last October and Feb. 15 last, when a new con- tract was signed with local stations. The claims, filed with W. Mason, wage and hour bill administrator here, are directed against KXOK, KMOX, KSb and KWK and be- tween 35 and 40 members of Local No. 1 are Involved. The claim charges these stations did not obey the law as to techni- cians and further asserts the statute provides that all technicians who were not put under the 44-hour week are to receive time and one-half for every hour worked each week over the 44-hour limit regardless of what any standing contract called for. WTMV, East St Louis, has been giv- ing technicians a 3e-hour week since it started operation; WEW is work- ing 40 hours and less per week, and WIL immediately put the 44-hour week into effect when the bill be-! came law. I ENTERTAINMENT BACK Philip Morris Replaces Dropped Qalz With Music (Remember?) Philip Morris will replace it's 'Guess Where' program on WOR- Mutual this Friday (19) with a once weekly musical show tagged 'Breez- ing Along.' Using Johnny Green's orchestra, a new vocal group, Bever- ly and her Bel Airs, and Charles O'Connor, m.c, ifU hit WGN, Chi- cago, and WLW, Cincinnati, also. Show will originate from the Mu- tual Playhouse in the New Amster- dam Theatre building, N. Y. KSL With CBS to 1944 Salt Lake City, May 16. KSL has dotllned an affiliation contract with CBS extending until August, 1944. Earl J. Glade, station managing director, confirmed deal today.. H. V. Akerberg and M. R. Runyon negotiated the renewal for Colum- bia. Washington, May 16. Well-meaning broadcasters were advised last week to turn the other cheek, passing up a ground-floor op- portunity to save talent costs by us- ing RCA-Victor phonograph records offered philanthropically. Without . remarking that the company is in the transcription business (NBC Thesaurus) and currently is suing - to establish its proprietory rights, the NAB advised the industry that the arrangement suggested by the Camden factory are nothing but a time-chiseling proposition. Announcement was prompted by RCA-Victor's offer to supply 'Red Seal' platters for use without charge on sustaining 'Music You Want When You Want It' programs. Trade body merely printed the answer to an inquiry to show why the idea was termed a violation of the 'code of ethics.' In responding to the quiz, the .Camden outfit recalled that it felt, originally, that 'it was, in our opinion, necessary to refuse these requests 'when broadcasters initially asked permission to turntable the 'Red Seal' discs. Because of the 'vital interests of our great Victor artists and musical organizations.' Now, according to the letter, RCA- Victor is being a good Samaritan for station-owners and 'granting the re- quest' of station managers who want to spin the platters before the micro- phone. Admission was made that playing the records over the air might 'be beneficial to our Victor Record artists by increasing the de- mand for the specific records used on the program, thereby reflecting to the credit of the Victor Record art- ists in the royalties paid by our company.' General Mills Ties Up Philfies, Seeks Atldetics; Atlantic Status Uncertain Philadelphia, May 16. General Mills has signed a $200,- 000 deal for exclusive rights to air the games of the Phillies for the next five years. Believed to be the largest lump sum ever paid for broadcast rights so far In advance, the wad of coin pulled the baseball club out of a bad financial hole. The per-season broadcast rate Is slightly below the $45,000 which the Mills Is paying for this year's rights. N. W. Ayer is now attempting °to purchase from'General Mills broad- casting rights to the games. Cereal firm this year sold a half-interest In the PhUlies rights to Atlantic in return for Atlantic granting them, privilege of broadcasting the Ath- letics, to whom Atlantic owns ex- clusive rights. In that way both sponsors are able to air all the games of both teams. Atlantic broad- casts on WIP, while General Mills uses the WCAU transmitter. Atlantic is anxious to continue airing baseball, but is uncertain of its chances here for the future. Its exclusive contract with the Athletics is up this year. Joseph R Rollins, advertising manager, said his com- pany doesn't want to be squee:ted out but likewise would be dubious about putting up any fantastic sum. General Mills is known to be ne- gotiating with owners of the Amer- ican League team here, but what progress is being made is still se-. cret Neither Ayer nor Atlantic knew about the Phillies deal until It appeared in the newspapers. Jim Ameche Carries On As Beyer Goes Europe Woodbury Playhouse summer dramatics will have Jim Ameche and Gale Page In the leads. Charles Boyer takes his 13-week respite in Europe after June 25 broadcast Harry Sosnik continues as musical director.' Foremost of the show remains the same under direction of Mann Hollner of Lennen Sc Mitchel agency. Lanretle Taylor guests next Sun* day (21) on the Magic Key program, doing a bit from 'Peg o' My Heart' Date set by the William Morris of- fice.