Variety (Jul 1939)

24 VARIETY RADIO Wcdnefiday, July 5, 1939 Allen Zoll Arrested with $200 Marked I Money, Says It Was 'Salary' From Flamm; He Led WMCA Picket Line Donald Flamm, head of WMCA, N.'-Y., last week struck back at the Father Coughlinltes that have been picketing his station for months by causing the arrest of AUen ZoU, who, Flamm alleged, offered to call off the Sunday afternoon picket demonstra- tion for a cash payment of $7,500. Zoll, charged wiUi suspicion of at- tempt to extort, was held In $5,000 bail by Magistrate Richard F. Mc- Kinery, who set a . hearing for this Friday (7). Arrest was made at the Lexington hotel where FJamm, accompanied by detectives from District Attorney Thomas Dewey's office, had gone to keep an appointment with Zoll. Ac- cording to the officers, Zoll accepted $200 in marked money from Flamm. Zoll denied that it was extortion money, claiming that he got it as 'salary' as a sales consultant in the matter of getting rid of the pickets. The picketing demonstrations have ' been going on since last December when the station dropped the Cough- lin broadcasts after the Detroit cler- gyman was charged with disseminat- ing anti-Semitism. Zoll, the arrestii^g detectives stated, had been noticed on the picket line and on one occasion told the attending police that in the future he would lead the picketing. CHI ADMAN PROTEST AFRA SCALE Trying Religion Radio talent agent last week remarked to some other agents that he has decided to be on the level for .a year. If, be added, that doesn't work, he can always. go back to his old methods. $50 MINIMUM FOR SPIEERS INST.L Chicago, July 4. 'Agencies and networks in Chicago kot together last week and organized a general Joint committee. to con' ■Ider the new scale and code pro- mulgated by the local American Federation of Radio Artists. This committee, composed of representa- tives from practically every agency buying radio time in Chicago, stand ready to negotiate with AFRA on the proposed scale for local shows, and Insist that the individual agea cies will not negotiate separately yrith AFRA. Committee has been disquieted over the prices listed for local shows by the .Chi AFRA, and claim that they will never be able to get their sponsors to okay any such amounts for local productions. Insist that there is too small a differential be- tween the network talent prices and the local talent costs, and are de- manding that local AFRA reduce its proposed scale considerably before they will signature an agreement. Local AFRA is asking $70 mini- mum scale for a Ove-a-week across- the-board script job. This compares with $75 for the same job on a' net- work show. For single engagements the AFRA is asking $19 local scale which takes in a &0-mlnute job of both rehearsal and show. This com- pares with $24 for. the network as- signment. What is getting the committee memljcrs down particularly is the AFRA price of $7.50 for station break ' announcements. This is' for either monolog or dialog announce- ment assignments. In genera], the committee Is wait- ing for a get-together with the AFRA local to point out that the proposed local rate for talent is higher than the West Coast network scale. St. Louis, July 4. Principle of extra dough 'to be paid KMOX gabbers for working commercial programs was tentatively Ironed out here Saturday (1) when St Louis " Chapter of AFRA and KMOX, local CBS outlet, reached an agreement 'after a prolonged series of huddles; Local 'pact awaits an official OJC'from national headquar- ters of AFRA in 'New 'York. The principal point Involved here and one tbat threatened on several occasions to blow up the entire works was the amount to be paid staff gabliers for working commer- cial programs. Compromise reached gives gabbers approximately $6 for 15 mins. commercial programs worked out of their regular sked. This point was bitterly fought as AFRA representatives maintained the gabbers were entitled to extra fees for every sponsored program, in or outside of their sked. Merle S. Jones, gen. mgr. of KMOX, took the position that to pay the gabbers extra fees for working commercial programs within their sked amounted to double pay. He received the backing of CBS execs in New York on this point. Points ef Agreement Other points of agreements reached provide for a $50 per week minimum for seven staff gabbers and a 10% increase for all mikemen. About 20 continuity writers, news writers, special program announcers and commentators, also elevated to a $50 per week minimum, receive a 15% wage Increase. A minimum of $48 for staff warblers and actors was fixed and a satisfaictory wage scale will be made for free lance singers and actors. Three gabbers. Bob Dunham, Dan Donaldson and John Jacobs, who were under the mini- mum, will, by virtue of the pact, benefit more than the others, pon 9th Yf. for Newscast Hollywood, July 4. .Richfield (oil) Reporter has been extended for another year, its ninth, on NBC coast network starting In August Newscast has been airing continu- ously since .1931 in the same 10 p. m. Cpot Phillips, Jim Alt, Maurice CUfTer and Sid Saimders. On April 24, 'when the pow wows began, Mrs. Emily Holt, natl. exec, sec. of .AIHA, came here for two weeks, but after fruitless efforts to reach an agreement with Jones, re- turned to New York. Several weeks ago Vic Connors, San Francisco, exec. sec. of the Pacific Northwest Division of AFRA, came here and resumed negotiations. Frequent hud- dles were held, but an Impasse was reached two weeks ago, with both sides refusing to budge from their positions. Threats of walkouts, strikes, etc., were frequently made.- After negotiations were dropped, Connors and Nellie Booth, sec. of the St Louis Chapter, long distanced national headquarters pf AFRA In New York and reported on the situ- ation. On Friday (30) Jones again met with Connors and Miss Booth and this session developed Into one of endurance, lasting 14V& hours. The conferees met the following day and after an eight-hour session tenta- tively reached agreement Will run until Jan. 1, 1941, and will cost the station about $10,000 in extra com- pensation. Those who participated in the final huddle besides Jones, Connors and Miss Booth were Ar- thur Casey, production director for KMOX, and Wallston Chubb, attor- ney for KMOX. Doc Brinkley Talking OfSSO.OOO'WatterTo Start Next Carr P. Collins, Dallas merchant and insurance man, who has taken over the operation of XEAW, Rey- nosa, which is just across the Texas border, Is circularizing ad agencies with a letter telling about the Mex- ican transmitter's plans for the faU. Though it's runnmg intermittently, early in the morning and some in the evening, the station will be back on the air in the fall with a boost to 100,000 watts. Prior to taking over XEAW from Doc Brinkley, goat gland purveyor, Collins was cam- paign manager for Ciov. Lee O'Dan- lel.'of Texas. Brinkley is now operating XERA at Laredo and expects to raise the power of this one to 850,000 watts in October, unless the Mexican gov- ernment actmg on FCC protests, intervenes. Lionel Brown Stages Play, Complete, for Television London, June 27. Another television milestone will be premiering of a new full-length play prior to its West End opening. Drama is Tox- in the Morning' by Lionel Brown, and set-up Is for it to see the light of day over BBC telecasting system during the fall. Subsequently it wUl have a four- week workout In the sticks before moving to town for a West End en- gagement Dear Raifio: Please Tell Me- Al Mitchell, who conducts The Answer Man* on WOR, New Yorki has collected some classics from his fan malL Here are some of the choicest questions he has been requested to answer: A man I hnou viked me to his a^rtment to see Ms etcHnnt. Whot are •ttchirigit Is the stoTV about Fred Allen Ieamin0 to be a comedian from the teach' ings of Jack Benny true? Will vou please explain the term tomato' (n reference to a girl? For example, 'Who Is that tomato I saw you with last night? If a lover is a male, what is the female called? Can you tell me the English translation of the popular song hit, 'Hold Tight?' . How long will I live if I was bom in 1891? I am a hard working man, like to drink once.In a toMle and am 49 years old. . How many knives did the children of Israel take into Egypt? Can I have a baby in sic months, special dellverv? My wife plays, kiss .for kiss with other man—I shoot both—huh? Do you need a college education to become a street cleoner? I went to the World's Fair and J seen 'Little Old New York.' Is that the real John L. Sullivan or is someone impersonating him? / heard that. President McKinley'a fymeraX was so sad that even the horses cried. Is this true? San Francisco Musicians Union Eases Rules, More Expo Pick-Ups Expected Rector 0£F CBC Board Montreal, July 4. Rev. A. Vachon has resigned from the board of governors .of the Can- adian Broadcasting'Corporation. He's rector of Laval University, Quebec City. Adrien Pouliot secretary of the faculty of science at Laval, has l>een appointed for the unexpired por- tion of Rev. Vachon's term on the CBC ending Nov. 2, 1941. CANCEL FINE FOR RISQUE 'CLEOPATRA' Mexico City, July 4. Radiol entertainers In Mexico are entitled to use snappy material it It is not libelous, doesn't offend good taste nor trample on racial and re- ligious sentiments, and if It la his- torically correct So ruled the na- tional supreme court in granting Henry W. Curtis, announcer-enter- tainer for a local station, an injunc- tion against the ministry of com- munications and publio works, ruler of air affairs in this country. Min- istry had collected a $200 fine,, im- posed because It objected to Curtis' broadcast account of tiie meeting of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. The ministry thought that Curtis' story was far too snappy. Curtis got a lower court injunction against pay- ment of the fine. The ministry ap- pealed to the supreme court ♦♦♦♦♦«♦«« ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦4«««4«4*» M »«««»««» M « M « MMM ««»««««««»«»»» f SUMMARY OF NAB. SINCE ITS REVISION t♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦>♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Les Joy, manager of KYW, Phila- delphia, did a double as a warbler Saturday (1) and Sunday. He ac- companied the Orpheus club to New York to present a vocal program in the Court of Peace at the Fair, as part of the concert of the Associated Glee Clubs. On Monday (10) rsxt t:ie 17th an- nual convention of the National As- sociation of Broadcasters begins. It happens to be scheduled for Atlantic City, which happens to be a town of 'WldeH>pen merriment On a basis of past performances, the broadcasters are expected to enjoy themselves. Whether tliey also do much serious brain-cudgeling may, as a matter of fact not be too important - Conven- tions don't, make or °i>reak trade as- sociations any more than the words the clergyman utter- insure a happy marriage. What counts in NAB is what goes on week in and week out That means Neville Miller, Ed Kirby, Paul Peter, Jo MiUer, Ed Spence and the rest of the staff. They've had a year, and they have, by w.ia' seems to be common consent, gotten a lot done in that year. NAB is i. fai- healthier looking specimen of human endeavor than was the flabby embodiment of small time politics that was.getting the head-shakes of observers in Feb- ruary, 1938, at the Washington con- vention. NAB at that time after a series of flbpperoo conventions and various fratricidal episodes, wasn't loved even by Its children. It was in this atmosphere of doubt and mis- givings that the first steps toward reorganization were taken. Actually the new regime.. .ttes from July 1, 1938. Developments since then which .have, taken together, in- creased NAB's. reputation for alert- ness and punch (leaving ultimate results to future appraisal) are as follows: 1. The fight to force the FCC to back down—which It did—from its inconsistent and confused first attl- t.-.de on 'Beyond the Horizon,' semi- classic of Eugene O'Neill, which be- came a causus belli of attempted censorship. NAB actively partici- pated in the fight in which, for once, the press generously recognized that the issue went beyond radio. 2. NAB slapped down one of the powerful advertising agencies, 'Blackett-Sample-Hummert for. what the trade regarded as a chiseling attempt to use the agency's prestige to force free merchandising services, commonly held to t>e a disguised form of rate-cutting. 3. Neville Miller grappled with the issue of racial and religious in- tolerance and hatred as represented by Father Coughlin and Judge Rutherford. 4. The controversial broadcast issup, and other hot ^tatoes, were approached for the purpose of united action. This has culminated In the proposed code which this year's con- vention is asked to ratify. 9. Miller has sought to take deal- ings with ASC;AP out of the realm of name-calling and mutual bitter- ness and bring the matter Into realistic focus in the light of (a) facts as they exist (b) the principle of the best possible.deaL 6. The regional sub-associations were set up and became forums of practical usefulness. . - 7. The 'opert house' week, which, while n6t an unqualified success be- cause calling for cooperation with Radic Mfrs. Assn., and cumbersome to handle. all the way, was impor- tant as evidence of a maiden try at public relations on a big scale by the industry as a whole. 8. Ah NAB 'Bureau of Advertis- ing was laid out and Is now getting under way. 9. Labor, Law and Research, func- tions . of NAB, were organized and coordinated for the first time. ■ , 10. A better working understand- ing with the film industry was opened up. In the latter connection radio filed a protest at the 'Greater Movie' advertising campaign that ig- nored radio altogether. San Francisco, July 4. Increase in broadcasts from the (jolden Gate International Exposi- tion is expected following agreement between local stations and Musicians Union Local No. 6 which will permit stations to broadcast from Treasure Island without any additional musi- cians' fees and to apply the amount spent for fair programs to their annual quota for music. The union had sought to up the scale for all broadcasts from the expo and to exclude the money thus spent from the regular music budget Benny Goodman and his band, which began a two-week engage^ ment at the Fai.r Sunday, playing three free concerts daily, will be available for broadcasts over ell three networks, CBS, NEC and Mutual. His contract however, pro« vides that he can do no broadcasts on the day before or the day follow- ing his new Camel cigarett* com- mercial on NBC, which begins next Saturday (8), and only his Camel show on Saturdays. The expo has Goodman's band under option for two more weeks following his pres- ent engagement. Artie Shaw will do his Old Gold show from the fair next Tuesday (11). Because he is doing six per- formances at the Golden Gate Theatre, where he opens a week'* engagement today, this evening's 014 Gold program will originate in Sad Francisco at the Community Play- house instead of at the expo Jn order to save tlm<;. Kay Kyser will return here for a week at the faft's Treasure^sland Theatre starting July 14, followed by a week at the Bal T&barin, doinC his 'CoUege of Musical Knowledge* broadcast for Lucky Strike from the Hall of W;estern States each Wed- nesday. Bennie Walker's Amateur Hour, bankrolled by the Old Homestead Bakery, «Irs Its final broadcast for the summer from the Hall of West- ern States tonight With three thousand dollars week- ly now being given the expo's radio division to spend on talent etc., an 18-piece orchestra under the direc- tion of Jack Joy, formerly of Holly- wood, has .been engaged and audi- tions are being held for singers and' other types of entertainers. The production and announcing staff* also are being enlarged. STATION IDEAS WBNS Helped tbe Zoe . Columbus,. O. WBNS this week presents the Co- lumbus Zoo with a baby elephant Purchase of animal was made by station, using penny contributions of young listeners, running well into four figures. To promote interest a contest for elephant's name was used, with a bicycle as top prize. 'Time Is Money' . Montreal. New quiz program originating' at CKAC, entiUed 'Le Temps C'est L'Argent' (Time Is Money) Is worked with an electric clock. Person to audience answering any given ques- tion gets a dollar for every second less than 10 seconds. Station has te pay a dollar for every second an- nouncer takes to answer queries from audienaik