Variety (Aug 1939)

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31 •VARIETY'S' LONDON OFFICE • St. MwUn'f rUc«. Trafalgar Squnra INTERNATIONAL RADIO Oabta AUnmi TAUm LONDON Xtelepban* TMi|M» Bar SMt-CMIt New CBC Rule Curbs Disc Loophole For 'Grouch' Spiels by Rich Citizens Toronto, Aug. 1. Grimly determined to end tongue- In-lhe-cheek evasions of 'personal opinion' broadcasting restrictions, board o{ governors ot Canadian Broadcasting Corp, has authorized a new regulation prohibiting the use of electrical transcriptions of speeches. Situation was established when George McCulldugh, publisher o( the Globe and Mail, evaded the network ban by speaking over the one Toronto station he was allowed —while IS other stations simul- taneously put advance-prepared plat- ters on the turn-tables to coincide with the Toronto time-schedule. - Stand of CBC is that an individual with a grouch must not be permitted to air it simply because he has suf- ncient funds to buy up radio time. There are only 16 broadcasting hours a day, they point out, and the public wants to listen to radio features other than continuous beefs. But periods are regularly assigned to topical discussions and such matter ii not censored and broadcasting lacilities are free over the national network. Only 'freedom-of-speech' ban is that CBC will prevent grouch- ers with funds from gaining an un- fair advantage over other grouchers whose financial condition may pro- hibit their buying radio time. 10% CBC FEE FOR ARRANGING HOOKUPS Montreal, Aug. 1. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. will charge 10% service fee on private sta- tioa hookups starting September 24 tor booking programs, collecting, clearing time,, supplying information to agencies, etc. Service fee is to apply on time only, not on telephone lines, There will be no charge to origins' tlou stations. HIRE THEATRE FOR TICKET PROBLEM Radio-Educated Mexico City, Aug. 1. Aldofb Savin, ags nine, of the tall grass state of Sonora, has been-awarded a college scholar, ship by Mexico's President, I.azaro Cardenas. Boy never went to school but is up on every- thing, including three languages. He got smart listening to the radio. PRIZE VOGUE INAUSTRAUA Sydney, July 10. Prize giveway angle has intrenched itself so deeply in Australian radio that practically every commercial campaign now. Includes soma such giveaway when presented to a client. Whereas listener interest used to be stimulated by free theatre tickets and product samples, the current in- ducer must be either cash or costly prizes. Largely responsible for the estab- lishment of the money giveaway as a clincher for substantial audiences are the quiz shows. These pioneers in- cluded 'Spelling Jackpot,' 'Cuckoo Court' and 'Mathematical Problems.' Lever Bros, entered the giveaway ranks through its Lux Radio Thea- tre. It's offering two cakes of soap and a nail flle to 'Theatre' listeners and prizes of $4 to eacti person that guesses the correct title of a song in its 'Melody Riddles' program. Five riddles are included each week, mak- ing available $20 to any one that guesses them all. Winnipeg, Aug. 1. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Is to take over the oldtime Walker thea- tre for the Anal program of the sea- son ot Woodhouse and Hawkins (Art MacGregor and Frank Deaville), CBC comedians, on Aug. 25. Pro- gram officials are taking this way out of clearing up the large ticket demand for this show. Half hour is normally put on in studios of CKY where approximately 100 are han- dled weekly. Walker theatre holds 1,800. Same house is used by the net- work weekly for presentation of Winnipeg -Symphony and costs $250 a night for rental. Mexican Stations Promise To Obey Liquor Rule Mexico City, -Aug. 1. Local radio stations XEFO and XEUZ, mouthpieces of the Party of the Mexican Revolution, Mexico's strongest political party, have de- cided to conform to the federal law which forbids broadcasts of publicity for liquor. The stations had had troubles because they spurned warn- ings of tlia ministry of communica- tions and public works, ruler of air affairs in Mexico, to cease rum boosts.. Station's right about -face is at- tributed to shakeups in the Party. Jo Ella Haynes, formerly on the 'Dugan Family' program of KEHE, Hollywood, added to the stafT of KGKL, Roswell, New Mexico, and is now conducting daily 'Social Sec- retary of the Air.' AUDITION FOR WAR Ll(htnlii( SubJecU BBC to a Twl of Reseryo Eqalrment London, July 23. Longest main equipment break- down ever recorded on BBC network happened last week when main na- tional transmitter, at Droitwich, op- erating at 200 kilocycles, went out ot service for four hours, due to being struck by lightning. Effect of the flash was to burn up the antennae sus- pended at a height of 700 feet. Serv- ice viae sustained by switching over to the old 5XX long-wave sender, which has been out of commission for five years,- and which works on an output of only 30 kilowatts, against 120 kw from Droitwich. BBC smartly made capital out of the accident, as it was an excellent test of what might be achieved in wartime if the station were put out of action. Corp had already laid plans to fall back on SXX in such event, and try-out proved the trick could successfully be turned. Nor- mal transmission was resumed when the station opened at 10:15 a.m. yes- terday. Harry McLaughlin Out Of aRC-CJRM; Vk Neiisen Of Montreal Succeeds Winnipeg, Aug. 1. Harry McLaughlin resigned Thurs- day (28) as general manager ot the radio division of James Richardson Si Sons, Culminating other changes in this enterprise the general man- ager's exit was a major loca'l sur- prise. In addition to being chief ot the Radio Division of the grain Arm. which controls CJRC, Winnipeg and CJRM, Regina, McLaughlin was also head of the Radio Division of Can- adian Airways, an affiliated com- pany. He was. prominent in the Canadian Association of Broadcast- ers, being a member of the board to confer recently with directdrs -of the CBC (Government) when private broadcasters met the network offi- cials. Gradual dropping of staff started in this company when the CJftC house orchestra was given walking tickets, later the ax falling on mem- bers of the CJRC office staff with a total of five ovt in one way or an- other, McLaughlin's resignation mak- ing the sixth. Prior to this period CJRC, with 46 on the payroll, was reported to be operating wieli the largest staff of any independent sta- tion in the Dominion. A note, couched in official term.i. was issued from the executive of- fices of the Richardson concern Fri- day (28) stating that V. F. (Vic) Neiisen, manager of CFCF, Montreal, had been named to the post of gen- eral manager of the Radio Division. Neiisen, who prior to joining CFCF was with a Regina station, will take office Sept. I. James Richardson, president: .of. the company, died recently '(Jiine' 26) at the age of 54, with Mrs, Rich- ardson since assuming the position of president. NBCs Overseas Commentators John Royal While in England Set Churchill, Eden- Germany and Italy Don't Respond Mexico's lOOth Station Mexico City, Aug. 1. There are now 100 radio stations operating in the Republic of Mexico, government data reveals. Numbers 99 and 100 were just launched. They are: XECW, 1240 kilocycles, at Cordoba, Vera Cruz; licensed to Juan Sedas. XEDW, 300 watts, at Minatitlan, Vera Cruz; licensed to Hector Silva. In Canada Montreal, Aug. 1. Phil Lalonde, manager Station CKAC, Montreal, to Old Orchard, Me., for vacation, CJBC, Winnipeg, loses Walt McLaughlin, transmitter engineer, and adds Keith McConnelL NBC has arranged a heavy cover- age of European hews events for this coming fall. John . F. Royal, who returned from a four-week trip abroad last week (26) lined up a galaxy of statesmen and others to broadcast from England and the Continent. Most notable are Win- ston Churchill and Anthony Eden. Latter will broadcast once or twice a month and Churchill once a month. Other names which coi)stitute NBC's new political news bureau, include former U. S. Aml>assador to Belgium, Hugh Gibson, who will de- liver talks once a week for at least six weeks; the Rt. Hon. Alfred Duff- Cooper and four prominent French statesmen. First short-wave broad^ cast in this series will get under way about Aug. 9. Fees are understood to range from $250 to $500 per broad- cast. NBC has extended an invitation to comment or rebut any of the talks of Churchill, Eden or Duff-Cooper, to British Government spokesmen. German and Italian spokesmen also have been asked if thoy want to be heard. ,So far—silence. H. V. Kaltenbprn of CBS goes to Europe Aug; B. Will spend three weeks across pond sending back se- ries of broadcasts. Fidler to Hawaii Hollywood.'Aug. 1. Winding up his Columbia Broad- casting chore for the summer, Jimmie Fidler is leaving Aug. 10 for Honolulu to vacation until Sept. 12 when his new CBS job opens. He closed out his NBC chattering month ago. Fidler believes two weekly periods are too much and that he'll condne himself to a solo in the future. Nelson Eddy Returns Hollywood, Aug. 1.' Nelson Eddy returns to the Chase & Sanborn airer Aug, 13. Donald Dickson, baritone, who ha<i been subbing for Eddy for 28 week.<, will go on a concert tour of 44 cities. ♦♦»»»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦« ■ • ;, London Calling '♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦«♦♦♦♦ liondon, July 23, BBC will have a commentator r«* view 'In Good King Charles' Golden Days' from the Malvern Festival and also give his impressions ot the first week ot Festival. Gracla Fields broadcasting thanks for sympathetic enquiries following her serious illness, from her. seaside home where she is recuperating. International Chemical Co. booked six additional quarter hours on Radio Normandy, making 11, The neiv contracts cover Bisurated Mag- nesia and Limestone Phosphate, Nova Pllbeam debutting in tele- vision as Suzane in 'Prison Without Bars.' Frpducllon men ot the Interna- tional Broadcasting Co. attended the Royal Agricultural Show at Windsor and recorded interviews with the champion dairymaid, champion blacksniith, a thatcher, a pitboy and a shepherd. These were broadcast in the Country Home hour on Nor- mandy. Tea Ray linked with Dave and Joe O'Gormaii as new BBC comedy team. One million Oddfellows bv this country have all been notifled by mail that Radio Normandy devotes a 10 minute session every Saturday l3 news of the association's activi- ties. Radio Mediterranean, one of IBC's commercial transmitters in France, now taking nightly transcribed re- lays from the Hollywood Cocoanut Grove: also doing twice weekly di- rect hookups of light music from Monte Carlo Casino. J. Waller Thompson has set Billy Cotton for Rinso's tall program on Radio.<! Luxembourg and NormaTidie, replacing Billy Bissett, with ' cast headed by Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon. Agency now looking for starring spot for Bissett 'M« and My Girl's' 1,000th perform- ance at Victoria Palace will be broadcast July 26. The S9 Steps' is next BBC Sunday serial, with Jack Livesey as Richard Hannay; play is' being handled In Scottish studio and will follow John Buchan's original yarn, not the Hitchcock Aim. Henry Cscar will be seen as Na- poleon in Bernard Shaw's 'The Man of Destiny,' when it Is televised .Tuly 20. Tokyo Reports New Type Of Radio Economy Set Toklo, July 15. A radio engineer named Hamada employed by the Tokyo Electric Co. here has invented a receiving set which has no transformer in it. By the usage of a special type ot a vacuum tube, the inventor has l>een able to dispense with the use of a transformer, thus saving the metals necessary to make the transformer. The company, which will soon start .selling Ave models ot the spe- cial vacuum tube, claims that. the set using this. new invention will require less current and/ Is far lighter in weight than the average set. Labor's Tactics Mexico City, Aug. 1, Organized Mexican labor continues its 'censorship' of radio to assure that the air is 100% free of slurs in news and comments against work- ers' and'their interests. Station op- erators, announcers, commentators and others cannot duck this volim- teer censorship.. . Musicians have been known to cut in crescendo whenever anybody be- fore the mike lets go at labor. Mexico's Health Network Mexico City, Aug, 1. The Mexican government is fos- tering a national health week Oct. 2-B and for this purpose is now ar- ranging to have ballyhoo tie-ups with the 100-odd stations ot the country. There will probably be some net- work hook-ups arranged. RUMOR MOVING BROCKINGTON TOMcGILL Montreal, Aug. 1, Unconfirmed reports emanating from Ottawa are to-the effect that L. W. Brockington, K. C, chairman of the Board of Governors of tha Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, may resign shortly to become the next principal of McGill University, in Montreal. • Though purely in a conjectural vein, there: has been considerable talk linking the czar of the Cana- dian Broadcasting Corp, with tha university appointment. Scophony Expected To Adopt Cathode Ray; Baird-Bush Separate London, July 25. It L<< expected here that Scophony will drop its mechanical system of television and revert to a cathode ray tube type similar to every other now operating here. Belief is switch will be made through subsidiary concern called Scophony Electronics, whose research is being'financed by the parent company. Baird, formerly going hand in hand with Bush Radio, 'who assem- bled its television outfits, has now broken clear, and are doing tlie whole job for themselves. Bush is to bring out .a receiver on its own account, which will then give Gau- mont-British two competitive sets, both concerns being among its many affiliates. AUSTRALIAN RADIO MAG DATA DENIED Canberra, July 15. The Postmaster-General has re- fused to divulge to politicians the estimated cost of printing a weekly radio magazine due for publication shortly by the Australian Broad- casting Commission. Meanwhile at- torneys ^have told politicians that there isC nothing to prevent A.B.C. entering'^j)ublishing field. A few months ago there was only one weekly radio magazine on the newsstands. Today there are four, two ot which are free, and there is a possibility of others coming into the Beld. A.B.C. will set retail at six cents. Publishing bug bit when the local dailies decided not to carry program listings from commercial and na- tional stations without charge. Sta- tions declined to pay advertising rates and program log wlpcout foU lowed. In Australia Sydney, July 15. Excerpla from 'Confession Nazi Spy' (WB) being aired, over major commercial band. Richard Crooks will not do any airings for commercial units during his current season. U. S! ^singer it here for Williamson-Tait. Ray Fox, noted band leader, after a runaround the A.B.C. loop, will move over to Greater Union Thea- tres for a stage season commencing in August.- S. A.'s Spanish Shows San Antonio, Aug. 1. Local stations are airing a large number of both recorded and studio presentations aimed at the Spanish and Mexican residents in this city. Latest include newscasts and 'Strange But True Facts' all in Spanish, broadcast nightly through KONO by Perfecto Barbosa. KONO recently aired for first time ai play-by-play description of a base- ball game ployed at Van Daele Sta- dium between two teams of the Span- ish-American league battling tor tha title. Perfecto Barbosa and Frank Trcjo handled all the spoils In Span, ish. Richard Tanber to sing in NBC's first promenade concert of the sea- son, Aug. 12.