Variety (Aug 1939)

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36 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 23, 1939 Sandlot Kids Provide Impromptu High-Jinks for WSAl Cincy, Program Cincinnati, Aug. 22. A campaign to focus attention of all age groups on facilities and recre- ational advantages of municipal parks and playgrounds is being con- ducted by WSAI this summer. Sep- arate programs are aired in close as- sociation with the Public Recreation Commission, the Board of Park Com- missioners, and the Zoo. Two of the series, designed pri- marily for and about juves, have gained attention ■ in the upper-age listening brackets. They are the playground broadcasts, originating from three different sites on as many mornings each week, and the play- by-play description of Knot Hole League games on Saturday Morn- ings. The playground broadcasts are m.c.'d by Mike Coorey, 20-year-old crippled newsie, who cried headlines on Peter Grant's WLW newscasts for a year and is a personality fave with kid athletes. They are picked up by mobile unit short-wave relay. Sun addicts are interviewed to a back- ground of yells, pool splashing and horseshoe clinks. In blasting Knot Hole games, an- nouncers are not serious about call- ing strikes and balls and thus make the clashes sound like fun. instead of business. They get cooperation in comedy effects from boy-and-girl by- standers and letters of appreciation from adult listeners. Contact on the Knot Hole series is Fred McMasters, supervisor of the league. Arrange- ments on playground broadcasts are made with Earl Herbstreit, rerecrea- tion supervisor. Zoo broadcasts have been coming over WSAI for several seasons, in- TOPS IN CENTRAL PHIO BLniR&CO.,RepresentfltiVe| WBAL means ^ineU STUMP and STUMPY THIS WEEK PARAMOUNT, NEW YORK VU N.\T N.\Z.\RRO NEW YOJtK stallation ot grottoes and n late ilair of showmanship by officials give Ned Hastings, Zoo publicity manager, plenty to chirp about twice weekly. Hastings was manager of the local Keith's theatre during its last decade of twp-a-day vaude. These stints are addressed to children and grown-ups. Park broadcasts, arranged through John K. Rose, board secretary, have been scheduled on Friday and Satur- day with the idea of encouraging lis- teners to use the spots over the week- end, Subjects talked about by board members range from 'How to Enjoy a Picnic' to 'Hamilton County Glacial Formations,' and are primarily edu- cational with appeal to older listen- ers. They originate by mobile unit from the parks being discussed. The four series are the product of joint planning by Dewey Long, WSAI general manager, and Clair Shad- well, program director, who also acts as m.c. on many of the broadcasts. Radio Digging In on La. Graft Scandal Probe New Orleans, Aug. 22. Spot news coverage by local radio stations of the Louisiana Graft scan- dal investigation reached a new high last Tuesday (15), when WWL placed a microphone in Assistant U. S. At- torney General O, John Rogge's of- fice, where he personally answered anonymous death-threat letter writ- ters. Station put an extension on mike regularly kept in the weather bureau office of federal building above Rogge's office. Transcription of the broadcast; in which Rogge declared he would not leave town \jnder threats to 'get out of town or die,' was replayed several times during the day. • Stunt was climax to attempts by stations to employ 'exclusive' meth- ods of presenting news of the probe. It was started by WDSU at start of investigations. Latter put Bill Gau- def, International News Service bu- reau manager, on the air via a tele- phone from his office with news flashes. WWL topped this with in- stalling a mike in the United Press office. WDSU then hired Gene Thatcher, who writes several different news stories before they happen, then only has to tell the announcer on duty to 'use story No. 3,* etc. WLW came back with the direct federal building pickup. It marked the first time the U. S. Attorney General's assistant, or any other federal official, haS spoken on the air since the seven- week-old investigation began. NEW CAL. STATION San Francisco, Aug. 22. New $25,000 station looms for up per Sacramento Valley with filing of articles of incorporation at Sacra mento by Marysville - Yuba City Broadcasters, Inc. Outfit also will enter publishing business. Directors listed are Horace N. Thomas, Marysville publisher, and Peter and Hugh McClung, of . Merced. Wi Qmmr By JANE WEST NOW RADIO'S MOST POPULAR FAMILY BRINGS YOU MORE AUGHTER JeARS >>nd |-j E ART-THROBS Presented by Ivory Soop' 99" ;oo' a pure Woodbury Shuffle Jergens-Woodbui-y has slated a complete time shuttle for three of its stanzas, beginning in early Oc- tober. 'Woodbury Playhouse' currently on the NBC Blue, Sundays 9 to 9:30 p.m., moves to the Red, Wednesdays, 8 to 8:30 p.m., on Oct. 4. This evac- uation will cause the Winchell quar- ter-hour to be moved forward from 9:30 p.m., Sundays, to 9 p.m. on the Blue. Simultaneously the 'Parker Family' will be yanked from CBS and put into the 15-minute slot im- mediately following the Winchell chatter. DISC LOGGING RULESTELED Washington, Aug. 22. Looks like several weeks will elapse before FCC can get around to considering modification ot rule re- quiring loggirig of individual discs on programs of 'musical clock' type. Lengthy exchange of correspond- ence between John B. Reynolds, Commish acting secretary, and An- drew W. Bennett, NAB counsel, leaves situation pretty much as it was last week. Latest communica- tion made public is letter from T. J. Slowie, FCC secretary, in which Slowie points out that under rules as now worded, it would be impossible to give interpretation allowing log- ging of records in same manner as live talent, and that matter nnist await presentation to full Commish. With most of commissioners duck- ing Washington heat. It probably will be late September before mat- ter can be straightened out. Adventurers Incorporate Albany, Aug. 22. International Order of Adventur- ers, Ltd., has been chartered by the secretary of state to conduct a broad- casting business, with Felix Riesen- berg, who conducts a program on the NBC-blue network Monday nights, named as director. Title of the NBC series is 'Order ot Adventurers.' Riesenberg, Leslie Bain and At- torney David S. Bain are given as holding a share each. Capital stock is 200 shares, no par value. World Series. . Continued from page 29_ IICTEMTWICE daily U^IEI'V NBC Red Nalwork, 12;15 to 12:30 P.M. EDST NBC Red Network, 5:00 to 5:15 P.IVI. EDST IN COAST TO COAST r Dir. cosirroy AHVKinisi.Nr. AfiKxri MGT. ED WOLF—RKO BLDG., NEW YORK CITY networks* contention that his pack- age arrangement was striking at the fundamentals of network competi- tion, and denied their statements that affiliated stations would collect half of what they would have got from NBC and CBS under similar circumstances. NBC and Columbia officials made little attempt to minimize the ex- tent ot the Mutual coup. The trade rates the tieup of the Series as the slickest thing that Mutual has pulled since its inception. The consensus of opinion is that if Mutual gets the stipulated coverage it will achieve through the Series an inestimably valuable piece of national prestige and exploitation, which should re- flect itself in no small way in rec- ognition among sponsors and ad agencies. The tieup, which includes an option for the 1940 Series, gives Mutual its one exclusive on a big athletic event. NBC has the ex- clusive rights to the important prize- fights and Columbia holds exclusive rights to practically all the other big sports events. Weber claimed late Monday that he was assured ot outlets for the Series in practically 90% of the stipulated spots. The only towns which are in doubt as to obtaining major stations are Pittsburgh, Balti- more, Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa. Weber said that he was con- fident that he would also get cover- age for the event in Canada and Hawaii. Mutual's original lineup is reported to have included iso-NBC stations and three Columbia out- lets. Mutual g.m. stated that Gillette is paying $100,000 for the Series rights. Ford paid the same sum for three years, 1935, 193G and 1937, but on the third year the manufacturer elected not to go through with a sponsored hookup. Baseball Czar K. M. Landis in that season collected the $100,000 from Ford.and the Scries went sustaining over the three net- works. Mutual's makes the first exclusive tieup on the Scries. From the Production Centers ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦<♦♦♦♦♦♦<I>♦♦»♦<>>♦♦» IN NEW YORK CITY ... Scripting staff for the Coast edition of the Texaco program will include Tom Langan, Frank Galen, Abe Burrows and Keith Fowler. Ed Gardner is producer-director. Calkins & Holden negotiating for eastern and midwest rights to 'Haw- thorn House,' dramatic show which Wessen Oil underwrites over NBC's red Pacific link. Show rates with 'One Man's Family' in that area Edward J. Fitzgerald is Edwin-Wasey's new radio director. Formerly asl sisted the gen. mgr. at WLW-WSAI, Cincinnati, and headed the NAB'.i bureau of copyrights Ivan Black, who did the national radio publicity for the Federal Theatre, has opened his office for freelancing purposes. IN HOUYWOOD ... Clare Olmstead pulling out of Young & Rubicam, where he's chief talent buyer, to hang out his own shingle. He'll agent performers for radio Charles Bulotti, Jr., back from Frisco where he produced several programs from the fair siterTirGuest stars on radio getting touchy about billing in trade news stories. One filmer squawked because her name was preceded by a secondary performer in the guest listing. Agency boys getting their first taste of type sizes for names NBC's man-in-the-street mikemnn. Buddy Twiss, tackled six passersby for an expression of presidential date- change for Thanksgiving. Most of 'cm didn't give a rap.., .Cal Kuhl and Carroll Carroll latest Thompson vacationists. Double C hiding away in the Carmel woods Union Oil auditioned a dramatized operatic program headed by Mario Chamlee. Oiler has tested about all the loose talent in town. Carl Stanton presided for Lord & Thomas Jack Van Nostrand resting in Bermuda before heading for the Coast to supervise radio pro- duction for Young & Rubicam... .Fox Case took a crew of seven from KNX for Americans at Work brodcast from Gallup, N. M Those who ought to know are saying that Kellogg will not have a show from Holly- wood this Fall. Claim it hasn't got over the Circle yet Joe Penner auditioning band and singer for his Ward baking series. Max Hayes back on the gag staff., . .Bill Hatch has the inside track for the 'Big Town' music assignment Lud Gluskin, CBS Coast musical director, finding time to score one film after another Hollywood gossipers in little de- mand for fall, what with Jimmie Fidler cut to one program a week.... Every agent in town peddling serials. IN CHICAGO ... Harold Kent, director of the Chicago Public Schools Radio Council, va- cationing in Wisconsin and then direct to Ames (la.) to attend meeting ot the National Association of Educational Broadcasters. . ..AFRA local toss- ing dance and show for the national convention on Friday (25)... .Harold Higgins, WOR rep chieftain, purchased home in Lake Forest in prepara- tion for some cradle-rocking in Nov....Len Bridges auditioning his new script show, 'Custer Junction,' a rural comedy serial... .Judy Talbot set as regular on the WGN-Mutual 'Your Sunday Date' musical parade William Cook, formerly of WHBL, Sheboygan, and Charles Coffin, new to radio, have joined the Chicago staff of Transamcrican Broadcasting & Television Corp. ■» HEAVY INSTITUTIONAL PLUGGING FOR WCCO St. Paul, Aug. 22. WCCO, Twin Cities' CBS 50.000- walter, is putting out plenty of insti- tutional leaflets these days. All slick paper jobs, and nicely got- ten up, one tells ot the station's su- preme popularity with the sod- busters. Another reveals the selling job done by a five-minute period five days a week, and quotes the client, Loose-Wiles Biscuit Co., on pertinent merchandising information. Latest effort is a booklet, entitled 'WCCO Educational Broadcasts, 1938- 1939,' copies of which have been sent to' all members of the^ Minnesota Leg- islature, State execs, all Minneapolis and St. Paul officials and civic.heads and groups. 3 r«tw lOhX • CHICAGO • OCTflOIT • SAN r^Ar<ct$c< Radio Station Represantalives Would Examine Carlin In $25,000 NBC Suit Application will be made in the N. Y. supreme court Monday (28) by Leo Linder for permission to ex- amine Phillips Carlin, director of sustaining programs of the National Broadcasting Co., before trial, in connection with a breach of contract suit by Linder against NBC. Linder seeks $25,000, claiming breach of an agreement whereby NBC agreed to pay him for an idea submitted in .January, 191-8, and later usecl, according to the complaint, In the 'Hall of Fai.ie Presentations' or 'American Portraits.' Reluctant Targets Lincoln, Aug. 22. Foster May, WOW's news an- nouncer, won't go canoeing down the Missouri river again. May and two friends had a narrow escape when their tiny craft came in range of Na- tional Guard target practice near Plattsmouth last week. The canoe was sighted by a look- out posted on the river bank, who flashed a signal to cease firing. Be- fore the order was given, however, several slugs had whizzed clo.w over the heads of May and his com- panions. HILDEGARDE Radio Transcriptions Decca Records Per. Mgr.—ANNA SOSENKO Ex. Rep.—JACK BERTELL KAY THOMPSON and her Rhythm Singers for ETHYL with ANDRE KOSTELANETZ and TONY MARTIN C'lI.S Kifry Monila)-, 8-8:30 P.M., KI».ST Management WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY BUCK and BUBBLES NOW IN 3rd WEEK ROXY, NEW YORK Vln \.\T NAZAllItO NEW VOKK