Variety (Aug 1939)

24 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 30, 1939 Commentators on Crisis Coverage CBS H. V. Kaltenborn, staff news analyst, from London. Elmer Davis, journalist, pinch-hitting for Kaltenborn in N. Y. Albert Warner, CBS Washington correspondent. Edward H. Murrow, CBS European staff director. Eric Sevareid, assistant to Murrow. William L. Shirer, chief CBS' continental staff. Thomas B. Grandin, CBS Paris correspondent. Demaree Bess, Sat. Eve. Post writer. Hugh Baillie, UP president. W. H. Willis, CBS rep, Tokyo. Richard Mowrer, Chicago Daily News Warsaw correspondent Major R; Ernest Dupuy, U. S. A., co-author ol 'If War Should Gome. Pierre Bedard, CBS shortwave reporter on European news. William Stone, writer foreign affairs, from Rome. Philip Jordan, Londor\ News Chronicle. . Emil Leneyel, author. 'The Danube,' from Budapest. „ „ Dr. James T. Shotwell, International Law authority, from N. Y. H. G. Wells, from London. Rev. Robert L Gannon, Pres. Fordham University, from N. Y. Pierre Huss, INS Berlin correspondent. Geoffrey Crowther, editor the Economist, from London. Bob Trout, CBS special events reporter, from N. Y. Alvin Steinkopf, AP, Berlin. MUTUAL ■ Raymond Gram Swing. MBS staff news ^analyst. N. Y. Fulton Lewis, Jr;, MBS -correspondent, Washington. John Steele, head MBS foreign staff, London, Wavcrly Root, MBS Paris rep. , Sigrid Schultz, Chicago Tribune and MBS rep, Berlin. Patrick Maitland, London Times, Warsaw. NBC Max Jordan, NBC European director, from Berlin. Paul Archinard, NBC rep in Paris. . , , t „..jv,„ Vernon Bartlett, editor London News Chronicle, from London. William Bird, N. Y. Sun, Paris. Fred Bate, NBC rep in London. „,t Baukhage, NEC Washington commentator, Basle and London. Ralph Barnes, N. Y. Herald-Trib, Paris. Howard Claney, NBC commentator, London. Duff Cooper, former British War Minister, London. "Winston Churchill, London. Wallace R. Deuel, Chicago Daily News, Berlin. Kenneth Downs, INS, Paris. ^ . Yvon Delbos, former French minister. Pans. Newton Edgcrs, Japan Advertiser ed., Tokyo. John EUiott, N. Y. Herald-Trib, Paris. _ ^ , Franklin Engclman, editor News of the Day, London. Anthony Eden, L.ondon. . t, ^ Pierre Flandin, former French premier, Fans. . Hugh Gibson, former U. S. Ainbassador, I/>ndon Paris Brussels. John Gunther, NBC staff commentator, Riga, Tallin, London. 'Earl Godwin, NBC Washington coinrhentator, Washington. H. Laurence HiUes, N. Y. Herald-Trib, Pans. William Hillman, INS, London. Pierre J. Huss, INS, Berlin. . Edouard Herriot, former French premier. Pans. Taylor Henry, AP, Paris. Hugh Jenks, UP, Buenos Aires. . Jacques Keyser, v.p. Radical Socialist Party, Pans. Walter B. Kerr, N. Y. Herald-Trib, Paris. John B. Kennedy, NEC sUff, N. Y. Louis P. Lochner, AP, Berlin. John Lloyd, AP, Paris. j „ v Eugene Lyons, American Mercury ed., N. 3(. Richard McMillan, UP, Paris. Richard Massock, AP, Rome. Howard Marshall, British commentator, Lona^- DeWitt McKenzie, chief AP foreign staff, N-Jf- Carroll Olcott, foreign news commentator, Shangnai. ^^le^^'^l^iALlHSn section Polish Radio Warsaw. J. C. Stark, AP, London. Pierre van Paassen, author, Pa"S;, Dorothy Thompson, columnist, N. Y. Michael Wilson. INS, Paris. t-„„/i„„ Sir Arthur Willerts, foreign news commentator, London. Radioes Cost _ConUiii]ed from pace 1— got on the official broadcasts from Europe. There is also the added expense of keeping the wires open and the personnel on hand through 24-hour stretches. Likewise cable and transoceanic telephone messages. Mutual's bill so far is around $10,- 000. . . \. , Unlike last year's, this crisis broke long before the new commercial sea- son got under way. The Czech crisis extended from Sept. 10-29. Between them, NBC spent $160,000 for cover- age and lost around $40,000 on time billings. From last Tuesday noon (22) to yesterday noon iTuesday) Columbia i engaged in 81 shortwave pickups, ■ while NBC's totaled 78. ■ Highest I number for any one day occurred ' Sunday, with CBS going for 19 and NBC 17. Durinig the whole Czech crisis Columbia made 151 phortwave pickups and NBC 147. Y&R'S PROGRAM QUERY DRAWS 2,000 REPLIES Young & Rubicam has amassed some 2,000 program recordings and presentations from some 500 stations as a result of the questionnaire it addressed to local outlets the latter part of July. The query had been prompted by a Y & R account's idea that it would like to buy an ex- tensive batch of stations for the purpose of sponsoring anywhere from two to five local programs a day. If the'idea materializes it will be without precedent in spot broad casting. In its questionnaire, the agency asked that the local stations include with its list of available programs such data as audience figures, past sponsorship, proof of results of this sponsorship and press comment and publicity of any sort European Coverage Conunent Crack CBS Job CBS' job of reporting the foreign scene on Thursday night (24), when the situation really was getting into the white hot stage, was splendid. This network's stable of foreign and domestic reporters has had enough batting practice in previous situations to deliver solid blows during the current turmoil. Their reporting is factual, colorful and still personal enough to classify as true 'radio reporting'—as distinguished from the stylized manner of many newspaper men who double between typewriter and mike. Thursday eve (24) the CBS lineup consisted of William Shirer from Berlin, Ed Murrow and H. V. Kaltenborn from London, Thomas Grandin from Paris, and Albert Warner from Washington. Shirer's manner of re- porting is perhaps slightly less lucid, than his colleagues' (maybe it's his voice or the short-wave that helps lend this impression), but ho acquitted himself plenty well in hammering home the essential angle that the Ger- man people were largely ignorant of what the outside world was tip to, and hence not in an extremely martial frame of mind. This point, a crucial one for an understanding of the outcome of the mess, was capably put across by Shirer. Murrow, Kaltenborn, Grandin and Warner each got in some telling local atmosphere, personal experiences, plus enough speculation to keep the topic fully covered. Each also referred to the other's remarks—a cross-reference angle that aided in establishing continuity amid a thor- oughly many-sided upheaval. It is difficult to assign individual palms to the quintet of spielers. All were on their toes and all contributed both diversification and continuity. Mutual Reprises Wax Stunt Mutual continued its prior stunt of waxing European newscasts and then playing the platters to American ears. When this, stunt was con- ceived during the MuniQh crisis last Sept., it was an attention-getter. Its novelty by now is worn off. however, though its nierit remains. That is, as an on-the-scencs roundup it has news value and contributes atmos- phere. But it's not the pay dirt it once was. These are the platters from officially-controlled broadcast centrals in Rome, Berlin, Warsaw, London and Paris—all done in English, for obvious propaganda purposes. Mutual stressed this, preceding each etherization. WOR's Surprise Transradio's lead-off item for the WOR, New York, 11 p.m. news stanza on Thursday (24) was something of a puzzle. Instead of starting the broadcast with the latest European developments, Transradio teed off with the news that a senator had broken his hip. Ordinarily this item wouldn't make the grade ,on a. bad day. Hence it's a puzzle why it made the grade on a really'sizzling day. Maybe Transradio figured that everybody else had devoted so much time to the war that diversification might be a welcome relief. If such was the case, the psychology was passable, but the result extremely surprising. It was on the whole dubious strategy. WMCA's Scoop WMCA, New York, hit the front pages of the dailies Monday (29) with a story, subsequently picked up by the wire services, of a shortwave mes- sage from a Berlin station. Message, in international code, was addressed separately to some 35 German steamers in various ports and advised them to 'act on your secret Instructions.' Station got the item through its tieup with the N. Y. Herald Tribune, which maintains shortwave communication with Europe at all times. Sta- tion has also added Leo Y. Chertok, in addition to Johannes Steel, to dis- seminate foreign news. ClO-AFL OKAY BOAKE CARTER Before underwriting a series of transcribed comments by Boake Car- ter on WMCA, N. Y., Liebman Beer obtained the blessings of John L. Lewis, CIO chieftain. The brewer had been leery about linking its product to Carter until it was as' Eured by Lewis that he had much regard for Carter, and was surprised that Carter hadn't been 'on the air up to this time.' There was also reassuring message from ■ William Green, Amsrican Federation of Labor prez. Carter lost a General Foods as Bigiiment a couple of seasons ago as the result of protests voiced against his allegedly reactionary and anti labor opinions by unions within the CIO. He is attempting a comeljack via the transcription route. The scries on WM(jA under Lieb man backing starts Sept. 11. It'; for five quarter hours a week (6:30- 6:45 p.m.). kt Miller Resumes Grombach Partnersliip SENATOR NOE HURT IN TEXAS AUTO CRASH Chet Miller, pioneer In program production and recording, is resum- ng his partnership with Jean "V. Grombach, effective Sept. 6. He was with Grombach for five years prior to 1936. Ex-Labor Leader, Serving Life, to Get Radio Job Chicago, Aug. 29. Sponsoring a parole for Matthew A. Schmidt, former Chicago labor leader convicted in Tuos Angeles in 19iS as a terrorist and serving life sentence in San Quentin, Joseph Keenan, Secretary Chicago Federa' tion of Labor, said Schmidt will be given a $50 a week job as assistant engineer at WCFL, a federation sta- tion. California authorities have indi cated Schmidt will be paroled. New Orleans, Aug. 29. State Senator James A. Noe, can-, didate for governor of Louisiana in 1940,' and owner of radio station WNOE, New Orleans, was critically injured in an auto accident 23 miles outside of Austin, Texas, Saturday (26). ■ • The senator, driving, to New Or- leans from a Texas camp where his daughter had been vacationing, was taken to the Seton Infirmary at Aus- tin, where physicians treated him for head injuries and two fractured ribs. Noe was unconscious for seV. eral hours after the accident. He was hurt when his car rounded a curve too sharply. and overturned His wife, daughter and chauffeur were not injured. Ray Hufft, manager of WNOE, and Benet F. Gain, the station's educa' tional director, hurried to Austin to the Senator's bedside Saturday eve ning. Max Jordan 'On a Limb'? Max Jordan, NBC Berlin rep, took what many in the trade considered a long shot when, on a Saturdy night (26) broadcast, he stated positively that there would not be any-war and-that-the-situatiorr-would-be-settled- by mediation. Jordan's remarks sounded as though they echoed the spirit of confidence that the Nazi leaders were spreading that day among their own people, but even when the general tone over the air became more sombre the next day, Jordan did not veer from his previous forecast NBC's coverage pilots in lj.ew York were ribbed plenty Mon. (28) by what was termed Jordan's going out on a limb, but they retorted that they felt ce.'tain that Jordan's prediction would turn out to be right. During the height of th« Czedi crisis last year, H. V. Kaltenborn, CBS, made a similar forecast, but he spoke from New York. Parker Quits B-S-H MALNECK, JOE ErBROWN RELEASED BY SPONSORS Hollywood, Aug. 29. Finale was written to two Coast commercials last week. Matty Mai- neck was dropped by Pall Mall after 13 weeks and General Foods (Post Toastles) calls It quits with Joe E. Brown after four more programs. Neither interested In replacements ■t this time. Chicago, Aug. 29. G. Parker has resigned as a of Blackett-Sample-Hummert, exit becomes effective Friday He has no future plans other .^h'an a vacation. Parker joined the agency several years ago. ~He was assistant to Niles Trammell, when the latter was v.p. in charge of the Chicago division. P. v.p. His (1.). Joe Spadea Hurt ~^oe Spadea, partner in the station rep firm of r- ler-Spadea Co., was bruised and cut when his car was forced off the road by a truck at Gaffney,. S. C, the previous week- end. He was on his way to Atlanta His car skidded into the side of a house, knocking It six feet off its foundation. There were 12 persons in the house, but no one was se' riously injured. Spadea's machine was wrecked, and he continued his trip by rail.. - P. S.—Despite the accident, Spadea succeeded in his task of getting the Reitcr-Spadea Co. appointed rep foi: WA(3A, Atlanta, effective Sept. 1. CAMPBELL UFFEI) Schenectady, N. Y., Aug. 29. Vic Campbell, who came to WGY _ . as announcer and jproductlon man again be deliv_ered/ between WFBL last spring after working In the and WGY. RENEW BOLLEY Syracuse, Aug. 29 Leo Bolley, sportscaster, has been given new contract by Tydol-Vcedol Salary has he^-upped again, ac cording to reports, and his stint will same capacity for Buffalo Broadcast- ing Corp., has been named assistant program manager. A. O. Coggeshall Is |>oss p.m. Frequent spot appearances of Baukhage, NBC Washington commenta- tor, during last few weeks, reveals that web is plugging him as 'name' at-' traction. Latest indication of Baukhage's promotion came Thursday (24), when NBC gave him a hurry call to come to New York and take off for Europe. He flew on Fan American Clipper same day and will do a series of newscasts and interviews from principal capitals. Lyons on Narl-Basslan Pact Eugene Lyons, former Moscow correspondent for United Press and for Variety and present editor of American Mercury, delivered an outspoken commentary on the international crisis in a quarter-hour broadcast over NBC Saturday night (26). Lyons discussed Russia and the Russian re- action to the Soviet-German pact. He was definitely anti-Stalin. Regardless of any slanting—and Lyons did speak more in an editorial vein—the author of 'Assignment to Utopia (Russia)' obviously knows Russia and the Russians. The pact will bring no reaction there, Lyons declared, because the Russians have learned under Stalin to make no com- ment on anything but the mpst minor matters, even in the privacy ol the bedroom. American correspondents in Moscow could not report the reac- tion to the wedding of 'ried Bolshevism' and 'brown Fascism' bccau.se they could not learn it. Russians.shun newspapermen as 'though they were carriers of deadly germs,' Lyons stated. Hormers Home Show Hormel & Co. will tour the cast of its CBS show, *It Happened in Holly- wood,' by private car from the lat- ter town to Austin, Minn., for a spe- cial broadcast from the Hormel fac- tory so that the. employees can see the troupe. Stops will be made for regular airings of the broadcast in St. Louis Sept. 4' and Chicago (6). Cast is due back in Hollywood Sept. 11. Junketeers will include Martha Mears, John Conte, Eddie Dunsted- ter, announcer Bud Hiestand, direc tor Wayne Griffin and writer Dane Lussier. In new contralct Bolley gets Sun- day nights, off; c This spot on WFBL will'ie filled byf-Bob Kcneficlc, Jr., of istttdio staff^/-^-^ WATT ON HOLLYWOOD Kenneth L. Watt, radio director of Fuller Si Smith & 'Ross, Inc., has sold another series of yarns to Liberty. It's entitled, 'Hens Don't Set in January,' being the saga of a Holly- wood property man. ANTI-ASCAP BILL GETS ALA. COMMIHEE'S OK Birmingham, Aug. 29. The Senate judiciary committee of the Alabama Legislature last week gave a favorable report to the Stakely bill, aimed at the asserted song monopoly of the'American So- ciety of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The bill was urged by Alabama radio stations, many , hotels and other businesses, which'the com- mittee was told have suffered heavily because of charges for music rights. The Stakely measure would re- quire the association to pay a S'.'n annual state gross receipts tax, and would prevent ASCAP from charg- ing broadcasters and others a flat fee of from $500 to $1,000 a year, plus 5% of the gross revenues of any company playing the copyright- ed music.