Variety (Sep 1939)

VARIETY RADIO Wedaesday, September 27, 1939 SPORTS WRITERS' GRAVY FU(sbur;h Dopesters Attract Spon- sor Rlazuma for Fall Pittsburgh, Sept. 26. Pituburgh sports writers are reap- ing a radio bonanza this season, with practically every one ol the/more important by-liners in town already hooked up with a sponsor for foot- ball. Duquesne Brewing Co. alone anaved three of them for two weekly IS-minute shots of predictions and results, spotting Chester Smith, of Press, on KDKA; Al Abrams, of Post-Gazette, on WCAE, and Lester Beiderman. of Press, on WWSW. Another brewing outfit. Old Shay Ale, has a weekly Sports Quizz using Regis Wal.sh, boxing editor of Press; Harry Keck. Sun-Telegraph sports editor, and now Jack Sell, of Post- Gazette. Same sponsor also has signed Keck for one quarter-hour sports dramatization alone. Both of these shows originate from WCAE. Newcomer to radio ranks is Paul Kurtz, scholastic sports editor of Press, who will, be among the paid apielers on WWSW with scholastic •ports news. Havey Boyle, sports editor . of Post-Gazette, had to turn down offer from dairy firm because of his mem- bership on Pennsylvania boxing commission. Alleges 'We, the People' Phoneyed Credentials Of His Aide, So Sues Wesley L. Robertson, American Indian baritone, filed a N. Y. supreme court action last Wednesday (20), against the Columbia Broadcasting System, General Foods, Young & Rubicam, and Ralph Allen, known as Kuniks Pahitu, tor $50,000 libel for alleged misrepresentation. The plaintifT claims to be an outstanding vocalist of the Indian race, and as- serts that on June 11, 1939, he' was requested by the president to sing for the King and Queen of England. On the 'We the People' program of June 13, the said Allen appeared, and represented that he had been the one to sing, and followed that up by singing for the radio audience. The plaintiff claims' Allen Is not a singer, but « tom-tom player who accom- panied him while he sang for the King. It is asserted that Allen sang so badly on the air, that the public, thinking the singer to be the plaintiff, will not patronize his concerts, and will hold him up to ridicule In the future. Lew Weiss Heads InsUtnt* Hollywood, Sept. 26. Institute of Radio, at which mu- tual problems are discussed and edu- cational features of radio discoursed upon, will be repeated Dec. 7 at University of Southern California. Lewis Allen Weiss, Don Lee head- man, chairmans executive commit- tee. KAY THOMPSON and her Bhythm Singeii for ETHYL with ANDRE KOSTELANETZ and TONY MARTIN CBS Rverr Mondaj, 8-8:30 TM., E9t Management WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY ************* *^ ****** ************ F. C. C's WASHINGTON DOCKET y.t^^^4.^^4-*4^4-** ***********4-*-************^*********************** MAJOR DECISIONS ■\Vn.«ililnflrton. Rent. 26. Aluhntnn: I-nIliiiIio.| nperallon t'»>'« WCOV. >roiitpom(»iv. rftvivoi* tln;\l r.nnihish nl;ay AVoilrieriJay (13) when the Fl'C adoptoil lis nn;il urder In tho case. Siatlon. ll<^on.-«e(l tn t)t« Cnpltnl nrondoanllnff Companr, In*'., will a.v:«ume full llin* opi»ratlon. liinicad of tlftyllini'* only, on Its pieseiu nsslgiiineiu of 1-10 kc wllh 100 wain power. Arl74>nn: Iinprowil s*»rvlr« for KOT, Phoenix, will reanlt from ft ihaiiKft of fie<iuoncy for the Hiiitlon. Coininl.sh decided In a propoticd nmliiiK of f.n t proiniHlnK a prftnt of the plea. TmnsniUt^r. ownM and opf^rated by the SftU River Vallcv nro.Klcastliipc Co.. Inc.. prohaMy. will re-'clve ponnlflslon to Nwltoh from i;:30 lo 5S0 kc, leiiilnhiff Us preocnt power ot 1 kw. .*' Ornntlnc of Mie applU-.Tllon ahould /Improve the aUnnl slroiiKtli of Stntlon KOY In ar.^ns now served hy the atallon and eslend It-* sprvl.-e to a BUbstnntlally larger area and crcnier populndon than that now aervcd by the alatlon/ Coinnilah ajrei^d. Callfurnlii: Probable nix for tho Biirenu of Education fA. Corenson. (Uvner nnd MunftRov) forecast In a proposed flndln? In which the KOP proposfd to deny the outnt'a plea for a now station to ba operated d.iy.s. only oh H'-'O kc with 100 watts. Tr.in.imllier would be located at MoniobcUo, near Los An;;clps. . — . Previous difficulties with the Tommlsh have been aufferpd by the sume iproup ai)d consensus of opinion waa that auf- ndent basis had not been established for n flndlnff that tlifl applicant 'Is a proper ppr«on to ha entrusted wllh the respon- aiblllty of operating a broadcast atatlon In the Intereata of the publlr. or that the applicant poHsesses all tho reqnlalte qualincatlons of a licensee.' Twenty days were allowed for the filing of excopilons to the preliminary flndlngo. District of Colunihlii: Vnnsual application for a local eta- tlon. to.be supplemented by a synchronous station operating In the same town, frowned on last week when the Coinmlsli considered the apptlcnllon ot I^awrence J.. Heller of Waah- Inffton. Heller's purpose was to conatrnct a transmitter to be opera- ted on 1310 kfi with 100 watts nlffhta. 250 watts daya, In the nation's capital. Special e.rperlmentnl authorlxallon to construct and operate a synchronous siatlon, usinp 10 to 100 watts power al.so was nought.—with the Intention of boosting the Bicnal of the regular stntlon In parts of the city where service would be unsatisfactory. After pointing out that the upe of a local frequency for a transmitter located In a metropolitan district would not be In accordance with Conimlsh plana of allocation, FCC re- minded Heller that his position wae * peculiar one* since he counted on experimental authority lo extend the service of the local station for which, In turn, he was unable to ahow adequate coverage without the experimental grant. Impos- sible to Issue a construction permit except where applicant can prove adequate coverage beyond an experimental service. 'Thus the applicant does not stand In the position of a licensee who Is rendering an adequate service, nor of a per- mlLtee who has proposed an adequate service on a regular basis, hor of an applicant for purely experimental service,* Commish remarked. 'As the Commission may not make the finding-necessary to establlnh the regular station which would originate the experimental service, both applications must bo denied.' Blow was softened considerably by praise for Heller's at- tempts to 'Improve the art by experimentation* and a pat on the'back for having prosecuted his applications 'with dili- gence but under an apparent misapprehension of applicable rules.' Illinois: Denial of the application of W9XA.A* Chicago Federation of T*abnr International broadcast station, for re- newal of licen.ie and dismissal without prejudice of the plea of the Radio Service Corp. of Utah for voluntary a.<)slgnmefit of WdXAA'a license and removal of the station ' to Saltnlr. ■ Utah, were foreshadowed last week In a proposed finding of fact issued by the Commish. Chicago DX'er failed to engage in a proper program of re- search and experimentation and was not maintained and operated in accordance wllh FCC rules goyernlng Interna- tional broadcast stntions, Commish'decreed. Also the Fede- ration has not demonstrated that It Is able and willing to finance the operation of the station. Refusal to -renew WdXAA'a license leaves the Federation with no papers to assign the Radio Service Corp. of Utah. Commish pointed out. Likewise precludes moving of tho sta- .tlon to Saltair. since the Utah station 'would have no station to move...'. MassachuMlts: Request of WLAW. Lawrence, for an in- crease In operating assignment from sunset at Lawrence to sunset at San Francisco (a difference of from 3U to 3^4 hours, depending on the snason) denied by the Commish In a decision to which Commissioner T. A. M. Craven filed * concurring opinion. Interference from WPTF, Raleigh. N. C, was given as the leading objection to the Increase In operating hours for the Massachusetts transmitter. WLAW would be limited by the southern station to lis 7.4 millivolt per meter contour after sunset at Lawrenee, Commish found, whtle only 209,660 per- sons would receive the additional service from the ntation and not all of these listeners would be Included In. the 332,028 persons living In the I^awrence-Lowell metropolitan district. Although concurring In the ultimate decision of his col- leagues. Craven slated that he could nut agree with the rea- soning used in reaching the conclusion. Full time service for WLAW and a station located in nearby Lowell would be the proper solution, he suggeHted, and the 680 ko channel on which \VLA\V operates 'might be used more effectively than at present In the Eastern portion of-the-Unlted-Statefl^^—Day— and night service by both stations would encourage competi- tion, serve the J<oweII-Lawrence mctropoHlan district more satisfactorily and be generally preferable, Craven Indicated, adding that '...It Ih entirely possible that the application of modern engineering might assist in providing full time ser- vice from WL.WV to the entire population of the Lowell- Lawrence metropoliian district and at the name time per.mit an Improved service to other communities elsewhere on the Eastern seaboard.' Transmitter, which ts owned and operated by Hlldrelh & Rogers Co., now uses the 680 kc ribbon, with 1 kw until local sunset. Uoinlnunt station on the channel Is KPO, San Fran- cisco. Siaiion was represented by George O. Sutton and . Arthur II. Schroeder. ^'orth rtirollna: New station for Hickory was authorised last week when the C'ommlHli announced adoption of lis final order granting tlie Catuwba Valley Bruadca-itlng Co. the right to construct a transmitter to be operated on 1370 kc wIMi lOi) watt:* night, 2.'0 watts days, Oregon:-iJo-ahnul slgtia) on construction of a new smallle at Grunt:! was nrilcrcd ns the FCC last week adopted lis proiibsod nndlngs of fact of July lit. Sfstliin win hf* owned and operated by the flouthern Oregon Brnadcasilng I'n. Will use the 1310 ko frequency with un lliititi.'d operation with 100 waits. MINOR DECISIONS Aliibiimn: W>rrO. J.iiups R. Dosn. Jr., Derntur, grnnted Vwltnic.iry a-i.si^iiniont of McriiHA to TonncRBr* V,iUcy Uronit- raHtthfT Co.. Ini'.: \V,T|1\', CAilHiIeni granted' puwor liicreaae frotn 100 In 2r.O w'ntla. .\rkiiiimii: KI.CS. C'linrloi T.ea I^lntTienlrli, BbMIlevllIe. SrantCil lii-t^nNtf ivnownl oii tonipornry bnnK only,- Hubject lo Coinnil>.h ncllun nil ponillnfT Replication for renewnl. Florlilii: WK.^T. Mloml Hcarh, Rrantcil autlioilzatlon for rlcht powor Inri'tMHp'from TOO to 2S0 'wnttii. lllliioU; \VO.\N, Uunv-ilt*. granted nlffUl powor booat front lOD lo I.'iO wnllK. Inillunii: Wt;i., Fort T^'ayno, granted power boost from 100 to CjO wiittj*. luwu: KiiC'A. riiarleii W, Crecnlpy. Decorali, and KWT.r. I.tillicr Oolli'ce. r)ecorali. ffrnnted ronpwaU of lit'enso on tem- pornry ba.-^i:* only. aulO''»*t lo Oginmlah nrtlon on pnulinflr ap- pMi'.-itlonn fnr new llrtMiaen and tlia pendlnff appUcatlon of W.iaon.l'lly Glolie t.l3'/.etle To., KGI.O. KenlucUy; WCMI, ' Aabbtnd, and WOMf, Owensboro, craiitod Jnit'o-Jinnp from 100 to 2S0 wattn. I.ouliiliinn: IC.M.II, .Alexandria, sranted. power Inrreane from 100 .In 250 watta. .Ilainf*: Wi'Dl.', Twin rily Brondc.igllnf; Co.. Inc.. T..«wlston, g'-aiuiMl day powi^r boost lo S'.O walta and new enutpmenl; ■W*.\riT. P:iii[;or. ifranti^d power boost front 100 to 250 watts. Ma-i'ini-liUMrlta: WM.\S, Sprlnglleld, Kranlcd power Jump from 100 to 250 watla. .MIrlilgnn: WMHC. MIohliran Broadcantlnic Co.. Detroit. Cntntrd niodldtatlnn of llrensf to Increaao nlRht power from 100 to 250 wutta. anhjert to rompllanre with Soc. S.45 (denied opedal nnlliorlly lo use present anienna); WJIM. I.anslnn. and WIB.M. Jaol.aon, Kranted nicht power booala train 100 to 230 watla. .Illrlilrnn: WMrr. I.apeer. and Wiri,3, Tort Huron, (ranted po\v,»r lin*i-enai» from 100 lo 250 watla, SllHoourl: KFVS, Cape Girardeau, granted power boost from 100 10 S.'iO waits. Xow .Tene.r: wr.Axr. niy ot Camden, Rranted tamnornry renewal of license anhjei'i to Commlah action on pending applicuilon for .same. New Jersey: WKN, 'MK WOZ, WONT and Vrc>I, Amcrl- cnn Telephone *: TeleBruph Co., lAwrencovlllc, granted apeclal tempornry aulhnrlly to cnmmnnlcato wllh Nelher- landa Oovim nment. at Kootwijt, Holland, u.sing the alatlona on their regularly aaalgned frcquenclea for a period of three ninnths: New Vorlt: ■U'TIEC, Inc.. Rochealer, granted new high fre- quency broadcast •tatlon to be operated on 42600 l;c with 1 kw (experlmeniolly and condllionnlly): Bamberger Broad- caatlng bVrvlce. Inc., New York, granted new high freiiuoncy broadcast station tu be operated on 43400 kc with 1 kw (ei- perlmentally and conditionally). Now York: 'WJTN. Jamestown, (ranted Increase In power from 100 lo 250 wails. North Carolina: WFTC. Klnston, granted power boost from 100 to 230 wall.s. North Dnkota: KRMC. .Tamealown, granted night power Jump from 100 to 250 walla. Texas: KTEll, Temple, and KNOW, Austin, granted night power boost from 100 to 250 Watld. " ' ■ Oregon: KAST. Astoria, granted power booat from 100 to 230 walls.. FennsylvBDla; WGAK Ijinraaler; WWSVy, Pittsburgh: WJAC. Johnston, and U'ltAK, Wllliamaport, granted Increase In power from 100 to 250 watla, Puerto HIco: WKAQ. Radio Corporation of Porto RIco, San Juan, grunted extension of special temporary authority to rebroadcasc anatalning programs to be received from In- ternational broadcast alatlona \V2XB and W3XAU on a non- commercial experimental baala only, to Oct. 1. Teniieasee: WMC. Memphia CommercKI Appeal Co., Mem- phl», granted extension of "apetJlaf^amporary initlrorltT~tD- operata with t kw nighta, using directional antenna, to Oct. U. In order to overcome Interference from Cuban atallon C3(Q, provided audi operation with additional power ter- nilnHtea when CTitQ ceases operation on 780 kc, reduces power ao that additional Interference la not Involved, or until .de- fective directional ayatem la corrected by Inatallatlon of new tuning condensera; WHJf* Johnson City, and WOPl, Bristol, granted Increase In power from 100 to ICO watla; National I.lfe and Accident Insurance Co., Inc., Naalivllle, granted Ilcen,se lo iitlllTa the equipment of developmental broadcast atatlon TiV4XfN aa a high frequency relay broadcast station on frequencies SOO.OOO, 330,000, 160,000 and tOO.OOO ko. It waits. Texas: KRIC. Beaumont, granted Increaas In power from 100 to 250 walla. VlrcioLi: WTAR, WTAR Radio Corp,, Norfolk, granted ex- tension of apeclal tnmporary authority to operate with t kw nights, using directional antenna, to Oct. 11, In order to over- come Interference from Cuban atatlon CMQ, provided aucit operation on 780 ko wllh additional power terminates when CSIQ cea:ies operation on that frequency or reducea power. WlaeoDsIn: WRJ.V, Racine, granted power booat from 100 to 200 walls. NEW APPLICATIONS Arizona: KWJB, WIma Broadcasting Co., Globe, Increase night j>ower from 100 to 25£ watts. Afboiiiwa': " KtfCM. ■lle"glonal""Br6aacaiilIng~Co.r"Jonesboro'; make changes In equipment, change hours of operation and power from 100 walls days to 100 watts nights, 250 walta days. Florida: 'WFOy. Pountnin of Toulh Properlles, Inc., 8t. Auguallne. Increase power from 100 watla nighta, 250 walla days lo 250 walls all times. Gcnrglii: W.MAZ, Southeastern Broadcasting Co., Ino.; Macon. Install dirocllnnal antenna for night use, change fre- quency from 1180 10 1240 kc and houra from limited lo un- limited. Iowa: R, B. Eninn, Dea Moines, new television broadcaat elation lo be opernted on 46.500 kc for visual tranamlaslon, 43.750 for aural tr:insmls8lon, power 100 waits for both visual and sural, enil.sslon A-3 and A-S (must specify 6000 kc and submit pr.igram of r-soarrli); ICFJB. Karshall Electric Co., Marshalltowii, Increase nlglit power from 100 lo 250 watts. DOIS'T Miss PALMOLIVE'S » BESS lOHNSON ^ By Adelaide Marston Dedicated to tha women of Aine,rica. Tho story of a woman who must choosa between love and tha career of raising other women's children. WABC-CBS—10:30-10:45 A.M, E.S.T, 78 Stationa Coast-to-Coast WOR—4:30-4:45 PJ4. EST. Monday Through Friday Direction BENTON & BOWLES, Inc. Management ED WOLF, RKO BUILDING, New York WEBC, Duluth, to Mutual WEBC, Duluth-Superior, Wis,, and its sister station, WDSM, now under construction, become Mutual net af- niiates Oct. 1. WDSM will operate on 1,200 kilocycles, 100 watts power full time, WEBC, 1,290 kilo.-5,000 watt day, 1,000 night. WEBC Is also an NBC affiliate, being among that net's supplement- ary basic group. NELSON JOINS KWK St. Louis, Sept. 26. Louis Nelson has assumed duties as sales promotion manager and pub- licity director at KWK, succeeding Gene Kemper, resigned. Nelson was formerly with WHB, Kansas City, and KMOX,. St. Louis. Kemper Is expected to Join WOS, Jeflerson City, In the sales dept. in tha next'few weeks. Norman 'Winter, formerly radio executive with Blackman Sc Co. and Dundes 5c Frank, has become an ac- count exec in the Weill & Wilkins agency. Winter was also production head of WRC-WMAL, NBC'j Wash- ington outlets. TWO GROUPS^OF BIRDS Canaries SInir Over Mutnol, But OnU ■Ida New York Beginning Oct. 8 Mutual net will have two programs alike, sponsored by diflereiit companies, and on sum* days. On that data American Radio Warblers show starts with a gang of whistling canaries selling American'! canary food. Has 11.45-noon spot. Hartz Mountain Products also hav« a singing canary show on the net 3:30-3:45 p. m. Neither comes int» New York. Hartz has a flve-statioa spread, and American eight. Aussie Spielers Fight Use of Apprentices At $450 Yearly Wage Canberra, Sept. 11. Henry Gresoiy, secretary of Aus- tralian Announcers Assn., stated that any move by tlie Australian Broad- casting Commission to employ cadet announcers would be bitterly, op- posed. Gregory said that it was an attempt at 'sweating,' and the matter would be brought before the Com- monwealth Arbitration Court. Gregory further stated that tha pay olTercd by the ABC would re- duce radio announcers to the level of the lowest paid wage earner. Understood that the ABC plans to engage cadet announcers for stix sta- tions at around $450 per year. Charles Moses, g.m. ABC, stated, however, that, cadets for stixer* would be engaged locally, with « choice going to lads just leaving school and anxious to start on a ra- dio career. Pointed out tliat cadets would be paid according to age, not experience, and that $16 weekly was not a bad wage for lads ' under 20 years. The Commonwealth Arbitration Court set a minimum wage for radio announcers some time ago at around $25 weekly, although the majority of national and commercial stations pay seniors a miitih higher scale. Breslaw Chain Exploits Amateurs in Sticks Schenectady, N. Y., Sept. 26. Breslaw Bros., furniture chain which .has iispri timg iiontiniinns)YJ>0._ WGY since 1929, Is expanding its radio promotion with a series of half-hour weekly 'Search for Talent* broadcasts over WBRK, Plttsfleld, Mass., and WSYB, Rutland, Vt. Series will run 13 weeks, with local prizes and flnal grand auditions over WGY. Winners will receive cash awards, trips to New York, network auditiohs, screen tests and other comeons. Leighton Si Nelson Is the agency, Winslow Leighton having sold th« account when ha was a WGY an- nouncer. mrioNU RinisuniivES: EDWARD KTmr & ca= ON THE NBC RED NETWORK AGENCIES • ADVCRTISERB-PRODUCERS I Hava a Grand N«w Tofted Proffram Idea for Topne Peo- ple, e to 60—MlUlonn ot Fann. "The PHIL HAHMONICAS" Complete with Plan - Personnel nnd Premium - Fun - Mtwl.c Instructive - Write tor Detail" A. J. Lewis, 3 W. 29th St., N.Y.C. "Bif came Is oM stult wllh me—I'm on WRC la Wasliinctoa."