Variety (Oct 1939)

so VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, October 18, 1939 SHEPARD *0N TRIAL' IN OWN HOME TOWN AS MAURICE FLYNN'S MOVES MATURE Grudge Fight Set for Nov. 8 — Staging Event in Boston Seen an Advantage to Hit Ex-Employee In Mustering Witnesses Inexpensively Washington. Oct. 17. Grudge flght between John Shep- ard, 3d. and an ex-employee, Law- rence Flynn, was set for iie.Kt month by the Federal Communications Com- mission. Involving several Impor- tant regulatory principles, a hearing in Bo.ston goes on Nov. 8 on applica- tion of Flynn's Mayflower Broadcast- ing Co. for WAAB's 1410 kc. berth. In a virtually unprecedented ac- tion, the Commish has scheduled a public airing to determine whether Flynn or Shepard is better fitted to serve the public interest. Novel set of is.<iues includes the usual reason— pendency of a rival application—and the question of whether public inter- est would be promoted to a greater degree' by allowing Mayflower to re- place the Yankee Network's Mutual outlet in the Bean Centre. Holding the session in Boston Is a distinct advantage to Flynn, who has been seeking his former employer's scalp for over a year. Simpler for him, and much less costly, to round [ up Shcp.ird's foes and wash dii ty linen which has occasioned consid- erable comment in political circles. Boston hearing is in accordance with a new—but never formally an- nounced—policy of taking evidence in the fleld whenever all parties re- side in the same locality. Pointed out that in the last round of the Bellingham, Wash., tiff Commission attaches went to the' Pacific Coast rather than drag witnesses 3,000 miles. The Flynr-Shepard row is of trade- wide signiflcance, not merely because Shepard has been prominent in N.A.B., but because an involved Is- sue Is whether a station proprietor, as such, has the right to use his fa- cilities in taking sides In political rows, thus laying the basis for a clear-cut ruling on the disputed question about propriety of a radio station having an editorial policy like a newspaper. Undercover angle, likewise con- cerning many broadcasters, Is the circumstance that Shepard has two outlets in the same city, tlius giving the FCC a potential opportunity to carry further its contention that pub- lic interest is better served if owner- ship of outlcts'is distributed as wide- ly as possible. The fact that Shepard possesses several plants undoubtedly will be spotlighted. While the issues do not take the usual form In renewal hearings, Shepard will be on the defensive. Because Flynn last year filed a num- ber of serious charges—ranging from violation of the lottery prohibition to denial of equal opportunity to politi- cal candidates—against WAAB as a result of the last Boston mayoralty election. After mulling the accusa- tions, the FCC ordered a hearing on the station's license renewal plea, but this was called off when the Com- mish Law Department performed a remarkable somersault, and finally said there was no prima facie evi- dence which would justify taking of testimony. The flipflop, which occa- sioned considerable comment, oc- curred after Flynn tried to recall his complaint and decided to harass Shepard with the new application, Stuart Wayne, announcer, moved to WMAS, Springfield. ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ M t MM »»^ From the Production Centers IN NEW YORK ... Howard London, who used to scout news for trade papers. Is now chas- ing guest talent for Pedlar & Ryan In behalf of Vitalls' 'For Men Oiily' show. It's a part time assignment Bernard Schubert asking stations carrying 'By Kathleen Norris' to telegraph the authoress... .Bill Paley recovered from nasty limousine spill'that bruised his nose painfully fort- night back. Lucius Beebe's first three shots as WOR-Mutual's 'First Nighter* re- placing Bide Dudley, are test shots... .Genevieve Rowe does concert at HoUins College, Va., Feb. 7, 1940 WNEW gets another football commer- cial from Atlantic Refining Oct. 28. Carnegie Tech—Notre Dame Joe Lilley, choir director at NBC, out to free-lance... .Mutual, to pick up all Hialeah Park, Fla., horse races this season. Starts Jan. 10 with Inaugural Handicap, winding up Marh 2 with Widener $50,000 Handicap.,. .Allan Reed, announced on Col. Stoopnagle's 'Quixie Doodle' show which starts on WOR-Mutual Friday (20), is Teddy Bergman Freddie Rich band gets 'Show of Week' shot on Mutual-WOR Nov. 5 Dinah Shore has three new sustaining spots on NBC. She's on Sunday, Monday and Fri- day.... Ed East's early morning hour program on WJZ, N. Y., picked up Pinex, Vick Chemical and Commercial Solvents as participating sponsors ,.. .Vickl Baum now permanent member of 'Author,' Author' on WOR- Mutual... .Dolly Mitchell, on Chiclet program is 18-year-old daughter of Al Mitchell, WOR's 'Answer Man'....WMCA instaUed RCA-NBC's Ortha- Coustic Recording equipment... .Otis Williams and Ted Herbert pre- sented with watches for running over $1,000,000 mark in time sales tor WOR,...Bide Dudley doing his legit .reviews on WHN. IN HOLLYWOOD ... Bill Lawrenca on leave from KNX (CBS) production staff- to handle 'I Want a Divorce' on NBC Lillian Cornell, Chicago canary, was piped In by NBC on a picture audition. If studio officials okay she goes into Jack Benny's next picture at Paramount... .Orson Welles' troupe detoured to old KNX studio, now tenanted by a school, due to heavy Sunday sched- ule at Columbia Square and remote points. ^ ■ LEND AN EAR ^/(C KLZ's ^^Lady, Lend an Ear" POLITICIAN BIDS FOLKS HECKLE HIM Cincinnati, Oct. 17. Seeking to bust into politics as a councilman, Charles Tobias, a broker. Is buying twice-weekly quarter-hour periods on WCPO to wage a candidate-on-the-curb cam- paign. Has no set talks for sidewalk sessions and Invites onlookers to jiop questions, which he answers on the air. He's extra polite to hecklers. Station's production manager. Bob Bentley, tugs co-mikers. Elliot Broza's Boy Orch. Auditioning for a Film Philadelphia, Oct. 17. A moppets orchestra led by Elliott Broza, son of Stan Lee Broza, pro- gram director of WCAU, will be au- ditioned next week by Republic Pic- tures scouts for a spot in its new ■Hit Parade' film. Tha members of th« band range from 13 to 16, and were formed from among participants in Pater Broza's •Kiddie Hour.' KSO-KRNT Ran Show • In less than a year KLZ-produced "Lady, Lend an Ear" has completely cap- tured the housewifely interest of 255,000 radio homes in tht Denver-Rocky Moun- tain area. It started off as a 15-minut* period of home-making suggestions and household hints. It has grown, by popular demand, into a 4S-minute, six-times-a-week program that holds its audience through a flawless blend of showmanship plus. Local advertisers were first to discover" the power of this typical sales-provoking KLZ production. National sponsors lost no time in capitalizing on its popularity and its drawing power. So in less than a year on the air, "Lady, Lend an Ear" has counted on its roster of participating co- sponsors leading names in Colorado among retailers and manufacturers of home furnishings, foods and appliances. Naturally, this type of program ... der signed, planned and conducted by KL27i Margaret Moors*, a skilled commentator who (or eight years has bean creating out- standing women's programs , , , oan b« made available for a limited number ol sponsors. But participation of a few sea- sonal accounts leaves an occasional spot for those who want a sure, economical road Into the hearts of women of this region. "Dinly Doyl», N. Y, Journai-Aumictn column' isif reterreiS to her M "an Important lady ol radio 'who should he grabbed by tha notworksJ* VISUAL EVIDENCE of th» popularity of KLr* "Lady, Lend an Eat" it to b* found In tlio SR(> •ign which usually (oos up in KLZ'i main Btudl» b«for* this sparkling program jo»s on th» aift. KLZ 3, CBS AFFIUATS M 560 KILOCYCLES Under Manaoemcnt Aitiluted wmt The Oklahoma. Pt^BLiSHma Company -K Pudlkhcr w Tm Daily Oklahomam, Tm Tuu and Tm Fakmer-Stockman * Ownn and OPSRATtm of Station* WKY, Oklahoma Crrv, and KVOR, Colorado Sphinos ♦ Repbbsbntbo bt The Kat* Aosnqt, In*. Des Moines, Oct. 17. KSO-KRNT is again furnishing talent for the Des Moines auto show, this year Oct. 23 to 28. Headlines will be Griff Williarhs' band with Hay Perkins, of NBC, as emcee. This Is tha seventh consecutiva year the stations have l)een in charge of entertainment for the show. QNC »r iKt biffMt r4ot;«nol A^Cun* In lh« CMArf tl«nin Htm Yorl m • r*M)f( of IhtiV En^ih ro^o pf«fr«m«. [TMi wai iht p<'c(m wtwi w« contocltJ (hW Af4iKy tw« Diiplor^ng o ftvi tf hJm ft9v/t* which tun w*r« ImfKH' tf« A^my fronUf lo^ I* y». what mw* c«uld w* m\ l«7 W« iMh m qjf on4 MWol Ql«nc*l anj Hwi *#ry colmly r«ptt<f: "Dm vMt llots-Ammwt of oppfoik mol«(y l,MO.00O, wUdi tpindi ov«r « KLon Dolwt onnwoly." Bui, counlerwi |K« AfMcy. wa r«och ikoi nwWt. AivJ Offtad tlwy d« . .. IF Itab-Amarlconi IuamJ in lo Hv»> pro^roml With o btnt m w*I oi o (lore, th« AffMrmwi H«««. w* •ip^^ntd td Mm thot torioch \\^% upo*a*t a^J Amtrknn Woy"** Wal, that wot (wo yoon 090 and i>'Ka tfiol lh*;r pro9fonH hovi o/w po^d (org* diTi'J«Aj« "TH# ltol».Aimf W«Vr lliot'i why lh«y,.i:U many oK\*tn> hov* c«Al(tvjM A^trtiitri wllh m— ^ mJti Ukw Ihot (!»«<■# li »♦ * yow odvMi'w "Tk* Hal^-Amtucan Wof."