Variety (Dec 1939)

Wctliiostlay, December 13, 1939 RADIO VARIETY LIBRARIES SEEM DOOMED Don Ross Will Open Doors for His Own Saleswomen to Sell Cosmetics Don Jioss has acquired the U. S. distiibution rights for Jeanne Fou- chet, Parisian cosmetics line, and will bankroll himself over a series of smaller eastern stations to plug tales. Similar wrinkles have been woi ked before, notably by Billy Van with a make of toilet soap, but it's not common practice. Starling about Jan. 15 in Hartford, Ross will do f\ve 15-minute stanzas a week for a couple of weeks, then move on to another town, leaving a hai\dful of fcmmes on hand to follow up sales pulled in by the pro- grain. Baritone will stress romantic songs aiid use a sugary spiel aimed directly at each housefrau listener along the line of you-were-so-won- derful-last-iiight-darling. Only other talent on the show will be a local organist and cut-in announcer to dish out the -free scientific treatment in your own home' offer. Saleswomen following up the leads will work on a straight 35% comihission basis. After foundationing the product in various towns, Ross figures ulti- mately to ether his program over an eastern network, passing on the sales leads to his representatives who will liave remained in each locality. Maxwell Curtaibent Uncertain; Half Hour Audition Poses Task Maxwell House Coffee division- of Generat Foods has not come to a de- cision on whether or when it will re- duca its Good News show on NBC Thursday nights to a half hour, it was stated by Benton & Bowles, agency on the account yesterday ("Tuesday.). Agency denied the re- port that the account may be stayed from going 30 minutes because of its long-term commitments to the pro- gram's talent. This report was fur- ther refuted by the agency's action In asking the show's performers and writers for an additional week's lee- way in picking up options. It Is understood that Maxwell execs were none too impressed with mi au- dition of the show as compressed to 30 minutes. WSM TRANSCRIPTIONS USED BY ARMOUR Nashville, Dec. 12. The first commercial transcriptions out of Nashville will be released over a group of southern stations this month. The program, 'Uncle Jim's Cross-Roads Store,* Is produced for Armour Fertilizer works. Talent is WSM's Smilin' Jack and his Missouri Mountaineers, with four instruments end three vocalists, and Lark Taylor (Uncle Jim), Lionel Ricau (Old Black Joe), Louie Buck (Armour salesman). Jack Harris prodiiccs. C. P. Clark,.Inc., is the agency. Selling is cross-roads store where Uncle Jim dispenses homespun phil- osophy and assorted products. WSM has made many transcrip- tions of shows, some network, to be presented over station at later time. This, however, is first commercial series tran.scribed locally for other stations. Nun* Give Pledga Washington, Deo. 12. WJSV, which is carrying a se- ries from local orphanages, hos- pitals, old folks' home as plugs for community chest drive, had one scheduled from Catholic or- phanage where little tots, age three and four, were to sing simple songs. Queried by station on selec- tions, orphanage sisters were unable to understand meaning of 'music clearance.' Good la- dies haughtily informed WJSV that station could 'be sure the children would sing no obscene songs.' KIRO ANTI-WAR BLAST VERY GRUESOME Seattle, Dec. 12. Setting out to make war horrible —and succeeding—KIRO program director Tommy Thomas may have also set something of a radio and propaganda high in sheer gruesome description of what happens to the bodies of soldiers when colliding with bullets, explosives, gas and general military exposure. Morbid broadca.st drew so many comments the script was mimeographed for mailing to those who wanted copies. Understood here Thomas employed descriptive material supplied him from the east. Believed that many stations have received similar anti- war material. Patrick Hamilton's hit thriller. 'Gas Light,' aired with Barbara Burnham producing. I.P.M. STRIITEG! Transcription 'Companies See Fate Sealed by Claim Existing Rules 'Misunder- stood'—Believe It's Part of Union Pressure on New Live Contracts for Industry BOARD MEETS JAN. 14 There was much trade speculation last week among musical conductors in New York City concerning the possible extinction in the near fu- ture of the waxed library services operated by NBC, World, Associated and, in Los Angeles, Standard. These have been a source of fairly steady recording sessions to sundry musi- cians for the past six years. While there was no final evidence that the American Federation of Musicians or Local 802, New York, were irre- vocably decided to impose condi- tions tantamount to a death sentence, trade talk mentioned that -jvhat now seems to be union policy would, if confirmed by the AFM Board, doom the library end of the transcription business. There were two threads apparent last week. One was the thread of the known facts, the other the thread of the unknown fears. It was diffi- cult to keep them separated. Among the known facts were these: 802 was refusing to ratify con- tractor's papers. Reggie Childs was halted at ani NBC session and pro- ceeded under the threat that NBC might later have to pay off on the basis of a full 13-minuta transcrip- tion fee for every single musical selection recorded. The union's point of contention was the empty spaces of wax that separate each musical selection on the library platters Finally there were two or more (Continued on page 30) Same Actors Double From Tamily To lystery' and Trade Dopesters See Destruction of Character Values Another Blow Hollywood, Deo. 12. U. S. transcription producers are faced with the loss of the Australian market because of the war. New monetary con- trol legislation against purchases of 'non-essentials' is blow at discs. Aussie stations would be permitted to buy matrices but not American pressings. ■Hollywood platter rriakers fear Canada, their best market, may also clamp on restrictions. RADIO STUNT PUTS DRIVERS IN JAIL Toledo, Dec. 12. Drivers for the Gordon Baking Co., which carries 'One of the Finest,' halt hour cerial, over an NBC hookup, got themselves jammed up with the Toledo police last week when they undertook to exploit the show by wearing policemen's uni- forms on their delivery rounds. Only item missing in their getup was the badge. Toledo Police Department pulled in the drivers on a charge of im- personating officers, but they were released after several hours in the clink. The drivers were later per- mitted to continue wearing the garb with the proviso that they change their brass buttons to black ones. Birthday Plans Outlined; Kate Smith in Huddle CBS will carry a quarter hour dkscussion Saturday (16) at 10:45 Pm. of the plans set up for this year's celebration of the President's birthday on behalf of the Infantile Paralysis Foundation. Event itself takes place Jan. 30. Keith Morgan, Kate Smith, Bill Goruin and Bob Trout will be heard On program arranged by Fredericka Millet, radio director of the cele- Ijralion. For 34 years Variety has served show business as the leading medium of its news and advertising. Outstanding figures in whatever field of endeavor — as artist, manager, or agent — have gained and held their prominence first through talent and ability; second, by exploiting themselves to their professional associates- Competittou demands greater showmanship today than ever before. Much comment is being heard around the trade about Standard Brands' practice of using the cast of 'One Man's Family' also for its 'I Love a Mystery' series. The dou- bling, it is felt, puts the food combine in the position of possibly jeopardiz- ing the highly valuat>le piece of property it has in 'One Man's Fam- ily.' In the course of the years the play- ers in 'Family' have for millions of listeners developed to the status of almost real characters, ai.d to hear these same voices romping around in an adventure story is something to tend to break the illusion for the 'Family's' fans. Whereas in the latter show they're character.';, the same set of. players become merely actors when allied with 'I Love a Mystery." The situation beco es par- ticularly pointed on a Wednesday evening when over the same net- work (NBC-red) the same players are first heard in 'Mystery' at 7:15-7:30 o'clock and then again in 'One Man's Family' at 3-8:30 o'clock, Carlton E. Morse writes both pro- grams. 'Family' plugs C & S Ten- derleaf Tea and 'Mystery,' Fleisch- mann's Yeast. J. Walter Thompson is the agency. 'One Man s Family' To 8:30 Spot Sundays For Standard Brands Advertising forms closing soon for '5 34th Anniversary Issue l!Sir.\L ADVKRTISIiNG K.VIKS IMtKVAlL 4dverlising copy may sfiit lo any Vnru'ly offire .NEW YORK 134 V/ral *6ih St. HOLLYWOOD 1708 No. vine St. CHICAGO 54 W. Randolph St. Standard Brands will continue to occupy the Sunday 8 to 9 p.m. spot even though the Chase & Sanborn show goes a half hour Jan. 7. The second half of this hour will go to 'One Man's Family,' currently on at 8 o'clock Thursday night.s. When 'Family' moves 'Those We Love' (also Standard Brands) will move forward a half hour from its pres- ent Thursday 8:30-9 p.m. period. The vacancy made by 'Love' will then be filled by a serial owned by another victual processor. General Foods. Latter show is 'The Aldrich Family,' now on the blue link Tues- day nights (8-8:30). The main op- position according to the present schedule is Lever Bros.' 'Big Town,' while under the Thursday night set- up it will have as competitors Joe Penner (Ward Bread) and Colgate's 'Strange As It May Seem.' JOHN BACON TO WGR SUCCEEDING AVERY Buffalo, Dec. 12. John A. Bacon has been named sales director of WGR-WKBW, Buf—■ falo, effective Jan. J. He comes from the Buffalo Times where he has been an advertising executive for the past seven years. Lew Avery, the stations' present sales head, is joining Free & Peters in Chicago. Washington Will Return Question Bee Next Month Uncle Jim's Question Bee which goes off NBC this Saturday (18) will return some time in January under same sponsor, G. Washington coffee. Cecil & Prcsby is the agency. HERB CAEN SPONSORED San Francisco, Dec. 12. Herb Caen, gossip columnist of the Chronicle, sponsored over KPO. for a series of weekly quarter-hours by Regal Amber Beer. Caen assisted by NBC annoimcer Larry Keating. Deal .set by Larry Allen of Con- solidated Radio Artists through E. M. Harlan Agency. -!l.'