Variety (Dec 1939)

2« VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, December 13, 1939 W CHARGE ENDS SERIES Kansas City, Dec. 12. Municipal court broadcast on WHB has been taken off the air iol- lowing protest ot the Missouri Bar Association. Protest was entered some months ago at a St, Joseph meeting by a delegation from the Negro chamber of commerce, and was followed by protests from within the group.. Objections were made on grounds of discrediting Negro race and also of tending toward levity in the courtroom. Broadcast was . on a six time.<! weekly schedule from 10 to 10:30 ■a.m. in court of Judge Thomas Hol- land. As long ago as 1923 WHB had a one per week blast from night court first court broadcast in K. C, but had to cancel it because of hazard of midnight tipplers. ♦ ♦^♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»*»»v» « » ♦ ' ♦♦»«<♦»'♦ »^ F. C C's WASHINGTON DOCKET ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦t«««« MMMMMM ««* ♦♦«■» ♦•♦♦♦♦^ MAJOR DECISIONS DONAHUE, KAYE, BYRNE UP FOR SENSATION Choice of a successor to Larry Clinton on the Sensation program (NBC) has been pared down to three orchestras, namely, Al Donahue, Sammy Kaye and Bobby Byrne. Client (Lorillard) will pick: the final- ist either today (Wednesday) or to- morrow. Clinton fades Dec. 25. Arlionai New stnllon nsplratlons ot V. C. Tcese, P!ioetilx Insuruncft man, were slnted for fuliUhnont In n prupusotl nnding In wlilcli the Comnllsll act Aslilo stiimwks . from KTAH »nd KOY—exiBllnB trrin?niltlcr3 itnillnlpil wllli ilie NDO Bnrt CBS networks, reRpocilvcly. In u lonR ciinolu- slon, studded with excerpt from court dcrlslnns. KCC hinted that the Interveners hnd fulled to produce facts In support oC their contention that construction ot (ho Ktatlnn would seriously damnce their business. Oomnilsh duty Is to pro-. lect exIstlnR stations from Improper activities of compcll- tors, Jt was pointed out, but 'competition Is not an Im- proper .actlvlly.' Applicant Is well qunlinod In all ways. to construct and operate the proposed til,000 station. It was found, with total assets of fil.lOl, of which his contract of cmployinont with the First National Dcncnt .Society ot Phoenix wns valued at JSO.OOO. Ileeso expects to pay out t2,ino a month In opcrallni; expenses and raho In approxinmtoly S3.000 per month. Rates proposed arc IIS per hour; $16 per ',4 hour; 110 per '.i houTi for livo minutes; $3 for 100-word an- nottnccmcnls and 12 for 50-word announcements. ChnrKes will be subject to discounts ranging from 30;i, for. proErains broadcast 300 or more times. Applicant was represented by n. S. Stanford and Frank Rtollenwerck. Paul M. Sccal and Oeorpo S. Smith iin- poared for KT.\n, with Philip G. I,oucl<s, Arthur W. Schur- feld and J. K. Zlas representing KOY. Keofuchy: l<'lnal turndown on the npidlcatlon of the Gale- way Broadcasting Co., of I.o'ilsvlllc. was delivered last week, Request for n new station. Involving tho use of OSO kr. With 600 watts, would not be In accordance with the proper allocation of regional frequency and good engineering prac- tice, FCC, declared, - Entire metropolitan district of Louis- ville would not be served by tho proposed transmitter under this assignment and no weight to tho applicant's 'main grievance' that notice and opportunity to bo heard on the Issue upon which Us application was proposed to be denied was not affordetl. Paul M. Segal appeared on behalf of tho applicant and WAVE. 'Mr. District Attorney' Off Pepsodent Jan. 7 ■Mr. District Attorney' is being dropped by Pepsodent Jan. 7 even though the, account has expressed itself as gratified with the show's listener results. Explanation given for its action is that its budget will not allow for two network programs during 1940. Other show is Bob Hope's. Program scored over NBC's blue- penciler in a tifl involving a gag in last Sunday's (10) script One male character in the. continuity re- marked, 'and supposing I was going to have a baby?,* and the district attorney wisecracked, 'you'd wind up as an exhibit at the Smithsonian In- stitute.' NBC's , script scrutinzer de- leted the gag as out of place on the air, but the .agency on the account. Lord Sc Thomas, assailed this viewr- - point as Mrs. Grundyish and fought .for its retention. . The gag stayed us is. MINOR DECISIONS DOLLAR DISCOUNT T» Hyp* Coast Bine NBC Makes Further ChaneCB NBC's latest move to stimulate purchase of the Pacific blue network smong regional advertisers is the proposed adoption of a dollar vol- ume discount for such clients. The rate structure for the westcoast link as it now stands does not provide any special inducements for buying mul- tiple outlets in this group. It has also been decided at NBC to turn over the national representa- tion of both the red and blue Pacific networks to its subsid. Spot Sales, Inc., with the latter designated to concentrate on the- blue link. The exact discount , brackets applying'to the Pacific- blue will be released to the trade within the coming week. KMBC 5,000 W, Okayed Kansas City, Dec. 12. Okay from FCC on application of KMBC for 5,000 watts at night,came last week, and Arthur Church, sta- tion prexy, ordered immediate con- struction of directional antenna re- quired. Hopes to inaugurate the new. power about Feb. 1. jStation now operates on 5,000 days and 1,000 nights. New allocation will make it only station in Kansas City with more than 1,000 watts night Announcement of the FCC action came same day Church was notified KMBC was winner of Variety show- manship plaque for program origi- nating station. Alakania: WHMA, Harry M. Ayers, Annlston, granted changes In equipment and power boost from 100 to ^50 watts. -Alankfl; -KFQD. Anchorage, present license further ex- tended" temporarily only, to Jan. 1, pending determination un renewal application. .Alaska: KGUU, Ketchikan, present license further ex- tended on temporary basis only to Jan. 1, ' lOtO, pending determination on renewal application, Arl^Dn: KCRJ.. Jerome and KWJB, Sims Broadcasting Co., South of Globe, present licenses extended temporarily to Jan. 1, lOiO, pending receipt of and det^milnallon upon ^enc^val application. Arkansas: Charles Leo Llntzenlch, niythevllle, granted voluntary assignment of license to Fred O. Grlmwood; KFPW, Southwestern Hotel Co., Fort Smith, present license extended on temporary basis only to Jan, 1,. pending de- termination on renewal application. California: KHSL, Chlco, granted Installation ot dlrec- .tlonal antenna system and night boost from 1 to 6 kw, using antenna day and night; KGB, Don Lee Broadcasting Sys- tem, San Diego, granted Installation- of new equipment and vertical radiator, juice-jump from 1 to 6 kw, ond consent to move transmitter alte locally; KRKD, Radio Broadcast- ers, Inc., Los Angeles, granted -night power boost from 600 watts to 1 kw. , California: K.4BM, George Harm, Fresno, granted changes In equipment and power boost from 100 to 3:o watts; KMPC. Station of the Stara, Inc., Beverly Hills, granted Installation ot new equipment, power jump from 600 watts to 1 kw nights, 6 kw days, and change In hours ot operation from limited to unlimited, . ' Colorailo: KLZ, Deliver, granted installation of directional antenna system and night juice-jump from 1 to 6 kw, using directional antenna all times, Connecticut: WBRY, Waterbury, present license extended on temporary basis only, pending receipt ot and action upon renewal application, but In no event later t|ian Jan. I. Connecticut: WDRC, Hartford, granted Installation ot directional antenna system and night power-jump from 1 to 5 kw, using directional antenna night and day. District of Columbia; .WMAL, Washington, granted in- stallation- ot new equipment and directional antenna system ' and boost power troin 260 watts nights, 600 watts days, to 5 kw..all -times, using OA-system all times: Idaho: KFXD, Trank E. Kurt, Nampa, present license temporarily extended to Jan. r, pending receipt ot and determination, upon renewal application (also granted modl- ncallon of license to increaso night power from 100 to 250 waits). Illinois: WGIL, Galesburg, granted Increased tim* ot operation from d»y» only to unlimited, with 250 watts. Indinnn: WIRE, Indianapolis, granted night juice-jump from 1 to 5 kw; WHBU, Leo M. Kennctt, Anderson, granted transfer ot control ot Anderson Broadcasting Corp., to Roy E. Uloseom and I.eo M. Kenneth, Iowa: K!?CJ, Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, granted In- stallation directional antenna system and night juice-jump from 1 to 6 kw, using DA system for night opernllnn. Iowa: KTRI, Sioux City, granted night power boost from 100 to 260 walls. Kansas: KVGB, Helen Townsley, Great Bend, granted changes In equipment and power Increase from 100 to 230 watts. Kenlacky: Peducah Broadcasting Co.. Inc.. Hopklnsvllle, new station to be operated on 1500 he with 230 watts. MnsanchUKtts: WMEX. Chelsea, griinied night power In- crease from 100 to 260 watts. Minnesota; KSTP, Pt. Paul, granted special temporary authority to operate dayllmes, using 60 kw, while taking Held intensity data, for a period not to exceed 30 days (balance' of- operation to be conducted with 1 kw), .Monlnoa: KGIR, Butte, granted night juice-junip from 1 to 5 kw. Missouri: KDRO, Sedalla, from 100 to 250 watts. .Missouri: KSD. St, Ix)uls, granted motion to accept amendment to application to change appllfatlon for power Increase from 1 kw to 5 kw, using directional antenna. .Michigan: WICZO, Kalamazoo, granted changes In direc- tional antenna system and Increase In night power from 250 watts to 1 kwi using directional antenna system for night operation. Nebrasbu: WOW, Omaha, granted installation ot new equlpinent and night power jump from 1 to 5 kw. Nebraska: KHAS, Hastings, granted installation of vcrll- cal radiator and increaso in night power from 100 to ito watts. >>«v .Mexico: KGFL, Roswel), granted change in hours of operation from spoclfled to unlimited. Xow .Mexico: KOU, Albuquerque, granted change In hoursr ot operation from simultaneous days, sharing wlth KEX Portland. Ore., nights, to unlimited. New York: Water.town Broadcasting Corp., Waterlown, granted petition to change fi'equency application from 1420 to 1210 )<c. New Vork; ^QXR, New York City, granted InslnllnHon of new equipment and increase in juice from 1 to 6 liw; St. Thomas Conrad Sawyer is now do- ing quarter-hour 'Word Dramas' .over Mutual from KBJ, Los An- Seles. granted night Dower increase Ijiwrcnca Broadcasting Corp., Ogdennburg, granted new ata- tlon to be operated on 1370 kc with 360 watts. .Vnrtli Cnmllnii: WIIKY, Hickory, granted changes In equipment and Inrrraso In night i)Ower from 100 to 260 ■wiitts; WMKIl, High I'oint, pre.>icnt llfen.'io extended tern- liorarily to Jan. 1, ponding dotcrmlnallon on application for renewal; WSOC, Charlotte, license . extended temporarily pending recehit ot and determination on application for r«- newal, until Feb, 1. Ohio: Wn.ss. <;nlumbu3, granted neWlilgh frequency brundr:ist station to be operated on 43000 with 260 wntt.^, Biieclal emission for frciiuciicy modulntlnn, iinllinlted time, Oiiki: W.»!l'l), 'roledo. granted install.illhu ot dircotlnnal nnlcnnn system for night operation un.d power boost from 1 to 6 kw. OklationiB; KOME, Tulsn, present license extended on a temporary basis until. Jan, 1, pending rcccliit tit niitl action on renewal ai>i>llcatlon. Oregcm: IvE.V. I'orlland, granli'd fhiiiice in frequency from I ISO to lliiO kc. nnti cliango In hotirs of oiicrntion front simultaneous days, sitnring with KOU,. .Mbtiqucrque, N. Klcx., nights, to unlimited. I'ennio'lvuniu: Wil*, riilladclphia, grnntpd insiallalinn of directional antenna systcni, move transmitter .<itA locally. Install new ctiulpinent and jutni> juice from I to 6 kw, using dircctlonni antenna all times. . Itliode Island: ^^'^Itt), rrovldcnce, granted changes In equipment and directional nntottna system, niuht poWer jumi) from 1 to 6 kw, using directional antenna all limes. .Siiulli Carolina: WIS. Columbia, granted voluntary assign- ment of license to tilo Liberty l.lfn Insurance Co. .Soulli Ciirolina: WCDS, Columbia, granted night power juhip from lOO to 260 watts. I'rnnessee: WltOL, S. K. Adcock and P. E. Adcoclc, Ad- ministrator ot Estato ot Iluth Adcock, deceased, Knoxvllle, granted authority to transfer control of Stuart Broadcast Corp. (ilcensco of WllOL) to S. E. Adcock. I'rnnessre: WHtjn, M. I,. Medley. Cookevllle. granted In- stallation of vertical radiator and new equipment and night, power Increase from 100 to 250 w.-itts. Texas: K'rnC: Atistin, granted' voluntary assignment of .llcenso from State Caiiltol Broadcasting Associalinn (It. It, Aiiderson, president) to State Capitol Itroadrustlng Associa- tion, Inc.; K.MAC, S^n Antonio, granted night power boost from 100 to 2,'iO watts. • - Tciat: KPDN, n, l\ Holies. Pampn. granted Increase In hours of operation from days to unlimited, using present frequency ot 1310 kc and power ot 100 walls; KTR.M, Trl State Broadcasting Co., Inc., El Paso, granted night power boost from 100 to 260 w.itts. Utah: KLO, Ogdcn, granted night power boost from 1 to > kw. Waahlngton: KVOS, Belllngham, granted changes in com- posite equipment and power boost from 100 to 260 watts, on condition that grant will not be construed as a llndlng for renewal ot llcen.ve nor upon application of IJclllnghain Broadcasting Co., nOr u|>on any of the Issues Involved In these cases; KIRO, Queen City Droadcastlhg Co.. Inc.. Seattle, granted change of frequency from 660 to 710 kc and power boost from 260 wait's, llmlled, to 1 kw unlimited; K.\10, KMO, Inc., Tacoma, granted voluntary assignment ot license to Carl E. Haymond, Wisconsin: WLBL, Board of negenis, fnlverslty of Wis- consin, granted voluntary assignment of license to Stale of Wisconsin, Department ot Agriculture. Hjnmlng: KVIt."?, Rock Springs, gronled night power boost from 100 to 260 walla NEW APPLICATIONS California: KVCV, Golden Empire Broadcnsilng Co., Redding, Install new transmitter and jump power from lot} to 230 walls; KQW, Pacldc Agrlcullurai Foundation, Ltd., Ran Jose, Increaso night power from 1 to 6 kw, using direc- tional antenna nights; K.M.r, llcClatchy Broadcasting <;o., Fresno, boost night power from 1 to 6 kw; K'l'nit, 'I'homns H. McTnmmany & William II. Bates, .1r.. Xlortesto, change hours ot operation from days to llmi|c<l to Wsit. .MInnta, ntove transmitter locally and boost i)0\vcr from 250 watts to 1 kw; Chester K'. Williams, Orlnda, new itatlon to be operated to 1170 kc with 1 kw. Georgia: Gainesville llroadcaslers. Gainesville, neV sta- tion to bo operated on 1110 kc with 230 watt.i.' Illinois: Balaban tc Kotx Corp.. Chicago, new television slnilon to be operated on CC000.7200O kc with 1 kw, A-3 and A-5 emission; Helen I* Walton & Walter Ilcllaill, .lackson- vllle, new station to be operated on 1370 kc with 250 watts. MossnehDsells: Henry Joseph Wnlczalc, Sprlngneld;. new television station to bo operated on 1(50 ke with 250 watts, special emission. Mississippi: WCCM, WGCIL-Inc, Gulfport. new sntennn, night power boost from 100 to 260 waits and movo trans- mitter locally. Missouri: WIIB. Kansas City, inslnll new. transmitter and antenna, boost power from 1 to 60 kw and move truiis- mltter locally. New Jencr: North Jersey Broadcasting Co., Inc., Tater- son, new station to be opei-alcd, days only, on HOO kc with 1 kw. New Mexico: KOB, Albuquerque, change lime from limited to unlimited (contingent on KEX, Porllund, Ore., appllcnllon for lICO kc), Oiilo: The Crosley Corp., Cincinnati, nbw television broad- cast station to be oi>eratcd on 60000-5ii000 kc with 1 kw. A-3 and A-5 emission; WHIG. Jllami Valley liioadca.-llng Corp.. Dayton, make changes in antenna and transmitter, jump night juice from 1 to 6 kw and move transmitter locally. KEX, I'ortland, change frequency from IISO lo 11C0 kc, hours of operation from simultaneous with KOU, Albuquerque, N. Mcx., to unlimited, Inslnll new transmlili-r and directional antenna for all-timo use and move Irans- inltter locally. I'ennsylvanlai WKST, New Castle, change corporate name to wK.ST, Inc. Rliode Island: WPItO, Providence, u.<:e oltV 'tv. E. 353 E-1 triinsmltler as an auxiliary, increasa night power from 600 watts to 1 kw, use antenna described In lonslrucllon permit «s mndincd, and move transmitter locally. Tennessee: Kingsport Broadcasting tin., Klngsport, new sl;ilion to be operated on 1370 l;c with 5r,o waits. Teins: KFJto, I.ongview, Install new transmitter and boost power from 1 to 6 kw, i:inh: KtiTA, Utah Broadcasting Co., .Salt Lake Cltv, new , equipment and power boost from 100 to 260 waits. SET FOR HEAMNG OMAHA GETS 35% PLEDGE Omaha, Dec. 12. President Neville Miller of NAB obtained 13 promises for NAB's new Broadcast Music, Inc., at a special meeting here of 10th district stations. After closed session the pledges were reported 35% of stations in the lowa- Missouri-Nebraska district. Representatives of 28 stations at- tended the ipecting. There are 51 stations in the district, including four not yet constructed. J. C. Maland, of WHO, Des Moine.s, among first to hit the trail, expressed conndence in NAB directors ond said his station would 'get every benefit back in reduced ASCAP fees.' Miller wouldn't give out list of subscribing station.s, asserting that some contracts could not be finally signed until after owners of some stations approved contract signa- tures. Discussion over the impending AFM contract veered toward a reso- lulion pulling lOlh district 'stations on record aS;Opposing any jncicase in AFM allotments, but no such'resolu- tion emerged, the eventual consensus being that a watchful, waiting policy was advisable, - Rev. W. A. Burk of WEW, St. Louis; Miller, and Don Scarle, g.m. of Central States Broadcasting and a member ot NAB code compliance committee, went to thie mat on the free speech provision of the NAB code. Burk said he planned to ob- ject to the code because it violates the American principles of free speech. Scnrle extracted from group a 4- to-1 vote in favpr of what he termed a liberal interpretation ot the code. Show ot hands also indicated prefer- ence for enforcement of code. Day's session ended with cocktail party with WOW, KOIL and KOWH, all Omaha, as hosts. Broadcast Mu.<;ic, Inc., pi-ospcclive competitor to ASCAP, is having dif- ficulty finding a radio man to act (is its agent in sale of stock in Ne- braska. John Gillin, WOW gjn. and district director of National Assn. of Broadcasters was listed as Nebraska agent when the organization sought authority from the state securities bureau to sell 7,000 shares of com- mon stock at $5 a share to broad- casting stations in Nebraska. Gillin declined because his station is pre- vented- from buying any stock by state laws which prevent insurance companies from .purchasing non- profit stocks. Don Searle of KOIL,'Omaha, and Bing Sinith, KOWH manager, have both been oftered the agent job, but both have said no. Cnnneetlrul: iTarold Thomas. Bridgeport, new stntlnn to be operated on 1420 kc with 260 watt.s, ''lo',".' ^'^^^'y- Ptlumwa, new station lo he operated on-1210 kc with 100 walls, Maryland: WSAL, Frank M. Stearns, Rallahurv, Commlsh designated for hearing before Comml.wloni r 'rhud H, Urown the matter ot tho order ot revocation ot license. Montana: E. Krohnbach. Miles Cllv, new station lo he operated on 1310 kc with 100 waCta nlRht.-r, 230 watts days; vivl , '^'"""•^ " -'Allies City, new station lo be operated on 1310 kc with 260 walls. Kortii Ctu-oiinn: Ralph M. Lambeth. Green.vboro, new sta- tion to to operated on 1370 kc with 250 walls. '"rjIT", ^' "'^ "lamps, Dallas, now station lo be opernlcd on 1.170 kc with 250 watts; Chillon Radio corp., Dallas, new -station to be operated on 1370 kc with 260 watts. West Canada Show Shifts Winnipeg, Dec. 12. Several more changes in network programs of the Canadian Broadcast- ing Corp. affecting the Vancouver end. Percey Harvey's 'Song of Em- pire' shifts over to Monday from its Friday -spot, at 10:30 p.in. C.S.T,, being' followed, by .another change when Arthur Benjamin's 'Immortal Music' classical s^ow takes over re- placing 'Stag Party.' 'Classics for Today' another concert show is a new one tor Tuesday at 11:30 p.m.' 'Stag Party',' variety show, will move into the 11 o'clock spot on Wednesday. This includes Dick Diespecker, Alan Young, Charles Hovey, Buddy Smith and Harry Pryce's musikers. Another new show slips in after 'Stag Party' when Andrew Allan's 'Theatre Time' bows. Mart Kenney's Western Gentle- men, penciled in for a late, dance spot from the Hotel Vancouver at 12:30 a.m. Dept. Store on Air Montreal, Dec. 12. T. Eaton Co. is first department store here to go radio with regular program. Starting oft this week with a series of broadcasts over Ca- nadian Marconi station Ci'CF. Is sponsoring a Music Center idea with local talent. Built a jstudio in the store especial- ly for this purpose. BOSTON PLEDGES FOR BROADCAST MUSIC Boston, Dec. 12. Approval ot the NAB's plan lo set up an independent source of popular music was voted at a meet- ing last week of 29 New England broadcasters. Stock in Broadcast Musij, Inc., was sub.'scribcd by 16 station men present, while the others cither pledged subscriptions or .oaid that they would recommend sub- scriptions to the owners of their sta- tions. Paul Morency, ot WTIC, Hartford, director on the NAB board, repre- senting the New England district, presided at the meeting. CRANEY NOT PLEDGED Miller Gets 21 of 23 at Denver Meeting Denver, Dec. 12. Some 21 of the 23 stations repre- sented at the N.A.B. 14th district convention here pledged to sub- scribe for stock and to support Broadcast Music, Inc. The two sta- tions not committing themselves are KGIR, Butte, and KPFA, Helena. Both were represented at the meet- ing by E. B. Craney. Other subjects discussed (but no action taken) included musicions' union contract, ASCAP, and the coije of ethics. The 23 delegates present represented 23 stations in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho,- Utah, and Montana. In attendance were Neville Miller, prexy NAB, and Paul Peter, NAB director of research, who headed east to attend other regional conferences.