Variety (May 1941)

RADIO Wednesday, May 7, 1911 NAB. s Delayed (Tuesday) Start Gives Lots of Chance For Advance Huddles The National Association of Broadcasters holds its 19th annual convention next week at the JefTer- eon hotel, St. Louis. Convention will not actually get into gear until Tues- day. This is said to be partly due to an. overlapping of another conven- tion and partly due to a general de- sire for private meetings, especially on the involved music situation, in advance of the full meetings. Esti- mates on possible attendance run as high as 900. Vice-President Henry A. Wallace, Chairman James L. Fly of the FCC, General Robert Richardson of the U. S. Army, Lowell Mellett of the White House staff and Commander H. R. Thurber of the U. S. Navy will be speakers. The convention program as given by the N.A.B. last week includes: '< MONDAY Morning, committees.. Afternoon, golf. Night, N.A.B. board. TUESDAY Morning, Fly, Richardson, Thurber, Mellett. Luncheon, Henry A. Wallace. Afternoon, IRNA, Indie, Clear Channel, Regional, Sales Manager Meetings. WEDNESDAY Morning, ASCAP-BMI. THURSDAY Morning, Unit Volume, Code, re- ports; Willard Chevalier, speech. Luncheon, Mark Ethridge. Afternoon, Labor, Elections, re- ports. Evening, banquet. LUX TO NBC RED? May Take Same Spot As On CBS— Policy Beasons Lux Radio Theatre may shift over to the NBC-red this coming fall, filling the same schedule, Mon- day, 8 to 9 p.m., that it has had on Columbia for the past five years. Move will be in line with Lever Bros.' policy'of spreading its busi- ness around for competition's sake, as attested by the fact the account is tied up with four different major agencies. Xlaudia' Assignment Stiy Open; Legit Star UnavaOable CRM MAIL STAYS STEADY With General Foods' radio version of 'Claudia' due to start In several more weeks, the title part has still not been cast. DoroUly. Maguire, who scored a click In the role in the stage play at the Booth, N. Y., is ap- parently not being considered for the air edition. Long list of actresses has been auditioned and more are being heard this week, with tran- scriptions being made of the most likely prospects. Sam Fuller, now directing the Kate Smith program Friday nights for General Foods, is slated to have the same assignment for 'Claudia.' Young & Rubicam agency has both programs. 'Claudia' is to get a four- week break-in as a 15-minute inter- lude on the Kate Smith stanza before the latter goes off the air for the summer. Then 'Claudia' and another half-hour show will go on as sum- mer replacement for the Kate Smith series. 'Claudia' will be shifted to another spot in the fall. Although Miss Maguire has had extensive radio ' acting experience, she is not being used in the air ver- sion of the legiter because it's figured she may not be available for more than part of next season. Idea is . that the radio version will probably stay on the air several years, and an actress who will continue to be available will be put under contract lor the series. Miss Maguire has an extended run-ot-the-play contract which does not conclude. Dntil 4h^ «nd' of- the .1941-42 legit jSjBBBOn, but she will go on the road with the. sKow if-it tours next season, which would make her unavailable for the radio '■ stanza She is also a possibility, for the film version. David 6. Selznick holds the screen rights, with release slated for the summer of 1942. Provided the original company is still doing good business then, a second company of the legit edition may be sent out next fall, but nothing will be de cided on that until late summer. Washington, May 6. Because too many people have nourished the erroneous idea that the Federal Communications Com- mission is Johnny-on-the-spot for all squawks concerning swing, hymn tunes and fifth columnists, the FCC is still attempting to send courteous answers to cranks from all over the country. After explaining that use of a 'particular language not being among those recognized for use in telegraph messages' is not within its province biit 'arises out of precedent of long standing in international telegraph practices,' the FCC last week answered the following bleats: Spat between a New York., firm end a certain broadcast station, in which the former complained about a sponsored program, was primly brushed off with the statement that the Commission has no say with respect to the rates charged for broadcast time, hence it can not litigate difficulties between the pro- gram sponsors and station licensees rising through the use of commer- cial time.' Plea from a Texan, who is organ- izing 'prayer bands,' that his pro- gram should be broadcast over na- tional networks, and a Pennsylvania listener's demand th&t 'important na- tional programs be presented over the facilities of a single major net- work,' were discarded 'because it (the Commission) functions largely as a licensing authority.' Same alibi was given and Idahoan, who wrote In to sug^st that radio sponsors who offer prizes should be 'heavily taxed.' Bob Carter Bankrupt Robert Carter, radio announcer, employed by WMCA, New York, filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy in the N. Y. federal court Friday (2), listing $6,075 in liabilities, and $12,- 000 in assets. All assets are insur- ance policies and hot taxable for creditors. The two theatricEl creditors are the Musicians Union Local 802, owed $71 for musical services, and Donald | Flamm, $310 on a loan. During the past two years Carter has averaged ' $3,000 yearly, he claims. All other debts are losns from banks, furni- ture, etc. Convention Omen? WASEY BEVERAGE BUYS TAN YOU TOP THIS?' Comedy novelty, 'Can You Top This?' which has been on sustaining for 17 weeks over WOR, New York, goes commercial Tuesday (13). The account is Papayias, beverage, and the time, 8:30 to 9 p.m. Same trio continues, namely. Senator Ford, Harry Hershfield and Joe laurie, Jr. Erwln, Wasey & Co. Is the agency. The brand is a Wasey product. inkling of what may be ex- pected on the floor of the NAB convention in St. Louis next week is contained in the follow- ing wire sent Monday (5) by Roy L. Albertson, of WBNY, Buffalo, to Neville Miller, the association's president: 'No individual or group within the broadcasting in- dustry is bigger than Uncle Sam. You are off on the wrong foot entirely in your approach to the anti-monop- - oly report of the Federal C o m m unications Commis- sion, the Mutual network settlement with ASCAP and other vital, pressing prob- lems. Please, when we meet in St: Louis next week, let's have the utmost light shed on these, subjects without button-hole pressure or any other means. If the Ameri- can way of broadcasting is drastically altered in the near future we can attribute It largely to the arrogance and stupidity of our leaders, most of whom are self- appointed. Kindest personal regards.' E.T.CODE SIGNATURED American Federation of Radio Artists national transcription code, approved by negotiating committees for. the union and the transcription producers, has been signed by a leading producers themselves and will probably be Inked by the re- maining outfits in the next few days. Deal becomes effective May IS. Terms and pay scales of the pact were summarized in the April 2 issue of VARierr. CampbeD Playbonse Sticks Throngh Heat But Casts WiU Be Modestly Priced Campbell Soup will keep its Friday evening dramatic series on CBS throughout the summer but with the talent end of the program operating at a reduced budget. William Powell at $5,000 for the date was the last of the big money names playing the spot this season. Powell was on Friday (2). Ward Wheelock, agency on the ac- count, had been talking about giv- ing the program a vacation but be- cause of its late start In the season it would have been entitled to a very small hiatus, and so it was de- cided to keep the thing rolling. Biow'S Radio Setup Radio setup within the Blow agency has been departmentalized with Bernard J. Prockter in charge of station relations end Charles Mar- tin as head of dramatic production Reggie Schubel, who returns next week from a lengthy vacation In Florida, will continue with the firm in a supervisory capacity over Prockter, Martin and other execs in the radio department. Miss Schubel used to do all the time buying as well as directing the agency's other radio ph'ases. CBS CHI ADDITIONS Chiccgo, May 6, Columbia-WBBM has made a couple of staff additions, bringing in John Robertson to the production or- ganization from WXYZ, Detroit, where he was on the production job for the 'Lone Ranger' and 'Green Hornet' shows. Nelson Barbee comes in from WJMC, Rice Lake, Wis., to handle a hitch on the spieler gang. Tot o' Gold' Possibly Nearing End Giveaway Program Likely to Be Substituted With Entertainment Setup by Tums 20 GRAND COAST SPOJS May Sopplement Blae Web's 'Happy Birthday' Program Twenty Grand cigarets (Axton- Fisher) Is considering a spot sched- ule for the westcoast. This would supplement the brand's 'Your Happy Birthday' program on the NBC-Blue. NBC OUT OF SERIES BIDS Chicago, May 6. NBC has abandoned its efforts to outbid the Gillette Razor and Mutual Broadcasting System for the rights to the World Series games this fall and it Is reported that the exchange of signatures between Judge K. M. Landis, baseball czar, on the one hand, and Mutual and Gillette, on the other, will take place at the end of next week. It will make the third consecutive season that Mutual has broadcast these series exclusively. MUTUAL TOSSING PARH FOR WALLACE AT NAB. Mutual Network will toss a party for Vice-President. Henry A. Wal- lace on the opening day (Tuesday) of the National Association of Broadcasters' Convention In St. Louis, and invite all the delegates to the event. The time will be 4 to 5:30 p.m. The place hasn't been de- cided. Since Its headquarters will be at the Chase hotel and the convention will be held at the New Jefferson, Mutual has arranged to provide free auto service between the two spots. P&G Complaint Ends Perkbs' Tag on Pies Buffalo, May 6. Pie company agreed in Federal Court here to drop the name 'Ma Perkins' from both its products and its business as result of a suit by Pro<;ter & Gamble. alleging that the bakeiis;. were capitalizing on . the commercial value of P. & G.'s radio cliaracter, "Ma Perkins.' Firm was selling 'Ma Perkins Pies.' .Bakery's three owners signed a consent decree and P. & G.'s attorney said the plaintiff would waive all claims for damages. Pie company has until May 15 to change its UQe. MacDougall Startsi Weekly Sustainer Ronald MacDougall starts a weekly series. The World's Best,' consisting of adaptations of short-story classics, In the 8:30-9 p.m. spot tomorrow (Thursday) on NBC blue (WJZ). First piece will be "The Room With- out a Door,' based on a Balzac yarn. Henrietta Crosman will play the lead and either Arthur Hanna or Howard Nussbaum will direct. Series is aimed to be extremely free adaptations, taking merely the theme or outline of the original story and presenting it in a form best suited to radio. MacDougall has been working on the idea for many months. He's an NBC staff writer. The series will be a sustainer. Richards Will Sever KMPC Link with CBS Beverly Hills, Cal., May 6. Move has been initiated by G. A. 'Dick' Richards to unhitch KMPC from its CBS affiliation. Station Is fed only slough sustalners by Co- lumbia. Richards figures he can strike a better deal with unions as an Independent station rather than a network affiliate. Manager Bob Reynolds has been pruning the overhead, but met with opposition from the Musicians Union when he sought to cut his studio or- chestra from six men to a lone or- ganist. Colorado Springs—Zelle Wade, pro- gram director station KVOR, va- cationing in Chicago. Jack Kenton, commercial manager of the outlet, back from vacation In New Orleans. 'TENNIS TRAMP' He's Hero of Prize Badio Playlet In Detroit Contest Lewis-Howe Co. (Tums) may fold Its 'Pot of Gold' (NBC-blue, Thurs- day nights) at the end of the show's current 13-week cycle but retain the half hour it has on the NBC-red Tuesday nights. Latter show is the 'Treasure Chest.' Plan which the Stack-^ble agency is to present to the account this week calls for the installation of a program of light entertainment in the Tuesday spot for the summer and to replace that one in the fall with perhaps a dramatic show. 'Pot' debuted on the red network in September, 1939, and for about eight months it caused quite a com- motion because of the size of its giveaway and allegedly lottery com- plexion. After the U. S.' depart- ment of justice ruled that the me- chanics of the.giveaway were within the law, the pill manufacturer moved the 'Pot' over to the blue and put another show into the Tuesday spot Geo. W. HiH, Jr., Income In Six Figures, Also; Got $251,849 in 1940 George Washington Hill, president of the American Tobacco Co., is credited with receiving one of the highest salaries paid a corporation executive in 1940. Securities and Exchange Commission, which dis- closed the information last week, gave Hill's total remuneration from American Tobacco as $456,415. The bonus was $336,415 and the rest sal- ary. George Washington Hill, Jr., 33, his son, as vice-president, collected $251,849, of which sum $201,849 rep- resented a bonus. The other v.p.'s, Paul W. Hahn, Vincent Riggio and Charles F. Neiley collected like sums. KFUO TO PACKED WITH DIVINE BLESSINGS IN W Detroit, May 8. Arch Oboler, final judge in the third annual Wayne University Broadcasting Guild Script Writing Contest, . gave the nod to Russell Beggs for his "Tennis Tramp,' story of a tennis bum who wanted to be national champ but couldn't make it! Beggs gets $25 prize awarded by WWJ. Second prize of $10 went to Robert Farmer, whose script, 'I Had to Die to Be Happy,' was an Oboleresque fantasy about a man boiled in steel who became happy as part of a ra- diator on an American ambulance in bombed London. Last year's script contest winner, Walter McGraw just won the na- tional collegiate oratory champion- ship at Northwestern University. AUDITION WITH AUDIENCE CBS recorded before an audience Sunday (4) an audition show with Jack White, Pat Harrington and Frankle Hyers. Included in the cast also were Joan Edwards, an orchestra batoned by Ray Block, the Three Cats and a Canary and Jolm Re*d King, an- I nouncer. KFUO, St. Louis, starts off its printed report for 1940 with the fol- lowing: 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—these familiar words of the inspired Psalm- ist came to our mind Immediately when we began to prepare this report on our work of last year, for 1940 was packed with more divine bless- ings ' than any of the previous 15 years of the existence of The Gospel Voice. We would, therefore, be un- grateful servants of the Lord, if we would not, with all our heart, soul and mind, bless His holy name In this brief revue on KFUO.' KFUO Is supported by various Lutheran bodies. Jas. Shelby's Assignment At Expanding Grant Agcy. Chicago, May 6. James Shelby Is now chief of all publicity f6r the Grant advertising agency. Will take In supervision bf publicity in all - the Grant offices throughout the country. Shelby has been handling conti- nuity in the past and keeping his hand In publicity also, but due to the expansion of the Grant agency ac- tivities the publicity operations have been made a full-time job and com- plete department. BROMO QUININE SHOW New One Presented by J. Walter Thompson Agency . J. Walter Thompson is readying a network show for submission to Groves Laboratories (Bromo Qui- nine). It would be for fall release. Account had 'Sherlock Holmes' last couple of seasons. Linnea Nelson, of the agency's ra- dio department, will take the presen- tation with her when she goes to St. Louis this weekend to attend the Na- tional Association of Broadcasters convention. The client is head- quartered in the same city. The presentation will Include spot recomr mendations.