Variety (May 1941)

Wednesday, May 7, 1941 RADIO 37 DEFENSE SHOW PRIORITIES? PL E' But Leadership on National Defense Appears Confus^ —Many Missing at Edu- cators' Meeting Because of the F. C. C. Blitz dent Neville Miller because of the monopoly report crisis in Washing- ton. That same crisis was figured responsible for a falling olT of regis- tration for meetings below the ex- pected new record. Number of broadcasters left Sunday (4) and yesterday, and still more didn't even show up. Frank Mason, NBC vice- president, was one of those called back Sunday. Sterling Fisher, CBS director of educational talks, left be- cause of the death of his mother. NBC BLUE PRAISED Columbus, O., May 6. Dominant note of the first two days of various general and panel discussions conducted by the Ohio State Institute for Education by Ra- dio here was one of confusion as to what leadership is now needed in the radio industry. Many, if not all the—meetings—yesterday and- today (Monday - Tuesday) sounded the question of whether broadcasters could or should take the initiative beyond what they are already doing, or should await a cue or plan of action from Washington. Thunderbolt of the FCC monopoly report obviously introduced another element of confusion. Educators and persons representing service or- ganizations were especially con- cerned by the possible passing of the NBC Blue network under a strictly commercial policy. It was freely stated here that this would mean a disappearance of the great- est single source of network time for educational and public interest programs. 'Morale' Proerams Requested One question frequently stressed at various meetings was the need for national priorities in public morale programs, j <.st as exists in defense manufacturing. Problem of how much time could or would be de- voted to morale, democracy, the army, navy, controversy on policy, and so on, was also extensively dis- cussed at meetings. Tempo for the sessions was set by the first meeting yesterday, with talks by George V. Denny, director of Town Hall, N. Y.; Ed Kirby, of the National Assn. of Broadcasters and director of public relations for the War Department, and Robert J. Landry, radio editor of Variety. An acrimonious debate on children's programs took place at the session, directed by Dorothy Lewis, club- woman. After much nameless pa- laver, one broadcaster said, 'I pre- sume all this means Gangbusters.' In general advertisers, including Arthur Pryor, Jr., of B.B.D. & O., discounted the ill effect of cliff- hangers. John Carlile, Alabama university radio professor, joined in this viewpoint, as did Roy Harlow, of the Yankee Network. Mrs. Lewis deployed the tendency to whitewash kid programs mention- ing that her recent transcontinental mvestigation proved that seiitime.it is the reverse. In the opening session yesterday morning, with Dinny presiding over a special Town Meeting, Clifton Utley said,-'Radio-must be prepared to sacrifice some profits and give priority to national defense pro- grams.' Kirby declared, 'In 1941 radio wins or loses its national de- fense chevrons. Program sched- ules must be rearranged and bal- anced to serve in the emergency. Broadcasters should think more about programs and less about ASCAP.' War Departments Stand When asked by a station repre sentative if the War department would prod the FCC to give stations ■ clearer instructions on emergency programs, Kirby replied, 'The War Department is not taking others' chestnuts out of the fire,' but antici- pated that steps will be taken. Much emphasis was made from the floor on the need for a clearing bureau to control time-distribution to non-com^ mercial groups. Everyone seems agreed that radio is in an imporsibly difficult predicament. Kirby presided last night in an off the-record meeting of NAB repre sentatives, in the absence of presi Qniz Kids Expand Quiz Kids, in addition to their pro- gram for Alka-Seltzer (NBC-Blue), are doing a series of shorts for Paramount and a question and an- swer column for King Features Syn- dicate. The short subjects will be released in September. Quiz act also has worked out an exploitation tleup with department stores, one to a town, in which local youngsters compete for prizes and a trip to Chicago to appear on the program. First prize is a $100 de- fense bond and second, $50 in cash. Top Ohio Winners Columbus, O., May 6. Among the programs cited for awards by the Ohio State Insti- tute for Education by Radio, were the following: 'The Stevens Family Plans Thanksgiving,' by WHA, Madi- son, Wis. 'Mole On Lincoln's Cheek,' by the Free Company, on CBS. 'The Greedy Goat,' by WLB, Minneapolis, Minn. 'Town Meeting of the Air,' dis- cussion of the Lend-Lease Bill, *on NBC. 'London After Dark,' on CBS. Some 311 programs were sub- mitted. Judges passed on 80 of this number and geve awards or honorable mentions to 30. New ToTk—J. W. Strickland has joined the American Network, com- bination of F-M stations, as lales- man. He was formerly with the radio department of Addison's Bars, Inc., and Poster Sales & Advertis- ing, Inc. 'Start of the Slow Season Seems Bright Idea to Ray Spector Agency COHAN DRAWS ONTARIO DIRECTION ASSIGNMENT Phil Cohan, CBS . staff director, has t^en over direction of the Ned Sparlcs show for the province of Ontario. He joined the series Sun- day (4) and has been given an in- definite leave of absence by Colum- bia. As successor to Cohai., Perry Laf- ferty has been upped from the title of production man to be a tempor- ary member of the network director staff. He takes over Cohan's direct- ing asslffiment on "Meet the Music,' retains his own 'Matinee at Meadow- brook' program and also handles such other sustalners as 'Music in the Air' and 'Accent on Music' ■ Ray Spector agency's latest spot proposition to stations concerns this Block Drug Co. and it's a bulk offer for two e.t.'s a day six days a week regardless of card rates. In making the offer the agency notes that since this is the 'start of the slow season of the year' it should be acceptable to the stations. The agency's form letter also holds out the promise that 'if the station shows the modest returns that we expect, you can anticipate being favored in a very short time with contracts for at least five of our clients products.' Minneapolis—Dr. George R. Young, owner and president of WDGY, hcs returned to his desk after a winter spent on his Florida estate. How to make 5,000 watts do the work of 480,000 W M C A now Is a 5,000 watt station, day and night. BUT, of even greater importance, it's first on the dial In New York. It's an engineering fact that the lower the frequency the longer the wave-length. And, the longer the wave-length the stronger the primary signal remains as you move rnn rviunir away from the transmitter... based on curves prepared by the FCC. FOR EXAMPLE, if a non- directional 'A: antenna were used: WMCAwouId1aydowna2 millivolt signal 43 miles away from the transmitter. (The FCC considers a signal of this density good coverage of city residential sections.) WMCA at^nkc. .... 5,0 0 0 watts required to deliver 2 millivolts 43 miles If WMCA were on a 1000 kc. frequency it would need 76,500 watts to deliver a 2 millivolt signal 43 miles away. IF WMCA were at 1000 kc. e required to deliver 2 millivolts 43 miles If WMCA were at 1200 on the dial it would require 158,000 watts to transmit a 2 millivolt signal 43 miles distance. IFWMCAt..r.<>/ 1200i(c...| And, if WMCA were at the extreme end of the dial (1600) it would require 480,000 watts (not a typographical error) to de- liver a 2 millivolt signal 43 miles away. IF WMCA were at 1600 kc... (sorry, no^ooro if Actually WMCA triples its fiower through the use of a three element directional antenna which amplifies the signal toward New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Connecticut. wmca.' -AMERICA'S LEADING INDEPENDENT STATION NEW YORK: WMCA BIdg., 1657 B'way Chicago: Virgil Reiter & Co., 360 N. Michigan Ave.