Variety (May 1941)

26 Wednesday* May 14, 1941 OBOLER-TinERTON-MENSE IN BRUSH AT OHIO STATE INSTITUTE SESSION 12th Annual Gathering Meets Under Shadow of Im- pending -Changes in Broadcasting Industry— Many Suggestions Offered—^About 500 Attend Columbus, O., May 13. The 12th annual Institute for Edu- cation by Radio met here last week at the Deshler-Walllck hotel under the nominal auspices of Ohio State University (but provided with no cash from that source). About 600 persons registered to attend all or •ome of the events during the three days. These main currents of dis- cussion and apprehension were noted: 1, The broadcasters expect «art- ous Government agencies and the 'favored fei"' of the service organ- izations to enjoy 'priorlfies' pro- jrrani status in the near future. This means that requests for time from these certain sources will have the force of a mandatory option. 2, Educators, religious groups, non-priorities service or pressure ■ groups uiill be 'also ron.' They will have to content themselves with a proportional percentage of a reduced volume of available free time or alternately, to combine with related groups and possibly suffer some loss of individual identity. 3, Broadcasters and educators alike were disquieted by the impli- cations of taking the NBC Blue out of its present role as the prin- cipal provider of free time and facilities for 'public interest' pro-. grams. A period of uncertainty,' the possible need for re-establish- ing all contacts, and a general messing up of things as they are (good or bad) in non-commercial programming was foreseen. Oboler va. Tltterton A number of controversies broke out at meetings during the three-day period. Most newsworthy of these perhaps was at the night meeting on Man Bites Dog Columbus, May 13. While attending the Ohio State Institute for Education by Radio last week author Arch Oboler was tentatively invited by Parker Wheatley, of Northwest- ern University, to preside at c radio seminar next summer. A third party promptly sug- gested that Wheatley arrange for Oboler to be publicly psycho- analyzed and charge admission on the theory this would be the greatest event In educational redio history. radio drama jointly presided over by author Arch Oboler and NBC script editor Lewis Titterton. Oboler went after the networks, charging that the powers that be were timid and that an author with anything to say could no longer write for them either because they were too scared to broadcast what he wrote or be- cause he could not write under the limitations they Imposed. Titterton defended the networks, saying that It was not their proper function to present dramatic ma- terial that 'took violent sides on con- troversial Issues at a time when the American people had not made up their minds.' Oboler scornfully referred to the 'Ma Perkins' type of program having the green light from radio while, at the same time, the Army found It impossible to recruit 30,000 cadet pilots it needed. The Oboler-Tltterton clash drifted off Into discussions of getting into the story fast Both praised Sandra Michael. A bit of Oboleriana was played by transcription. Finally, as the discussion slowed down, Clar- ence L. Menser, production mana- ger of NBC, broke in from the audi- ence with a line of lively patter, panning both speakers for taking half an hour to decide tha^ a radio story had to start fast. (Menser on the following day conducted a 'demonstration' by audience audi- tioning and then enacting a scene from NBC's 'Bishop and Gar- goyle.') 'Slow' Rockefeller Commtttea International shortwave broad- casts were considered at a special general session. Thus, the Institute took note of the dawn of a new phase of 'cultural' radio. John Begg, of the State Department, Edward Tomlinson, NBC, and An- tonio Gonzales CBS, participated as did Philip Barbour, of the Nelson Rockefeller committee. There was a tendency to criticize the Rocke- feller committee as too slow, too un- imaginative. A general session on 'Radio In War Time' took place Wednesday morning (7), two days after the opening American Town Meeting of the Art Forum on 'Radio and the Present Emergency,' in which Clif- ton Utley, of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations; Ed Kirby, of the Army, and Robert J. Landry, radio editor of Variety, in that order, spoke. The Wednesday session did not Include Harold Lasswell or Helen Hiett, both of whom, it had been announced, would tallc At the table commenting on each other's remarks, and upon audience ques- tions, were Ed Kirby, Norvelle Sharp, of the Navy; Col. Parker Hitt, of the Signal Corps; Louis Franke, H. B. McCarty, WHA, University of Wisconsin; Cesar Searchlnger, Eric Sevareid and Louis Wirth. Some Soggestlona Suggestion for betterment of 'edu- cational radio' heard at Institute In- cluded these: (a) That service, community, re- ligious and other groups emplov Bard vs. 'Gangbusters* Columbus, May 13. One mother, attending tha ehlldren's program discussions at lait week'i Ohio State Insti- tute for Education by Radio, taid she prevented her children from listening to 'Gangbusters' by providing a substitute. 'I bought them a phonograph record of Orson Welles as JuUus Caesar. They play It over and' over and keep healthily excited.' pro/essional 'radio experts' (capable of writing, directing, or- ganizing programs) to rotate in a given area as between various cities or even over several states, the salary and expense to be pro- rated. (b) That radio news for children be broadcast locally just ahead of the youngsters' daily dart for classes so that they can be up to date on current events. (c) That religious broadcasters seek to work out some 'code' or 'standards' for themselves. (d) That organizations be edu- cated to think of radio production expense os similar to printing, for which tliey willingly make finan- cial provision. SCHOOL TEACHER WINS PALEY AMATEUR AWARD School teacher In Olathe, Kans., who for the last 10 years has used his short-wave transmitter to broad- cast free radio lessons to less-experi- enced amateurs, will receive this year's William 8. Paley amateur award. Winner Is Marshall H. Ensor, 41, teacher of Industrial arts at the Olathe high school. His call letters are W9BSP. Fact that Ensor's training of other amateurs has helped develop thou- sands of prospective technicians for the U. S. Signal Corps is believed to have been a factor in his selection. It Is the first time the recipient of the award has not been someone who had performed some spectacu- lar life-saving or similar feat Award Is to be made by Paley, president of CBS, at a luncheon June 2 In New York. ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ >>»♦♦ Ohio State Echoes f ♦♦♦♦t«»«»««»« M » MM 4» Columbus, O., May 13. Ed Kirby, of Office of Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, who participated in more meetings than anybody else, presided In Neville Miller's place et N.A.B. gathering. W. M. Newton, of British Broad- casting, provided some nice chuckles describing probable improvements in English cooking as result of 'experts' helping via au- with kitchen queem under war-time rationing. Ernest Boshnell,' of Canadian Broadcasting Co., offered Raymond Massey In 'This Precious Freedom' via disc. Cesar Saerohlnrer, on to Canton, O., for weekend with friends. Lt. Commander Norvelle Sharp* represented U. S. Navy. InsUtnte banquet included a spoof on 'Invitation to Learning.' Fslthfal repeaters at Institute In- cluded: Walter Preston, Judith Wal- ler, Mergaret Cuthbert John CarlUe^ Clay Harshbarger, Mrs. H. V. Milli- gan, Lavinia Schwartz, W. B. Levea- son, Harold Kent, Jessie Magee, Leonard 'Power, Robert Hudson, Philip H. Cohen, Morris Novik, Wil- liam Boutwell, Geraldine EUiott. Besesrch men present for the 12th annual: Frank Stenton, Hugh Seville, ^ Paul Lazarsfeld. Lonis Cowan of Chicago told Chil- dren's meeting cboiit his Alka Seltzer 'Quiz Kids.' Mrs. Cowan also present. Henrlette Harrison, of YMCA, typi- cal of the delegates who manage to attend nearly every meeting, even those whose times overlap. James H. Scnll, of National Con- ference of Jews and Christians, pre- sided over religious study group at- tended by, Gmong others, Frank Nel- son, Gilbert Harrison, Ted Heflron and Lewis Titterton. Cecil Carmlchael of WLW, Cincy, did a quick In and out as did Frank Meson of NBC. ANOTHER REASON ADVERTISING IS MORE EFFECTIVE ON DOMINANT WBBM Local Boy Makes_ Good In AmericaVSecond Market Sixteen years »tnagM W b,e.u« in a station - a + 7,'\ .-^j^sored time. programming of ^^^^H^w WBBM Btagea Ten^^dredhoursea^y^^^^^ g^^.^lf^Uy poUful local «V!^^^\:claim nationaUy Here are a few <^"^^^;S«. that keeps tbte ?°'°"toti..Miawe.t. , fcinA I PAT AND MIKE ... Patrick Driscoll. 6513 Ellis Avenue, la one of the Chicago school children in WBBM's annual "School?, to giro youngsters from $ to 18 a chance to work with radio. Says Mr. Leonard Power of Federal Radio Education Commlssi<m, **I think this Is the most interesting story that has come out of Juvenile radio activities." FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,* WBBM broadcast found World War j( war veterans who had failed to clalni iheir 18-year old bonus. Lively local landling of public service, special events,' . ^ivic welfare, religious, agricultural, educational, outstanding'news and sports programs keeps ten million lis- teners attentive to WBBM. RUSHING THE GROWLER is Todd Hunter, WBBM newscaster. After being made Special Staff Safety Officer by Illinois Secretary'of State for "outstanding special safety programs," Hunter changed personalities, hurried to stage show which took WBBM listeners to the season's first circus. 60,000 Wattj Midwesteiii Key Station for The CHICAGO Columbia Broadcosting Systen R*pr«i*nt«d by RADIO SaiISi New York; CharloH*. Chicago, Delrolt, SI, lowlt, lot AngeUi, San Franctit*