Variety (May 1941)

2i RADIO Radio in Middle on 'America First' With Stations Suspecting Pressure Group Wants to Exploit 'Persecution Philadelphia, May 27. A mass meeting of the America First Committee, skedded for Thurs- day (29), at which ex-Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh ia to be the main speaker proved to be a hot potato for local radio outlets. The committee approached the three major stations and asked to buy spot announcements plugging the rally at the Arena. First KYW, WCAU and WIP turned them down, stating that the sale of time for 'controversial subjects' was against the code of the National Association of Broadcasters. WFHj announced that It would sell the spots. There was a blast by the commit- tee charging the three stations who had turned thumbs down with 'sup- pression of freedom of speech.' The Btory was played up by the news-, papers. Then Hep W. P. Lambertson of Kansas, confusing the spot adver- tisements with the event itself, got up in Congress and flayed Philly radio stations with allegedly 'refus- ing to carry a 'peace' address," The local stations, of course, hotly denied Lambertson's charge, assert- ing that they were never asked to carry a broadcast of the talk but only to sell time for s^ot announce- m^ts. All pointed to the fact that they carried Lindbergh and- Burtt>n K. Wheeler from other America First meetings. Then on Saturday (24) WCAU an- nounced a change of heart express- ing' its willingness to sell time for spots 'if the time Is available an<l the copy is all right' Said Dr. Leon Levy, WCJAU prexy; 1 was out of town and one of my assistants innocently misinterpreted the broadcasters' code, thinking It barred such announcements. He should have asked to see the copy, and accepted It If it was free of con- troversial materlaL' Up to last night the America First Committee hadn't taken up Dr. Le vy's offer. WFlii's Beverssl. On the same day (Sat.) WFIL also changed its mind. Instead of selling time for spots to th e com mittee, Samuel Rosenbaum, WFIL prexy, offered to give! them time free 'when avaUable.' *^e will give this group free time just as we did with the Communist Party, giving advocates of opposite views an equal' opportunity to be heard,' Rosenbaum . said. (WFIL hadn't been asked for the free time up to last night). Opponents of America First be- lieve- the committee deliberately is keeping off the air how, so they'll be able to yell 'suppression of free speech' at their meeting. The radio, controversy has given the rally (. plenty of free publicity, more than they would ordinarily have received since all the local doilies are against isolationism and for aid-to-Britain. Premieres {May 28-June 4) June t 'Spad Imperial Time,' spon- sored by Axton-Fisher tobacco (Spud cigaret), WOR-Mutual (17 stations), 10:15-10:30 p.m., Mondays. With Mary Small, Phil Wall orch, quartet, chorus. Production by Ed Wolf Associ- ates, Weiss & Geller agency. Originates New York. 'We, the Abbotts,' sponsored by Best Foods (Hellmann's mayonnaise), WEAF-NBC, 6:30 p.m., Monday - through - Friday. Benton 8e Bowles agency. Movei from WABC-CBS, 4:15 p.m., Monday-Friday. June 4 'Danger Is My Business,' spon-. sored by Axton-Fisher tobacco (Zephyr cigaret), WOR-Mutual (17 stations), 10:15-10:30 p.m., Wednesdays. Interviews, drama- tizations, with guests. Produc- tion by Ed Wolf Associates, Weiss & Geller agency. Originates New York. AGENCY COSTS PAD) BY NBC RAYMOND PAIGE Recently appointed conductor of the League of Young Americans Orchestra of 100. The League, now scheduling instrumiental auditions, Is seeking exceptionally talented young American male and female vocalists, popular and classical, be- tween the ages of 16 and 26. Those chosen will be given a national build-up. Wednesday, May 28, 1941 Hearst Ask CBS for a Favor CBS headquarters In New York got a snicker Tuesday when Hearst reps caUed, only a few weeks after the attack on "The Free Company* program, and asked CBS for free talent to send with a Hearst paper's migration to Camp Devens, Mass. CBS politely said it had no control over talent and there was the Theatre Authority" and AFRA to consider. FCC Elaborates Its Attitude On Clear Qiaimel Operatkm; KOA (NBC) Plea k Spnmed ED GRUNWALD RESIGNS Hollywood, May 27. NBC settled half of its controversy arising out of - its refusal to give time on Its coast blue network to Lime Cola's 'Kids of the Week.' Davis & Pearson agency was reim- bursed for out-of-pocket e'xpenses incurred in preparing^ the program and pr<yiotion work. Counsel for both N9C and Lime. Cola of Califor- nia are still studylnjg a settlement Network refused to air the show on tiie ground Uiat it encroached on the format of 'Quiz Kids.' Patricia Ryan as Claudia; Frances Starr Also Airs; Break-In on Smith Show Patricia Ryan will play the title part In the radio version of 'Claudia,' which starts June 6 on a fo'ur-week break-in as a 15-mlnute spot on the Kate Smith show Friday nights. Young actress, who has appeared on various network serials, wiU get bill- Ing o'n the new assignment. Actual contract, agented by the William Morris office, calls for an initial four- week option period,' but Miss Ryan will get billing from the start When the Kate Smith, show starts its summer layoff after the Jime 27 broadcast 'Claudia' will expand to a half-hour. Sam Fuller, now direct- ing the Kate Smith series, wUl also handle the 'Claudia' assignment, Frances Starr, of the legit version, at the Booth, N. Y., will repeat her role on the air, but the rest of the cast Isn't set Leaves fVarlety' Staff After Five Tears—To Business Week Edgar A. Grunwald has resigned, effective June 3, from the staff of Vambtv, with which he bad been as- sociated for five years, the last loiu: as editor of the Variety Radio Di- BECTORY. He had previously been with "nde. He will Join McGraw-Hill July 1 to direct an economic and marketing section of,Business Week. Meantime the Variety information and Research Department of which Grunwald has recently been in charge; wUl continue as heretofore to provide service to Variety and its readers. The Price of Fame WIL's •Mr. Fixit' Scrams Radio for St. L. Politics ^' ■ St. Louis, May 27. Ray C. Schroeder, the original 'Mr. Flxit' who has been solving civic and other problems for WIL dialers for more than 10 years, grabbed a $4,000 political job last week and. will withdraw from the radio field. Schroeder was appointed City Register by Mayor William Dee Becker (Rep). Schroeder created the "Mr. Fixit' idea and program while covering City Hall for the defunct St Louis Tlrnes, a p.m. rag. The program has been widely copied in the U. S. Kansas City, May 27. Marshall Ensor, winner •'of the William S. Paley award for merito- rious service in amateur radio, will be guest of honor at banquet tonight tendered him by chamber of com- merce of 01athe„ Kans., where he is teacher of industrial arts In the high school, with KMBC, local CBS out- let taking prominent part In the •ctivitl^'.' Following the local affair Ensor will make trip, to New York, where the award will be made at a testi- monial dinner for him on June 2 and which event will go out over Columbia net on a half-hour pro- gram. Phyliss Jean Must Rest Buffalo, May 27. nUiess and strain of 15 shows a Week has forced versatile Phyllis Jean to drop^ofl WGR-WKBW staff and seek a rest at her Rochester home. She's been singing, WAVE TO HAVE STUDIO WITH CAPACITY OF 600 Louisville, May 27. WAVE studios and offices will be moved from atop the Brown Hotel, where they have been located since 1033, to the Woman's Baptist Mis- sionary Training School property, as soon as alterations are completed. Building is three stories, and fronts on one of the town's main streets. Station studios, and offices will occupy one floor 'of the build- ing, and remaining space will prob' ably be subleased. Three studios will be air-conditioned and sound- proofed, and building will include an auditorium seating 600, to be used for audience air shows. Station has also purchased an adjoining build- I ing, which will be razed for a park- ing lot. Lombardo, Bess Johnson to Bates * ■ Or/:he8tra to Palmolive After Lady Esther—Serial Reassigned to Klek (New) Guy Lombardo winds up his cur- rent series for Lady Esther at the' end of June and switches to Colgate- Pahnolive-Peet for a product not yet selected. New stanza will be heard at 8-8:30 p.m. Saturdays on C;bS (with a repeat at 11 p.m.), starting July 9. Ted Bates is the agency on the new setOp. Pedlar & Ryan, agency for Lady Esther, .Is looking for a replacement show for that ac- count. .... 'Your Marriage Club,', another Bates agency program currently oc- cupying the 8 p.m. Saturday spot on CBS for Continental Baking (Won acting I der bread), will move to 7J0-8 p.m. and running, a women's chatter spot' Thursday on the same network,' sue- _ to the point of nervous exhaustion. I ceedlng 'Vox Pop,' which likewise Her part Is being written out of Til Tind, My Way,' 1:45 p.m. soap opera WGR pipes to Mutual likewise changes sponsors and times. Then 'Marriage Club' will be replaced Aug. 14 for the same sponsor and product by a new comedy-dramatic series, 'Maudie.' Despite the signing of Lombardo Gerard B. HcDermott, director of the radio division of the National Research Bureau, has been- named a for a C-P-P series, two other regular V. p. In' charge of all radio opera- i Colgate shows are apparently also tlons. including transcriptions. ■ I slated to continue, at least for the present They are 'Colgate Spot light' and 'City Desk,' which now follow each other at -8 and 8:30 p.m., respectively, Thursday nights on CBS. Both are Bates programs. Ted Bates agency - also gets the 'Story of Bess Johnson' serial June 30, when it shifts from Palmolive soap to Klek washing soap, a C-P-P product. Ward Wheelock now lias the program, but with Elmer Davis starting Sunday (1) a slx-nights-a- week ride for Palmolive, the sponsor will not continue 'Bess Johnson' on the same product Wheelock is the agency for the Elmer Davis series and will continue handling the Palmolive account Writer-director setup for ."Bess Johnson' wUl probably be changed when the show goes to Bates. Au- thor is now William Sweets, with Diana Bourbon handling direction. Mildred 'Fenton, who last week shifted from Blackett-Sample-Hum- mert to head the Bates daytime shows, will decide on the new lineup for the show. AFRA PUSHING LOCAL PAQS Although its present contract with the American Federation of Radio Artists still has some months to run. General Electric has voluntarily re- vised the pact to give blanket raises to the entire staff of WGY, Its sta- tion at Schenectady, N. Y. Manage- ment made the 3% boost lo offset the rising cost of living. Move was taken entirely on GE's- own volition. Company approached AFRA with a proposal to revise the contract upward and the union's national board gave its 'permission.' Raise, effecting all employee classifi- cations at the station, as well as an- nouncers and those covered by the AFRA contract, was made retroac- tive to April 7. Strike Looms at WKBC Cincinnati, May 27. American Federation of Radio Art- ists, unable to make any substantial progress toward agreement with WKRC here, has voted authorization of a strike. Walkout is expected at any time. Mrs. Emily HoU, national executir S-secretary, was here from New York last week to Join Hyraan Faine, the union's national organ- izer, in huddles with the station and bring moral support for the local chapter from the national member- ship. Although the WKRC management Is reported to have agreed to a few AFRA demands. It Is said to be still refusing the union's proposals for AFRA shop and for commercial and sustaining network and commercial rates.on a parity with those for other network-affiliated outlets. WTAM Negotiating CHeveland, May 27. Local chapter of AFRA, with Vic Connors, national .organizer, here from Detroit to sit In with the ne- gotiating committee,- Is holding con- fabs with WTAM." Discussions are reported to be friendly and an agreement Is figured likely to be reached soon. Tlbbett Aids In Dallas Dallas, May 27. Agreement covering AFRA-shop, minimum pay and working condi- tions has-been reached by the Amer- ican Federation of Radio Artists and local station KLRD. Deal is subject to approval by the union's national board in New York. Negotiations have been under way for some time, with Lawrence Tib- bett AFRA's national president, lending valuable assistance during his visit here for a concert date some weeks ago. Washington, May 27. Going much farther than ever be< fore toward tighteiiing its procedure^ the Federal Communications Com* mission by a 3 to 2 tally (with two of members not voting) last week In effect broke'up the last of the fa> miliar yardsticks for measuring pub< lie interest, and said henceforth it., alone will decide when anybody is liable to be hurt by admlnlstrativ* action. Policy which industry lawyers de» nounced as 'administrative absolU'. tlsm' was esta))llshed in rejecting re- consideration pleas of 14 stations end ■In reaffirming the -grant of -fuU'tlm* - to WHDH, Boston, on the 830 ko. ribbon (now 850 under the Havana agreement). Commish rubber- stamped its removal of the frequency from I-A classification. - A court review of the Commish action Is certain. Within 24 hours the National Broadcasting Co.— which had charged the FCC with modifying on Its own initiative the , KOA license—filed a request for a stay of the WHDH grant pending an appeal. FCC philosophy was Implicit In a IB-page, heavily annotated and foot- noted opinion voicing the views of Commissioners Paul A. Walker, Fred I. Thompson and George Henry Payne. On the showdown, Commis* sloners Norman S. Case and T. A. M. Craven voted for reconsideration, with the rookie regulator, Commis- sioner Hay C. Wakefield, not par- ticipating and Chairman James L. Fly absent and unrecorded. Though a stand-pat attitude had been generally looked for, industry lawyers were flabbergasted by the lengths to which the majority went In justifying their position and the way in which they closed the door on all of the licensees with appre- hensions about the' effect of this precedent. In the view of some barristers, the FCC has gone out of. Its way to emphasize technicalities. One counsel said the decision is a case of 'the Commission failing to touch second, base and then arguing with the umpire he's crazy,' while another sourly remarked the only reason he could see for all the foot- notes was a deliberate aim to con- fuse the Federal courts and conceal the vital issue.' In essence, the three-man majority laid down the principle that no li- censee has any rights to intervene from now on and even when—after a superficial look at the documents— the Commish thinks a hearing Is necessary to determine whether pub- lic Interest will be served nobody except the applicant Is entitled to present evidence. No matter who may be hurt or how, other industry members have no 'right' to be heard, no matter what the Communications Act may say about persons 'ag- grieved' by regulatory action being entitled to go to court ■The reconsideration was sought by KOA, another daytime plant on 'the same stripe, WEEU, Reading, Pa.; and 12 members of the clear-channel group. Springboard from which the three-man majority jumped was the KOA petition, but they also re- marked In a separate order that 'mere apprehension' on the part of the clear-cbannelltes 'Is not such an Interest as to entitle any of the pe- titioning licensees to standing as a party or person* aggrieved or whose interests are adversely affected thereby 'within the meaning of Sec- tion 405 of the,CommunlcatIons Act' . In throwing out NBC's plea the majority voiced views which Indi- cate the networks will get nowliere If they beg. the ,Comniish to recon- sider or postpone their anti-monop- oly regulations. . The Commish brushed off NBC's contentions that full time operation by WHDH wUl limit KOA's service. In doing sb, the majority took a novel stand, arguing that its re- (Contlnued on page 29)