Variety (Oct 1941)

14 RADIO Wednesdaj, October. 15, 1941 Arbitration Rules Laurence Hammond Unfairly Fired From NAM.-NBC Show Which He Originated First Of the -antl-lreeze' brands to be heard from as a spot .campaign posslbillbr for the coming winter is Five Star,' a DuPont product. B. B. D.' & O. is the agency. Under a decision handed down last week by the American Arbitra- tion Assn., liBurence Hammond, or- iginator of the 'Defense for America' program, is re-instated as producer and must be paid in~fuU by the Na- tional Assn. of Manufacturers for the entire time he was off the show. Arbiters instructed the trade asso- ciation to pay Hammond a total of $4,875 up to and including Sept. 27 and $325 a week, plus living and in- cidental expenses, thereafter as long as the program remains on the air. Show is heard on NBC-Red (WEAF) Saturday nights, but is due to go oft with the Oct. 25 stanza. In its award, the AAA-ruled that Hammond's deal with the NAM 'is a valid and existing contract which has been and still is in full force and effect.' It further ordered that 'Hammond's services are retained for such period as the program is broadcast' and observed that 'Hain- mond did not breach or renounce the contract or fail to perform his obligation thereunder, but held him- self available and willing to nego- tiate.' Besides reinstating Ham- mond as producer and awarding him payment at the rate of $325 for the weeks he was off the show, the arbi- ters instructed the association and Hammond 'to make such adjustments with respect to further production end broadcasting as may be just and mutually agreed 'upon.' NAM was given property rights to the pro- gram formula. Although the dispute had various ramifications, it principally involved control of the program, which Ham- mond conceived and originated and which was broadcast by the NAM . in cooperation- with MBC. Ham- mond at first wrote, 'produced and directed the show, as well as acted as m.c. Series drew favorable com- ment and.a number of more or less aimilar defense programs followed- on NBC and other networks. Original contract called for the (Continued on page 33) Slightly Blitzed Dennis Jarhes, announcer for WNEW, N. y., recenUy went to Grand Central Palace to intro- duce Governor liChman speak- ing from the national defense exhibition. Before the broadcast, announcer James leaned over to watch a sterebptican miniature display of London undfet^ttack, not knowing that it was tricked up to give the looker a harm- less but realistic dose of 'gassing.' The announcer came up chok- ing and coughing just before he had to go on the air: HEBREW CHRISTIAN HOUR ON TEXAS WEB San Antonio, Oct. 14. The Hebrew Evangelization Socl> •ly of Los Angeles is presenting a weekly half-hour transcribed pre- fentation titled 'The Hebrew Chris- tian Hour' thrpugh the Lone Star Chain. Dr. A. U. Mlchelson is com- mentator of the series which origi- nates In the studios of KGKO, Fort worth and aired over station KGNC, Amarillo; KRIS, Corpus ChristI; KXYZ, Houston; KRGV. Weslaco •nd KTSA, here. Series will be aired for 57 weeks and was placed through the TOm Westwood Advertising Agency. isther Ralston Replaces Selena Royle in Serial; Other N. Y. Cast Shifts Number of important cast changes in network serials followed the withdraw^ this week of Selena Royle from the title part on 'Woman of Courage' on CBS. Esther" Ral- ston took over the 'Courage' lead. Miss Royle has not yet been, cast in any other show. Meanwhile, deal for Miss Royle to replace Jessie Royce X.andis in the part of the mother on 'Help Mate,' on NBC-Red, fell through. How- ever, Miss^Landls has to go out of to-wn soon with a legit show tryout for the Theatre Guild, so she -with- drew from 'Help Mate' and the part went to Irene Hubbard. Florence Freeman, jitle actress on "Young Widder Brown,' on NBC- Red, was offered the "Woman of Courage' part by the Ted Bates agency, but Blackett-Sample-Hum- mert gave her two additional parts, in 'Orphans of Divorce' and 'David Hanmi,' as Inducement not to ac- cept. J.. There was some uncertainty last week as to Miss Royle's status on Woman of Courage.' After asking for her release from her exclusive Colgate-Palmollve-Peet .contract, she apparently had some doubt about her deals for parts on 'Help Mate' and another show, for^ she asked the Ted Bates agency to^ permit her to withdraw her bid for release from the C-P-P contract. However, the agency had already arranged for Miss Ralston to' replace her, so the original release request was granted, Benton & Bowles agency denied .yesterday (Tuesday).that Miss Royle is being considered for the lead on 'Kate Hopkins,' asserting that Mar- garet McDonald will continue in the part. Added, however, that Miss Royle may be cast in some othec show. DROP COLONIAL QUIZ IiOrllUrd Not Renewing Show In November Soldier LoriUard Is not renewing for the 'Soldier's Quiz' on the Colonial Net- work out of Boston -(vhen the pres- ent contract expires In November, The account wiU have underwritten the program lOr a year. The quiz is tied up with Beechnut cigarettes, and Losnen & Mitchell is tiie agency on the account. WINTER ONJHE WAY . DBPoBt'i 'Antl-Freeie • Spot An- Don^cement PoulbUtty Utah Man Purchases KITE in Kansas City Salt Lake City, Oct. 14. KITE, Kansas City, was "this week purchased by Abe Glassman, man- ager and owner of KLO (Mutual), Ogden, and the Ogden Standard- Examiner. Sale, of course, is sub- ject to FCC approvaL Paul .Heitmeyer, until now man- ager of KLO, will take over at KITE. NashyiHe,^F4risc6, Chi Contribnte Late Night Shows to Red Policy since it has dropped all dance band remotes from its laie-evening schedule, NBC-Jted now has an ex- tensive lineup of studio-produced sustainers on the slate after 10:30 p.m. Most of them are from the studios of the network's out-of-town affiliates. It's conceded that the quality of many of these programs isn't yet up to network standards, but it's figured there will be a steady improvement In the meantime, the new setup is regarded as a chance to build shows for possible sponsor- ship and maybe even develop the late evening hours for commercial purposes. Current schedule on the Red con- tains 36 studio-produced stanzas in the periods after 10:30 p.m., includ-' Ing 24 different series. They are as follows: New York 'Joe and Mabel.' The Vass Family. 'Studio X.' Cesar Searchlnger (six weekly). . Chicago 'Author's Playho.use.' 'Stories by Olmsted' (three week-. ly). 'Hot Copy.' String Ensemble (twice weekly). NaohvlUe Francis Craig's 'Serenade' (twice weekly). 'Music in the Moonlight,' •River Boat Revels.' San Francisco "Beautiful Music.' 'Etchings in Brass.' 'Chuck Wagon Days.' "From San Francisco Tonight' Omaha Freddie Ebener (four weekly). Oklahoma City "Southern Rivers.' Hartford "Music for Everyone.' ' Cincinnati 'Moon River." Sunday night symphony. PIttsbargh Treasure Trails of Songs.' "Reiaections in Rhythm.' Boflslo Bob Armstrong orchestra. Phlladelphto Rhythmaires. Substitution of studio shows for dance remotes resulted originally from the dictum of James C. Petrillo, American Federation of Musicians president barring all such broad casts because of a local musicians' strike against an NBC-Red affiliate station.' Network officials thereupon decided to do without dance band remotes Indefinitely. During the-last week or so, since the NBC-Blue's dance remotes were also pulled off by Petrillo, the two nets (Red-Blue) have been tied to- gether after 11 p.m., carrying the same fare. 'Origination Right Protected Justice Ernest L, Hammer, of the N. Y. supreme, court, has issued a temporary'injunction restraining Muzak, the wlr^d radio service, from relaying Mutual's- broadcast of the World Series games to the former's restaurant and cafe clients, without permission of the network. It was after the court had ruled in Mutual's favor that Muzak entered Into a consent decree to abide, by cettain^ cotidltions;set forth by the net- work it Muzak-wanted to continue jrith the relay. It was the first time that a court had passed an unequlvocable opinion upholding tha originating station's right' to prevenjt a' commercial enterprise from rebroadcasUng Its programs,' Justice Hammer, in his decision, atated that It was clear that tha right of Mutual, which held the exclusive broadcast rights to the game, had been Invaded by the defendant .... PiCVM Radio Budget Around %mm, or $300,000 Under 1940 Appearances Becomes AFRA Issue; May Take in CBS Productioneers Ed East and Pofly Sign With WJZ to Oct'42; Hire Saturday Sohstitnte Ed East and Polly have a new contract with NBC for the continu- ance of their 'Breakfast In Bedlam' participation series on WJZ, New York, until October, 1942. This is separate from their other morning show for White Rose Tea. A financial readjustment was worked out between the act and NBC by John Babb. It clarifies mat- ters that were In dispute. Looked for a time a week ago as If the turn might walk. Fair will work flVe mornings and agree to pay for a substitute announcer, -Doug. Brown- ing, on Saturdays. CHURCH QUARTE1S VIE ON WLAC COMMERCIAL Nashville, Oct.. 14. Colonial Coffee purchased two 15 minutes per week over WLAC, for contests between church quartets. Audiences select winner. A winning church gets $150 first prize every nine weeks. Question of gratis or below-nor> mal-fee appearances by Its members on 'defense' programs is being studied by, the American Federation of Radio Artists. Special commit- tees appointed by the national board. Including Anne Seymour, A(an Reed and Phil Duey, with William P. Adams ex-officlo member. Is con- sidering the matter, which was raised at the union's recent annual con* ventlon In Detroit Such free or less-than-usual- scale- appearances were not ques- tioned by AFRA, when defense pro- grams were first presented, but with the spread of various Government shows to all networks, the matter has assumed serious proportions. National board members explain that the radio artists are glad to con- tribute their services to a patriotlo cause, but that with other people involved receiving pay for the shows, it leaves the AFRA members holding the bag. It's pointed out that on programs like the Texas-Treasury Hour or the current Bendix Treas- ury show the network sells the time for the usual price and the agency collects its regular 15%'._ All station (Continued on page 32) Alaska Gets U^. Biz Procter & Gamble will spend about 910,500,000 in radio during 1942, acr cording to advance budget estimates. Amount will be about the same as that being spent during' 1941 and around $300,000 less than laid out In 1940. Because of the highly com- petitive nature of the soap market, P. Si G. doesn't reveal the- probable break-down of Its budget either jas to products or programs. However, In the latter category the setup Is figured likely to undergo no drastic changes, "Knickerbocker Playhouse,' which the company has just brought back on NBC-Red Saturday nights, after a sunmier layoff, has already been slated to continue through the sea- son. Instead of being retained for only a 13-week run, as previously planned. It's handled by the Kastor agency and plugs Drene shampoo. It originates In Chicago. The Bartons,' which P. & O; starts sponsoring Nov. 3, moves on that date from NBC-Blue to the Red and -will plug Duz. It's to be liandled b:^ the Compton agency and will con- tinue to air-from'Chicago. ' ^ • - NBC Pub. Adds McKay; Decision Due on New Mgr. John McKay, from WFIL, Phila- delphia, is a newcomer to the pub- licity department at NBC In New York. His exact assignment has nUt been determined by Frank Mullen, NBC general manager. Meantime, a successor to Bill Kost- ka, who resigned some weeks ago as manager of the press department Is to be finally picked this vireek by Mullen. Long list of candidates has been sifted down to a couifle of names. At CBS jthe press department will be unchanged. Lou Ruppel's deal to be part of Marshall Field's new Trlb- busting Chicago morning dally has gone cold and Ruppel stays in radio. WDRC Hires Clergyman Hartford, Oct 14. WDRC has hired a public Service counsellor to advise on community good will matters. He is Rev. Charles Graves, former minister of Unitarian Meeting House in - Hart- ford. • . First chore was introducing Wil- liam L. Shirer, whom WDRC pre- sented last week (9) at Bushnell Kfemorial Hall. Juneau, Alaska, Oct, 14. Business Is booming on KINY, with a healthy list of new biz booked by the station. . Daily studio programs are scheduleid' for Libby, McNeill & Libby, weekly ones, for Chase & Sanborn, Kraft Cheese and Alaska Life Magazine. The Alaska Steamship Co. is using a daily news period and-the Coca Cola daily musi- cal show from Mutual will be car- ried. Daily announcement programs havia been set for Bulova, Postal Telegraph, Southern Pacific RR„ Western Cartridge Co., R. J. Reynolds, Wm, H. Wise, Gardner Nusery Co., Coleman .Lamp and Stove Co., .Milwaukee RR., and Borden's. Hunt of KOIN at Mayo Portland, Ore., Oct 14. C. Roy Hunt, v-p of KOIN, Is at th^ Mayo Clinic In Rochester, Minn. To undergo an operation. NOW IT'S 'BOMBSHELL' QUESTION FOR JACKPOT Seattle, Oct, 14. New weekly quiz show over KIRO for Ben Tipp, Jeweler, has its first bow tonight on the' stage of tha Palomar. Titled 'Defense Divi- dends,' quiz was originated by BUI Sandiford of MacWilkins St Cole agency, and payoff is In defense stamps and bonds. In addition to regular tripper-upr pers there will be one 'bombshell* question each night carrying a $29 bond as a prize. TRANSAMERICA'S SALES Tlratca* and 'WlnsloW Peddled to New Sponsors Transamerlca has obtained new sponsors for 'Terry and the Pli'ates' and 'Don Winslow' and obtained a renewal for 'Orphan Annie' from Quaker Oats, All deals Involva transcriptions. Terry' has gone with Libby, Mc- Neill Sc Libby on a five-times-a-week basis with placements starting on midwest , stations, while General Foods Is the contractee on 'Winslow.' N. He, Hartf ori Bridgeport Charters AsEed of AFRA by Local Talent Requests for local charters have been received by the American Fed- eration of Radio Artists from actor- announcer-sihger groups In New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport, Conn., as well as Rochester, N. Y. Hy Faine, the union's organizer, will attend to the matter from his new headquarters In Boston. . Another charter application from Duluth, Minn,, will be handled by AFRA's Chicago office. -ContracU with WKY and WCLE, Cleveland; KLRD, Dallas, and WOOD-WASH, Grand Rftilids, tdve' been approved by the union's na« tlonol board. Weather Man on WFIL Philadelphia, Oct 14. George S. Bliss, who resigned' re- cently as chief meteorologist of the Philadelphia Weather Bureau after 34 years, this week.began a series of five-minute broadcasts on weather over WFIL. The show is bankrolled by the Ide Battery'Co.