Variety (Oct 1941)

Wednesday, October 29. 1941 RADIO 33 FORESEE WAVE BREAKDOWNS Q Down Payment Rule Ends Installment Furniture Show on CBF Montreal, Oct. 38. First of the casualties In radio pro- grama arising from the Canadian Government recent ban on Install- jnent buying Is the closing down of Varletes Legare one-hour week- ly program sponsored by Legare, limited, furniture manufacturers. This program was on CBF, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. French-language .station and was scheduled to run 26 weeks, of which ieven" "weeks "Save been played. New regulations lay down that 90% of purchase price must be paid ' on purchase and balance In year. Evasion plan getting some play is to form 'clubs', with $5 entrance fee, which will be considered initial pur- chase amount and payments to be on old scale. This is being tried out by some department stores, and, if legal, should solve problem and bring back to radio such casualties as have occurred. 'KolamiuobrMleb.—Carl E, Lee, at WKZO, Kalamazoo, on regular studio engineering staff. GENE O'HAIRE'S FOUR MORNING ACCOUNTS Schenectady, Oct. 28. Gene O'Haire is now handling a quarter-hour musical clock six morn- ings weekly on WGY, Schenectady, for Groves Bromo-Quinine, through J. Walter Thompson. Contract, which runs until March 7, gives O'Haire four programs, under sponsorship of national advertisers, every morning on WGY. Others are Bond Stores Griffin Shoe Polish, and Sweetheart Soap. MinneaEoUa.—Frank J. McLogan has' resigned as KS'TP" ahhounccr to accept a similar post at WJR, De- troit. Radio-Seasoned Draftees In KTSA Broadcasts San Antonio, Oct. 28. The 'Brooks Field Frolic' is the title of a new series of broadcasts on KTSA. It's written, composed, produced and presented by the per- sonnel of Brooks Field. Produced by Lt. Frank EUls, formerly of station WLW, Cincinnati. Cadet H. E. Will, who is announcer, was formerly of WIRE, Indianapolis. Members of the orchestra include Sgt. John L. Spack, who played in house bands at WBAP, Fort Worth; D. J. McLean formerly was with house band at KWKH, Shrcveport; Jerry Daughterly hails from KVOO jind KTUL, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and KGCF," "Coffcyvnie,"" Kan.'' "Hugh Ramsey has been associated with the Hal Ix>man orch. The isolation of geography, Binding New York to Cheyenne with the speed of light: hurtling darkness and storm; and through wind and lightning speaking From the Atlantic to the Pacific, with One voice To one nation Indivisible I But the story Isn't only in the maps... It's in the people, after fifteen years. It's a pattern in the people. One-fourth of our people have kved with Network Broadcasting Since the day they were bom ... And more than a third of us have lived with it Since we were five years old. Count that, when you measure The strength, the power, riic infiucnce Of Network Radio today On tfit minds of Americans! It's a pattern In the people ... Look around you. It's a pattern in their living: their waking, their work- ing: their leisure and laughter: their dancing and buying. They get up to network radio, and they go to bed to network radio. It's a habit... and you can't erase it. * * m During these 15 years, the NBC Red Network has become a part of America. It belongs. Let's say it simply:— For 15 years, the National Broadcasting Company has been proud of Its job. It's been a big job, and we've tried to give our best to It. ^« must have. For the network the country listened to first is still the network most people listen to mostl NBC NETWORK The Network MOST People Listen to MOST THi NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY A Radio Corporation of America Service CASH NOT LIKELY Two Main Issues of Technic cal Character Now Before FCC — Immediate DecU sions Improbable, But Cer- tain Trends Fairly Clear PUSH OVER MOVE Washington, Oct. 28. Delicate policy question raised by the WLW, Cincinnati, revival of superpower aspirations has the Fed- eral Communications Commission in a quandary and despite the 'national defense' argument the prospects for lifting the 50 kw lid do not appear especially bright. Break-down of more clear channels seems miich more probable, with a fundamental change of philosophy widely ex- pected by industry watchers. With 13 super-power requests on the hook, many of them years' old, the Commish has been waltzing. around lately fearful that any move to allow more wattage will bring Congressional, repercussions. Th» three-year-old Senate resolution— sponsored by Burton K. Wheeler, chairman of the potent Interstate Commerce Committee, is a danger signal, In addition, various bllla have been introduced (though never receiving serious attention) in the last two sessions definitely banning any juice grant above the existing maximum or ' placing such restric- tions on use of morej)Ower that no- body would really want it. A legislative hearing on the ques- tion of raising the limit, as well as on the related issue of preserving the 24 J-A stripes Is more or less antici- pated in trade circles. In view of the slowness with «'hich the kilo- cycle''cops have reached conclusions on policy problems in the last few years, observers cannot see anything decisive happening for some months. Pressure is being exerted, without doubt, to convert the Commish to 500 kw operation. So far nothing has been put in writing by officers of other Federal outfits reputedly feeling that more powerful trans- mitters would be a national asset. CompUoatlona The situation troubling the Com- mish is tied, up closely with the bloodthirsty manner of Congres- sional isolationists. Also it Is linked with the furore over the anti-mo- nopoly reforms. If the regulators should show a disposition to permit operation with more than 50 kw, the non-lnterventlonists unquestionably would pounce, charging the Roose- velt Administration wanted mora potent transmitters in order to whoop up more enthusiasm for entry Into the war. The same solons arc the chief critics of the network regu- lations, so there is a doubly forceful reason for prudence. That the bulk of the Commission now would be disposed to reconsider the 1938 decision against superpower la generally acknowledged in trada quarters. Only two members seem death on the Idea, Commissioners T. A. M. Craven and George Henry Payne. And Craven Is on record as saying, In the 'social and economlo report' that technically he thinks stronger juice would be a distinct advantage. Payne led the flght against WLW's operation with 600 kw. The list of pending requests for 600 kw includes stations in all sec- tors, with WLW the most anxious to gat the limit raised. Others wanting It if tiie Commish does change its mind are WIP, WLS, WHO, WJZ, WHAS, WOAI, WEAN, WSN and KFI. Bnt No Fan An alternative has been suggested that might stave off any Congres- sional punishment. It super-power honestly Is desired because of na- tional defense and morale-boosting (Continued on page 39)