Variety (May 1942)

80 RADIO WedheaiMrf Maj 20, 1942 AFRA s Proposal for Special Commercial Fees Would Boost Sound Effects Men 70 to American Federation of Radio Artists and NBC ^ still haven't reached an agreement on a new contract covering sound effects men. The company has offered an 18% wage Increase, but the imion, at the Insistence of the aotmd .men them- selver, is holding out for a revised setu(i of payment. Under the plan proposed by AFRA, the pay for sus- taining programs would remain the same, but the men would be paid an hourly rate for commercials. It's estimated that the AFRA system of payments would involve an increase of 70 to 80%. No immeifiate settle- ment is in prospect AFRA has still been unable to reach an agreement fo r a renewal of its contract with WINS, New York, and the dispute may have to go to arbitration for clarification of the station's right to fire members of the staff. Contract renewals have (Continued Dn page 39) DoPont Cash Awards Go Aniiaally to Broadcast Reporter and StatioD Washington, iSaj 19. , Radio Correspondents Association announced yesterday (Monday) at a luncheon in the Hotel Carlton the establishment of two- annual Alfred I. duPont Memorial Award* of $1,000 each. One award will be for tha out- standing performanc« of an Indlr vidual radio reporter or conimenta-. tor, and the other will go to a sta- tion for outstanding public sendee. ANN PARLEY JOOiS U.S. WAR DEPARTMENT Ann Barley, free-lance radio writer, has taken a job with the War Department in Washington, starting Monday (25). She will be in the public relations branch of the industrial production division. Among the shows which Miss Bar- ley has written are''We Love and Learn' (forrpierly 'As the Twig Is Bent), 'We, the People,' 'March of Time' and various free-lance stanzas such as 'Cavalcade of America' and Armstrong's Theatre of Today.'. CUfford Goldsmith Tries To Finish Stdge Play Cliaord Goldsmitii, author of 'The Aldrich Family,' will use the pro- gram's four-week summer hiatus in an attetnpt to finish a legit comedy started several years ago. Radio series goes off NBC with the July 2 broadcast ' and returns Aug. 6. Scripter wanted a longer layoff, but General Foods and the Young & Rutrioam agency wouldn't agree. Idea for the new play dates back to before his 'What a Life* was pro- duced on Broadway by George Ab- bott. Goldsmith had It partly writ- ten during the run of 'What a Life,' but when the 'Aldrich Family' series grew out of that play he was kept too busy to vonjplete the new one. In addition, he also collaborated on the adaptation of several Henry Aldrich pictures for Paramount. ' Title and theme of the hew play aren't disclosed. PVT. WALT PATTERSON 'Musical HUl Wheel' Promm Off Bine Network June 9 Chicago, May 10. Walter Patterson, singer on 'Musi- cal Mill Wheel,' Is leaving the pro- gram to enter armed service. Blue rfbtwork morning show, after 29 weeks leaves the air June 9.. Program, sponsored by Plllsbury Mills, through McCann-Erickson, runs four times weekly at 9 ajn. With Patterson on the program were the Kings Jesters, Dan Donaldson.. Betty Howard Back in N. T. Betty Howard of Pedlar & Ryan Is back from her Reno divorce trip. Her friends greeted l.er at a party . iirranged .b^ uln^e^ Ij[a.Ty<!7. IftirdKig. Hy, Lasswell, Benton In RonndtaUe Discussion Of Itadio m War Time' James L. Fly, speaking In the University of Chicago 'Radio In War Time' Roundtable program Sunday (NBC) commended commercial radio for carrying the load of shortwave propaganda broadcasting with no profits or expectations of profits save in the vague future. Fly also made a number of other arresting remarks, suggesting that radio could have done a better, job of explaining tires, gas, sugar shortages to the pubUc. He thought a more effective Job would have reduced present confu- sion. (Others in Washington have tended to blame newspaper specula- tion.) ^ Harold Lasswell, wartime com- mimlcatlons researcher deluxe, and William Benton of the University of C^hicago (who was kidded about his unholy past as an adman), examined various facets of radio responsibility to the nation at war. < As they tended to agree with 'Variety' they naturally appeared to be very knowledgahle ■guys. , GREGORZIEMER,WLW/ IN AUTO SNASHUP Cincinnati, May 19. Cregor Zlemer,. WLW news com- mentator, win ba off tha air until aroimd July 1, dua to Injuries sus- tained May 13 in a doUbla collision that wrecked three autos. He Is In Mercy Hospital, Hamilton, O., suf- fering from a triple jaw fracture,.,a possible skull fracture, face and body cuts. Doctors say he will re- quii^e hospitalization for five weeks. David Conlon, 3S. one of the sta- tion's engineers, was a victim of the same mishap. He' suiSered minor head and body injuries and was treated at the same hospital, and was able to resimie work this week. COL IIM HEALEY Sponsor's dream come true! Ter- rific packagre buy! Colonel Jim Healey, outstandingly popular, con- tinuously sponsored ace news com- mentator, news analyst, poet and philosopher, now available nlehtly except Sunday,. WGT, 6:05-6:15 p.m.. Immediately following Esso news bulletins. Total talent charge, covering artist and news service, only. $175 per week.. A major draw on a major sta tlon at minor coat Contact Ray Neubauer, 6 Turner PI., Albany, N.Y. Snes on Fred Mkvts Air Spoofing of Charfie Chan, The Chmese Detective Eleanor Biggers Cole, widow of Earl Derr Biggers, author of the Charlie Chan detective stories, filed suit Friday (15) in the N. Y. federal court against Fred AUen, the Bat- chellor Enterpriser Inc., the company which prepares Allen's material, the Texas Co., .^lien's sponsor, CBS, and a number of CBS affiliates charging plagiarism. . Plaintiff says that on April 2,1841, Allen used the character of Chan }n a broadcast together with other nut' terlal dealing with him, all of which was protected by copyright, and which she alleges constituted a delib- erate piracy. - — It Is charged Allen ridiculed Chan's detective ability which hurt his film box office. She seeks an injunction, surrender of all recordings and dia- logue, and stetutory damages of $250 for each offense. CBS' Consdidated Income Statement ~~ \ THREE HOHTHS ENDING April 4,1942 (13 weeks) March 29,1941 (13 weeks) Gross income from sale j of faclUtles, talent, lines, records, etc ; $15,874,362.51 $14,685,766.74 Less: Time discount and agency commls- ^ns, record returns, allowances and dls- counU 4,424,717.10 4305,43053 111,449,645.41 $10,380,335.81 Deduct: , Operating expenses and cost ot goods sold $6,887,000.48 . $5,753,089.09 Selling, general and - - administrative ex- penses 2,281,269.03 2,092,7aB.7T Provision for depre- ciation and amor* • tization a44,451.M 190,827.12 9,413,616je< 8,036,64338 $2,036,028.79 $2,343,691.03 Miscellaneous Income (net). 25.033.61 3,155.69 Profit before Federal Income taxes ; -.. $2,061,062.38 $2,346,847.62 Provision for Federal taxes: Income taxes $531,700.00 $577,300.00 Excess profits taxes. 374,300.00 S08J00.0O 906,000.00 1,085,600.00 Profit for period $1455,062.36 $1,281,247.62 Earnings per share $0JI7 $0.73 (Calculated upon the 1,716,277 shares of $2.50 par value stock out- sUndlng at AprU 4, 1942.) Notes: 1, The provisions for Federal Income and excess profits taxes for both quarters shown above have been calculated under the Revenue Act of 1941; lor purposes of such calculation, one-fourth of the estimated annual excess profits credit has been used In distermlnlng the Income considered subject to the excess profits tax. The earnings previously reported for the 1941 quarter have been adjusted In this respect. It Is estimated that adoption by Congress of the 94% excess profits tax and 40% normal tax rates,recently recommended by the Ways and Means Committee of. the House of Representatives would require a provision of approximately $300,000.00 for first quarter 1942 taxes In addition to the $006,000.00 provided for such taxes in the statement. 2. The 1942 results are subject to year-end adjustments and to audit at the end of the year by Certified Public Accountants, ^^^^ May 13, 1942. FRAmC K. WHITE, Treasurer. August Is Bond Drive Apex But It s Radio s lorsf Month; Mlem Concerns U5. Treasury Bhe Network Quickly Sets Agreement With Radio Writers' Guild The Radio Writers Guild signed a contract this week covering staff dramatic and continuity writers with the Blue network. Deal involved salary raises .and the reclassification to higher brackets of certain of the scripters. In addition, the network agreed to reopen negotiations in the fall for further revision of the pact. Until the formal split of the Blue from NBC, the Guild had a contract with the company for the writing staff of the combined networks. Since then, the contract covering scripters who transferred to the Blue was coinsldered as being assigned to that network.. Latter continued to observe the terms of the agree- ment. New pact supersedes it. Negotiations for the renewal, de- scribed by both aides as being un- usually amicable, were handled by Henry Fisk Carlton, Lulse Sillcox and Sidney R._ Fleischer for the Guild and Phillips Carlin, Ron Ferguson and Robert D. Swazey for the Blue.- Habltual downtrend In radio lis- tening during the summer has given the War Bonds and Saving Stamps division of the U. S. treasury depart- ment cause for concern. The drive for sal&i has been so charted by the division so that'the quote Increases progressively from month to month with the peak coming In ' August when many of the major rating pro- grams were off the air. It is this very month of August when the bond and stamps campaign will require the maxhnum of Ustener audiences. .Within ad agency circles it is thought that the situation might in som€ measure be overcome if the Treasury department Induced the va- cationing personalities to take over theu- regular spots for two or three broadcasts diuing August. WINSREBROADCASTING NETWORK COMMERCIAi^ station WINS, New York, is set- ting aside its 7:30-6 pjn. strip across the board f^r the recorded rebroad- cast of network commercial shows. Only sponsored stanza definitely set for the spot is Jack Dempsey's 'All- Sports Quiz,' now heard 8:30-9 p.m. Saturdays locally ' on WOR, New York, for Plel's beer. Same accoimt yrUI bankroll the series each follow- ing Wednesday night on WINS, start- ing tonight Hearst outlet is now looking for other commercials to rebroadcast the other nights of the week. Theodora Yates Directs Roundtable From D. C. Theodora Yates goes to Washing- ton tomorrow (Thursday) to direct a round-table discussion program on how women can help in the war ef- fort and broadcast 10:30-11 p.m. on NBC-Red (WEAF). During her one- day absence, Fritz Blocki will sub- stitute as director of 'When a Girl Marries' on NBC for General Foods, while Le Roy Bailey will handle 'Young Dr. Malone' on CBS for the same sponsor. Miss Yates will be back Friday (22), so will direct the 'Lincoln Highway' program as usual Saturday (23) on NBC for Shinola. Request for Miss Yates to direct the Washington broadcast was made by the Treasury Department at the sug- gestion of Elaine Sterne C^arrington, who has written.the' material for the show. :Kbs..Carrington also authors 'When a Girl Marries.' Participating In the round-teble program will be Mrs. Henry Morgenthau, wife of the Secretary of the. Treasury; novelist Jan Struther; Mrs. Woolman Chase, editor of Vogue mag; Luise Rainer, and a femme defense worker and a Connecticut woman who won an award as a typical mother. Cronse Girk Lea?e Radio Kansas City, May 19. Domesticity has claimed KMBC's singing twins. Kit and Kay, who have been off the ah: since May 1. Mar- riage of Kay, nee Irene Crouse, to Gene Dlerks, Missouri lumbennan, on May 6, wound up the career of the sisters, Newlyweds are currently honeymooning In Florida. Sister Kit, nee Orlene Crouse, is the wife of Chester Johnson, U. S, Navy, and has retired from radio work to await the stork. By Network Affiliates FoHowing Cleyekuid Cleveland, May 19. Network Affiliates, Inc., expects as a result of Its huddles last week within the fonveotlon of N, A. B. here to estabUdi in Washington a permanent paid lobbyist to* combat the -Clear Channel Group, NAl's favorite hobgoblin. Victor ShoUs'faas this job for the 5d,000-watters and a deSholisizer is what NAI seeks. NEW DAILY RADIO COLUMN IS STARTING , Clncinn&tl, May 19. A dally radio column will here- after appear in the Cincinnati Times- Ster under editorship of France M. Raine. Formerly carried Wednesdays only. Stetion WKRC, Mutual, is linked to Times-Star. Groverman Blake, paper's drama editor has meantime joined army in- telligence as a first, lieutenant Helen Detzel succeeds him. Pre?iew Weekly Of 'SiNMisor-Worthy' Ideas Seattle, May 19., A weekl/ preview of ideas for 15 minute programs, opeii for sponsor- ship, began on KIRO Thursday (14), Scripted by Al Amtmdsen, station's continuity chief,. the series started with a vari^ show idea on the Northwesi with songs by Ivar Hag- lund. DOCTOR OF THE ART Ben Hadileld'iuid fl^b Wife Hailed ' ss'Oabbers Jay Wesley Sponsored Boston, May 19. 'Sportscasf with Jay Wesley, five minute program on Monday.B, Wednesdays, Fridays, on WEEI, is new sponsored by J-A cigars. Account is handled by Lester B. Hawes agency. ' . Boston, May 19. Ben Hadfield, veteran Yankee net- work announcer,, was awarded the honorary 4egree.of Doctor of the Art o| Oratory at the 42nd commence- ment exercises of Steley College here. His wife. Rose QtAer Hadfield, an instructor at the college, was award- ed the same degree at the same time. Ed Harrey at KDKA T- Plttsburgh, May 19. Ed M. Harvey, a staffman at KDKA throu^ 1929-31, reported back to Westlnghouse stotlon this week as program manager. He suc- ceeds Franklin Tooke, who was re- cently commissioned in the navy. After leaving, the stotlon in 1931, he went to WCAE liere as program manager, moving on from Pittsburgh to become general program manager for all Hearst-owned stetions. 'Cottonseed' CUrk, formerly s writer-director at KFDM, Blue oiit- let In fleaumont Texas,, has joined the network's produttlon ■ staff m New York. Before entering radio. Clark was a professional baseball player.