Variety (Sep 1942)

86 RADIO PetriUo Waitiiig for Radio, Recorders To Come to Him, but They Wait On Courts; Frisco Tempest Subsides ■H- As the first month of the ban im- pcjed by the American Federation of Musicians on phonograph record and transcription library work came to an end, the recording element was more strongly inclined than ever to make no approach to James C. Pe- trillo, AFM prez, and loolc to the courts for a settlement of the issue.' Associates of Petrillo describe him as not being in the least disturbed by the avalanche of newspaper crit- icism inspired by the union's con- troversy with the commercial users of recorded music. Petrillo, who ^t'as recently given a vote of complete cot:fldence by the AFM's executive board, is reported as certain that the stalemate will be broken within the month and that delegations of broad- casters and coin-machine operators as well as recorders will come call- ing oil him. The broadcasters are hopeful that an aroused public opinion will figure pctently in their favor during the litigation against the AFM, which is new pending in-the Chicago federal court. The anti-trust suit brought by the U. S. Department of Justice Is to be argued Sept. 16. The court will at that time pass not only 0:1 the Government's petition for an in- junction against the AFM, but on the Federation's motion for a dismissal of the anti-trusk charges. San Franoisoo Ec^ San Francisco, Sept. 1. San Francisco was treated to a momentary echo of the national hub- bub over the AFM's ban on record- ings when the S. F. Examiner pub- lished a story that James C. Petrillo had ordered KGEI, General Electric's shortwave station here, not to tran- scribe any network programs for re- broadcast to soldiers in the Pacific without the okay of the union, but that the station intended to defy the order. Eddie Love, secretary of the S.F. musicians local, later pointed out that it has been a rule of the AFM for a long time to require sta- tions to obtain permission for such recordings. His Inference was that an old arrangement had been distort' ed to build up a newspaper case against the union In the current con- troversy. In a formal statement Issued by KGBI under the name of Robert Peare, manager of GE's broadcasting enterprises, it was said that the com pany had no Intention of entering into a controversy over PetrlUo's re^ cent nationwide ban on recording and that the latter, as GE imder- stood it, had no bearing on KGEI jprogiams, which are strictly short' wave. PLANEFAaORY GOING ON AIR Lockheed Aviation Corp. will soon buy a quarter hour on either NBC or CBS for an institutional show. Don Belding, the Lord tc Thomas agency's executive v.p. in Los An- geles, is currently in New York working on the proposition. NAB's Special P.A. The firm of Baldwin & Mer- mey has been retained on a fee basis by the National Associa- tion of Broadcasters to handle the publicity work in connection with the Petrillo fight. N.A.B. meantime has opened a N. Y. ofTice at 535 Fifth Avenue, Baldwin & Mermey handled McKesson tc Robbins for a time. HARVEY QUITS PROGRAM POST AT KDKA, PnT Pittsburgh, Sept. I. Ed Harvey, who came back to Pittsburgh three months ago as pro- gram director for KDKA, has re- signed his berth at the Westlnghouse stution for an as yet unannounced spot with a Baltimore outlet. Dififer- etices of policy with local manage- ment resulted in resignation of Harvey, who left a similar berth a\ WCAE here several years ago to go with Hearst broadcasting setup in New York. No successor to Harvey has yet been named. Understood overtures hi<ve been made to Bill Beal, former continuity writer at KDKA, but he is reluctant to give up a transcrip- tion business he has buUt up locally since leaving station. Another possi- bility was Bob Shields, of announc- ing staff, but his appointment Is doubtful. Lynn Waldorf, Powers On Grind Show From Chi Chicago, Sept. 1. 'Inside of Football,' a new pro- gram featuring Lynn Waldorf, Northwestern U. football coach, and Francis Powers, sports columnist, started thu week, broadcasting Mon., Wed., and Fri., 10:30 to 10:45 p.m., CWT., over WMAQ. Sponsor of the new show Is the Emmco Insurance ^0., of South Bend. Program was placed through MacDonald-Cook Co., of that city. TOO BUSY FOR BIRTHDAY WWJ, Detroit, Leu 22d Annl Pass Withoat Celebration Detroit, Sept. 1. For t^e first time in 12 years, StB' tion WWJ here failed to observe its birthday—its 22d, which puU it among the oldest among the com' marcial stations. In letting Aug. 20, the anniversary, pass without a special program, sta' tion executives announced: 'In this year of 1942 everyone at WWJ Is much too busy with procuring man' power for the armed forces, selling War Bonds, developing civilian de- fensa and all the manifold ramifica- tions of the- wffr effort to think of celebrating.' Ann Corio's Radio Strip For Gflbert's WHN Jlondg Radio's first strip-teas« will com* off Friday (4) during Dick Gilbert't daily, platter program at WHN (1- 2:30 p.m.) when guest-star Ann Corio will do her specialty in tha N. Y. studio to stimulate the sale of War Bonds. The peeler will ra- move a garment or ornament every time she or Gilbert receives a war bond pledge over their direct-wlra phones. To everyone who buys a bond during her p. a., Miss Corio will send an autographed photo a la Minsky, plus a signed garter. The stunt of accepting pledges 'in person' over the phone during Gil- bert's disc jockeying has proved so successful that the idea is now in its third week, although originally planned for only 10 days. During this time Gilbert and guest-stars Sammy Kaye, Dick Todd, Ruth Lowe, Vincent Lopez, Gladys Shel- ley, Sam Donahue, Margo, Johnny Long, Fausto Curbello and Gloria Swanson have sold more than $50,000 worth of bonds. This week's guesU Include Sammy Kaye (repeat), Bca Wain, Harry James, and Xavier Cugat, in addition to Miss Corio. Readung Femme War Workers Via New Govt Show Detroit, Sept. 1. Women Shoulder Arms,' a series of combination recorded-and-live interviews between war heroes and femme war workers, started Friday (28) over CKLW, local outlet of Mutual and CBC, as a presentation of the War Department. Shows air mid-afternoon Fridays and are re- peated the following midnight and pre-dawn, being aimed at femme war workers. Produced in Washington, the original programs are merely one- sided Interviews with the war heroes speaking one side of the con- versations to imaginary other par- ticipants. As the chows work out, a gal worker in a war plant is taken to the studio, where she hears one of the records, works out her own in'.erpolated responses to the hero's lines and then goes on the air. Com- plete interview with the two prin- cipals is recorded off the air and is later rebroadcast at the midnight and early-morning hours to catch listeners who are working at the earlier periods. Among the principals who have so far been recorded in original interview spiels are a flyer who par- ticipated in the Tokyo bombing, a pilot with the Ferry Command, an Army nurse from Bataan, and a girl who tests artillery at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Andre Baruch, of the> Quartermaster Corps in Wash- ington, announces the recordings, which are produced by Ann Barley, of the War Department radio section. Understood that If the series draws a sizeable audience in Detroit, it will be extended to stations in other industrial centers. Another Promotion Paley Doe Back From England SepL 17: Getting Closenp of War Conditions • William S. Paley, who arrived In England last Friday (28), figures on getting back to the States around Sept. 17. Paley had been planning for some time to go abroad so that he, because of his status in the radio programming field, could obtain some firsthand experience in war- time living, psychology end broad- casting. While in Britain Paley is meeting with the British Broadcasting Corp. authorities, his own local staff and representatives of the various Amer- ican armed services on such matters as how programs could be broadcast \ i or from our troops abroad without 'lining counter to the necessities of lime security. Pittsburgh, Sept. 1. Harold Goldstein, who started at WCAE as an office boy just 10 years ago, is the new head of the con. tinuity department at the Hearst station. lleonard Kapner, general manager, announced the appoint- ment over the weekend. Goldstein replaces Phil Davis, who shoved off for the Army last week just after returning from his honeymoon with the former Kay Conners, of WCAE program staQ. Goldstein lately has been a jack- of-all-trades of WCAE, doubling as a continuity man, production aide program counsellor and even on oc- casion as an announcer. He takes over his new post today (1). W<dneiJ>y> geptember 2, 1942 40 wm ROAD COS. Blue Net Plugs Petrillo Iba Blua natwork gava quita t plug to Jamaa C. Petrillo, president Of tho Annarloan Foaoratl<m of Mtulolaiu, lait Saturday (29), even though tha broadcaittng Industry li arrayad against him on the re- cording ban situation. Tita avent in which PatrlUo got mention was tha "Band Jamboreo' phasa of "Bond Night on tha Blue.' After telling about tha long list of name orchestras that would participata In tha ramota plckupa lor tha naxt four.hours, the Blue announcer stated: 'Wa hava James O. Petrillo, president of the Amer- ican Federation of Musicians, to thank for all tha bands we will hear.' Sol Clark's Request for Probe Of Petrfllo No Indication Ikt He ffidikes Radio Networb Less THUS WE LIVE,'RED CROSS PITCH, FOLDING "Thus We Live,' Thursday and Fri- day morning series on CBS, spon- sored by General Mills for tha Red Cross, folds with the Sept. 25 broad- cast. The account hasn't decided whether to extend 'Hymns of All Churches,' now heard Monday, Tues- day and Wednesday mornings in the same 9:45-10 a.m. spot, the other two days. B. % D. & O. is the agency on Thus We Live,' and Blackett- Sample-Hummert, Chicago, the agency on 'Hymns' Katharine and Adele Seymour, co- scripters of 'Thus Wa Live,' will con- tinue their other General Mills se- ries, 'Light of the World,' produced by Transamerican on NBC for B-S-H. Transcribed versions of The Al- drich Family* (General Foods) will be carried this season on from 40 to 50 stations as supplementary to the NBC hookup. The idea of using such ofl-the-line recordings a week or so later after the network broad cast was tested out on several sta- tions last season. Young Sc Rubicam Is the agency, Leonard Louis Levlnson, former reporter and script writer, has been named assistant to Nat Wolff, chief of the Hollywood branch of the Of- fice of War Information Radio Bu- reau. Magnire Pilots Kyser Hollywood, Sept. I Arnold Maguire, for the past three years NBC contact on the Kay Kyser Luckies program, takes over the production reins In two weeks when Ed Cashman shoves east to head Lord & Thomas radio depart ment there. Maguire has been producing Blue network programs. WQXR Ups Capital Stock Per Deal With Time Mag Albany, Sept. 1. Interstate Broadcasting Co., Inc., owner and operator of WQXR, N. Y., has increased its capital stock, ac- cording to papers flled with the Sec- retary of State. The number of preferred shares has been doubled from 3,000 to 6,000 at $25 per share, while the common stock, of no par value, has been upped from 1,500 to 3,000 shares. Change in capital stock was in line with the station's recent deal with Time Magazine, giving that publication a blo ck of WQXR stock in return_for the Time iieup. WRITER SWITCH Helen Walpole Moves to 'Second Hasband' for B-S-H Helen Walpole, who only last week was shifted from the scripting of 'Our Gal Sunday' to 'Backstage Wife,' has again been reassigned, this time to replace Ruth Borden as writer of 'Second Husband.' Mi , Borden moves over to the 'Baclcstage Wife' authorship. Miss Walpole also continues her other assignment as writer of 'Stella Dallas,' and 'Our. Gal Sunday' Is now scripted by Jane Pierce. All the serials are produced by Air Features for Blackett-Sample- Hummert agency, New York. 'Sunday' and 'Second Husband' are on CBS for Anacin (American Home Products) and Bayer aspirin (Sterling Products), respectively. 'Backstage Wife' and 'Stella Dallas' are on NBC fo.<' Dr. Lyons toothpaste and Phil- lips magnesia (both Sterling Prod- ucts), respectively. 'Backstage' orig- inetes in Chicago, the others in New York. Rickenbacher at Y&R Hollywood, Sept, 1. Paul Rickenbacher has joined Young & Rubicam talent department and will work in New York under Hubbell Robinson, He recently left J. Walter Thompson, where he was aide to Dan Danker. Another Y&R appointment Is that of Glenhall Taylor as manager of the Hollywood office. Carroll O'Meara continues as business man ager and Taylor will concentrate on production. Washington, Sept. 1. Senator D. Worth Clark's resolution calling for an immediate senate in- vestigation of the American Federa- tion of Musicians' order forbidding members to make further recordings or transcriptions for non-private use is hardly to be Interpreted as a change of heart In the Idaho sena- tor's attitude toward the radio net- works. His feelings toward the large chains has been none too friendly. When he introduced his investigation resolution 'Thursday (27) he made it clear as he took the floor that he wasnH worried about how the networlcs would be affected by James Caesar PetrlUo's order. 'So far as the radio Indus- try is concerned, tha larget net', works will be able to take care of themselves,' ha stated. . In asking for a senate interstate commerce committee investigation of what he termed 'the whole ne- farious racket,' Senator Clark said he was thinking of (1) Hha little radio stations In Idaho, Iowa, Mon- tana, South Carolina and elsewhere, a great deal of whose program time must necessarily be devoted to so- (Continued on page 40) HILL LOSES OH GETS J&J SHOT Edwin G. Hill, who formerly worked for the' American Oil Go., is replacing Dorothy Kilgallen for Johnson & Johnson in the Tuesday 6:15-8:30 spot on CBS. Young & Rubicanils the agency, and the data the change takes effect is Sept 8. Hill, who once ranked among tha major money news commentators, did three quarter-hours a. week for Amoco. ARMIMNYITE CANCELS TARONTO'S COAST TREK Al Taronto, time buyer for the Ted Bates agency, checked with his draft board last week about leaving town for a business trip. When asked how far he expected to go, Taronto mentioned the west coast. A couple minutes later Taronto learned that such a trip was out. His call on the board had been a sheer coincidence. It was about to invite him over for a physical examina- tion. He's slated for October In- duction. Taronto has a wife and a four- months-old child. Mrs. Taronto la planning to return to her old job in the radio department of the B. B. D. & O. agency. Ed Small, Bates' chief media buyer, is making the Coast trip in- stead. It's in connection with a test campaign on Carter's Little Liver Pills. Gabber Gives Air Raid Wardens Too Much Gab .Gainesville, Fla. — Fred Pierce Hamilton, of WRUF staff, has been commissioned a lieutenant in the naval reserve. Philadelphia, Sept. 1. Ham 'Dalton, radio commentator, was pinched last week when he called two air raid wardens 'a couple of punks' as they asked him to find shelter during an air raid alert. Dalton, who is the city administra- tion's spokesman on the air, was lodged in a cell for a couple of hours. He was discharged by a magistral! after he apologized to the warden'