Variety (Sep 1942)

42 RADIO Wednesday, September 2, 1942 Rev. Thomsori Now CBCs Geni With Murray Stepping Into Post Of Prc^am Director; Other Changes Ottawa, Sept. 1. Rev. Dr. James S. Thomson, CBC Governor and president of the Uni- versity of Saskatchewan since 1937, has accepted the post of general manager of the Canadian Broadcast- ing Corp.. it was announced by R«ie Morin, chairman of the CBC Board, following a meeting of the board of governors. A recommendation that his appointment be confirmed will now go to the Dominion Government for action. Major Gladstone Murray, head of CBC since its inception, will be left in charge of the creation and de- velopment of programs and will have the title of director-general of broadcasting for Canada. Murray, however, will continue on his cur- rent $14,000 yearly salary. Justification for the shakeup Is based by the board on the report of the special House of Commons com- mittee, which vindicated criticisms by late Governor Alan Plaunt and suggested relief of Murray's post as g.m. Committee deemed Murray's expense bilb 'excessive.' An action not recommended by the House committee, but taken by the Board of Governors, is a sizable In- crease reported to be made In the salary of assistant general manager Dr. Augustin Frigon, who will re- main as director of the French net- work despite important criticisms from the province of Quebec. He wiU also continue as financial controller of the corporation. As to the problem of improving French network broadcasts, signifi- cance is seen in the fact that Hon. Philippe Brais, of the cabinet of Provincial Premier Adelard Godbout, has been appointed vice-chairman of the War Information Board an- nounced by Premier Mackenzie King this week. While final decision has yet to be reached on some matters, it is be- lieved that Murray may move his headquarters to Toronto. Changes will become effective Nov. 2. throughout Canada, nor has it failed to do its part in the war effort It has, in fact, been the greatest mo- rale-inspiring medium in the Do- minion. Improvements, of course, can be made continually, but the remedy is not in cutting adrift or the humiliation by demotion of the most mportant and admittedly the most expert official of the entire CBC setup.' Dr. Thomson, interviewed Satur- day (1). promised stricter control of radio advertising and that 'the whole question of the advertising element in radio should be revised and per- haps overhauled.' He said the CBC would continue broadcasting pro- grams serving both entertainment and educational ends, but did not offer any forecast of what changes, if any, might be expected in the percentage of entertainment and edu- cational programs on CBC schedules. Popular United States entertainment programs should b.e continued, he told reporters. Dr. "Thomson, who took over the general manager's office in CBC headquarters here Saturday (SOI, told intevviewers he could not enun- ciate any policy, as his appointment was yet to be confirmed by the Do- minion Government and emphasized he was speaking as an Individual and no: as the new CBC head. He added that 'Canadian radio must continue to reach people on all kinds of in- tellectual levels.' Mnsiolans, Lesion Defend Murray Toronto, Sept. 1. With the report that Gladstone Murray, g.m. of the Canadian Broad- casting Corp., is being demoted, radio musicians throughout Canada have sprung to Murray's defense, this move also being followed by a Canadian Legion rally which In' sists that their comrade is tmfairly getting a kick-around. Both dl versified groups have taken their complaints direct to Prime Minister Mackenzie King. Walter M. Murdoch, president of the Canadian Musical Protective Assn., and Canadian representative on the board of the American Federation of Musicians, sent a 'lengthy wire to . the prime minister expressing the hope that the Canadian government will Insist on strengthening, rather than weakening, the authority of the chief executive officer of the CBC It was pointed out that the chief factor in the friendly and co- operative relationship between Ca- nadian musicians and broadcasting authorities in the Dominion during the past five years was due to the 'wise and sympathetic adminis'tra tion of Gladstone Murray.' It added that 'Murray's faith in Canada's artistic resources, ridiculed five years ago, has been amply justified in practice.' The retention of Murray in his present position as g.m. is also sti'ongly urged upon the prime min ister by Alex Walker, president of the Canadian Legion. In a com mLtnication to Canada's chief exec- utive, it is pointed out that not enough was presented regarding the 'very excellent results in Canadian r?dio which the Canadian Legion believes should have been placed in evidence during the recent in- vestigation of the Radio Committee of the House of Commons.' Regarding the proposed demotion of Murray, the Canadian Legion ccmmunication states that 'this, if put into effect, would do more harm t'> Canadian broadcasting than the 111.1 to be remedied could ever do. We desire most emphatically to record that, from a listener's stand- point, the CBC under the present incinagement has not failed in its functions of providing informative, entertaining and inspirational pro- grams of a consistently good quality WSPR,SpriiigfieklGi?es Bond Buyers Chance To Announce Program Springfield, Mass., Sept. 1. You can be an «nnouncer at WSPR—for a price. The price is $18.7S, for which you get a U. S. War Bond and a chance to announce a program of yuur favorite selections on the 'WSPR Rhythm Society' program, heard five times a week locally. Listeners have been permitted to pick out the pro- grams for some time, but the an- nouncing Is a new wrinkle. An- nouncer Bob Jones makes the sales. San Francisco, Sept 1. As its contribution toward sale of war bonds, KGO Saturday (29) started its 'KGO Bond Wagon,' a three-hour program, only a half hour of which is aired, to rolling. The 'Wagon* will visit a different neighborhoot* each Saturday, pre- senting entertainment and an auc- tion of merchandise donated by neighborhood stores. Merchandise, of course, goes to highest bidders, in terms of war bond purchases. Program will alternate between San Francisco and Oakland. A trail program In suburban Bur- uinggame sold $33,000 in bonds in three hours. RADIO TO PLUG V-MAIL TO SOLDIERS Washington, Sept 1. Radio broadcasters will carry the biggest share of the War Depart' ment's educational campaign to pro- mote the use of the new V-Mail sys' tem for handling letters to and from American armed forces overseas. Lt Col. E. M. Kirby, chief of the radio branch of the department's public relations bureau, has sent out reg' ular V-Mail letters to broadcasters, news commentators, network pro- gram producers and women's com- mentators,' asking them to cooperate in the use of microfilm method for overseas mail. To bring the V-Mail method to public attention the radio branch plans an intensive two-week cam- paign via radio, with special spot an' nouncements and supplementary ma' terial which it will supply. All types of programs, sustaining and commercial, will be embraced in the campaign and the radio branch of the army will participate actively through Its contacts with individual stations, news commentators and network programs. While radio will play the major role in the campaign, a supplementary effort will be made in various printed media. Lux Returns to Canada Montreal, Sept. 1. •Lux Theatre of the Air' (French) comes back on the air in Montreal and Quebec Thursday (3) for a 44- week season. First name performer will be Gratien Gelinas (Fridolia) French-Canadian star. He will play title role in Moliere's classic 'Les Fourberies de Scapin.' International stars who will appear later in sea' son will include Adolphe Menjou and Simone Simon. Lever Bros, sponsors. Chills Again 'The Shadow' returns Sept. 20 or 27 to its regular 5:30-6 p'm. spot Sundays on Mutual for D. L. & W. Coal Co. It will have a 24-station sponsored hookup and will be avail- able as a sustainer to the rest of the network. The show will again be freelance- written. Bill Tuttle, who formerly directed it, will no longer have the assignment and his successor hasn't yet been selected by the Ruthraufif & Ryan agency. Street-Comer Broadeasts Duluth, Sept. 1. Stimulating the sale of War Bonds and Stamps, WEBC l\as inaugurated a new variety show, originating from a booth built at the busiest down- town intersection. The IS-miniite Saturday noon program presents the WEBC orchestra under John Klleve's direction, the Mellotone trio, and entertainment by staff members. Stamps are given as prizes to per- sons buying largest amount of bonds during program. WKKC's Bond Tronpe Cincinnati, Sept 1. WKRC, Mutual affiliate, began rolling its War Bond wagon of staff- ers last week for a series of Satur- day morning visits to smaller cities and towns in its listening area. First stop was in Hamilton, O. Talent troupe included Waite Hoyt and Dick Nesbitt, sportscast- ers; Helen Nugent, warbler; Jimmy Scribner and his 'one-man Johnson Family;* Georgia Gray, director of women's features; Karl Zomar, friendly philosopher, -and Lin Mason, tenor. Lntoky'a $313M Bond Sales C. Israel Lutsky, who conducts the 'Jewish Philospher* program over WEVD, New York, sold a total of $31,850 in War Bonds on the series up to last weekend. One New York woman who heard the .Yiddish language program per- sontflly visited Lutsli^'s office at WEVD to purchase a bond. She was Mrs. L,ena Strobing, mother of the soldier who made the last short' wave broadcast from Corregidor l>e' fore its surrender to the Japs. fiV NEW YORK CITY . . . Phil Baker has been renewed b:^ Eversharp as m.c. of 'Take It or Leave It' (CBS) until the end of this year Edward Trevor, who did a long stretch on "The Goldbergs,' will play the lead role la-the Wlerton Pageant at Wierton, W Va., Labor Day... .Warren Sweeney got another 39 weeks on Pet Milk's Serenade (CBS) Korn Kobblers clear over WOR-Mutual 1:30-2 p.m. Saturdays George F. Putnam's Sunday a.m. news period on WEAF-NBC will be sponsored by Maltex starting Sept. 6. Bill Ramsey, Procter & Gamble radio director, In town last week. He's due back again about mid-September, on his way for New England va- cation Martha Scott and her husband, director Carlton Alsop, in from the Coast John Taylor, Pedlar ti Ryan script editor, due to enter the Navy soon PrisciUa Morgan,, named for sec to Harry Ackerman, Young & Rubicam supervisor on the show, was a new character on the 'Aldrich Family' last week, but goes out of the script with tomorrow night's (Thursday) episode. Mary Shlpp (Mrs. Ackerman) is playing the part Elaine Sterne Carrlngton, auUior of 'Pepper Young' and 'When a Girl Marries,' back from Coast, Treasury Department going ahead with a series on Mutual, but starting date still not set Jack Hurdle, who .went to the Coast to direct 'Junior Miss' for Benton & Bowles, back east Jackson Wheeler, 'Hobby Lobby' announcer, and Curtiss Candy, newscaster,' to Coast for vacation and to be married 'Life Can Be Beautiful' ground out some pretty tawdry philosophy Wednesday (26) in Its usual attempt to cash in on that title Romance of Helen Trent' the same day (26) was really mawkish... .Al Flanagan, formerly with KDKA, Pittsburgh, has joined the WOR director staff, succeeding Robert Louis Shayon, who resigned to take an executive- producer berth at CBS. Dorothy Lowell, title actress on 'Our Gal Sunday,' written out of the script this week for a vacation with her husband, William Spire, of the OWI in Washington Mueller macaroni has bought the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday chapters of Isabel Manning Hewson's 'Morning Mar- ket Basket' series on WJZ-Blue, through the Duane Jones agency.... Ann Barley, of the radio section *Df the War Department, in town last weekend Mutual will air the eight-game fooball series beween the Army All-Stars and the National Pro Football League teams, for Gillette razor, through the Maxon agency, with Jim Britt handling the broadcasts in the east and Frank Bull the two on the Coast. Basil Loughrane directing 'Valiant Lady,' succeeding Wyn Orr, who went into the Army Robert Louis Shayon has succeeded Charles Vanda as director of Tliey Live Forever'... .BUI Zuckert a regular on 'Dough-Re- Mi' with Pert Kelton and Ralph Dumke... .Roger Bower directs the new Vaudeville' series Saturday nights on WOR....New vice-president will be named at the CBS board of directors' meeting today (Wednesday) Ralph Kisch, formerly with- Gotham hosiery, joined WWRL announcer staff Bill Robson, C;BS exec-producer, may be commissioned in the Army's Special Service Milton Lewis now scripting 'Joyce Jordan,' with Julian Funt editorial supervisor. Funt authors 'Big Sister'... .Don Becker announced as again writing 'We Love and Learn,' replacing Bess Flynn, who continues as author of 'Bachelor's Children.' MOREOGGIE COS. ON SPOT Washington, Sept. 1 Misrepresentation charges were hurled Monday (31) against two more cigaret companies using radio widely as the Federal Trade Commis- sion broadened its drive to see that tobacconists clean up their copy and stop kidding the public about the alleged healthful characteristics of their product. Lastest to run afoul the U. S. copy-readers are Pall Malls and Luckies. With Camels and Philip Morris al ready on the spot, the F.T.C. issued formal complaints against American Cigarette and Cigar Co. (Pall Malls) and American Tobacco Co. (Luckies) questioning the chief claims in be- half of these particular brands. MiS' representation has occurred in broad casts, magazines and newspapers, the Government board charged. Harry Murdock to WCAU Philadelphia, Sept. 1 Harry Murdock, former drama and film critic of the defunct Evening Public Ledger, has joined the staff of WCAU as assistant director of publicity and station promotion. Recently Murdock was associated with RKO pictures, handling special publicity for Pare Lorentz's unit. From die Plrodoctipn Centres fiV HOLLYWOOD . . . The Radio Trade Is Discussing: The Utopian era for producers with Itew offers every day —Renewal of NBC time by Sealtest throuph Jan. 1 putting to shame all those rumors —Blue network's seriotts pitch /or business, with even Headman Don CUman hustling east with 16 shows to sell. Bill Henry had his contract stretched by American Chicle for another quarter on NBC. He's one of the few home commentators who actually saw overseas duty as a war correspondent First show back from vaca- tion is Hal Peary's 'Great Gildersleeve.* Only produbtlon change is that of John Whedon (late of J. Walter Thompson) as scrlpter in place of Len Levinson, who is toiling on Government shows for Nat Wolff Charlie Ruggles will be he first guester on Chase tc Sanborn when the new season is unveiled Sept. 6 Harrison Holliway looking for a new program director at KFI-KECA to replace Glan Heisch, who switched over to Office of War Information, radio division... .Jim Bannon moved from KFI to Kansas City's KMBC spieling staff Harry Baldwin, who for the past 11 years doubled as secretary and door slammer for Jack Benny, now recruiting here for the Navy....John Kennedy, staff announcer for the Blue, takes over the annoimcing chore on Lux Radio Theatre from Mel Ruick, now a captain in the Air Force Having played nearly all the camps around here, Edgar Bergen will start for the other sealK>ard Sunday (6) with java originations already set for West Point, Annapolis and Quantico, Va Sid Strotz east on NBC biz Bing Crosby returns to Kraft Music Hall Sept 24..,.Don Lee-Mutual's new program, 'This Is the Hour,' will have dialers vote for the best service band. Pickups will be made from a different camp or base each week to supplement the music of Dave Rose's orchestra and Betty Rhodes' thrushing Mann Holiner back from his vacash, relieving Don Cope of his Interim pro- ducershlp of Maxwell House Time so he can return to New York. IN CHICAGO . . . Robert McGinnis, formerly on NBC's guest relations staff, now at Fort Benning, Ga., receives his second lieutenant's bars this week....Mary Ann Mercer, radio canary, guest on 'Roy Shields Review* over WMAQ- NBC Sept. 1 Russel M. Seeds Agency, Chicago, announces the Tommy Dorsey summer show for Raleigh Cigarettes will replace Uncle Walter's Dog House on Wed. nights, starting Sept. 16 Mr. and Mrs. Atcher, known to WJJD listeners as Smilin' Bob and Bonnie Blue Eyes, are off for Hollywood to co-star in Columbia's 'Panhandle Trail' Cesar Petrillo's son, Joseph, was this week inducted into the Navy as an avia- tion cadet Betty Lou Gerson, of the 'Lonely Women* cast and hubby Joe Ainley have bought a 120-acre dairy farm northwest of Chicago.... AFRA members in Chicago have pledged thiemselves to buy a minimum of $150,000 in war bonds every month.... Guy Savage, WGN^ sports an- nouncer, has authored a new song, Tm Lonesome for a Letter'.*. .Sherman K. Gregory, manager of WEAF, N. Y., a Chicago visitor, also Campbell Armour, general mgr. of WTAR, Norfolk, Va Dale Evans, former WBBM canary, signed last year by 20th Century-Fox, guesting on Fred Brady's Variety Show during Chi vacation Bob Brown, NBC's sailing announcer, won Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club's cruising race this week in his sloop 'Matelot' Joe Rife, WMAQ engineering field supervisor, in Wesley Memorial Hospital undergoing appendectomy. Les Tremayne, first love of Helen Trent over the ether nine years ago. Is back in the cast again Jane Brandes, featured vooalist with Eddie Stanton's orch, has joined the CBS music department Frank Mullen, vice-pres. and gen. mgr. of NBC, formerly in the Chicago office, a visitor here. He made a speech at convention of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fra- ternity— Guests on Victory Matinee this week will include Vaughn Monroe, Benny Fields, James Cagney, Eddy Duchin, Clara, Lu and Emma. Larry Salerno, of 'Helen Trent' show, guest-appearing Saturday (5) at concert in Chicago's Grant Park Sgt. Gene Autry a Chicago visitor en route from Washington to Coast where his Sunday program originates Sept 30 With the Sept 2 broadcast of his show, the Danny Thomas Blue Network broadcast shifts to a new time, 8:30 Wed., CWT Reader's Digest contracted for 17 live spot announcements over WBBM, beginning Aug. 27.