Variety (Dec 1942)

ts RADIO VcdiicBd»7, December 2, 1942 Marvels, Sixth Biggest SeUer, Presents Arresting Case Study; Big Spot Broadcast Advertiser Br BEN BODBC MarveU, the sixth largest selling «igaret. Is renewing Its spot con- tracts. The agency is Aitkin-Kynett, of Philadelphia, and all extensions ere on a 92-week basis. Of related interest to the re- newals Is Marvel's advertising ac- tivities in radio as compared with those of the big three, Lucky Strike. Camel and Chesterfield. Each of the three turns out between 30,- 000,000,000 and 35,000,000,000 cig- arets a year and spends between <10,000,000 and $15,000,000 a year In advertising. Marvels distributes around 6,000,000,000 clgarets a year and its advertising appropriation, with a huge share of it going for spot radib, is less than $1,000,000 a year. Marvels' policy is not to enter any territory where the com- petition would be too expensive. The brand is owned by Slephano Bros. NBC ACAIN CLINCHES ROSE BOWL EXCLUSIVE GRIFFIN GOING WUHSOCONY TOCOMPTON Frank Griflin, formerly an exec- utive with the Getchell agency on the Sbcony-Vacuum account, joins the Compton agency about Jan. 1 as a vice-president He will con- tinue to handle the Socony-Vacuum account, which last week was ac- quired by Compton. Griffin was with thje Blackett agency several years ago as exec- utive on title Vacuum oil account. He left the agency when the ac count bfee&me Socony-Vacuum and transferred Its advertising to Get chell. Blackman agency later be- came Compton. Louisville, Dec. 1. NBC again moved in on the Pasa- dena Rose ' Bowl game and will broadcast it exclusively. It goes as sustainer, although network was free to negotiate for a sponsor. Last quotation to underwriters was $60,- 000. In return for the exclusive, NBC will help the Pasadenans with their Tournament of Roses Parade of Bonds. With the New Year's parade cancelled, towns which spent thou- sands of dollars rigging up floats, are being persuaded to utilize that coin for buying bonds. Bill Stern will call the plays and Ken Carpenter will paint the color picture of the Rose Bowl game be- tween Georgia, for the east, and a yet-to-be-picked Coast team. Gillette's Trio of Bowls Gillette will have three networks broadcasting for it on New Year's Day. The account's football lineup on that date will be the Cotton Bowl (Georgia Tech-Texas U) over Mu- tual, the Sugar Bowl (Tulsa-Tennes- see) over the Blue, and the Orange Bowl over CBS. OLNSTEAD BACK WITH Y&R ON WESTINGHOUSE Hollywood, Dec. 1 Clare Olmstead, who left Young & Rubicam Agency five years ago to tie up with Sol Liesser in pictures and Orson Welles in radio, is back with the agency to produce the Westinghouse series, starting early 1; January from New York. Part- ing with Welles, lor whom he was pi-oduction manager, was amicable, Westinghouse series will feature John Charles Thomas, John Nesbitt and an orchestra and chorus. When program shifts west, Victor Young will wield the baton. Show will be routed tp conform to the opera and concert tour of Thomas. Omstead leaves next Monday (B) for N. Y. to talk over the format with Y&R and Westinghouse execs TO TOP COURT NBC, CBS Both File Papers Appesl- lof FCC Bole* National Broadcasting Corp., on Wednesday and Columbia Broadcast- ing System, Inc., on Friday (27), filed their appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States from the decision of the three Judges of the Statutory Court which dismissed their suit to restrain the F.C.C. from enforcing new regulations which the networks claim would revolutionize the net- works. They both filed seven objections to the court decision which it claims constitute reversable error. The F. C. C. regulation bars the making of time reservations contracts be- tween networks and their affiliates. IPANA DENIES COPY CHARGES OF FTC Hub Reactkm to 'hfo Hease' Bond Date IiidbtesSSOMllOOToiir Total ♦ t» MM < MM > M t M »»»» ' Bond-SeDmg lame!, Lever Bid For Thnrs. i Hour NaL Dairy Vacating Camel has put in a request with NBC for the Thursday 10-10:30 p.m. segment effective Jan. 7,' when the Kraft Music Hall becomes a half- hour program and Sealtest moves forward to the 9:30-10 p.m. slot. Also nterested in the Thursday 10-10:30 period is Lever Bros., which would like it for the 'Mayor of Our Town' program (Lionel Barry more), now on CBS Wednesday nights. Such a switch would get Barrymore away from the opposition of 'Mr. District Attorney.' In the event Camel does move Abbott & Costello from Thursday 7:30-8 p.m. to Thursday 10-10:30, and the - Sealtest show (Rudy Vallee) uses the same station lineup that it does at present, then Lever Bros, will take over the 'Thursday 7:30-8 niche for the Tommy Riggs show and re- broadcast the latter program to the Coast at 9:30 p.m. Riggs' current NBC stretch is Friday 7:30-8 p.m., with a rebroadcast at 10:30-11 p.m. Rol)ert Dfller Elevated To Program Managership Chicago, Dec. 1. Robert Diller, who has been an- nouncing and producing at WIND, Gary, for the past 18 months, has been made program manager of the station. He succeeds Riley Jack- con, who has resigned to go with the Wade Advertising Agency here. Before joining WIND in April, 1941, Diller was at WMRO, Aurora, 111. 'Cavalcade' Going West Dec. 14 for One Shot 'Cavalcade of America' goes to the Coast for its Dec. 14 broadcnst, which wi:" star Edward Arnold in 'The Man Who Wouldn't Be President,' Hector Chevigny's script about Dan- iel Webster. Wayne Griffin will di- rect the show. Next Monday night's .7) edition of the series will guest Carl Sandburg in 'Rnad to Victory,' a special show in observance of Pearl Harbor, scripted by Norman Rosten and Robert Tallman, from Sandburg ma terial. Homer Fickett directs for B. B. D. & O. 'Cavalcade' airs on NBC for du Pont. Washington, Dec. 1. Bristol-Myers Company, distribu- tors of Ipana tooth paste, and Pedlar & Ryan, Inc., and Young & Rubi- cam, Inc., advertising agencies, have entered a general denial to allega- tions of the Federal Trade Commis- sion's complaint which charged them with misrepresentation of the denti- frice. Answer denied that Ipana tooth paste is a cosmetic preparation as defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act and also that the advertising agents participated in the dissemination of the advertising matter to which reference was made in the complaint. Assertion was madu in the answer that portions of the advertising statements appearing in the text of the complaint were not fair and ac- curate representations of the entire context from which they were lifted. Answer specifically denied the alle- gation that the recommendation of Ipana by dentists constitutes con vincing proof that use of Ipana is productive of healthier gums, brighter teeth, a more attractive smile and will result in helpful stim ulation of the gums. Answer admitted representing that by actual choice twice as many den- tists personally use Ipana in prefer' ence to any other dentifrice prepa. ration and that more dentists rec' oihmend it for their patients' per sonal use. It was also admitted that repre- sentations were made that the cur- rent American diet is 'soft' and 'creamy' and does not give the gums sufficient work, exercise and stimu- lation but the answer asserted that portions of the advertising quoted in the complaint are not fair and accu- rate representations of the whole contexts. Answer further denied representing that the use of Ipana will prevent decay of teeth and that in many schools children are drilled in rubbing their gums with Ipana. Hearings before the FTC will be held in due course. Seattle, Dec. 1. Radio's bond-selling month (De- cember) got off to a big dress re- hearsal here Saturday (28), with a statewide broadcast originating from the University of Washington sta- dium at half time of the U. of W.- Washington SUte football game. First week of the campaign has been designated 'Avenge Pearl Har- bor Week,' which will wind up with a big push in Seattle's Victory Square Dec. 7. Campaign, under the direction of state chairman Birt Fisher, KOMO- KJR, with Bill Moshler, KIRO, han- dling the publicity, was given an- other boost last night (Monday), when all stations in the Victory Net- work carried a musical variety show, Praise the Lord and Pass the Buck,' originating from KOMO, Seattle. Program was scripted by Dwight Esser, KOMO-KJR program director. It aired at 7 p. m. for a half hour, and future Monday night shows will be presented progressively one-half hour later, so that the same programs will not have to be cancelled each week. The Dec. 14 show will origi- nate at KFPY, Spokane. In addition to the statewide broad- casts, each individual station in the state will cary its own daily and weekly programs plugging the sale of war stamps and bonds. All other sales agencies in the state are co- operating with the radio industry during the campaign. Writers Greatly Needed As Armed Services Cut Into Radio Biz Theatre's' Film Guests Film actress Ellen Drew guests Saturday (5) on "Theatre of Today' for .Armstrong cork, via CBS. Stu- art Erwin, recently featured in "Mr. Sycamore' for the Theatre Guild, guests the following week, Dec. 12. No one is set for the Dec. 19 broad- cast, but Edmund Gwenn appears Dec. 26. Kenneth Webb produces the show for the B.B.D.&0. agency, with Ed Marshall assisting. Kay Wynn does (he casting. Scripts ore freelanced. Washington, Dec. 1. U. S. Treasury department is de- lighted with the Boston reception for Information Please' as a War Bond attraction. Symphony Hall was 66% sold on the first day that tickets were made available for the Dec. < date. Capacity house would produce $3,875,000 in bond sales. It was decided to let cities bid for the remaining tour dates for Infor- mation Please.' Based on the Boston reaction. Treasury figures the radio attraction will bring in at least $50,- 000,000. Minneapolis, Detroit and Philadelphia have already entered bids for the program, which has a half-hour warmup before going on the air, and, in each city visited, will have local celebrities in addi- tion to John Kleran, Oscar Levant and Franklin P. Adams. In Boston, the chief guest star will be Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. 'Quiz Kids' are now negotiating to make a similar bond tour for the Treasury. GOLENPAEMAY SWITCH WO' ELSEWHERE Golden Gate 4 Back To CBS and N.Y Cafes Golden Gate Quartet exits Coast and Amos 'n' Andy show after Dec. 3 appearance, returning to their N. Y. CBS spot Dec. 20. Latter has been temporarily filled by Delta jlhythm Boys. Paramount wanted Golden Gaters for 'Calgary Stampede,' but CBS show and cafe bookings obligated return east. The shortage of manpower among the ad agencies which have major stakes in radio is beginning to reach the point where the squeeze becomes painful. Men in key and minor posts continue to leave for the armed service and Government agencies, but there is no diminuation in these large firms' radio business, nor any sign? of a letdown. While the lookout for producers is of marked proportions, the agencies report that their greatest cry is for writers. Many of the good ones have met with quick acceptance when they have applied for berths with the various armed services and Gov- ernment agencies, and the agencies say they do not see any stoppage of this drift in the immediate future. Thompson Moves From WEBR, Buff., to WEEN Buffalo. Dec. 1. C. Robert Thompson, former di- rector of WEBR, became assistant di- rector of WBEN in charge of the commercial department Monday (30). He assumed the duties of Gene Wyatt, former WBEN commer- cial manager, who reported for duty at Jacksonville, Fla., last week as a Navy warrant officer. Thompson's dutie."! at WEBR were taken over by Paul E. Fitzpatrick, president of WEBR, Inc., since the latter and the Courier-Express bought control of the station in July. While Lucky Strike (American Tobacco) doesn't have to exercise its renewal option'on the program for another three weeks, the circum- stances point to a parting of the ways in January between 'Informa- tion, Please' and the cig account. Dan Golenpaul, owner of 'Informa- tion,' who recently protested against the plug blasting methods used on his program, can at least lay claim to one touche over George Washing- ton Hill, American Tobacco prexy. Listeners to last Friday's (27) 'Info' broadcast weren't apprised about 'green' having 'gone to war.' Hill, it is reported in the trade, plans to replace 'Information* with a musical show of his own creation. He himself was never enthusiastic over the quiz show or any program whose audience appeal might be considered circumscribed. George Washington Hill, Jr., advertising manager at the time of 'Informa- tion's' purchase, liked the show and the father let the boy have his way but not without much reserved skepticism. Junior argued that the class appeal of 'Info' was just the thing that Lucky, needed to supple- ment its more popular type of pro- grams and also to gain some prestige for the brand among the upper strata of potential consumers. G. W., the elder, granted the son this view- point but nevertheless held that a musical program of popular reper- toire not only draws huge segments of attention but allows for the ut- most flexibility in merchandising a fast-turnover product. Golenpaul is the first showman in ■ Hill's employ ever to question the tobacco mogul's judgment in the ap- plication of merchandising to a radio program, and the incident has be- come a topic of much curbstone dis- cussion in the trade. Kansas OHy—Margaret Hillias Is newest addition to the KCMO staff, doing broadcasts on feminine sub- jects. Peggy Vanderveer added to station's continuity staff. Two Webs Okay Temporary Delay In General Foods ' Option On 25G Issue General Foods doesn't have to exercise its renewals for time as they come due on NBC and Columbia this month. The two networks last week agreed to waive the requirement that contract renewals for the suc- ceeding 13-week cycle be exercised 30 days before the expiration date of the current obligation and allow the victuals packer to go along on a week-to-week basis until Jan. 1. The request of General Foods was based exclusively on its uncertainly as to the availability of star talent after Dec. 31 because of the $25,000 net income ceiling. The client wants to be in an unrestricted position should the Treasury Department fail to ease up the regulation as far as performers are concerned and G. F. names elect to throw their working lot entirely with pictures. General Foods also prefers to have its time allotments so untrammeled by con- tractual commitments as to be able to quit on short notice in the event that substituted talent doesn't pan out satisfactorily. It is the first time that the net works have granted such latitude to an account, and the immediate opinion voiced in ad agency circles Was ,that it was a smart stroke of \ goodwlU-biiilding. WILLSON WILL WEAR PAIR OF SILVER BARS Hollywood, Dec. 1. Meredith Willson hands over the baton on Maxwell House Time this week to his assistant and arranger for the past eight years. Carmen Dragon, and joins Army Special Services with a captain's rating. He will be stationed here temporarily. Willson directed the music on the java show for six years and previous to that handled the music on several other network programs. Before coming to Hollywood he was NBC mi^ic director in Frisco. Mex Station Resumes Mexico City, Dec. 1. Radio sUtion XELQ (10,000 watts) at Morelia, has opened up again after a layoff of several weeks for gen- eral face-lifting and modernization. Francisco Laris Iturbide is XELQ's owner-manager.