Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday, Pecemher 16, 1942 RADIO 29 AD F Not Weaning Away Pro- ducers, Writers, Etc., From Other Agencies, De- spite Loss of Manpower to Army, Navy and Other Government Services— Voluntary Attitude of Fairness EX-MAYOR OF KEOKUK NOW A RADIO GABBER Des Moines, Dec. 15. John H. Irwin, former speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, has been added to the news stafT of KSO-KRNT. He was five times a member of the Iowa legislature and former mayor of Keokuk. HIDDEN TALENT Advertii^ing agencies with large radio departments have refrained from resorting to raids on other plenishing the loss of manpower to the armed forces or Government agencies. These agencies have adopted the attitude, entirely volun- tary, that since everybody has the same problems it would be unfair for any one of them to wean away producers, writers, etc., with offers of larger salaries or better posts. What such agencies propose to do Is to develop and promote men with- in their own organizations, rather than bring in newcomers and shoot them over the heads of staffmen and executives who have been on the job for years. One agency official remarked last week that through this very device of giving the breaks to present personnel his organization may unearth noteworthy talent. The business, as he put it, has 'become cluttered up with too many stop- watch holders anyway, and it is quite possible that the digging down into the ranks may turn out to be a healthy thing.' lioss of manpower may make it mandatory for some agencies to re- organize the general structure of their radio departments, such as eliminating aupervisory producers end Investing a greater degree of authority and responsibility In the individual directors. Indie Stations Complain OWI Favors Webs Some N. Y. Indie station operators sre considerably perturbed over what they claim to be the OWI radio department's neglect of local radio problems. Complaints to the OWI regional director have been forwarded to Washington. Statioa men claim they have a deflnite Job to do In emphasizing the local angles of the OWI's mes- «ages, yet they ere continually Ig- nored. One example of such over- sight is the recent awarding of an 'E' banner to a Queens mailman who was producing a war sub-contract at home in his spare time. The War Production Board wanted the pre- sentation ballyed and asked OWI to clear radio time. First thing the Indie stations knew about the stunt was a call they got from the WPB on the day of the award. Seems OWI had contacted the networks and ignored the local outlets. ■ Additionally, claim the local sta- .^tion execs, they have several times submitted program ideas which were nixed and some time later appeared on network outlets. Joe Morln, of piano team of Bea and Joe Morin on station KTSA, San Antonio, was inducted by the Army. Morin made the 14th mem- ber of. the KTSA stall to be called into asMce. • • Dell Peters Leaves MCA Dell Peters, of the Music Corp. of America radio department, has re- signed and leaves the agency in about How Wars Differ Bayuk Cigar has renewed its Cal Tinney series, three quarter- hours weekly, on Mutual, after flnding that the lipping of the brand's price from a nickel to 6c. hadn't aflected sales in the least. A similar boost in World War I caused quite a decline in the cigar's turnover. a week. Future plans are unsettled, but he is considering a proposition to join the radio department of an ad agency. Before going over to MCA with the latter's purchase of Columbia Artists Service, Peters was in radio 11 years as announcer, production man, etc. Something New in Radio NBC's Press Head, John McKay, Giving Luncheon for CBS' New Department Chief Something viilually unheard of in radio press agentry will take place soon when John McKay, publicity director of NBC, will give a lunch- eon for George Crandall. recently- appointed press head of CBS. Time and place of the feed i.';n't set, but McKay will is.sue the invites in a day or two. ■The powwow will be strictly in- formal, with McKay inviting only the local network and •station men he knows per.sonally. They include Earl Mullin, of the Blue; Dick Pack, of Mutual; Lester Gottlieb, WOR: Leon Goldstein, WMCA, and Jack Banner, WNEW. McKay and Crandall have been friends for some year.*;. Peterson Kurtzer is returning to the Chicago office of Spot Sales, Inc, following his honorable discharge from the Army because of minor eye trouble. fiRST Aid R)R iVAPJ/Me adv^ert/sers COVER THE FATTEST MARKET Even though your budget's shoii, you can still make ends meet to cover (he fstcesc market in (he U. S. Use WJZ's (hrifty coverage of Greatcf New 'Voik. (WJZ tecendy pulled nearly 10,000 ic<iues(s from four low-cost announcemen(s on "The Woinin of Tomorrow".) ^ mP mVt NAMES AUVt Keep youi utd* name slivt tot the diuuion by the VIZ "fetpiiadon" method. You'n tbf one who'll be (ickJed. Because you'll keep ibaf name alive and kicking In the mlndi of Otcttet New 'york'i millions M huitt t»rt over Wja.* FM6SRS ON PULSE Keep youi Angtrt on (he pulse of what really counts in warnnte advcrdsing. VJZ advenising it up 37% for 1942. And (here's a (cason. For example, when VJZ and a compcti(or recendy eerrfed the same announcement 22 ahd 31 times respccdvely, WJZ pulled 20% bcHer I* ^ KEEP MESSA6E WARM You'll find your advettiiing metiage getdng hot wi(h the help of WJZ's ixirs covetagc.., ),33<,2)3 radio homef In the Greater New York Market-6}8,2)3 more than In <lo«e«i eompe(iior. It's the lowest cost coverage of the world's grei(csi market! WJZ 90,000 WAns 77 ON YOUR DUL N*w York's First Itotien and K*y lloHen of Hm BLUR NITWORK.