Variety (Jun 1943)

S4 mtERMAtlONAL RADIO Wednesdaj, June 30, 1943 Argentina Temporarily Lifts Radio Suspensions; Slangy Comics Off Air Montevideo. June 29. Suspension."! ot the three Bucno.e Aires transmitters, wliich were shut- tered during the now Arsentine mililar.v governments cleanup drive, have been temporarily lifted, but crackdown.s and other official de- crees of tlio past week have been so severe that the broadca.sters after three weeks ot uncertainty are ?till hanging on the ropes hoping that the situation re!!Olv£S It.self. Radios Mitre, Argentina and Riva- daviu were Informed over the week- end that.they could resume opera- tion for the time being, although they were warned ot repetition of court action on the grounds that they were being run by persons other than those to whom. the li- censes were granted. This charge incidentally., was used to close them originally, but the government has temporarily relaxed its ban. The rooting out of third parties and the breaking up of monopolies (a label applied to some Argentine chains) is the prime motive of the decree ordering a prdbe of all li- censes and strict control of all new l.^suances, with the warning that any 'may be cancelled immediately.' Broadcasters as yet have made no joint protest against the govern- ment's action, although representa- tives of writers, composers, actors and radio artists groups have called on President Ramirez and. without too great a fuss, requested consider- ation for thcir-respective professions and activities. Jaime Yankclevich. owner of the extensive Belgrano Web. cancelled all comic programs, as they are al- legedly of the low comedy type and go In for slang, which is one of the government's sore points. Cache and De Voto, owners of Radio Splen- did, dropped Nini Marshall the high- est priced radio comedienne in Latin America, tor the same reason. Other highlights of the past week, vhich many feel will hit hard at U. S. artists and retransmission of ehows, is the government' decree that nil current serials must end July LI Future .script-s must be censored ni least 10 days prior to the opening ot the show. In addition, classical iiiftnbors for signatures, themes, etc,, are banned; orchestras should con- sist of the greatest percentage pos- sible or Argentine musicians; no jived vcr.<;ions of classical composi- tions is permitted: foreign musicians are banned from speaking on the radio it they have bad accents, and native folklore should be empha- sized. News can go oh the air with- out censor.'ihip, but the station is held fully accountable it the government does not like what has been said. Mnzak Waxes 26 4-Hrs. For Army m So. America Muzak waxed 26 half-hour shows for the Radio. Division of Co-ordin- ato.' of Inter-American Affairs this week. Series, titled 'For Those Who Love Music' will be sent to 72 sta- tions in 20 Latin American coun- tries. Program content consists of inter- vieu-s with North American artists who have, appeared in Latin Amer- ica, including Rise Stevens. Lily' Pon.<. Jose Iturbi, flathan Milstein, Jcs.-iica Dragonette. Mischa Elman, Bidu Sayao. Tito Guizar. Fritz Rei- nei, Igor Gorin, Jesus Maria San- roma. Andre Kostelanetz, Marjorie Lawrence. James Melton, Lotte Leh- niann. Williami Primrose, Lauritz Melchior. Helen Traubel, Jarmila Novotna and Jan Peerce. 'AMKBICA'S MO. 1 SIN'QINO DIO" Pir.i WllUaa MwrU A«Mer CBC Ont of Red Mgntreal, June 29. Canadian Broadcasting Corp, la now entirely out ot debt. Dr. J. S. Thomson. CBC g.m.. told House ot Commons Radio Committee re- cently. Revenue of the corporation, he said, showed a slight Increase last year, with radio license receipts up $216,000 and commercial operations up by $186,000, making total income nearly $5,000,000, Principal expenditures during the year were for high power stations at Sackville, New Brunswick, Montreal, Torono, and Watrous, Saskatchewan, costing altogether $1,300,000. An- other $1,000,000 had been spent on three smaller transmitters. During its operation, CBC had, he said, han- dled more than $25,000,000. ot which $20,3')5.000 had gone back to the people of Canada in the form of pro- grams. New York City.—Bill Fender, for- merly with WHOM, New York, has joined the announcing staff ot WNEW, New York, Edwin L. Stev- ens, ot the Rutgers University fac- ility, and Victor B. Cantor, formerly with Param ount theatre, N, Y., have joined the WIlOM announcer staff. Ex-Budapest Maestro Gabbing at WUB, B'klyn Andre Brummer, former guest con- ductor of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, is now on the announcer's staff ot WLIB. Brooklyn, Bnimmer, who will announce and conduct concert music shows, was also musical director ot the Hunnia Film Studio, Hungary. BBC Midwest Isohtioiiists BBC will sound out midwest isola- tionist newspaper editors and pub- lishers on their attitude toward BBC programs and policies through Stan- ley Steyens, web's publicity director in New Yorlc, who is leaving tomor- row (Thursday) on a two-week trip ot Ave key cities in that area, Stevens will hit Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pitts- burgh,.. Baltimore and Philadelphia are also on his itinerary, for he plans to be on hand when BBC airs the all-star game from Philly July 13 tor the American troops in Great Britain. Lome Greene in Army Ottawa, June 29. Canadian , Br6adcasting Corp.'s chief announcer, Lorne Green^; is in the army, with Elwood Glover tak- ing his place. Greene became known officially as 'the voice of Canada' through his constant news summar- izing tor CBC and assignment on the National Film Board's 'Canada Car- ries On' and 'World In Action' series. Harriett Ball, CBC information service head, lists other CBC per- sonnel in uniform as Marie Elder, Marie Cronin and Vivienne Denison, now training with the WRENs (navy); George Norrie, ot CBC press and information, to the RCAF; Mav- or Moore, actor and producer, to the army:' de B. Holly, announcer, army: Fred Darking, ' announcer, RCAF; and E, M. Pidgeon, senior producer at CBO (Ottawa), navy. McMurry Quito WHBQ Memphis, June 29. Emmett McMurry has resigned as announcer and program director for WHBQ here to become general man- ager ot WJPR, Greenville, Miss. Bfakes the switch July 5 after 10 years with the local station. WHBQ will replace McMurry with John T. Orr, of Birmingham, more recently with WFOR, Hattiesburg, Miss. Cadeti' Air Lmiiig Cleveland, June 29. Capitalizing on song talents ot air corps cadets at Fenn College, WGAR presents weekly 15-mihute choral program Tuesday nights, with Cadet Harry W. Fritz, formerly of WIP and KYW, as m.c, and Cadet Fred Bosworth as featured soloist. BoswOrth formerly was vocalist with Harry JamSs, Artie Shaw and Larry Clinton. Very Hot for June May was quite a month on Mutual. It was the biggest May in the network's history. It was the biggest month by any name in the network's hi»> tory. Its $1,080,797 gross was 44% ahead of May, 1942. Very warm for May. Then along came June. In June Mutual signed more than $2,000,000 in new business alone. Very kot for June. The Mutual Broadcasting System Humor on Madison Ave. Tlie radio publicity director tor a large ad agency who had been lunchconing an out-of-town radio editor last week was asked by his guest to escort her to the office ot a' publicity director ot a rival agency and officiate on the Introductions. When the pair reached their destination they found the head ot the department out, so they repaired to the office of an'assistant. When the assistant failed to Identity hiiin, the executive of the rival agency thought the occasion atisplcious for a gag and all he did was introduce the radio ed. Dead-panning the colloquy, the visitor re- marked to the assistant that the radio ed seemed dissatisfied with the service she was getting from this agency' and that something ought to be done to Improve the situation. The assistant, apparently under the impression that the rule ot the visiting pair was connected in some executive capacity with his own agency, took notes on the com- plaint and suggestions. At departure the assistant thanked the radio ed tor calling and her companion for taking the time from his own work 'in our agency' to offer suggestions. Azcamga. Radio M in Ktter Batde For Menco City Ra£o D( American advertisers in Mexico City are finding themselves In the middle ot a no-holda-barred light between rival radio interests striv- ing tor domination of the city and the surrounding district, in which is xoncentrated 65 % of Mexico's pur- chasing power. Wholesale talent and sponsor raids have become common- place occurencesi according to per- sons familiar with the Mexican broadcasting scene. This, situation ha.<; developed with- in the past 18 months, the period ot establishment and growth ot station XEOY and ot Radio Mil whldi signed a reciprocal deal with Mu- tual two weeks ago. Up to a year and a half ago the Mexican broad-- casting field was almost 80% the personal stamping grounds ot Emilib Azcarraea. owner and operator ot Mexico City's 100,000 watt XEW and 50,000 watt XEQ. Thus Azarraga was able to virtually monopolize all phases of broadcasting. Except fbir a few topnotch artists, practically all talent was working for him and his' subsidiary companies at a modest flat weekly rate. His two stationa and two operating companies also controlled the transcription field. About a year ago, however, Uie then recently established 10,000 watt XEOY began to get in Azarraga's hair by raiding his talent and spon- sors. The station had been organ- ized six months previously as the plaything of Pepe Yfurbe, the young- er of the Yturbe Bros., who. through an invc^itment banking house, con- trol a generous slice of Mexico's eco- nomic re.sourcos. It wasn't long be- fore the younger Ytiirl>e's banker associates realized the commercial pos.-:ibilitie.<: of XEOY. and proceeded to sink additional coin into it. One of the flrst things they did was to offer Azrarraga's talent more money and his sponsor.<: lower rates. They also arranged to carry the popular bull nghu. ba.<scball games and Mex- ico City Symphony orchestra, all ot which were soon sponsored. Azcarraga retaliated by raiding XEOY talent, putting sales pressure on advertisers who either had al- ready signed with XEOY and Radio Mil (the 32 station network organ- ized by the Yturbe crowd), or who were about to sign. The kingpin ot Mexican broadcasting also .stressed the fact that his 100.000 watt XEQ covered all ot Mexico, and accord- ing to recent surveys, was heard daily by 42-46of the nation's set owner.f. In contrast. XEOY, al- though licensed to broadcast at SO,- 000 watts, was using only one-tenth ot that wattage, and reached only 22-25"';, of the set owners, principal- ly in the Mexico City district. Ar.carraga's arguments proved per- suasive, especially with the American advertisers. A number, slated to sign with XEOY. withdrew, and The Forhan Co. and Sterling Interna- tional, which had shows on both the Yturbe and Azcarraga hookups, can- Lulled their XEOY stanzas, but re- tained their programs on Azcarraga's stations. Although the Yturbe ouflt has na- tional coverage via Radio Mil, they are primarily interested in the Mex- ico City area. Spokesmen tor Yturbe admit that Azcarraga has the jump on XEOY, and is making things tough tor the new station and Radio Mil, but they add that the Yturbe bank' ing and real estate resources are being liberally drawn upon to keep XEOY and Radio Mil in the fight, which will grow more intense when priorities on radio equipment is eased after the war. A comprehen- sive building program has been mapped out. a new site for XEOY selected, and equipment has been earmarked for postwar construction. In the meantime the rivalry has benefited the hitherto poorly paid radio talent. Because of the highly competitive situation, they are now able to weigh bids w]iich are con- siderably above the old rates. New York. — William Fender, formerly chief announcer and night manager ot WHOM, has joined the announcing staff of WNEW- Conkey Feed Sales Up 50 Percent"' ReporU W. C. Fuller, Dpb Moinen Dittrihutor "Last year our sales ot Conkey Feeds w'ere good. This year, thanks to KRNT, our Conkey business Is up 50 percent." So reports W. C. Fuller, general manager of the Des Moines Elevator, regional distributor for Conkey Feeds. The report con- tinues: "Last October Conkey's took over the KRNT Sunday Noon Farm News, plus a series of daily announcements. "From the first week we noticed an Increase in Conkey sales in the 25 counties we serve. Today, despite delivery problems, our records show a virtual sell-out every inonth. "We know this increase is largely due to KRNT, us this one station has carried the load for Conkey advertising in our area." *Cenkey alio used afHIIalcd CowlcH SUtions W.MT and WNAX. AfilKM alik Dm MftMt A TriMM Represented by The KaU Agency