Variety (Dec 1944)

Wednesdaj, December 20, 1944 ti NABET ISSUE ROUSES INDUSIKY Time For a Showdown Sooner or later; the radio industry will raalize that it must hav* a showdown with James C. Petrillp. The. way it looks now, ho better opportunity has presented itself than the current clash between Petrillo^s American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and the National Assn. of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians (NABET). It may mean headaches and grief galore for NBC and the Blue, which are sandwiched In between NABET and the AFM, but there's no doubt about it: it has to be done. The off-the-record. attitude taken by other labor leaders in radio toward Petrlllo is Illuminating. They, too, agree that Pe- triUo is going too far. They, too, realize that Petrillo's attitude Is one which seriously injures the entire labor movement. They too, say that something must be done to clarify and regulate the control which one man can exert over an industry, be lt large or small. Worst of it is that Petrlllo, in many cases, has been right. Any labor leader who wants his membership to share equitdbly in the profits of their Industry Is right. He was right, essentially, tn the recording dispute—until he flaunted the President. He has been right in demanding Improved working conditions for musicians— in radio, night clubs—theatres, But hi the NABET situation he has gone oft the deep end. In this instance the facts are crystal clear. AFM has contracts with NBC and Blue giving that union plat- ter-tufnihg control. Both networks had contracti, now.eig>lred, giving that same control to NABET. The National Labor Rela- tions Board has awarded the disc flipping Jurisdiction to NABET, save In Chicago. Now Petrillo wants to have NABET cede its jurisdiction, despite the NLRB decision, and wants the chains to carry out a contract which, insofar as the platter-turning clause is concerned, now violates a Government agency's edict. He offers as the alterna- tive wildcat strikes paralyzing top network commercials. NABET says that if the webs, at Petrillo's insistence, violate the NLRB award, thus selling NABET dowh the river, its engineers will walk. The chains are between a sweat and a swlvet. ' But it's far more than a question of selling one union out at the expense of another. It's a question of whether network policy, and all of broadcasting's policy, is to be determined by fear of a powerful leader and by fear of loss of revenue .should he^call_ strikes. The way out is action. Action through the appropriate legal channels, placing the issue before th»wLB, and If necessary, ^the U. B. courts, for a final, binding showdown. 4 Webs Get Directors' Giuld Demand To Set Date for Contract Negotiations Demand that they set a date for-f negotiations on a contract oovering directors was made on ttie four net- works Mon. (18) by the Radio: Di- rectors Guild, Request, in the form of a letter signed by Jerry Devlne, RDG president, was addressed to the web presidents. Guild's letter noted that the or- ganization was "the duly designated _reyr«>cpn<BHva fi^y <r<;i1)qctiv e iiargaln- Ing of a majority, of the directors' empl''yed:by you," and asked that a time and place for negotiation meet- ings be set. as soon as possible. It is Ijelieved tliat the four networks, as is done on all AFRA contracts, will negotiate folhtly. i Meanwhile, Blue called a meeting of its director staff for yesterday (Tues,). Not loiown whether this - meeting bore on the Guild's letter or on the plan to revamp the pay sys- tem for Blue directors by eliminat- ing commercial fees arid hiking base pay- Guild, is keeping the demands it win .make under cover until its reps face execs of the four webs over a "bargaining table. It will ask, how- . ever, for minimum salaries, a spe- cified work week and standard work- ing conditions. Directors, it is in- loed, hope to establish uniform practices at all four webs. They will go after an ad agency contract when the web deal is set. Action for a contract came after the Guild had spent a year studying conditions at the chains and plann- ing its contract demands. Outfit is two and half-years .old, starting as a social club. It now has 200 mem- bers, office* being, besides Etevine, Bill Robson, CBS, veepeef Bill Sweets, freelance, secretary, and Harry Ackerman, Young & Rubi- cam, treasurer. Council has Lindsay MacHarrie and Stu Buchanan. Blue; Tony Leader, NBC; Dodie Yates, Benton £ Bowles and Lester O Kecfe, J. Walter Thompson. Peac«, It's Woii(l«rfull Philadelphia, Dec. 19. Radio editors here did ■ little eye-popping last week when they received a handout from WIP praising a couple of WCAXJ staffers. Fraternization between stations has been as much ver- boten as that'between GIs and Nazis. — T?i«—blurh-Xrorn WIP's tub-, thumper, John J. Kelly, kudoed Bob Pryor, WCAU'i promotion chief, and Powers Gouraud, WCAU's chatter-columnist, for the latter doing a cuflo stand- in chore for Stoiiey McLlnn, WIP sports ed, who had recently been 111. Pryor arranged the deal. McLinn was released fn>m the hospital latter part of last week and has returned to the mike. . . WWB'BOMK'WON BY STERNBERGEICKATE Estelle Sternberger, WQXR, N. Y., cross-the-board commentator spon- sored by Ludwig Baumann, rates four bombs (maximum bomb-tribute. Is Ave) In the newest (Dec) ap- praisal of war-related air programs just released by the Writers' War Board, Board tosses bouquets at Mtss Sternberger for "consistently giving a constructive, democratic interpretation of tlie news, foster- ing an enlightened public opinion," Kate Smith, "for her eloquent plea for racial and religious toler- ance" in a recent guest appearance on the Gulf-Oil "We, The People" show, is tossed two bombs, with a' two-bomb rating alsO' going to'the CBS "Bright Horizon" Lever Bros, serial. Latter is singled out' for "offering an informative study of servicemen rehabilltsitlon." IT Blue Night Sked Gets Overhauling; Wynn's Face Lift; 7-7:30 Goes Co-Op Indications that the current juris- dictional clash between the Nat'l Ass'n of Broadcast Engineers and "Technicians (NABET) and the Am. Fed. of Musicians (AFM) may yet lead to showdown between the broadcasting industry and the AEM arc growing. There is a mounting movement, within radio, for various segments of the industry to join NBC end'4he Blue in a showdown. Among factions participating in supporting the harassed NBC and Blue are other networks; the Nat'l Ass'n of Broadcasters and indies, NAB, it is said, is urging Niles Tram- mell, NBC president, and Mark Woods, Blue prexy, ' to renew NABETs contract giving tliat union platter' turning jurisdiction, rather than to James C. Petrillo, who has contracts with these two webs giv- ing him that control. This contract Is now regarded as violating an NLRB decision giving NABETT di£C-flipping jurisdiction except in Chicago. At the same time, a spokesman for an- other web, some of whose stations are also using NABET men, buti whose contracts have not expired, declared his chain would give full support if an amicable settlement isn't achieved. Plea for broadcasters to have it out with Petrillo was made last week by Calvin J. Smith, of KFAC, Los Angeles (Indie) in a wire to other station men. Smith said the present clash with Petrillo was the most "vital since ASCAP," and that "same fumbling will result unless imme- diate stand is taken by entire indus- try." ' Negotiations between NABET and Blue and NBC are still going on, with one of the negotiators stating rela- tions "looked much better." Jurisdic- tional angle w{is to be taken up yes- terday (Tues.) of today. NABET has notified , the chains that if it idoes not retain flapjack control, if will strike within 72 hours, while Petrillo Is threatening wildcat strikes if his contract is not enforced. NABETs other demands are for a raise over the present $227 per month minimum ■for a 40-hour week. imers Feel Retrenchments; Doc Malone' Off Another daytime serial bows out of the picture after the first of the year in the wake of merchandising retrenchment, cancellation of prod' uct,' etc. Following on the heels of last week's Standard Brands notice that its Stams-plugging soaper, "This Changing World," would check off the CBS schedule, with the fadeout of the vitamin product. General Foods has notified the network that after, the Jan. 5 broadcast the four- year-old "Young Dr. Malone" serial would exit from the daytime picture. Retrenchment of GF's cereal divi- sion cued the decision. With "Dr. Malone" going out of the 2:30-2:45 slot, the P St G-Camay "Perry Mason" show moves in from its present 2:45-3 p.m. niche, latter time to be occupied by the "Tena and Tim" show currently heard 3:15-3:30.' This, in turn, will open a middle of the afternoon slot for a sustainei', again pointing, up the pos- sibility of CBS going into the year with a more balanced programming setup to loosen up the heretofore solid soaper daytime picture. "Malone" ' exit leaves GF with three CBS daytimers-T-"Two On a. Clue," Kate Smith and "Joyce Jor- dan." Benton & Bowles is the agency on the GF cereal (Bran) ac- count- Kansas City—Russ Gardner new mlkeman at KCKN, Mutual night- time outlet here. Energine Removes Spot , On Blue for 'Best Girls' "My Best Girls," the Blue network Wednesday night (8:30.-0) show spon- sored by Energine goes off on Jan. 10, sponsor deciding to drop its mer- chandising via radio. Neither the web nor the client has been partic- ularly enthused over the show's prog- res.s, "Girls" winding up with a 2.6 rating on the last Hooper. Blue, .in fact, not long ago asked Energine to yank the show in liiie with net's policy to hypo , its hight- time programming. . Request was withdrawn later but the sensor finally decided for itself to call it quits. Global Motif To WekhdieSiows Christmas season in radio this year will be marked by a distinct into-nationel flavor, with both net- works and N. Y. indies featuring overseas pickups among their high- lights. Additionelly, several of the webs are rolling out an array of their top talent'to lure listeners.' All nets, besides, will carry President Roosevelt's Xmas Eve broadcast, directed to service personnel throughout the world, as well as civilians at home. Another dis- tinct characteristic of this year's broadcasts will be the sober feeling induced by the nation's fourth war- tiijie Xmas. While the Yuletide motif wUl make its appearance on many shows starting today (Wednesday) climax will be. hit Sunday and Monday (24- 25). Topping CBS's list is Its two- hour Elgin show, with the complete talent lineup including Bums and Allen,. Carmen Miranda, Bob Hope- Joseph Szigeti, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Ginny Simms, Rochester, Barbara Jo Allen, Charioteers and Don Ameche, show airing Xmas Day. International flavor will figure in CBS's "Xmas Overseas," with cor- respondents reporting on GI cele- brations. ' Blue is also unveiling a two-hour Xmas Day sesh, using its top names in Hollywood and N. Y. Bluesters skedded to air will be Paul White- man, Alan Young, Walter Winchell, Bill Bcndix, Andy Russell, Grade Fields, Joe E. Brown, Ed Wynn and, tentatively, Ethel Barrymore. NBC activities include a Holly- wood-Hawaiian airer to be mc'd by Bob Hope, Dec. 24, a special "Army Hour" (24) and a special event wherein children of .. servicemen (Continued on page 24) Phii Morris To Drop'Ignorant' "It Pays to Be Ignorant," comedy- quizzer starring Tom Howard, Is be- ing dropped by .Philip Morris, its sponsor, after thie Jan. 26 stariza, with bankrbller currently shopping around for new show to fill the spot. Program is heard Fridays in the CBS fl-9;30 p.m. niche. Show, which originated as a sus- taining stanza on Mutual in 1042, then was sponsored locally on WOR, N,Y., for Piel's Beer, began on CBS for the ciggie account in March, 1943. G^rge Shelton, LUIu MoCon- nell and Harry MacNaughton have been! featured on. "Ignorant," with Howard, since its origination. Cincinnati. — Newest singing star on the'iteft'of WCKY Is Mary Gale, soloist with, the 'itair'-'olrehektra directed by Theodore iCahn, Jr. Drastic overhauling of Its night- time program setup, one of the prin- cipal objectives of the Blue's new regime, was finally accomplished yesterday (Tues.) .• with a slew of shows affected. Shifts, are in line with ■ previous reports tipping the Blue's desire to . break-up evening strip shows in a move airned at hypoing Hooperatings. Virtually all changes teke place next month and in some cases will involve produc- tion revamping as well. Ed Wynn program for Borden's' moves to the Mdn. 9 p.m. slot op- - posite "Lux Radio Theatre" (CBS) and "Telephone Hour" (NBC), Jan. 15. Stenza is also getting a new producer, George McGarrett, and is ^testing three new writers. Ray'. Knight, who had t)een handling, stays with Young & Rublcam, McGarrett being brought in to provide a new slant to Wynn's format-material headaches, Dave Elton, formerly with the Eddie Cantor show, and Johnny Martin, who had been with Wynn, are on the production staff under McGarrett. "Famous Jury Trials-" (Williamson Candy), moves Jan, 12 from Fri. 8:30 to 9 p.m., same night, replacing "Gangbusters," being dropped by Sloan's Liniment. Meanwhile, Mc- Kesson & Robbins is considering the time "Jury" is vacating for a new show. It now has Joe Ei. Brown's "Stop or Go" on Sundays at 8:30. "Counterspy," for Mail : Pouch Tobacco; goes into the Wed. 8:30 p.m. segment, Jan. 17, its time being in- herited by Wynn. Hastings Tool & Die moves Earl Godwin from 10 p.m., Fri., to 8 p.m., Thurs., on Jan. 11, while Westinghouse moves Ted Malone from 10:15 p.m. Mon.-Tues.- Wed. to 8:00 p.m. those, same nights. Hires Hoot Beer, which is drop-: pmg Horace Heidt, as reported, has bought Prindlc & Niles, Coast com- edy show, for Wed., lO D.m., starting Jan. 24, while the 10 p.m. slot Thurs. will be occupied by Fred Waring (Owens-Illinois) starting Jan. 4. Chelsea cigarets figure in changes both as to time and program format with its Guy Lombardo presenta- tion, which goes from Sat 10 p.m. to Mon. 10 p.m.. New Year's Day. Moving into the 10 p.m. Sat. time is Lockheed's "Man Called'X" with Herbert Marshall effective Jan. 6. Lombardo is dropping his "Musical Autograph" idea to emphasize t>oth nostalgic and new tunes. Two other changes are pending. Elgin Watch is slated to take It's "Keep up with the World," from 10:30 Sunday night to 0 p.m. Wed., starting Jan. 3, but hadn't confirmed' up to presi time (Tues.). Manhat- tan Soap similarly is to decide on taking "Scrfemby Amby,"' now ,on Wed. at 10:30 p.m. to Fri. at 10. 'No date given. With the departure froni the 7 p.m. time of the Waring, Wynn and Hire's shows, the Blue is opening up that half-hour across-the-board for a strong piteh to affiliates to cliip^ aboard the' web co-op bandwagon.. First move was the spotting of Ray- mond Gram Swing in the 7:15-7:30 niche on a co-op l>asis with ah as yet undesignated .program to . go into, the preceding quarter-liour. BotU periods will be sold by individual affiliates to sponsors'liv their locali- ties. Tip is that 7 p.m.'co-opper 'will rank with Swing as fbr as program- ming strength is concerned. - ALAN iMi£ REPORTED EXITING NBC DVD JOB Alan. Dale is reported exiting,as . NBC Director of Information at the v end of January. He's Held the post for the i^t three and a half yeart; ' operating under .exec veel>ee-gen./. mgr. Frank Mullen. : i Pending - iMwout of Dtfe foUvwi on the heels of John McKay exiting ti as the web's press chief.', OIAUOB H&NOB EASX Hollywood, Pec. If. "Glamor Manor" moves to.N. after Jan. 12' broadcast tor supervision f>y cVeiiit la improve rating, ' ■