Variety (Dec 1944)

t4 RADIO Wednesday, December 20, 1944 Radio's Big Expansion Plan Continued from page 1 semble early in the new year. Simi- larly, studies and the preparation of data on organizational structure and membership are being made by the Coast research firm of Lee & Losch and in the east by Hill & Knowlton, "both of which have been retained to help facilitate the pattern for the Academy. ■ Meanwhile, serving as a master plan on a temporary basis until the various refinements have been worked out, is a prospectus drawn up by Norman Corwin and Robert Heller, the independent radio pro- ducer who assisted Corwin on the recent "This Is War" broadcasts com- missioned by the Treasury and War Depts. Both Corwin and Heller have been playing prominent roles in molding industry interest and active participation in the, Academy. Primary objective is to facilitate a closer collaboration among all branches of the radio industry in fos- tering cultural, educational, commer- cial and technological progress, both from a national and international standpoint. Behind the Academy is a move not only to make radio a more distinctive art medium by way of a more forceful contribution to national culture, but one seen cued to the realization that radio, at its quarter-century milestone, has reached the turning point in its ca- reer. Thus it's felt by many that, to compete in the postwar era with other media, radio must proceed along new lines and, in effect, now that the experimental stage is over, radio must have the courage to branch out in all directions to em- brace new and original Ideas in pro- duction, advertising, commercial en- terprise, etc. While part of the Academy's setup ONLY 2 4 HOUR S T A T i O N W-i-N-D will embrace presentation of awards for outstanding achievement, similar to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in the overall pic ture. this will be but a relatively minor function; similarly, the Acade- my will assume no responsibility in the field of economic relations within the industry. Nor will It concern itself with wages or other working conditions, leaving that to the vari- ous guilds and unions within the in- dustry as presently set up. Rather, the Academy will be more sweeping in its ambitious program, listing among its objectives the establish- ment of working relations with broadcasters and allied agencies in all the United Nations' establi.shing a li- brary of recordings, with all litera- ture related to radio and other data, including those from foreign coun- tries; serving as a liaison between radio educators and schools and uni- versities; publication of directors listing radio writers, producers, ac- tors, etc. Establishment of the Academy has created considerable interest at the various exploratory meetings held thus far, with the move gaining mo- mentum on the Coast la.st month, when the Radio Writers Guild initi- ated its own study of the various as- pects to dovetail its own suggestions with those propounded in other in- dustry quarters. Along with network toppers, indie broadcasters, ad agen- cies, etc., American Federation of Radio Artists' interest Is also mani- fested, with likelihood that ^t'll pro- ject itself prominently into the pic- ture. Meanwhile, it's been cautioned that an Academy of Radio Arts and Sci- ences, Inc., listing Pittsburgh as its headquarters, has been making a bid for attention recently via its solicita- tion of "honorary membership" at 25c a throw, which fetches the donor a certificate. However, the Pittsburgh outfit, whoSe aims have thus far mystified many of those who have been solicited. Is In no way identi- fied with the new setup. KEEW Joins Blue Brownsville, Tex., Dec. 19. T. Frank Smith, of Houston, has been named head of the Eagle Broad- casting Co., owners and operators of KEEW here. Smith also Is associat- ed with KRIS, Corpus Christi, and KXYZ, Houston. KEEW becomss a Blue Network outlet Bojangles-'Hot Mikado^ In Works for New Year's Eve Kate Smith Hoopla Plans currently being set will spot Bill Robinson in a revival of "Hot Mikado" on the Kate Smith CBS show, Dec. 31. Move is aimed at giving the program a typical Broad- way atmosphere to tie in with New Year's eve. Robinson did "Mikado" as a legiter several years ago, on Broadway and at the N. Y. World's Fair. Christmas eve show'U be high lighted with the "Aldrlch Family' doing a guest shot. Margaret O'Brien is pencilled in for Jan. 7 and Merle Oberon on Jan. 14, Station Price Continued from pace 19 ; 4,000,000 Continued from page IS men will have to sell against Lux Radio Theatre and 'Info Please" on Monday nights; "Fibber McGee," Tuesday; "Mr. D. A.," Wednesday; the Joan Davis-Jack Haley show, part of NBC's Thursday night pow- erhouse, and the "Hit Parade" Sat- urdays, weakest opposition would be "People Are Funny" aired Fri- days. Contrariwise, of course. Mutual stands to benefit even more than the added gross would indicate. It would bolster the web's ad agency position generally and have an im- portant morale^effect on its affili- ates, particularly those dually-af- filiated stations also hooked up with the Blue. Another impressive factor in favor of Mutual will be proof of its ability to clear time on an ex- tensive list of stations, an important consideration in view of the SRO on NBC nd CBS. "Spotlight" is slated to keep its 9:30 p.m. time, necessitating the switching of two Mutual commer- cials, Feenamint's "Double or Noth- ing" and Conti's Shampoo's musical show. Downey will probably get a new time. He now airs at 3 p.m. on the Blue, across-the-board. Al Williams Starting Honolulu Radio Course Albert N. Williams, New York radio writer from NBC- and CIAA, is now an ensign in the Navy sta- tioned in Honolulu. Starting in January, Williams will conduct a radio course at tlie Uni- versity of Hawaii on the side, were only "a partial list of impor- tant transfers." Since that time,.there have been other transfers. Of these, the nine most Important- brought more than $3,000,000. Most of the stations which have gone on the market within the past year had never been sold before. Thty noie built up by their found- ers. From the relatively few which had changed, hands before, however, some Idea can be gained of the dizzy way in which values have mounted. The newest sale, approved only 10 days ago by FCC was WPEN, in Philndeli^hia. The Evening Bulletin plunked down $820,000 to Arde Bulova for WPEN, a 5,000-watter affiliate of the Atlantic Coast net- work, and its FM station, WPEN-FM. Sales covers 100% of the stock. Bulova bought the station live years ago for $160,000. Allowing for the addition of the FM outlet and any other improvements, some members of FCC and many Congressmen ai'e wondering why its value has quad rupled. Bulova Sales Figures Two othe^ recent Bulova transfers also show interesting jumps in values. WCOP in Boston.was sold to the Iowa Broadcasting Co. (Cowles Brothers) for $225,000. Bulova bought It May 26, .1936 for $57,000. It is a 500-WBtter. Bulova sold WNBC, Hartford, to the Yankee net work for $225,000. Station was sold in June, 1936, for $51,000. It's a S,O00-watter. Charles tt James Stuart plunked down $250,000 for 100% control of KOIL, Omaha, last April. Nine years ago, the station brought $110,000. Another Bulova transfer was WELI, New Haven, to Harry C. Wilder et al, last June, for $185,000 Bulova paid $57,000 eight years be- fore. Perhaps the most sensational case was the transfer of WIBC, Indian- apolis. The FCC records show that five and one-half years ago, 51% of the stock brought only $10,000. WIBC was sold last May to the Indian- apolis News for $440,000 for 100% of the stock. Allowing for increased wattage in a couple of these cases, for general improvements to the property and other things, there still is something for Congress to worry about. Durr put the issue bluntly in his blow-off in July when he criticized the sales of WJLD,- Bessemer, Ala., for $106,000; of WINX, Washington, for $500,000; and of WQXR, New Yorlf, for nearly $1,000,000. Global motif Continued from page 21 overseas will talk to their fathers in a transatlantic exchange. Fathers will be brought in from England, France and Italy. Program is called "Merry Xmas, Daddy," airing at 12:30 Xmas Day. "Army Hour" will spreadeagle the world, bringing in remotes from Germany, the Mariannas, China, Greenland, Leyte, Norfolk Island, Alaska, Panama, Italy, etc. M. c. will be Pic. John J. Smith, just returned from three years' duty overseas. Mutual will carry, in addition to FDR, Xmas greetings from King George VI, Maj. Gen. William H. Arnold, chief of Army chaplains, the first reading of Archbishop Francis J. Spellman's "Prayer for Children," a BBC show on international Xmas customs and a Navy pickup from Honolulu. Local stations in N. Y. have a sim- ilar international motif, topped by WMCA's 20-hour program with some 500 N. Y. servicemen due to send greetings to thei^ families. WNEW similarly has a number of shortwave programs lined up. Sta- tion win also air PDH Dec. 24, as will numerous other indies. Tele- vision outlets in N. Y. are also set to telecast special Xmas features. As always, virtually every pro- gram on the air, sustaining or com- mersh, will plug Yiiletide. Since Xmas Itself Is on Monday, meaning many solip operas will be on the air, scrlpters have a headache. It means shitfing from the customary clifl hanging technique, with its gloom , and misery, to one with a reasonable facsimile of SCmas Joy. Kodgers Back to KQV Pittsburgh, Dec. 16. After 14 months in the Navy, Tommy Rodgers has returned to staff of KQV, local Blue outlet, as director of special events. . CBS Unable To Share GI Airer Unique situation whereby inde- pendent stations have asked a net- work for permission to broadcast one of the chain's programs has arisen in connection with CBS's "As- signment Home." Although program is only two weeks old. It has cre- ated amazing impact, due to Its handling of the veterans' rehabilita- tion and readjustment question. Since the program started (9), CBS has received a large number of inquiries from indies asking if "Assignment" can be made available for rebroadcasts. While there's a bare chance such disposition might be made, odds are against it. CBS feels that while so important a sub- ject should be given widest coverage possible, it cannot put Itself in the position of possibly embarrassing its own aRlllates by making a Columbia program available to opposlsh sta- tions. Another reason figuring is that CBS is of the opinion that the more individual thinking that goes Into programming on the veterans ques- tion, the better it will be, not only for the ex-GIs themselves, but for the civilians affected. CBS holds to the belief that rather than hav« other stations reflect CBS's attitude, by airing "Assignment," the indies should develop their own approach and thereby contribute new thoughts to the subject. Chain believes that in view of the many angles to the vet question — rehabilitation, reem- ployment to the tune of 10,000,000 Jobs, and readjustment from military to civilian life—there should be no paucity of program ideas. At the same time, Columbia Is willing to farm out its extensive research (ac- cumulated over a period of months in preparation for "Assignment,") to the indies. Also tending to hamper distribu- tion of the program to non-affiliates, would be the transcription fees in- volved on the part of musicians and actors, as well as the attitude of af- filiates, who might beef at the loss of exclusiveness, even on a public service program. LOOKING TOWARD TOMORROW Alert, a« always,- to the new develepifieiitt I* broodcatt advertliliig, KDYL hat al- 'ready given the people of the Utah marhet a fore< laite of the coming wonders of television threngh many public demonstratlont. A LONG-TIME LEADER Radio heme* in this marhet —and f70 of every 1,000 .Utah hemes have radios— for many year* have recog- ■lied NOYL leader*hlp In rodte entertainment. A itaff of talented annovneen, trained In the art of ihow- manthip, assures advertiser* of fall effectiveness for their messages over this stalloa. ITMIsMl ■epretealallTe JOHN BLAIB t CO.