Variety (Jun 1945)

32 RADIO Wednesday, June 1$, 1915 Red Charge Vs. 'Soldiersf ith Coupons Backhand Swipe At OPA, Sez Wooley New Mans i A House o£ Representatives eom-t* mittee last week charged that the N.Y. Office of Price Administration's Mutual network show, "Soldiers With Coupons," follows a Communist line. This despite the fact that the program is sponsored by Standard Brands, one of radio's largest adver- tisers and scripts for the show are passed by the bankroller's agency, J Walter Thompson, and the net- work, besides the OPA and the Of- fice of War Information. Chester Bowles. OPA chief, was ordered to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee next Wednesday (20) to answer charges that an OPA employee in N.Y. has "disseminated Communist propaganda in radio broadcasts." Daniel P. Woolley, agency re- gional administrator in N. Y., has issued a statement charging the house committee with attempting to smear the OPA. and said the attacks came from those Interests which want to 'see price control killed. "It is obvious that the statement of some members of the house com- mittee jnust_be_ regarded as an at- tempt to smear this agency when the price control bill to continue OPA is up for consideration in Congress. As far as I an concerned, person- ally, any attempt to link my name with Communistic activity is laugh- able," said Woolley, who is a former vice-president of Standard Brands. The program, "Soldiers With Cou- 3 pons," started on WNEW, N.Y., Aug. 31, 1944, and was heard on 32 other stations throughout the country, transcribed. It is being heard,on 50 Mutual stations (since May 1 this year) sponsored by Standard Brands, in the 6:15-6:30 p.m. slot on Tues- • days. Tex Weiner. producer and writer of the program, is radio regional director for OPA. He reportedly is the person referred to "as spreading Communist propaganda in the radio broadcasts," although not named by congressional committee members. In 1942 he broke into network radio as scripter of the U. S. Navy "Bulletin Board" show aired over 142 Mutual stations. He yas a writer ore the Prudential "Family Hour" show over CBS, and also the Goodyear "Salute to Youth" programs over NBC. Wei- ner won the 1944 award of the Na- tional Conference of Christians and Jews for the single outstanding show cementing racial and religious rela- tions, also scripting special war bond shows tor CBS, prior, to Joining the OPA. On May 15. 'Soldiers With Cou- pons" got a citation from the Ohio State U. Institute for Education by . Radio. Sill Murray Out of Hosp. William B. Murray, head of the Morris agency's radio dept., is con- valescing at Mill Neck, Long Island, following his recent hospital siege. He'll be. back in activity after July 4. Meantime Wally Jordan is con- tinuing to handle the agency's radio dept. No Squawks On WNYC Budget New York's municipal radio sta- < tion. WNYC, last week got an indi- rect vote of confidence for the first time in its existence from the Demo- cratic politicians in the City Council When the city's 1945-46 budget came before the council, not a Democrat objected to the $114,000 item request- ed by Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia for the stations' operation. • . From its very inception the station has beenjL political football. Estab- lished in 19247 WNYC slid' along for 14 years as an adjunct to the city's Department of Plants and Struc- tures, being used primarily for hunting missing persons and ditto votes for Tammany. In 1938 a new city charter placed the station directly under the Mayor as a separate city department. La- Guardia appointed Morris Novik di rector. From that time on the station's budget problem involved a unfunny routine which was repeated 1 every year. The Mayor would submit his budget, the Democratic majority in council would vote it down. LaG. would veto the council's rejection the council couldn't raise a three- quarters plurality—and at' last the budget would become law. This year that routine was missing. The Mayor's request for $114,000 for WNYC went through without squawk. But there's a reason. Between La- Guardia and Novik, WNYC has at- tained -recognition as- a real radio station. And the councilmen, who must face re-election this year, didn't dare make the station a political issue. Lt. Henry Cook of Army Air Force rejoins NBC announcing staff in Chi- cago after Ihree yeaiis in service. He -had completed 45 bombing missions and; 5p0 combat hotirs over enemy territory. '.~-.il' A lot of guyt from radio ore getting out of uniform and returning to the fold. Because of the industry- wide interest in the "who-hoio- when-where" status of these "new civilians," "Variety" will try to bring their movement* up to date and to show note the industry is responding in taking care of its otun. "Variety" twill welcome any week-to-week ad- ditions to the list. Sgt. Joseph Ruscoll, formerly a CBS staff writer before , donning uniform, to Ward Wheelock agency. Col. Walter Sullivan has resigned as executive officer of Perm. Selec- tive Service headquarters in Harris- burg, to rejoin Young and Rubicam as vice-president and director of personnel in N. Y. He'll fill a newly- created post as supervisor of all the agency's personnel. Col. Sullivan was in the contract dept. of the agency from 1936 to 1941, when he resigned to enter the Army. NAB Committee to Huddle in N. Y. On Radio Arts, Sciences Academy Tom Foy Resigns WGN Chicago. June J2. Tom Foy, news editor of WGN, has resigned to freelance and leaves the station June 23. He started with the station 14 years ago, when he organized the publicity dept.. was a member of the continuity dept. for a while and has Been news "editor for the past five years. - ; - Until permanent successor has been appointed, Robert Hurleigh, recently joined staff as a news an- alyst, will be acting news editor, Edward T. Sullivan, a 2d Lieut, in the Quartermaster Corps, has joined WBZ, Boston,- -in continuity - dept. following his discharge from Army. He wrote radio shows for the Special Service Division while in uniform. Appointment of Lt. Col. Joseph R. Stauffer as program production head of N. W. Ayer radio dept., as de- tailed in "Variety" several weeks ago, was confirmed by the agency this week. Stauffer was honorably discharged from the Army last week. He was assigned as an in- structor at West Point, from which he was graduated in 1920. Times-Picayune Co., Long Anti-Radio, Buys WDSU Time to Up Circulation New Orleans. June 12. Eyebrow-raiser in radio and press circles here is sfternoon slot pur- chased on WDSU by the Times- Picayune Pub. Co.. long an out- spoken foe of radio, for The New Orleans States, its afternoon rag. Quarter-hour spot. Monday through Saturday, features news digest, fea- ture story dramatization and inter- views with celebrities, not to men- tion generous plugs about the sheet. it has been noted that the States' masthead slogan, "Louisiana's Lead- ing Afternoon Newspaper." has been missing past few days. This has caused gossip locally that sheet's circulation is off and that the owners have turned to radio as a hypo. Rival afternoon paper. The Item, pur- chased by Ralph Nicholson from James M. Thomson a little over three years ago, has zoomed in cir- culation, and this is what may have prompted -the "about face" on radio by the Times-Pic owners. Ukelele Ike on MBS Cliff Edwards will succeed Lanny and Ginger on the series of three five-minute programs weekly over Mutual, Edwards will be backed by three musicians on these sessions. New program starts July 2 and has options up to two years. Donahue & Coc bought the set-up from the William Morris agency for Grove's cold tablets. N. Y. POST'S 450G BID FOR KMTR LOOKS GOOD Hollywood, June 12. N. Y. Post's radio subsidiary was green-lighted by radio station KMTR's board of directors over the 'weekend in the deal to buy the Coast outlet. FCC has been peti- tioned to approve the sale, which is reported to have been set for a purchase price of around $450,000. Kenneth Tinkham, manager of the station, submitted his resignation following the decision of the board, with Don Fedderson slated as gen- eral manager of both KMTR and KYA. San Francisco. FCC is re- ported to have already okayed the sale of KYA to the Post subsidiary. Helen Hayes, JWT TO \ Decide Future Status Back in New York this week fol- lowing close on her '•Harriet" legiter on the Coast. Helen Hayes huddles with her sponsor. (Textron ) and J. Walter Thompson agency reps on fu- ture statu* o£ her network show, cur- rently heard Sunday nights, on Mu- tual. Show is switching oyer to CBS in the Saturday 7:30 p.m. slot on Au- gust 18. after a summer layoff begin- ning July 1, and, because of that new between-matinee - night -performance time, the star has expressed reluc- tance to continue: If she stays firm in her decision shell be replaced.' Because of the post V-E dropping of Army nurse recruitment, which formed the basis of the 15-minute show, the entire format will be switched and expanded to a half- hour. RENEW SnrCLAJBEB Toronto, June 12. Following two 13-week sessions. "Headliner" series by Gordon Sin- clair, globe-trotting reporter and former "Variety" mugg, has been renewed for '52 weeks. 'Hands Off; Blue Stance on Union CBS Affiliates Board Okays'School'Shift; Program Clinics Set CBS Affiliates Advisory Board meeting in N. Y. last week voted in favor of switching the network's "School of the Air" cross-the-board program to an after-school spot. Two-told purpose will permit Arthur Godfrey to stay as a network fixture in the morning slot (he was origin- ally put in /as summertime sub for "School") and also eliminate the necessity of doing' a repeat for the Coast on the educational airer, which in the past has proven a tal- ent stymie since it practically tied up program participants for the day. Meanwhile, the Godfrey, show is up for sale. . Switching o£ "School" to an after- noon slot after 15 years, of morning channelling into classrooms has cued speculation as to how educators will react. It's the contention of CBS that the move will meet with general approval; that the pedagogues in general prefer "School" as an extra- curricular activity for the kids and a strictly local educational pitch in the classroom. Affiliates Board set up a series of Program Managers Clinics (three in N. Y., one in Los Angeles) for net- work stations, designed to acquaint local station program personnel with plans, procedure and technique of programming and for an interchange of program ideas and problems. Initial clinic set for N. Y., Julv 11, 12 and 13. . The union organizing pot continues to boil around the Blue network Nevy York headquarters. Monday (11) marked the first appearance of the "Blue Salary Broadcast," mimeo- graphed sheet aimed at lining up Clerical staffers-- etc.-, to organize. -— In the meantime, Blue execs, while keeping closely informed on devel- opments, are officially silent on the entire procedure, their only action having been to appoint Joseph A. McDonald, general attorney for the web, and programmer Charles "Bud" Barry as spokesmen to confer with union organizers, officials, etc. It's known, however, that vice- chairman Chester J. LaRoche holds to the attitude that, if a majority of the so-called "white collar" workers at the Blue decide. for themselves that they want union representation in such matters as wage scales, working conditions, etc.. the Blue high command stands willing to go along with the payrollers. LaRoche, it's felt, thinks the im portant thing in labor relations, as far as the Blue is concerned, is to have a cooperative crew of workers from top to bottom. The Blue, along with all other networks, has several union pacts with other types of em- ployees so that union negotiations for clerical help, etc., will be nothing new. - There's been no indication, thus far, that Blue toppers are interfer ing in the slightest with the present organization campaign and, those I close to the top. declare there will be no change in this attitude re- gardless of the progress, or lack of same, made by the Blue Salary Com- mittee. . <►.' Further step toward establishment of an Academy of Radio Arts and Sciences will be taken in New York on June 18 and 19 when the Na- tional Ass'n of Broadcasters public relations committee will meet to dis- cuss the plan. Talent groups of many independ- ent station managers and network officials favor creation of a demo- cratic organization with wide mem- bership from all interests in broad- ' casting, and which would work ac- tively for the advancement and im- provement of radio arts and sci- ences. The academy would be organized as a non-profit corporation. One of its chief aims would be "the facilita- tion of closer collaboration among all branches of the broadcasting in- dustry for cultural educational and technological progress." According to'those familiar with preliminary discussions, the acad- emy will steer clear of topics con- cerning the broadcasting business, politics and labor economics. Approval by the NAB public re- lations committee is one of the final steps necessary to beginning active organization of the proposed radio academy. Unless the committee blocks the plan, it is expected to win approval of the NAB board of directors at its next meeting in July." This would be the starting gun for formal presentation of the plan to individual industry groups, most of which already have signified tacit and off-the-record approval. While details of the academy plan will not be disclosed until after the NAB committee , meeting in New York, it is understood to include sponsorship of a wide range of cul- tural and educational activities which will be helpful to the indus- try as a whole. These include forums and workshops, permanent recording archives of best American radio pro- grams, libraries of books and publi- cations covering arts and sciences in broadcasting, and presentation, of annual Oscars for outstanding achievement in radio. The Radio Writers Guild has al- ready gone on record in favor of establishment of an active academy. It has pointed out that although broadcasting is a distinct medium of art and a forceful contributor to na- tional culture, the industry on its 25th birthday has no broad organ- ization in which all branches can join to advance arts and sciences of the medium. P&G DROPS 'GAIETIES' FOR 'LIFE OF RILEY' Hollywood. June 12. "Life of Riley." dropped'by Amer- ican Meat Institute (you know why), will, be taken on in the fall by Procter & Gamble for Teel. That means "Gaslight Gaities" has been chucked overboard and the Saturday night NBC time niched by the Irving Brecher package starring William Bendix. ..,:'.'•; Don Bernard continues as director •arid Lou Koslolf remains to master the downbeat. In support of Bendix will be John Brown, Conrad Biriyon and Sharon Douglas and, On the scripting end, are Asnmead Scott, Alan Lipscott and Ruben Ship. Deal was handled here by Stan Joseloff for the Biow agency and George Gruskin for the William Morris agency, representing Brecher and Marx, Miller Sc Marx, DON COPE TAKES OVER TORTIA' VICE HAWKES Don Cope, formerly with the Ted Bates agency, has been named direc- tor of the soaper "Portia Faces Life" at Benton & Bowles, and is expected to be named shortly as head of day- time radio for the agency, too. He succeeds Kirby Hawkes. who resigned a couple of weeks ago fol- lowing a tiff with Mona Martin, writer of the program, Byron, Writing 'DA,' Looks for Right Guy Because he's having difficulty find- ing the right scripter, Ed Byron, who's just returned to civvies and his ex-directorial post on "Mr. Dis- trict Attorney;" is also writing the stanza. Last week's (6> broadcast was a collaborative job., by Arthur Gray with Byroti planning_.to take on- freelancers until he feels the right guy's come along. It's a question, says Bj'ron. of com- patibility and teamwork. As before he went into the service, it's a case of Byron doing the final draft on the script job. He also continues as director of the CBS "Assignment Home" series. Ben Grauer takes over announcing chore on "D, A." starting tonight (Wed.). He replaces Fred Uttal. REST FOR 'GILDY' "Great Gildersleevc" will be re- placed by a War 'Shipping Adminis- tration-dramatic show. "Men at Sea." for eight weeks beginning July 8, while Hal Peary takes a summer hiatus. Frank Morgan Show In Waxworks, Wayne Griffin To N. Y. for Sales Job After long preparation of format, material and cast assembly, the Frank Morgan show has gone into the wax works on the Coast with Phil Rapp, creator and director, col- laborating with Z. Wayne Grifjtn, of Berg & Allenberg on the produc- tion. Half-hour show will have a musical-comedy variety pattern and package carries a price tag of $15.- 000. Griffin left for N. Y. yesterday (Tues.1 with the, spinner to parley with several clients interested in the exhibit as a fall entry. In support of Morgan will be Ralph Bellamy, Reginald Gardiner, Olga San Juan, singer, Brazilian in- strumental team of Jose Oliviera and Nestor Amoral, seven-year-old Norma Nilsson and A! Sack's orch . of 26. Hob Mosher and Joe Connelly are the scripters. It's a Morgan en- terprise all the way. with the vet- eran comic footing the bills for the audition. ' • RUSSELL WITH DAVIS WRAPS UP SWAN SHOW Hollywood, June 12. With Andy Russell practically set as featured vocalist and second lead, the Joan Davis program for Lever Bros. (Swan sbap) : is all set to go to the barrier in the fall. Previ- ously contracted were Dick Mack as producer and Harry Von Zell. an- nouncer and secondary comic. Given the option of remaining with Sealtest or casting with the Davis show, Shirley Mitchell and Verna» Felton chose the latter. Music and writers are still to be selected.