Variety (May 1946)

42 ■AM* Wednesday, May 8, I945 Blow-by-Blow _= Continued from page 27 dio" line otattack, it.was'equally ap- parent' that the . defenders of the status quo were well represented. Bv the end of the opening day. it was unmistakable that most of those in attendance had come prepared— the rest would be up to the active participants and how far the In- stitute wanted them to go. The opening . night (3> was ob- viously a "sparring bout:" the chair- man lyins low in inviting any heaU."l controversy—with a resultant antici- pation, of "things .to come." Atten- tion was focussed on the Sunday night Institute dinner, with its Durr-. Sydney M. Kayo (General counsel BMI) "debate on the FCC Blue Book: and on Sunday afternoon's CBS "People's Platform" broadcast, ema- nating from Columbus spot tint; Kaye in. opposition to Charles A. Seipmann, author of the Blue Book and "Radio's Second Chance." Enters Drama It was precisely at the scheduling of the Sunday afternoon back-to- back bracketing of "People's Plat- form" on the FCC report and the NBC "University of Chicago Hound Table" broadcast on the implications of atomic energy that the Institute, after 48 hours, became fused with something suggesting drama. The very magnitude of the atom subject made it a natural as a "show stealer." f Particularly the panel discussion that followed on the responsibility of radio, via dramatization, forum, and even the comedy programs, in creating a public. awareness of the full implications of the atomic era. From noon to 2:30 Sunday, the In- stitute had really "bitten" into something. The Seipmann-Kayc coast-to-consl give-and-take on FCC vs. broadcast- ers was i-n enlightening session. Again, in the evening, when Durr was pitted against Kaye, the Insti- tute had its meaningful moments as the whole question of the role of the FCC in program structure and content was taken up. However, to many it appeared that, while Kaye was persuasive in his argu- ment tliat "the power the commis- sion wants could well destroy our basic liberties," the industry pro- ponent only gave vent to a modified attack. II'was Tell that Kaye didn'l permit himself to get mad enough to show Durr, at his best. Dun's topper for the night was his response to Kaye's query as to whether a broadcaster could appeal the FCC regulation ' in the courts f WMCA's uithbul putting his cconomis life iii jeopardy. The FCC Commissioner retorted: '"No broadcaster will go to court, unless his economic life ought to be in jeopardy." That there were, on the whole, un- questioned healthy, overtones to the Institute, no one denied. Many a regional, small-station man., student, and educator in radio went away more enlightened than he had come. A good many of the panels had proper balance and leadership from men with the "know-how" technique. No facet of radio was given a brush- off. The radio man interested in labor, farm, religion, child study, music, production, FM. television, etc.. managed to get his innings. But that the Institute failed to achieve its potential in a more positive fash- ion was apparent to many a partici- pant. Femme Squawk One of the lesser Institute squawks came from the femme contingent, with the beef directed at the treat- ment accorded the.'Salurday night session on "Radio's Role At the Food. Front." Program was arranged by the Assn. of Women Directors of the NAB in cooperation with the Radio Service. U. 5. Dept of Agri- culture, with Chester Davis, organiz- ing chairman of the Famine Emer gency Committee, and Paul S. Wil- lis, president of'the Grocery Manu- facturers Assn., as the principal, speakers. Feeling expressed was that the famine crises and the need ot a notable radio contribution should have catapulated the session in spot- light prominence. However, the "billing" of • the meeting under "Women's Programs'' .and bracket- ing it in opposition to (wo other im- portant sessions on radio production technique and "Radio and the Negro" stirred up no little femme resent- ment. The argument that a panel of nine brokep down to seven industry reps and two with opposition viewpoints "doesn't represent a panel at all" also arose over •the Saturday session on Children's Programs. Fact that the session wound up by bestowing a blessing on the status quo of children's broadcasting was allrib WGN's (Chicago) "Human. Adven- ture" Honorable mention: KMOX's (SI. Louis) "The Land We Live In"; KOINs (Portland) "Speaking of Music,", and WHA's (Madison) "In- troductory Psychology." Dealing With Social Problems: KECA'.s (Hollywood 1 "One Way Street" and WMCA's (New York) "New World A-Coniing." Honorable mention: KLZ's (Denver) ".Welcome Home." Dealing With Personal and Family Problems: KECA's (Hollywood) "Jobs for GIs": honorable mention. (New York 1 "When We Come " Home," Larry Hammond's transcribed series "Keeping Up With the Wigglcsworlhs," produced by . Sloan Foundation's New Tools for Learning. 'Presenting Public Issues: WBNS's. (Columbus) "Columbus'Town Moot- ing": honorable mention: WIP's (Philadelphia) "Hale Inc.," WMCA's 1 Now York) "Labor Arbitration.'' News. Interpretation: WCCO's (Minneapolis) "Northwest News Parade"; honorable mention, WHA's (Madison) "Pacific Diary.'" Interpreting Civic and Service: Or- ganizations: National' Tuberculosis Assn's ' "Constant Invader" and WWJ's (Detroit) "This Is Your Story." Furthering International Under- standing: No first award: honorable mention. WNEW's (New York) "Lei's Talk Russian." Children's (out-of-sehopl listen- ing): "The WCAU Career Forum." School broadcasts for primary and intermediate grades: KMBCs (Kan- sas City) "The Magic Book"; 'WHA's (Madison) "Rhythm and Games"; WOSU's (Ohio Stale) Weekend at Columbus Continued from page 26 , J "Town Meeting of the Air" Incident on ABC Thursday night when UNNRA boss LaGuardia broke up the broudeast and let a photographer have it with both barrels for climbing on stage to take his pic. LaG wind, ins UP wilh crack (Tor benefit of coast-to-coast audience 1 "He must be. Irom that filthy News",.: .Recurrent debates on FCC vs. status quo throughout four-day Institute punctuated with quotes from Vaiiimv (that's u plug. son 1 . BocauM' it was her first out. Olga Druce. producer of the General Foods "House of Mystery" on Mutual, on hand for participation in a panel on children's radio, was immediately taken in low by one of Ihe more promU nenl women educators., who 'was anxious to see that she met everyone. Imagine, then, the embarrassment of Miss Druco when, in her p;mel dis- cussion, she discovered'that one of the women at whom; she was directing some''verbal uppci-cuts turned out.lo bo the selfsame "Columbus god- mother"... .Bob and Jessica Maxwell, who package, produce and -write "Superman" and "Hop Harrigan " are offering $1,000 lor best, show idea treating .with juvenile delinquency', with guarantee of network airing and a cut in on any sponsorship deal. Move when revealed here won kudos from Institute. D-X Panel Cunliniirn Irom paec 26 ■ 11 AM 'Sabotage' ] J l^^S Continued from p»se it WHA's (Wisconsin) Week" Draw." School Broadcasts for Senior High . School: KPO's (San Francisco) Standard Oil series "Standard School Broadcast'; CBC's "Shakespeare Series:" Special One - Time Programs: KFWB's (Hollywood) coverage of the San Francisco United Conference. The Locals List ot awards in Classification Three -follow: Religious: No awards. Agriculture: WGIlC's (Louisville) "Meet the Farmer." Women's: No awards. Cultural: WNYC's (New York) "Behind the Scenes'in Music." Dealing witl^social problems: No awards. Dealing with personal and family problems: no first award: honorable mention. KVOO's (Tulsa) "Family Life Radio Forum." School broadcasts for intermediate grades, junior and senior high schools: WNYC's (New York) "Know Your City." WNYC's (New they'll tell us what they want and what is 'hampering their operation." The trick in the deal is the UN charier which requires that all mem- ber governments make, their national facilities availablc-for UN use. Thus although Ihe UN has no oesiie 1o compete with existing channels. UN can request and get the use of Government facilities. However the UN does n il expect to have 10 use this joker. What .the. UN committee of .expirls will probably ask for and gel .is a coin- News of the I pi,-!,, comiminiealions setup to fai.ili "Let's I \ a ( v | U .\vs feeding hero and abroad . i The international an.-jle. is partial- Junior and j iin iy important since ev \'oi\o at . UN remembers what h.-oij.ein d to Ihe old League of Nations when the bandit nations look a powder and started knocking off the small L of ; N members. Since the Lo.i.'.ue had I .no-communications setup nt its own.; Nations ihoso small countries were ''isolated and knoeked-off! The prime exam- ' pie here was Mussolini's jilack on ; Ethiopia. ' DX Relayed mcnt of FM. it is . to be hoped that the American public, in replacing its worn-out receivers, will continue lo be dissatisfied, with anything less than the newest and the best." Durr pointed out that of the 834 FM applications received up to April 1, 70'; wore from standard broad- cast licensees: of the remainder, about one-half were from applicants holding newspaper interests. "So ihe standard broadcasters.", he saidi "arc not ignoring FM. bill are continuing to hold on to their AM stations, and for the most pari pro- pose to use their new FM stations merely as an additional oullcl for their standard broadcast programs. Until FM sets in substantial numbers are in the hands of the listening public, newcomers entering the field of FM broadcasting will be seriously handicapped in. finding economic I support for those stations. ' "Can it be thai those who already I enjoy the benefits of favorable isliiuiard broadcast assignments ! would like to see I hose -handicaps tiled largely to Ihe one-sided com- 1 York) "The Lands Between": hon- position of the panel participants. I ofable mention':' WHAM's (Rochcs- 1 ten "People in the News" and iWBOE's (Cleveland) "The News: Ohio Awards Places and People." I Special One - Time 1 WNYC's (New York) Memorial Broadcast. Program: Roosevelt sid dorfman Negro Problem - Continued from page 27 — everybody knows WBIG means good broadcasting 5000 WATTS DAY Columbia oTilioltf grecubore, n. e. ■fepiciertled by hollingbcry Columned from page 26 = orabie mention: CBC's "Canadian Red Cross Campaign." j Furthering International Under- i standing: Raymond Swing: honor- i able mention. NBC's "The Pacific Story '; CBS' "Transatlantic Call.'" Children's (oul-of-sehool listen- ing): Mutual "House of Mystery" sponsored by General Foods; honor- able mention. CBS' "Story ot Amer- ica" and "March ot Science." Special One-Time Program: Nor- ] man Corwin's "On a Note ot Tri- I iimph" on CBS. Regional Programming i List ot awards in Classification i Two follow: I. Religion: No awards. I Agriculture: KSL's (Salt Lake 'City) "The Business of Fanning." ! Honorable mention; WTAM's (Aus- Unions in the radio industry field, i tiiii "Sweet Land ot Liberty," :. u itli Ihe 'exception of AFRA, were ■WOSU's, (Cotumbus) "Ohio. Farm ■ cagey regarding Negroes, speakers : and Home Hour." - ; observed. So far as Negro techni- Womcn's: WHA's (Madison) "New cians arc concerned, radio is a closed ; Life-for the Old-Hat"; WilN's (New i shop; it was made evident at the York) "Author Meets the Critic"; : outset ot Ihe panel discussion. As to To make sure this doesn't happen again the UN will probably buy one ; against the newcomer preserved for ot the shortwave transniiti.'is built 1 awhile'.'" by the. U. S. during -the war so it - ■ . can always gel through lo ihe peo- pies, ot the world. ■ And sin.-o this DX-er would bo (ittort to cover the ?lo.bc. il would also bo possible for American slalinnmcn to la'co n feed of. the'UN meeting from '.he short- wave beam and re-air jt over their | own standard bands. I All ot which was something defi- nite and - definitive as compared to i what the panel on "Radio and the ; International Scene" had to offer. In that corner: Sterling Fisher. NBC public service exec.' set' tlie pace with a wordy exposition of Ihe prob- lems which covered most of the ; arguments pro and con. Arno .Hull), a Swiss radio writer, told ot 'Euro- i pcan radio today and made a plea ■ for more' international bro-.idc'asting. Frederick Chan, educator from Chungking. William Bcarup of the Auslraliah Broadcasting Commission, I and Frank Russell and William T. ; I Stone of the Stale Dept. did ditto. | i But where everyone on the panel . , and in the audience knew, in vary- i ing degrees, of the achievements and problems of international radio, the '; speakers contributed but little. I been placed at the dais. Meeting was topheavy with educators and not enough practical industry indi- viduals who could have provided a more rounded picture. Speakers grappled with such ticklish questions as altitude o.t unions and guilds toward Negroes in radio, existing programs designed to increase democratic attitudes and behaviour, problems lo be faced in effecting'similar programs and radio there's a moral for the radio industry shows which do not encourage good ' in this iiilercullural relations. Cut Plugs Coiitiiiiied from paife 24 IDEAS* - ■■ ■ .■•.....-.•.■.■/.•..■.■.^^ Regional and national spot advartinra •v«ywher« are ipecifying NtC* Cwifom-Bu/ff frog rain Service. For behind each recorded program ar* the facilities of America's No. I network*. .. NBC. Experienced tfaffi of writers, producers and engineers carry trie programming problem through from Idea to fin- ished recording—of economical rants. FACILITIES NBC RADIO-RECORDING DIVISION ftacSe Of, New Yoii • C ni ca g i rWiMflii • Heflrweotf . tMnwcsn Straus' four specific suggestions were that: (1). the broadcasting in- dustry immediately cift down mid- dle'.commercials on all news pro-, grams or news commentaries-run- ning 15 minutes or less: i2) industry should start immediately, on a .study of total time given over to commer- cials and number of commercial in- terruptions on programs, with pur- pose of study to limit length and number ot commercials in manner that will give fair brenksln adver- tisers, station owners and listeners; (3) exclusion from air of any medi- cal .product-that supposedly cures or- ganic diseases, and <4> industry should recognize fact (hat program- ming- today, in large measure, has switched from holders of licenses lo advertising agencies. Voice from -the floor: "What -is WMCA doing to carry out these practices?" Stiaus: Individual operators alone .Fairmont. W.'Va.—John Peters.and - cannot remove these blemishes; only Charles Arnelt now oh announcing j by a concerted drive on the part of staff of WAIMN. Peters was in Coast the whole industry can il be accom- Guard during the war. jpllshed. ONE OF AMERICA'S OUTSTANDING MEN LATEST 80N0. HIT '•YOU STOLE MY HEART" PUBLISHED BY HARMS. INC. Ihe aforementioned programs on the air. nearly all of them portrayed the stereotyped Negro, (hat is as cither grinning. cunning. lazy. razor- wielding or crap shooting. Con- sequence of I his was an extension ol prejudice against Ihe Negro. Cited as helpful to the Negro were such local shows as "New World 'A-Cninin'" over WMCA. American Negro Theatre on WNEW. both originating; in New York, and "Minority' Opinion." on WJM, Cleveland, which was doing extra- ordinarily effective job in over- coming the stereotypes. ••THERE'S fLENTY Of • BUSINESS IN Gal Your S h • r « II * ing • ' l WEED t CO. National »earesenloH»»»