Variety (Jun 1946)

46 WeimMJmjf June 6, 194^ CBCs 'Confiscation Policy Is B> ( if AltLES J. LAZARlfS Montreal. .111116 i. Olio poicnl fac< can be gleaned fiiiii! tlie Cunadian Am;)!, of Bi-oad- CHsl<»is foiii-day •'cohvontion con- cliidoJ in Quebec City last Thiiis- d;iv ciO". Though the CAB., as a borU. lias dnimmcd up cnoujih cmiiauc u> piolest certain CSC. ac- lioiis.—i.e.. the taking over ol iiidic fri-qiitfiu-icp—the . individual indie nuMnbcrs are generall.v disnppoinletl ji: tl'.o rcsvfll.- of the parlc.v. and do. n.'i vo; r<H'l contident in. dependiiiK or, Hie CABKi iiglil their battles for liiciv. Siiui' most of the sessions wrre hcM ij' i-iinicra (live, of the ciKlil> jls iin.'il\ diriicull to esliil)lish as y; ulmi tlic CAB intends to do of- iui;ill> Willi rosards to n.iihlins; the CBC oti ccilaiii issues. Bui for the ii-coiil. ilio c-oiucntion, in a rc- UM.-.cf! >l;i!cnicnt. protested CBC"s inlei ;crciiic with the fivciuoiicios or Viriv :;nlii.i stations, and proposed ihc si-i;lri;; up of "a new and inipar- \ -.tV b-'tiy to rcKulate oporatioii of ail Canadian broadeastiH!; stations. Tlio icU-a to set up an "imparliar liinl,\ to (Viotrol radio broadcasliiii; i« (-1 .i;rcater siijoiricance than in.vihi ; ppcar al first glance; siiiie i; is the lir.-it step taken by any or- U>ir.i/.rd Kioup of Canadians to siiii) CBC of some of il.^ p.t)\v(>r. CBC ii! its present setup has <les- innaU'd iiseir to perform t«o pri: iiijr.v fimciions: 1» Runnii)}; Ihp .nI:i Ii.--i<>iitrolled radio system, and.i ' rr •;i:iii); as top authority over Ciiii- adian radio. Should the CAB pro- |)os:il be iinplemented at a. fiiluie date, il will nioaii simply that CBC'i; mil" as Canadian radio czar, will be doni- away with and a bpd.v similar 111 the FCC in U. S. would be formed. What llie C.^B can actually do: in soi-inu lh;M ils • idbas are put into piarlico. remains.to be seen. Meanwhile. Ihoujih many siibjecls were discui^scd at the confab it wat; e\ idem lh:ii the indie ops were pri- mal i'.i interested ill dcalinj; with their worry No. 1. The indies swprd-of-Damocles leeliiiji was heightened by CBCs move In lake over the frequencies of CFRB. Toronto and CFCN. Cal- vary. Where the axe will, fall nCxt. il"e-indies' main worry at piesi'iit. sieve it's iinknowii what the next imive on the part of CBC will be. -Vlrw Wit'ii Alarm" Ci'ii'f beef ii: the ofTicial CAB sMieinei!l was the "absurd" siliialion wlu'.ein llie CBC "while competiii.u will' ii'itependcnl stations, al the saire liie.e reuiilatcs and controls il>- C'liiM'elito' s." ■ So lon.« as the CBC occnpic.- the fie'fl 1)1 commercial broadcaslint. it sI'M- 1(1 be eonfined to it.- brcad- r.is il l; activity and should not in- teiiiMr with, or regulate its com- peM;iiis." the statement added! Tliou.nh not naniins the atleeled staliiiiis specifically 'why. il could no! In; learned i CAB adopled a reso- luiioii that • viewed with alarm" the CBC plan to move in on indie frv- queiicies. li was not in ihc public ' iiileiesi "that the CBC be permilled . til iiilei fere" with such tiequeiicies. tlio lesoUilior. said, meanwhile iii- siriuiiii;; ll-.c CAB directors and of- li.erv ••(„ oppcise the proposal as \ i'.;iiioo.-.|y as possible " Wlllc 111,. CAB . didn'i : iiidicjle viMI fiii-m ils 'vigoipus" oppiisilion til CBC plans would lake! and tliiii'!;!; il dosen't appear, on the sin -, face iii:.vw:iy. that there's vei y niuch il car till for the time beiiiK. it's iiiin e liuiM likely thai the . conslaiii bi-i ls a(;aii:.-i| ihe CBC On the pa; I ni li e Midie op^. members of por- liairei'i and the Canadian public, lia- leached ihe showdftwn stase. Il.iii.x Sednwick. CFRB op and ri'a r 11.111 of Ihe CAB board. >aid l e- ceMl.v ilu.i •If the CBC takes over oi'i wave leiifilh it wilt be ijiifii- imnii ; l<i Cfinfiscaliiia oi pi ivaie pri>i)ei i.\. . We intend to u.^e I'very lexitiip.dle inean.v. to pel.-iiHdr Ihe y.ivernmci:! Ihal it wmild be nil la i I'arliumenlary A.ssuranre r:.ii ;.er in titc week, the Hcru.'-e of- Civimifi's -ca.,'told that the !Fi-flera: Governmci'.t "l-as ho intehtion ol disposse..>i'-^" the op? of CFRB until all ii ie.e-ted partie.- have a chance, fo ap.je.ir before the. Parliaini'ntary ud'o con:rr.lttt'e. ir.'. not kr.ow ii as yel. nor wa.- .it dL-.closed at the convention, whether the CAB «as invited, or iriietids to «ubm:t it.s iecofr;mendalii.iii.-. to the (Continued on page ; Canada Also Exercised Over Freedom of Radiol I Ottawa. June 4v ! ', Next : session of Canada's parlirt-I menl will be presented with a "bill j of riijhl.s-' which will include "free.-1 doins (if press and radio." according ■ to Progressive-Conservative n\einber ■ John biefenbaker. . . The MP. Nvho will pre.sent the new: bill. .said. "Freedom of radio is ; ol' niajor significance in view ot the (iovcrnnicni's decision to deny the provinces the ri^ht to operate radio stations. In ni.v opinion; it GoyernT ineni-cnnlrolled thouglit oyer pro- vinciaily-ow'ned • stations is danger- ou.s. it becomes immcasurnbl.v niore so if Ihe re.deral Govcrnmenl e.Ner-" cises like control over a nalioiial sysiem." . . ■ • B&B Preps/Our Town' For American Rail AssD. Benton Sc Bowlee has taken «ii opt tiou on Thornton Wilder's prize- winning legiter, "Our Town," for possible radiia show to introduce Assn. of American Kailroads, its clieni into .radio. BiiB has had a script done, but 1»o casliiiK or auditions as yet. WHl present 'Town" and other ideas to client in midsummer, for . fall setup. ■Rail assii.. .hitherto confining promo- iion efToi-Ls to magazinies, will likely curtail latter outlay fpi- new; i'adio. .sponsor.ship. t M > t 1111 t t 1111 **tt******1***** *t »ttt t n H M I MH- From the Production Centres 'Audition Playhouse' Ties Up the Loose Ends^ Giving Idea Man a Break Fresh idea in radio progi'amming, i.-; claimed for ' Audition Playhouse." new package show now making . a.i;i'ncy rounds. Show's chief fuhc- iion is to gfve a hearing to radio ideas which haven't got beyond the I sci jpi sl;i,s;c. Each week the show- spots one 'aiidilioh script" of a slunv idea. Format varies weekly— diamatie. variety. musical or coincdy. Admittedly ihe flock of package agencies have scripts, which tliey've ne\ er had a chance to produce-,-and which no one has bought. In addi- lioii. freelance writers, college radio work.shops and non-pros have ideas which agency and network prograni buyers have, bcch loo busy lo thumb Ihioiigh. Show will present idea in dramatized form taken o(T the air in- stead of a sciipt, aiding in ils prps- ptctive sale. New show will be a showcase for prospective sponsors, .ijivinj; them a new program idea each week at the same lime presenting an enlcrlainmenl program. At end of 13 wcek.s. best show in .series will be given a tryout by sta- tion or .spon.-ior. \vho will then share in Ihe program. Show, a half-hour, once-weekly., iy being produced by Jack Lloyd, through his Internation- al. Radio & Television Features. WMCA, N. Y.. is now considering it for a stistainer. but Lloyd is hopeful of picking up a sponsor promptly! ■ Hpll.vwbod, June 4. . . Likelihood: of a Radio Academy presenting awards for outstanding work at the. same time that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does, becomes highly pos- sible- with Nat'l Assn. of Broadcast- ers''board slating that plans for such aii -Academy "had been approved in j)rinciple." Action, it is understood. Will be pres.-ied ai the NAB board ineeling in I Ksle's Park. Colo.. Augii.sl. 7-9. Con- ctirreiii piesehtalions of film and radio. Academ.v awards i>exr year wovild -be' p(issible. provided Acad- em.v plans were pushed . before the close of this year. i Proposed plan calls for a wide nieinbership basis: divided into 12 branches: management; artists, musi- cians, writers, tlireclors! producers, lievv.s ediiors and commentators, ad- vertisinK aKencies. sponsors, public i'elation> pcrsoni\el. engineers, and the . public through radio listener cnunpils eslablished in every corn- inunily where there is one or more iadio transmitters. '" Under the plaii. awards would be made on both local and national levels, ijiversiiy of membership ii; to prevent control or domination by aiiy single interest. j St. Louis — Garlh Slaisbury has joined the news slafT at. KWK. He served three years as an artillery oflicer after his graduatioiT from the Missouri U School of Journalism. WPEN Juggles Sponsored Shows Around to Permit 2-Hr. Philly Dell Concerts Philadelphiii, June 4. WPEN last week Eigned for the broadcasting rights of Robin (loud Dell concerts, forcing several ad- vertisers lb shuffle their lime so that the entire two-hour programs niay be aired. . WPEN, which is owned by the Evening Bulletin, will broadcast the Monday aiid Wednesday programs al [ the Dell. Monday conccrLs regularly feature name soloists. Wednesday nights arc set aside for all sym- phonic concerts. Max deSchauensee, Bullet'in music editor, will annotalc the concerts. WTIC Develops On-Spot Coverage Of Major Events for Edited Shows Hartford. June 4. EITeclive method of radio new.s broadcasliim technique has been ■ developed by Leonard Patricelli. prograiii maiiager-,of WTIC. 50.000- watier here. Formal is a digest of the high- li.ijhls of a newsworthy affair on. a ma-ler record, with selections from imporlaiu speeches of individual- involved, with a commentary by a ' slali.on iiews: mikeman. Simple as'it .■rounds, il tall~ for a great deal .of .piodiiction work, and the complete ■ utilization of a stalion'.-. facilities. I| i'- mil iniended for On the spo! broadcasting, but lor use in a iiev.^ broadcaslinj! period or othier tune set a.^itlc foi airing of th<- special evciil ,. Ifii-a wa- tested by Palricell, in covei aiie of tlie 47th annual nieei.n.ii' here of the Conneclicul Chambe.- ot ('•■iinini-rri' on May 22. Se.-. ioi, :>.„■ ai^ arici'ii jiiii ar;d evening alfa/: ari'i (■J.irien (ivcr six .':Olia ho ii.i. o; spef c'ii- by ■ 11 spijaker.-;' :-evei a;! oi V. Iio'ii ail; iiationally (jn'.-.v; T'. liive. coii,pj<'ie CO- j.Tago WTtC fi.' 'wo ciimiieer.- and a rrikcrt-'-ri m tl,f iin i tin;;. Corripleie irari.sf.rLpliOr v.a. made of. il|i- doiibh' ■.'■h^iif In final broadcast forrr pronihir, wa.- eilu-ied a half-if.our lOo; A-!lh nieai; of 'orielavt »p>;;i!;e. aired, arid a roi-.Tuir^ tdu-.rrA-tt'ni: n Berna.fl .Mi ili.'h/vid ti.'.'i')i..'»".-i M'jMin.^. v.ai(:cd u^, aod tu eai'i ' speaker by reviewing iniportant I newsworthy statements of each, and i then brought in speaker's voice I making direct statement. Editing ! was by Tom Eaton, news biireRii ■ chief. Willi .sci'iplihg by Mullins and Eaton. On In An Hour Program was aired by stalion less Ihiiii an hour after, final speaker of evonin.g jfot olf the podium. To cover Ihe affair, the station utilized the services of personnel from' eii- gineeriiig, produclion and. news de- pailrnents. in all a total of seven per.soiis wei e.ii'-cd lo gel the ma.Mei lecord into final form for airing. Whai.iriade job more difficult v,-as lack cif sc.rtpr-; by aomt of the .-pcakyi.v This mtani thai wrilleii rettird had i<> \,'- rnade! from f.ide> . 'lit, foi edilKiK purpose. Th» nnal iialf-hoiii <)iOi v,a., made fiorn IB ••iiij.n.i; Ki-iiifi. .<,de;, Froir [hi-^i- J'i dijbi>ifii{, J'.■>!■ !m\ logether iiiin II ciji. for ti,>- ai; finaie. S^aiioi I, pliinnirig l/j give ;■!■■■, f, It,-i-T-.i-^f [I, Irnporiani af- ,'a:i . KI ^.r'.!U' fa .)\\i>i, A''coladp r.-t- t- ■■i\ii-;>'l: t,t-i-, . f.if y b" WTIf; fof II-: ma-'crful ftoviage of if.e cof.f lA v--- 7 hicr ir,Mijd<'/| speal'- VII- .t, Cir. /;a-,vr.',rid Bald-/-;. Wi'.'lfiiht K^••'rlf>ff.'•rl. si'.'-f.ce M.. •'II ',t 'I'l y. Tiir.t--.: T):/- r Ul■.,:■ ■■'>'. 'U.tiiii^- \ir-,\i\ t'lt'f,'-,- i; S A.,j' .A"',; •/• f;i.r,<T;i!; sr.^l if -. i-, ;,' II !'• • ..ii ,.>-i, ,■ IN TSEir YORK CITY , Frank Stanton, CBS. prexy, back lron\ soiilh, where he got an honorary LLD degree IronVBirmingham Soiittiern. ., .He'll be dittoed this irionih bv Ohio Weslyen,., .Oillelle is picking .up the U>1> to air the finals of the open champion.ship from Cleveland on June 15 and the amateur fii^uls Xroin New Jersey on Sept. 14. . . .Alfred M. Kallman. of CBS engiiieering stafi, wiliinarry Nan Coburn. as.sislant .to Jo Hanson, WHN press chief, the com- iiig weekend,.,.. .Brooklyn's SOQlh birthday will be obsei-ved with .several specials- over WHN on Jiine i2. Borough President John Cashinore and " Brooklyn Eagle executive ed Edwin B.. Wilson will be iii group of. Brook- Jynile.s pi!irlicipatint; iii round table on ^'whither Brooklyn." Red Barber will do special phm during his broadcast of t>odgcr game...,Lumberioii, N. C'.'s WTSB joins Mulual as full time affiliate Idday (fi.i. makitnj SKSili slHlioii in MBS net, Paul Moyle is manager ,. : , . Rita Hurwick. WOV liack. engaged to Johnny Hynies. oj Blow aeency and. ex-ehief of station relations bureau in the OWI pomeslie selui>.... An Henley has wrapped up the righls to■ the old Ballyhoo, for a half-hoiir comedy show based on the Norman Anthony-edited, iiiag. with Anthony also in on deal for an as.-^isl. '.. .Jeanne Cagney joins "Slellu ■Dallas" players . .. .Inge Adams and John Haby added to "Our. Gal Sunday"... .Doris Daitoiv new lo "Lora Lawton'"; Elaine Williams new additioii to "Baekslage Wife" cast... .Marvin Youhg (& ShuberlV to Chicago last weekend on busi- ness!. ..Mulual's Fratik Ziizulo ab<;ent last week with strep throat recur- retice... .Wayne Murray and Marilyn Boshnick rneinbpr.s of CBS' expi-ri- mentallheisp group... .Elajne Kont and Jack Manning iiVto the cast of "Li);lit of the World". . . .Jilhnity Olson andjiis "JLadies Be Seated" back Mon. 13k from a personal a|)pearance lour in 'Erie and Cleveland■!. .Charle.s Itarrell. ABC producer, huddling with Herniaiv Timberg. cbniedy writer, on a new Broadway legiter for fall production. Cliff Carpenter, bill of the service, is back in. hi.-: lead role , on ABC's "Terry and the Hirales." w'hich he lllled before he was in uniform. Oweii Jordan, who subbed for him, has resigned... .George Zachary oil for llic Coast to do linal shape-up of Kord Festival of Atne'ricBn, Miisic wliicU preems Juiie 30... .Scripter.s Hedda and Norman Roslen are parents now. ■ It's a girl Albert N. Williams, of Stale Depl.'s shortwayery. has soltf a! yariT'to, Colliers... .WNEW's waltage-upping. license-renewal hearing before FCC. is expected to hit fron| pages when Aide Bulova. relOrns to Xace the music at N. Y. hearing June 18 Mulual's \y. Patrick. Burkbardt doubliiiK ill assi.slani production'spot on "Married For Life," while doing promolioti for show.,! . Is Tide's new mag going lo have .something Id do with radio and television','.. . .With Bill Berns on vacation, his brother Sain is running his "Sunday In Hollywood" show on WNEW.... .Art Ford's all- ni){hl"Milkman's Matinee'' on WNEW renewed oh long-lcrm basis, to June 1. 1949... .Jocko Maxwell, said to be only Negro sport.seasler in the conii- Iry (he's on WWRL). now also doing publicity for Newark. N. J;. Eagles. Manufaclurers Trust Co. of N. Y. bought WEAF's "Around the Town With John Cooper " for Mon.-Wed.-Fri.. 7:30-7:4S.p.in. slot, local N. y. onl.v, for .52 weeks. McCann-Erick.son is-agei\cy. Adverse criticism in Variktv last Week of Jane Hoffmai\'.s actiiig in "Angels Don't Marry." Du Mont television show, was slightly e.\ag(ceraled—: especially since the lady wasn't.'even there. Because of sudden illness. Miss Hoffman pulled out of the cast al the last minute, and. sinre the DuMont flackery didn't make an.v announcement to the coiUrary. it whs taken for granted that the actress in question was Mi.ss Hoffman Radio section of the U. S. Savings Bonds Division (formerly War Bonds Divi- sion i moves to New York June 15. operaliuK under Brent,O, Giinls. IK CHICAGO . . . James E. Brown, formerly promotion manager with John E. Pearson Co., joined WBBM sales staff ... .Norman Blackburn, of the J. Waller Thompson' agency, in town for look-see... .Howard Kellihg to Coasl for conference,'! with Gene Aulry... .Paul McClijer, NBC central division sales maiiager, elected first veepce of the Chi Federated Ad Clubs Bill Eddy on loan to the Navy from WBKB as civilian consultant in connection with rebuild- ing Ihe Naval E-1 electronics television program. . . ."Top of the Morning" will replace^'The Wishing Well" for Car.son Pirie Scolt. will' Mar.v .^gnes Schrdeder writing and directing and Bob Murphy and Kay Campbell head- ing the. cast.... .A. W! Kany. NBC cenlraj division stalion relations "man- ager, off to South AIncrica on a 20-day tour with b."iJI being Tooled by own- ers of Ihe Merchandise.Marl for Kanys second prize in idea contest.... Carl Brissoii. of Mutuals "Voire in Ihe Night!" skeddcd for .several local airings of the show while in town for cafe engagement... .Vacationing NBC staffers include George E. Hallmaft. program department; Dorolliy Masler.s, pre.ss. and Henry L. Cavanah. Louis E. Heidcn, Wilfred C. Pralher, Russell B. Sturgis and Williain Hartgenbushof. engineering, Vivian Martin from the Crez Paree to the WBBM vocal slalT Fred- erick J. Lipp with NBC central division continuity department after hitch in Navy as a Thiid Fleet coriespoiident. . . .Swift and Co. taking another 13 minutes of "Breakfast Club" lime: they how sponsor the «:I.i-8:4.'> slot.... NBC affiliate station managers. T. F. Smith of KRS Corpus Chrisli. and Joseph Mackin, WMAN Marionette. Wis., in town for a visit. IN HOLLYWOOD ... The word got around lhal Mann Holiiier. al this late dale, wa.- slill sliopr ping around for a "Parky " midyear staitdb.v .so he had lo leave town to gel away from Ihe constant jangle of phones. .. ;Frances Langfordhas left Ken Dolaii after IS years for representation by Wiltiam Morri.s. Dolan look lier under his .wing when she was singing on a cheroot program in Florida al $;> per ditty and bi:Ought her along to $2,500.a week. At the time..Dolaii, was manager of Rudy Vallee....Whili9 most of the stars maktf with ga!v .tiine!s on their sabbatical! Judy Canova will be sweating ii out in a Coluinbia, picliire. .11 was Mrs. Henry Ford. Sr.. who picked kiio,v iManniiig for the" commentary on the Ford summer hour with Leigh Harline's music. Selec- tion xvas made from a baleh of lecorded yoices.,, .Hedda Hbpjjer will lei ell those fall deals simmer while she betakes herself lo Berlin and Paris. One liiopo.sal has her einCeeing in the DeMille maniier in a rormal takeoff ot "Lux Radio Theatre" in which the big :indie i)roducers would make available their players and pt:operlies.... Myron Kirk back in town on tjie iiail of the elusive Cro.-by which tiiay lake him lo the bioad expanses ot Na\ada 'wherw der Bingle is re.-ting Riiss Jblinstoii in town lonjt eiioii.'ji l<i pick up his own plane and fiy it back., .vBob Hope will .have airenlire new iiiMsiial sniiip next sea,soii. Following Frarices Lahgford off the pri>-. giam i^ Skiimay Ennis.... Bob Crosby renewed Ihroiigh October ai|d."Oale, With .Inoy" picked up for the .summer and fall thereby squelching a lol of. loo>e lalk ...Bob Redd gpl nipped on Ihe Ihigli bv a sqttirrerwhich scain- pei ed no his paii.tvleg. and had fo have medical Irealinent..., Jack Ruinon. called II b day v.jth MC'A and may package indcpondeiillv The gncssiis aic'iiov,- Kuesinig that Bing will restrict his radio movements next fait lo giie..il .slioU lAhon he'd in town making piclure.s or culling disks! Ile"ll come off htttei Hi,i>ii( ially Ihal way;.,.Lux Radio theatre move.s into il-s Mill .v*Di till- w-e»k....Don Beldlng. scotching rumors of a rift in tbe agfocv, ae/. " i elalionshlp nmong the partners (Foole and Cone i was never o'-llci and the loiigei w- work together the better we like each other." .VTiirrav Bo.en ea.si to IhIIi abottl the Victor Borge-Bennv Goodman .sl»nv' v/hiM, Htak^M out here in September.... ;Nils Gi'anlund "has cooked tip a . r,i-j -HI, art called ■'.^ITf; Talkiim" and CBS mav save il for the fall. H"-'- kfie-/-.)i,,f,.7 hen'" i.n,,. with ihe viM .showmun bringing on the stiirs ot •vf-i, - >.i, ' I'L! ooiienlilies wiien he look an itileresi in llieni and nursed tii'-Jii /*ti<i'^.