Variety (Jul 1946)

Wednewlay, July 17, 1946 habio 35 Iowa Univ. Opens Research Bureau Davenport, July 16 v * A bureau of audience research, 'with Prof. Norman' C. Meier as act- ing director, 'will be established this fall under the auspices of the Univ. of Iowa school of journalism. The bureau is the outgrowth of a study of radio news undertaken last winter by the university in co- operation with WMT, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. WMT has commis- sioned the news bureau to make a series of studies of problems impor- tant to the radio industry. • "The basic. question to be an- swered by this new bureau is the basic question of all mass communi- cation," director Wilbur Schramm of the school of journalism ex- plained. "Before any editor or sta- tion manager can do a better job be has to know what his audience is, how big, what kind of people are in it, what and when they read or hear, what they like and dislike, what is the effect on them of what they read and hear." By establishing such a bureau here,- it will be possible to. make available in this part of the coun- try scientific techniques which here- tofore have been used chiefly in large cities and in the industrial east. Prof. Meier has been associate professor of psychology at the uni- versity since 1929. Associated with him in the bureau will be several research assistants. RWG Pitches for New Membership by Mail Hollywood, July 16. The Radio Writers Guild is solicit- ing membership by mall from its New York headquarters. Letters are being received here—and presum- ably elsewhere—by radio scripters not within the fold and whose names - have been obtained from trade paper stories and reviews, particularly of transcription shows. Com eon points up the advantages gained by the Guild and highlights the prospects of even better days to come—if the. Guild gets an: agree- ment from the American Assn. of Advertising Agencies. 'Variety' on the Pan Ed.'lor, Variety: • Last week (your issue July 10) you carried an editorial titled "Pov- erty of Riches." The first sentence was the tipoff, "Radio is in a rut." Poor radio. On the toaster again. Look, you guys. You Variety muggs. That editorial had lots of words but said nuthin'. Show you what I mean. Your pearls of great price (25c) mentioned that radio Isn't going to attract. good writers until the remuneration is upped. But there's more to it than that. The good boys just aren't going to sit down and sweat it out for one-shot shows. Radio has got to offer a better proposition for these particu- lar writers who don't necessarily need the coin. In other words, radio has got to get over being allergic to repeat shows. It's also got to discard its disdain for network pro- grams by platter. Both thesa eccen- tricities will pass. They've got to. So, muggs, quit fumin' and frettin'. Only get it down right when you put It on paper. Oh, and something else. Stop ex- pecting sponsors to flnlnce radio's renaissance. Think they're daffy? Why should they anyway? Five to 20 grand a week to make a new posy bloom in radio's garden? Hey, that's another way of ringing in "Hearts And Flowers" except business has no heart, and radio aint a flower. Long, long ago the networks let the ad agencies steal program initiative and they've been content with this setup ever since... They won't change, either, while Business is good But if it's falling off and shows signs of staying off then look out-^ you're apt to get your new deal (those horrible, horrible two words). As you say on Variety's every Page every week (and I wish you'd cut it out) this isn't a "pitch" for anything. I'm merely a guy who likes to see you guys keep things straight. Keep 'era straight on radio, huh? Signed, I could be John Royal. .1 could be Ted Streibert. I could be Mark Woods. I could be Bill Paley. But I'm not. Just call me "Chum". FOUR LEGAUTES QUIT FCC FOR OWN OFFICE Washington, July 16. Four top-ranking members of the FCC's law department—Nathan H. David, Jeremiah Courtney, Sey- mour Krleger and Norman E. Jor- gensen—are leaving Government lo start up a new radio law firm in Washington. New 'firm will be known as David, Courtney, Krieger &. Jorgensen. David, who first came to the com- mission in 1939 as special counsel to then chairman James Lawrence Fly, rose to position of senior assistant general counsel. He left FCC in No- vember, 1943, to enlist in the Navy. He was chief of FCC's war problems division, and was active in handling the commission's case before the House Select Committee to Investi- gate the FCC in 1942-43. He earlier held job as chief of license renewals and of litigation division in the .com- mission's law department. Courtney has been assistant gen- eral counsel in charge of safety .and special radio services for the past two years, and has been with FCC since November, 1942. Capt. -Cy Krieger, now on Army leave, was chief of FCC's field: section until December, 1942; he took a major role in handling of FCC's hotly-con- tested chain broadcasting regula- tions. Before coming to FCC, Krieger was motion picture expert for the. Justice Dept's antitrust divi- sion. Jorgensen, who returned to FCC One for the Money "Hi, Lo, Jack and the Dame" vocal quartet, returning to the air after wartime interruption, but minus the Dame, has come, up with a . unique air stunt to choose the femme member. The Hi, Lo and Jack (Bob Evans, Dave Vogel and Don McCleod) will do a show this Saturday night (20) via WHN, N. Y., presenting four femme singers, finalists in their search. The listeners will make the final decision. ABC Stations Relations Division Execs Shuffled John H. Norton, Jr., in charge of ABC stations relations, shook up his dept. yesterday (Tues.). Effective immediately, he appointed Ernest Lee Jahncke as stations relations manager for' the net's eastern dlvi-. sion, and Francis H. Conrad to the same spot in the western division. As of Oct. 1, Robert B. Jones, Jr., will take over the incumbent, James H. Connelly, shifts to New York for special assignment work in station relations. last March after two years in the Navy, is presently assistant to the FCC General Counsel, in charge of processing all broadcast applications', and a frequent presiding officer at [broadcast hearings. He came with FCC as assistant to Fly. Lawrence Heller Tabbed in D. C Fracas as Behy-Scene Promoter Washington, July 16. The role of Lawrence Heller, one. time owner of the Washington Post Station WINX, as behind-the-scenes promoter in newly-filed radio sta- tion applications here was suggested to FCC this week. Heller is an officer in the Founda- tion Co. of Washington, which re- cently filed application With the FCC for use of the S80kc wavelength for a 5kw regional outlet in Wash- ington. Metropolitan Broadcasting Co. — a community-owned station with 75 native Washingtonians as stockholders—had already received a construction permit on the S70kc band. The foundation, however, boldly asked FCC to set this grant aside, charging Metropolitan stock- holders were not qualified to run a station, and proposed to put up only a 250-watt part-time outlet on the frequency. Metropolitan refused to ."dignify" the.Foundation request with a for- mal reply, but forwarded to FCC correspondence with Lawrence Hel- ler, of the Foundation Co. That in- dicated Heller had approached and been turned down on a proposition to'buy up 50% of Metropolitan stock. Heller, who sold WINX, to Eugene Meyer for $500,000 in one of the first big money deals for a local channel station, has been active in backstage radio fer several years. Possible* connection between the Foundation bid and that of the Mid- Coastal 'Broadcasting Co. for an FM outlet was hinted with a disclosure that the Kauffman family of the Kay Jewelry Stores, here has stockhold- ings in both companies. Mid-Coastal, once rejected as ah FM licensee in Washington, last week pulled out its application. Concurrently, the Foun- dation Co. filed; its bid for an AM station, leading to speculation that the two companies may have been affiliated somewhere along ihf line. Morse Plans Wax Chillers Hollywood, July 16. Carleton Morse, creator of "One Man's Family," is planning expan- sion into. the biscuit field and is currently conducting sales experi- ments among Texas stations with newly plattered idea, "Mysteries by Morse." - Selected Radio Features is hand- ling the deal for Morse. If success- ful the plan is to expand further with the creation of other new shows. Another of the whodunit notions is "I Love A Mystery" which would probably be next if venture shows promise. liable, lovable, loony! "THE CHUCK BARNHART SHOW" ON "THE VOICE OF ST. LOUIS" Laughter echoes through the mid-Missis- sippi Valley on weekday nights at 10^15 when KMOX airs "The Chuck Barnhart Show". Emcee of this merry menagerie is Chuck Barnhart, supported by his zany stooge, Howard Dorsey.To allow breath-catching in- terludes, the program swings from the ridic- ulous to the sublime when Lorraine Parker w warbles ballads to the accompaniment of the 20-piece KMOX orchestra batoned by- Music Director Seth Greiner. "The Chuck Barnhart Show"occupies a' warm spot in the hearts of listeners through- out 63 mid-Mississippi Valley counties*... and offers an ideal spot for your sales mes- sage. Check Radio Sales or "The Voice of St. Louis" for further details about this happy-be-Iucky opportunity. *KHOX Nighulau Primary Ana, 7thSvUt. 19U Represented by Radio Safes, The SPOT KMO COLUMBIA OWNED 50,000 WATTS CLEAR CHANNEL THE VOICE OF ST. LOUIS Broadcasting Division of CBS • New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Francisco, Atlanta