Variety (Jul 1946)

24 RADIO Wednesday, July 31, 1946 O'Dwyer's 'Neglect' of WNYC Cited As Balking Muny Stations Influence New York City, is wasting a valu--* able property by letting WNYC run ' as somewhat of a stepchild of Mayor William O'Dwyer's administration, according to a number of radio execs who feel the city's outlet is likely to lose its significance unless O'Dwyer starts paying more attenr tion to it. Under former Mayor LaGuardia,' WNYC had become a powerful in- strument and earned a solid place in the city's radio field. Some of the radio people who are known to be staunchest defenders of extreme commercialism in radio agreed, nev- thcless, that the city's outlet was ex- cellent for radio as "a wh&le. Since LaGuardia stepped out, the station's programming has contin- ued to receive high praise while its listcnership has increased. The sta- tion's. Hooperating has grown from 1.7 in January of this year to 3.2 at the end of June. Its mail pull has increased from an average of 81 a day to an average of HO'a day. Sub- scriptions to the station's longhair music and general promotion piece —for which subscribers must plunk down 20c—have risen from 8,600 in January to 14,200 in July, But all these signs of increased in- terest in the station's programming, it's pointed out, have become mani- fest- in spite of O'Dwyer's attitude, rather than through his help. Credit for the accomplishments is given Seymour N.. Siegel, whose official title is program director; but who has actually been saddled with the job of station director without the salary that goes with that job, back- ing from the Mayor's office and suf- ficient staff or budget. Budget Is $139,000 WNYC's budget for this year is $139,000, which would be consid- ered peanuts by any commercial or- ganization running' a 1,000-watt sta- tion with 16 hours of programming. Staff men 'who've quit since O'Dwyer can't be replaced because salary scales—fixed by the N. Y. City Civil Commission back" in 1928 —are as low as $2,100 a year for an announcer. Several steps for improving the situation are being urged by those in N. Y. radio who fear that, since O'Dwyer has definitely promised not to sell the station, his advisers are letting him deliberately allow the station to stay in a vacuum with the hope that it will fall apart sooner or later. The steps are: (1) appoint Siegel director, giving him the au thority that he needs to deal with other members of the Mayor'? staff on an equal footing. (2) Get authority from the N. Y. City "Civil Service Commission, and the corresponding state dept. that must okay such moves, to revamp the station's payroll so that new personnel could be hired at "decent" salaries and old personnel would have the wage incentive they would have in private employment. (3) Give Siegel as new director the same kind of authority that Mor ris Novlk had under LaGuardia. What radioites fear is that, if O'Dwyer doesn't take these mini- mum steps, one of two results would follow. Either some of his advisers would push him into a political ap- pointment to the directorate, or the station would lose more of its pres- ent staff without the ability to hire replacements. In either case, the loss of the station as a valuable property would be certain. Y-R DROP PLANS FOR RIGGS WINTER SETUP Hollywood, July 30. Tommy Rig'gs, summer sub for the Ginny Simms show on CBS, is on his way out. The vcntrioloquist with his "Betty Lou," had been seen as a possible winter program, but Young & Rii- bicam execs are frankly disappointed with his showing Hooperwise, and are shopping around for somebody else. Half CAB. Customers Have Now Signed With Hooper Organization With more than a week to go until the expiration date for trans- fer of former rating, accounts hel3 by Cooperative Analysis of Broad- casting to the Hooper organization, nearly half of CAB's customers have now signed , up with C. E. Hooper;. Result is that, beginning Aug. 1, for the first time since CAB went into the rating business—only to decide some two months ago that it was essentially duplicating the Hooper- service—there will be a single, co- ncidental audience measurement outfit in' the business. How much that acquisition of new customers to the Hooper fold may mean in terms of additional cash income to the. latter is almost any- body's guess outside the Hooper or- ganization, which isn't discussing such details., But the . fact is that the complete elimination of the for- mer CAB-Hooper duplication is looked upon as a healthy develop- ment which should: result in better audience research. On the other hand, CAB is now really, free to de- velop those new radio research methods and techniques which some have always insisted as its genuine ralson d'etre. Not only will there be a uniform- ity of coincidental measurements now possible in the Hooper services, but, also, a re-designed Hooper pocket piece is being prepared, add- ing information not previously available to those, subscribing to that piece. There . will be more breakdowns of information, and the entire job will be printed on a special press, with a redesigned format. Nearly 90% of the biggest clients of CAB's rating service have signed up with Hooper. These embrace some of the most solid ad agencies, and a number of the biggest spend- ers in radio advertising, including such firms as Procter & Gamble, Bristol-Myers, Sterling Drug, The Texas Co., U. S. Rubber Co., and E. I. duPdnt de Nemours. KLZ't Triple-Threat,Announcer BILL JONES Bill not only does news announc- ing, but emcee's two KLiS shows and does character parts In KLZ'a weekly dramatic production of "News of the Week." : KLZ, DENVER. Get FM on the Air or Forfeit Permits To Operate, FCC Warns Grant-Holders Wheeler Denies Hi Would Join FCC " Washington, July 30. Senator Burton K. Wheeler (D. Mont;) dispelled rumors here last week that he might accept a White House nomination to fill the vacant post at the Federal Communications Commission. ' Wheeler told Variety he wouldn't "have the job on a silver platter." The Senator is non-committal about suggestions that he run as an Independent In the Montana elec- tions next fall and attempt to nose out Lief Ericksoh who licked him for the Demo's choice in the recent state primary. According to Insiders here, the powerful chief of the -Senate Inter- state Commerce Committee may take his political defeat lying down and set up in practice of law in Washington, D. C. THREE PRODUCERS EXIT BBD&O IN ONE WEEK There's been a shakeup among producers at the BBD&O agency, at least three having exited in the last week, while a fourth stays on with the agency but has relinquished his hold on a show which was chiefly his to begin with. Producers who are out are Bob LaBour, of the program division; Chet Gierlach, who had produced the Lyn Murray and other musical stanzas, and Ted Long, who had more recently concentrated on tele- vision. George Kondolf, who helped father the "Theatre Guild on the Air," and produced it all last year; had been offered by U. S. Steel, sponsor of the "Guild" show, to take over the production on a fulltime basis. It's when he turned it down that Steel brought In Carol Irwin, from the ABC net, to handle that show. Kondolf stays on as BBD&O story' editor, in charge, among others, of "Cavalcade" and "This Is My Best." He is also planning to produce a Broadway legitcr on his own next season. Martha Deane's Renewal Martha Deane, WOR, N. Y„ com- mentator, has renewed term contract with the station for another five years. Miss Deane (whose real name is Marion Young), marks her. fifth anni on the station Aug. 13. NEGOTIATIONS ONFORDX-ER TO UN Washington, July 30. Negotiations are under way be- tween the State Dept. and the United Nations for turning over to the UN one or more of the U. S.- owned shortwave radio transmitters. The UN will start broadcasting by DX not later than the end of September, when its general assem- bly convenes in New York. It is possible that, by that time, a domes- tic radio station may also be tied in with the UN for broadcasts to the American people. Trygve Lie, 'secretary general of the UN, who is to return to this country soon, has issued a statement during his European tour declaring that the United States is far ahead of the rest of the world in obtaining news about what's going on around the United'Nations organization. He confirmed earlier reports that the organization will try to. All that gap through shortwave radio. A special commission of the UN is now negotiating with the State Dept., and interim plans are understood all ready. Announcement of the plans, however, will probably be withheld pending the return of the two UN officials most intimately concerned— Lie, and asst. secretary general Ben- jamin A. Cohen. The latter is now visiting South American countries, duplicating in Latin America the trail-blazing path on behalf of the UN being taken by Lie in Europe. Cohen is the head of the UN com- munications setup, and any radio work being done by the organiza- tion will fall under his jurisdiction. MUTUAL TO HAVE FIVE CONSECUTIVE KID STRIPS With "Hop Harrigan," daytime serial on ABC, going over to Mutual in September in the 5 p.m. slot five days a week, Mutual will have five juvenile strip shows in as many consecutive 15-minute. periods. Lineup will be "Adventures of Sea Sound," 4:45 p.m.; Hop Harrigan. 5; "Superman," 5:15; "Captain Mid- night," 5:30; "Tom Mix," 5:45. Howard Hughes Wins 1st Station Grant With FCC Okay for Frisco FM'er Washington, July 30. . Film producer Howard Hughes won his first radio station grant when FCC last week okayed his bid and applications of four other com- panies for FM operation in San Francisco. Hughes also has on tap a bid for a television station in Frisco, and FM and video outlets in Loa Angeles. Other FM conditional grants went to KJBS Broadcasters (KJBS); Pacific Agricultural' Foundation, Ltd. (KQW), NBC (KPO) and. the Chronicle Publishing Co., which has no AM affiliate. The FCC award to NBC is the third to that network. Station .al- ready operates WEAF-FM in New York and has a construction permit for a Washington, D. C„ high-fre- quency outlet. Since this is the sec- ond grant'without hearing, it is as- sumed FCC has gone through the complete file of FM bids once- around. Commission said earlier it would not hand out more than one FM grant without hearing until all bids on file were given once-over for their first permits. Simultaneously, the FCC last week postponed indefinitely a hearing on bids of Ave other companies, whose FM Frisco applications, cannot be acted upon now. These include: Don Lee; Pacific Broadcasting Co.; KROW, Inc.; and Radio Diablo, Inc. At -the company's request FCC dis-< missed an FM application for Frisco filed by Scripps-Howard Radio, Inc. Cross Plans Platter Christopher Cross, UN radio liai- son with the U. S. radio, returned this week (29) from a three-week cross-country trip, during which he interviewed station heads all over the country abdut plans for broad- casting originations from the UN. Cross said he found most of the station managers enthusiastic about various plans to air UN sessions and special' platter to be prepared by. his division. One of the shows which Cross is planning will be a 13-mln- ute weekly platter which will fea- ture prominent network commenta- tors who will take the listeners be- hind the UN scenes, explaining and dramatizing the work of the various commissions, The show would ex- plain, for example, the work of the Economic and. Social Council, the Commissions on Human Rights, the Atomic Energy Commission, etc. : One of the first station heads to sign up for the series, Cross an- nounced, was Harry Maizelish, gen- eral manager of KFWB, the War- ners Bros, outlet in Los Angeles. KFWB has also signified, among others, its intentions to broadcast fully from the' sessions of both the general, assembly and the security council when these reconvene in N. Y. Worcester — Alice McPartland Dr'ummond, fashion editor of the Worcester Telegram & Evening Ga- zette, guested on WTAG's morning airer "Julie 'n' Johnny" last week, describing the New York fall fash- ion picture. She had attended the Seventh Notional: Press Week of the N. Y. Dress Institute. FCC Hears Don Lee Hollywood, July 30. A record-breaking 15-minute Fed- eral Communications Commission hearing was concluded here July 24, when Commish Ray Wakefield heard the final testimony on the Don Lee video plea. Special trip was made here by Wakefield to hear Tommy Lee, net's nominal head, but due to illness Lee was unable to appear. Instead, Lewis Allen Weiss, v-p and g.m., spoke for him, the commission accepting the substitution as neces- sary after third unsuccessful at- tempt to tag Lee personally. Final testimony on application of the Hughes Tool Co., also was upset for reasons of Howard Hughes' in- capacitation. It was continued until Aug. 9 when testimony will likely be taken at his hospital bedside. In appearing for Lee, Weiss di- vulged that he, Weiss, is in effect, and to all intents and purposes, Don Lee itself. He has full authority and the responsibility for all policy and operations, it was disclosed. Lee has taken no active part in the admin- istration of the network for the past six years, it was further revealed. He has left virtually all activities in the hands of Weiss, with whom he consults. Weiss stated that Lee was not altogether bedridden but . that doctors advise against any strain, particularly the "ordeal" of a cross- examination. It was also disclosed during the brief testimony that Don Lee has, since the initial hearings here, filed an application for FCC approval of technical experimentation in color television. Commissioner Wakefield concluded the Lee business with the request that a financial statement on the Don Lee Estate be /furnished as a case exhjb. Following the session, Wakefield stated that "within a few weeks after receipt of the final testimony of Hughes a decision may be ex- r ' ( on prospective licensees." According to present estimates that should mean the word will be re- c'—vj Y"-c around mid-September. .Washington, July .in The Federal Communications Com mission last Friday (26) made it crystal-clear, that holders of fre- quency: . modulation conditional grants and final permits must im- mediately take steps to get FM trans- mitters on the air or run the risk of forfeiting their franchises to those who will. The new edict is the latest of a series of moves by x the government to prod amplitude modu- lation licensees into actually. build- ing FM stations. The Commission's "put up or shut up" order said that delays by per- mittees which may unnecessarily withhold FM service from the public ' will no longer be permitted. FCC noted"that many of the 460 holders of conditional grants for FM outlets have let considerable time elapse before filing the additional in- formation which would enable them to receive final permits. To check sucii delays, a new order calls for the additional info within 30 days of the original grant. The old time limit was 90 days. Commission said that if permittees appear dilatory in getting FM under- way, their cases will be reviewed to see whether their grants should be set for hearing or cancelled entirely. The 180 holders of final permits for FM. operation were also warned to do their best' to get their stations built within the eight months' time allowed after the authorization date. Requests for extensions of time be- yond this period, FCC said, will he- reviewed carefully. Where appli- cants are unable to get delivery of complete equipment, they will be expected to use interim equipment to provide a temporary FM service in their communities. Concurrently, the FCC sent out to all potential. FM licensees a 16- question quiz which must be re- turned to Washington within 15 days of their beginning construction. The questionnaire seeks to learn how much equipment is on order, has been received or is in operation; plans for acquiring land and build- ings; .whether or not Civilian Pro- duction Administration approval has been applied for; and whether or not an interim FM operation is con- templated pending delivery of all equipment. - KPO-NBC Gets Grant San Francisco, July 30. The Federal Communications Commission has announced a condi- tional. frequency modulation grant, subject to engineering approval, to KPO-NBC. According to John W. Elwood, general manager of the station, the FM transmitter will be erected on a site in the San Bruno Range, South San Francisco, if approved by the FCC engineers. Shortages in equip- ment and other material would post- pone FM broadcasting by KPO for at least a year and a half. Hayes Deal Would Ask Pact Payoff The Peter Lind Hayes deal now is one of the most sought-after bits of business in radio programming. At least three agencies—Young & Rubicam, J. Walter Thompson and Ruthrauff & Ryan—are after the comedian, who recently made a strong . impact at the Copacabana, N. Y., nitery, after his discharge from the Army. Y&R, Which waB known a week ago to be seeking Hayes for a laugh bolster to the new Dinah Shore show, reportedly has the inner track to a Hayes. pact, since both Hayes and Miss Shore are represented by the same attorney, Henry Jaffe. But Hayes is holding but for the best deal, not only in regard to high pay for his scripters but also in being sure that he'll be billed properly. Furthermore, he wants enough out of the deal to pay off Mutual, to Which, reportedly, he still owes 20. weeks' work. Haye's was supposedly given as- surance that he can get out of the Mutual contract for $10,000—and his' new buyer would have to^ pay that. -c. St, ^ Lou Is—Foster Brown, former manager for KFRU, Columbia, Mo., and a recent dischargee from the Navy, appointed sales' "promotion manager for KXOK, St. Louis.