Variety (Jul 1946)

Wednesday, July 31, 1946 RADIO 25 AFRA MEET MAY BAIT RED HERRING ILGWU, ACWA Pose AFL, CIO Duel For N.Y. FM License in FCC Rule To Limit Permits to 5 This Year 'Mr. D. A.'Tops Again "Mr. District Attorney," which crashed through to No. 1 on the summer Hooper parade a month ago, holds its first place (.12.1) in the Top Fifteen compiled as of July 30. Walter Winchell, who was in. fifth place at end of June, is still in the running by proxy. His three- way-parlay of Ben Grauer, Florence Prichett and Quentin Reynolds, making up the "Jergens Summer Journal," is in second place (9.1) as Winchell vacations. ■There was no opposition show with an 8.0 rating or higher to entitle ■ it to rate as competition, but two musicals—Fred Waring's and Phil Spitalny's shows—came closest with ratings,' respectively, of 6.9 and 6.7. The ratings for the First Fifteen are: "Mr. District Attorney" . .* ..12.1. "Jergens Summer Edition" .'..... 9.1 "Crime Doctor" 9.0 "Dr. I. Q." 9.0 "Mr. St Mrs. North" ... 8.8 "Man Called X" 8.8 Kay Kyser 8.7 "Your Hit Parade" > 8.7 Drew Pearson .'• B.l "Take It Or Leave It" < 8.1 "Mystery Theatre" T.9 "Encore Theatre" ■. 7.9 Bob Hawk Show 7.9 "Dr. Christian" 7.7 "Suspense" . .... , 7.7 Sen. Tobey Calls For Full Probe Of FCC 'Censorship; Action Now Unlikely Washington, July 30. Senator Charles Tobey- (R., New Hampshire) last week called for a full-dress investigation of the Fed- eral Communications Commission, particularly into its alleged control of radio programs and abridgement of "freedom of speech" on the air- waves. However, Congressional ac- tion this session on the Tobey reso- lution appeared unlikely, as mem- bers of both houses packed their bags in anticipation of a . vacation beginning Friday night (2).: Tobey called on the Senate Inter- state Commerce Committee to probe FCC's activities in allegedly cen- soring radio programs. He also wanted an investigation of the Com- mission's decision to shift frequency modulation upstairs in the radio spectrum. The shift, Tobey implied, may deprive farmers a. d rural dwellers of reliable FM service. Tobey. a candidate for chairman- ship of the powerful Senate Inter- state Commerce Committee in the Wheeler Inquiry Washington, July 30. Coming Congressional vaca- tion Friday (2)- notwithstand- ing, it's reported that Sen. Bur- ton K. Wheeler will call a special executive session of the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion to vote on Senator Charles Tobey's resolution for a full- dress investigation of the FCC Commission. cv.nt of a Republican majority next session, is understood to be con- cerned over the legality of FCC's famous "Blue Book." Like the Na- tional Assn. of Broadcasters, he said he believes the "Blue Book" is a "thrust into the censorship field." Queried by Variety, Tobey re- fused to cite any specific examples of what he calls "censorship of radio programs" at FCC but claimed he has chapter and verse on hand to support his charges. Tobey said he had not planned an investigation of FCC's ''wholesale licensing policies," which have re- cently, given "ireo or four station giants to small towns which had never before been able to support a s'v'l.e outlet. The New Hampshire legislator also discounted rumors that his inquiry was prompted by r i PC ruling that atheists and a< ,,,_-..-„ 5 should not, per se, be de- nied radio time. Tobey added that he had recently heard of this ruling, and w?<; obtaining full information on it. Civil Liberties Union Goes to Bat for FCC The hue and cry over the FCC's "Blue Book," which seemed to have died down in the last couple of months, has been raised on the pro- FCC s'^" by the. radio committee of (Continued on page 32) GF's Two Jove Shows General Foods is bankrolling two kid. shows on.Mutual. One is "House of Mystery," to be heard Sundays, 4-4:30 p.m., full net, starting Sept. 29, Show was on air last year Sat- urday, noons. ' Other show, as yet untitled, will be a 15-minut«, flve-a-week airer, in 4:45-3 p.m. slot on full net. Benton & Bowles is the agency. ABC Looks To Sunday Shuffle A program reshuffle of ABC's Sunday night schedules, with the possibility still existent that the Ford Sunday evening hour may bow off that web, was seen as a distinct possibility this week. Here's what the revamp involved: Ford's'hour, 8-9 p.m.. would bow off the ABC net, probably going over to CBS (see separate story). "Quiz Kids." which occupies the 7:30 p.m. Sunday 'time on ABC, would also divorce itself from this web, and a moveover to NBC for this one seems likely, although CBS is understood to be not at all averse to capturing this Hooper-garnering stanza. Move, however, would not spell costly time losses to the ABC net, only one-half hour of peak time be- ing open as a result. Reason is that "Theatre Guild on the Air," which has risen to high audience accept- ance with its longhair dramats, is anxious to move down the time lad- der. U. S. Steel, "Guild" sponsor, was reportedly insistent last week that it be given earlier Sunday night time, and there was a dis- tinct possibility it might get 7:30- 8:30 p.m. That would leave only the 8:30-9 segment open in the peak period, and ABC execs were san- guine they'd have no difficulty fill- ing- that gap Sunday night. FINAL RULES GOVERNING SALE OF RADIO STATIONS Washington,' July 30. Final rules to govern sale of ra- dio stations, including five "outs" for purchasers under the AVCO procedures, were released Monday (29) by the FCC. The five exemptions: (1) Where station or stock in station is willed by a deceased licensee to his heirs. AVCO rule will apply when an ex- ecutor transfers station to third per- son in absence of will or other in- strument. Earlier FCC proposal would have made the lawful heirs subject to the 60-day waiting period and competitive bidding clause of the regulations.. This resulted in bitter opposition from station:;, and (Continued on page 36) CLEAR DECKS fOR .A. CONVENTION Members of the American Federa- tion of Radio Artists have cleared the decks for action preparatory to AFRA's national convention In Los Angeles, Aug. 23-25, and a lot of fire- works are in the making. Perhaps one of the toughest fights that may come to the AFRA . con- vention- floor will be an effort to introduce & resolution which is sure to be condemned as "red-baiting" by a number of delegates. • At least 16 of New York's delegation of 99, and fully 82 of New York's addi- tional 99 alternates, are committed to fight such a resolution. Nevertheless, it's expected that the resolution will be pushed. Mov- ers of the so-called "red-baiting" resolution are' expected to be mem- bers of a group , formed, several months ago in New York, with some connections in the two other major production centers, Chicago and Hollywood. - This group, said to be headed by a prominent. New York radio actor, calls Itself "Afrans United Against Commuhjsm and Fascism." Some of the former "ivory tower" group of.the N. Y. chapter are in this group, but . on the other hand a couple of leaders of the "towerites" are known to be firmly opposed, considering it a "disruptive" influence. N. Y. Cancoa The group was reportedly en- couraged by the defeat of all but 16 of the delegate candidates put forth by the "anti-towerlte" faction within N. Y. AFRA. On the other hand, the election of a vast majority—82 out of 99—of. the alternates indi- cated that the general membership is not likely to line, up with "Afrans United Against Communism and Fascism." Members of the New York delega- tion met for their caucus at the Hotel Astor, N. Y.,. last night (Tues.), the caucus having been postponed pending the end of George Heller's vacation. Heller returned Monday (22) and one of the first tasks he faces is the decision on whether he wants to be exec secre- tary of the N. Y. chapter or national exec' secretary. He's been holding both posts since the resignation of national exec secretary Emily Holt four months ago. If Heller decides to take the na- tional job, it's fairly certain there will be no one contesting for that position at the Los Angeles confab. On the' other hand, there may be any number of candidates for the N. Y. job if he gives that up. The biggest issue that's expected to come up at the Coast convention —aside from the political fight, which could be squelched through regional caucuses—will be plans for negotiating new contracts with the networks, transcription firms and agencies. All contracts expire at the same time, Oct. 31. AFRA worked for years toward one expiration, date for all major contracts, and the fact that this goal has been achieved is a matter of pride among leaders of the union. The convention instructions on nego- tiations for the next contract are certain to include demands for higher pay and for improvement in working conditions. This time, too, small chapters in the secondary radio cities of the country are ex- pected to be given more emphasis, with the likelihood that a new corps of organizers may be formed to handle the smaller localities and give them more intensive and more individualized service. McCORMICK SHELVES MIDWEST FM WEB Washington, July 30. . Col. Robert McCormickihas appar- ently shelved plans for a midwest frequency modulation network, with headquarters in the editorial offices of his Chicago Tribune. The publisher of the world's "greatest newspaper" and licensee of WGN. Chicago, originally had FM bids on file for Grand Rapids, Mich.; Peoria, III.: Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Mil- waukee. Last week his company, the Midwest FM network, pulled out the last cf these bids—for Milwaukee. Labor Vs. Labor The bitterness that exists be- tween the AFL and CIO was highlighted in the last couple of weeks during the FCC hearings in New York on FM applica- tions, for New York City. One of the applicants, repre-. sented by high-priced counsel at every session of the three-week- long hearings, was the Interna- tional Ladies Garment Workers Union (AFL). Two big CIO un- ions — Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and Na- tional Maritime Union—were among the applicants, as well as Peoples Radio Foundation, Inc., which represents largely those civic forces in N. Y. that are closer to the late Sidney Hillman rather : than David Dubinsky, head of the ILGWU. It was noted that the most penetrating cross-examination directed at the reps of all three "Hillman" groups — Amalga- mated, Maritime and Peoples- came' from counsel for the ILGWU. JWT, K-E Duel . For Ford Control A behind-the-scenes, battle royal is going on for complete control of the Ford empire's radio accounts, with J. Walter Thompson and Ken- yon & Eckhardt agencies reportedly the chief protagonists." Incidentally, if JWT wins, CBS may profit, too, by getting the Ford hour-long stanza which ABC has had on its Sunday night schedule of longhair music. The JWT-KicE tug-of-war arises from the same set of inside-Ford circumstances which resulted in the Ford people buying the Dinah Shore show. It's a result of the ascendancy of Henry Ford II to the leadership in the Ford enterprises and young Ford's feeling that the firm's adver- tising should be cued to youthful America. JWT controls the major share of non-radio business handed out through ad agencies by Ford. Hav- ing succeeded in wrapping up the Shore package for Ford, this outfit is now said to be bidding for the other big chunk of Ford radio money which is now tied into the ABC Sunday night show. NBC's turndown of the Ford symphony, too many of the stations having refused to have any truck with it, has reportedly made the path easier for JWT, which insists it can tailor a show' for Ford that would be acceptable to big network af- filiates as well as to listeners. Pre- sumably, it would try to place its new package first on CBS, keeping the Ford eggs in one web basket, with the new Ford show on Sunday night and the Shore stanza Wed- nesday night. + The International Ladies Gannont Workers Union (AFL) and the Amal- gamated Clothing Workers of Amer- ica (CIO) are posing one of the toughest problems for the .FCC in connection with frequency modula- tion licensing for New York. Actual- ly, the problem involves not c-nly these two unions, but. the AFL and CIO as well. Under the FCC's "reservoir rule," adopted week before last, withhold- ing one out of five applicants from FM licensing, until after July, 1947, N. Y. can get only five new FM per- mits this year. Both the ILGWU and the ACWA made out strong cases in their FM applications before the FCC, which last week finished three weeks of hearings. Each Of the unions came bolstered with presentations showing great financial responsibility—they have resources of atagleast $100,000,000 apiece, Each of them presented pro- gram plans which made many sit up and take notice, of what could be planned by outfits that apparently combine hard commercial thinking with interest in public ' service. Morris Novik, former. WNYG direc- tor, drew up the program schedule for the ILGWU, and Arnold B. Hart- ' ley, program director of WOV (an ArdeBulova indie in N. Y.); made up the program plans for the ACWA. Faced with such presentations, the FCC concededly will find it difficult to grant a license to one of these ap-. plicants while nixing the other. Yet there are 18 applicants for FM in . N, Y., and only five places can be allotted this year. One "out" for the Commission, it has been suggested, may be the veto- ing of licenses for both the ILGWU and ACWA, and granting one to WEVD, N. Y. indie owned by the Debs Memorial Fund and tied in .with labor from the very beginning of its broadcasting affairs. Such a solution, however, would only cue a further battle. The ACWA-CIO^group, it's believed, would claim that the WEVD crowd stands politically close to that faction' of labor which looks to David Dubinsky, prexy of ILGWU, for leadership, rather than to those (Continued on page 36) Seventeen Mag BJts Youth Airer on Mutual Seventeen, kid mag, is to sponsor a new program, "It's Up To Youth," on Mutual, Wednesdays, 8:30 p. m. Program wlil start on WOR, N. Y., and WIP, Philadelphia, Aug. 21 for six weeks, then go full Mutual next Oct. 2. Airer will dramatize a youth program weekly, 3 with a panel of teen-agers then discussing same. Bill Slater .will be moderator. Al Paul Lefton is the agency. With circulation now reported around 850,000 and subscriptions frozen due to paper situation radio program Is looked on as purely In- stitutional. $1,000,000 BACKING FOR FM SETS IN ILGWU CO-OP A plan for a cooperative setup for the manufacture and distribution of FM receiving sets, backed by $1,000,- 000 and a large labor union member- ship, was presented to the FCC last week. While the plan was part of the presentation made in connection with its FM license application for New York by the United Broadcasting Corp. (subsidiary of the Interna- tional Ladies Garment Workers Union), it was understood that back- ers of the plan are ready to get going within a couple of months and have been promised at least 25,000 com- bination AM-FM sets by Christmas. The plan, presented at the hearings by Freanck Umhey, prexy of United and exec secretary of ILGWU, was reportedly worked up by Morris No- vik. the union's radio consultant, who's huddled on the idea for sev- eral months with manufacturers, en- gineers ai d consumer distribution expevls. Contact had already been estab- lished with a manufacturer ■ who would produce the new sets in quan- tity. It would be six-or-scven tube receiver, but would eliminate "all gadgets" and be streamlined to one purpose only—providing FM re- ceivers to help the new stations build up audiences. According to Umhey, the ILGWU has definitely agreed to.,underwrite the set project for an amount up to: $1,000,000. Whether the ILGWU does or does not get a construction - permit for FM in N. Y., the project is said to be ready for promotion in other large population centers where FM is about to get started.