Variety (Oct 1946)

50 BtADIO WedncBday, Octohei- 9, 1946 Labor Hovers As Banquet's Qiost At Radio Exec Club Meet; Group Seen As Mediator for Coming Confabs Tliere was a ghost at the banquet* hible of the N. Y. Radio EKt-'cutives" Club, as-the organization opened its season of luncheor. meetings last wools The place was laiiiy flooded with network and agency vccpees and behind each exec's chair, in- visible but its spectral influence felt, wa.'i the shadow of Lahor. It was the general feeling in the trade that a new era in labor relatioas faces the industry,'so that what's happening | in New York—still the nerve center !, of both nets and agencies as far as ! business policies are concerned—is of importance to the radio indu.stry countrywide. : ; ■ Officially, it wa.? all a very nice, quiet session. Robert Swo?,ey, vcCt pee-general manager of Mutual, is hew'prexy of the club. He and pro- gram chairman James Sauter ar- ranged a panel discussion which brought to the mike Frank E. Mullen, exec, veepee of NBC; Arthur Pryor, Jr.. veepee in charge of radio (or BBD&O; James Lawrence Fly, former FCC chairman, and Dean Mildred Thompson, of Vassar Col- le'Se. They discussed "Responsibility ill Radio." None of the .speakers expressed anything startling, the biggest hand going to Dean Thompson when she ribbed radio mildly about its quan- tit.itive measurements and said, as a listener, she would like to know "who are these people who tell you what you think you should know about the li.stening public?" She called, seriou,sly, for more, and more genuine, radio criticism which ''should be just as discriminating and .iust as independent as are the dram- atic and music reviews in our best papers." But beyond the polite chit-chat was the fact that the Radio Exec- utives' Club had drawn out a batch of really top executives, including in addition to Swczey and Mullen also Frank White, vcepee-treasurer of CBS and, incidentally, all of the top labor relations people ot all the nets. The feeling existed that the REC intends to play a now role as the co- ho.sive factor in N. Y, radio as the labor situation is faced for the com- ing year. The fact that a rep was there from the Chicago Radio Club gave the occasion the further possi- bility of being a springboard for some kind of industry-wide setup going beyond New York. Most of the execs there had taken time out from a number of strenu- ous labor conferences and negotia- tions either under way or scheduled for the near future For two days before the RE!C meet- ing, the execs had already been busy with the delicate negotiations for a new contract (or contracts) with the American Federation of Radio Artists. That very day (3). CBS held its fir.st negotiating .ses.sion with the latest factoi introduced into the lalior picture 'through ccrtiflca- tioii of the United Office and Pro- fessional Workers of America (CIO) as the bargainmg agent for CBS* white collar workers. Two days before the REC meetjng, also, as all the execs there knew. '""riTc^Radio Dirootor.s 'Guild had at ■ la.st received its qharter^ fronv the. A1?'L. at a special ct remony presided over by William Gollin.s. AFL rep for New York City The Radio Writei'- Guild h,id. as thruatenSd, delinitely broken .QfT negotiations with the AniGrican AftsM. of Advertising Agencies and ■ had embarked on new organiziitiotuvl p.laiis. ■ . ,■^ ■ .■.: ■ FtiT<illy. in thtj . offih.g. Was the Amc'rioah Federation of Mu.slcianK. , and the cxpirjrtion of its contract next Fcl)ruory. with ■all that might ■ mean in terhis of a-.iHinin widv James C. -Pelrillo, etc. ' ' Some .saw sisnilicance also in the fact that, for, the fir.'-t time, the REC lia-s'.sot up it.s own flack tieiti. hinnt; the Institute of Public Relations. Inc., to front for it That gives tlie radio execs a mouthpiece that can speak for the Qntive industry, and the labor'i.ssue is the oiily one" on which united, front action, is tikclv, in the near future, : All in all. there was the definite feeling that, under its lunchoon-cluh napkin, the REC cculd servo as the cohesive medium, formally or in- formally, for the i*adio indusliy in New York it .faees the big labor issues that are confronting radio now. Ah! Days of Yore A birdseye quickie on radio's quarter - century comeuppance was injected into the, N,, Y. Radio Executives Club luncheon last week by Frank Mullen. The NBC exec veepee-gnl,-mgr. re- called how, back in tiie days when he was gettmg his radio loel wet on KDKA, Pittsburgh, a group, of ■ about 300 of top "charteir" radioites huddled witlT Herbert Hoover, then Secy, of Commerce, and unanimously de- cided that advertising would never have a place in radio. "You'll never know how clo.se we were to never having a radio industry," quipped Mullen. And back m the old days ASCAP decided that $250 would be a fair figure as its annual ''lake" from the radio industry. Talent was invited Up to the studios to work cuffo — and , jumped at the chance. 12 YEARS ON KLZ PODIUM LES WEELANS lsl.7/8 eai>al>le, versatile musical diiwlor Is Denver's busiest with more local, Iiv»'-talent musical pro- Rriinis than are on any other Denver station. :■■■ KLZ. DENVER. Wanna Swap, Bui Instead of Cash? That Is die Question Before FCC Writers' Guild Drive Has 4-A s On Anxious Seat The Radio Writers' Guild, hav- ir.; broken oft negotiations of 14 months' duration with the American Assn. of Advertising Agencies, is launched on a stiff organizational drive in the east that's got the 4-A's guessing on what's coming next.^ Items in the campaign are: the winning of a National Relations Board election at WPTF (Raleigh. N, C) : organization' of the staff writers at WMCA (N.Y.); negotia- 'Hire a Hair For several years the Radio Writers Guild has held its gen- eral meetings in one of the larger CBS studios in New York, But the next N. Y, meeting of RWG will be held at Midston House (N. Y.) instead. CBS politely regretted that it hasn't the studio space. RWG leaders said they were grateful for the past favors. tions for five staff writers employed by Young & Rubicam agency in N.Y. on "We, The People," and the aDpointment ot an experienced labor or,i4anizer as eastern regional exec- utive .secretary.' Tlie latter is perhaps the most important of the straws in the wind, but aU of the ■ various step^ point in the same direction: the RWG in^ tend."! to establish itself in radio, and the Four-A's will hear more from the RWG—only it will be j through scattered actions, rather I than by seeking, to chart an overall ! agreement.';■:: ■■',■:■,' ■- '■■''■', I Cliosen a.s the eastern regional I exec sec is Michael L. Davidson. ;He • was la.st seen on the radio scene : in the role of organizer tor ,the Ra- dio Guild of thCi United Office and ' Profes.sional Workers of Amei ica I Continued on page 62) Molle in Lather: Army Bags Scores The Molle shaving dutfit is in a j lathoc over what transpired last : Saturday , (5) when it bankrolled the i'fir.st of « series, of 15-minute late ' afternoon prpgram.s, on . WJZ, the ; .ABC flagship ■ s.tatjp'0: in ; ff, vY,,„ in ; which Al HclferVreels oft the foot- ball ■scdires.- ■■■ -.uii,' ,' The, Helfet': stanza, is inked iri im- nicdlalejy foUoWihg the Harry Wts- I mcr not work broadcast of the Army : g-amos. sponsored by the Army, Re- i cruititig Service. Last five rilinute.s I the network broadcast, however, is also given over to the latest scores. Which lefl Holfcr, holding the bag to rcpri.se; the same scores, same game.s just heard. Distaff Gabbers, Tongues Tied, Seek Air Outlet An unusual campaign has been started by a gi-oup of women's or- ganizations in New York, represent- ing some powerful femme units claiming several hundred thousand members in the aggregate,: in an ef- fort to find a radio outlet for a pair of distaff gabbers who've been on the air 39 weeks. Campaign, started last week, took the form of a stock telegram sent to' the program head of every N. Y. sta- tion, except WMCA, describing the show in glowing terms and offering it, without naming the women in- volved. "If you are interested," stated the wire, "we would be glad for you to get in touch with us and we, in turn, as beau geste, will put you in touch with them." Gabbers concerned, it turned out, are Susan B. Anthony, 2d, grand- niece of tiie founder of American suffragism, and Eunice Hill, who've been conducting an ayem femme strip, titled "This Woman's World," on WMCA. According to the station, the cross-the-board 15-minute stanza wa.5 booked for three successive 13- week cycles in the hopes that it would attract sponsors on a partici- pating basis. Not enough sponsors were attracted, and the show was "drdp'ped. While the telegram by women's org leaders did not charge WMCA with gagging the gabbers, the impli- cation was there in another .state- ment which appealed to radio .sta- tions "not to hit below the puljlic intellectual belt." The signers in- sisted that the Anthony-Hill contnb would be of public interest, cer- tainly among their constituencies. Signers included: Florence El- dridge March, chairman, women's division. Independent Citizens Com- mittee of the Arts, Sciences and Pro- fessions; Mrs. John Hammond, chair- man, ,v,;oiTien's , division, National Citizens Political Action Committee: -Jeannotto Turner, Ne\y 'iTork Gity Consumer Council: Mrs. Sidney Hill- man; Mrs. Edgar Snow: Rose Torlin; Mrs. Maxwell . Anderson; V Ruth Young, exec sec. United Electrical Radio & Machine Workers of Amerir ca. District Ndv 4; Terry Pennriari. national director, Natlohar Maritime Union Auxiliaries; Dr. Gene WeU- fisli. p,\e.sidont, Gongre.s.s: of Ameri- can Women; Mr.s. Anna Center Sclincidcrman, vice preijideht,, Arrier- ican Jewish Congress; Thelma Dale, exec sec. National Negro Congress: Mrs, Elinor, Gimbol. , chairman. Child Care Council, Greater New ■Vork; Captain Anna Abbott, WAC, Premieres (Oct. 9-Oct. 19) , -Oct.. IS, ■■■•■■• Adv enlures of S h e r 1 o c k Holmes, with Tom Conway, Nigel Bruce; 9;.30-lO p.m., Sat- urda.ys; WJZ-ABC; R. B. Semler;. Erwin Wasey, "Judy 'A Jill 'n Johnny;" J2- 12:30 p.m., Saturdays; WOR- Mutual; Horwitz & Duberman; Sterling, Vauehn Monroe show, with Shirley Booth, O-scar laevant, guests; 10-10:30 p,m,, Saturdays; WABC-CBS; R. J. Reynolds;. Wm. Esty. Oct. 13 Gabriel Heatter's Brishter Side; 10-10:15 Sundays; WOR- Mutual; Mutual Benefit Health and Accident of Omaha; Arthur Meyerhoff. Leo Durocher; 1:15-1:30 p.m., Sundays; WJZ-ABC; G. N. Coughlin; Roche, Williams, Cleary. "Married for Life;" 2-2:30 p.m., Sundays;. WOR-Mutual; sustain- ing. ■ ■ ■ . The Fuinams, commentary; 8:45-9 pm,, Sundays; WOR-Mu- tual; Co-op. House-of Mystery; 4-4:30 p.m., Sundays; WOR-Mutual; General Foods; Benton and Bowles. ■ Oct; ■!« ■■■■ "Phiico Badia Time" with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope . (guest), Skitch; Henderson, others; . 10- 10:30 p.m., Wednesdays; WJZ- ABC; Phllco; Hutching. Dot. 19 Cleveland Symphony Orohi 8-7 p.m., Saturdays; WOR-Mu- tual; sustaining. WMCA-BessPact Stresses Newer Concept in N. Y. The "Season of the Shifting Sales- men" in Manhattan's radio picture is probably unprecedented, with virtu- ally every indie in New York feel- ing the drastic personnel overhaul. It goes deeper than merely sparring for better positions. Actually, it has its roots in a new thinking on the part of the station operators that for too. many years the sales boys have been making too much money —that they, and not the stations, have been the chief beneficiaries of the multiple commissions in wrap- ping up sales. Highlighting the checkerboard moves in recent weeks has been the pacting oX Herman Bess by WMCA, as director ot sales, following in the wake of a flock of exits from the Nathan Straus indie. Bess, as vee- pee in charge of sales for Arde Bulova's WNEW for 12 years, built up both a rep and a fat bankroll over the years. His recent exit from WNEW, however, stems chiefly from a new sales concept in which the Bulova-owned indie is now ■ pitchr ing in the national league., ; It's reported that Bess took a check in settelement from WNEW, I agreeing to stay out pf the radio business for a year, but that he had a change of heart, returned the j check, and consummated the deal Washington, Oct. 8. Want to trade your radio station for a hotel, swap it for a theatre, dir" even for stock in another radio op. eration"? Maybe you can and maybe you can't get away with it under FCC's AVCO rule, calling for open bidding on all stations up for sale. As result of a dynamite-loaded petition filed ,here last week. FOG IS now face -to face with the first "bartGr" deal of its kuid, and. will have to spell out a clear-cut policy on the entire question. Petitioners were the Associated Broadcasters, Inc. and Curti.s. Radio- ' casting Corp. of Indiana, who watit to effect a swap ot radio stock as payment for stations but have smacked up against a cash buyeT~ who filed a competing bid under the " AVCO rule. 'Cohn & Marks, attorneys for both seller and the original buyer, have now challenged FCC's action setting the competing bids for hearing, on ground that the second offer does not match the first. They are also seeking oral argument to clarify : FCC's future policy on sucii stock swaps under the AVCO ukaso. FCC's ruling here will bo an im- portant guide to prospective sellers, since barter deals frequently ease the" tax burden on both parties and , are often the simplest way. of^ closittg. a transaction. Here's what happened in the In- diana case. Associated Broadca.sters, Inc., Lisensee of B^M station WABW and holder of a permit for a stand- ard outlet, WBBW; in Indianapolis, contracted last May to sell the prop- erties to Curtis Radiocasting Corp., in return for 1,350 sKares of Class A stock in the purchasing company. Curtis Is the parent organization of Evansville-on-the-Air, which has several AM and FM licenses in In- diana and a lien to buy WMTv;TEasl St. Louis, III, ITnder this deal, Associated would retain interest in its own stations and, in addition, pick up holdings in Curtis' stations, sharing in profits of all. However, a competing bid ■ was filed for Associated's stations by Radio Indianapolis, Inc., a group of. .local businessmen, most of whom are newcomers to radio, who offered to pay cash equivalent of : the original offer. . ■ ■ The petition filed by Associated last week makes it clear that the company does not want cash and will dispose of the stations only if it retains a stock interest in them. Petition adds that, even if it were ' possible for Radio Indianapolis,.Inc.; to deliver 1,350 shares of Curtis stock as payment,: this would still not permit Associated to participate in earnings of WABW and WBBW. Therefore, petition claims it is im- po.ssiblo for a second bidder (o meet terms of the original contract. Several alternatives are possible before"FCG; For ejcainple, the com- mission may decide that AVCO rules will apply equally in barter deals, and buyers will be chosen on "pub- lic service" criteria rather than on method of payment. In this case, FCC would probably favor Radio Indianapolis, in line with its tradi-;, tional policy of preferring newcom- ers and local people. with Straus. Fire Prevention Show On MBS Sponsorship Ag^enda National Board of ■Fire Under- writers, representing over 200 capi- tal stock companies, will sponsor a new dramatic show (as yet untitled) over IVIutual. beginning Sunday, Nov, ,3, in tiip 3:30-4 p.m.,slot,'^ ■ Agency is MacFarland. Jim Shel- don i.s the producer. Show will be pitched to fire prevention, with cast and writer as yet n_ot.sel2.._ ^_ Chi Judge Doesn't Like Marital Problem Shows Chicago, Oct. 8. Nixing a proposed radio show on the marital problem theme, Chi- cago's Superior court Judge Joseph Sabath theorized it wrong to ex- ploit such cases. Veteran' of several years in di- vorce court, Judge Sabath said: "It would have exploited actual ca.ses in court. It would be wrong, dead wrong, and, besides, it was commer- cial. If. I ever do a radio show in an endeavor to Straighten out marital problems, it would be for a cause only." Cliarles Sliaw to WCAU Charles C. Shaw, formerly with the CBS London Bureau, has been added .to the news staff of WCAU, beginning Oct. 14. Stix Want Better Fix On Nighttime Radio, Sez U.S.-Aggie Expert Washington, Oct. 8. The Agriculture Department's Extension Director, H. L. WiLson, went on record again here last week in favor oC more and better farm feature radio shows during the good, ,:, nighttime hour.s. WiLson renewed his drive for , nighttime slots in a return letter to Victor Sholis, director of tlio Clear Channel Broadcasting Service, who earlier this summer objpcled violen t- ly to a form letter sent nut by, Wd- .soii to State Extension Diroctor.s, Sholis was burned because at that time Wilson supported the concUl-;., sion of a U, S, Census Bureau study of radio, which declared that rarmerr relied on regional stations njore,, than on the big clear channel out- lets for their radio service. Sholi.'' had reminded Wil.son that the in- dustry had punctured the Cioyorn^ ment study full of holes at. Uuulcd in favor of the smaller stations— and that farmers—evcn iniho Ccn- ,sus survey—were .satisfied wiilv 't''^ .special farm information .show.s ,:tlicy now receive in volume during the daytime hours.