Variety (Oct 1946)

54 RADIO Wednesday, October 9, 194<( 6MB Gets Setback From Inner Circle As Members Query Use of Fpres Bro^idcast 'Measurement Bureau,t Inc., had its boat upset last week by a group of powerful members, with - the result that a meeting scheduled Vfor thi.': morning (Wednesday) liiay find BMB's prexy Hugh Feltis trim- nii.1,4 his sails somewhat. : III effect, the members told Feltis, and the other BMB brass: "We like what you've been doing, but not the claims you're preparing to make for your figures." It all happened at what' seemed like a routine meeting which Feltis called at BMB headquarters in New York Friday morning (4). Tn prep- aration for the unveiling of the BMB studies' at the forthcoming conven- tion of tlie National Assn. of Broad- casters in Chicago, Feltis had pre- pared an exhaustive presentation dealing not ptiiy, with what BMB has, done but also with how the BMB figures can be used. FeUis took about 45 minutes to make his presentation before the; meeting, which was attended by ab&iit 40 station execs, station reps, and network people.' Some of the men at the meeting were aware of the fact that Feltis had just come through with flying colors at the convention of the Assn. of National Advertisers, in Atlantic City. There, his presehtati.on for radio was re- ported t6 have been most impres- sive, drawing kudos in spite ot the fact that he was bucking the opposi- tion from all other advertising media. However, when Feltis got through, a barrage of questions was thrown down, and some of the questions de- • veloped into sharp criticisms. All agreed that BMB has done a sock job of building up impressive and impdrtant figures for the radio in- duiitry, but many disagreed on how the figures were going to be used from here on in'. Most of the gripes related to the inclination to counter BMB figures against those of Audit Bureau of Circulation. Then there were those who insisted, that What BMB has measured was ''audience area^ but not audience listening." - Some cited the fact that BMB's figures offer "an index ot audience area but not an index of listener- ship." Others pressed the claim that "we've got to be careful not to misuse these figures, or they'll kick back in our faces." One ot those at the meeting insisted that some radio people ■ are preparing to use BMB figures to interpret "cost per 1,000 listeners—and that's something we stiould not-claim, because we don't know. Listenership is not shown by these figures; all they show is the area wliere. the station can he heard and where it is listened to—but not how often or when it is being , listened to," The meeting finally adjourned without a show of hands to indicate whether the majority did or did not approve ot Feltis' presentation. - There was universal approbation for the BMB start. But in view of the criticisms raised inside the or- ganisation, it was felt that BMB might revise its "know-how" clinics : that'it's been, giving: to the industry in the use of its figures. It was not clear whether the criticisms would aft'ect the two educational film shorts : that are being prepared for BMB. In fairness to the BMB leadership, it, was pointed -out by some of the people after.the meeting, that gen- ' ,"uihe efforts had been ir.ado by the : -leaders to keep station, people from . misinterpreting the figures. It Was . felt, however, that sorne ot the of-, ficial presentations are themselves tending to some "over claimSi" and that this should be avoided. A Show's A Show's A— The Columbia Workshop is going lo kick around: some; of Gertrude Stein's double-talk, , and the gag around CBS is that it automatically eliminates any need for a Coast-repeat. The late M'ss Stein's "Brewsie and Willie" has been adapted by Jean Clauff, and will go on the air npxt Sunday (13), with Richard ■SanviUe directing. Also ."kedded for the Work- shop, is an adaptation of Tljomas Wolfe's "Look Homeward An- gel,"'being adapted by Elizabeth Lomax; and a Iwo-part adapta- ' tion of Herman Melville's "Moby Toick" by Ernest Kinqy, which Howard G. Barnes will direct. Soap Still Rides High Before Dark A year ago, 11. of ..the top 12 day- time shows were of the soap opera formula, with only "Breakfast in Hollywood,'-' among the < non-cliff- ha.ngers, succeeding in breaking through. Today with twice as many audi- ence participation shows and other non-soaper formated shows riding the daytime airlanes, the same pic- ture reprises itself. It's still 11 to 1 —with "Breakfast" still the lone representative. All of which points up now anew that, despite the re- peated effort.s, even among sponsors, to inject something different into the pattern-of daytime listening, the suds saga is still the housewife's dish:- ■ ■ Latest Daytime Hoopers Pepper Young's Family......... 6-J Right to Happiness 6.3 Backstage Wife 0.2 Portia Faces Life.6.1 Breakfast in Hollywood)........ 5.7 Stella Dallas 5.7 When a Girl Marries-............5.6 Young Dr. Malone* ............. 5.4 Big Sister 5.3 Ma Perkins (CBS).....;........ 5.3 Romance of Helen Trent.. .. 5.3 Wickett Bowing Out Of WTOP, D.C., Post Jan. 1 Washington, Oct. 8. Martin Deane Wickett, program manager lor OBS' WTOP here for past four years, is leaving post ef- fective Jan. 1, Wickett is known to be eonsidering several lucrative of- fers in Washington but wants at least a month's vacation before Signing a new contract. ■ Wickett has been music director ot CBS' KMOX, St. Louis; WLW-WSAI, Cincinnati, and assistant to Ed. J. Fitzgerald, while radio director of Erwin, Wasey & Co., N. Y. WCPOfi^tsWLW On Army Gridcast Cincinnati, Oct. 8. Calling Cor what is akin to a clip- ping penalty in footliall, WCPO wants to get the ball away from. WLW and carry the Army ■ grid games originating on the . Mutual network. An NBC affiliate, WLW also carries some Mutual programs. A complaint to that end was registered by Maj. George A. Wis- hart before his retirement Saturday (5) in a letter to his commanding officer in the Fifth Service Com- mand, who in turn is reported to have recommended to the N. W. Ayer agency, which handles the ac- count, that WCPO's request be given favorable consideration. Maj. Wishart was in charge of Army recruiting in the local area. His letter was reproduced in the Cincy Post, linked with the Scripps- Howard station, and stated that WCPO, a Mutual outlet, had given much more air time than WLW to help the Army Recruiting Service, also that "WLW had never cooper- ated with the Army Recruiting Serv- ice, and WCPO has gone out of its way to help it." The Maj. Wishart communique identified WLW as thie"NBC sta- tion." and added that "WCPO feels an injustice has been done:" N. C. Education Board Sees School Need for Radio Raleigh, Oct. 8, North Carolina State Board of Education has voted to a.sk Governor Cherry to appoint a commission to study the advisability ot placing ra- dio facilities in the public schools of the state. , Supt. Clyde A, Erwin said there was a growing tendency to employ radio in school systems, and that it would bfteome almost a,necessity in Jttie future.: | NO LIVE SHOWS, NO PERMIT-FCC 1 Washington, Oct. 8. I A local station operator who wants to use his outlet only "as a conduit" for network shows, and has no interest in looal live program- ming, doesn't earn a license, the FCC ruled today. The ruling was made in the case of the battle between Allen Sim- mons, of WADC, Akron, and WGAR, Cleveland. Both wanted the 1220kc spot on the Cleveland band, which is open, and which will be author- ized to broadcast on . 50,000-watt powers—with assured CBS affiliation.: In a proposed finding handed down today; the commission ruled in favor of WGRj administering a sound spanking to Simmons. Latter would have had first chance at the Cleveland spot, but really nixed himself, the FCCJ said, because he averred that he would do. no local programming whatever,. Simmons, in sljhis applicatiori, in-sisted- that Cleve- land -would be served better, if he got the verdict, by lettirig the station, take 18 hours a day of network prograrnming from .CBS. Sucli a view, the commission held. Is counter to its principles, whicii aro to encourage more, rather than less, local live programming. Simmons has 20 days to appeal to the gommi-ssion t'rom its. proposed ■finding. :„ .->''■. / ■■ Cincy, N.Y. in New Tie As WLW-WINS Parlay Gets Under Way Monday Crosley Broadcasting Corp.'s WLW-WINS programming parlay between its outlets In Cincinnati an4 New York starts next Monday (14), and broadcasters in. both the middle west and Manhattan are watching the development with keen interest. WLW's program director, Eldon Park, has been in New York, going over details with his Manhattan op posite number, newly-named Jerry Danzig. Last night (Tuesday) they both left for, Cincy, and the first two-town show, "Top of the Morn- ing." will kick off the joint pro- gramming venture Monday morning at 5:45. From then on, a series of shows will be fed to New York from Cin cinnati. But one show which has been successful on WLW, "Cross roads Cafe," has. been shifted to a New York origination. That one goes on at 6:30-6:45 p.m., with Bert Shefter and his band. Dorothy Day as commentator, and Elaine Howard as vocalist. Nighttime feature, to be fed east- ward from Cincy, will be news gab- ber Peter Grant, 9:45-10 p.m. Ballimorc — Lonny Starr, WFBR announcer, formerly at WPEN, Philadelphia, father of a son. Mother is a non-professional. - ■ NBC Disk Div. Peddling 'House in the Country' A new half-hour show,:..titled "A House in the Country," has been recorded for a 52-weelc series by NBC Recording Division and is now being peddled via 1,000 audition platters being distributed among 750 radio stations and 290 ad agen- cies. ■ ■', ■ ■ Show, written by Raymond Knighl;., has Knight in the cast in addition to Bud Collyer, Hugh James, Patsy, Campbell, Lyle Sud- row, and Ed. Latimer. Producer- director is Fred Weihe. From the Production Centres Don Lee 'Anti-Monopoly' Hearing Off to Dec. 2 Washington. Del. 8. GontroverSia.l hearing skedded for tomorrow (W«d.,)-pn alleged failure of the Don Lee Net to keep Within FCC's chain broadcasting regula- tions has been pushed back again, this time until Dec. 2. Hearing will still be held in Los Angeles as scheduled. , Meanwhile, FCC last Friday (4) granted the net's request and said it would hear at the same time ap- plication of Don Lee-owned KGB, San. Diego, for an increase of .power. The hearing on Don Lee's operation under the anti-monopoly rules was. called in connection with the i-e- newal. licenses of the net's o.-and-o. stations—KHJ, KHJ-FM Los An- geles; KFRC, San Francisco; KGB, San Diego; and KDB, Santa Bar- bara. . '■■•■■ St. Louis.— Robert J. Hennessey has been named Director of Special Events and Publicity £or KMOX, locHl'CBS outlet. ■f-M^-M-^-M-H-H-f t t t f t t 1 1111tt 11 ♦ 4 ♦ t ft t > > I rH 4 « 11 4.j IIS mW YORK CITY ... Lou Frankel's weekly series of think pieces on radio launched In this week's Nation, but with some erroneous promotion billing him as ex-radio editor of VARrKTY..Durward Kirby, "Honeymoon in New York" emcee ■ had the radioman's dream came true when he did one show tor over 30() sppniiors without a single commercial.. It all happened when Kirby head- lined' the NBC stage offering at the ANA conclave in Atlantic City...,' The Mariners, male quartet, has signed a contract for a sustalner on CBS. They'll start Nov. 4. Boys, who organized the act while in the Coast Guard have had guest shots with the Eddie Cantor and Jack Smith shows. ..J Alfred H. Morion, president ot National Concert St Artists Corp., left New York last weekend for the Coast. Main business will be to confer with pix studios on radio dates for talent NCAC represents for air shots. Mor- ton will be gone six weeks... Frank Hummert's "American Album ot Familiar Music" begins 16th year on air with the 13 show. Orclicstra leader Gus liaenschen has been with the program since its start. Ira Knaster, who scripted the recently-debuted "So You -Think You Know People," has left WJ>JRW script dept. to do freelance film and radio ' writing.Dan Tuthill to Coast Oct. 20 for five weefes'to line up; .sales organization in Fri.sco and L. A., and look into film a.ssignments tor Duri- ninger.. . .Radio scripter Larry Menkin signed contract last week to work as team with Al Palca on scripting .screenplay,"Need For Each Othei',". which Joan Crawford will star in for Warners. .. .William AUyn, radio actor, and recently in "A Star Is Born," has left the cast and New York to return to the Univ. of Texas to study dramatics and English lit. .. Elizabeth Hart, writer, and wife of James Hart, faces another session in the hospital after a six-week bout with an infected wisdom tooth. ...Free- lance writer Barbara Boothe left for Texas last Thursday following death of her father there;. . .New package program peddling outfit, Television- Radio Enterprises, has opened offices in N> Y. under aegis of Louis Stumer, newcomer to biz. Jean Enzinger added as writer on Will Yolen's flackery at WNEW..:, Ex-Lt.-Col. Robert Carey replacing Lawrence 'Verry as the book expert on, "What's It Worth?"... .Bill Gernannt, owner of "County Fair," back to the Coast after visiting the show in New York for three weeks.. . .William B. Lewis, veepee in charge of radio for Kenyon & Eckhardt, and agency's chief flack, Hal Davis, going to Chicago where Lewis will address the School Board Conference Oct. .23 Nora'Martin join^ Stella Dallas cast ... .Irene Hubbard, Madeleine Lee, Barbara Kline and Ed Kalish to 'Tront Page Farreir players.. . :"Mr. Keen" begins IQth year Thursday (10). ; ,. Roberta Lee, singer, formerly with'the Raymond Scottj Henry Busse and Les Brown bands, landed on WNEW last week as a staff singer, within 15 minutes after she guested on Paula Stone's "Hollywood Digest." Station- execs heard her on the show and offered her a contract immediately. Mary Hull featured on ABC's "Counterspy" Sunday (13)... .Wynn Wright indie producer, has signed Eddie Dowling as the "story teller" on a new package which will dramatize stories from Esquire mag. Dowling will be both narrator and actor on proposed series. .. .Viola Burns takes over per- . ' manent direction of "Second Mrs. Burton" on CBS.. Rumor flew through Colbee's Monday (7) that CBS had a new serial by Gertrude Berg. Ac- tors auditioning for the Columbia Workshop one-timer^ "Brewsie and Wil« lie" by Gertrude Stein, just got the facts twisted, that's all....CBS direc- tors Albert Wai-d and Howard G. Barnes cubbyholed pro tem on 7th floor until alt CBS cue-throwers are impounded on the 14th floor....Adcle, Seymour has new serial going the rounds, "This World Of Ours"... .Don- ald Buka to appear in Theatre Guild's*Bcrkely Square" airer (13)... .Jack Mosman of CBS has adopted a Jcur-year-old French boy from Lyons via American Relief for France. IIS HOLLYWOOD ... If it works out and all hands are agreeable, Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra will combine their talents lor a full hour show. It's no trick at - all sincje they're contiguous to each other and work so well together..,. Sid Foxj owner of KDYL in Salt Lake, in town to set up a new transcrip- tion firm and readying an announcement on television in the Mormon capital.. . .Kennet Hinks, account exec on Lux for J, Walter Thompson, around for confabs on ad campaign.. . .Bob Orr and Andrew Jergens duel- ing in the haunts of the gourmets... .Harry Lubcke will represent Don Lee's W6XAO at the Television Broadcasters meet in New York. .. .Stanley Davis and Elon Packard are- now carted to their writing chores for Durante-Moore in a limousine livery-chauffered... .Clifl Johnson took over emceeing of "Queen For a Day" so Jack Bailey Could trek to Iowa for first visit to his ma in 20'years... .Renzo Cezanna is canvassing buyers in the ' east wiffi the daffiest audience participation show ever devised^ Such stuff . as walking up to a lady and taking a $10,000 mink oflf her back by just picking the right one and uttering the magic words... .Jean Hersholt got over his surgery in time to make last week's "Dr. Christian"... .Some guy with a cackly laugh parked right under the audience pickup mike at KNX and almost iuined Joan Davis' Coast repeat. He got more and longer laughs than the mike-siders. .. .Arthur Bailey of the Wheelock agency Saw the Jack Carson show launched, dispatched Diana Bourbon to catch Hildegarde and then returned' east... .Lew Ayres is being sold on platters in a dramatic series called "Dr. Sterling's Profession." It's a ministerial treatment of the "Dr. Christian" theme.. i .Rose Marie was called back to vocalize on the Rudy Vallee show and may stay on as a regular.' John Loder doing a transcribed series tagged "Adventure for Hire",.. . Harry Ommerle anchored as radio head of the Lyons agency .. . . Haven MacQuarrie's "Noah Webster" got another renewal . . . .Bruce Kamman, NBC producer, is in veterans' hospital with an infected gum Leith Stevens taking time out from his radio chores to compo.se the score for a new ballet.. . .Just as Frances Scully's "Hollywood and Vine" was on the verge ot a sale, ABC moved in and preempted the time....Bill Ramsey- ground for a^ few weeks on Procter & Gamble shows and Gil Ralsloa' beaded .back to Cincy..John Swallow east for plans board meet al;' Kenyon & Eckhardt and for Washington hearing on his petition for a station at Ventura, Cal... ,Don Searle back from N. Y, after parleying for three weeks at ABC hdq. • fIS CHICAGO ... Jack Kirby, who recently joined WBBM-CBS as a staft singer, resigned last week to return to Pittsburgh where father j.s extremely ill.. . .Harry Wismer, ABC sports director, elected to Bd. of Directors o£ Chi's Ath- letic Institute WIND aired Jewish Yom Kippur services for 14th con- secutive year.. . .Death of"Bachelor's Children" was paid fitting tribute. Olan Soule, cast member for many year.s, hung a black crepe over studio door....With III. Variety Club 'skedded to move to Continental Hotel on Radio Row, more than 200 web and agency execs are signing as new members Angeline Orr Ne"blett, widow of the .late Johnny Neblett, plans to move to California... .Every station rep in town is buying aspirin these days due to headaches caused by, trying to get hotel accommodations . for NAB station execs Ruthrauff and Ryan slated to take over entire floor now occupied by Kaster agency. Kaster to move to smaller quarters: ... .Maurice Copeland added to Jack Armstrong cast.. . .Myron Wallace subbing for Ed Cooper on "Mr. and Mrs," while latter is ill... .Alan Wal- lace, radio director o£ Needham, Louis and Brorby, was upped to veepee position in agency... .Eric Severeid, CBS correspondent, and author of novel "Not So Wild a Dream" will be honored at Chi luncheon next week ....Mort ,Tacob.son expected to take over Johhny Neblett Production Co. following deal with Neblott's widow, with complete reorganization of com- pany to follow immediately Chi's Radio Management Club is looking for a new place to eat. '''ormer location wa.s too small to accommodate all members..'. .Dan Thompson, radio director of the National Safety Council and former NBC publicity man, elected prez of Chi's Publicity Club-