Variety (Feb 1948)

so wuam Wednesday, February 4, 1948 Admen Hold Out for NLRB Blesai^ Of RWG; Writers Offer Compromise ' As expected, tiie. ad agencies and aponsors h£(ve made an issue of •whether the Radio Writers Guild chould be certified by the National Relations Board, as a preliminary to negotiations for a minimum basic contract covering commercial scripts Jng. That was the chief development at the meeting Monday (2) of rep- resentatives of the two groups. The agency - sponsor spoltesmen read a statement, in the form of a letter giving them authorization to represent various members of the Assn. of National Advertisers and the American Assn. of Advertising Agencies, outlining their position. Replying, Guild committee ex- plained its own stand, but oflfered tt compromise. It was then decided to meet again Feb. 11. It Was agreed at the start of Mon- day's session that the entire pro- ceedings would be confidential; in particular, that nothing would be revealed to the press. However, various agency and sponsor execu- tives, who-had approved the letter to the Guildf were given 'a full ac- count of the meeting. The sponsor-agency letter stated that the agency negotiating comniit' tee was authorized to represent the Ayer, Bates, Benton & Bowles, Biow, Compton, D'Arcy, Dancer - Fitz- gerald - Sample, Doherty - Clifford- Shenfield, Esty; Foote, Cone & Beld- Ing; Kenyon & Eckhardt, Knox Reeves, Pedlar & Ryan, Ruthrauff & B;$;aiii' $herman ti Marquette; Sulli- van,-. Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles, Thompson, and Young & Rubieam agencies. The above firms, it was added, •were delegated to act for Bristol Myers, Campbell Soup, Coca - Cola, Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, Eversharp, General Foods, Kraft, Ford, General Mills, Kellogg, Philip Morris, P*oc- ter & GamBle, Quaker Oats, St;er;iing Drug, Ton! Hairwave, Standard Brands and Langendorf United Bakeries. The letter was: signed by Leonard Bush, of Compton; Louis^ Brockway, of Y & R, and Walter Ctaig, Of B & B. Deny Embarrassment Aim. The letter denied that the agency- Aponsor-grbup had any intention-of embarrassing the Guild or trying to weaken its bargaining position, as reported. It empliasized that the admen are not unwilling to nego- tiate and are ready to bargain, How- ever, it asserted that before entering actual negotiations, the advertiser committee "suggested" that the Guild should be certified by the NLRB, It made the proposal in ''your own best interests," the letter said. According to the admen,' they can not satisfactorily negotiate for bnsic contract covering commercial writers unless there is clarification of th0 .classifications of the scripters as jt" "efinployees" or "iiidependent con- H tractors." Second, it was stated that certain- of the sponsors represented have uniform, policies of not dealing with non-certified unions, and that to negotiate with the Guild under its present status would . be a "de- parture from policy," Third, it was explained that since the legal status . of the RWG is in doubt (under the so-called "Stovepipe Hat" case now •on appeal), the sponsors-agencies might make themselves party to Violation of the anti'-trust laws. In reply, the Guild reps pointed cut that theiroproposed .terms for a minimum basic contract would apply only to- employees, and specifically exclude independent contractors, oiiey said they could not agree thai Sponsor policy regarding non-certi- fied unions should be' a bar to nego- tiating with the RWG. And as for the (juestion of anti-trust violation, they noted that the networks had recently signed agreements with the Guild. Compromise Offered - The Guild spokesmen then offered a compromise. If the sponsor or agencies genuinely believe they risk Violation of the law in signing such a contract, the Guild would be will- ing td have them sign a letter of agreement embodying the various terifis and conditions, just as they have always done in the ca.se of the network code of the American Fed- eration of Radio Artists. After some discussion, the delega- tion of admen decided to submit that auggestion to their agencies and «ponsofs> .and the next negotiation tmeetittg ws isei.fo* Feb, Xh The advertiser cownitlee,,l).^sides BM.$i>< Brockway and Craig, included Herold Beckjordan of the AAAA. The Guild committee included Peter Lyon, Welbouirne Kelly, Robert New* man, Roy . Langham and Herman Gray. The admen's delegation met yes- terday (Tues.) with AAAA and ANA execs to report back on what one of the admen described as the Guild's ultimatum." This adman denied that the Guild had offered anything in the way of a "compromise," sayr ing the RWG "simply told us they won't seek certification." He doubt- ed, he said, that;.the, agenqy-PP,o.n.5S!r group would budge in its refusal to talk terms unless RWG is certified. Dawson Resigning CAB Toronto, Feb. 8. Because he wants to return to engineering, Harry Dawson has ten- dered his resignation as general manager of the Canadian Assn. of Broadcasters but will, remain on the job until after the completion of the annual CAB convention, to be held this year in Quebec City during March 8-11. " Understood successor will be named at closing session of conven- tioni ABC, Mutual After Bowes Tele Amateurs If Kaiser-FrazerPays ABC .and Mutual both apparently got the same idea about the same time: Why not try to sell.Kaiser- Prazer on bankrolling. the revived Major Bowes Amateur Hour on radio as well as on-tele? It occurred naturally to-Mutual, on which K-F already sponsors the four-a-week . "Newscope," because the web last year put together an audition of a new Major Bowes show in hopes of attracting a spon- sor. Some of the original staff of the Amateur Hour, who are now producing the show for K'F on Du- Monl tele, participated in the .un- successful Mutual-showcasing; Idea occurred to ABC because the show is being televised by DuMont at an hour (Sundays, 7-8 p.m.) which ABC could easily make available for simultaneous airing of the show. Here, itawas reasoned, might be a ready-made setup for radio-tele duplication, giving the auto outfit a unique chance, to hit both mediums with a;.-single prodliction effort,- All ABC needs: tO' do is shift its cur- rent 7-8 sustainers, "Child's World" and "Ellery Queen," to new time slots. K-F is thinking the idea over. FCC Overstaffed „ Sez House Group ■• Washington, Feb. "3. The House Appropriations! Com- mittee last week recommended a healthy $6,260,000 to underwrite op- eration of the FCC for the next fis- cal year, but made it clear it be- lieves "several activities under the Commission are overstaffed." The appropriation is $60,000 over last year's ■ FCC' budget and $240,- 000 less than was sought for the agency in fiscal 1949. The addi- tional $60,000 the House Committee said, will- take care of two-thirds of the in-grade promotions due FCC staffers next year. The House group rejected a request for $240,000 to hire new employees, suggesting in- stead that FCC do some reshuffling of payroUers in its different depart- ments. House report repeated a statement made last year to the ef- fect that expansion of radio activi- ties appears * to have reached ' its peak and should begin to taper off in the near future. . Blueprint of a Blueprint Ernest M. Walker, comedy program^ researcher, has come up with a new idea, a blueprint of a comedy show that serves as sample format f or all such programs. Blueprint, which he claims he's been working on for 18 months, based on his files of comedy shows, was finished only last week. Idea, he says, is a result of queries from various agencies and producers, who call him in on comedy shows they want to revise OE: improve,'particularly when they want suggestions for the addition of one or more.stooge characters to put into the show as brace for a comedy .star. Blueprint ef 20 pages is layout for a comedy show, with stress of characterizations, and types of characters-needed to insure a comedy, program's success. Blueprint characterizes various types; gives their' physical ,attributesi mental processes, characteristic actions; gives sam- ples of sequences, opening dialog, etc.; analysis of program features, plan of launching a show, and promotional and publicity details on a show. Walker claims that when writers have an appreciaflon of the natural actions of a character, a comprehensive picture of a charac- ter's background, blueprinted in front of them, they can turn out a ■.better■,script.■■. Odd sidelight to his blueprint, which is sample of a medicine show comedy titled "Come In Closer," is that two agencies have been in- terested in it enough, to want to audition it as a program itself. Walker, however, doesn't want to go into competition with himself, ' preferring to stick to research on programs. P&GSEZOKAYTO NOJBYCARRINGTON Procter & Gamble has waived its objections to Elaine Sterne Carring- ton doing a sustaining series, "Mar- riage for Two," .for CBS and the thing will debut on that network this Monday (9). The account had raised the question as to whether her assumption of a fourth network chore. wouldn't tend to thin out her attention to the three ;soap operas she already has on the air for P & G. When it was explained that she woqld not write the sustainer but merely; supervise it, P & G with- drew its opposition! Miss Carrington's three commer- cial operations are "Pepper Young's Family," "When a Girl Marries" and "Rosemary," the first two perennials and as a rule to be found within the first 15 daytimers on. the Hooper roster. FCC TAKES WMVA OFF HOOK VS. CIO Washington, Feb. 3? , The FCC after several months' deliberation last week decided to re- new the license , of WMVA, Martins; ville, Va., Station's license was on the hook because of protests from the CQI Furniture Workers' Union which was trying t() organize Mar- tinsville furniture workers. Under quizzing, station revealed to FCC that since 1942 it had followed the policy of making no time avail- able, either on a sustaining or com- mercial basis^ for the discusiiion ot union organizing, on ground that this topic was in itself "controver- sial" and undesirable for radio,' 'Queen for Day' Airer from Pitt. Precipitates Near-Riot AmongWomen FCC'SCOY.STERUNG WIN SENATE OKAY . Washington, Feb, 3. Commissioners Wayne Coy- and George S. Sterling won unanimous confirmation in the Senate here last Friday (30), The day before (29) Sen. Robert A. Taft, as spokes- man for the Senate Republican Policy Committee, revealed there would be no GOP opposition- to Coy's nomination. • Taft himself had objected to Cox's nomination even before President Truman sent Ws name up to Capitol Hill. Taft's opposition hit at Coy's active political role as head of sev- eral New Deal agencies and former aide to Franklin D, Roosevelt, How Hooper Rates'Em (Fell. 1) Fred Allen. 28.7 Fibber & Mojly. ..... .... 27.7 Jack Benny..,......,.,,., 27.6 Charlie McCarthy 26.2 Truth or Consequences,... 25.7 Bob Hope..... .....i, 24.7 Walter. W.inchell„ : 23.2. Amos 'n' Andy... ,,. 23.0 Lux Radjo Theatre....... 22.9 Phil Harris.......... 22.2 Red Skelton...........,., 21.8. Kraft Music Hall (Jolson), "21.4 Mr. District Attorney...,, 21.2 Godfrey's Talent Scouts.., 20.9 Duffy's Tavern............ 19.1 Raddatz Vs. Marge Kerr: 'American Male No Bargain As Portrayed Via Radio' Editor, Variety: Marge Kerr has a point in her article, "Take Them Teeth Outa My Wrist,- in the Vabjeiy anniversary number. But where she objects to the way' radio comedy shows por- tray women, I have always felt strongly about the way they, treat men. , How does the average male look by the time he filters through the loudspeaker into the typical Ameri- can home? Physically, he is prob- ably jnuch more unattractive than the comediennes Miss ;Kerr objects to. He has bags under his eyes; he is bald and usually tries to hide this fact with a crude toupee; he has a long riose; he is_ either too fat or too thm; "his clothes" are either Com- pletely nondescript or too loud; and. often as not, he wears long under- wear with a drop seat, His personality and temperament are equally bad. • He is a tightwad who underpays the members of his (Continued on page 36) Nieken Radio Index-Top Night & Day Shows "Cur, Prev, Rank Rank NIGHTTIME iTOTAL AVPIENCE* (Week Dec, 21-27) DAYTIME 1 2 3 4 5 e 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17- 18 19 20 2 1 6 8 S 11 4 3 7 NR 14 9 19 NR 13 12 NR NR NR NR Program Cur, Rating Fibber McGee ....,.... .31.2 Lux Theatre , .....31.1 Bob Hope . 28.5 Fred Allen 28.2. Red Skelton 28.0 Fitch Bandwagon ,.,,, .27.4 Edgar Bergen 26.9 Amos 'n' Andy ..... 26.2 Jack Benny .24.4 My Friend Irma . ... 23.2 Date With Judy 22.8 Truth or Conseq 22.1 Blondie 21.2 Screen Guild Players . .21.2 Sam Spade 20.9 Big Town .. .20.7 Man. Merry-Go-Round.. 20.5 Man Called X..... 20.4 People Are Funny ,,... 20.1 Waltz Time 20.1 Points Change 4-0.9 +0.2 +2.4 +2.2 + 1.5 +3.3 —0.2 ^2.2 —1.6 +2.5 +0.9 —3.5 —0.1 +3.2 —1.2 —1,6 —0,9 +0 3 +4"4 +4.4 Cur. Prev. Rank Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■ 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 TOTAL AUDIENCE Cur..: Program ' Rating 8 Arthur Godfrey ^ ...10.4 11 My True Story lo.l 7 Our Gal, Sunday 9.9 2 Backstage Wife 9.8^ 12 Big Sister .. 9,6 13 Wendy Warren 9.3 NR Road to Life ',, 9.2 1 Right to Happiness .,,, 9.1 15 Ma Perkins (C.B.S.);, ...9.1 NR Rom. Helen Trent ..... .-9.0 4 Stella Dallas 8.7 5 Pepper Young 8.5 NR Bkfst. Club (Philco) ... 8.5 . NR Aunt Jenny 8.4 NR Fred Waring 8.4 Points Change +0.3 +0.3 —0:3 —1.9 +0.2 —0.1 . +0.2 —2.6 0.0 0.0 —2.0 —2,1 +0.1 —0.2 —0.2 NR—Not ranked in top brackets on preceding report, * Includes only once-a-week shows, lS-60 Mins. (Copyrlgbt, 1947. A. C. Ni«leen Co.) ^Pittsburgh, Feb. 3. Mutual's "Queen For a Day" broadcast from, here lasst Tuesday afternoon (27) almost developed into a riot and up until just a few sec- onds before program went on the air.i it was anybody's guess as'to whether it would stay oh any length oif time. Reverberations are still be- ing heard all over town, with flock of petitions being Girculated for , presentation to the Better Business Bureau. More than 7,000 women jammed Hunt Armory for the show, paying $1.95 (including 45 cents for federal and city taxes) each, naturally with that mpuntain of prizes given away daily to the Queett.a$ the bSit. Local promoter was Ralph Harrison, agent and "booker, who reported he could have sold twice as many tickets if he could have found an auditorium with sufficient capacity. Women 'started' to line up out.side the Hunt Armory in the snow and cold as early as 8 o'clock in the morning, and by the time the doort were opened, three hours later, ex- tra police had to be called to handle the crush. From the very start, when the warmup began and assistants went around picking candidates to wear the Queen's crown, it was obvious things weren't going so well. Apparently the paying audience was told that each Section of the Armory would be canvassed for ]90s- sible queens, and obviously several sections were passed up entirely. That was the cue for the boos and catcalls to begin from all parts of the auditorium, and'they grew in momentum and continued right up to the time the program went on the air. Women were in a dark mood over-paying $1.95 admisision, with programs bringing an addition- al 50 cents, and they hit the ceiling; Reflection on City Finally, Jack Bailey, who m.c.'s "Queen," virtually got down on his knees and begged the ladies to let up. He told them that since tfie show was emanating from Pilt.s- burgh, wh^t the audience did dur- ing the broadcast would be a re- flection on the city, and he pleaded with them to stay quiet for the next half hour. That seemed to turn the trick, and there was very little com- motion after that, but following the broadcast itself, the hullaballoo broke out anew. Hundreds in the audience remained behind, yelling "it's a gyp," and demanding their (Continued on page 36) JOHNNY MERCER INTO SHORE-JAMES SHOW Deal has been closed by long dis- tance phone between Ken Dolan in Hollywood and John Hamm. radio exec of the Biow agency, in New York, for Johnny Mercer to be the third element on the Dinah Shore- Harry James musical for Philip Morris, to kick off on CBS Friday the 13th (of Feb.). Under terms of- the agreement. Mercer is committed for four weeks and will continue beyond that period if the air series does not conflict with his recording, stage or filnn ac- tivities. Mercer's weekly fe¥ on Luckies "Hit Parade" was $2,500 and understood that the payoff on the cigaret show will be slightly jmder that figure. Signing of Mercer scuttles the previously announced guestar policy.