Variety (April 1950)

M mAnio On Carpet for One-Sided View Slant Washington, AjprU 25. > For the sejC 9 nd time wi^in a Week, FCC has called a radio sta- tion on the* carpet for prie-sided editorialization and restated Its requirement that broadcasters must take affirinatlve steps to pre- sent both: sides of controversial 'issues.' Acting on a complaint by the United Autb' Workers that WWJ, Petroitl refused to sell Or grant them time to present their side of the Chrysler strike, the Com- mission advised .the station its con- duct in the case -'is. not in accord” with FCC policy. Agency re- quested WWJ to review its action and submit “a turther statement” on it. ' Commission directed . attention to its policy statement of last June in Which it: said that "where the licensee has deter- mined that the subject is of suf-' ficient import to receive^'broad- cajst attention, it would obviously not be in the pubiic interest for spokesmen for one of the oppos- ing points of view to be able to exercise a Veto power over the entire presentation by refusing to broadcast its position.” Since the issues in the Chrysler strike, FCC s a i d.’, ”are ad- mittedly of public importance . . . it seems clear -that the policy of the station in connection with this matter is contrary to the . . . prin- ciple set forth in the (June 2). der cisiori.” WWJ, owned by the Detroit Eve^ ning News, had informed the. Com* mission its policy in the Chrysler strike is not to grant time for discussion of the issues unless both the union and management "agree among themselves, in ad- vance, that they wUl jointly make use of such facilities, and that both parties jointly and simultaneously request the use of WWJ's facili- ties.’- Station said that Chrysler refused the offer and therefore it decided to withhold its facilities altogether. Previously, On April 13, the Commission took WXilB, New York, to task for a campaign in behalf of a National Fair Employ- ment Practices Commission. Sta- tion’s argument that issue was not controversial in community, because FFPC is in effect in New York state, was not accepted by the FCC, which insisted that broadcasters have _ obligatiohs to give "balanced presentation.” Hollywood, April 25. H. J. :Heinz Co. will sponsor "Ozzie and Harriet” for a second year on ABC. . After June 16 show it will, take H-week vacation, instead of usual 13, returning to air Sept. 7 for a 42-weOk rum Although Philip; Morris, via Mil- ton BioW agency, has bought the Tuesday night time on CBS for a switchover of Halph Edwards’ "This is Your Life” from its Wednesday night tenancy on NBC, there ap- pears a strong Ukelihbod that this fall will And Edwards’ other NBC show, ”Truth Or Consequences,” occupying the Tuesday CBS time. In that event, "Life” would become ■a.casualty,, ;'V: Originally that Was Philip Morris’ plan, but it appears that Procter & Gamble, which sponsors "T or G’’ Saturday nights on NBC, is holding off on its filial decision whether to tet “T or C” go by the boards.; If P Ac G does relinquish it, as is expected, it Will cue a quick grab- off by Philip Mortis for the CBS time in place Of : "Life. ” Under those circumstances, NBC would be left holding the ba|g on .two 'half- hours. "This Is Your Life’’ rides out, its closing cycle on CBS. Edwards wants a summer vacation, so Philip Morris is buying a musical stanza as, a- filler: ■ harry SALTER MUSICAL DIRECtOR Stop the MusIc^ABC . on On Hartford, April 25. Failure of WONS here to carry a dpubleheader Sunday afternoon of the Boston Braves-Philadelphia Phils game created qUite a furore. 'More than 1,000 calls were regis- tered at the station and the Hartr ford Gourant, a few minutes after the game was scheduled to go off. Station was forced to cancel the aircast, which originated at Boston, because of an International League home game fit Springfield. The Springfield Club is about 25 miles from Hartford. Baseball regula- tions on the broadcasting of games call for a 50-riitle separation from ball park to station transmitter. WONS had not gotten a waiver from the Springfield club on the airing of games when the Massa- chusetts teanv played at home. Schedule of WONS calls for broadcasting of all jgames of the Boston teams of both leagues. Games not carried live are to be carried recreated. Station is de- voting both af tern opn and evening sessions to the ball games, seven days a week. WONS had been advised as early as last Wednesday (20) that it couldn’t carry any Boston games when Springfield played at home. Informant was legal department of WHpH at Boston, originating point of Bpstori games. According to Halph Kiein> program director of Cleve. Law Officer Sez Cleveland, April 25. V Giveaway prograths are techni- cally violating phio;and Cleveland statutes when they are carried by local statiohs, according to Joseph H. CrowleyV chief counsel in the Cleveland Law PeP^- Crdwley’s ruling, involving both local and network shows, is a re- sult of proposed legisiation, now in council Committee, aimed at amending the City’s statutes on games Of chance. The amendrhent would ease restrictive clauses deal- ing with lotteries for charity. In discussing: the amendment, Crowley pointed oiit ; that give- aways entertain . the same prin- ciples as’"involved in "games or schemes of chance,” namely, "a prize, cohsideration, and chance.” He points out that in a giveaway, there is a prize awarded for iden- tifying a song, etc; there is con- sideration in that the listener must be tuned in bn either the AM or televised show, and finally there is the element of chance, the one chance that your phone number is going to be selected. Crowley also, stated that he be lieves interstate commerce protec- tion isn’t valid, because, in the case of a phone Cali, the "contract to engage in the contest is made when the; Greater Cleveland listen- er picks up the phone here, and acceptance is made here.” Washington, April 25v; FCC Chairman Wayne Coy yes- terday proposed a . measure to the Senate Commerce Committee to prohibit the franismission of horse racing betting information by ra-, dio, television and other interstate communications.; ;; Testifying before : a subcommit- tee headed by Sen, Ernest W. Mc- Farland (D., Ariz.),; Coy^ favored legislatibh to prohibit interstate transmission of gambling informa- tion but urged that Congress "spell out in clear; unmistakable language” ■ what the broadcaster can and cannot; do; The Commis- sion bill, he said j wmuld not inter- fere with the broadcast of the Kentucky Derby and other races but would cut out information On betting odds. . - Coy said he thought the time has come for the federal govern- ment to assist the states In stamp- ing out gambling. The FGC pro- posal, he explained, would go a long way toward wiping out the bookies Who depend on informa- tion on betting odds to carry on their business. Sen.; Honier Capehart (R.i Iiid:), told Coy he liked the Commis- sion’s bill better. than one submit- ted by the Justice Dept. But he said he was not convinced that the objective cannot; be achieved by local enforceineiit authorities. He thought the prosecuting attorneys should be called before the com- mittee to explain why they Can’t enforce state aiid municipal anti- gambling laws, Capehart wanted to know why the Atty, General is trying to "pass the buck” to the FCG ort the anti- gambling question. FCC general counsel Benedict Cottone said the Justice Dept, be lieves the Commission can pass upon, the questions on, a case-tb- case basis. He pointed to difficul- (Continued on page 44) in SEALTECT IN BIG SPOT National Dairy Products is prep- ping a big spot campaign to replace "pordthy : Dix,” cross - the - hoard morning soaper; , which Sealtest dropped oh NBC a few weeks back. Drive Wiil be in additidn to Seal- test’s bahkrollirig of, "Kulka, Fran and: Ollie” one night weekly bn NBG-TV. Move will parallel Borden’s deci- WONS, no notification had been [ sion to get but of network radio in , given to station’s listeners of this ruling. Station had waited until Sunday to determine whether Springfield game would be rained put. A last-minute check deter- inined that game would be played, and notice ^was read over the air ^ that, due to "baseball regulation.s, I fame couMn’t be carried. favor of selective spot radio, which resulted in its exiting of "Couhty Fair” pu CBS, Peeling is that the scattered distributioh of dairy products requires use of spot ad- yertising Which conforms to mer- chandizing patterns, rather than the broad coverage of network iairei’s. Arbitration proceedings by the American Federation of Radio Artists; against WMGM, N. Y. which get Under way this week, are epnsidered by arinoUheers as an irnpprtant move to stop the trend of indies "trying to pay off their disk jockeys in phonograph rec- •ords.;’’ Involved in the case are three freelancers,' Keri Roberts,^^ Ted Brown and Hal Tunis, whprn the union charges were paid the regu- lar staff rate of $10 per commercial half-hour instead of the freelance, rate of .$15. Reason for the higher outside fate, AFRA points out, is that it prevents stations from hiring freelahcers and eutling down oh their regular staffers. Announcers on staff are burned at the deal al- legedly made with .the three free- lancers, because they make their coin less on their base pay than on their commercial fees,- while Roberts, Tunis and Brown took over about 414 hours daily. Request by Bertram Lebhar, , WMGM. manager, for a meetfcg with the AFRA local board w^s de- nied Ifist week and the case goes to arbitration. • ■ ■ As.' Wednesday, April . ‘ * i ' ' ' Washington, April 25. The Russian people are being taught that American broadcasting is "corrupt,’’ "reactionary,” "low quality,” a greedy tool of the Instigators of war, spreading "war hysteria and race hatred’* and is under the rigid censorship of the FBT and UnVAmerlcah Activi- ties Comniiittee, American station and network operators can learn hq^ Russians visualize them in some highlights pi this recent broadcast over Radio Moscow, as monitored here by official U, S. GoVerntnent monitors. The "explanation” of how the American broadcasting system operates; decljyrcd in part: ; ; : .v V "American broadcasting, like the American screen, vreacti6nBu;y press and literature, is bptsoning the politloally backward and un- cultured people with the virus of chauvmism and mUitaiism.^^^^T^^ radio network spreads a frenzied propaganda of raciiM b atomic neives, and war hysteria^ ' -I y ; "The standard radio plays, the so-called ’soap operas’ are.devoid of talent to the last degree. The American radio do«sn’4t lag be- hind Hollywood in the productiph of low quality radio films, fhe. only difference between the two is that the television prbgi'aihs' al;e. hot only calculated to debauch youth but also to deceive the bhyers. On ah average the radio advertising P'gencies present -their' listen- ers with about loo features, plays and stories pn detective subjects per day. The heroes are murderers, sadists and gangsters. "The greed of American radio services is well known, , "Millions of ordihary people in the United States regard their radio with contehipt and loathing.; . The unbearable vulgarity of radio advertising, the wild howls of the jazjzj the stupidity of the radio play, the false political commentaties, provoke the indigna- tion of all honest people of the United States/ "Still more ferocious is the censorship exercised by the FBI and the UhrAmerican Activities Committee. The broadcasting com- panies pbedienUy fulfill all the directives of the secret police, The smallest suspicion of feeling for the ‘Beds’ or sympathy for the progressive organizations deprives a person forever from access to the'microphone.’^ f VI y GM nck$2 Sttitimef la ‘Beal,^ General Mills, which has nego- tiated the multiple summer pack- age deal with NSC, has thus far decided on two fit the web shows ^"Night Beat,” which preems May 1 under the GM banner in the Monday night at K) slot, and Brian Dpnlevy’s "Dangerous Assignment; which goes into the Wednesday night 10; 30 time, effective May 3. However, when Rexall picks up ! sponsorship of Dick Power’s "Rich- ard Diamond” fpr a summer tide, latter gets the Wednesday time, with the Donlew airer being shift- ;^cd to a new time segment; CBS’ first-quarter statement for 195(), issued at last week’s stock- hplder meeting, showing a net in- come for the three-month period practically dpubling the ’49 figure (earning per share is 9.5c compared to SOc), reflects the web’s cuiTent position of affluence. . The advances in the consolidated income statemeht (covering not only broadcasting, but Columbia Records and other subsidiary en- terprises) are attributed chiefly to a 4.8 % increase In network radio billings, although several other fac- tors enter into the picture. These include the more healthy Columbia Recording situation in contrast to a year ago, the web’s tightened TV pperatipn, plus the fact that CBS effected eepnomies of nearly $1,- 000,000 eaiiy last year, but^ which only how show up on the financial statement. CBS’ gross income; for the three months (less discounts and com- missions) .ariiounted to\$21;805,390,; compared with $18,802,093 for ’49. The .net income for the period was $1,626,750, which contrasts with the $855,764 net for the first quair- 'ter:ih/49,', ■/ Grove •Laboratories will pick iipi the tab for 'The Shadow” on the entire. Mutual web, starting Juhe 11, taking over the eastern hookup of 5Q-odd statiohs which D-L-W Goal had been backing for several '.y^ars.'. Mbs wanted to get put of the split-web situation, but although D-L-W had the show optioned, it didn’t have national distfibution and couldh’t take the whole net. Washington, Aprik 25, Sen. Edwin C. Johiidon (D.v Col.) yesterday (24) opposed giving'<*th€ chairman of the FCC :power over the staff, on. such a. step would te^d "'to\& feeding the tendency of a;sjmall group of sehipr staffers ‘‘t<i/|en- deavor to formulate polidj^ khe agency and to rup It.’* / Appearing before*' the Senate Committee on ExpendituFes con- sidering H 0 o V e r reorganization plans, Johnson, who is chairman of • the Senate Commerce Coiiimitte^, said that staff members at'^s^ agencies as the FCC ‘‘have long sought to set the policies.” ;'' ■ He testified that.reiiance of the Commissioner on staff for re-_ search, legal opinions and other . information “somewhat facilitates. this^ objective. . However, . the ne- cessity for the staff converting the full membership: to either views and the fact that the full member- ship has a voice ii^he selection of the staff not only prevents such small groups from dominating the Commission/ but gives each Com- missioner an opportunity to pro- Gure independent advice from members of the staff in whom the individual Commissioner has con- fidence. “Tp put into the hands of a chairman, appointed by: the Presi- dent, the power of ‘full super- (Continued on page 44) Mpis. Newscaster Signi Unique Pact; Can Take Oil Minneapolis^ April 25. George Grim, WCGO newscaster- commentator, signed a new exclu- sive three-year contract with the station/ which has unique provi- sions; for radio. Veteran of /some 22; years in radio (he started at WGGU at Coney Island) Grim is an invet- erate traveler. Contract provides he may take off for anywhete at any time and resume br6adca.sii.ng pn his return. He has a morning news show and a night show of comment; Fpreign travel has resulted ' i li some 700; foreign broadcasts, Gri in has done pn-spot reporting Troth 57 foreign. countries. .He did a series in 1936 on Hitler’s iTse/; covered entry of AmerlGan troops^ to .Ber- lin, Greek civil war, birth of India and Pakistan, Italian elections/ and the first war crimes tinals; In the past 11V months. Grim made 170 talks In 87 towns, to 86,000 people, on varipus subjects of foreign development. Since Nov. 21, he made 92 talks in 52 towns, driving back to Minneapolis after each/ He hires a driver so he can tffke off his shoes and sleep ori the way home, in preparation for a 6:40 a m. get-up time.