Variety (August 1950)

28 RADIO VjKRIETY Wednesday, August 9, 1950 $ 41000,000 Washington, Aug. 8, + A vast new program of radio transmitter construction costing $41,000,000 is contained in a $64,- 000,000 supplemental appropriation for the Voice of America voted Friday (4) by a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Commit- tee. A considerable part of the funds will be used to establish six “very powerful stations” for break- ing through the jamming opera- tions erected by the Soviet. The program also includes funds for the distribution of some 200>- 000 radio receivers to people be- hind the Iron Curtain. Testimony by State Department officials, made public by the com- mittee, reveals plans for a ring of relay bases abroad to beam both, medium and shortwave signals from the border areas of the Soviet. The program gives the Voice fa- cilities, said Foy D. Kohler, chief of the International Broadcasting Division, “where we : can really come to grips with the Russian jamming and get through it instead of having to fight it at arm’s length, as we have had to do so far.” One of the seven projects in the radio expansion program involves the use of new antennas aiid high- power transmitters providing, a sig- nal “of a type never before known in the radio world.” Much of the testimony in con- nection with the program was off the record, but it was disclosed that $400,000 will be spent for con- struction of Voice studios in New York and that a number of 100 kw Shortwave transmitters will be in- stalled on the East Coast. The receiver project calls for the expenditure of $2,860,000 for distribution of receivers, costing nearly $15 each, to key people “who can pass the news around.” These*are special sets, very small, weather and climate proof, de- signed for battery operation. Questioned by Rep. John J. Rooney (D-N.Y.), whether it would be possible to get such sets behind the Iron Curtain, Assistant Secre- tary of State Edward Barrett testi- fied he thought “as many as 5(1000 can get behind the Iron Curtain by the utilization of a number of channels .... , since we know how eager the Soviet and satellite peor pies are to get sets.” It was indi- (Continued on page 38) Cedric Adamses Set For Mpls. Husband-Wife Show Minneapolis, Aug. 8. First husband-wife radio , show to be staged ideally utilizes Cedric Adams, local and CBS network ether and TV personality and ace newspaper columnist here, and Mrs. Adams. It goes out over CBS’ WCCO at 7 p.m. Fridays for a half-hour. The Adamses invite as dinner guests for each show several w.k. localites. and they all join in a discussion around the table of do- mestic problems, giving their opin- ions during a sort of informal de- bate Problems are submitted by listeners who receive cash awards. Tnnter t Buffalo Radio Ed, Swiicks lo WBEN-TV , Buffalo, Aug. 8. Jim Tranter, for the past five years radio editor of • the Buffalo Evening News, has joined the pro- duction staff of WBEN-TV assisting in the presentation of local TV shows. Tranter has had extensive experi- ence in radio, stage and screen, playing in NBC serials and for. the past 72 weeks on WBRN-TV's “The Clue.” Chicago, Aug. 8. With a flock of key issues to be threshed out, this year’s national convention of the American Fed- eration of Radio Artists shapes up 'as one of the most important con- fabs in the union’s history. Some 150 delegates are expected for the four-day meet which opens here Thursday (10) at the Sheraton Hotel. It’s anticipated that the bulk of the parley’s attention will be de- voted to the formulation of hew network Wages and working con- dition Codes which will be used as the basis of negotiation With the webs when the present contracts expire in October. , Current con- tracts, Covering commercial, sus- taining and transcription rates, have been in effect since 1948.’ ‘Another item due for a consid- erable kicking around is the Tele- vision Authority-Screen Ac t o r s Guild hassle which has stalemated activity in the video field. And* too; the blacklisting issue is ex- pected to give rise to considerable discussion, with the likelihood that the union Will align Itself with the Radio and Television Directors Guild and; the Radio Writers Guild in opposition to the growing trend. Other business includes the ejection of national officers. ^ • • . _ , _ GUILFOYLE’S WOW PUB SPOT Omaha, Aug. 8. Lyle De Moss, acting general manager of WOW, has appointed •Thomas M. Guilfoyle, World War II air gunner, as publicity director for WOW, WOW-TV and KODY, North Platte,. Neb. Guilfoyle has been publicity , chief Of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and before that, Creigh- ton University news bureau, head. Assn, of National Advertisers, which today (Wed j starts . sending out copies of its “Radio Time Val- ues’* report to AM stations in TV areas, may cause A, C. Nielsen and C. E. Hooper some trouble thereby. The report, on which its pres- sure for rate reduction is based, used Nielsen and Hooper figures. Since these are copyrighted, the statistical outfits had to give their approval before they could be pub- lished. Consequently, some seg- ments of the industry are burning at Hooper’s and Nielsen’s furnish- ing ammunition to the forces de- manding lower rates. The networks’ refusing to sit down with ANA’s steering Commit- tee on the rate issue has posed a delicate problem to the sponsors group. They feel that they used the wrong approach, but still want rate adjustments.. One dilemma is that the same kind of pressure for lower prices may be used against ANA members themselves by associations in other fields. At a time when prices are being pushed. upwards, the ad managers of firms in the ANA may find them- selves embarrassed. Another problem Is that the ANA includes companies which are also in the broadcasting field. RCA, Westinghoufe and General Electric, all members of.the ANA, are also owners of radio stations—Whose (Continued on page 38) ABC is launching a novel Satur- day night marathon program “package” extending over a. two- hour (8 to 10) period. Designed as “Party Night,” each of the four back-to-baCk half-hour shows will have a basic question-and-answer formula in which home listeners can participate. A Sept. 16 teeoff is scheduled. ABC program topper Leonard E. Reeg fs currently blueprinting the block programming, involving the auditioning of three new au- dience participation properties, “Take A Stand,” “Laugh Clinic” and “Shoot for The Moon.” Art Henley will supervise the produc- tions; “Stand” has a celeb as guest and a person in the news as “sur- prise guest-” On the audition these will be former New Jersey Gov. Harold Hoffman and Mr. and Mrs. Jake LaMotta. “Laugh -Clinic” has. participants bring their personal problems to “Dr.” Win Eliot and “Nurse” Bob Quigley, who will have them enact roles in humorou^ situations to put their troubles into perspective-. Roy La Plant will direct both shows. “Shoot for the Moon” will fea- ture Bud Collyer as emcee with an “air travel” q & a format. Also going into the two-hour lineup will be Gypsy Rose Lee in “What Makes You Tick.” Unir. of Ulioois Sets Up FCC TO EXPEDITE ‘DISASTER’ Washington, Aug. 8. Pressure of recent military de- velopments last week caused the FCC to expedite plans for the es- tablishment of a “disaster commu- nications” service, discussions bn which were held in early summer. Commission set a deadline of Sept. 15 for filing of comments to pro- posed rules for the service. \ Purpose of the service, said FCC, is to provide emergency radio “in connection with disasters and other incidents involving loss of commu- nications facilities normally avail- able or demanding the temporary establishment of communications facilities beyond those normally available.” By “disaster and other incidents,” agency explained it meant “an occurrence of such a nature as to involve the health or safety of a community or larger area and would include, but not be limited to, floods, earthquakes, hur- ricanes and consequences of armed attack.” The Disaster service would op- erate in the 1750-1800 kc band. (The standard radio band is 550- 1600 kc). Any fixed, land or mo- bile station could qualify for par- ticipation iii such emergency opera- tion, also amateurs and commer- cial radio operators. Both gov- ernment and non-government sta- tions would . be eligible. There Would be. liaison with individual or network stations handling dis- aster communications on their own ji frequencies. ■*■■■..*■ Urbana, 111., Aug. 8. of Illinois here has estab- lished the Payne Communications Awards to encourage pro and ama- teur writers to give attention to significant materials and to bring their skills to educational radio. Prizes of $500, $250, $150 and $100 will be awarded to four scripts which will be produced and aired by the university’s stations, WILL and WIUC. Transcriptions will be made available for broadcasting by other non-commercial, educa- tional outlets. Judges in the competition, which closes Jan. 15, 1951, are Erik Bar- nouw, of Columbia U.; Homer Heck, program director, WMAQ, Chicago; Robert B. Hudson, radio director of the U. of Illinois; and Wilbur Schramm, dean y of the com- munications division of the uni- versity. Prize coin comes from the Payne Fund of N. Y., of which Margaret Walker is director. IN NEW YORK CITY . . . Charles Luckman announcing new affiliation later this week;.. Brig. Gen. Edward L, Munson, ,ex-20th-Fox, named director of NBC Film Division.. . .Hal Davis, Kenyon & Eckhardt veepee, bedded With pneumonia... .George Weissmait, Of Ben Sonnenberg office, and Danny O’Shea; of Cecil & PrCsbrey in Houston setting up Johnny Olsen’s “Luncheon Club” appearance for Philip Morris at Food. Fair in the Shamrock Sept. 3-6. Morris Novik in Chi for AFL exec committee meeting. Federation’s Frank Edwards MBS newscast will originate tomorrow (Thurs.) from Morrison hotel With Sen; Lucas and William Green participating . ; . , Tom Lane, of McCann-Erickson, bedded several: Weeks with a blood clot Next year’s Institute for Education by Radio at Columbus skedded for May 3J5. Ohio State U’s Keith Tyler per usual asking suggestions for speakers; topics. William C. Brearley is new WOR account exec and Frank j. Shakes- peare, Jr., joins WOR-TV as salesman,,, The William A. Schudts, jr, (CBS station relations director) have named their first child Alicia Marie...; Ted Mack, who Was gifted with a 50-poilnd cake from the city of Passaic on his Aug. 1 broadcast, donated it to the Kingsbridge Veter- ans’ hospital:. . . William Brooks, NBC veepee, and Harry Kopf, net’s administrative ycepee, sailed for Europe last week on the lie de France as did Paul Deac and Noel Pinault of the “Voice of America”. .. .Milo Boulton of WPAT on radio committee of disabled vets’ “Garden of Stars’’ for Madison Sq. Garden benefit Sept. 20. » • .CBS announcer Fielden Farrington just wound his second novel, for winter publication by Crown. His first, “Big Noise,’’ was released in ’46.... Oliver Trey* upped to presentation director for ABC, filling Vacancy caused by the death of Maurice L. Gaffney.. ; George Lewis of Gagwriters Institute touring the Brain Belt—Yale, Harvard* Dartmouth, etc.—will be back Aug. 21. Marjorie Hutchinson, secretary to Ted Cott, manager of WNBC, goes to altar with Tom McFadden, former manager of station and now head- ing up NBC’s Coast video, operation in L.A. .... WOR’s J^ck Poppele chairing N. J. defense communications committee. . . .Jerry Shard and his WMCA band playing nightly at Hickory House.... WFDR recorded appeals for blood by five Brooklyn Dodgers... Josh Shelley, Arthur Kohl and John D._ Seymour new to “David Harum”....Burt Braaler added to “Helen Trent”... .Dick Sanders is new “Stella Dallas” player .... Eleanor Sherman joins “Lorenzo Jones.” IN HOLLYWOOD . . Joe Thompson swung over to ABC as producer after many years at the controls for NBC. He moves in^o the spot vacated,by Jack Worm- ser, who was upped to full-blown director.. ^.Television Authority hired Peter Prouse, radio actor-producer, to front for the organization and handle press for AFRA and other affiliated groups Peter Potter was Chesterfield’s choice of the Coast dee jays for its jock special Aug. 23, His frau, the ex Beryl Davis, Will run his TV show while he’s east tap- ing his bit .... Prentice White, late with the late Berg-Allenberg agency as auditor-comptroller, taken on by CBS as administrative assistant in the program business department.. . . KECA rushes the football season by airing the pro game between Washington Redskins and L. A. Rams Aug. 16 ... . Harry Wismer is being shipped here by ABC to call the plays while Hank Weaver colors up the byplay.... A1 Capstaff, pro- ducer of the Bob Hope airshows, had a close call last week When his appendix burst. He was speeded to the hosp in time to avoid a gan- grenous spread and now is well on the mend,...Ted Pearson, announcer for so many yeaTs on “Cavalcade of America,” may change his mailing address from N. Y. to Hollywood, He came out for a sabbatical and doesn’t want to go back..., Frank Cooper is keeping his writers busy by shipping them to N. V., where they are not as abundant as here. Trekking to the other seaboard are Elwood Schwartz, Snag Werrls and Jerry Ross. .. ,C. E. Hooper being towed around town by Jack O’Mara for friendly and business calls on subscribers to the rating service.... Elliott Lewis got a picture call so he turned over production of “The Lineup” to David Friedkin at KNX. Wilders Preen For Overseas Vacation Col. Harry S. Wilder, president of WSYR, Syracuse, N. Y., re- turned to his home-towr. over the weekend after a week’s shopping splurge by Mrs. Wilder, prepara- tory to their sailing Sept. 14 on the Queen. Mary. ’ They’ll be gone five weeks, re- turning On the lie de France Oct, 24. It’s his first trip over since the radio broadcasting industry's group of VIPs flew abroad for a month’s inspection of postwar radio installations August, 1945. to Washington, Aug. 8. John H. Koepf, former Washing- ton representative and television manager for the Fort Industry Co., joined the staff of the Radio-Teler vision Mfrs. Assn, last week as as- sistant to James D. Secrest, secre- tary and general manager. Koepf, a former newspaperman, was sales promotion director for WLW in Cincinnati and assistant director of radio for Procter A Gamble before the war. IN CHICAGO . . . Chick Allison, Who sold his N. Y. home six weeks ago, to move from Radio Sales into WBBM’s assistant sales manager berth, has now sold his Chicago home to become WBBM’s N. Y. rep, replacing Gil Johnston who joins Radio Sales as an account exec... .Lyle DeMoss, acting gen- eral manager of WOW and WOW-TV, Omaha, here to address the clos- ing banquet of NBC-Northwestern U summer radio' institute . . . Ben Bodec in Chi on business last week.... Harry Wismer planed in to handle the play-by-play account of the All Star football game Friday night (11) on Mutual., . .Red Grange will assist with the color and star tistics Marty O’Shaughhessy, ex-Chi Variety mugg, is making a pitch to local stations for a’news show aimed at teenagers, using the 80-strong student reporting staff working for his city-wide teen weekly newspaper. Soft drink sponsor reportedly is interested. .. Chick Show- erman, Chi NBC veepee, passed out pins to 31 .staffers who have been with the company for 20 years and to 13 10-year club members at annual NBC outing last week. Ed Davies won the Showerman golf trophy at the affair.. . Hal Totten and Frank Sweeney to cover the Tam O'Shan- ter golf tourneys this week for WGN... .George Diefenderfer, Chi NBC salesman, came up with a 52-week renewal for the weekly “National Farm and Home Hour” from AHis^Chalmers and the cross-the-board Alex Dreier newscasts and the weekly “This Farming Business” from the Skelly Qil Co., on 25-station regional net.... WBBM sales manager Ralf Brent slated to speak at Ohio U’s annual Advertising and Sales Promotion parley in October.. . John Norton, ABC Chi veep, spent the weekend in N. Y. huddling with ABC toppers... Mrs. Robert Landry directed the variety show which highlighted the annual Crosley dealers* confab here Monday (7) .; George Firestone moves from the Chi NBC promotion staff, to fill the WMAQ sales post vacated by Jack Schneider’s resignation to join the Chi CBS-TV spot sales staff ... Don Danielson, member of the WBBM publicity staff for the past four and a half ye&rs, has been upped to assistant public relations director slot at station .. WMAQ is airing “Don’t be a hoarder—be an American” spot 20 times daily. Slogan was originated by Homer Heck, program manager, and Hal Smith, ad-promotion chief ... . Dirk Courtenay, Chi disk jockey, re- called to the Army as a first lieutenant Bill Jenkins joins WBBM as staff announcer berth he’d held at WTOB, Washington, D C. . ... Sam Cowling, comedian on ABC’s “Breakfast Club,” leaves this week for a4ortnight iq North Carolina. Cincinnati — Station W C H S, Charleston, W. Va., was first place winner iff the contest conducted by the Red Top Brewing Co., to find the best promotion campaign put on by the 29 stations airing beer company’s “Lonesome Gal” show. Second place went to WSOC, Char- lotte, N. C. WSAC, Huntington, W. Va., took third place. Chi office of Ruthrauff it Ryan handles the ac- count Industry is looking to the new chlorophyll deodorant pills to pro- vide another coin bonanza ^uch as the anti-histamine splurge brought into its coffers. With the majof drug houses ex- pected to get into the competition for the anti-body-odor, anti-lmar- tini-odor market, broadcasters are nosing out a rush of sweet-scented biz this winter.