What's on the air (Nov 1929-Feb 1931)

WHAT'S ON THE AIR Page 9 ^e^amm fammcemenk THE Federal Radio Commission has submitted to Congress its fourth annual report on its activities. It was just a year ago that the toga was draped about this regulatory body, making it a permanent one. But the Commission would be dyed a deeper purple, and now asks that Congress place in its hands power to silence the "racketeer" broadcasting stations which transgress the law, for periods not to exceed one month; that Congress exclude the Hawaiian Islands, Porto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Alaska from the five radio zones into which the nation is divided, decreasing the radius of radio, radically speaking; and here's the "rub" — or the "bump" — that Congress allow the Commission to compel the illumination and painting of radio towers, which, we are led to believe, interfere with aviation in the extent that ye olde telegraph pole used to impede automobile traffic. Some mighty interesting statistics have been fed into this report to Congress. It states that during the fiscal year 8,543 applications for radio permits of every nature passed through the hands of the Commission. Of these, 944 cases demanded a hearing, after which only seventyseven applications were granted, or approximately one out of every twelve presented. While the Federal R.adio Commission is fussing about the request of American broadcasting stations for more power, in other lands more than twenty stations using "super-power" are in process of construction. Russia is building a series of 100,000-watt power stations — just double the limit allowed to a chosen few broadcasters in America. Germany plans to replace its present aggregate of twenty-eight stations with eleven regional stations of "very high power." Oslo, Norway, is now using 60,000 watts. Italy is completing two 50,000-wattcrs. Ireland (Free State) is planning a station more powerful than the Daventry station of the British Broadcasting Company. ^ The U. S. Service Bands are back on the air with a series of concerts to continue until September, 1931. NBC announces the following schedule over its chains: Mondays, Marine Band, 4 to 5 P. M., NBC-WEAF network. Tuesdays, Marine Band, 10 to 11 a. m., NBC-WEAF network; Navy Band, 3 to 3:30 p. m., NBC WJZ network. Wednesdays, Army Band, 9 to 9:3 0 a. m., NBC-WJZ network. Thursdays, Army Band, 4:3 0 to 5 p. m., NBC-WJZ network. Fridays, Army Band, 9 to 9:3 0 a. m., NBC-WEAF network; Navy Band, 3:15 to 4 p. M., NBC-WEAF network. Definite announcement of CBS's plans in this regard has not reached us, but we know that many of these concerts, as well as an evening series, will be heard over the Columbia network. If the Federal Radio Commission permits, by the time these lines are read, WBAL, of Baltimore, and WTIC, of Hartford, powerful stations now dividing time on the same wavelength, will both be on the air full time on a permanent synchronizing plan. In our announcements last month, C. W. Not all of the programs directed to the housewife are of a sober and uplifting nature. As the title of their program, "The Sisters of the Skillet," indicates, the chubby comedians, Ed East and Ralph Diniikc, devote themselves to lightening housework as assiduously as do any vacuum-cleaner or electric-washer salesmen. The two comedians, who double as Isabella Fryett, homeeconomics expert, and Miss Pet Plenty, adviser of the lovelorn, started out on WGN at Chicago. Now the NBC is sending them at 1:41 to 2 p. m„ C. S. T., to WJZ, KWK, WREN, KFAB, KSTP, WMC and KOA. Horn, NBC general engineer, told our readers that a new transmitter has been developed which takes synchronization out of the laboratory stage. WTIC and WBAL propose to be the first stations to take advantage of this new development. The Quaker Early Bird (Charlie Hamp) completed his early morning series on December 13. The Quaker Man (Phil Cook) will conclude his morning programs December 31. We understand that the sponsor plans to concentrate on Phil Cook's evening program and to make it available to a much larger number of stations in January. In addition, the rumor reaches us that Gene and Glenn, of WTAM, may replace Hamp and Cook for a morning Quaker program. ,-: The Canadian National is continuing its Sunday afternoon series of symphonic concerts by the Toronto Symphonic Orchestra and a guest soloist. In addition to the coast-to-coast network of Canadian National Railways stations, this program [Continued on page 45 ] MAYTAG ORCHESTRA— Victor Young, director NBC. Mondays at 9 p. "i.