Evening Star Newspaper, September 29, 1935, Page 81

N THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., SEPTEMBER 29, 1935—PART FOU. RADIO BOOM EXPECTED TO CARRY SALES BEYOND Demahd for Auto Sets Doubles During Year Gross Expected to Hit $350,000,000 in 1935. Farm Market Reported on Increase. : wH | Ethiopian capital, with the Emperor, Bj? ’he Radto Edltot‘. | the );:mprse.s and their daughter OMETHING like the boom days | (heaking in their native Amharic or of 1929, when radio produc- | in"prench and with an interpreter tion reached its all-time peak. | yranqiating their speeches into Eng- Is being enjoyed in the manu- | jish nave not been particularly clear. facture and distribution of radio sets, { That is undoubtecly why the Ameri- tubes and parts this year. If, as eX- | cqn petworks have not attempted pected, 1935 sales of radios reach the many pick-ups from Addis Ababa, al- 5,000,000 mark. the industry will act-) though it is known that they hope to ually excéed 1929 in the number of | try more from time to time with units sold, if not in dollars and cents | American newspaper correspondents .is-over these channels of radio that volume. Fifty thousand workers cur- rently employed in the 150 radio manufacturing plants of the United States represent their highest employ- ment since 1929. Bond P. Geddes, executive director of the Radio Manufacturers' Associa- tion, attributes the boom to better purchasing power among labor and farm elements, particularly the latter, who are buying battery sets in greater volume than ever. Added to that, he said, is the desire among set owners to replace their old sets with the | newer all-wave models in order to take advantage of foreign reception. | “We expect,” said Geddes, “from the | way the market has been going dur- | ing the Summer, and with the best | sales months still ahead, that at least 5,000,000 radios will have been sold | by the end of the year. This includes automobile radios and battery sets. Last year 3,300,000 radios and 780,000 automobile receivers were sold for a total of about $235,000,000. This year the market is at least double for auto- mobile radios, and we expect the gross for all types of radios will run close to $350,000,000.” Federal money pouring into the farm regions is very largely respon- sible for the heightened market for farm radios. Geddes also believes the | excellence of program offerings of the | radio stations and networks is provid- ing a stimulus to sales, although he | calculates that only a small propro- | tion of the new sets being sold this year are going into homes that never before had radios. | AT THE beginning of 1935 it was estimated that fully 21,000,000 homes, or about 70 per cent of Amer- | ican homes, had radios. If 1,000,000 of the 5,000,000 sets sold this year go into non-radio homes, the proportion will exceed expectations. Most of the new set buyers are purchasing replace- ments or additional sets for the home, and the trend is decidedly away from the cheap midget models back to the bigger and more expensive console | models, according to Mr. Geddes. i Heightening the bright outlook of the radio market was the New York Radio and Electrical Exposition, which closed in New York this week end. ‘The interest shown in the exhibits | was reminiscent of the former annual | shows held in New York and other cities, most of which were discon- tinued during the depression years. | Despite the fact that prices are | higher for most radios, interest was focused largely on the better models ‘with the wider tone ranges. Average‘ prices ran between $25 and $75, but‘ the range varied from $10 to nearlyl $1,000. | Perhaps the outstanding new devel- | opment of the year, aside from furni- ture designs and new tuning gadgets, | J<' . was introduction of the metal tube. | ‘Within the industry the argument is | atill raging over their efficiency, some | manufacturers swearing by them and | others deriding them as being purely | experimental. Nevertheless, 11 per | cent of this year'’s output contain metal tubes and 38 per cent of the manufacturers are adopting them in some of their models. Although the metal tube is said to | be ideally adapted to auto radicf, it | is significant that not a single auto| radio set being marketed has incor- | porated them as yet. SOME idea of the uncertainties that | p;, will be encountered by the Amer- fcan naval radio men now on their way to Addis Ababa to set up a shoit- e radic station for communication with the State Department here—as- suming that Emperor Haile Selassie grants them the unprecedented extra- territoriality right of radioing from | the American Legation there—already | has been given by the difficulties en- countered in getting broadcasts | through to the American audience from the Ethiopian capital. Military and communications ex- perts here regard it as a foregone certainty that, once hostilities begin, the Italians will lose no time in dis- patching aircraft from one of their aeacoast bases on the mission of wip- ing out Ethiopia’s single radio sta- tion. The station bears the interna- tional call of ETA. It is regularly a point-to-point telegraph transmitter, but it was specially shaped into a di- | rectional broadcasting station for the several short-wave voice broadeasts that were attempted. | It was undoubtedly because the ex- | perts believe that Italy may demolish the station and cut the single tele- graph wire that connects Addis Ababa with Djibouti, in French Samoliland, that the State Department borrowed four radio men from the Navy and last week sent them to Ethiopia. They will go to Havre first and then ship on a French vessel for Djibouti, whence they will proceed with their portable wireless apparatus into the interior capital. It will be at least a month before they get there, and probably longer. NTERNATIONAL radio records re- veal that Station ETA was estab- lished exactly three years ago and regularly operates with 3,700 watts on the short and ultrashort wave lengths of 7,620, 11,955 and 18,270 kilocycles. Regularly it contacts either Cairo or London, depending upon the time of day and atmospheric conditions. American short-wave listeners who understand code should be able to pick up—assuming atmospheric con- ditions are favorable—the first wave mentioned at night and the last one during the period between 9 to 12 a.m. ‘The 11,955 kilocycle channel is not regarded as susceptible of favorable reception here, but is probably used for daytime contacts with London. It the bulk of the press dispatches is carried out of Addis Ababa to the outside world. The traffic in words is handled chiefly by the British cable- ‘wireless organization, with the Radio Corp. of America handling the Ameri- can end. ‘The several short-wave voice relays that have been attempted from the ‘u the speakers. RADIO listeners in all probability will tune in on the world nriasi base ball championship next month, but the chances are that they will be | offered as regular sustaining rather than sponsored features. Last year Henry Ford purchased the exclusive broadcasting rights for the championship games at a figure of | $100,000, exclusive of the payment to the stations and networks for their time. Thus far this year, however, there have been no bidders for the rights, mainly because few of the net- work station outlets will guarantee that they will make all of the air time | needed available. Radio Rules Tightened. CLAMPING down on alleged violators | wn the one hand and issuing laudatory citations on the other, the Federal Communications Commis- sion’s telegraph division has served notice on radio operators, particularly | aboard ships, that they must hew to | the line so far as regulations are con- | cerned. Two steamship lines have been cited already for hearings in| ‘Washington for alleged infractions. At the same time Chairman Anning S. Prall, who sits as an ex officio mem- | ber of the F. C. C. telegraph division. has sent out commendatory letters to James W. Hodges, radio operator of | the S. S. Dixie, for his excellent serv- ice when the ship struck a reef dur- ing the Florida hurricane. Prall also sent a congratulatory letter to Fred | E. Bassett, jr, a radio amateur of | Eustis, Fla., for setting up emergency | communications during the hurricane | while other lines of communication | ‘were wrecked. The Pacific Steamship Lines was | Helen Hayes (left), famous stage and screen star, who will begin a new series on N. B..C. October 1. “The New Penny,” a radio play written especially for her, will be her vehicle. In the center is Joan Winters, who was featured in the stage versions of “Apron Strings” and “Nancy's Private Daylight Saving End To Start Programs Hour Earlier Here With the end of daylight sav- ing time, network programs on N. B. C. and Columbia will come into Washington an hour earlier today and until next Spring. The shift, as in previous years, will confuse the broadcast sched- ule and result in the juggling of a number of programs on local origin. Radio Stars on Stage. VERITABLE “London busmau’s holiday” has been enjoyed for the past few weeks by those air fa- vorites—Block and Sully, Lou Holtz and Belle Baker, who are now making a stage apeparance in their million- cited because it is alleged to have had | laugh show at Loew's Fox Theater. a broadcast receiver operated in the ship radio room for entertainment on | Their air runs completed early this Summer, they all turned back to their the S. S. Emma Alexander, which sails | first loves, the stage—not so much for between Los Angeles and San Fran- cisco. This was said to divert the | the emoluments connected therewith, | but rather to freshen up their direct operators’ attention from their regular | audience reacticn. Job, particularly from distress watches. | All are expected to return to major The Ocean Steamship Co. was simi- larly cited because its S. S. City of | Holtz with his swinging cane and Birmingham carried only one oper- | unique dialects having negotiations newal to WLBF leaves the way open ator when two are required. —_— Troupe to Celebrate. THE Show Boat troupe will celebrate | its third anniversary on the air with a special broadcast over N. B. C. October 3. Lanny Ross will have the | dual role as soloist and master of | ceremonies. President to Go on Air. OUR of President Roosevelt's ad- dresses during his Western trip will be broadcast by both N. B. C. and Columbia. The most important speech will be that at Boulder Dam tomorrow. An- | other is scheduled Tuesday. It will | originate in Los Angeles. RENOVIZE . . . your home| Renovizing that is not commonplace EBERLY’S SONS ‘ DISTRICT 6357 3 Phone “Eberly’s” RADIO SERVICE Anywhere in the City Let Our Service Engineer Inspect Yours. Phone CO. 6653 GUARANTEE RADIO CO. 3142 11th St. N.W. = AUTO RADIO OFFICIAL PHILCO SERVICE L.S.JULLIEN, I/ 1443 P St.NW. N0.807% = FREE INSPECTIONS ON ANY MAKE RADIO OUR 'RADIO. EXPERTS " SPECIAL PR ALLWAVE AERIALE 938 F ST. N.W. Attention, =i Fsh 4 Fanciers!! o THIS WEI To-caL aRK"" : $2.89 Now is the time to move your outdoor stock of gold, tropical fish, etc., indoors where they may afford you the same pleasure and happiness they gave you in your outdoor ponds this Summer. We ‘have just purchased quite a stock of aquariums for indoor displays, and offer them, in as- sorted sizes, at reasonable rates for your approval. = Schmid’s Emporium of Pets 712 12th St. NW. Fish Department—Met. 9086 We Deliver in the City. commercials before snow flies, with Three Papers Buy Stations 'HE way was paved for three more newspapers to acquire radio sta- tions when the Federal Communica- | tions Commission last week authorized the assignment of WFBE, Cincinnati, to Continental Radio Co., and KGKO, | Wichita Falls, Tex., to Amon Carter, in addition granting a regular license renewal to WLBF, Kansas City, Kans. WFBE now becomes the property of the Scripps-Howard subsidiary, which is also seeking new 100-watt stations | in Toledo and Columbus. It will be- come affiliated with the Cincinnati| Post, and its call letters will be | changed to WCPO. KGKO. besides being acquired by Mr. Carter, who is publisher of the | Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has been | authorized to move into Fort Worth. | Mr. Carter already owns WBAP. Fort Worth, which shares time with WFAA of the Dallas News, and it has been intimated that his ownership m WBAP shortly may be sold to the Dallas newspaper. The move will| permit both the N. B. C. Red and Blue networks to have full-time outlets in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where WFAA-WBAP now is the only N. B. C. | outlet. %2 % % ok o * % % Granting of a regular license re-| practically concluded for starring on | for the exercise of Senator Capper's a new type of musical comedy show | Kansas City Kansan's option for pur- surrounded by stage and Hollywood | chase of that station. entertainers as well as unique person- . alities in current news. Ropee Heads Symphony. e aenag) e, - TEEN = A | FRNO RAPEE, musical director of Torch Singer on Air. 1E the Radio City Music Hall, has GERTRVDE NIESEN, exotic torch been engaged as conductor of the new singer, will be the guest of Ben | symphony concert- to be introduced Bernie and his orchestra on N. B. C. by N. B. C. next Sunday. Some of Tuesday at 9 pm. The program will | the world’s outstanding concert artists originate in Chicago. | will take part in these programs. : Radio’s Newest Sensation! = RCA MAGICKEY on the Air x Inaugurating a new weekly series of one-hour programs, featuring the greatest entertainers in a world-wide broadcast and re-broadcast, using the far-flung facilities of RCA to give you the key to the air, FIRST BROADCAST TODAY * % Featuring Amos 'n’ Andy Paul Whiteman & Orchestra ‘Walt Disney with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and gang Maria: Jeritza Vienna Symphony Orchestra Dr. Walter Damrosch John'B. Kennedy Frank Black & NBC Symphony 2to3p.m, E.S.Ts Orchestra NBC Blue Network . : Comnt to Comat Rovuln-ti .lhe World Trip by Short Presented by the Radio Corporation of America and subsidiaries et 2 S 2 2 TONIGHT! Ford Sunday Evening Hour FIRST BROADCAST OF NEW SERIES JASCHA HEIFETZ, Guest Soloist Ford Symphony Orchestra Chorus of Forty-four Voices VICTOR KOLAR, Conductor * COMING SOLOISTS October 6—Lucrezia Bori, Soprano. October 13—Julius Huehn, Bass-baritone. October 20—-Dalies Frantz, Pisnist. October 27—Richard Crooks, Tenor. November 3—Joseph Szigeti, Violinist. November 10—Mische Levitzki, Pianist. November 17—Cyrena Van Gordon, Contrslte. November 24—Kirsten Flagstad, Soprano. December 1—Albert Spalding, Violinist. December 8—Lauritz Melchior, Tenor. December 15—Elisabeth Rethberg, Soprane. December 22—Quartet: i Grete Stueckgold, Soprano. Kathryn Meisle, Contralto. Richard Crooks, Tenor. Ezio Pinza, Bass-baritone. December 29—Charles Kullmann, Tenor. Listen Every Sundey Eveving t 9, Eastern Stondord T plete Coast-to-Coast Network, Columbia lrulumlg. System. Stage, Screen and Radio Stars in Broadcasts Affair.” Stevens (right) is the young man who conducts the “Modern Minstrels” | on N. B. C. For 13 in By Peter Dixon. | | HIS is a column about 13 people. No one of them is a star. No one of them employs a press agent. You seldom see their pictures in the papers nor do you hear their names mentioned on | the air. To me, they are 13 cf the | most capable radio performers. Some of them will achieve stardom, some 5,000,000 Bright Future Forecast Minor Roles The Spotlight Has Eluded Them So Far, But Just Watch, Declares Columnist. grams. But they haven't put the spot- light on her—yet. JZAN‘S life story is amaszing. She was & movie star in her early teens. She headlined in vaudeville theaters from coast to coast. At the peak of a very successful career, an {llness in her family forced retire- ment from the theater. Some years EVERY WEEK DAY § Minutes BEFORE of them deserve stardom. but all of | jater, rather than trade on a splendid | them will continue to perform sin- record of past performances, she | cerely and very ably. I want to tell | started all over again in radio. But | you about them. she has been almost too versati'e. | ‘These’people are my friends. 4t Time after time her talents ha'e one time or another all have worked | saved radio shows from being com- | with me in radio productions. I hope | pletely mediocre. Some one else has that all will work with me again. I always taken the credit. like them all and have both respect | and confidence in them. Perhaps I, am prejudiced. But I offer no apoli- | QHE needs a hard-boiled business gies for these prejudices. | manager and a carefully plannei 1If ever a girl deserved stardom, that | exploitation campaign to establish her girl is Jean Sothern. Radio produc- | at the top where she belongs. I think tion men agree she is the most versa- | that some day a sponsor will reali'e tile and capable character comedienne ' Miss Sothern is truly a star—and every She plays a leading role in “Girl Alone” on N. B. C. Leith | in Manhattan radio. She’s kept pretty | one who knows her will be very happy | busy and you've heard her voice on the | indeed. Vallee program, Showhoat, Red Davis | Of the 13, I believe she is poten- | ad dozens of other important pro- ' tially the outstanding personality. Every man, woman, boy and girl in and around Washington has a chance to win.'Phone news tips promptly to Station WJSV, MEtropolitan 3200, and ask for Wilkins Coffee operator. Beginning Tomorrow—Radio Station WJSV WILKINS COFFEE NEWS SERVICE (Through World-Wide Facilities of United Press) Everybody has a nose for news. How good is yours? Interesting news is happening in your neighborhood; on your way to work . . . every- where . . . every time the clock ticks. 42 As a feature of Wilkins Radio News Service, Wilkins Coffee will pay $5.00 every week day for the best news tip phoned in to the Wilkins operator, Radio Station WJSV. <2 Nothing to write, nothing to buy, no coupons to clip. Simply keep your eyes and ears open and phone your news tips promptly. $2 You may continue in the contest regardless of how many times you win. <X Name and address of daily winner will be an» nounced every week day morning on the first Wilkins news broadcast five minutes before 10:00. <X In every case, the news staff of WJSV is to be the only and final judge.