1941: Radio Broadcasting

News Broadcasts.

As in previous years, radio broadcasting in retrospect has shown itself resilient and responsive to major public interests during 1941. The march of world events, with the United States becoming increasingly more involved, and then actively at war, resulted in a tremendous interest in news. Whereas in 1940 news occupied between two and three times as much time on the air as in 1939, 1941 showed, at least as regards the National Broadcasting Company, a further increase of 65 per cent. These periods included an average of almost ten broadcasts a day picked up from overseas, although the number of countries from which news could be obtained with any degree of reliability had decreased. Probably the most outstanding example of news reporting occurred when the Japanese were attacking Manila and Bert Silen described what was going on against a background of roaring planes and anti-aircraft fire. In order that the country might be well served with news from overseas, NBC opened two powerful listening posts, one in the East, and one in the West, able to pick up radio signals from anywhere on the globe. The West Coast post was of vital importance to the United States when Japan attacked us.

The average American is on the receiving end of news, and beyond being generally aware of the fact that by short wave transmitters America sends news to other countries, he knows little about the extent of this activity. There are many powerful short wave transmitters in operation, but NBC alone repeats news programs several times a day in nine different languages. The transmitters are on the air seventeen hours a day, and in emergencies this is extended to twenty-four hours. Dual control has been perfected, making it possible to broadcast musical programs over short wave stations, with Spanish or Portuguese announcements, while at the same time American audiences listen to the English speaking announcer.

There has been a marked increase in interest, during 1941, in hemisphere solidarity. On the one side has been the expansion and organization of networks of South and Central American stations for the rebroadcasting of programs sent by short wave transmitters in the United States, with the Government increasingly showing its interest through the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs; on the other side has been the sincere desire to describe and interpret to our own land the culture, character, history, and activities of our South and Central American neighbors. NBC launched and carried to completion one such series of broadcasts, twenty-one in number, each, except the final one, devoted to a separate neighbor republic. The ambassador, minister, or, where they were not available, other diplomatic representative of each country spoke briefly at the conclusion of each program, and the whole series received the warmest approval from Vice President Wallace and Secretary Hull.

National Defense Programs.

Again stimulated by contemporary affairs, national defense was very prominently present in many series of programs and single broadcasts of all networks and individual stations. The urgent need of financing the war effort caused the networks and stations, and, in two instances, a large manufacturer, to afford time for programs of the Treasury Department; on these programs appeared a scintillating company of the major figures of the entertainment world, who donated their services.

A long series of programs under the auspices of the National Association of Manufacturers was broadcast with the title of 'Defense for America.' The purpose of the series was to go inside American industrial plants of all kinds and show industry in ever increasing action. No actors were used, but actual workmen, supervisors, and owners described precisely what was happening.

Many programs aimed primarily at a listening audience of women have carefully directed their path so as to include or emphasize matters concerned with national defense. Questions of nutrition and health, all the activities which the average woman can undertake to be of aid to her country, are prominently present in 1941 programs.

Radio of course was in constant use throughout the year as a means of telling men of the needs of the various armed services. Nor did it forget to lend its full support to such great bodies as the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts of America.

Public Service.

In the general field of public service stations and networks continued to advance. None of the major forums disappeared. More and more attention was paid to the caliber of writing and showmanship of presentation. The occasion of the retirement of Chief Justice Hughes from the Supreme Court allowed a re-emphasis of some of the basic concepts of freedom and democracy. Opportunity was taken during the summer to present four special programs dealing with the four most talked of men in the world today: Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, and Hitler, bringing out those salient characteristics of the men which made them prime forces behind the movement of world events.

Drama Broadcasts.

These four programs were plays, and plays continued to have unabated popularity. In fact, in commercial radio there was a tendency to increase the number of dramatic offerings. Very few of the long standing favorite series disappeared. Many new series were started. As was noted in 1940, the one-hour adaptation of the stage play or motion picture remained popular. The high-ranking favorites in the field of the daytime serial retained their hold and certain newcomers were seen during the year slowly climbing their way up the ladder of public acceptance.

Arch Oboler's series, which moved into 1941 under sponsorship, was terminated during the year, but Oboler continued to contribute plays for special occasions, which have attracted attention.

Norman Corwin undertook a remarkable series under the title of '26 by Corwin,' the bulk of which showed that radio writing is far from being static, but is forging ahead.

Certain new writers of talent were discovered through the experimental series conducted by the networks and one of them, Irving Neiman, sustained throughout the year an amusing series under the title of 'Joe and Mabel.'

The comedy programs with name comedians remained in high favor. The John Barrymore-Rudy Vallee combination introduced in 1940 rose in public esteem throughout 1941. Other comedians who launched new series on the air during the year included Red Skelton and Frank Fay.

A few of the quiz programs maintained their standing, but it is hard to think of a single new one which was launched and which survived more than a brief period.

The ASCAP-BMI collision did affect the popularity of commercially sponsored musical programs which relied upon new songs. Doubtless the most famous of these, 'The Hit Parade' remains, now that the musical war is over, a high favorite; but it has never climbed back to the place it occupied before the fight began.

Children's Programs.

Attention became rather sharply focused on children's programs during the year, because the net result of objections from parents and educational organizations as to the caliber of the programs resulted in there being very few children's programs on the air at all. As Variety put it, 'radio threw out the baby with the bath.' The most serious thought has been given to this aspect of programming, but thus far no solution has been found. Children, it is known, very largely listen to adult programs. Some maintain this is because many adult programs are written for a childish level of intelligence; but at any rate, children will not listen to the kind of programs that those who object to the melodramatic types would like to see on the air, and sponsors are shy of all types of children's programs, because of the difficulty of getting a satisfactory response.

Summary.

Broadcasters have endeavored throughout the year to operate in such a way as to support and encourage national morale. They have, therefore, as has been shown, devised and put on the air a great many programs specifically concerned with national defense in its widest meaning. They and the sponsors have kept on the air, or initiated, entertainment programs for the same reason. Finally, they have talked to the world through the international language of music, and there has been no abatement in the volume of chamber music and symphony performances given by the great artists. In a war-torn world radio has offered of its best in planning and in execution. See also INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES; MUSIC.