Evening star., 1924-07-15
RADIO CENSORSHIP
STORM BREAKS OUT
Appeal on Air for "Chorus
Ladies" Starts New Plea
for u. S. Control.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.

NEW YORK, July 15.--Radio fans in
the vicinity of New York are widely
split over what amounts to a threat
to provide some sort Of censorship as
to what shall and what shall not be
broadcast on the air.
Herbert Hoover. Secretary of Com
merce. whose department has general
supervisory powers over radio activ-
ity and all sorts of wireless commu-
nication, let il be known in Washing
ton some time ago that he was unal-
terably opposed to censorship sys-
tenn. He mtimated that the gov
ernment had troubles enough as it
was without making itself RESPONSE
BILE to the air bugs" for the type
and character of the programs picked
up on their receiving sets.
1t was Secretary Hoover's idea. and
that of the radio industry-or art
in general that the good taste of the
broadcasting agencies could be re-
lied upon to keep undesirable matter
out of the ether.
But now the matter has been taken
UP with Secretary Hoover again and
considerable agitation has been
started to bring broadcasting under
some sort Of federal regulation. Ii
Secretary Hoover feels that ne has
insufficient authority. the American
Radio Assoc ton has announced that
ii viii appeal To Congress for the
necessary enabling legislation.
The latest protest again finds sta
tion WIN "A radio storm center. This
was the station sued some time ago
by the American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company on the claim that it
was making unauthorized use of pat
ents belonging to the telephone or
ganization.
WIN put up an awful howl. 1t
was as if all the static in the world
r. m tod IN
said the telephone octopus was
trying to monopoliZe the air for its
own purpose, trying to Shackle or
throttle all competition. There were
special hearings in Washington, spe-
cial orders of the court. special en-
ployment of special counsel. and then
the whole thing died out when WIN
and the Telephone Company came to
terms.
Theatrical .Aa" Broadcast.
In its previous hour of trouble
WIN appealed TO its radio audience
and they responded nobly to the
cause WIN is station conduct ed
under theatrical auspices and in a
theatrical atmosphere. 1t is located
on top of Loews' State Theater Build
ing, on Eroadway. and calls itself
The Voice OF the Great White Way"
In the WIN studio there is a nightly
stars and the pleiades OF the theatri-
cal armament. Naturally. where SO
many stage. people are gathered to-
eether in the name of radio-or any
other name for that matter-there is
a lot or wise cracking.
WINS latest exploit was 10 broad
cast an appeal for chorus girls for
a new Broadway production. Broad
way always Is looking out for new ma :
terial. The average manager is fed up
with the Broadway type" of chorus
lady. She is too blase. too hard
boiled. as il were. and walks through
the production as if she were confer
ring great favor upon the audience.
New and raw material from the coun-
try, from the small town: ambitious
girls with bit of talent. wanting to
make the big step into theatrical
career. but afraid the water may be
TOO cold.
Some one thought il would he a
great idea to search for this mate
rial through the air. 1t certainly was
no good to advertise in a theatrical
paper That didn't "go home" The
radio did So series of announce
ments were made. invitations they
were called. asking girls who desire
to become ladies of the ensemble
5is fG m1ss fnsat 4 manager on the stage of
The Radio Association has felt this
was going too far and hence its pro-
test and hence the cessation of the
cali for the chorus. The WIN Of
ficials said they were not to blame.
because they merely lent the air
to the manager. The manager says
no one should blame him. He doesn't
want to assume all of the RESPONSE
bility as to why girls leave home"
He says he was merely trying to get
the girls without compelling them to
go through theatrical brokers and
being soaked high commissions.
SO that's the situation and the radio
bugs are at odds as to whether il
calls for a censor or not.