Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-06
FIFTH ZONE RADIO.
FOUND PROSPEROUS
Commissioner Lafount's Sur
vey Shows Industry in
West Is Profitable.
BY MARTIN CODEL.


Radio Commissioner Harold A. La
fount brings word of a booming radio
industry in the Western States. He has
j,lst returned from a months survey OF
conditions in the fifth radio zone. which
embraces the Rocky Mountain and Pa
cific Coast territory.
BroadcaSting, he reports. is Degln-
ming to return substantial profits to the
broadcasters, as well as to the manuiac-
turers of radio equipment. More recelV-
ing sets are being sold than ever be-
fore. particularly sets that are cleo
trically operated. Local reception is
almost invariably good, and rural re-
ception has improved immeasuraoly
since the broadcasting reallocation OF
last November.
Augmented by the talent obtained
from Broadway via the networks ana
over the regional hook-ups that are pc
coming common out West, program
quality is comparable to that obtainable
anywhere In America. in fact. Many
claims are made that Western programs
are superior to those offered in the East
The Los Angeles Radio Show. which
ranks with New York's Worlds Fair,
promises to be bigger than ever next
month.
"It will merely furnish concrete evil
dence to the radio public" says Mr.
Iafount, "of what is apparent to any
observer of the intimacies Of radio IN
the west. The new in radio will be
shown at Los Angeles at about the same
time that the annual fair In New York
Is held"
THE fifth zone commissioners OBJ
seryation that broadcasting Is becoming
profitable In the West is particularly
pertinent. As general rule, the better
broadcaSting stations until recently
have been supported at denci ny va
suits. These stations were usually
maintained as goodwill adjuncts or be-
cause they held promise OF future reVe-
nues. Now it appears that the stations
and the big chain organizations alike
are beginning to make money.
Plenty Of radio talent Is available In
the larger Western cities, like Los An
geles. San Francisco, Portland: Seattle
and Denver, according to Mr.. Lafount.
These cities are drawing entertainers
away from the Middle West and to
some extent from the East. California
climate and the talkies were said to be
attracting many radio stars. with the
result that more and more chain pro-
grams will have TO originate In the
West.
Mr.. Lafount is enthusiastic over the
He Is more convinced than ever, he
says, that the clearing Of 40 channels
for high-powered broadcssting has been
q boon to listeners. Farmers often de-
pending on long-distance reception
have been aided in receiving chain pro-
grams and the excellent weather and
crop reporting services offered over the
radio.
There is little or no complaint. said
0f Qualification Of chain
programs on the dial.
The commissioner conferred with rep
TeSentatives Of 96 broadcasting stations
during his tour and with officials OF
chambers of commerce and communica-
ton companies. From the representa-
tives of listeners clubs and amateurs
he obtained many first-hand reports on
stations. He found listeners clubs ac-
tive In many cities. With 1000 active
members, the club in Butte, Mont. en-
ployS It's own trouble shooter" to check
up and remedy local interferences.
With all members but Chairman Rob-
tason back at their desks. the Federal
Radio Commission is plunging into a
heavy docket OF work.
It was announced yesterday that the
court appeal from the commissions de-
cision denying station KVOO. Bristow.
Okla, its application for the wave
length Of KWKH, Shreveport, La, has
been dropped voluntarily.
-Four Louisville companies were ap-
plicants today for authority to erect a
new station In that city, using the
Canadian-shared frequency of 1910
kilocycles. While the applications were
entered separately, the interests are be-
lieved to be joint. The companies are
the Liberty Bank & Trust Co., Franklin
Title & Trust Co.. Fireproof Storage
Co and louisville TaYicah r. Tran sfer
Co.