Evening star., 1934-02-04
BY THE RADIO EDITOR.

~ ADIO'S latest burning issue is
the status of the miCrophone
II performer under the N. r. A.
i and what effect, if any, the
new broadcaSting industry's
code will have upon his pay envelope
Along with this issue comes the
plant of legitimate theater operators
against the practice of networks and
stations Of admitting audiences to
their studio broadcasts, since this is
alleged to be in the nature of unfair
competition with the theaters- Thus
It appears that N. r. A. will be called
upon to invade the entire controversy
embracing radio and the stage.
The radio artists study is being un-
dertaken in response to an insistent
demand from the Actors Equity As
sociation. The code authority for the
broadcasting industry this month
designated a committee to conduct
the inquiry and draft report for sub
mission to N. R. A.
At present radio artists and per-
formers are excluded entirely from
the wage and labor provisions of the
code. N R. A., however, insisted upon
q provlSo that a study of the artists
status be made for future considera-
ton. Mr.. Gilmore, in behalf of the
actors, has held they should be paid
for rehearsals and additions, as we'll as
Tor program appearances. and that
minimum wages be paid for both
commercial and sustaining programs,
depending upon the rates charged by
stations for time on the air.
Insolvency Is Feared.
Broadcasters. however, contend it is
virtually impossible to define radio
artist" as professional performer
and distinguish him from amateur
talent so generally used on indepen-
dent stations. If minimum rates ap-
preaching those suggested by Mr.. Fill
more were paid to performers at the
vast majority of radio stations, they
soon will be forced into insolvency, it
was declared by representatives of sta
tions at the public hearings on the
broadcasting code in Washington last
September
In any event, the entire matter will
be thrashed out by the committee,
which hopes to have some sort of re-
port ready for the full code author
tty before Spring. Members of the
committee are John Shepard, presi-
dent of the Yankee Network, Boston,
and chairman of the code authority;
M. r. Runyon, treasurer of the Co.
lumbla BroadcaSting System, and
James w. Baldwin, former secretary
OF the Federal Radio Commission and
now executive officer of the code
authority.
Chairman Shepard already has in
vited Eddie Bowling, actor and mas
ter Of ceremonies, recently named a
Government member of the code
authority. to participate in the in
qulry. In addition to Mr.. Gilmore
and other representatives of the stage,
screen and radio. it is expected John
G. Royal, vice president of the Ma
tlonal Broadcastlng Co. in charge of
programs, and Jules Seebach, Colum-
bia program head, will be asked to
submit detailed testimony concerning
their views.
EncrOachment Charged.
The second phase of the theater-
radio controversy grows out of the
charges of Actors Equity that radio is
encroaching upon the field of the le-
gitlmate stage through presentation
OF programs before studio audiences
admitted free or by invitation of pro-
gram sponsors. Steps toward filing
a formal complaint with N. r. A.
have been taken, and a committee
comprising Mr.. Gilmore. Marcus Hell
man and William c. Elliott OF the
international Alliance of Theatrical