Evening star., 1934-05-20
MOV|E-RAD|O FIGHT
REFEREEDByN.R.A
Film and Theater Producers
AlIege Unfair Competition
From Broadcasts.
BL SOL TAISHOFF.

~ realm are turned toward the
~ battle between the Shadows
4 \ and the whispers" otherwise
the movies and radio, being
refereed by the N. R. A.
Because radio revolutioniZed the
show business in many respects, this
quarrel has been placed on the door,
step Of N. r. A., with the radio ad-
versaries alleging unfair competition.
The issue is really a combination Of
plants of the movie and legitimate
theater folk, ranging from free ad-
missions to radio studio performances
to alleged raids by radio upon movie
and stage talent.
1t all SINNERS down, however, to
the obvious fact the theatrical i'm
presarios are irked about declines in
box Office receipts for which they hold
radio responsible. They want the
N. r. A.. in its drive to eliminate un-
fair competition, to force the networks
and independent stations to shut
their doors TO the public, or else
charge admission And they want
something done about the movement
of screen and stage artists toward
the radio.
Artists Fight Another Battle.
In this jumbled controversy only
the employers of artists and oper-
ators of shoW-houses are involved.
The artists themselves have another
little matter they are discussing with
the broadcasters through the Offices
OF N. R. A. Actors Equity Associa-
ton, the trade union of performers,
insists radio artists and performers
should be included in the minimum
wage and maximum hour schedules
OF the broadcaSting industry. Last
Winter, when the broadcasting in
dustry code was being negotiated
with N. r. A, a clause was included
specifying a study should be made to
ascertain whether conditions are such
in the broadcasting industry that
provision should be made for actors
and performers. Steps are being
taken in that direction now, with
facts and figures analyzing the status
OF the radio performer being drafted
by both groups. Some time will
elapSe, however, before these studies
are completed and the issue is
placed before N. r. A. as arbiter.
1t is the other problem. in which
the artists are simply interested OBJ
servers, that is crystallizing now. The
movie and legitimate theater group,
1t is understood. is working feverishly
to gather information to prove its
contentious. The broadcasters are
pursuing their work Just as vigor-
ously. In each instance. the code
authority for the particular industry
is mastering the data to be laid
before N R. A.
Questionnaires Sent to Stations.
To ascertain the degree to which
radio cuts into box Office receipts, if
at all. the broadcasting industry code
authority has just sent to all of the
500 stations in the country ques-
tionnaire having to do with studio
audiences. When the returns are
computed they should show precisely
how many people attend studio per-
formances. how they are invited,
whether they pay admission and re-
lated information.
In a letter submitted with the
QUESTIONABLE, James W. Baldwin, ex-
ecutive officer of the radio code
authority, pointed out it was the
contention OF some people that the
admission of visitors to program per-
formances ''iS unfair to the motion
picture and legitimate theater indus
tries" For that reason, he said. it
was decided to get basic statistical
information from stations on this
point.
When the studio audience issue
was first raised several months ago
the movie and theater groups
charged they were suffering greatly
diminished receipts because the pub
lie preferred to attend free radio stu
dio performances. They held this was
unfair competition within the mean
ing of the industrial recovery act, un-
DER which N. R. A. functions.
Claim It's Good Will.
The answer of the broadcasting
industry was that the program spon-
sors, rather than the stations them
selves, invited their guests to the
studios as a matter of good will to
clients and friends. Statements also
were given by some artists that they
were enabled to perform with a
greater degree of naturalness when
in front of a live audience"
1t is decidedly doubtful whether
N. r. A. can do anything about the
issue stirred up by the motion pic
ture producers with respect to radio
performances by movie stars. In
their quest for more diversified pro-
grams, both of the Nationwide net
works have established program de-
partments in the Hollywood movie
colony and are keying more and more
programs featuring movie stars.
There is even some talk among movie
producers they may ban any movie
celebrity who takes part in radio
broadcasts. 1t is their contention
such broadcastS detract from the
artists value as a box Office attrac-
ton. On the other hand, radio
retorts that it was the watts and the
kilocycles that made" such popular
film attractions, of Ed Wynn, Bing
Crosby, Burns and Allen and the
many others whose talents were de-
-.