Evening star., 1936-11-01

Il national networks and most {
"tied up for last-minute appeals to t
Just as they did in 1882, the Dem
midnight period on combination Of
all the big networks, N. B. c. red,
N. B. c. blue, C. B. S. and Mutual,
while the Republicans. have reserved
the N. B. c. red network from 10 to
IL pm. The Union party has re-
served the N. B. G. blue network that
night from $50 to 10 O'Clock and the
Communist party has reserved the
same network from l045 to II pm,
These laSt-minute hookups are sub
ject to change, but it is certainty
that most of election eve will be occu-
pied with politics, and. it Is definitely
announced that Candidates Roosevelt,
Landon, Lemke and Browder will be
among the many speakers.
THERE was a report current that
the Republicans, eager to get in
the last word, were negotiating for
another big hookup of stations from
midnight until 2 am, but this report
was discounted in view of the laws
prevailing in many States which pro-
hibit electioneering or election adver-
tising on election day. Presumably
midnight ushers in election day
although some lawyers indicated that
the legal limit may only apply to the
time the polls are open.
Many more political broadcasts are
scheduled in the intervening time, the
party radio managers staging a verl-
table rush to the microphones. The
big Democratic hookup for the hour
before midnight tomorrow may en-
brace up to $50 radio stations, which
normally would charge about $4,000
for an hours time. However, the pre-
vailing custom in radio is to charge
half rates after II pm, which means
the Democrats bill for that night will
probably run about $25,000.
Thus the most expensive radio
campaign in history ends with to-
morrow's broadcasts. The Repub-
licans have estimated their radio
budget will have amounted to around
100000 when it is all over. The
Democrats estimate about $500,000.
This, however, will represent time
purchases on the networks and sta
tions by national headquarters alone.
The s1,10o,0o0 total probably will run
S2,000000 when time purchases on
local stations and regional networks
by local and State committees and
candidates are taken into account.
The national party expenditures
will compare with about $500, 900
which the Republicans and Demo-
Gratis each spent in the 1882 CAM
paign.
p Ado observers, in view of the
numerous last-minute speaking
schedules, were inclined to the be-
lief that the major parties have un-
derestimated their radio budgets.
While the chains generally are un-
willing to divulge their billings. the
N. B. c. estimated its two networks
and its individual stations will have
taken in nearly 100000, including
something like $355,000 from the Re-
publicans, s230,0OO from the Demo-
Gratis and $4,000 from the Com
munists. These are merely tentative
figures. but if they are anywhere
near accurate the figures for the Co
lunbia network and the Mutual net
work will swell the total we'll beyond
S1.10000 Neither c. B. S. nor N.
B. S. has disclosed its political time
revenues.
Tomorrow, incidentally, will mark
the sixteenth anniversary of the first
broadcasts of election returns-the
Harding-Cox returns of 1920. These
were broadcast between phonograph
recordings over the pioneer KDKA,
Pittsburgh. Thousands of owners of
the now obsolete catwhisker or
crystal radios tuned them in not
only for the news, but for their first
thrill of hearing something over the
magical ether waves.
has undertaken to carry the returns
TO the pubic but only the third
that an attempt is being made to do
so on a national scale via hook-ups
OF multiplicity of stations. Tuesday
night will be taken up largely with
election reports and interpretations
on practically all networks and sta
tions, though most of them are
planning to maintain their regular
schedules of entertainment so far as
possible and to intersperse their pro-
grams with the election reports.
WHILE movie folk are wringing
their hands about the compe-
tition of the screen and the loud
speaker for the attention of a recre-