Yariety Takes a Look

Since 1933 Variety, U. S. weekly show chart, has annually made a survey of radio, awarded plaques to outstanding networks and stations. Last week Variety passed out its 1940 kudos. Plaques went to NBC for promoting "programs in the public interest," to the National Association of Broadcasters "for its code defending tolerance," to CBS for "stimulating local show management," to Young & Rubicam for effective radio copy, to Mexico City's XEW for leadership in show management.

Among the half-dozen U. S. stations which Variety dubbed tops, two (WOR and WNEW) were in Manhattan; one each in Cleveland (WGAR); Atlanta (WSB); Beckley, W. Va. (WJLS); McComb, Miss. (WSKB). None was in Chicago, which Variety rated the worst town for show management.

Variety's 1940 showmanship survey failed to find any radio column worthy of a plaque. Having examined the radio section of 275 newspapers, the editors of Variety came to the snippy conclusion "that for all practical purposes there is no such thing in the United States as serious radio criticism except in this and one or two other business publications."

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