No Blossoming

The 1940-41 winter radio season may be described as the culmination of several incipient tendencies, but--on the other hand--as devoid of any distinct new trends. It was withal a period of ripening. Logically, perhaps, new blossoming could not be expected at such a time, and no new blossoming did come.

This report by the Cooperative Analysis of Broadcasting, radio's weathervane, was, hands-down, the euphemism-of-the-week. C.A.B.'s latest estimate of the overall U.S. radio audience was 6.3 out of 100 possible people. This was five lower than at any time since C.A.B. got going in 1930.

Thus, as it had to book publishing and the movies, a wave of public inattention rolled over the radio.

Pundits in the entertainment business have been aware for many months that as the world's wars grew grimmer, people have grown harder to communicate with. With U.S. liquor consumption, roadhouse business and the automobile accident rate spiraling giddily, it appeared that a harassed people was bent on finding speedier escape from its troubles, did not want to see or hear anything very much--even vhen the hearing was free.

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