Viva la WINS!

Among the 46 AM & FM radio stations in New York City's metropolitan area, no two are more surly toward each other than WINS, which gets top place in pulse ratings by a rock-'n'-roll diet of the top 40 popular tunes, and WMGM, which (scorning the cornier corn) stresses news and public services and pays for such square taste by lagging at fifth place in the ratings. One morning last week, in the heat of the competition, WMGM fell for an embarrassing hoax that gave WINS a chance to josh its rival all the rest of the day.

WMGM set itself up for the goof at 9:55 a.m. by a thrilling announcement that it was trying to reach General Charles de Gaulle (see FOREIGN NEWS) by telephone for a scoop on the French crisis.

"At about 10:30 a.m. we had a message from the overseas operator--we thought --saying she had De Gaulle," Ray Katz, WMGM's program director, recalled later. "Somebody really did a great job of imitating an overseas operator, flicking connections and clicking switches. Then a voice with a strong French accent came on: 'Yes, this is General de Gaulle.' 'Please stand by, sir,' we said. Said the French voice: 'Hurry up, I'm on my way to the Assembly.' We put the telephone line on the air."

"Said the De Gaulle voice: 'I'm prepared to take over the government of France if Premier Pflimlin permits me to. I would only do so under peaceable conditions as an old soldier of France.' Then he asked: 'Who am I talking to?' We explained that it was station WMGM in New York City. Said De Gaulle: 'Oh, the motion picture company?'* Then the voice screamed: 'Everybody knows the best station in New York is WINS! Vive la France!' We knew then that it was a hoax."

Whoever it was hung up. WMGM complained to the FCC, but admitted that it could not even try to finger the hoaxer. WINS played it cool. Said a station spokesman: "It was definitely not anyone here, although I've seen a lot of people walking around smirking. It sure has livened up things for us. We've been announcing 'Vive la WINS' all day and even giving the time in French!"

* WMGM is a sister subsidiary to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer under Loew's, Inc.

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