Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Television Today Motion Picture Daily Thursday, December 29, 196< The Critics Say. . . As influential as the many nation-wide syndicated TV columnists, are the hundreds of local newspaper critics whose views — though they inevitably reflect regional preference— more often than not have national validity. These reporters, asked to vote again this year in the annual MOTION PICTURE DAILYFAME poll of television talent and shows, added a variety of comments on their views of the industry. Among them were the following reports. Carmela Martin, Press-Tribune, Roseville, Calif.: The most chronic complaint we receive is that the networks schedule good shows to compete with one another. There are so few good shows on tv it is too bad they must compete. I really feel the advertisers would gain more if they did not compete, then the audiences for the top shows would be increased. With so few shows designed and suitable for children, it is too bad tli at Shirley Temple must compete with Lassie when both are among the best children's shows. Marvin M. Midgette, The Valley News, White River Junction, Vermont: Deplore continued dependence upon violence, although pick Untouchables as top show. Appreciate indications that networks are spreading out better regulars and spectaculars throughout the week, rather than crowding them opposite each other. Public service programming (elections, etc.) healthy sign that medium is moving forward. Hate copycat themes ( Surf side Six, Islanders, etc. ) . Glad Omnibus is back; miss Telephone Hour. Allan Gilbert, Jr., Northwest Arkansas Times, Fatjetteville, Arkansas: It is interesting to note that tv has made giant strides in the field of interpretive, documentary and spot news coverage (non-fiction), while slipping backwards in the entertainment (fiction field). News, being relatively concrete, offers a challenge with an obvious, tangible solution. I feel the networks have done a good job of finding the solution. On the other hand the networks remind me of the old alchemists with their eternal hope that the next piece of lead they drop into their crucible will emerge pure gold. This season they've almost reversed the process by turning several pieces of silver into zinc ( Maverick, for one ) . This process was never more evident than this winter with countless shows starring persons (with desultory results) who were really quite good in earlier seasons as supporting players. The switch of Maverick (a good show) and the Alaskans (a mediocre show) for Maverick (now a mediocre show) AROUND THE TV CIRCUIT with PINKY HERMAN. PRESENTED for the first time back in March, 1956, NBC-TV's dramatic "The Twisted Cross," will be shown for the fifth time, Tuesday, Jan. 3 (10-11 P.M.). Produced by Don Hyatt, with Alexander Scourbv, the riarrator, the filmed documentary of Hitler's hymn of hate will feature an introduction by Brig. Gen. Telford Taylor who was chief counsel for the prosecution in the Nuremburg war criminal trials. ... A special deal, concluded by Ray Junkin for Program Sales Inc. and Geo. Richfield, calls for the production next year of 169 "Wally Bear" filmcartoons to be filmed at the Bill Sturm Studios in New York. . . . He'll take a good suggestion anytime. We mean young Bob Velazco. His phone has been so busy these past few months that many of his satisfied clients said, "Bob, you should incorporate." He did so and his enterprising firm is now Musifex, Inc. ... Sid Caesar, Ronald Reagan and Patricia Barry will co-star on CBSunday, Jan. 22 in "General Electric Theatre" presentation of a comedy, "The Devil You Say." . . . Birthday-partying his daughter Stephanie this week at the Eden Roc Club in N'Yawk, Bill Bendix admitted to all and sundry that he wouldn't mind some video guestints as a song & dance man. Starring in the musical "Take Me Along" has brought out the musical "ham" in him, humm? . . . Howard Cosell's 55-minute radio special "Sports Review— 1960" to be ABCast next Sunday will feature sports aces Jimmy Piersall, Rafer Johnson and Joe Bellino among others. . . . Flickstar Van Johnson will be featured Sunday, Jan. 8, on the Allen Funt-Arthur Godfrey CB Scintillating, "Candid Camera." Incidentally about 18 months ago when Godfrey was recuperating from cancer surgery, he received a letter from a well wisher who wrote of his admiration for the red-head's courage, etc. As a result, the letter writer, Anthony Termini, produced a one-hour video taped program in which Godfrey asks frank and down-to-earth questions about the dread disease of Dr. Jonathan Rhoades, Dr. Thomas Doughertv and Lane Adams, exec veepee of the American Cancer Society. Film is so fine that kinescopes have been made for distribution around the country. . . . Bess Myerson, former "Miss America," who utilized that rare combination of Beauty, Br ains and Business acumen to attain stardom in TV, will be featured with Robert Cummings (Queen & King) in the national telecast over the ABChannels of the "Tournament of Roses" Parade, Monday, January 2. . . . Should be quite a shindig when the Lambs Club Honors the great Mischa Elman with a "Night." Jack Waldron will emcee. . . . Barbara Orteig, who turned down a 20th Century-Fox flicker contract 8 years ago, currently Hostessing featured as co-host (with Bill Plante) a Mon-thru-Friday teleseries "Open House 12" on WISN, Milwaukee. Barbara is the talented daughter of Patt Barnes, who for years was one of the most popular radioafs in the east. . . . The new Goodson-Todman TV game show, "Say When" which NBCommences Monday, will be emceed by Art James, produced by Bob Rowe with Dick Schneider, megging. . . . Mike Merrick, whose deft handling of press relations for Harry Belafonte has earned the crack flack the respect and admiration of Ye Fourth Estators, has been retained to handle similar chores for Robert Goulet, who stars as "Lancelot" in the new Lerner-Loewe smasheroo, "Camelot." . . . Jane Fonda, currently featured on Broadway in "Invitation To A March," will be starred in an NBC-TVehicIe, "A String of Beads," skedded for early February with Whitman Chocolates, the sponsor. . . . Bess Myerson and the Roaring 20's ( a poor show ) is typical. What's to be done? I think tv should eventually endeavor to divide its efforts in as practical a manner as possible to achieve the results that the viewing public could during the evening hours have a choice between (1) a play, (2) News, (3) Music, (4) variety, quiz or panel show. By producing an equal amount in each category and scheduling them properly the viewer would be able to suit his own tastes and the networks could spend more time and talent on each production. The major point being a cutback in the area of plays, filling that void with good musical and news or variety programming. By restricting tv appetite for play scripts, perhaps better ones would result. The Most Companies to Close Early for New Year Holiday Most member companies of thi Motion Picture Ass'n. will close thei offices early Friday in advance of thi New Year holiday weekend. The of fices, including MP A, will close a 1:00 P.M. They will also be shutterec all day Monday, Jan. 2. L.A. Holiday Business Maintaining Good Pace From THE DAILY Bureau LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28. A further check on last weekend's ex cellent holiday business here showed Monday's returns seven per cent better than Sunday, according to report? from NT&T theatres. Mid-week business activity has ke\ run operators anticipating a tremen dous New Year's weekend gross for a healthy start in 1961. Skelton Is Discharged From Coast Hospital From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28. Reel Skelton was discharged today from Cedars of Lebanon Hospital follow ing major surgery last week. The comedian is expected to spend a lengthy recuperative period before returning to work, while a number of top Hollywood stars will fill in for him on his CBS-TV shows. Cantor Coming East HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28.-B. Gerald Cantor, president of National Theatres and Television, Inc., will leave here by plane on Monday for business conferences in New York. day is not far off, too, when tv can cull its own files for outstanding shows to repeat in daytime hours (like today's movies). More of that could be done today. Joe Bryant, The Ft. Lauderdale News, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: The increase in "public service" and informative programs and good drama, while slight, is encouraging. Still to be broken are the shackles of inequitable rating systems and advertisers' control of program contents. But while we viewers charge the networks with the need to improve quality, we must also accept our responsibilities as viewers: No one tells us we must watch a given show: If it is offensive, we should pass it up and then write the networks, sponsors and FCC stating clearly but emphatically our reasons. Allen P. Dudley, The RepublicanCourier, Findlay, Ohio: TV is really trying to please a huge and fickle audience. I am always amazed at the amount of time given to special programs which do help to educate or entertain, or inform, even though one knows it is an experiment.