Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

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Color TV Claint Starts Controversy Now that a compatible color television system has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission, there seems to be a falling out, public relations-wise, at least, among the interests. It all began last week when Commander E. F. MacDonald, president of the Zenith Radio Corporation, wrote a letter to the FCC taking exception to newspaper ads run throughout the country by Radio Corporation of America. In these ads RCA said it was “proud of the leadership its scientists and engineers achieved in developing — the all-electronic black-and-white television system— the all-electronic compatible color television system — and the RCA tri-color tube, which made the latter practicable.” Commander MacDonald said his company was “shocked when we saw the misleading manner” in which RCA sought “to create the impression that this National Television System Committee system of color television which you approved was the sole and entire product of RCA.” “Nothing could be further from the truth,” said the Commander. “The system was developed by the joint efforts of many TV manufacturers, of which RCA was only one.” RCA, in turn, issued a statement, saying in part: “We know of no significant contribution of the Zenith Radio Corporation to the creation and development of compatible color television. This is not the first time that Mr. MacDonald has been wrong.” The RCA statement then went on to quote remarks made in 1946 by the Zenith head to the effect that TV would fail unless “it finds a box office to pay the huge cost” and also to the effect that Zenith would not manufacture black-and-white sets (in 1946) because such sets would become obsolete within a year or two. The RCA statement concludes : “Zenith is now in patent litigation with RCA and Mr. MacDonald’s last ill-chosen blast is an obvious maneuver on his part related to the action now pending in Federal Court.” In its ads on the color TV situation, the Philco Corporation emphasized that the approved system was “not the work of any one company.” It then listed more than 42 “organizations” as “some” of those “whose combined knowledge and strength are responsible for the system that won final FCC approval.” Gregory Forms Company HOLLYWOOD: Paul Gregory, stage producer, has formed Paul Gregory Productions and has said he will personally produce two pictures annually under that insignia. Charles Laughton, who has been associated with Mr. Gregory in his theatrical enterprises, will be similarly related to his film productions. Columbia Sets 3-Film Deal with Warwick Columbia Pictures has concluded a threepicture deal wtih Warwick Productions, headed by Irving Allen and Albert R. Brocolli. The first picture they will make is “Prize of Gold,” screenplay by R. C. Sherriff with Mark Robson directing. The second property will be “Cockleshell Hills” and the third is as yet untitled. Warwick already has completed two films for Columbia release, “Paratrooper” and “Hell Below Zero,” both starring Alan Ladd. The third, ‘The Black Knight,” also with Ladd, is currently in production. Gross Ginn I In Canada TORONTO : Despite the introduction of television in some areas of Canada during 1953, motion picture theatre attendances throughout the country have held up remarkably well, with better quality films and the introduction of new screen techniques boosting attendances especially in the latter months of the year, according to the yearend message sent to stockholders by John J. Fitzgibbons, president and managing director of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. Mr. Fitzgibbons said he expected 1954 attendances to hold up as well as those in 1953 and maybe even to better them, since favorable economic conditions and high employment levels are expected to continue during the coming months. Reporting on the recent Telemeter tests in Palm Springs, Calif., Mr. Fitzgibbons said: “Your company has the Canadian franchise for Telemeter and the time is not far distant when Telemeter experiments will be conducted in Canada.” He reported that the company is interested in two television stations now under construction. One is in Quebec City and the other at Kitchener, Ontario. Mr. Fitzgibbons also pointed out that the final quarter disbursement “brings the total dividend payments per share for 1953 up to the total amount paid per share for the year ending December 31, 1952.” "Eddie Cantor Day' Sparks Premiere The day having been designated “Eddie Cantor Day” in Beverly Hills, Warners’ “The Eddie Cantor Story” opened at the Warners’ Beverly Theatre there Tuesday evening, with the comedian and 800 others of prominence attending. Among guests were Governor Goodwin Knight, Lieutenant Governor Harold J. Powers, Mayor Norris Poulson of Los Angeles, Mayor F. E. Fisher of Beverly Hills. David Tannenbaum, Beverly Hills councilman, presented Mr. Cantor with a scroll, noting his charitable activities. Lobby events included an NBC radio network coast-to-coast program, and TV over ABC. TV Set Total 7.2.70.000 in Year 1953 WASHINGTON : Production of television sets in 1953 will total about 7,250,000 sets, according to a prediction by Robert C. Sprague, chairman of the board of the RadioElectronics-Television Manufacturers Assosiation. This would compare to the 1950 record of about 7,460,000 sets and to a 1952 production of 6,096,279 sets. Mr. Sprague predicted that 1953 retail sales would set a new record, topping the 1950 record of about 6,500,000 sets. Sales last year totaled 6,144,990. “With good merchandising,” and without any major general economic recession, sales in 1954 should run at least 6,000,000, the RETMA official declared. He said most manufacturers felt that black and white receivers would continue to constitute the bulk of set sales “for years to come.” "All agree,” he continued, “that relatively few color receivers will be available in 1954, and that these of necessity will be very high priced and will have screens that are small in comparison with the larger screen black and white sets available at one-third the price or less. “Certainly, color TV programs will be distinctly in the minority for a long while, despite understandable ballyhoo that will attend color broadcasts in 1954. Sponsors will be slow to spend money for color programs so few persons will be able to see, except in black and white. Color with all its advantages is not likely to displace black and white telecasts for many years, if ever.” Newspaper Strike Cuts Down Grosses in Minneapolis Minneapolis “Loop” and neighborhood houses suffered an estimated 25 to 40 per cent loss in business in the pre-Christmas week as a result of a strike of “Minneapolis Star Tribune” truck drivers which halted newsstand and home deliveries for six days. Both circuit and independent exhibitors agreed, however, that the strike couldn't have been better timed, coming at a period when business is usually bad in any case. The Minnesota Amusement Company, operator of four Loop and four neighborhood houses, softened the blow somewhat by buying extra radio and TV spots and chartering a sound truck. Other houses did the same. Buy Half Interest in KOIN PORTLAND , ORE.: M. J. Frey, publisher of the Portland “Oregonian,” has purchased a half interest in the Mt. Hood Radio and Television Broadcasting Corp., operators of KOIN, AM and FM, and television station KOIN-TV. Ted Gamble is president of the corporation. 34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 2, 1954