Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

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Section of RADIO DAILY. Tuesday. November 22, 1949 — TELEVISION DAILY is fully protected by register and copyright FCC SEES COLOR-TV COMPARISON TELE TOPICS A FTER A VERY SHAKY START at the beginning of the season, when it offered a couple of real turkeys, "Philco Playhouse" on NBC has improved steadily and now, under the guidance of Fred Coe, it is once again one of the better dramatic periods on the air. Too often, however, the story — usually an adaptation of a current best-seller — has not been on the same high level as acting and production. This was exactly the case with this week's edition, "Medical Meeting." As adapted by Joseph Liss from Mildred Walker's novel, the play told the highly-romanticized story of the no-longer-young doctor, and his patiently suffering wife, who is faced with a choice of constructive research or mere money. Although the outcome was apparent from the start, mainly because the story neatly fitted a stock pattern, several convenient contrivances were necessary to bring it about. There were, however, several forceful moments of real drama. . . . Philip Bourneuf's excellent characterization of the lead role was warm, subdued, understanding and entirely credible, and Frances Reid, as his wife, was also outstanding. The supporting performances of Harry Sothern Ben Lackland. Katherine Neskill and John Neuland were especially notable. Direclion by Gordon Duff was first rate. • FIFTY-FOURTH ST. REVUE," slated to be axed by CBS after Nov. 25, has been extended at least through Dec. 23 with the possibility that it will continue indefinitely. Aired on alternate Fridays in the 9-10 p.m. spot occupied by "Ford Theater," show's rating has taken an upward turn, which is the reason for the repreive. ' ... World Video has acquired TV rights to Irvin Cobb's Judge Priest stories for a ' weekly half-hour series. Initial scripts are now being written and prospects for title and supporting roles are being interviewed. L . . . Roller Derby rule booklets, prepared by Campbell-Ewald for distribution via Chevrolet Dealers pickups of the sport, has gone into its third printing, with over I 30,000 already mailed out. CD SULLIVAN, in opening his show Sunday nite, gave everyone the impression that Bill Robinson had passed away. He spoke at length about the Bill Robinson Foundation and showed a clip of the dancer in "Stormy Weather." Not once during this time did he mention that Bojangles was, at that moment, still fighting for his life in a New York hospital. . . . Abe Burrows came up with the best description of the new femme fashions we've yet heard, when he described a gal singer's garment as a "house divided against itself type dress." . . . For our money, two of the best pop singers on the air are Connie Russell and Jack Haskell, and it couldn't happen to a nicer show. Pye Tele Equipment Pleases In Capital Washington Bureau of RADIO DAILY Washington— Onlookers were favorably impressed yesterday with the Photicon, compact TV camera unit developed by Pye, Ltd., one of the leading British TV and radio manufacturers. A demonstration was offered for the FCC and others at the TV demonstrations here, as Pye seeks to enter the American market for transmitting equipment. B. J. Edwards, technical director of the company, said he hopes to sell five million dollars worth of eauipment here. Although yesterday's closed-circuit demonstration showed remarkably true black and white television — the equipment has been adapted to the American 525-line standard, Edwards said he was "not claiming anything marvelous — just good, sound low-cost equipment." Pye has no thought of competing in the home receiver field, he said. Price Savings Claimed Prices for Pye equipment, it was said, would run 10 to 15 per cent lower to American buyers than comparable equipment produced by American firms. Strong EC A support for the sales project has been voiced, with the assistant ECA director, Wayne Chatfield Taylor, expressing his hope that Pye will be able to bring some American dollars back to England. Present British TV standards are for 405-line transmission. 26 Stations Airing WPIX Film Packages WPIX, New York indie, is the "flagship" of one of the largest "celluloid webs" in video, currently serving 26 stations in 22 cities throughout the country. During the past year, the outlet has supplied film to as many as 37 stations. With Ed Evans, director of film programs, in charge of national sales, the New York News outlet is currently offering two feature film packages — a group of 36 Westerns now being aired by 20 stations, and "Film Package No. 3," now on 15 outlets. Latter is comprised of 13 features, including "Major Barbara," "A Star Is Born," "Pygmalion" and "The Beachcomber." Average Of 3 Hours A Week An average of three hours a week of film is supplied by WPIX to each of the 26 stations, with one taking as much as five-and-a-half hours weekly. A recently concluded series of 24 Alexander Korda films was shown by 22 outlets. WSAZ-TV In Operation Huntington, W. Va.— WSAZ-TV, first station in West Virginia, has gone on the air here on channel 5, affiliated with all four major webs. Present for the opening were Gov. Okey Patteson, Frank Folsom, president of RCA, and Joseph McConnell, NBC prexy. Lawrence H. Rogers II is station manager. Protestant Group Planning $1,000,000 Program Drive (Continued Parker said, "The biggest service the Protestant Radio Commission can perform at present is to provide films for local church groups to use over community television stations. People will be educated by being entertained. Religious leaders must realize this fact. We must learn to present people's personalities and ideas in an interesting manner to other people." Urging establishment of local TV working committees, staffed mainly by lay persons, ho continued, "Church groups must help local television stations produce good local religious programs. I am predicting that television will take a major share of radio's listenership. We must therefore become 'Apostles from Page 1 ) of television' or we will find fine preachers, inspiring services and entertaining educational programs being presented to a limited radio audience. "Television stations must present programs in the public interest or increased government regulation will be the result. Religious and educational groups must educate a new generation of television officials on the need and wisdom of giving public service time to organizations like churches. . . . There is a tendency to think the public service television programs are going to be too expensive. This will not necessarily be so if the churches really cooperate with local television stations." Show Polychrome By CBS, RCA; BAY Of DuM. Washington Bureau of RADIO DAILY Washington — With excellent black and white signal coming through over DuMont equipment nearly all day long, CBS and RCA yesterday gave the FCC a side-by-side glimpse of the two color systems. The CBS showing was as impressive as early last month, when most observers agreed that if it were compatible with present black and white standards it might offer immediate commercial possibilities. Free Of "Flicker" The RCA color was still variable, with a pronounced tendency toward heavy pink and red influences, but showed a remarkable freedom from flicker. There was little important variation in the quality of the signals as the two color systems and the regular DuMont black and white transmission sent out a wrestling match, a performance by the Elder Michaux Choir, a series of paintings, weaving and other difficult color tests. While the DuMont reception was invariably clear, it was exceedingly dull and uninteresting in some of the scenes — especially the showings of colorful Van Gogh and other paintings. RCA's Dr. C. B. Jolliffe declared that the demonstration made it plainer than ever that his company's all electronic system "offers the best means through which color television can be improved and developed ;n a reliable service to the public." He said the CBS color disc "has no place in home television." In a statement released by RCA, Dr. Tolliffer laid great stress upon the compatibility of the RCA system. NTFC To Meet Tonight; Will Discuss AFM Scale Robert L. Jower. sales rep for WPTZ, Philadelphia, will speak tonight at regular meeting of the National Television Film Council at the Fifth Ave. Brass Rail. Also on the agenda is a discussion of the proposed AFM scale for TV films. WATV Sells Hoop Sked Nineteen of the 21 home basketball games of Seton Hall College will be scanned by WATV. sponsored individually by Philadelphia Dairy, Fischer Baking and PepsiCola. Schedule begins Dec. 5 and runs through Mar. 6. Fred Snyles will call the play-by-play.