Variety (December 1954)

Wednesday, December IS, 1954 RADIO-TELEVISION CBS Radio Standing Pat (3 Years) on Patsy Campbell Longterm Pact Producers’ indemnity, or “cast insurance,” as it's known, may again become widely available to live television, legit and vaude presentations after a period of sev- eral years during which it was vir- tually impossible to procure. Such insurance protects the producer of the show against loss due to extra expense or total cancellation of the show because of the incapacitation of any cast member due to acci- dent, illness or death. Break is forecast by insurance broker Bernard M. Levmore, who negotiated such a policy for Jackie Gleason covering the comic’s two- week stand at the Paramount, N.Y. recently. Levmore, who says such policies have been rare in recent years, said the policy was made through Lloyd’s of London, and that indications are that Lloyd’s will extend such policies hence- forth to reputable producers. Cost of Gleason’s Paramount stint was about $100,000, and of that nearly $25,000 was in non-cancellable con- tracts. He got a policy for that $25,000 at a premium of under $ 2 , 000 . Continued from page 33 supremacy is claimed by the UHF station, in actuality this is not the case. However, it might be inter- esting also to note that the 5:30-6 p.m. period is devoted entirely to educational and public service pro- grams on WTAR-TV opposite Howdy Doody on WVEC-TV. In view of the first story, we suggest that the above should make excellent material (or a followup. Campbell Arnoux. President, WTAR. ARB ratings for this market, indi- cating great strides had been made by WVEC, whereas in actuality a careful comparison of the two sur- veys, even to our own amazement in some instances, shows relatively little progress. As Am example, in the January ARB “Toast of the Town” on WTAR-TV received a 63.9 rating as compared to a 12 0 rating for “Colgate Comedy Hour” on WVEC-TV. In the October ARB “Toast of the Towp” received a 67.3 rating as compared to a 2.3 for “Max Liebman Presents” on WVEC-TV. Likewise, in the Janu- ary survey, “Dragnet” on WVEC- TV received a 14.3 as compared to our 47.3 for “Lux Video Theater.” In October "Dragnet” received only an 8.1 as compared to 48.1 for “Climax.” There are many, many such in- stances. However the true picture after 15 months of UHF-VHF op- eration is most clegrly shown in the attached average rating com- parison of the October 1954 ARB, wherein even with 46% of all tele- vision homes converted to UHF in the metropolitan area, according to the ARB report, and with the full NBC schedule on the UHF station, the comparative ratings are somewhat astonishing. In the 5-6 p.m. period wherein It’s a cineh that* CBS doesn’t anticipate shutting down radio net- work operations at an early date. Web has just set Patsy Campbell for three years (“156 weeks solid” as they used to call it when there used to be vaude) in the "Second Mrs. Burton” s o a p e r. It’s her eighth year in the title part. Miss Campbell’s and show’s pre- vious commitment was backed by General Foods via Young & Rubi- cam, but that sponsor was replaced in the fall by Armour without a hiatus on the coin. She started the Terry Burton role on Sept. 29, 1947, two years after its preem. Actress’ longtime hold on the suds opera has had the effect of making her a “name” magazine contributor or interviewee, and she takes an occasional tv contract. Philadelphia, Dec. 14. coies reached an alltime high in October at WPTZ, local Westing- house tv outlet, with the station topping all existing sales records, previous high, set in November, 1953, was topped by a 5.3 /o in- creaSe . Alexander W. Dannenbaum Jr. said sales for the first 10 months of 1954 ran 20% higher than the same period last year, with sub- De Gray Exits CBS Resignation of Edward De Gray as CBS Radio director of station relations ends a 17-year associa- tion with the web, largely on sta- tion administration assignments. For some years before that he was a staffer at WBT, Charlotte, N. C. He was due back from an out-of- town trip today (Wed.) to make an announcement of his future plans. CBS has created the new post of manager of the department, with Ole Morby taking over under v.p. William A. Schudt Jr. Morby has been in various CBS posts since 1942. Chicago, Dec. 14. WFJL, non commercial FM sta- tion operated by the Catholic Youth Organization, is closing up shop at the end of the month. Foldup is part of a general re- vamping of the CYO following the resignation of Bishop Bernard J. Sheil, its founder. Seattle—Margaret Bernard, in the publicity and promotion de- partment of KING here the past two years, has left to take a job with tne radio department of the Seattle Public School system. Give him the world this Christmas PODELL, WATV TEAM ON ’MEET ME AT COPA’ N. Y.’s first multi-weekly video stanza with a major nitery as ema- nation point is on the selling block. Copacabana, N. Y., boniface, Jules Podell, is collabbing with Adver- tisers Assoc, of America in a Thurs.-through-Sun. half-hour pro- gram planned for WATV, Newark. WNEW deejay Bill Williams is reportedly up for the emcee chores, and Podell will take the Copa floorshow (sans headliners) and put them on the video show along with three or four outside turns throughout every week. A 10:30 p. m. time slot is tentatively set for the variety-type program, but the outlet is understood to have made no final commitments without definite signing of a spon- sor. To be called “Meet Me at the Copa,” the showcasing will be lensed at the Copa lounge, former- ly the homebase for some radio gab sessions. Give him a Zenith Super Deluxe TRANS-OCEAN 1C, the world’s finest shortwave portable Radio! With this latest version of the world’s only 13-year- proved shortwave portable he may hear many different countries. It’s powerized to tune in the world. Its list of owners reads like an international ’’who’s who.’! Radiorgan* Tone Control gives you choice of 16 different tone combinations. Receives both shortwave and standard broadcast. Tropically treated against high humidity. Works on AC, DC, or long-life batteries. Only $139.95*. In handsome genuine top-grain cowhide, $159.95*. Herb Swope Jr. is on loanout to CBS-TV to bring in “Arsenic and Old Lace” for Westinghouse’s “Best of Broadway” series on Jan. 5. Swope is an NBC pactee. "Arsenic” cast will be headed by Helen Hayes, Billie Burke, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Edward Everett Horton. Karloff will pre- cede his “Arsenic” chore tomor- row (Thurs.) with role as psychia- trist in “The White Carnations” on “Climax.” ^Manufacturer's suggested retail price, not including batteries. Slightly higher in far West ana South. Prices and specifications subject to change uUhoul notice. .<♦<»» In a reshuffle stemming from its cancellation, CBS-TV’s “Life With lather,” current in the Tuesday at 10 p. in. slot, will continue in an- other Tuesday time for three weeks in Janygry. In its third spot within less than two seasons, “Father” will take over the 8 o’clock berth for Jan. 4, 11 and 18, following Red Skelton’s Dec. 28 finale against the opposite-Berle- Hope-Raye NBC array. Skelton is pushed down to the 9:30 niche Vacated by “Danger,” which moves back to its old 10 o’clock wharfing in the “Father” moveout. Fliil Silvers’ GI vidpix scries "ill take the 8 to 8:30 Tuesday tune as of Jan. 25. Super Deluxe TRANS-OCEANIC Radio Barked t>y 36 years of Experience in Radionics Exclusively ALSO MAKEI.S OF FINE HEARINC AIDS • Zenith Radio Corporation, Chicago 39, Illinois com. im« Memphis—Charles Wingate, for- tiHT general manager of WPLI. Jackson, Tenn., has moved in here *<> lake over commercial manager P".; of WCBR, Memphis daytime indie.