Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

VOL. 16; No. 1 13 Film & Tape more about THERMOPLASTIC RECORDING; Technical paper on thermoplastic recording, by W. E. Glenn of GE Research Lab (see p. 5), was received by the Journal of Applied Physics Jan. 5, 1959 and published in its Dec. 1959 issue. Among highlights: TPR is described as “a wide bandwidth recording technique ... in which an electron beam is used to cause deformations in the surface of a thermoplastic film.” Deformations “can be detected optically, and by using a special optical system [developed for Eidophor], full-color images can be projected from the film. The film requires no chemical processing and can be erased and re-used. The resolution is comparable to that of photographic film and the bandwidth capability is well in excess of that required for xideo-recording.” Processing takes but a few milliseconds. The film may be erased by heating it well above its melting point so that its conductivity will increase; surface tension smoothes out the deformities. Developing is usually done in a vacuum, but can also be done in air. Erasure of tiny portions is possible. The electron beam, modulated from an electronic camera, sweeps across the film, providing the horizontal sweep. Vertical sweep along the film is provided by the film motion. A pair of RF electrodes provides the heating to “develop” the film. A special electron gun is used to lay the charge pattern on the film. For color recording, the electron beam is split into several beams. In projection of b&w images, the light intensity of the picture element depends on the depth of the deformation in the transparent film. At least 2 different light sources are required for projection of color images. A fiying-spot scanner or TV camera may be used to convert TPR images to video information for TV transmission. Using a high-definition electron camera, resolution of the TPR is limited only by the optical system. The Journal of Applied Physics is published by the American Institute of Physics, 335 E. 45 St., N.Y. 17. Filmed situation comedies are likely to gain in favor with agencies as replacement shows for mid-season film casualties & new starters next fall, predicted BBDO exec, vp Robert L. Foreman to a meeting of the marketing workshop group of the American Mktg. Assn. Emphasis is shifting, he said, to shows with “warmth & believability.” For example. Foreman cited I Remember Mama, and added that “the atmosphere in which a commercial is presented is important to the commercial’s success.” Foreman also stated that agencies & advertisers are “far from sold” on the magazine-concept type of network operation. Purchase by United Artists of Ziv TV controlling interest (Vol. 15:51 plO) is “still under way,” UA-TV Pres. Herbert Golden told us Dec. 30. The discussions are being held between UA and 2 N.Y. banking firms, F. Eberstadt & Co. & Lazard Freres, who hold 80% interest. The principals reportedly have squared all problems but the key one — price. UA’s bid is said to be around $16 million (some $2 million more than was paid for the Ziv stock by the banking firms earlier this year). Asking price is $20 million. Academy of TV Arts & Sciences, N.Y. chapter, has presented its first grant to a university professor of applied TV courses. He is Sydney W. Head, U. of Miami. CBS-TV’s Anti-Plug Drive: CBS-TV’s campaign against free plugs is evoking annoyance, bewilderment and confusion among some film producers. When asked about a so-called “Plug List” of banned items, the network’s William Tankersley, dir. of editing on the West Coast, denied its existence. His department, he told us, does have copies of PR plug lists containing some 250-300 items — which probably explains how producers got the impression it was a CBS-TV list. Gordon Oliver, exec, producer of Mr. Lucky, confirming that Treasury Dept, had been deleted from one of that show’s scripts, said, “CBS told us the Treasury Dept, is on a plug list and they had to delete everything mentioned on those lists.” And Hollywood “giveaway king” Adolph Wenland insists that there is a CBS-TV list of taboos, and that the U.S. Treasury Dept, was placed on this list about a year ago. Wenland told us he has been a volunteer, unpaid, worker for the Treasury Dept, for years, aiding its bond drives with special types of public relations, such as incentive contests. But, he declared, he has never planted plugs for the Treasury. Wenland said, “I have a lot of medallions & medals from the department for my work but you can’t take them to the grocery store.” In Washington, Edmund J. Linehan, ad & promotion dir. of the U.S. Treasury Dept.’s Savings Bond div., told our Washington bureau: “If CBS has put the U.S. Treasury Dept, on its list of things which aren’t to be plugged, it’s news to the Treasury Dept., which has heard nothing of any such curious development.” He also pointed out that: (1) All broadcast public service notices for bonds are in copy prepared & handled by the Advertising Council as a public service. (2) “The only time I ever heard of Adolph Wenland was in newspaper stories recently. Neither he nor any other middleman has had anything to do with our bond campaign on TV or radio. I have been in this division for 11 years, and nobody in it has ever had any contact with him.” (3) Treasury Dept, has paid no retainers to him, ever. Raisin Pie, Bourbon & Blue Cross No producer we checked objected to the general policy of plug deletion, but here’s the sort of thing they have found annoying: Reference to raisin pie was cut from Dohie Gillis, the contention being this was a plug for the Raisin Institute. A character in a Dick PoiveWs Zane Grey Theater episode, when offered a shot of bourbon, remarked: “Part of my country is ruled by a Bourbon — Louis Philippe.” CBS-TV wanted the line erased on grounds it constituted a plug for the liquor, which is on the plug list. When producer Hal Hudson objected, a compromise was reached by which the line remained in, but the character refused the bourbon, taking rye instead. Rye is not on the plug list. Among names not allowed in any shows is that of Blue Cross. It’s considered a plug. Producer Sheldon Leonard of The Danny Thomas Show said he thought the policy “utterly ridiculous,” because, in a sense, everything is a plug. Leonard is bothered about another area — the enforced announcement about laughtracks (Vol. 15:51 p8). “This gives the impression we manipulate our laughs — which we don’t.” Defending & clarifying CBS-TV’s campaign against plugs, Tankersley told us that a 3-months survey showed a total of 150 plug deletions for the period. He said the drive is not a new policy, but an intensification of an old one. “We use our judgment in weeding out plugs. We may allow some in a show like The Lineup, where they would be needed for authenticity & accuracy.”