Broadcasting (Jan - Mar 1950)

I HARRY WAYNE McMAHAN T takes a lot of courage and fortitude to succeed in the fast-moving television industry and these traits are the heritage of Harry Wayne McMahan. As a country doctor, his father had the courage to accept the post of local medico in a Texas border town where his predecessor had been killed. Today, the hardy McMahan offspring heads Five Star Productions in Hollywood, producer 'f theatrical and television films. ★ The firm's clients include Coca}ola, Dr. Pepper, Ford, Halliburpn Luggage, Log Cabin Bread, flay Co., Powerhouse Candy, Philb Dealers, Sunkist, Whitman's iampler (candy), among others. \W told, it is estimated that Five i tar currently possesses about 40% if the regional TV film spot clients |uying time on Los Angeles staiions. Reporter, editor, agency man, adio producer writer, publicist ind film writer-producer, Harry las led a full life since April 25, i909, when he was born in Earl ^ark, Ind. At the age of four he lioved to Chicago with his family ind a year later the McMahans eaded for South Texas, where the Ider McMahan hung out his hingle in Mineral, Tex. In 1924 he family moved again — this time ;o Beeville, also in the big state. Formal schooling and work were ntermingled through most of Harry's career with the result that lit 16 he already had progressed from the backshop through reporting to city editor of the Beeville Hcayune. At 17 he left newspaoering to head publicity and adverlising for a nine theatre circuit. By -929 he was called to Dallas to ;erve as publicity-advertising maniger of one of the Publix Circuit :heatres there. i Forsaking publicity and adverjoising in 1930, Harry next underj:ook a split shift between the Daltas News and Journal and more "ormal study at Southern Methodist U. On the papers he served variously as amusement editor of ;he now defunct Journal, assistant ,imusement editor of the News, Journal sports desk, features and ■lews. j At school, Harry not only responded to his teachers but one of :hem, Edith Clark responded to nim. They were married June 24, 1933. Meanwhile, Harry forsook "Big D" (known to non-Texans as Dallas) in 1931 to resume advertising and publicity for the Texas Theatre in San Antonio. Returning to "Big D" in the spring of 1933, he became radio director of Roy Cowan Inc., a local agency. In 1934 he joined Tracy-Locke-Dawson, Dallas, as radio director. While with the agency, he evolved a radio format for Dr. Pepper known as the Pep'\per Uppers and the half -hour vafriety show had a special Dixie jPage 57 • BROADCASTING Mr. McMAHAN network extending through 24 states. In 1938 Harry took to freelance writing and began to sell some material to the movies. A year later he moved to Hollywood and started producing theatre film spots beginning with Dr. Pepper as a client. His first firm was known as U. S. Motion Pictures which evolved into Five Star Productions in 1946. All told Harry has turned out more than 1,250 theatre and television film spots. Essentially a writer, Harry has nevertheless learned production, editing, cutting and the other facets of film production during his 10 years in the film field. He has built seven TV film shows on an experimental basis but does not feel the economic time for production has yet arrived. Meanwhile, the production of film spots keeps his firm rolling. DuMont Meet THE first convention of DuMont television receiver distributors will meet this Wednesday (Jan. 11) at Chicago's Drake Hotel. Ernest A. Marx, general manager. Receiver Sales Division, Allen B. DuMont Labs, Inc.; DuMont's national sales manager, Walter L. Stickel, and Advertising Manager Henry R. Geyelin will discuss with the group, in a one-day, two-session program, DuMont's 1950 sales, service, promotion, advertising and merchandising policies. The program was worked out by Joseph H. Moss, Midwestern regional sales manager. BOXING SLUMP Miller Mauls TV as Cause TELEVISION is to blame for sagging boxing attendance, Heinle Miller, executive secretary. National Boxing Assn., flatly asserted last week. He charged that the telecasting of bouts is eating away gate receipts on a national basis in those cities where boxing is regular TV fare. Mr. Miller came to his conclusion after digesting new quarterly ratings of boxers in all divisions which have been issued by the association. He said: "In past years it has been customary for the association to issue a forecast on boxing's prospects for the new year. That is well nigh impossible this year because a great proportion of today's boxing fans take their ring fare via television." He emphasized there was no letup in interest in those cities where telecasting of bouts either has not been permitted or has not been developed. "In such boxing centers as San Francisco, Spokane, Montreal, Quebec and other cities where there is no television, boxing's gate receipts have hit an alltime high," Mr. Miller said. "TV Parade of Progress' in Atlanta. Ga., sponsored by Atlanta Constitution and WCON that city, featured models of latest TV sets and shows by WCON radio talent. WCON-TV is scheduled to take the air early this year. Five Star Business PROSPECTS for '50 augured well for Five Star Productions, Hollywood TV film firm, according to its president, Harry W. MacMahan, who announced that the closing two weeks of '49 resulted in the signing of almost $50,000 in new business. During this same two week period, almost 90 spots made for regional and local Los Angeles clients were shown one or more times over Los Angeles TV stations. This, he noted, represented 43 9< of the total film spots of local and regional advertisers, shown by the seven L. A. stations. BARS BASKETBALL TV U. of Wash. Vetoes Telecasts ALTHOUGH the opening basketball games of the U. of Washington were telecast on KING-TV Seattle, the university has decided against permitting Conference games to go on video this season, it was announced Tuesday (Jan. 3) by Harvey Cassill, U. of W. director of athletics. Burt Rose, manager of the University's athletic news service, claimed that the decision had been reached because "television has an adverse eff'ect on the crowd at the games." TELEVISION IN You're In Good Company On WTVJ Join the ranks of these and other prominent national advertisers now telecasting in Miami over -WTVJ 15,000 Television sets now in use in South Florida* SEE THE FREE & PETERS MAN TODAY Admiral Benrus Buick Bulova Chevrolet Goodyear Lucky Strike Merita Oldsmobile Philco Pontiac RCA Victor Sealtest U.S. Rubber channel 4 MIAMI 17 H. W. 3rd ST., MIAMf, aA. January 9, 1950 TELECASTING • Page 11 1