Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1953)

RKO RADIO MAY RELEASE BACKLOG OF FILM VALUED AT $20 MILLION The report is that RKO Radio Pictures Inc. is interested in selling a backlog of films — none over eight years old — to a group of Chicago businessmen. SPECULATION that RKO Radio Pictures Inc. may yet release a backlog of films to television was revived in Chicago last week. It was reported — but could not be confirmed— that RKO Board Chairman Howard Hughes was receptive to an offer from a group of Chicago businessmen for a library of unused films, which could in turn be sold to TV broadcasters. The report was that Mr. Hughes, West Coast industrialist and producer, was expected in Chicago last week to open negotiations for the sale of the films. A similar report was current in the fall of 1952 when a syndicate headed by Ralph Stolkin, Chicago industrialist, bought controlling interest in RKO Radio Pictures. Such a possibility was subsequently quashed, however, pending furthe'r study by the RKO board. Mr. Stolkin and his associates then resigned and returned the stock to Mr. Hughes early this year. The latest report is that a group of Chicagoans, including one or two prominent hotel executives, are interested in buying up the RKO backlog and that they planned to meet AFM TO MONITOR STATIONS' FILMS Union to check on possible violations of 5% gross fee plan. Negotiations continue on background music problem. POLICING system has been set up by the American Federation of Musicians to check television for old motion pictures for which the union has not been paid its 5% of gross under the AFM's music performance and trust fund agreement. Union members in every TV community have been assigned to do the checking, according to Phil Fischer, AFM International studio representative. Meanwhile, TV film packagers and producers are continuing their negotiation with AFM President lames C. Petrillo for a new flat rate royalty formula covering background music on filmed video shows [B»T, July 6]. Several proposals have been made, but as far as can be learned, none are acceptable to the AFM. In substituting a flat fee for the present 5% of gross, Hollywood packagers and producers declare not only will a new deal alleviate a hardship on them, but it will result in added employment for musicians. Many packagers and producers, it was pointed out, continue to work around the present percentage formula by using vocal groups and background effects. Los Angeles musicians, in frequent complaints, claim that the trust fund setup as it now operates discourages filming of video shows with live music. This contention has been backed up repeatedly by Los Angeles Local 47 officers. Mr. Hughes in Chicago Thursday. One of the executives, it was learned, is Sam Leeds, who reportedly is identified with a group of Chicago hotels, including the Morrison, Midland and Hamilton. Mr. Leeds intimated such a conference was planned, but declined to comment on any aspect of the TV film plans. Mr. Hughes could not be reached late last week. Nor could the identity of his associates be learned. The RKO film backlog is said to be worth about $20 million. It was understood that none of the films, which the Chicago group reportedly would sell to interested TV broadcasters, are more than eight years old. Meanwhile there was no further word on a similar report that Mr. Stolkin is negotiating for purchase of Columbia Pictures Inc., whose subsidiary, Screen Gems, produces TV film [Closed Circuit, Aug. 17]. Mr. Stolkin also has been unavailable for comment. Academy Film Announces 3-D Baseball Production ACADEMY Film Productions, Chicago, has announced the production of what it claims is the first three-dimensional motion picture of major league baseball in action — with a system it previously used to produce what it claims is the first television film commercial in 3-D. The 3-D films were shot during the Milwaukee Braves-Chicago Cubs game in Chicago Aug. 15 — in full color on 16mm film. Academy utilizes a one-camera, one-film, one-projector Bolex Stereo system — the same used to turn out TV film commercials in 3-D. The production was announced by Bernard Howard, Academy president. Court Accepts 'Hoppy' Film Bid SECOND offer of $5,000 by Hopalong Cassidy Inc. for some 200,000 feet of old Western film from the Harry (Pop) Sherman estate was accepted in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, after Arlynne Sherman, daughter of the late producer, failed to show up with a bid topping that. The stock footage had originally been sold to Hopalong Cassidy Inc. on June 22 for that same amount. However, the deal was ordered vacated when Miss Sherman and her sister, Theodora, protested they hadn't been given proper notice of the sale and claimed intention to bid on the property themselves [B*T, Aug. 17]. They informed the court that the film library might be worth as much as $1 million. ACE Bid byTV Film Editors AMERICAN Cinema Editors board of directors has mapped new rules for admitting TV film editors into the organization. Most editors exclusively in TV have not been able to meet ACE initiation requirements. The organization's membership also is being polled by letter to approve the proposal. Film Sales Canada Dry Ginger Ale Inc. contracts for 52 week Annie Oakley TV film series starrin; Gail Davis. Agency is J. M. Mathes Inc. wiil^ CBS Television Film Sales acting as sales agea i for producer, Annie Oakley Productions Inc | Fifty stations in leading markets have been sei j for the series, it was reported, with negotiations j underway to add 20-30 markets. Productior] starts today (Monday), with a Jan. 1 TV debul | slated. Estimated cost per film is $27,000. Produc tion unit will use facilities of Flying A Produc. tions, which produces the Gene Autry Shon and Death Valley Days. JMitchell J. Hamil-j burg is president of the Annie Oakley company, 1 Armand Schaefer, partner in the company, is ] executive producer. Colbert Clark is producer. I Canada Dry will promote the TV show withJ an extensive merchandising campaign with'l schedules being drawn for various media. • . Sales of the Badge 714 TV film show in sixi additional markets, bringing its total to 40,! was announced last week by John B. Cron, ; national sales manager of the NBC Film Div vision. Other new sales reported by Mr. Cron i included Douglas Fairbanks Presents in four ; markets, making a total of 93; Hopalong Cas-. sidy and Dangerous Assignment in three, mak-l ing a total of 125 each; Captured in three, Life of Riley in four, and The Visitor in two. • Sales of All American Game of the Week TV film series to six additional stations; its nineseries Station Starter Plan library to seven more, and Front Page Detective and Public Prosecutor to one each were announced Thursday by Consolidated Television Sales, film distribution firm. • Unity Films, New York, has signed a $60,000 contract with WITV (TV) Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for 700 first-run feature movies. Initial telecast is scheduled in November, with series to cover one year. Production Revue Productions, North Hollywood, has started "The Humming Bird" for CBS-TV Revlon Mirror Theatre half-hour series. Film, based on a story by Cornell Woolrich, marks the video debut of radio-screen star Agnes Moorehead and features Tom Drake. Felix Feist is director. A romantic drama, "Heads or Tails," goes before the cameras shortly with Rodney Amateau directing. Stars are Joanne Dru, John Ireland and Mary Sinclair. • Volcano Productions, Hollywood, has been signed by NBC-TV to film the first program in a new series starring Mickey Rooney. Pro-, duction starts shortly at Eagle-Lion Studios with Richard Quine directing from a script, coauthored with Blake Edwards. Film People Martin Eisenberg, motion picture finance expert, has been named production controller of Guild Films Inc., TV film producer and distributor. Guild Films President Reub Kaufman announced last week. He said the appointment was in line with rapid expansion by the company, which, he noted, has budgeted $2.5 million for television film production during the coming year. ' • Richard Dinsmore, formerly part owner of Sound Recordings, San Francisco transcription firm, joins Screen Gems Inc., Hollywood, as West Coast sales manager. He at one time conducted his own orchestra on NBC. Page 46 • August 31, 1953 Broadcasting • Telecasting