Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1955)

FILM FILM PEOPLE SERUTAN, through Kletter Assoc., its agency, will sponsor the Liberace film series on WPTZ (TV) Philadelphia for 52 weeks. L to r: seated, Alexander W. Dannenbaum Jr., WPTZ commercial manager; Ed Kletter, president of the agency; Fred Apt, representing Serutan; standing, Robert E. Bailey, Free & Peters account executive, and Herbert Gruber, business manager of radio-tv department, Kletter Assoc. Sales of Filmed 'Opry' Reach 50, Flamingo Reports TOTAL SALES of the half-hour Flamingo Film series, Grand Ole Opry, have reached 50, it was reported last week by Sy Weintraub, executive vice president of the company. Latest sales, he said, have been to the Ford Dealers in Baton Rouge and Swift & Co. in Dallas. Mr. Weintraub told B«T he expects the series to be shown in 200 markets by the end of this year. He reported that Flamingo currently is negotiating a regional sale with a major beverage company that plans to place the series in 33 markets. J. Don Alexander Sr. Dies, Co-Founded Film Company J. DON ALEXANDER Sr., 70, president and co-founder of Alexander Film Co., Colorado Springs, Colo., died of a heart attack May 6. Mr. Alexander organized the film company in 1919 in Spokane, Wash., later . j^,. moving (he firm to Denver and in 1928 to Colorado Springs. During its 36 years ^Mf&uV operation the Alexander Film Co. HBSk*. Hi has gone to the foreMR. ALEXANDER fr°nt >n the produc tion and distribution of film commercials for television and theatre display. Mr. Alexander is survived by his brother, Don M., and two sons, J. Don Jr. and John H. All three are members of the film company. Page 42 • May 16, 1955 MR. WILSON RANDOM SHOTS Don Wilson Productions Inc., Hollywood, established and opened May 2 in KTTV (TV) studios there, producing tv film commercials, industrial, documentary and sales films and sound slide films. Mr. Wilson, featured on comedian Jack Benny's radio-tv shows, is executive producer with Benjamin H. Kline, photography director; George Tobin, production supervisor; Don Schwab, associate producer, and Ted Byron, creative director. Firm will act as production unit for agencies located anywhere in U. S. New venture will not affect Mr. Wilson's association with Mr. Benny. Neumade Products Corp., N. Y., has released new 35mm catalog covering equipment for storage, filing, shipping and editing of all types of motion picture film, available on request to firm, 250 W. 57th St., N. Y. 19. With advent of tv film developments and wide-screen projection, Neumade has added over 150 new items to its 35 and 16mm wide screen and tv accessory lines. Lynn Stalmaster & Assoc. formed by Lynn Stalmaster, casting supervisor and production associate, Gross-Krasne Inc., Hollywood, as independent casting firm servicing tv film producers, headquartered at California Studios, Hollywood. NBC Film Div., N. Y., has appointed Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd., Sydney, Australia, as sales representative in Australia and New Zealand for syndicated tv film shows. Guild Films Co., N. Y., opens new office in Land Title Bldg., Broad & Chestnut Sts., Phila. Bill Miller, eastern sales manager, WBBM Chicago, to Official Films, St. Louis, as senior account executive. Dalton Danon, formerly with Motion Pictures' for Television, N. Y., to Guild Films Co., same city, as account executive. Henry Batista and Richard Fantl, Screen Gems Inc., Hollywood, promoted to supervising film editors of all 10 SG tv film series produced in Hollywood. I I Douglas Heyes, writer, ABC-TV Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, signed by Herbert B. Leonard Productions, Hollywood, as executive assistant on that series, upcoming Circus Boy and Tales' of the Bengal Lancers; Paul Pierce, radio-tv1 writer-director-producer, joins Leonard firm as story editor. David Ackerman, traffic control manager, ABCTV Film Syndication, N. Y., to National Telefilm Assoc., same city, as booking agent. Gig Young, motion picture and tv actor, signed as host, ABC-TV Warner Bros. Presents, upcoming hour-long film series. Irving Lippman, cinematographer on CBS-TV Damon Runyon Theatre for Screen Gems Inc., Hollywood, adds same duties on upcoming NBC-TV Father Knows Best. Guy Madison, star of Wild Bill Hickok tv film series, father of girl, Bridget, April 26. FILM PRODUCTION Guild Films Co., N. Y., last week began production on lna Ray Hutton Show, new 39 half -hour series under direction of Duke Goldstone. Se-1 ries being filmed at Gross-Krasne Studios, Hollywood, expected ready for fall distribution. Gross-Krasne Inc., Hollywood, May 10 started shooting O. Henry Television Playhouse, halfhour tv film series, utilizing two studios at California Studios, same city. First two episodes, "Man About Town" and "The Reformation of Calliope," scheduled to be ready for early June auditioning. Thomas Mitchell portrays "0. Henry" in first 39 films. George Waggner! adapting and directing first four scripts. Nassour Studios, L. A., started shooting Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, 39 half-hour film series for ABC-TV syndication. Produced by William and Edward Nassour, in association with Don1 Sharpe, series features Irish McCalla in title role. Arthur Pierson is director; Jack Palmer, production supervisor, and Joel Murcott, story editor. Screen Gems Inc., Hollywood, scheduled to start shooting You Can't Take It With You this week. Signed by Producer-Director Edward Buzzell are Cecil Kellaway for role of "Gran'pa"; Barbara Britton, "Alice"; Joyce Holden, "Essie"; George Givot, "Boris," and Nydia Westman, "Penny Sycamore." Stuart Reynolds Productions, Hollywood, sched-j uled to start shooting pilot film for NBC-TV Skip Taylor, USAF, series, produced at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Tex., in cooperation with U. S. Air Force. Format, created by Associate Producer Bud Austin, deals with adventures of three air cadets training as jet pilots. Parsonnet & Wheeler Inc., N. Y., scheduled to start production on Mr. Bascomb, 15-minute tv film series featuring bassett hound. Film will be produced in conjunction with Mark Roberts: and Allen Melvin. Broadcasting • Telecasting I