Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1955)

FILM WITH THIS contract-signing, 26 J. Arthur Rank Productions' films are acquired by National Telefilm Assoc. for tv film syndication in the U. S. Concluding the agreement are Robert Benjamin (I), president of J. Arthur Rank Productions, and Oliver Unger, executive vice president of NTA. The films, some of which bear release dates as recent as 1953, are part of NTA's "Fabulous Forty" film package. in addition to other material. Ely A. Landau, NTA's president, is executive vice president of NATS, and NTA's Executive Vice President Oliver Unger is vice president of NATS. NTA, during the last six months, obtained distribution rights to 66 feature films and 65 film episodes. Its library now totals 240 available feature films in addition to 661 episodes of 23 series of various films. In its registration statement, NTA said that as of the end of last March, "total unbilled exhibition contracts exceeded $1,150,000." Exhibition contracts written in April, according to the statement, reached a "record monthly high of $266,000, a trend which has continued in May." Up to May 17, contracts totaled $249,000 for that month. NTA Announces More Sales NATIONAL TELEFILM Assoc., New York, has announced it has sold its "Fabulous Forty" package of feature films to WTCN-TV Minneapolis, WVET-TV Rochester, KOA-TV Denver, KPIX (TV) San Francisco and KDKATV Pittsburgh, as well as 29 films from the package to WCBS-TV New York. In addition, NTA has sold to WCBS-TV The Fallen Idol, Carol Reed Production, which will be released for tv showing after October. The "Fabulous Forty" group consists of 26 films acquired from J. Arthur Rank, plus films from other sources. The catalogue includes films produced between 1946 and 1953. NTA Adds Jessel, Derby Films DISTRIBUTION rights to "Yesterday and Today," motion picture film starring George Jessel, and to 52 half-hours of The Mad Whirl, a roller derby series now in production, have been acquired by National Telefilm Associates Inc.. New York. The Jessel film, still in theatrical release, will be available for tv in September. GF Film Shown on Hill SEVERAL congressmen and government officials attended the screening of two episodes of Confidential File, a tv film series dealing with social problems, by Guild Films Inc. last fortnight. The films, on narcotics and horror comics, were shown in the House Office Bldg. in conjunction with the NARTB convention. Evangelist Billy Graham Contemplating Film Series DISCUSSIONS are underway for a new series of film programs starring evangelist Billy Graham this fall, which would mark his return to television after nearly a year's absence. Preliminary talks have been held between Walter F. Bennett, head of the Chicago advertising agency bearing his name and Mr. Graham's agent, and William Klein, general manager of United Film & Recording Studios, that city. Format and program length have not been determined but it was reported the type of show would vary from that of the earlier Hour of Decision, with cost estimated at over $700,000. The evangelist appeared on ABC-TV and on a spot basis until July last year. His radio series is carried by ABC and MBS affiliates as well as other stations in the U. S. and Canada. Walter F. Bennett & Co. handles the Billy Graham Evangelist Assn. and about 10 other religious accounts. Screen Gems, General Mills Sign for Texas Ranger Series SCREEN GEMS Inc. has signed to produce a new film series, Tales of the Texas Rangers, for General Mills, it was announced by Ralph Cohn, vice president of Screen Gems. Production on the first 26 films will begin in early June at the studios of Screen Gem's parent company, Columbia Picture Corp. The halfhour series will be telecast over 64 CBS-TV stations Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. EDT beginning late this summer, it was announced. Screen Gems will syndicate the series to local advertisers in markets not covered by General Mills. Bob Hope in Bulova Tv Films BOB HOPE, radio-tv comedy star, has been obtained for a special series of dealer tv commercials by the Bulova Watch Co. Three dealer tv films of different lengths — 2-minute, 1 -minute and 20-seconds — were made in Hollywood and all star Mr. Hope in a specially prepared skit written for the watch company. Films will be made available to Bulova jewelers upon written request before June 30. Some 447 cities are expected to show the Hope commercial during the summer months when a new motion picture, "The Seven Little Foys," starring Mr. Hope, will be shown in theatres across the country. Religious Film Series Set A RELIGIOUS tv film series titled Life Everlasting, which features Dr. Howard E. Kershner, editor of Christian Economics, is in production, Thomas G. Sabin, New York and Washington tv program consultant, has announced. Each program is five minutes long, including time for a 35-second spot announcement. Details on the series may be obtained from Dr. Kershner, president of The Christian Freedom Foundation Inc., P. O. Box 517, New York 17. K&W Film Service Formed FORMATION of K&W Film Service Corp., New York, an organization specializing in the production of opticals, animation photography and special effects, was announced last week by Norman Witlen, formerly supervisor of Translilm's animation camera and opticals department, and Ralph Koch, formerly with Technical Films. Headquarters is at 1675 Broadway, New York 19. Telephone is Circle 5-8081. FILM SALES MCA-TV, N. Y, has sold Pride of the Family to Campbell Soup Co., Camden, N. J., to be telecast in 60 CBS-TV markets June 12 through July 10. Program, starring Paul Hartman, is | summer replacement for Lassie. Agency for Campbell: BBDO, N. Y. NBC Film Div. has announced sale of Badge j 714 to KVDO-TV Corpus Christi, WOAI-TV San Antonio, KFDM-TV Beaumont, and the Prince Macaroni Co. for WJAR-TV Providence; Hopalong Cassidy (half-hour) to KVDO-TV Corpus Christi and WKBN-TV Youngstown, Ohio; The Falcon, to Dodge Dealers of Eureka, Calif., for KIEM-TV Eureka, and also to WGBS-TV Miami, Fla. Sterling Television Co., N. Y., has sold King's Crossroads to WTVD (TV) Durham, N. C, and The American Trust Co. for showing over KRON-TV San Francisco; Invitation Playhouse to KCOP (TV) Los Angeles, and The Dairy Maid Drive-in for KRBC-TV Abilene, Tex.; I Movie Museum to WPBN-TV Traverse City, j Mich., and Jonathan Story to WFBM-TV Indianapolis. INS Telenews, N. Y., has sold daily news film service to WNAC-TV Boston; WCSH-TV Portland, Me.; WGTH-TV Hartford, Conn.; WHBQ-TV Memphis. This Week in Sports will be telecast on KSWS-TV Roswell, N. M.; WXEL (TV) Cleveland; WGN-TV Chicago, i and KOTA-TV Rapid City, S. D., under Gen j eral Tire & Rubber Co. dealers' sponsorship. Weekly news review will be carried by KSBWTV Salinas, Calif. WCSH-TV has purchased INS facsimile. Contract for daily film and facsimile has been renewed by WNBK (TV) Cleveland, and WRC-TV Washington has renewed facsimile. FILM DISTRIBUTION Contemporary Films, N. Y., making available to tv stations 18-minute film, "Work or Wages Guaranteed," produced by United Automobile Workers of America dealing with union's plan I for guaranteed employment. Film also obtainable from UAW's office in Detroit, 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., and in New York at 101 W. 31st St. Transfilm Inc., N. Y., announces tv availability of "Right Around the Corner," 10-minute film produced for Greater New York Fund. FILM PEOPLE Joseph Popkin, production manager, Authors Playhouse, Hollywood, to California Studios, same city, as vice president in charge of studio facilities and operations; Jess Wilson, in charge of construction, Goldwyn Studios, Hollywood, moves to California Studios in same capacity. Robert Edmonds, writer-producer-director, national film board of Canada, and news announcer, Canadian Broadcasting Corp., to j Kling Film Productions, Chicago, as director; Lloyd Bethune, formerly with WGN-TV Chicago, to Kling. Robert J. Flatley, formerly with Buchen Co., Chicago, to Kling Film Productions, same city, as account executive. Milton Geiger signed by TCF Television Productions Inc., Hollywood, to write "behind-thescenes" segments of new hour-long CBS-TV film series for General Electric. Jim O'Riley, director, Kling Film Productions, |i Chicago and Cecelia Fox were married May 29. Robert C. Dennis, writer-creator, syndicated tv film Affairs of China Smith and Passport to Danger series, father of boy, Jonathan Robert, May 21. Page 46 • June 6, 1955 Broadcasting • Telecasting