Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

PROGRAM SERVICES CBS-TV, TelePrompTer Set New Long-Term Arrangement SIGNING of CBS-TV to a new long-term contract with the TelePrompTer Corp., New York, was announced last week by Irving B. Kahn, TelePrompTer president. The contract was said to represent the second renewal of the agreement. Mr. Kahn said that TelePrompTer service also is employed, under contract, by many artists appearing on the network. The arrangement with CBS-TV, he said, applies to the network itself and its owned and operated stations. Frank Falknor, CBS-TV vice president in charge of operations, pointed out that the network was one of the first large contractual users of TelePrompTer facilities. "This unique service has made it possible for the network to meet the demanding schedules of television programming and advertising with greater efficiency and lower cost with spontaneity and naturalness that go with good showmanship," he said. Jerrold Electronics Buys Spanish Mt. Television PURCHASE of its second community television system has been announced by Jerrold Electronics Corp., Philadelphia manufacturer of community antenna equipment. The Jerrold company has bought Spanish Mt. Television Corp., serving 1,500 subscribers in and around Ukiah, Calif. Jerrold owns a controlling interest in Cable-Vision Inc., Key West, Fla., and has management responsibility for 1 1 other wired tv community systems. The Ukiah system relays the programs of ch. 4 KRON-TV, ch. 5 KPIX (TV) and ch. 7 KGO-TV, all San Francisco. Ukiah is about 100 miles south of San Francisco. Jerrold is working on plans for a microwave relay system to bring Miami tv to Key West. Facts Forum's Burt Denies 'Extremist Propaganda7 Charge IN REPLY to criticism of Facts Forum by the National Committee for an Effective Congress, Hardy Burt, who produces various Facts Forum radio-tv programs, last week accused the committee of engaging in "extremist propaganda." Mr. Burt addressed a letter to George Agree, executive secretary of the committee, calling attention to the committee's Washington newsletter, which Mr. Burt said, stated that Facts Forum was engaging in "extremist propaganda" and is "addicted to hates and myths." Mr. Burt went on to enumerate the contents of various Facts Forum radio and tv programs, as well as the names of participating personalities, as a means of indicating that the shows are "balanced" as to political leanings. "In view of the facts," Mr. Burt declared, "it seems clear that if anyone is engaging in 'extremist propaganda,' it is the National Committee for an Effective Congress, through its Washington newsletter. I should like to take this opportunity to invite you to be our guest on Facts Forum Panel, which is produced in New York, to discuss the topic, 'Propaganda and Extremist Organizations'." A spokesman for the committee said that its newsletter had referred to various publications and organizations, including Facts Forum, as "radical right organizations and publications . . . bound together by addiction to the same hates and myths," and as engaging in "extremist propaganda." He said Mr. Agree was out of town, but would consider Mr. Burt's letter and invitation to appear on Facts Forum Panel when he returned to New York. Historic Significance A SERIES of programs broadcast in 1952 on WTAG Worcester, Mass., will be used as a guide by the Ford Foundation in a project it is considering. The broadcasts detailed a complete tour of the historic Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Mass., virtually demolished by fire before Christmas 1955. The Ford Foundation is exploring the possibility of financing the reconstruction of the inn, made famous by Longfellow, and has asked the station for recordings of the programs, said to contain the only existing description of the inn. Senate Chaplain's Prayers To Be Offered to Radio, Tv THE PRAYERS offered before each session of the U. S. Senate by the Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, Senate chaplain, may be made available on tape and film to radio and television stations. The filmed and taped one-minute prayers would be offered to stations for use at sign-on and/or sign-off on a 52-week basis, according to Dr. Harris' office. The prayers would be recorded and filmed by the Senate chaplain from those he has offered before the Senate during the second session of the 83d Congress and the first session of the 84th. They would be furnished to stations at production costs, which are expected to be modest. Radio and tv broadcasters would be free to use the prayers daily on condition that they not be sponsored commercially. Stations interested should write: Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, Chaplain, U. S. Senate, Washington, D. C. United Press' Central Div. Announces Reorganization REORGANIZATION of United Press' Central Division, involving four executive promotions, has been announced by Bert Masterson, division manager. Donald J. Brydon, Wisconsin manager, becomes Indiana divisional representative; Richard McFarland changes from Minnesota manager to Wisconsin manager; Jack U. Hagerty, manager of the Minneapolis bureau, succeeds Mr. McFarland as Minnesota manager, and Wyman L. Thorson, Minneapolis staff, was promoted to manager there. Religious Series for Radio A SERIES of 14 half-hour shows with a religious theme, Sunday in Hollywood, is to be made avai'able next month to radio stations on request. The free programs, featuring nationally-known entertainment figures, have an interview format and will be conducted by Father Frank Caffrey, pastor of a California mission. Transcriptions may be reserved by writing Father Albert J. Nevins, The Maryknoll Fathers, Maryknoll, N. Y. PROGRAM SERVICE PEOPLE Robert Jay Burton, vice president of Broadcast Music Inc., N. Y., and general manager of BMI Canada Ltd., will serve for fifth consecutive year as chairman of radio-tv division for N. Y. Legal Aid Society's fund-raising drive. Betty Johnson, singer on ABC Radio Breakfast Club, and Lew Douglas, radio-tv recording artist, signed by Bally Recording Corp., Chicago. Mr. Douglas also will serve as musical director. — PROFESSIONAL SERVICES — Consulting Firm Changes THE Washington consulting engineering firm of Page, Creutz, Garrison & Waldschmitt has changed its name to Page, Creutz, Steel & Waldschmitt Inc. The firm also has announced the opening of a West Coast office in the WhiteHenry-Stuart Bldg., Seattle 1, Wash. Officers are Esterly C. Page, president; John Creutz, executive vice president; David L. Steel Sr., vice president-treasurer, and Joseph Waldschmitt, vice president. Washington offices are at 710 14th St., N. W. Robbins Adds P. R. Dept. RICHARD S. ROBBINS Co., New York, merchandising agency handling radio-tv promotion for Westinghouse, Lever Bros., Max Factor, and Dodge Motor Co., among others, has added a new public relations-publicity department "to complete the marketing circle" for its clients. Heading the new department will be Robert J. Flood, former independent public relations counsel. The Robbins company has handled a number of radio-tv promotional projects, among them, the NBC-TV-Lever Bros. "Lucky Lever" sweepstakes and the CBS-TV-Arthur Godfrey "Fun for All" contest, also for Lever. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PEOPLE Russ Jamison, former program director and assistant manager, KMED Medford, Ore., has opened public relations office in Medford. Larry Shedlin, former manager of radio, television department, Curtis Publishing Co., Philadelphia, appointed radio-tv department manager, Oristano Assoc., N. Y., public relations counsel. Wallace A. Ross, founder of Ross Reports on Television, and more recently vice president of Box Office Television Inc., N. Y., has joined N. Y. office of Arthur P. Jacobs Co., public relations counsel. Elizabeth Troughton, previously research, promotion and publicity director of MBS midwest operations, appointed promotion manager for Tv Guide's Chicago edition. Joe Savage, formerly identified with Mutual's Game of the Day series, succeeds Miss Troughton at MBS. Chicago. John S. Rose to Mayer and O'Brien Inc., Chicago and Los Angeles public relations counseling firm. Joseph Field, former public relations director,. Compton Adv. Inc., N. Y., to Fred Rosen Assoc., N. Y., public relations firm. Albert Messer, public relations advisor, Kay-Fries Chemicals Inc., N. Y., to Rosen Assoc. as account executive. Arthur J, Hohmann, former manager of market research, Erwin, Wasey & Co. Ltd., N. Y., to Los Angeles staff of Gould, Gleiss & Benn, Inc., marketing consultants specializing in market research, sales analysis and sales planning, as director of advertising research. Esterly C. Page, president, Page, Creutz, Steel & Waldschmitt Inc., Washington consulting engineers, father of girl, Jan. 9. Mrs. Page is former Virginia Erwin, consulting engineer. Page 84 • January 23, 1956 Broadcasting • Telecasting