Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

the summit Another top Radio Independent — KFMJ, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, takes top audience in the market's 7-day average. See Nov.-Dec. Hooper. Call John E. Pearson Company (JEPCO) in New York. Dial LU 5-5555 in Tulsa. as a major aid to your Quad-City Page 48 • February 6, 1956 WARNER MAY SELL OLD FILM PACKAGE WARNER BROS Inc. last week reported that it is "studying" the possibility of selling its backlog of old motion pictures for television use. but said it could make no definite announcement at this time. This disclosure came from Robert W. Perkins, Warner's vice president and general counsel, at the company's annual meeting in Wilmington, Del. When asked if Warner was negotiating for the sale of 1,000 feature films to American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres for a reported $20 million, Mr. Perkins said: "We are studying the situation but can announce nothing at present . . . twenty million is a good price. I'm glad to hear it." Mr. Perkins said he could not definitely say whether AB-PT was the only company with which Warner is negotiating. Robert E. Kintner, president of ABC, a division of AB-PT, confirmed that negotiations with Warner have been in progress [B»T, Jan. 30], but would not venture a guess as to whether an agreement will materialize. The $20 million price mentioned in unofficial speculation is regarded as considerably higher than the figure actually under discussion in the negotiations. NATL. TELEFILM EXPANDS TO PRODUCTION OF FILM TvB's Nelson joins firm. Gresh ler appointed to coordinate film development. EXPANSION of National Telefilm Assoc. from program distribution field to tv film production activities was announced last week by Ely Landau, NTA president, who said a budget of "a minimum of $250,000" has been set for the next 90-120 days on new program work. Mr. Landau also announced last week that James E. Nelson, formerly of Television Bureau of Advertising, had joined NTA. Mr. Landau said that a new program development department has been set up within NTA, with Abner J. Greshler, former president of York Pictures Corp., as coordinator. Under terms of his agreement with NTA, Mr. Greshler remains free to continue other activities in the talent field. NTA will produce pilots for six films planned for network and national sales, according to Mr. Landau. One pilot film already set is The Sheriff of Cochise, which will be produced at the Motion Picture Center ctudios on the West Coast later this month. Mr. Nelson, director ol national spot sales at TvB, joins NTA in a top-level executive position, according to Mr. Landau. Mr. Nelson has been active in both advertising and production phases of radio-tv. Before moving to TvB in 1955 after nine years as head of his own advertising agency. Keystone Adv., he was vice president in charge of radio-tv with Storm & Klein, and prior to that was with MBS, NBC and his own package radio firm. Mr. Nelson will report to Mr. Landau and Oliver A. Unger, NTA executive vice president. Walter Tibbals Named V. P. At Four Star Films Inc. APPOINTMENT of Walter A. Tibbals as vice president of Four Star Films Inc., Culver City, Calif., was announced last week by William Cruikshank, president of Four Star. Mr. Tibbals, who recently resigned his posi tion as vice president in charge of television and radio for BBDO, New York, after a 13-year tenure, joins the Four Star organization to serve as a creative executive in the formulation of new properties and to function as special liaison with associated talent, agencies, and clients. His appointment is effective Feb. 15. A native of New Jersey, Mr. Tibbals entered broadcasting in 1934 when he joined WNEW New York. In 1942 he began his association with BBDO as producer-director, agency representative, and since 1952, as vice president of that firm's Hollywood office. In 1952 he accompanied the Eisenhower presidential campaign tour, in charge of all radio and television addresses. Screen Gems Inc. to Hold International Sales Meet SCREEN GEMS Inc. will hold its first international sales convention in New York for four days this week, beginning Thursday, during which 29 sales representatives from 10 branch offices in the U. S. and Canada will attend sessions covering various business phases of the company's operations. John H. Mitchell, vice president in charge of sales, and Robert Salk, director of sales, will direct the business sessions. Ralph M. Cohn, vice president and general manager, will discuss studio and production operations as they relate to both East and West Coasts. Department heads in sales, research, merchandising, promotion, legal, publicity, traffic and commercials will describe their activities. Screen Gems currently has seven series in syndication and is considering the production of 10 other series during 1956-57. During the convention, each syndicated series will be reviewed, selling philosophy and techniques of first run sales will be discussed, and sales plans for feature films will be analyzed. Syndicated Tv Films Seen Big Help in 'Marginal' Time SYNDICATED television films of quality have turned "marginal" time periods into "marvelous availabilities," it was reported last week by M. J. Rifkin, vice president in charge of sales for Ziv Television Programs, New York. A study completed by Ziv's research department showed that in the larger eastern tv markets the formerly "hard-to-sell" 6-7:30 p.m. period has become "a plum for spot advertisers using syndicated films," according to Mr. Rifkin. He cited ARB figures for December covering New York and Chicago which, he said, showed that syndicated films in this time period and in the 10-11 p.m. slot ranked among the top ten. Mr. Rifkin also expressed the view that tv films will prove successful in daytime slots, which, he said, are considered "marginal" today. Ziv's research department, Mr. Rifkin added, has undertaken another project whereby producers of in-production Ziv series will be provided with a special monthly report analyzing fan mail reaction to company programs. He said these digests will serve as a guide in planning future episodes in a series. FILM SALES NBC Film Division, N. Y., announces sale of Crunch and Des tv film series to Stroh Brewery Co., Detroit, for 17 markets in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Sale, negotiated through Zimmer, Keller & Calvert, Detroit, raises total number of markets on series to 85. Other regional sales completed recently by division were to I.G.A. Stores in Missouri; Regal Beer in Southeast; Broadcasting • Telecasting