Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

BETSY, finger-painting chimpanzee and tv performer, will be represented at two art exhibits in the next few weeks and has received an invitation to display her paintings at the Arthur Newton Gallery, New York. The artistic chimp developed her technique as a regular performer on WAAM (TV) Baltimore's This Is Your Zoo. The paintings have brought prices up to $100. Recent sales of Betsy originals, mostly at $25 to $50, have totaled more than $2,000, according to Arthur Watson, director of the Baltimore zoo. The zoo broadcast is sponsored on WAAM by Sinclair Refining Co., placing through Morey, Humm & Warwick, New York. Future showings of Betsy originals include the U. of Wisconsin show sponsored by the Milwaukee Art Club April 29-May 1 1 , and the Diablo Art Assn. show at Walnut Creek, Calif., May 23-28. A Texas art group has already scheduled a 1958 exhibit of the paintings. While continuing her WAAM performances, Betsy has fit several tv guests spots into her busy schedule, appearing on NBC-TV's Tonight, and CBS-TV's Garry Moore Show and I've Got A Secret. Her work first gained recognition when a Baltimore gallery paid $1,000 for an abstract painting by a contemporary artist, leading Mr. Watson to observe, "We've got a chimp who can do better than that." Art critics have found absorbing interest in Betsy's rhythmic, flowing patterns, delicate shadings and sense of balance. Success always inspires imitation, and having been seen in a creative mood by millions of tv fans, Betsy is now acquiring imitators at other zoos. None, however, show Betsy's natural functioning of hands, arms and body, according to Mr. Watson. PEOPLE mittee, succeeding David Bland, product group manager, Lever Bros., who will continue to serve on committee. Byron Krasne, news director, KOLN-TV Lincoln, Neb., elected president of United Press Broadcasters of Neb. PROGRAM SERVICES Ben Harkins, radio production, programming and sales veteran, opens his own firm at 1426 Fifth Ave. Bldg., Seattle 1. He will engage in radio and tv production, sales promotion and advertising planning in association with Commercial Recorders Inc. Leonard Feist, former president, Music Publishers Assn. of U. S., and presently chairman of MPA's legislative committee, named assistant to president of Associated Music Publishers, wholly-owned subsidiary of Broadcast Music Inc. John J. Alves, account executive at WSJVTV Elkhart, Ind., named southwest sales representative of RCA's Recorded Program Services sales staff, Dallas. Sid Lumber, production supervisor of The Big Payoff (CBS-TV), Walt Framer Production, named associate producer of show. Other promotions in Framer firm are Joe Gottlieb, former associate producer of Strike It Rich (CBS-TV) and Payoff, to concentrate on innovations for Strike It Rich; Helen Lee, assistant to Mr. Tamber, becomes production supervisor of Payoff; Lenore Miller, replaces Miss Lee and assumes responsibility of questions for Payoff. Frank Abrahams joins Framer as production supervisor of Lucky Lady series to be aired on ABC-TV in fall. Lawrence Sideman appointed national sales representative for Romper Room (Bert Claster Tv Productions Inc. package). Bob Nash, formerly WPAT Paterson continuity director and freelance jingle writer, named account executive, Gotham Recording Corp., New York. Arthur W. Levy, 56, associate sales manager of International News Photos, died April 10 in Mt. Sinai Hospital, N. Y., after brief illness following heart attack. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Howard Mendelsohn, formerly press information director at WBBM-TV Chicago, to Harshe-Rotman Inc., public relations firm, same city, on special assignment project. Noel Corbett, Young & Rubicam's Hollywood publicity department, opens his own publicity office in Taft Bldg., corner of Hollywood & Vine, Hollywood 28. Daniel J. Edelman, owner of Chicago and N. Y. public relations firm bearing his name, elected to board of directors of Bostrom Mfg. Co., Milwaukee supplier of seating equipment for truck and tractor industry. PERSONNEL RELATIONS Melville B. Nimmer, former counsel for Paramount Pictures' Studio, has been appointed legal counsel for Writers Guild of America, West. INTERNATIONAL Eugene Hallman, assistant supervisor of talks and public affairs at Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Toronto, named director of radio network programming. Peter McDonald, assistant director of program planning and production at CBC, appointed director of tv network programming. J. Ketter, formerly of Young & Rubicam Ltd., and E. W. Reynolds & Co., both Toronto, as account executive, to manager of new Toronto office of Chicago advertising agency Arthur Meyerhoff & Co., at 33 Bloor St. E. Bryan Vaughan to managing director of Toronto, office of Vickers & Benson Ltd., Montreal, Que., advertising agency. James A. Robb named manager, MacLaren Adv. Co. Ltd.'s new office at 635 Ouellette Ave., Windsor, Ont. Peter MacFarlane, producer of tv shows on Canadian Broadcasting Corp. network, to Granada Tv Network Productions Ltd.. London, as producer of musical variety shows. Ev Smith, announcer-writer. CKCO-TV Kitchener, to CKVR-TV Barrie, both Ont., as program director. EDUCATION Marvin Alisky, assistant professor of radiotv and journalism at Indiana U., Bloomington, to Arizona State College, Tempe, as chairman of mass communications department. Page 118 • May 6, 1957 Broadcasting • Telecasting