Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1957)

FILM FIVE YEAR Barter [B»T, March 11 deal was completed between WGRTV Buffalo, N. Y., and C & C Television Corp. for RKO library of feature films. Seated (I. to r.): Van Beuren W. De Vries, program director, WGR-TV; Frank O'Driscoll, sales, C & C Tv Corp.; (Standing), E. H. Ezzes, vice president general sales manager C & C Tv Corp.; Joe Bernard, vice president general manager, WGR-TV. AAP, was to WEAR-TV Pensacola, which bought all of 13 groups offered by Warner Bros. Television Programs of America, through National Export, N. Y., has sold foreign version of Lone Ranger to WKAQ-TV San Juan, and WORA-TV Mayaguez, both Puerto Rico. FILM PRODUCTION Desilu Productions Inc., Hollywood, announces production of two new series, The Wildcatters and This is Alice. Both will be released through National Telefilm Assoc. Inc., N. Y. Official Films Inc., N. Y., announced that production has begun on two costume-adventure half-hour tv film series, tentatively titled Pistol Point and The Blade. Series are being produced by Official Films in association with Sapphire Films Ltd., in England. FILM PEOPLE Charles B. Brown, vice president in charge of film sales, Bing Crosby Enterprises, has left company which has discontinued production of tv film programs [At Deadline, March 11], and has not yet announced his future plans. Hugo C. Johnson, Washington newsreel cameraman, to Walt Disney Studio staff as representative for D. C. area. FILM DISTRIBUTION Flying "A" Productions Inc's. Winning of the West, new adult western series, being offered for national sale on network and national spot basis by CBS-TV Film Sales. NETWORKS ABC ELECTS SIX VICE PRESIDENTS • Accas, Coyle and Rabinovitz get television posts • Comtois, Riddleberger and Shaffner for ABC Radio MARKING further organizational expansion of ABC, Leonard H. Goldenson, president of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres Inc., Thursday announced the election of six vice presidents of ABC, three for the ABC Television Network, three for the ABC Radio network. They are: ABC Television Network: Gene Accas, administrative vice president; Donald W. Coyle, vice president in charge of sales development and research, and Jason Rabinovitz, administrative vice president. For the ABC Radio Network: George Comtois, vice president in charge of sales; Stephen Riddleberger, administrative vice president, research, and Dean Shaffner, vice president in charge of sales development and research. The network also announced two promotions in programming at Hollywood, involving Thomas M. Lufkin and Louis F. Sanman. Mr. Accas has served as administrative officer of the ABC Television Network since February. Prior to that, he was vice president of the Television Bureau of Advertising, which he joined in February 1956. Before joining TvB, Mr. Accas was with ABC as director of sales development and research. He also held the ABC posts of director of advertising, promotion, publicity and continuity acceptance, director of sales promotion, and other radio and tv sales development positions. Before going to ABC in July 1951, Mr. Accas was with NBC and with Foote, Cone & Belding. Mr. Coyle was appointed director of sales development and research for ABC Television in February 1956. Previously, he was director of research and a research writer for ABC. Before joining the network in 1950, he was an industrial analyst. Mr. Rabinovitz was named an administrative officer for the ABC Television Network in February 1957. Previously, he was head of the ABC cost control unit and assistant controller. Mr. Rabinovitz was head of stockholder-financial public relations for United Paramount Theatres prior to joining ABC in July 1953. Mr. Comtois was named national sales manager of the ABC Radio network in January 1956. He had been an account executive with ABC Radio since September 1951. Prior to joining ABC, Mr. Comtois was an account executive with MBS and Crosley Broadcasting Corp. Mr. Riddleberger was appointed business manager of the ABC Radio Network in November 1955. He previously had been a member of the cost control unit, administrative manager of the tv program department, assistant administrative manager of the department and radio budget officer since going to ABC in March 1952. Mr. Shaffner was appointed director of sales development and research for the ABC Radio Network in February 1956. Previously, he had been director of sales development for ABC, director of research for ABC Radio, assistant director of research and sales development for ABC, manager of television sales development and a sales presentation writer on joining the network in 1949. Meanwhile, two appointments in the program department of the ABC-TV Network, Hollywood, were announced last week by Sandy Cummings, manager of network programs, Hollywood. They are: Thomas M. Lufkin, appointed service manager, and Louis F. Sanman, appointed production supervisor. Both are effective immediately. These latest appointments follow the recently announced appointments of J. English Smith as manager of tv network programs, ABC, New York, and Sandy Cummings, as MR. ACCAS MR. COYLE MR. RIDDLEBERGER MR. SHAFFNER manager of tv network programs, ABC, Hollywood, named a fortnight ago by James T. Aubrey Jr., vice president in charge of programming and talent for the network [B»T, March 11]. Mr. Lufkin will be responsible for all Page 50 • March 18, 1957 Broadcasting • Telecasting