Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

TRADE ASSNS. CONTINUED 9 PERSONAL APPEARANCE GIGANTIC SUCCESS FOR POTATO CHIP FIRM BROOKS POTATO CHIPS, Springfield, Mo., five-year sponsors of THE CISCO KID comment through KTTS-TV on the recent appearance of Duncan Renaldo, THE CISCO KID in their market: "THE CISCO KID's recent appearance in Springfield exceeded by far our fondest hopes. Over 20,000 of our customers visited CISCO in the short time he was here ... THE CISCO KID has constantly outrated its competition and we feel this appearance will drive the rating even higher." Ask to see more success stories of WE WORLD'S GREATEST SALESMAN! "THE CISCO KID" COVERAGE OF TRIAL rules, other stations could have shared the privilege but only KOA-TV broadcast the trial. About 2,000 feet of film was shown on KOA-TV at 5 p.m. and repeated at 10 p.m. during the trial. Sam Houston, film director, worked with Gene Clift, news-court reporter, in the coverage. Sound tracks were edited for use on KOA's radio news service. Mr. Houston set up one film camera at the side of the courtroom, using available lighting. No technical problems were encountered. Tri-X film was force-processed. The Denver Post used stills, also shot with available lighting. Joining Judge Pringle in praise of the coverage were Robert Kingsley and William Rice, defense attorneys. They asked KOA-TV for use of the films to review conduct of the trial. The only incident during the trial was the request of one witness who didn't want to be telecast. That portion of the film was destroyed. Judge Pringle's letter to Mr. Henry: "I want to take this means of thanking you and your reporters for the very fine coverage you gave the Archina trial during the past three weeks. "Your coverage of the trial demonstrated clearly that television news has become a part of the daily life of our community and can do a job quietly and fairly of bringing to the viewing public an account of what is happening in the judicial system without in any manner disturbing the decorum of the proceedings. "Your film coverage of important events brought home to the viewing public, I believe, a clear picture of the calm and professional manner in which the attorneys conducted this trial. It also, I am sure, brought home to the public that while there were many dramatic moments in the trial, there were no outbursts by counsel or phoney histrionics. "I think such accounts of these trials help form in the minds of the public a true opinion of the manner in which our American system of jurisprudence operates and help erase any false impressions they may get from plays or other means of entertainment which do not truly represent the high tradition of judicial procedures." JUDGE PRAISES TV Television's public service role in covering court trials has a new judicial supporter — Judge Edward E. Pringle of Denver (Colo.) District Court. Film coverage of the Archina murder trial in Judge Pringle's court by KOATV Denver showed how the medium can give a fair account of what goes on in the courtroom, the jurist wrote John Henry, KOA-TV news director, after the trial. This latest reaction contradicts Canon 35 of the American Bar Assn., which bans radio-tv courtroom broadcasts. Denver was the scene of the first major breakthrough against the pre-tv canon when the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that broadcast reporting should be permitted by judges despite Canon 35 [Stations, Mar. 5, 1956.] Court coverage in Denver comes under rules of Denver Area Radio & Tv Stations. Mr. Henry arranged for KOA-TV's coverage in cooperation with the association, with the judge and counsel lending their approval. Under association pooling AIMS Elects Sharpe, Simpson; '58 Session Set for Seattle Virgil Sharpe, vice president and general manager of KOWH Omaha, Neb., was elected chairman, and William L. Simpson, assistant general manager of KOL Seattle, was named vice chairman of the Assn. of Independent Metropolitan Stations at its annual business meeting Oct. 5-6. Election of officers highlighted a semiannual session devoted to programming and sales problems along with radio station trends, including music formats and automation. Seventeen of AIMS' 19 stations were represented at the meeting in the Orrington Hotel, Evanston, 111. Outgoing chairman was Dave Morris, general manager of KNUZ Houston. AIMS members voted to hold their 1958 spring meeting in Seattle, probably after the NARTB national convention. The trade organization was founded in the early 1950s. Burke Heads N. D. Broadcasters Charles G. Burke, KFGO Fargo, was elected president of North Dakota Broadcasters Assn. at the Oct. 3 meeting, held at Williston. He succeeds Leslie Kleven, KNDC Hettinger. Other officers elected were Robert E. Ingstad, KOVC Valley City, vice president, and Leslie E. Maupin, KLPM Minot, secretary-treasurer, his third term. Bismarck was chosen as site of the 1958 annual meeting. Texas Bar Group Gets Access Plea The Judicial Section of the Texas State Bar Assn. is considering a plea for equal access to courtrooms by radio and tv newscasters. In a telegram to a group of 200 judges meeting in Tyler, Texas, W. D. Rogers, KDUB-AM-TV Lubbock, said the decision on media access should be left to the individual decision of judges. He opposed a ban on radio-tv court reporting under Canon 35 of the American Bar Assn. code of ethics. D. C. Ad Club to Hear Eastman Robert E. Eastman, president of American Broadcasting Network, will address the Advertising Club of Washington, D. C, at its Radio Day ceremonies tomorrow (Tuesday). His subject will be "The New ABN Product." As part of the ceremonies, Mr. Eastman will be presented the club's "award for achievement." Page 58 • October 14, 1957 Broadcasting