Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

at deadline Formal Legal Action Started Against Baltimore's Ad Taxes First formal legal counterattack against Baltimore's new taxes on advertising media gets underway today (Mon.). D. L. (Tony) Provost, vice president of radio-tv division of Hearst Corp., announced Friday suit would be instituted today in Circuit Court of Baltimore City to have new ordinances declared invalid (early story, page 48). "Our counsel, Sherbow & Sherbow, have been instructed to carry the proceedings through all legal channels," Mr. Provost stated. Hearst Corp. publishes Baltimore News-Post and Sunday American. Earlier Friday, William F. Schmick Sr., president of A. S. Abell Co., publisher of Baltimore Sunpapers (WMAR-TV), said that brief that would include plea for injunctive relief was being prepared. It is to be filed early this week. Others are expected to join legal fray in opposition to twin taxes that will impose 4% sales tax on local advertising sales and 2% levy on gross receipts of advertising media. Taxes have been branded as discriminatory, harmful to Baltimore's economic status and threat to freedom of the press. RCA Plans to Start Delivery Of Tv Recorders at End of '58 RCA is announcing today (Mon.) delivery of first production models of color and black-and-white tape recorders to begin December 1958. List price of color recorder has been set at $63,000, with monochrome version to be available at same time to sell at $49,500 list. RCA late in 1958 will complete its present program of custom-building prototype units, seven of these already sold, six to NBC-TV for delivery to "Tape Central" in Burbank, Calif., and seventh to Jefferson Standard Broadcasting Co. for delivery in September at WBTV (TV) Charlotte, N. C. [At Deadline, Nov. 19]. WB Moves to Buchanan & Co. Switch of Warner Bros, pictures account — billing close to $1 million — from BlaineThompson Co. to Buchanan & Co., both N. Y., was announced Friday and closely follows move by Warner to curtail internal advertising-publicity activities. Last month, WB pinkslipped some 45 advertising-publicity employes in both New York and Hollywood offices, an action that will go to arbitration tomorrow (Tues.) in New York between WB and Screen Publicists Guild. Buchanan since 1919 has serviced Paramount Pictures and in recent years also has added to client roster such accounts as AB-PT theatres and United Artists, in addition to individual theatres. Sinatra Switching to Live Format To Bolster ABC-TV Show Rating Network and agency will try to salvage slumping Frank Sinatra Show (ABC-TV Fridays, 9-9:30 p.m. EST) by telecasting Mr. Sinatra's half-hour musicals live instead of filmed. In joint announcement Friday, James T. Aubrey Jr., ABC-TV vice president in charge of programming and talent, and C. Terence Clyne, vice president, McCann-Erickson, New York, said this Friday's show (Nov. 29) will be live, and that starting Jan. 3 all musical programs featuring singer in series will be live. Ratings and reviews of Mr. Sinatra's series on ABC-TV, which premiered Oct. 18, have been on steady decline, causing consternation of both network and agency. McCannErickson is agency for sponsor Chesterfield and also Bulova Watch Co. which is participating in several Sinatra programs this season. To make room for live productions, series schedule has been juggled to permit alreadyproduced dramas to be presented later in season. ABC-TV, which signed three-year contract with Mr. Sinatra last year, noted that star originally had wanted "to originate more live shows and to produce his shows before a live audience" but that motion picture commitments at time of contract signing did not permit more than two fullhour live shows in single year. Now, Mr. Aubrey explained, Mr. Sinatra has rearranged these commitments to permit additional live shows and production of musicals before live audience. ABC-TV officials, meanwhile, told their affiliates at Chicago meeting that negotiations were in progress and near signing stage with Orson Welles to star in series for fall, 1958 (early story, page 56). Increased Tv Activity Being Mapped by MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's tv planning is crystallizing. New developments learned Friday: It has opened new London office that will have use of MGM's studios, facilities, people and equipment there for production of tv commercials to be offered on world-wide basis: MGM-TV officials will continue their discussions with ABCTV executives with meeting set for tomorrow (Tues.) and looking toward use of MGM facilities for network shows; it plans to place three new tv film series in production, and will continue to lease its studio space and equipment at Culver City, Calif. Three new series identified as Jeopardy (suspense series) to be co-produced with Andrew and Virginia Stone, husband-wife independent production team; anthology series using young Hollywood talent and tentatively titled Young in Heart, and comedy situation series, titled Feminine Touch and to star Ann Miller. • BUSINESS BRIEFLY Late-breaking items about broadcast business; for earlier news, see Advertisers & Agencies, page 27. ENTERING TV FOLD • Van Raalte Co. (hosiery), N. Y., which has placed its advertising heretofore in print media exclusively, reported signing with NBC-TV for group of 12 participations on Tonight starting in March. Transaction would mark company's initial use of television. Agency: C. J. La Roche & Co., N. Y. EDSEL IN RADIO SPOT • Edsel Div. of Ford Motor Co., Detroit, drives into threeweek radio spot campaign in number of markets beginning Nov. 27. Foote, Cone & Belding, N. Y. and Chicago, is agency. GUM SPOTS • Frank H. Fleer Corp. (Dubble-Bubble gum), Phila., understood to be readying eight-week spot tv campaign in major markets throughout country. Company said to be seeking availabilities in children's programs. Agency: S. E. Zubrow Adv., Phila. MAYBE MORE • F. W. Woolworth Co., N. Y., to expand spot tv after first of year depending on outcome of test results in current campaign which resumes for two weeks after Thanksgiving in 33 markets. Lynn Baker Inc., N. Y., is agency. KNICKERBOCKER NAMING • Jacob Ruppert Brewery (Knickerbocker beer), N. Y., which spends about $1.5 million in overall advertising, expected to appoint Compton Adv., N. Y., as agency early this week. Ruppert was serviced by Warwick & Legler, N. Y. Storer Vice President Kiggins Dies of Heart Seizure at 61 Keith Kiggins, vice president and administrative assistant to president of Storer Broadcasting Co., died of heart attack last Friday morning in his office at Miami headquarters of company. He was 61. Mr. Kiggins joined NBC in 1933, became station relations director of its Red and Blue networks. After separation of networks, he stayed with Blue as vice president of station relations and retained that post with ABC after Blue was bought and renamed by Edward J. Noble. In 1948 he established own consulting firm. Ill health forced him to retire in 1950. In 1954 he re-entered broadcasting as administrative assistant to George B. Storer, president of Storer company, and last year was made vice president. He is survived by wife, Dorothy. Broadcasting November 25, 1957 • Page 9