Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1960)

their theatrical pictures on tv without additional payments to our members, how could we morally keep the money we have collected — and are collecting — from these other producers for the same privilege?" a SAG spokesman asked. His answer was that they couldn't collect from one group and not from the other, so they are determined to collect from both. NT A buys post-48 Lippert films for tv National Telefilm Assoc. has bought 30 Robert L. Lippert post-48 feature films for release both to television and theaters, Oliver A. Unger, NTA president, announced last week. He declined to specify the price of the package, but it is estimated at $1.8 million. The pictures are Regalscope (widescreen) productions, of which 28 were produced in 1957 and 1958 and two in 1956. Mr. Unger said the films probably will be released to tv later this year, since many still are in theatrical distribution. Included in the package are China Gate, with Nat King Cole, Gene Barry and Angie Dickinson; Kronos, with Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence and John Emery; Storm Rider, with Scott Brady, Mala Powers and Bill Williams; God Is My Partner, with Walter Brennan, John Hoyt and Marion Ross; Deerslayer, with Lex Barker, Forrest Tucker and Rita Moreno; and Showdown At Boot Hill, with John Carradine, Charles Bronson and Robert Horton. The Screen Actors Guild issued a statement in connection with the purchase of the features, pointing out that a contract made with the guild by Regal Films Inc., a Lippert subsidiary, stipulates that each actor will be paid 15% of his earnings in the picture when it is sold to tv. A SAG official said actors earned a total of about $634,802 and therefore will obtain approximately $95,220 out of the transaction. He added that in the Guild's current negotiations with producers, the chief stumbling block is "the producers' refusal to agree to any payment hereafter for the actors' tv rights in theatrical films." MPO Tv Films list public stock offering MPO Television Films Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of MPO Videotronics, New York, according to a registration statement filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission Jan. 18. The statement registers 150,000 shares of Class A stock, of which 100,000 shares are to be offered for public sale by the issuing company and Here are the next 10 days of network color shows (all times are EST). NBC-TV Jan. 25-29, Feb. 1-3 (6:30-7 a.m.) Continental Classroom. Jan. 25-29, Feb. 1-3 (11-11:30 a.m.) Price Is Right, participating sponsorship. Jan. 25-29, Feb. 1-3 (12:30-1 p.m.) It Could Be You, participating sponsorship. Jan. 25, Feb. 1 (10-11 p.m.) Steve Allen Plymouth Show, Plymouth through N.W. Ayer. Jan. 26, Feb. 2 (9-9:30 pm) Arthur Murray Party, P Lorillard through Lennen & Newell and Sterling Drug through Norman, Craig & Kummel. Jan. 26, Feb. 2 (9:30-10:30 p.m.) Ford Startime, Ford through J. Walter Thompson. Jan. 27 (8:30-9 p.m.) Price Is Right, Lever through Ogilvy, Benson & Mather and Speidel through Norman, Craig & Kummel. Jan. 27, Feb. 3 (9-10 p.m.) Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall, Kraft through J. Walter Thompson. Jan. 28 (9:30-10 p.m) Ford Show, Ford through J. Walter Thompson. Jan. 29 (8:30-9:30 p.m.) Bell Telephone Hour, AT&T through N.W. Ayer. Jan. 30 (10-10:30 a.m.) Howdy Doody Show, Continental Baking through Ted Bates. Jan. 30 (10:30-11 a.m.) Ruff and Reddy Show, Borden through Benton & Bowles. Jan. 30 (4:30-5 p.m.) Racing From Hialeah, Phillies Cigars through Werman & Schorr. Jan. 30 (7:30-8 p.m.) Bonanza, RCA through Kenyon & Eckhardt. Jan. 30 (9:30-10:30 p.m.) World Wide 60, sponsor TBA. Jan. 31 (3:15-4:30 p.m.) NBC Opera Company, Florists' Telegraph Delivery Assn. through Keyes, Madden & Jones. Jan. 31 (9-10 p.m.) Dinah Shore Chevy Show, Chevrolet through Campbell-Ewald. Feb. 3 (7:30-9 p.m.) Hallmark Hall of Fame, Hallmark through Foote, Cone & Belding. 50,000 by the present holders thereof. Francis I. du Pont & Co. is the principal underwriter. Describing itself in the statement as "one of the largest, if not indeed the largest, producers of television commercials in the United States," the company listed among the products for which it has filmed commercials: Aerowax, Ajax cleanser, Ballantine beer, Ban, du Pont, Marlboro cigarettes, Playtex and Regimen tablets. Some 50 other well-known products were also listed. In 1959 MPO's sales totaled $6,047,570 or 87 cents per share. The company is also engaged in production of sponsored films for industry. It now has outstanding 50,000 Class A shares and 260,000 Class B convertible. Judd L. Pollock is president of MPO Videotronics. He and the other company officers own a large part of the outstanding Class A stock. According to the prospectus, the company has no immediate specific need for the net proceeds of its sale of additional Class A stock, but intends to add the same to working capital to be used for normal corporate purposes, including payment of an outstanding bank loan of $59,160. • Program notes Fourth straight • WSAZ-TV Huntington-Charleston, W.Va., for the fourth consecutive year has televised, live, the opening session of the West Virginia legislature. The program was telecast from 1:15-3 p.m. Jan. 13 with a special 15-minute news show preceding. West and South • WPIX (TV) New York reports negotiations have been completed for the West German and Mexican telecasts of Cold WarBerlin Crisis, the second in a series of three documentaries produced by the station. Freemantle Inc., N.Y., handled both sales. Radio duet • Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney starts Feb. 29 on CBS Radio weekday mornings, 10:45-11 a.m. EST. The announcement by Howard G. Barnes, CBS Radio vice president in charge of network programs, said the new show would originate in Hollywood. Buddy Cole will provide musical background and Ken Carpenter will participate in the show. Bill Morrow is producer-writer, Murdo Mackenzie, director. Crosby & Clooney, on tape, replaces Funny Side Up, panel show. It is being sold in 10minute segments. Tv surgery • Screen Gems Inc. reports that it has placed into distribution 12 hour-long taped programs. Medicine — 1960, in which actual surgical operations are demonstrated. The documentary series is produced for Screen Gems by Lawrence Williams in association with the San Francisco Medical Society, using the tape facilities of KRON-TV San Francisco. Several programs of Medicine — 1960 have been carried over KRON-TV. According to SG officials, public response to the shows was "enthusiastic." Swearing in studios • Evansville's (111.) radio and tv stations presented a simulcast Jan. 1 of the swearing in of Mayor Frank F. McDonald and his administration that was written, directed, produced and originated in the studios of WFIE-TV. It marked the first time in the city's history that the swearing-in ceremony had been moved from City Hall. In own back yard • Rootes Motors Inc. (distributors of foreign cars), through Erwin Wasey, Ruthrauff & Ryan, N.Y., has purchased The Secret Life of Adolf Hitler, a one-hour filmed documentary produced and syndicated by WPIX (TV) New York, for telecast on WPIX Feb. 25. The program will have been seen in 12 other 90 (PROGRAMMING) BROADCASTING, January 25, 1960