Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1960)

EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING WPIX (TV) film editor cuts editing time 50% A 50% saving in the time it takes to ready a half-hour film show for broadcast has been achieved by WPIX (TV) New York. A battery of five new film editing machines (dubbed 'Pixieolas') prepare some 85 shows each week. Developed by William Cooper, WPIX film manager, in cooperation with the Camera Equipment Corp., New York, the station's first Pixieola for 35mm prints was planned to enable an operator to inspect, edit, insert commercials, view for scratches, framing, sound sync, measure footage and take up on a projection reel — all in one operation. Since the experimental model was completed several months ago WPIX has added three more units for 35mm film and one to edit 16mm film shows. While a number of other local tv stations have expressed interest in the editing machines, Camera Equipment Corp. confirmed last week that one has already been installed at WNTA-TV; one will be completed this week at WRCA-TV, and one is nearing completion at WABC-TV. Because of its unusually heavy volume of syndicated half-hour programs in 35mm, Mr. Cooper said, WPIX was in need of a fully automatic machine that could take care of all steps of prebroadcast inspection and film preparation in one unit. Pixieola's replacement of conventional projection room and footage counter techniques has reduced the time from a possible four hours to about two hours for a half-hour show, Mr. Cooper said. The cost for each unit installed after the experimental machine was finished came to about $1,750, which is only half the cost of the standard movieola editing machine previously used, he said. The Pixieola also can take up to 4,000 feet of film, double that of a movieola unit. Tube sales rising Color television picture tubes will be an increasingly significant part of a generally bullish tube market this year, RCA's Douglas Y. Smith, vice presi Closeup of the Pixieola • The eight principal components: A — Completely modified Ceco action viewer, core of unit. B — Master control and control for two opposing torque motors for feedup and rewind reels. C — Directional and speed controls, designed by Magnetic Amplifiers Inc. The rheostat varies the speed of the film from stop position to 100 frames per second in either direction. D — External amplifier for easy servicing of the tubes of the sound reader. Phono jack enables whole battery of "Pixieolas" to operate simultaneously and silently. E — On-off switch for torque motor, enabling each reel to be handled independently. F — Torque tension control, enabling easy switch from small to large reel. G — Modified footage counter. H — Dimmer switch for light source. dent and general manager of the electron tube division, is confident. For the U.S. tube business he sees a $900 million year. Mr. Smith pins his hopes on the 1959 receiver record, and current sales, which are running 30% ahead of last year. He voiced his optimism on an inspection of the RCA plant in Lancaster, Pa., one stop on a tour of RCA installations around the country. Loeb, Wrather buy control of Jerrold Two leading broadcast figures have bought controlling interest in Jerrold Electronics Corp., Philadelphia, a major manufacturer of community antenna system equipment and the owner and operator of nine community antenna television companies. John L. Loeb, senior partner of Carl M. Loeb, Rhoades & Co., New York investment firm, has bought 322,000 shares of common stock from Milton J. Shapp, president of Jerrold, and his wife. Jack D. Wrather, president of the Wrather Organization, has taken options to buy 222,000 shares of Jerrold, also from Mr. and Mrs. Shapp. The Shapps jointly own 644,025 shares. Jerrold has 1,269,500 shares of common stock outstanding. It is traded over-the-counter and was quoted as $7 bid and $7.50 asked last week. Mr. Loeb is paying $6.50 per share for his 322,000 shares; Mr. Wrather will pay $9.50 for his 222,000. The announcement of the acquisitions was made by Mr. Shapp last week. He stated that he will remain as president of the firm he founded 12 years ago, and that no changes in management or personnel are contemplated. The Loeb interests include personal minority stockholdings in WFTL Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and in WBFM (FM) New York, the latter through Muzak Corp. in which Mr. Loeb has an interest in association with Mr. Wrather. Carl M. Loeb, Rhoades & Co., holds interests mostly for clients in the Boston Herald-Traveller Co. (WHDH-AMFM-TV Boston), Crowell-Collier Publishing Co. (KFWB Los Angeles, KEWB San Francisco, and KDWB St. Paul, Minn.); Loew's Inc. (WMGM New York); Townsend Corp. of America (KNOK Fort Worth and WKDA Nashville); Metropolitan Broadcasting Corp. (WNEW AM FM TV New York, WTTG [TV] Washington, WIP-AM-FM Philadelphia, KOVR [TV] Stockton, Calif., WTVP [TV] Peoria, 111. and pur 78 BROADCASTING, February 8, 1960