Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1961)

as the final week in June when it moved i ahead of tv by 3.1%, RAB claimed. This dominance continued for a total of 13 weeks. Radio's margin over tv was said to have ranged from a high of 11% for the week ending July 7 to a low of 5.3% the following week. Theatre owners talk about tv's threat The specter of an all dominating television hovered over the 14th annual convention and trade show of the Theatre Owners of America, held in New Orleans last week . Movie exhibitors who attended the four-day conclave were told repeatedly in speeches and reports that television — both commercial and pay tv — threaten their future existence. Motion picture companies were denounced for selling their film libraries to the networks, and exhibitors were warned they would have to contribute money and resources to fight off pay tv's challenge. The only bright note on pay tv was sounded by Philip F. Harling, chairman of TOA's anti-pay tv committee. In reporting to TOA's board, Mr. Harling indicated pay tv's proponents now are less enthusiastic about toll tv's future. He said, however, he was unable to determine "whether this is a lull before the storm or portends worse things to come." In either case, Mr. Harling told the exhibitors, they couldn't afford to relax. "The longer we are in grips with our opponents, the better are our chances to come out ahead," he contended. Laurence A. Tisch, president and board chairman of Loew's Theatres, took up the problem of competition from free tv. He told the conventioneers that the film companies selling their motion-picture libraries to tv "are not only consuming themselves but are threatening the existence of exhibition as well." S. H. Fabian, president of Stanley Warner Corp., sounded a different kind of warning. He said, "More than anything else we need more pictures." He explained that more features would help combat television because it would open opportunities for the development of more talent and give exhibitors more quality material to fight off the competition of old films on tv. During the convention the TOA board elected a full slate of officers. Albert M. Pickus, formerly president, was elected board chairman. John H. Stembler was elected president, and Roy Cooper was made chairman of the executive committee. "We at WRTA feel that SPOTMASTER is the most versatile instrument introduced to broadcasting since the advent of tape/' Louis Murray, WRTA, Altoona Wherever you find a SPOTMASTER unit in use — the opinions of broadcasters are the same: "Tighter cueing and better sound . . . we are very pleased." (KOGO, San Diego) "No more noisy playbacks or jumping grooves. We have not bought a single acetate blank disc since installing your machines in July, 1960." (WFBR, Baltimore) "We have improved our production immensely," (KING, Seattle) ". . . frankly, I don't know how we ever got along without this equipment." (WGTC, Greenville, N. C.) SPOTMASTER, is engineered for compactness, efficiency, reliability and low maintenance. It is the most field-tested and field-proven cartridge equipment manufactured anywhere. We would like to tell you more about the SPOTMASTER Cartridge Recorders. Call, write or wire today. Your Key to Pushbutton Broadcasting BROADCAST ELECTRONICS INC. 8 8 0 0 Brookville Road, SilverSpring, Maryland, Dial J U 8 49 8 3 SOLD NATIONALLY BY: Visual Electronics Corp., 356 West 40th Street, N.Y., N.Y., Richard H. Ullman, Inc., 1271 Ave. of the Americas, N.Y., N.Y., CANADA — Northern Electric Co., Ltd., 250 Sidney St., Belleville, Ontario., AUSTRALIA — Simon Gray Pty., Ltd., 28 Elizabeth St., Melbourne, C.l BROADCASTING, October 16, 1961 71