Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1961)

PROGRAMMING MGM-TV TO RELEASE MORE POST-'48'S Company's backlog of movies now estimated at 308 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer last week announced it is offering a new and second group of 30 post1948 feature films to television after Jan. 1, 1962. Only recently a report outlining a fast-approaching reduction in the supply of first-run feature film in television (Broadcasting, Nov. 27), noted that MGM-TV generally is expected to release 30 films a year. The company offered a package of 30 post-'48s early this year. MGM-TV had 338 post-'48 motion pictures remaining in its backlog as of July 1, 1961, and excluding any new feature film releases to theatres since that time, would have an estimated backlog now of 308. Following the general practice of most tv film companies of sale "in advance of general release," MGM-TV already has offered the package to tv stations in certain markets, and according to Richard A. Harper, director of syndicated sales for MGM-TV, those sales now have reached the $2 million gross level. These include licensing to WOR-TV New York; WGN-TV Chicago; and the six Triangle Stations (WFIL-TV Philadelphia, WFBG-TV Altoona, and WLYH-TV Lebanon, all Pennsylvania, WNBF-TV Binghamton, N. Y., WNHC-TV New Haven and KFRE-TV Fresno, Calif.). The earlier 30-picture package was released under the "title" of "The Best of the Fifties." That package has been licensed in 43 markets for a gross of more than $2.5 million. The new group is called "30/62." Color Features ■ MGM-TV noted that 14 of the films are in color, including "Mogambo" (Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly), "Don't Go Near the Water" (Glenn Ford, Gia Scala), "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (Elizabeth Taylor, Van Johnson, Donna Reed, Walter Pidgeon), "Scaramouche" (Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, Mel Ferrer), "Summer Stock" (Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers), "All the Brothers Were Valient" (Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger, Ann Blyth) and "Crisis" (Cary Grant, Jose Ferrer). One of the big customers for MGMTV post-'48 features was independent WOR-TV (RKO General) in New York that licensed the earlier 30-feature package in addition to the new group (WGN-TV and the Triangle stations already had licensed the early package). A sampling of other films in the new group: "Across the Wide Missouri" (Clark Gable), "Bhowani Junction" (Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger), "Cause for Alarm" (Loretta Young, Barry Sullivan), "Conspirator" (Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor), "Forbidden Planet" (Walter Pidgeon, Ann Francis), "It's a Big Country" (Van Johnson, Gene Kelly, Gary Cooper, Janet Leigh), "Pagan Love Song" (Esther Williams, Howard Keel) and "Rouge Cop" (Robert Taylor, George Raft, Janet Leigh). Decca, MCA discuss film distribution Decca Records Inc., and MCA Inc., were reported to be holding discussions last week on a proposal for Universal Pictures Inc., to distribute theatrical feature films which MCA might produce in the future. Decca has a controlling interest in Universal. MCA does not produce feature films at present. Under a recent agreement with the Screen Actors Guild, MCA plans to divest itself of either its tv production or its talent agency business. Reports are that MCA will continue with tv production and add theatrical motion-picture production to its activities. MCA officials declined to comment, but an official of Decca confirmed that "we have been and are continuing to discuss our over-all situation as it pertains to production and distribution. Network tv directors win $200 weekly pay The salaries of television network staff directors in New York and Hollywood are raised to $200 a week, retroactive to Jan. 1, 1961, and graduate to $225 a week as of Jan. 1, 1964, under a new four-year contract negotiated with ABC, NBC and CBS and their owned radio and tv stations, as well as with independent stations in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco which have signed the new Directors Guild of America contracts. The agreement was ratified by an overwhelming majority of DGA members in a mail referendum. Of 1,308 eligible ballots received (out of 2,192 mailed), 1,178 voted to approve the network and station contracts, 1,198 to approve a contract with WNTA (TV) New York and 1,208 to approve a contract with Radio Free Europe. Associate directors' salaries start at $175 a week under the new contract and rise to $197 as of Jan. 1, 1964; stage managers are raised immediately to $164 and to $180 during the course Mark Twain, please note WNBQ (TV) Chicago has added a new dimension into its weathercasting with the introduction of Technamation, a process that animates weather symbols. An ordinary studio light is played on the specially-designed weather symbols through a revolving disc. This gives the appearance of rain or snow actually falling from clouds, warm fronts moving in and the swirling of air currents. Here, Harry Volkman, WNBQ weathercaster, shows two symbols. The new tv service was developed by Techna-mation Mid-America, Chicago. 48 BROADCASTING, December 18, 1961