Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1963)

to War: 1939." These programs are aimed either for network or syndication presentation. Wolper also plans production shortly of four one-hour "perennial" specials on the World Series, the Kentucky Derby, the Indianapolis speedway and each season's professional football games. In the area of full series, probably of a half-hour duration, Wolper is preparing Men in Crisis. It will center around the experience of two wellknown men in a critical situation, such as Hitler and Chamberlain, Kefauver and Costello, Truman and Dewey, Joe Louis and Max Schmeling. Time Inc.'s March of Time has approximately 1 1 million feet of film recording events between 1935 and 1952. Time Inc. does not lease footage to outside producers but has plans to utilize the library for its own productions. During this year, it has produced special half-hour shows on Berlin and Iraq, which included stock film as well as newly shot sequences. A spokesman said the company has had several plans involving the use of the March of Time Library, but acknowledged "full use" has not been realized. He indicated that the company would be amenable to suggestions for co-production with an outside organization. Pathe News Inc., which no longer holds rights to the Pathe newsreel library, plans to produce a group of six one-hour documentaries in 1964 from various newsfilm sources. Called Cavalcade of Our Times, the series' programs will include: "Big Business: U.S.A.," "The Good Old Days," "In the Days of the Depression," "The Irish Rebellion," "The Rise and Fall of the Chinese Republic," and "The American Presidency in the 20th Century." In the past, Pathe News has produced such factual series as Milestones of the Century and Men of Destiny, both fiveminute programs. Network Policy ■ To date, networks have avoided buying documentaries of a serious nature from outside producers, preferring to accept complete responsibility for them by participating in actual production. Exceptions are in the socalled "entertainment documentary" area (Wolper's Hollywood and the Stars on NBC-TV and Official's Marilyn Monroe special on ABC-TV). The route therefore for the "snip-and-glue" school of producers is syndication to stations. The outlook is brighter for factual specials of various kinds, but producers agree that acceptable time slots on a regular season basis are "harder to come by." One syndicator summed up this situation: "You have to come in with a fine show. And then you have to sell hard — very hard." John Stratford, Hungarian-born film executive, makes a specialty of finding film footage of scenes made outside of the United States. WOLPER FINANCING Documentary film company to expand into dramatics Arrangements have been completed for Westland Capital Corp. and the City National Bank of Beverly Hills, Calif., to provide long-term financing to Wolper Productions which will enable the documentary film company to expand its operations into the production of dramatic TV programs and theatrical motion pictures. In announcing the acquisition of this outside capital, David L. Wolper, president and executive producer of Wolper Productions, said a new board of directors has been elected to guide corporate policies and the expanded production program. He will serve as chairman of the board. Other members are: Mel Stuari and Jack Haley, Wolper vice presidents; Harvey Bernhard, Wolper vice president and treasurer; Sylvan Covery, secretary and general counsel of the Wolper organization; Phillip L. Williams, president of Westland Capital Corp., and William Goetz, presi Film-finding specialists The growth of documentary programs from newsreels and other stock footage prompted the formation of an unusual company, Film Finders Inc., New York, in 1961. Film Finders does exactly what its name implies— finds film for producers, stations, agencies and other organizations that may not have trained research personnel on its staff. Its operating head is Miss Helen Kiok. dent of William Goetz Productions. Expansion activities are to start immediately, with New York sales office to be opened within the month and sales personnel engaged to work with the William Morris Agency in representing Wolper Productions. The development of panel and daytime TV programs is at the top of the expanded production agenda, alongside of developing properties for motion pictures. In addition, the company plans to build a staff of producers, writers and other creative talent in Hollywood to develop dramatic TV programs for the 1964-65 television season. Writers will also be signed to develop documentary films for theatrical exhibition. NBC turns deaf ear to Blue-Gray appeal NBC-TV last week announced broadcast decisions on two major Southern football games which had become centers of controversy over the eligibility of Negro players. The network said it is standing firm on its cancellation of formerly scheduled television coverage of the annual Blue-Grey game in Montgomery, Ala. on Dec. 28 (Broadcasting, Nov. 18, 11). Game officials, who earlier stated that Negroes would be barred from play, traveled to New York last week to ask NBC to reconsider the cancellation. William R. McAndrew, executive vice president of NBC News, following a meeting with the Montgomery officials, said there had been no change in NBC's position. NBC-TV also announced plans to go ahead with its scheduled coverage of the annual Senior Bowl game at Mobile, Ala. on Jan. 4. Bowl officials, acting on a request for information from NBC, have apparently satisfied the network that Negro players will not be barred from the game. Production starts on series New one-hour series, Night People, dealing with the real-life stories of people who come to life after dark and start their day when most people have ended theirs, goes into production today (Dec. 9), first of several projects to be filmed by Revue in association with ABC-TV. The series will be filmed entirely on location in Los Angeles, utilizing new camera and lighting techniques to get good pictures of crowds and street scenes taken outdoors as well as inside in the after-dark hours. Jack Laird, producer of Charming, will be executive producer of the new series. Irving Lerner will direct the first segment, "The Other Man," written by Larry Cohen and Steve Carabatsos, which calls for 25 separate locations scattered throughout Los Angeles county. 30 (LEAD STORY) BROADCASTING, December 9, 1963