Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1954)

Tuesday, July 6, 1954 Motion Picture Daily 7 AB C -TV June Billings Total $18,652,700 During the past 30 days, a total of $18,652,700 in gross time sales— representing $15,820,400 in new business and $2,832,300 in renewals— was placed with the American Broadcasting Co. television network by 14 of the nation's leading advertisers, Charles R. Abry, ABC-TV's national sales director, reported here at the weekend. 'Fear* Premiere Gets Coverage PHOENIX, July 5.— In addition to the crowds in the roped off street, an estimated 95,000 families witnessed the premiere festivities of "Ring _ of Fear," the Wayne-Fellows production for Warners, over the weekend as KOOL-TV did a remote telecast from the front of the Fox Theatre. Arizona Newsreel covered the event for KPHO-TV, and radio station KOY aired a description and interviews. In person viewers included Lieutenant Governor Bolin and Mayor Murphy. StudioVAskABC'TV For Show Kinescope HOLLYWOOD, July 5.— Twentieth Century-Fox is reported to be the fourth picture studio to ask for a print of the ABC-TV telecast of "Fearful Decision" Qn The U. S. Steel Hour. Warner Brothers, Paramount and Allied Artists previously requested kinescopes of the program, which was seen on June 22 on the network. To Show Color Reel The second in a series of meetings to be held by the National Television Film Council production committee covering methods, techniques, applications and commercial utility of color films for TV is scheduled for Thursday at the NBC studios. It is slated to feature the first closed circuit screening of a special color test reel developed by the national TV system committee. Johnston in Radio Talk Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association and President Eisenhower's special emissary to the Near East, will describe his work in the two unrelated fields on CBS Radio's "Washington, U. S. A.." on Saturday. Re-release 2 WB Films Two Warner Brothers films, "Smart Money" and "The Roaring Twenties," opened at the Holiday Theatre here over the weekend, the film company announced. i HOWARD E. STARK" Brokers and Financial ConsuHanfs TELEVISION STATIONS RADIO STATIONS 50 E. 58th St., N. Y. EL 5-0405 Stecialists to Motion Picture Industry Television-'Hadin -.with Pinky Hermam Bud Palmer POTENTIALLY one of the most dramatic events in racing history, the 'dream race' between the only two humans ever to run a mile in less than four minutes. Jack Landy of Australia and Roger Bannister of England, will be viewed by millions of Americans AugTJst 7 between 5 and 6 P.M. TVia NBC. The telecast, arranged between NBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, will be shot by a CBS crew, beamed from Vancouver to Seattle, thence via closed circuit across the country to Buffalo and fed to NBC-TV as well as to the CBC-TV network. . . . With prexy Abe Saperstein currently in Europe unearthing scenic and sports films, the firm bearing his name has opened N. Y. offices and is offering its initial telefilm series, "Kid Magic." . . . Phil Clarke, whose CB Sleuthing these past five years as "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons," stamps him as one of radio's better thespians, is a country squire in his leisure moments whose rose garden is a showplace out at Baldwin, L. L Every day during the summer months Phil wears a rose in his lapel to his program (10:00-10:15 P.M. with an additional half-hour, 8:00-8:30 P.M. Fridays) which he gives to one of his staff. i> ^ Good looking young Bud Palmer whose ace spieling nitely on the NBC-TV "Sports Final" augurs well for the former athlete, is a chip off the old block. His dad, Lefty Flynn, was a stunt man in the old silent movies. ... In demonstrating the latest development in color film telecasting Friday, utilizing the new Eastman 35mm color, NBC on the "Mrs. U.S.A." program, used Owen Murphy Production's "Rural Reserve." ... At the Atlas Film Corp. studios in Oak Park, 111., they recite their ABC's thusly: A is for the A-nnouncement by Sunbeam Corp. that TV color spots will start production next week. B is for B-estowal by Cleveland Film Festival of top honors on "500,000 to One," the color flicker made by Atlas for Sinclair Refining Co. C is for C-ompletion by director Lou Marlowe of "Top Assignment" for the Milwaukee Community Chest Fund. Q.E.D. . . . Harry Forwood, Sid Caesar's urbane press rep, off to Sachem's Head, Conn., for a two-week holiday with his beauteous frau, Maggie. Members of Sachem's Head Yacht Club are hereby warned to heave to when the Forwood sloop, Para, storms in. . . . Paul Taubman's organ wizardry provides musical background for Louise Albritten's new NBC-TVehicle "Concerning Miss Marlow," seen across the board in the 3:45-4:00 P.M. slot. Colgate PalmoUvc Co. has renezved. Walt Framer's "CBStrike It Rich" TV'er for another 52 weeks via the Win. Esty Agency. This noon-time series has thrilled millions, hcus helped thousands and, in our book, seem^s to get better and mellower ivith the passing six years. . . . Since the meeting in Chicago six zvceks ago, members are so enthusiastic about the new Television Advertising Bureau (TVAB) that more than half its members are paid up three months in advance. . . . Comic Peter Donald, whose mom & dad were vande hcadliners, made his debut when, at the age of three, the late Will Rogers picked him up from a trimk and carried him onstage for several bows. . . . CBScnsational is the only zuay to describe the success of the CBS-TV film series, "Amos 'n' Andy" which last week zvas sold to II more stations, bringing to 108 the number of syndicated outlets for the Freeman Gosden-Charles Correll production. it ^ Howdy Doody's' alter ego (his what?) who started an adult radio series over NBC last week, will launch a TVersion, "The Bob Smith show," Monday, to be seen daily (12:00 noon-12:15 P.M.) across the board. Clark Dennis, the Honeydreamers and the Bobbie Nicholson ork will be featured with Roger Muir, the producer .... Singing star of the NET "Bride & Groom" series, Phil Hanna, has qualified for the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association tournament to be held at Schroon Lake, July 14-17. While playing the lead in the London production of "Brigadoon" in 1950, Phil was runner-up to Jean Borotra in the British tennis championship games. Walt Framer RCA Dividend On Preferred And Common A quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share on the common stock of the Radio Corporation of America, payable Aug. 23, to holders of record at the close of business July 16, was announced by David Sarnoff, chairman of the board, following a regular meeting of the board of directors. At the same meeting, a dividend of 87^2 cents per share was declared on the first preferred stock for the period July 1 to Sept. 30, payable Oct. 1, to the holders of record of such stock at the close of business Sept. 13. 'U' Home Office Staff To Plug 'Obsession' Universal Pictures' Eastern advertising and publicity department executive cabinet and home office advertising, publicity and exploitation staff members will join the company's field exploitation representatives for the first time to launch the Cleveland world premiere and the initial key city openings of "Magnificent Obsession." "Magnificent Obsession," which stars Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush, will have its world premiere at the RKO Palace Theatre in Cleveland on July 15 with openings scheduled for key cities across the country in advance of the August national release of the film. Charles Simonelli, Eastern advertising and publicity department manager ; Pliil Gerard, Eastern publicity manager ; Jeff Livingston, Eastern advertising manager, and Herman Kass, Eastern exploitation manager, are scheduled to cover these early key city openings. Finish * Manhunt' Editing Final editing and scoring on United Artists' "Operation Manhunt" were completed at the weekend, almost four months to the day the picture went before the cameras. It will be placed into release as soon as prints can be made available. Filmed entirely on location in Canada, "Operation Manhunt" is based on the life in hiding of former Russian code clerk Igor Gouzenko since he exposed an international Soviet atom espionage ring some nine years ago. UA to Release 'Sailors' United Artists has acquired Julian Wintle's production, "You Know What Sailors Are," for release, president Arthur B. Krim announced at the weekend. 2nd 'Duel' Franchise The second franchise covering rerelease of "Duel in the Sun" has been granted to Joseph E. Levine, Embassy Pictures Corp. of Boston, covering the entire New England territory. 1327 S. Wakaih Chicato, III. S» Ninth An. Nc< York, N. Y.