Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 29, 1955 AB-PT {Continued from page 1) touring the West and Intermountain sections, said that AB-PT affiliate circuits officials reported business considerably better currently as compared to a year ago. The AB-PT vice-president added that their report tied in with the general improvement at the box-office for AB-PT affiliate circuits nationally. Hyman, on his trip, visited Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., holding conferences with Ray Hendry, vicepresident and general manager of Intermountain Theatres ; Jerry Zigmond, general manager of AB-PT affiliate circuit in that area, and George Aurelius, vice-president and general manager of the ArizonaParamount Corp. Hyman said that plans are underway in AB-PT affiliate circuits for a May-June box-office drive, keyed to coincide with the added quality product set for release during that period. Hyman, long an advocate of a regular order of release of quality product without regard to so-called "seasons," expressed his belief that the situation is improving. He pointed to the MayJune drive as AB-PT's recognition of the improved situation and its desire to match it at the exhibition end. Regarding plans to improve attendance, a problem repeatedly stressed by AB-PT president Leonard H. Goldenson, Hyman cited techniques employed in Salt Lake City and Tucson, aimed at developing the film-going habit in youngsters. In Tucson, Hyman said a plan is underway keyed to a "Junior Press Club" theme. Special or regular film programming, designed to appeal to youngsters from 13 to 17, will be utilized, he explained. Guest speakers may also be invited to address the teen-age group on some special problem affecting them. The youngsters, in turn, will be invited to report on the event as newspapermen do, with special prizes and awards granted for the; best coverage. 'Kiddie' Shows in Salt Lake In Salt Lake City, special "kiddie" shows have been set up for alternate Saturday mornings, with tie-ins and give-aways featured, Hyman continued. In that city, he reported, it was found that the children did not go for a steady diet of Westerns, and therefore different shows were devised, shows under such themes as "Cartoonscope," "Disneyrama" and "Funorama." In explaining the programs mapped out to capture the younger audience, Hyman stressed another point in the Goldenson program, that is, Hollywood must supply the product which has special appeal to youngsters. "We've got to have the merchandise," Hyman declared, adding that "we are ready to supply the stage and setting." Dynamo Cited Twentieth Century-Fox's house organ, "The Dynamo," edited by Roger Ferri, for the sixth time has been named "the outstanding company publication" for 1954 by the Company Publication Editors of North America, representing house organs of 332 leading industrial and business corporations. Television — Radio .with Pinky Herman. ly/f ARSHALL SCHACKER, brought to Gotham six years ago to L*-* discover and develop new talent for NBC, and for the past three years N. Y. rep for French and Italian films, has been named executive in charge of development of TV packages for the Shellric Corp. . . . With MacDonald Carey hosting Percy Faith's 45-piece orchestra and different guest stars each week, F. W. Woolworth will CB Sponsor a variety program over an extensive radio net starting Sunday (1:00-2:00 p.m. June 5. . . . Ernie Kovacs, Edith Adams, Shari Lewis, Jan Murray, Herb Sheldon, Ralph Meeker, Buddy Hackett, Renzo (The Continental) Cesana, Paul Valentine, Eyde Gorme, Steve Lawrence and Marilyn Monroe will help Shorehaven Beach Club prop. Mai Deitch unveil his Celebrity Arboretorium, (50 trees named after famous TV and screen stars). . . . MCATVeeps Aaron Beckwith and Lou Friedland have just consummated a deal whereby the new Providence, R. I., VHF station WPRO-TV will present 10 features starring Hollywood luminaries including Preston Foster, Thomas Mitchell, Charles Bickford, Ralph Bellamy, Louis Hayward, Rod Cameron, Patrick McVey & Jane Nigh totaling 25,155 hours of programs. . . . Henny Youngman due in Hollywood this week to huddle with producer Jerry Franks on a new TV series, before he starts a two-week stint at the Sands in Las Vegas Wednesday. ft . ft ft Stirling Wheeler, president of Parsonnet & Wheeler, Inc., has announced the firm's highest production budget for the year, calling for feature-length telefilms slated to be produced in New York and abroad. Wheeler, who, prior to his association with P. & W. had been in charge of Young & Rubicam's Mexico offices for eight years, started as copy writer with Lever Bros, upon graduating from Dartmouth in 1933. . . . Peg Lynch's "Ethel & Albert" situation comedy which stars Peg as "Ethel" and Alan Bunce (Albert) will CBSummer-replace Spring Byington's "December Bride" TV'er for Instant Maxwell House Coffee, effective Monday, June 20. . . . Eastman Kodak's "Norby" series will bow out of the NBC-TV sked April 6 with a new series of half-hour dramatic telefilms replacing it over an 84-station network April 13 and titled, "Kodak Request Performance." . . . Carol Haney's showstopping steam heat number from "Pajama Game" will be seen on Ed CBSullivan's "Toast of the Town" April 17. ft ft ft Sid Caesar, who, before attaining national laurels as one of the top comics of the day, was a first-rate saxophonist, has proven yet another hidden talent, tunesmith. The novelty ditty "I Wrote This Song for Your Birthday," which was performed on his program tzvo weeks ago, is published by Flo Music, of which Nick Campbell, popular Tin Pan Alley figure, is general professional manager. . . . In the 10 years that he's brought his songs and, films of yesterday to his radio and TV fans, Joe Franklin, ABCurrently starred daily at 3 :30 P.M., has never missed a single performance in the decade. . . ■ The fact that Milt Burgh, MBS news chief, was associated with Walter Winchell a dozen or so years ago, is why Mutual has the inside track to feature W.W. on its 566-station network when his ABContract expires in January. . . . WPIX fashion expert and commentator Ethel Thorsen, more beautiful than any of her model lovelies, filling Patio Bruno's swank eatery on W. 55tli St. daily with her fashion show luncheon. ft ft ft Howard Hughes is offering financial backing and national distribution enhanced by prospective tie-ups with approximately 230 RKO pictures to indie TV producers as inducement to use RKO studio facilities. . . . Vet newspaperman and scripter Jerry Franken has ankled Lester Lewis Associates to become director of publicity for Television Programs of America. Dine & Kalmus will continue to serve the firm as public relations consultants. . . . Sophie Tucker will guestrill on Milton Berle's NBComedy program April 5. Stirling Wheeler 2,000 Exhibitors Have Contributed To Toll TV Fund Over 2,000 exhibitors in the U. S. already have contributed anywhere from $7.50 to $75, depending upon the number of seats in each theatre, to the Committee Against Pay-As-You-See TV's "war chest" furthering the group's opposition campaign to subscription' television, according to the^ Theatre Owners of America. Theatremen have sent in their con tributions, which are based on the same lines as the COMPO dues formula, to Philip Harling, committee treasurer, who declined to reveal the total contributions received to date. Thus far, in its campaign against toll-TV and in preparing an opposition brief to the medium for May 9 submission to the Federal Communications Commission, the exhibition committee, jointly headed by Alfred Starr and Trueman Rembusch, have retained Robert S. Taplinger Associates as public relations counsel, retained Marcus Cohn of the Washington law firm of Cohn & Marks as legal counsel, and commissioned Professor Dallas Smythe as economics advisor, and is still seeking an engineering consultant for services and advice. 'Omnibus' Show (Continued from page 1) position to toll TV, was poor in quality and the voice appeared 'scrambled.' It was signed by Phillip Harling, the committee's treasurer, on behalf of the national committee. The wire declared that "Omnibus is definitely obligated to make time available at the earliest opportunity" for Storer to make known his views to millions who were unable to understand his remarks Sunday because of the poor quality. It went on to state that it was "incomprehensible" that the situation arose, pointing out that adjacent film sequences highlighting the proponents of toll TV were "clearly seen and heard." Poor reception was not confined to New York area according to reports received today from Storer's Miami Beach office and interested parties in Chicago and elsewhere, the wire continued. Calls It 'Not Fair' "Since Storer's interview was filmed in advance," the wire stated, "it is difficult to understand why the 'scrambled sound was not re-filmed to obtain the hitherto high quality of similar 'Omnibus' presentations. We feel deeply despite assurances that a fair presentation of our position would be made even though Zenith Radio, Inc., one of the 'Omnibus' sponsors, is an extremely active proponent of payas-you-see TV, this was not a fair presentation." Johnston (Continued from page 1) Thursday night for Spokane, where he will spend the week-end. He'll arrive in Hollywood from Spokane Monday or Tuesday, staying there the rest of that week. MPAA officials said that there was "nothing special" that Johnston is going to the West Coast about. They said it's just that it's been a long time since he was there, and wanted to talk to studio heads and other industry officials on a variety of subjects.