Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1957)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 23, fa Television Today Confirm Universal -RKO Dej MGM Shorts (Continued from page 1 ) number of weeks, met with Loew s president Joseph R. Vogel concerning the company's television activities. Production is expected to be started in the early Spring, utilizing all physical and technical aspects of the studio organization and the studios in London. The Loew's vice-president in charge of TV activities, it was announced, will make his headquarters at the Culver City studios and launchthe production program. He will be in constant consultation with the program board which is comprised of himself, Adrian Samish, director of programs, Sam Marx, executive producer Ruth Kyle, program coordinator, and Maurice Gresham, Western television sales manager. The board will also meet with agencies in Hollywood for similar discussions on interest of clients in TV series under consideration. This board has been functioning for several weeks, having considered some 1,500 titles of M-G-M feature films for possible series adaptation. Among these, TNT Closed Circuit Gross Sales Booming Gross sales of closed-circuit TV by Theatre Network Television, Inc., in 1957 "should exceed 1956 by 200 per cent" if business continues at the rate already signed for die first quarter of this year, it was announced yesterday by Nathan L. Halpern, president of Tele-Sessions, Inc., affiliated company of TNT. On the TNT first quarter schedule are closed circuit tele-sessions for: American Telephone and Telegraph Co., Ford Motor Co., General Electric Co.', I. B. Kleinert Rubber Co. and United Jewish Appeal. Halpern called this "the largest dollar volume of business in closed-circuit TV." TNT's first quarter business will involve logistics requiring the special installation of the 59 TNT owned and operated big-screen TV projector equipment in over 200 locations, he said. it was said are such past hits as '^The Thin Man," "Scaramouche," "Min and Bill," and the Hardy series. One Man's TViews By Pinky Herman WHAT PRICE GLORY! Doug Edwards, award-winning CBS newsman in Washington for the Presidential Inauguration was informed by a cab driver that he "sees him quite often on TV but that his children often insist on watching westerns and so can't watch regularly." "My kids, too," answered the understanding Edwards. At his destination, Doug gave the taxi driver a handsome tip and the cabbie, pulling away said, "Thanks Mr. Gobel." (and on another NETWORK.) Bud Barry, Loew's TVeep heads back to Gotham next week from Culver City where he's supervised production of several pilot films based on MGMovies. MGM-TV gross sales to 29 TV stations have now passed the 31 million dollar mark which includes the entire film library of 723 pre1949 feature films. . . . Next month's meeting of the Academy of TV Arts & Sciences will be devoted to establishing plans for the formation of a workshop designed to find and develop new writers. NBC Producer Mort Abrahams and Ed CBSullivan are spearheading the move. . Arthur Storch, recently seen on Broadway in "Girls of Summer" has been signed for the lead in 'Big Story," TVia NBC, Friday, Feb. 1. & & • Art Ford, whose name is synonomous with record chatter and patter and who for years was New York's famous "Milkman's Matinee" idol, has been named to succeed Jerry Marshall as host of WNEW's "Make Believe Ballroom." Ford knows his music from Beethoven to bop, can spot talent and is a cinch to add new listeners to the program. Bill Williams, another ace deejay will add the 4:00-5:30 P.M. daily chores to his regular 9:00-11:00 P.M. W N E Wax chatter . . . Hearst Columnist and Editor Frank Conniff will host Gary Stevens' "First Meeting," next Sunday (5:00-5:30 P.M.) TVia NBC. . . . Maggi (the Magnificent) McNellis, currently heard over WINS twice daily, has been named publicity chairman for the Command Performance Ball this Saturday for the benefit of the American Theatre Wing. . . . "Dancing Party," which ABCommences next Monday in the 9:30-10:00 P.M. slot across the board, will be hosted by Tedd Lawrence who'll co-ordinate the piping in of top-name bands from all parts of the country. Tedd, himself a former ork pilot, is a natural choice for this musical spot. . . (Continued company who have been left completely in the dark during the weeks of negotiations, continued in that state. No details of the deal were disclosed in the brief announcement from Universal which, beyond confirming the closing, said merely that 11 unreleased RKO pictures in various stages of completion" are included in the films being turned over to Universal for selling and distribution in the U. S. The statement then went on to say that the deal "would in no way affect Universal's own production and release schedule" but will serve to augment it. All of Universal's pictures scheduled for release up to next Nov. 1 are either completed or in production, the announcement concluded. Terminates a 50-Year Record The effect of the deal, it was apparent, was to remove RKO Radio from the leading role which it and its antecedent companies have played in industry activities for more than 50 years. Close observers feel that it will mean the nearly immediate shuttering of RKO's 32 U. S. film exchanges as well as the virtual shutdown of all home office departments. The RKO Radio studio in Hollywood has been virtually shut down for several months. Estimates of the number of employes affected ranged upward from 800, but no RKO Radio official was available to reporters for questioning on this subject. It was ascertained, however, that as of yesterday employes had not been given notice of termination of their services, although the required two weeks notice had been telegraphed to Local H-63, home office employes union, which would make the effective date Feb. 5. The wire reportedly served notice of termination of the contract and gave assurance that its severance terms would be observed. Absorbtion Unlikely Nothing has been said about Universal absorbing any of the RKO Radio employes and it is believed that very few, if any, will be taken on. Universal only several months ago "streamlined" some of its own distribution departments, cutting down on some and eliminating others. RKO Radio operations abroad will be continued for about three years. Most foreign countries require substantial severance bonuses, commensurate with length of service, which affect any company going out of business or laying off employes. How much effect, if any, these laws had on the RKO Radio decision to continue functioning on its own abroad, was a subject of speculation in the trade yesterday. However, RKO's foreign operations have been profitable for many years, in contrast to the domestic operations. Official information concerning the terms on which Universal will do the selling and distribution of RKO Radio product also was lacking, as were from page 1 ) the arrangements for transfer of distribution contracts for produc independent outside producers. I ever, it is believed the latter have assurances that Universal extend at least as good terms as t offered by RKO. About the only RKO Radio ex tives believed certain to stay on O'Shea and Edward Walton, his sistant. Motion Picture Daily terday reported the resignations i Miller Walker, vice-president, se tary and general counsel; Wil Clark, treasurer, and Garrett ' Wagner, comptroller. William Do studio head, is expected to rei while four pictures scheduled for duction in the next few months side of Hollywood are being i pleted. The short subject studi Harlem under Jay Bonafield | closed in December and reports is being taken over by a TV prodk Entered Exhibition in 19281* RKO's roots are said to go !i to 1905 and a company formeii Milwaukee by John R. Freuler w| later was absorbed into Mutual g Co. It was carried on through ie Robertson-Cole company and I] in which Joseph P. Kennedy of v ton was a factor. In 1928, it 'i into exhibition with acquisitioi )l Keith-Albee-Orpheum, and in it same year RCA bought into the n pany and it became Radio-Keith* pheum. In 1931 it took over E{ Exchange, the newsreel and the i ver City studio. RKO was in equity receiver! from 1933 to 1940. When it emeil Floyd Odium's Atlas Corp. acqd stock control, sold it to Ho^ji Hughes in 1948. In 1953 Huj complied with a Federal consents cree theatre divorcement require] li by selling the theatre operation It Albert A. List. They are now a I of List Industries. Hughes Sold in 1953 In the same year Hughes soldi controlling stock interest in RKO Ralph Stolkin of Chicago, but bel the deal was consummated Stcli withdrew as a result of unfavorlf publicity. Hughes resumed coiS but did not operate the com{0 insofar as active production from i time until he sold the company General Tire & Rubber in July, if by Which time it was wholly owl Hughes having offered RKO st'J holders $6 per share for all outstij ing stock. As a wholly owned subsidiary General Teleradio, RKO's film lib'! was sold to television for $15,200j( in 1955. Rank Executives Pou Kenneth Hargreaves, head of I new J. Arthur Rank film distriM organization in the U. S., will be s at a cocktail party for the trade pS at the Delmonico Hotel here tonijt The affair is to introduce his exl tive staff.