Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, December 7, 19f Television Today Code Revision Who's Where ( Continued from page 1 ) amendments dealt specifically with rigged TV quiz shows, deceptive advertising and "payola" practices. They were approved by the National Association of Broadcasters' television board, which held a special meeing over the weekend. The house-cleaning action was taken on the eve of a Federal Communications Commission inquiry into programming and commercial practices of network television and radio broadcasting. The commission will open intensive hearings tomorrow, when witnesses are scheduled to testify for some half dozen religious and educational organizations. The commission expects to hold hearings four days in the coming week with more doubtless to follow. 'Quiz' Specifically Treated The code amendment dealing with quiz shows stated that "quiz and similar programs that are presented as contests of knowledge, information skill or luck must in fact be genuine contests, and the results must not be controlled by collusion with, or between, the contestants, or any other action which will favor one contestant against any other." Another amendment expressly forbade "acceptance by producer, talent or any other personnel of cash payments or other consideration in return for including" prizes properties, music, products, slogans or trade names on a program. The amendment cautions broadcasters to be especially alert on this score. Warned on False Advertising Broadcasters are also warned in a third amendment "to prevent the presentation of false or misleading advertising." Products may be presented in a favorable light, the amendment said, but there must be no "material deception as to characteristics, performance or appearance of the product." In other amendments the NAB called on broadcasters to announce any limitation on subject matter in news interviews, to decide whether a particular method of presentation would mislead the audience. H. Bart McHugh, Jr., has been named director of network program sales for National Telefilm Associates, it was announced by Berne Tabakin, vice-president in charge of network programs. McHugh will make his headquarters in NTA's New York offices. □ Richard Lewine has been promoted to the newly-created post of director of special projects for the CBS Television Network Program Department and Jerry Leider has been named to succeed him as director of special programs, it was announced by Michael H. Dann, vice-president, network programs, New York. Both appointments are effective January 4, 1960. In his new position Lewine will now be free to work on regularly scheduled network series in addition to specials. □ The appointment of Jack B. Purcell as assistant general attorney of the CBS Television Network Legal Department in charge of the West Coast legal office, effective Dec. 7, was announced by Thomas K. Fisher, vicepresident and general attorney of the CBS Television Network. Purcell succeeds Richard W. Jencks, who has resigned to become president of Alliance of Television Film Producers, Los Angeles. □ The appointment of James A. Stabile as vice-president in charge of standards and practices for the National Broadcasting Company was announced by Robert E. Kintner, NBC president. Stabile, an NBC vice-president, has had more than 20 years of experience in top positions with two networks and organizations in related fields. CBS 'Tightrope' Series Gets 13-Week Renewal "Tightrope," the CBS 30-minute detective series starring Mike Connors, was renewed at the weekend for another 13 weeks by Pharmaceuticals Inc., the Parkson advertising agency announced. The series, produced by Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse for Screen Gems, made its debut last Sept. 8 on a 26-week commitment. "Tightrope" will now play 39 weeks, with 13 episodes to be re-run next summer, the agency said. To Test Effectiveness Of Educational TV Special to THE DAILY MIAMI, Dec. 6. — A Congressional committee will look into the Dade County School Board's educational television Channel 2 this week to determine how effective television is as a classroom aide. It will use the information when it considers bills now pending before Congress which provide for Federal assistance to states developing educational TV. Morning Session Slated hearing will be at 10 The hearing will be at 10 A.M. Tuesday in the School Board auditorium. Members include Reps. Harold Collier (R., 111., Dan Rostenkowski (D., 111.), John Bennett ( R., Mich.), and John Flynt (D., Ga.). The committee will tour Dade television classes the following day. Byrne Report ( Continued from page 1 ) manager, and Dan Terrell, publicity manager, put a special emphasis on four top attractions ready for release in the immediate future. These are "Never So Few," a Canterbury Production starring Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida; "Home From the Hill," starring Eleanor Parker, Robert Mitchum and George Hamilton; "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," a Joe Pasternak comedy starring David Niven, Doris Day and Janis Paige, and "The Gazebo," a Lawrence Weingarten production with Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds. Lauds Sol Siegel These combinations of star power and story potential, Byrne said, are indicative of the kind of production program into which the M-G-M studio under Sol C. Siegel's leadership has launched. "Never So Few," for which one of the company's biggest advertising and promotion campaigns has been prepared, will be the holiday attraction in 200 situations. "The Gazebo" also will be a holiday picture with a December 18 opening set in Los Angeles and national release in January. "Home from the Hill," Byrne said, is the rare combination of star and story suitability which can flame into a really great box office attraction. It will be an early spring picture at the Music Hall. "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," a later spring release, he said, will prove out a great family comedy. Cites Five Pictures among the 24 exinclude "The Subterraneans, Arthur Freed production based on the Jack Kerouac novel; "The Time Machine" a George Pal production; "The Last Voyage" an Andrew and Virginia Stone production starring Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone, George Sanders and Edmund O'Brien; "Platinum High School" with Mickey Rooney and Terry Moore; and "The Day They Robbed the Bank of England," a Summit Film starring Aldo Ray. The sales chief was also enthusiastic about footage he saw at the studio from Arthur Freed's "Bells Are Ringing" starring Judy Holliday and Dean Martin, and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," a Formosca production by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. Decries 'Downbeat Talk' Emphatic in his remarks about "downbeat talk" within the industry, Byrne declared, "This company, for one, is going forward. We are going to walk back upstairs and I am sure the other companies in this business are going to put forward the same constructive effort. The motion picture industry is in its heyday." "Ben-Hur" which Byrne characterized as "one picture, one investment" will be playing about 10 engagements in the U.S. and Canada by Christmas and will be in about 50 houses equipped for 70mm projection by May. After that, Byrne said a limited number of road show engagements in Realities International In Import Organizatioj Application of Realities Internatiq al Films, Inc. to join the Independe Film Importers and Distributors America has been accepted by t membership committee, it is a nounced by Michael F. Mayer, i ecutive director of IFIDA. This brir, the membership of the organizati to 21 distributors with additional $. plications now being processed. I The new member is a Pennsylvai corporation and its representative I the board of directors will be Jose Solomon of Philadelphia, a vetei distributor whose operations have j cently been expanded to the natioj. i Other pictures pected next year 'Journey' Unveiled ( Continued from page 1 ) attended by producer Charles Bij kett, Arlene Dahl, another of the st ; of the film, Joan Collins, and m?| others. Some 5,000 Boy Scouts, from r Tennessee area turned out to gj Boone on his arrival at the airpj accompanied by 20th stars Dr1 Baker, who also plays in "JounW Barrie Chase, and Carol Lynley. ] yor West led the leading citizen; Nashville to meet the party and he their "favorite son." The receipts fi the gala benefit world premiere [ go toward construction of the lar Boy Scout reservation and camp in); world, to be built in Tennessee The Southern event was covered the syndicated press, television t radio newsmen and commentators!, Movietonews cameramen. Boone '/ made an honorary Colonel on the j of Governor Buford Ellington, i presented with a scroll proclaiming entire party honorary Tennesseansiji — !| RCA Dividends J In addition to the regular quartl cash dividend of 25 cents per si on the common stock of the RJ Corporation of America, a 2 per yj common stock dividend was 1 nounced at the weekend by E,! Sarnoff, chairman of the board, i John L. Burns, president, folkr'l a regular meeting of the Board oi,)j rectors. Dividends are payable to I'm ers of record at the close of bust! on Dec. 18, the cash dividend onll 25, and the stock dividend on Fe J At the same time, a dividend of Ira cents per share was declared or 1 first preferred stock for the piSj Jan. 1, to Mar. 31, payable Ap/jl to holders of record of such sto<>| the close of business on March m 35mm will be booked. "We ha\I protect our enormous investmenjl emphasized, by insuring the gr^tl possible return." Following the general discujl Seadler outlined the particulars o'| campaign prepared for "Neve; || Few," including strong local coo'i tive advertising backing national -1 paigns in Life, Redbook, Good H\m keeping and Seventeen; special!! play ads for Sunday papers in 2tll markets, and national merchant 1 and book tie-ins.