Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1960)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 7, lSjl Television Jo day The Critics Say. . . As influential as the many nation-wide syndicated TV columnists, are the hundreds of local newspaper critics whose views — though they inevitably reflect regional preference— more often than not have national validity. These reporters, asked to vote again this year in the annual MOTION PICTURE DAILYFAME poll of television talent and shows, added a variety of comments on their views of the industry. Among them were the following reports. Allan Gilbert, Jr., Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, Ark.: Live television, with an occasional boo-boo would be a lot fresher than current fare; it would seem that conformity (one hit western: a million westerns; one hit private eye with jazz: a million private eyes with jazz) has run amuck . . . creativity in ideas, writing, production needs an overhaul; much more could be borrowed from the theatre dian has been with good effect (television is as closely related to the stage as to motion pictures and it should do more to recognize this relationship); some effort should be made to present die medium on a higher intellectual plane. TV is going to have a difficult time, I think, taking its place as an art when its production always seems to seek the lowest common denominator. All art is crammed with works of mediocrity, but in a greater majority of cases the aim was high, rather than low, and it doesn't seem that television can make that statement. Frank Clayton, The Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Briefly, I'd suggest they come to an understanding about the honesty going on at the current time between the sponsors and the network. I'd also like to see more specials about entertainment world, news spotlights, sports programs and more good dramatic shows. Robert J. Carrier, Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio: Where will the commercials end? Will it take pay SPECIAL NEED A GOOD TRAILER FAST? . . GALL ON F1LMACK. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID! riLMACK TV Code Subscribers Hit Ail-Time High From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. The National Association of Broadcasters announced today that 372 of 518 operating commercial television stations now subscribe to the NAB Television Code. This is an all-time high. Harold E. Fellows, NAB president, said that Code subscription by 71.8 per cent of the operating commercial stations is "further evidence of the television industry's determination to regulate itself." Fellows added that NAB anticipates that the list will continue to grow. NAB, at the request of the Federal Communications Commission, filed the list of subscribers with the Commission yesterday. In addition to the stations, all three television networks subscribe to the Television Code. Twenty-four television film producers are affiliate subscribers. TV to turn off the daily bombardment that blasts the poor viewers? I wonder if television isn't defeating its purpose of selling by tossing everything including the kitchen sink at the groggy viewer. Joann Renberg, Kenosha Evening News, Kenosha, Wis.: When television programming is geared to the middle or high brow instead of the masses, viewers will find that they can be entertained and at the same time will find they are slightly improved— either mentally by learning in a painless way or emotionally by having shared a vicarious experience that will help them to understand others. Entertainment today is reaching a stage reminiscent of the "bread and circuses" of the Roman Empire before its fall. It is a terrifying situation with no immediate remedy in sight. Great, true drama; artful comedy; inspiring singing and dancing and genuinely informative programs are the rarities that create an occasion on the TV screen today. • Fred Danzig, United Press International, New York: Nothing wrong that massive injections of integrity — in every phase of the business, including advertising and publicity (or public relations)— won't cure. However, too many of TV's "influentials" are hopelessly committed to expediency, cynicism, immorality, insincerity, deception and corruption. I haven't decided whether networks lead the way in this or merely reflect their environment, but they're right in there with the fast-buck philosophy. Russ Townsley, Russell Daily News, Russell, Kan.: There are still too many westerns. Certain networks are taking off the good shows and are putting on westerns and poor detectives. TCeduced ASCAP Fees Won by Radio Stations Royalties paid to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers by the radio stations of the United States— some 800 in all— will be reduced by an estimated $800,000 a year in accordance with an order signed here this week by Judge Sylvester J. Ryan in U. S. District Court here. The agreement, which will run for five years, provides for a 5.6 per cent reduction in commercial fees paid by the stations to the association, plus a less severe formula for payment of sustaining fees. The new pact is an outgrowth of legal action brought by the stations against ASCAP seeking lower fees for the right to perform publicly the catalogued and copyrighted music controlled by the association. 83% of ASCAP ( Continued from page 1 ) by Judge Sylvester Ryan, following counting of the ballots in his offices in United States District Court. The vote by ASCAP's 5,300 composers and 1,100 music-publisher members had been ordered by Judge Ryan on Oct. 20 at a hearing on terms of a proposed consent order changing the methods of distributing music royalties each year, electing new directors and sampling the nation's use of copyrighted music. The votes were opened and tabulated yesterday in the presence of Judge Ryan and attorneys for ASCAP and the Department of Justice. Judge Ryan then adjourned the hearing until 10 A.M. today when he will hear applications from the attorneys on any points they wish to bring up. He is also expected to announce today whether or not he will sign the consent decree. Payments Liberalized Details of the decree were worked out jointly by ASCAP counsel and the Justice Department and further amend the consent judgment of 1949, which was first amended in 1950. Under the new plan royalty payment systems would be liberalized, the internal voting system broadened and methods of sampling television and radio use of members' copyrighted music brought up to date. Upon receiving the decree with the proposed changes, Judge Ryan noted that although it was brought before him "on consent," it was strongly opposed by some members of ASCAP. It was then he ordered the vote of the membership to guide him in making a decision. He has called the proposed decree an improvement on present conditions in the Society. Guild Books 'Jack* The Boulting Brothers comedy, "I'm All Right, Jack," will be shown at the Guild Theatre here following the run of "The Mouse That Roared." The film, directed by John Boulting, was produced by Roy Boulting; and is being presented by Lion International. Myrick Name ( Continued from page 1 the national organization, and a mt poll is now being taken. The appointment is of more th casual interest because it is the secc by Myrick of a member of Indi; Allied, which is regarded as a lea of the so-called "militant" faction Allied. This is the group that succei ed in electing Myrick at the natio board meeting in Miami Beach I month. At the same time, Myrick nounced that the resignation from j tional Allied of Allied Theatre Own of Western Pennsylvania had been cepted "with our deepest regret." declined to comment otherwise the Western Pennsylvania action. The Allied president also conlirn that "due to many requests from lied board members, Abram F. My has agreed not to resign as chairn i It and general counsel according to emotional promise in Miami." Myrick added, "This month My completes 30 years of loyal and fai ful service to Allied. In the co muniques I've received, many bor members have expressed their de* to have him ( Myers ) continue in ' same capacity." Although Myrick declined furtl comment, it is recalled that at Miami Beach board meeting, My.}* had said he would resign from AH if the Western Pennsylvania unit c ried out its threat to withdraw, mi at that time. Us :. PITTSBURGH, Jan. 6. Ha Hendel, president of Western Pe: sylvania Allied, today termed the ganization's resignation from natio Allied "temporary," but declir j( other comment. He said any offi< statement on the unit's action wo; have to come from Morris Finl; board chairman. The latter was ported to be ill at his home and co not be reached for comment. ■ BOSTON, Jan. 6.-Edward Lider, president of Independent ) hibitors of New England, said toe1 he planned to call a meeting of j f organization's board of directors soon as possible, "at least within ' next two weeks," to consider tion in relation to developments d taining to the national organizati' ' March of Dimes Will Sponsor 'Few' Bow The opening of Metro-Goldw Mayer's "Never So Few" at Radio C Hall later this month has been lected by The March of Dimes fo fund-raising event. At the first c ning's performance, the March Dimes will take over the loge sect with the rest of the house open the public at the regular Music Jj prices. The film will have begun its r ular continuous run in the morn of the opening day. The date will! announced shortly. Proceeds of sale of the special loge tickets ^ go to the New York March of Dii campaign against crippling arthri birth defects, and polio.