Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Wednesday, November 2, 1960 Motion Picture Daily Jelevision Joday TV Code Review Board Plans to Revise Format From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Nov. 1. The Television Code Review Board plans to revise the format of the TV Code. No basic policies of the code will be changed. Principal objective of the change will be to produce a version of the Code "which will be better understood and more easily used by station personnel." TV Code Board chairman E. K. Hartenbower has told all code subscribers that "any suggestions as to how the code may be made more 'understandable to the average reader" will be "most welcome." He said in a letter: ; "If specific words, phrases or passages have left you in doubt as to the intent of the code, we would like to know about it. Suggestions for the improvement or the expansion of the ' index included for the first time in the current sixth edition are also sought." Suggestions should be sent, by Nov. 15, to Edward H. Bronson, TV Code Affairs Office, 1771 N Street, Washington, D. C. TV Code Unit Changed 18 of 39 ATFP Scripts From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Nov. 1. In a report on the activities of Hollywood Television Code office, the National Association of Broadcasters notes that member companies of the Alliance of Television Film Producers submitted 39 scripts before filming. The office suggested changes or deletions in dialogue and action on 18. In pre-screening of 18 films, mostly made from the scripts submitted, all were found to meet minimum code standards. "This bespeaks the results .of the self-regulatory efforts being exerted by the cooperating film production companies of the alliance," the television code authorities pointed j out. The code authorities also state that 1 a working liaison has been established between the West Coast office and Ziv-UA Studios. This "practical implementation of the long-standing agreement between the Code Review Board and Ziv-UA Studios was effected through the cooperation of Mr. Frank Reel, Ziv-UA, New York, and Mr. Lew Rachmil, administrator, ZivUA, West Coast," the code office says. Ziv-UA films bear the television Code Seal of Good Practice. AROUND THE SAG Board Asks 0 TV CIRCUIT Strike Authority with PINKY HERMAN. THIRTY-FOUR years ago a young newcaster went on the newfangled contraption called radio to tell several hundred listeners draped around crystal sets, the trends of the voting public. Don Goddard was that newscaster and it was a state election which he covered in 1926 -but two years later, in 1928, he again was at the mike to tell the results of the Alfred E. Smith-Herbert Hoover contest for the presidency. Next Tuesday, Don will be joined by a news team of 17, including John Daly. Quincy Howe, John Secondari and Bill Shadel in the ABCoverage of the Nixon-Kennedy battle. . . . Don Costa, A & R chief at United Artists Records, heard a blondelovely sing a few songs at a small club in Queens. That's howcome Barbara Russell was signed and delivers a fine LP Album titled "Swing With Me," for which Don made the arrangements and which he produced. You'll be hearing more good things about this Brooklvn-born nightingale. . . . Lucy Murovich will direct an off-Broadway version of Herman Wouk's "Nature's Way," Nov. 11. The farce comedy was originally seen on Broadway three years ago. . . . Donald Woods in town from the coast where he was featured (as the heavy no less) in segs of "The Deputy" and "77 Sunset Strip." . . . Jantone Productions (Jan Murray firm) has added Rod Parker, Bob J. Hilliard and Gary Belkin to his production staff. ... Vet Hollywood director Roy Del Ruth has been signed by Bob Weitman to meg an upcoming seg of "The Islanders " titled "The Cold War of Adam Smith" for MGM-TV. Featuring Keenan Wynn and John Mclntvre in addition to the program s regulars William Revnolds, James Philb'rook and Diane Brewster, this one will be seen over the ABChannels about mid-December. . . . Mary Martin s television NBClassic performance in "Peter Pan," will be re-enacted Thursday Dec. 8. Meanwhile NBC is tossing a special party for the press and their offspring here this Friday afternoon at the Helen Hayes Theatre. New Subsidiary of Dana To Produce TV Films From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 1. Dana ' Pictures, producing company owned by Danny Kaye and his wife, Sylvia Fine, announce the formation of Belmont Television, formed as separate entity to produce films for television in which Kaye will not star. Robert Forrest will head operation as vice-president and executive producer. From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 1. The Screen Actors Guild is polling its national membership immediately in a secret mail referendum, asking authority to call a strike in the field of television commercials in the event such action becomes necessary to obtain an adequate contract. More than 14,000 ballots will be mailed within next few days. The Guild's by-laws require a 75 per cent majority for approval of strike authorization. Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Davis will co-CBStar in the Zane Grey Theatre"" teledrama on Thanksgiving Day CBS news teams in 50 state capitals augmented bv seven news units deployed across the country will funnel their election news data into the net s election headquarters located at Studio 65 in New York. . . . Bob Velazco, prexy of Musifex, celebrating the firm's third year of successful operation by augmenting its library with many new original thematic and background music and sound effects. Bob's dad, Emil, ranks among the worlds greatest organists Maestro Paul Taubman back from a tour of the Bahamas. While there he discussed plans for the Governor-General to conduct a concert tour there next summer featuring local native musicians The tv NBCoverage of the election returns next Tuesday will feature Chet Huntley and David Brinklev operating from a specialequipped studio 8 H in Radio Citv. With the resignation of George Shupert,Prexy Joe Vogel has elevated John B^ Burns to the ^"flrted post of MGM-TV general sales manager and will supervise all MGM1 V Lies divisions. Burns came to MGM in 195 ^ -hen he left ABC Films where he served as TVeep. . . . The Concert Network ™ » » ciation with WOR (AM and FM) will bring the music of th I * ladelph a Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Eugene Ormandy, to New Yo7listeners this Sunday evening in the first of a series of s ereophonic radio concerts. . . . Star of manv motion pictures and several Broadway cHcks Zllis Thaxter will star in the title role of "The Trapped Housewife an NBC-TV Special, Thursday, Nov. 10 (4-5 P.MO written and produced bv George Lefferts. . . . Prexy Dave Bader of Durham TeleEjS* and Wm. L. Cooper, Jr. of WPLX have made a deal ^Wby the former will handle domestic distribution of three full hour Vv PIN STTEMF "totcer ^ the WO^V WS?um S^SdfES has" belted by the Italian IDgdc Sc^tyrf America for his Saturday nite teleseries. . . . Eugene O N«l Is great play "The Iceman Cometh," will be presented over a 2-week p enod ^ I Via WNT A starting Monday, Nov. 14 with part two running from Noy. 21 Z slty lTth (10:30 P.M.) ^^^\0TS^ Robards, Jr. and co-starring Myron McCormick wrth Joan Copeland will be produced by Lewis Freedman with Tony Miner, executi producer. New Company Offers 'Believe It or Not' Formation of Major Programs, Inc. (MPI), for the distribution of filmed television programs was announced yesterday by Hardie Frieberg, president of the new company. The first series MPI will place into distribution will be 104 five-minute episodes of the long-running newspaper feature, Ripley's "Believe It or Not." Twenty of die pictures already have been completed by Sceptre Productions, Inc., of Hollywood. The distribution agreement was negotiated by Frieberg, representing MPI, and Jack Rabin, president of Sceptre. Three account executives have been named by Frieberg to the MPI sales staff. They are Owen Duffy, who will be responsible for sales in the northeast; Ed Simmel, who will cover the far west, headquartering in Los Angeles, and Bruce Collier, who will cover Texas and Oklahoma. Heim Named to New Seven Arts Sales Post The appointment of Jack Heim as director of feature sales was announced yesterday by Don Klauber, vice-president and national sales manager of Seven Arts Associated. This rounds out the Seven Arts marketing plan previously announced by Bob Rich, Seven Arts vice-president and general sales manager, Klauber said. ' It places Heim in charge of the Eastern half of the United States, with Lester Tobias as director of special feature sales in the Western half. Baxter Appointed LONDON, Nov. l.-Film producer John Baxter has been appointed executive controller of TWW Ltd., the commercial tv program contracting companv for South Wales and the West of England. musifex co 45 w. 45 st. n.y.c. music for feature films ci-6-4061