Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

Section of RADIO DAILY, Monday. November 14. 1949 — TELEVISION DAILY is fully protected by register and copyright BRITAIN TO USE CBS COLOR VIDEO TELE TOPICS "^^RISIS," a Chicago origination recently arrived on the NBC web, may be accurately described in two words — nothing happens. As reviewed last week, the half-hour format is as follows: A person I who has experienced a crisis in her life, tells her story to reporter Adrian Spies. When she reaches the point of decision, her narrative is stopped and actors, who I have been briefed in the story-line beforehand, resolve the situation according to their own interpretation and without script. Their decision is compared with the "real ' life" action and then the routine is repeated. ... On the air, the show moved at snail's pace. Explanation of the format by Robert Cunningham took four minutes, at which point Spies and the "real life" woman took over. At 1 1 minutes, Cunningham began to set the scene for the actors J — with Spellbound-type music as a background— and the action didn't begin until almost 14. The playlet ran only two minutes, and then Spies and the woman took * over until 21 minutes. Setting the scene again took three minutes and the play once more was stopped after only two. After a final check with the woman, Cunningham closed with something like this: "Who can tell what is real and what is imaginary when all the world's a stage?" That line, ' we think, embodies the show's major fault ' — the plot did not seem real, and as fiction it was as hackneyed as they come. . . . Program is produced by Ted Mills , and directed by Norman Felton. • THE TRADE'S still buzzing about Arthur ' Godfrey's on-the-air blast at an "over I zealous" flack (presumably the George Evans office) for planting teen-age girls in the show's audience to squeal for Bill Lawrence two weeks ago. When the kids became noisy during a rather dry talk on nuclear physics, Godfrey rebuked them and threatened to clear the studio for . future shows. Last week, however, after Arthur had found out that the girls were plants, he apologized to them and let go * at the p. a. instead. The original incident < prompted Berle to address his audience on his show last week somewhat as follows: You'd better wake up or I'll send you over to Godfrey and have him bawl ' you out. N1 BC IS PITCHING the Dave Garroway show at Budweiser beer, in the hope that CBS may not be able to clear stations for the Ken Murray stanza. . . . CBS will do an experimental closed circuit audition of a "Lum and Abner" TV adaptation within the next few weeks. Web emphasizes, however, that it's strictly a trial with no firm plans for a regular series for ' the team. . . . WNBT has not cancelled the Hank McCune show, as itemed here last week. Station did knock out the J film for one week because of a bad print. De Forest Tells FCC Of 'Superior' Color TV Washington Bureau of RADIO DAILY Washington — Dr. Lee De Forest told the FCC Thursday that he is working on a color video system superior to anything yet offered, but that it will be a year before it is ready to show. He said his system is not compatible, but that it will not require a change in standards. The 76-year-old inventor, currently active in organizing a new company to produce home receivers, was unable to offer much of value for the Commission at this time, he said. He does plan, however, to press forward with his developmental work. The Commission also heard the consulting engineer, Raymond Wilmotte, who spoke at some length on the advantages of polycasting as the solution to the power difficulties predicted for the UHF. Wilmotte called for a series of low-priced stations in what today are normal service areas to TV stations, assuring even reception throughout the area. These would broadcast simultaneously, receiving the signals from the central studio station on two channels to protect against ghosts. Frank McCall Named NBC-TV News Chief Pulse Top Ten Texaco Theater, NbC 61.5 Talent Scouts. CBS 46.6 Godfrey Friends. CBS 39.6 Goldbergs. CBS 38.2 Toast of Town. CBS 37.1 Stop Music. ABC 32.1 Fireside Theater. NBC ... 31.3 Kraft Theater. NBC 28.1 Studio One. CBS 2<?.0 Philco Playhouse. NBC 27.5 Rates Up On NBC's Second Web Card NBC yesterday issued its second network rate card, offering an interconnected web of 26 stations for $11,875 per hour, class A time, plus 23 non-interconnected stations for $5,550, or a total of $17,425 for the 49 outlets. In a letter accompanying the card to advertisers and agencies, George Frey, director of sales, said that the web is being used for over 21 hours a week by 33 bankrollers. Rate card number one offered 21 interconnected stations for $7,600 and 13 non-interconnected stations for $3,300. Virtually every station listed on both cards has increased its rates. Appointment of Francis C. McCall as director of news and special events under NBC's new TV reorganization has been announced by Pat Weaver, v-p in charge of tele. Adolph J. Schneider was named manager of operations. McCall has been with NBC since 1937 and during the war served overseas in Europe and the Pacific. Emery To Hit The Road In Personal Appearances Bob Emery, proprietor of Small Fry Club on DuMont next week begins a personal appearance tour of theaters, stations and stores in Boston, Chicago and New York. Frank Baer, program's film cameramr.n will cover the dates. New RCA Receiver Adaptable To Various Bands, Voltages A major step toward solving problems of international video standards has been claimed by RCA through development of a new receiver built to operate on the varying power line voltages and frequencies prevalent in many foreign countries, it was announced by Meade Brunet, managing director of the RCA International Division. The new non-synchronous receiver was designed for world markets by engineers of the RCA International Division in conjunction with the RCA Victor Division. It operates from any voltage between 1 10 and 240 and on any power frequency between 40 and 60 cycles. This power supply need not be the same as the power furnished the transmitting station. The set operates on eithei the American system of 60 fields (30 frames). 525 lines, or the proposed European system of 50 fields (25 frames t. 625 lines. Another feature is that the set will receive any ol the 12 very high frequency channels, in contrast with most foreign-made receivers that pick up only one channel. BBC In Research With Home-Built Color Studio Dr. Peter C. Goldmark. CBS director of engineering research and development, has disclosed that the British Broadcasting Corp. will begin color TV experiments based on the CBS color system. Goldmark returned last week from London, where he demonstrated the CBS system before leading British engineers at the invitation of the British Institute of Electrical Engineers. Goldmark disclosed at the same time that CBS research engineers have begun work on designs for the first universal pickup equipment for use in commercial color. He said that the BBC's decision to begin experimenting in color video followed investigation of the CBS color system in this country by BBC engineers and executives, and a study of color equipment built in England by Pye. Ltd. The latter equipment, built from CBS designs, was used by Goldmark in his London demonstration. Goldmark said that the BBC's color plans include the building of complete studio and receiving equipment, all based on CBS designs. H. L. Kirke. chief of the BBC's research department, will direct the British color activities, under the general supervision of Sir Noel Ashbridge, BBC director of technical services. The British observers were impressed by four major points in their study of CBS color, Goldmark said, listing them as follows: simolicity. color fidelity, sharpness of image, and ease of adaptability. Returning to the subject of the new universal TV pickuo equipment being designed by CBS. Goldmark said it will have the advantages of being "all-purpose." simpler to build and operate, and more compact than present equipment. Ziv's "Easy Aces" Film To Be Sponsored On DuM "Easy Aces," quarter-hour film program starring Goodman and Jane Ace will be aired weekly, Wednesday. 7:45 p.m.. by 15 DuMont stations, beginning Dec. 14 under sponsorship of Phillips Packing Co.. through Aitkin-Kynett agency, Ph'ladelphia. Produced by Ziv Television Productions, Inc.. program is scripted by Ace, George Foster. Mort Green and Jack Raymond. Jeanne Harrison directs, and Betty Garde is featured in the cast.