Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

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Section of RADIO DAILY, Friday. November 25. 1949 — TELEVISION DAILY is fully protected by register and copyright DuM TO FEED DAYTIMERS TO NET TELE TOPICS THE ONE FACTOR most important in the success of "Actors Studio" — which led to a Peabody Award when the show was on ABC last season — is its selection of material. Using the best short stories available, the program developed a technique of telling a tale simply and effectively, without undue frills. Always the story is paramount and the adaptations usually follow the original as closely as possible. Now on CBS, the series goes along with a consistency of excellence that is hard to match. . . . This week's story was Thomas Hardy's "The Three Strangers," adapted by Alvin Sapinsley. The opening shots of Gilbert Haycox' fine set, combined with effective use of sound effects, quickly established the mood of the piece without a word of dialogue. The atmosphere was maintained throughout the half-hour as the characters appeared and the story was developed and resolved. Not a line nor a gesture was out of place and it all added up to truly outstanding video. . . . Produced by Donald Davis for World Video, program was directed by David Pressman, and fine performances were given by the entire cast — Stephen Hill, John Randolph, Will Hare, Howard I Weirum, E. G. Marshal, John McGovern and Frances Ingalls. • CITY AT MIDNIGHT," the WNBT show aired live on location at 11 p.m., has been beset in the past with both technical and script difficulties. This week most of the production bugs were ironed f out and lighting and audio were good. But the same old story trouble was still present. While good in spots and better I than its predecessors, the script lacked dramatic continuity and was merely a semi-connected series of vignettes. Good scripts would be in the smartest investI ment the producers of the low-budget show could make. . . . Cy Kneller, editor of Radio and Television Weekly, has been named winner of the DuMont new name V contest, with Betty Stone, Broadcasting L luminary, as runner-up. . . . Showcase ' performances of the Theater Wing's training program will be held Monday and * Tuesday at 4 and 8:30, 432 W. 44th. • VASTLY IMPROVED Teletranscription has been developed by DuMont. As shown to the press Wednesday the film revealed excellent clarity of detail and fine light values. Developed by web staff9 ers, the improved system is now being used for all recorded shows. . . . Producer Arthur Lesser will emcee a new talent showcase on WOR-TV, Fridays, 7:30-8 ^ p. m., beginning Dec. 2. . . . The most complete story on color in the general press that we've seen to date is in the new issue of Time. . . . New series of Christmas commercials have been filmed for Firestone and Philco by Murphy -Lillis Productions. Sets In-Use Af Highf 93.8% In Milwaukee Milwaukee— 93.8 per cent of all receivers in the Milwaukee area are turned on during an average weekday evening for an average of three hours and 55 minutes, a recent survey by WTMJ-TV, the only station in the city, has revealed. Saturday evening 88.4 per cent of the sets are in use an average of 3.43 hours and on Sundays this climbs to 96.2 per cent and 3.61 hours. Weekday sets in use average for afternoon programming is 68.6 per cent and 1.91 hours. This is boosted on Saturdays to 76.6 per cent and 2.26 hours and on Sundays to 77.9 per cent and 2.97 hours. Monday through Friday, average number of viewers per set is 3.05 in the afternoon and 3.99 at night. Saturday figures are 4.08 and 4.30, and Sundays, 4.33 and 4.85. Program preferences by type reported by the survey reveal sports first, followed by variety, drama, news, mystery, music, western, travel, amateur, discussion, quiz, children's and women's. Hooper's Top Ten (Network— October) Texaco Theater, NBC 69.4 Talent Scouts. CBS 55 8 Godfrey Friends, CBS 49.7 Toast Town, CBS 45.6 Olsen-Johnson, NBC 40.9 Fireside Theater, NBC 39.2 Philco Playhouse, NBC 38.7 Stop Music. ABC 37.6 35.4 Cavalcade Stars. DuM 35.3 Sullivan Leaves WPIX B. O. Sullivan has resigned as sales manager of WPIX for reasons of health and Scott Donahue, assistant sales manager, has been named acting sales manager. Sullivan was a member of the advertising department of the New York News, parent of the station, for 20 years and was assigned to the news project that was to become WPIX in June, 1947. He was named sales manager in January, 1947. Webs Not Worried About Strike Effects Network production sources reported on Wednesday that they expect visible effect on programs as a result of the strike called Tuesday night by Local 829, United Scenic Artists. Sets for several top commercial shows are designed by artists hired on a free-lance basis by the agencies handling the shows and these jobs are paying the scale set by the union. Rudy Karnolt, business manager of the local, said that at least nine such artists are on the job. For other shows, the webs said that they will get along using stock sets. A spokesman for ABC said the web "hasn't thrown out a single flat" since flagship WJZ-TV went on the air over a year ago. He added that all flats were made so that they would match each other and could be lashed together. Most DuMont shows use standing sets, as do many programs on NBC and CBS. Si u t ion v To Pay Not More Than $100 An Hr. RMA, IRE Groups Begin Equipment Standardization A joint committee of RMA and IRE has taken initial steps to effect standardization of station equipment, recommended several months ago by the TBA engineering committee, Raymond F. Guy, chairman of the TBA group, announced earlier this week. Procedures to study and establish equipment standards have been formulated, Guy said. Standardization of transmission levels will be undertaken by RMA, while drafting of the methods of measurement of transmission levels will be handled by IRE. RMA also will start work on standardization of patch cords, plugs and jacks; camera cables and asso ciated connectors; and coaxial cable connectors, and will continue work on picture geometry. It was further agreed that IRE will originate definitions and methods of measurement under the following procedure: 1. In the case of missing or obsolete standards, RMA will advise IRE of the material that is required. 2. The IRE will formulate tentative proposals and forward them to RMA for comments and tentative approval. 3. RMA will make final suggestions and express approval. 4. IRE will consider RMA suggestions, reformulate and issue the standard definitions for test methods. (Continued from Page 1) a percentage of rate card basis, but cost will not be more than $100 an hour and this will be reduced as additional stations sign up. Nine outlets have contracted for the series to date. Mortimer W. Loewi, director of the net, said that big nightime network shows are so expensive that only major national advertisers can afford them. "Many advertisers are being priced out of the market today," he said, adding that space must be made in TV for smaller bankrollers. Wants "Thousand Advertisers" "We can't live on 25 or 50 national advertisers. . . . We want to bring in a thousand advertisers instead of going out for just the one." Providing for a maximum of ten local spots an hour, the two-hour program will be set in a mythical department store and will include fashion, decorating, dramatic, music, and other service features. Target date of Dec. 5 has been set for inauguration of the service, but may not be met because of the scenic designers strike and other factors. Alreadv signed to take the show are WTVN, Columbus; WXEL. Hpveland; WJBIK TV. Detroit; WSPD-TV. Toledo: WHIO-TV. Day+on: WJAC-TV, Johnstown, and DuMont owned-and-oper^ted outlets WABD, New York; WTTG, Washington, and WDTV, Pittsburgh. TV Not "Blue-Chip" Operation "This project," Loewi said, "will certainly destroy once and for all the idea that television is a 'bluechips' operation, reserved exclusively for the ten or twelve wealthiest advertisers in the country who for so long dominated radio. Through this new service, hundreds of small advertisers in every city with a transmitter will be able to take advantage of TV's peculiar selling ability and still stay within the most modest of budgets; this, because they will be able to purchase small segments of time at low, daytime rates." In essence. Loewi added, the move makes DuMont "a manufacturer of ontr-rtainment." distributing it to affiliates who in turn make it available to advertisers. "The substantial support that we are getting from affiliates and they are getting from local business enterprises indicates that we shall be able to offer a splendid program structure on a sound economic base," he added.