Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1945)

January 6. 194: SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Film Industry On the Alert for Place In Television Sun Three significant impressions seem to have been implanted in the minds of exhibitor-executives who attended the recent first annual conference of the Television Broadcasters Association in New York. First and foremost was the realization that the motion picture industry, both producers and exhibitors, will not be found shunning television as they did radio in competitive belligerency. This time film men will be in the vanguard — indeed many of the industry's units are already well established organizationally to make the most of a new visual medium. Hold Back Or Go Ahead? Secondly, the only reason for discord within television's inner sanctum (as to whether commercialized television is ready for exploitation through the assignment of frequencies by the Federal Communications Commission or should be withheld until further improvements have been perfected in the higher frequency ranges) appears to stem from the fact that the 'hold back' advocates contend (ofiE the record, of course) that they are presently enjoying such golden prosperity that they want to save television as an ace in the hole for leaner days. These same groups, in the opinion of their opponents, are quite contradictory in their attitudes and actions. For while shouting for delay they are spending real money in actual television program broadcasting to the full extent of their allotted facilities and seeking expansion thereof. The majority opinion is in agreement that great improvements will be achieved over present size and quality of picture image but that five to ten years of research and field experiments will be required. Meanwhile, there is general agreement that television reception quality for home consumption is adequate for immediate production and sale of sets (availability of materials being the time controlling factor) and for the creation of extensive coast to coast broadcast facilities in the larger population centers. Has Won General Acceptance Third, and not the least important impression by any manner of means, is the public desire — or we might rather say eagerness — for television. There is an amazing absence of ridicule and derision such as greeted most innovations such as the horseless carriage, the wireless and even the movies. People look upon television as the bright new hope of postwar industry, culture and as a stepping stone toward closer understanding among the nations of the world. From the standpoint of of commercial interest in this new art, the conference committee anticipated an attendance of some 350 but were overwhelmed by the registration of more than 800 guests for the two-day sessions and over one thousand people who attended the evening ban HONORS DADDY' OF TELEVISION Paul Raiburn, chairman of TBA awards committee, pins first medal of honor upon Dr. Vladimir K. Zworykin, RCA Laboratory chief who developed the iconoscope and storage principle of picture pick-up. BELOV/— General David Sarnoff gets first award for general contribution to television progress. Below — Finske and Regan, Paramount Below— Austrian, RKO; Dr. Goldmark, CBS quet at which awards for achievements in television development to date were made. Prominent among the theatre and motion picture executives attending various sessions of the conference were : E. V. Richards, New Orleans ; Louis Finske and Charles A. Ryan, Comerford Circuit ; Martin Mullen and Samuel Pinanski, M & P Circuit; Nathan Goldstein, Western Massachusetts Theatres ; Leonard Goldenson, Paramount Theatre Circuit ; James Skinner, Interstate Circuit ; Louis Schine, Schine Circuit; Harry Mandel, Sol Schwartz, R.K.O. Theatres ; Frank Cahill, Warner Brothers Theatres ; A. H. Brolly, Balaban & Katz Television Station; Barney Balaban, Charles Regan, Robert Gillham, Oscar Morgan, A. J. Richards and Arthur Israel, Paramount Pictures ; S. Barret AlcCormick, Rutgers Neilson, A. A. Schubart, Arthur Brilant, RKO Radio Pictures; Ma.x Weisfeldt, Columbia Pictures. Battle of the Lines The behind-the-scenes arguments as to whether television is ready for launching on the present 525 line standard or should be held back a number of years until experiments make it possible to reach 735 or 1000 line standards was spotlighted by an appeal from Brigadier General David Sarnoff, RCA president, on leave to serve the Army, who addressed the conferees. "This is a good place and this is a good time to bury all arguments," he stated in pointing out that television was not a finished art and when it is a finished art it will be finished as an industry. He urged that American business men must hasten to the task of getting television under way if we are not to be outdistanced by British interests in the potential world market. Harmony between the motion picture industry and the television broadcasting industry hardl)' came as a surprise to sideline observers for both {Continued on Page 41)