Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

5 Personal Notes: Robert H. Hinckley, ABC Washington v.p., returned to his alma mater this week, Brigham Young U, Provo, Utah, to present “Edwin Smith Hinckley Scholarship Fund,” named for his father who was once professor of geology there, providing income from $25,000 to students showing preference for communications . . . Robert W. Sarnoff, NBC exec, v.p., left for Europe with Mrs. Sarnoff June 10 for month’s business-vacation trip . . . Howard J. Schellenberg Jr. resigned June 1 from law firm of Haley, Doty & Schellenberg, has joined with James P. O’Laughlin, recently legal officer with Marine Corps, to set up O’Laughlin & Schellenberg, 1025 Connecticut Ave., Washington (phone. Republic 7-1522) . . . Art King becomes editor of Television Age July 1, succeeded as managing editor of Broadcasting -Telecasting by senior editor Edwin James; among other changes at latter, senior assoc, editor Bruce Robertson goes to Washington from N. Y., west coast mgr. David Glickman from Hollywood; asst, editor David Berlyn goes to N. Y. ... Nat Perrin, producer of My Friend Irma, named coordinator of all CBS-TV west coast color program plans . . . Wm. R. McAndrew, NBC news & special events mgr., represents all networks at North Atlantic Treaty Organization information conference in Paris, June 15 . . . Sidney F. Allen promoted to sales mgr., MBS eastern div. . . . Bill Whiting, ex-sales mgr. of KTTV, Los Angeles, placed in charge of new offices of Official Films Inc. at 275 So. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, Cal. . . . R. E. Detwiler will be commercial mgr. of upcoming WPBN-TV, Traverse City, Mich. (Ch. 7) as well as of radio WTCM, with Wm. H. Kiker, chief engineer for both TV & radio . . . Mike Thompson named commercial mgr. of WTVD, Durham (Ch. 11) due by fall; Ernie Greup will be program mgr. & Henry Cronin chief engineer . . . J. A. Murphy named gen. mgr. of KMO-TV, Tacoma, Wash., succeeding Jerry Geehan . . . Richard Wolfson, legal director of WTVJ, Miami, married June 5 to Elaine Reinherz, of Providence, R. I. . . . Robert H. Hill, ex-KABC-TV, Los Angeles, becomes gen. sales mgr., KVVG, Tulare, Cal. . . . E. W. Dallier promoted to sales mgr. of KTVH, Hutchinson, Kan. . . . Thomas J. Maloney, ex-WBUF-TV, Buffalo, named program mgr. of upcoming WKBT, La Crosse, Wis. (Ch. 8) . . . Jack Keasler now commercial mgr. at KRGVTV, Weslaco, Tex., succeeding Allan Page . . . Hal Danson, ex-gen. sales mgr., Adler Communications Labs, onetime Paramount and Eagle-Lion adv. executive, replaces Mel Gold as director of TV, advertising & promotion. National Screen Service Corp. . . . Bette Doolittle, asst, to NARTB director of code affairs Edward H. Bronson, guest of honor at cocktail party in National Press Club June 10 to celebrate her election as eastern regional v.p., American Women in Radio & TV . . . Robert Wald named exec, director of Teleprograms Inc. and producer of American Inventory (NBC-TV), replacing Wm. Hodapp, resigned . . . Bert Harkins, ex-MBS facilities mgr., joins Voice of America under new director Jack Poppele . . . Harold C. Lang elected assistant treasurer of CBS Inc. . . . Sander Heyman, ex-Schenley, to Los Angeles office of Roy S. Durstine Inc. to handle west coast TV-radio . . . Lewis S. Wechsler, ex-Emil Mogul TV-radio director, joins Donohue & Co.; Barry Blaur, ex-Huber Hoge, joins Mogul as traveling TV-radio timebuyer . . . Tom Slater has resigned as TV-radio v.p., Ruthrauff & Ryan . . . George Wolf resigns as TV-radio director, Geyer Adv. ■ Robert H. Swintz, 59, business mgr. and public relations director of South Bend Tribune’s WSBT-TV & WSBT, and for 20 years mgr. of WSBT, died June 5 after long siege of leukemia. His widow and 2 daughters survive. Albert L. Warner, NBC newscaster recently residing in Tucson for his health, awarded honorary Master of Arts degree by his alma mater Amherst College June 10. Fee’s INQUIRY into alleged past communist affiliations of Edward Lamb, owner of WICU, Erie, Pa. and other stations (Vol. 10:23), became even more feverish this week. After some 4 hours of argument before District of Columbia district court Judge Edward Tamm June 11, the judge dismissed Lamb’s motion to enjoin FCC from going ahead with hearing scheduled for July 28 — after Lamb attorney Russell M. Brown had charged that FCC would give Lamb “no fair trial at all” and that original allegations against Lamb were pushed by Comr. Doerfer who was activated by “ill will” and “base motives.” Lamb attorneys said they’d appeal. Judge Tamm based his ruling on fact that FCC is giving Lamb a hearing, has set definite date for it, and that it’s established procedure for parties to “exhaust administrative remedies” before going to court. He also said an injunction would do little good in stopping “irreparable injury” to Lamb because publicity is already widespread. Commission obviously saved itself rough time by acting last week in setting date for Lamb hearing, because judge said he would have been impressed by Lamb’s argument if no hearing had been scheduled. Allegations of “bias and prejudice” levied by Brown against FCC were ruled out by Judge Tamm after Brown recited following: (1) That Lamb had gone to see Chairman Hyde who said he realized charges against Lamb were “unfair” but that FCC was “helpless” to do anything because Doerfer insisted on taking case up. Brown said Hyde told Lamb he should see Doerfer who was “key to the problem.” (2) That Lamb then went to Comr. Sterling who also advised him to see Doerfer. (3) That he finally went to Doerfer who stated he wanted to know about Lamb’s beliefs and opinions. “Lamb told him he was a Democrat and an Episcopalian,” Brown said, “and that he had once been a Republican.” They talked about the New Deal and its philosophies and the fact that Lamb, as an attorney, had represented unions. Brown stated. He added that, as Lamb left, Doerfer said: “It would be better if you were still a Republican.” Lamb took stand briefly to testify about injury he’s suffering — how advertisers shy away from one accused of communist leanings; how he had bought land and equipment for Massillon TV station, which he said is unused and depreciating; how his family is suffering social injury, etc. He was stopped from testifying about his conversations with commissioners. Hyde was subpeensed by Lamb’s counsel, sat in court most of argument, was never called to stand. Brown’s charges against Doerfer guarantee him some close questioning when he goes before Senate Commerce Committee in next week or two for hearing on last week’s appointment to new 7-year term with FCC (Vol. 10.23). The no-holds-barred defense conducted by Lamb counsel J. Howard McGrath, former Attorney General, and Brown, presages fierce contest at FCC July 28 hearing. ■ Frank Stanton, CBS pres., wins Art Directors Club Medal “for the inspiration and encouragement given to the art directors of CBS Radio and CBS Television resulting in high and consistent standard of excellence in the visual appearance of their advertising and TV commercials.” Jacob A. Evans, NBC adv. & promotion director, is author of Selling and Promoting Radio and Television (384 p.) to be published June 28 by Printers’ Ink Books of N. Y., with foreword by ex-NBC pres. Niles Trammell. Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees bestowed by Seton Hall U, So. Orange, N. J., on ABC’s Ed & Pegeen Fitzgerald, husband-&-wife team, for “fostering understanding among peoples and for their Christian virtues.”