Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

11 Color Trends & Briefs: Significant contrast in big color shows was provided this week by NBC’s first “spectacular” Sof/us & Spurs (Sept. 12) and CBS’s first play in Best of Broctdway series (Sept. 15). The net result — no news to sho^vlnen — was that the “play’s the thing.” In short, NBC’s Srifhis & Spin-s was a rather uninspired musical, even though Betty Hutton put some life into it, Avhile CBS’s play Royal FamUy was a tried-&-true vehicle that re-proved its impact. What the veteran showmen may not know, however, is that color made an enormous difference to Satins & Spurs — and it’s our conviction that it would have devastated black-&-white competition the other night if majority of viewers had color sets, for much of it was breath-taking. However, the competition, Darryl Zanuck story on Ed Sullivan’s CBS-TV Toast of the Town, featuring big Hollywood names, butchered Satins & Spurs in the audience ratings. Trendex 10-city average gave CBS 34.4 rating against 16.6 for NBC, though spectacular managed 19.7 against 13 for CBS’s Private Secretary during first half-hour before Sullivan show .started. Hooper gave CBS 38 vs. 16 for NBC in New Yoi'k, 36 vs. 17 in Chicago, 30 vs. 20 in Philadelphia. Critics Avere virtually unanimous on Avhat Avas Avrong: The spectacular Avas a hackneyed story Avith no hummable tunes. ShreAvd Variety editor Abel Gi’een nailed it doAvm even better by intervicAving famed song-Avriter Irving Berlin Avho said: “Songs must be heard more than once to be appreciated, and Avithin the confines of an hour or a 90-min. A'ideomusical it’s too much to ask anybody — the performers or the public — to click AAith a onetime song performance.” Royal Family Avas a great play, starred great talent, and critics thought color Avas good but scarcely mentioned it. Next in CBS’s sparkling Best of Broadway series Avill be Kaufman-Hart comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner Oct. 13, starring Monty Woolley, Merle Oberon, Joan Bennett, Bert Lahr, Reginald Gardiner, Zasu Pitts, Buster Keaton. CBS also announced that Frederic March Avill play Scrooge in A Christmas Carol on Shower of Stars Dec. 23. « ♦ # ♦ Outlining NBC’s color programming and promotion efforts for neAvsmen and RCA licensees at 21-in. color tube demonstrations in Princeton this Aveek (see p. 3), NBC exec. v.p. Robert W. Sarnoff recapitulated previously announced schedules, mentioned a feAV additional programs, said NBC has capacity for 60 hours a month. The 3-amonth “spectaculars” will amount to 50 hours alone this season, he said, then Ford Theatre Avill start Aveekly halfhour coloi film Oct. 14. Intermittent color inserts Avill be continued on Home, then 2-hour version of Macbeth Avill be colorcast Nov. 28. In Christmas season, NBC’s nowtraditional opera Amahl and the Night Visitors Avill be carried in color, and mobile unit Avill either cover Tournament of Roses in Pasadena or present a Nativity program fiom National Art Gallery, Washington. Sarnoff noted CBS Avill feed some 45 hours of color to affiliates during season, Avhile more and more individual stations Avill acquire cameras and film scanners to supplement netAA'ork color with local originations. RCA compared new 21 -in. color tube Avith 21-in. rectangular black-&-white during Princeton symposium this Aveek (see p. 3), giving these figures: Color picture (masked, 4x3 aspect ratio) — 250 sq. in., 19 5/16-in. wide, 14'2-in. high. Black-&-Avhite picture — 245 sq. in., 1914i-in. wide, 14 3/16-in. high. Coloi tube has overall diagonal of 20 11 /16-in., overall length of 25%-in. vs. black-&-Avhite overall diagonal of 21 11 /32-in., overall length of 23 13/32in. Color tube Aveight is 28 lb., black-&-white 24 lb. Experiences of pioneer colorcaster WKY-TV, Oklahoma City, are detailed in Close-Up on Color TV, just issued by the Katz Agency for guidance of advertisers, agencies and station operators. Clever promotion used last Aveek by WKY-TV Avas First Nighter program, to Avhich business and civic leaders Avere invited Sept. 12 to A'ieAv NBC-TV’s first spectacular, Satins and Spurs. All guests received parchment certificates recording their presence at “the opening night of a neAv era in TV entertainment.” Extension courses in color TV engineering are being offered this fall by U of California at Los Angeles, instructor to be EdAA'ard L. Michaels, supeiwisor of PackardBell advance development group. Tavo TV Avriting courses are also offered. Comdr. C. G. Mayer, RCA European technical representative, author of 19-p. technical paper on “Colour Television Broadcasting” reprinted in July 23 Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, as read befoA-e the Society in May. This Aveek’s netAvork color schedules: CBS-TV — Sept. 25, My Favorite Husband, 9:30-10 p.m. NBC-TV— Sept. 24, segment of Home, 11:34-11:46 a.m. ; Sept. 25, Lady in the Dark spectacular featuring Ann Sothern, 9-10:30 p.m. Purchase of RCA “3-V” film camera is reported by W.IAC-TV, JohnstoAvn, Pa., expecting deliA^ery by Jan. 1. Ghosts on a TV screen can be a problem — but it’s a rare occasion Avhen one drives a houseAvife “crazy” and ends up in the police station. This particular ghost is the much-headlined “Indianapolis TV ghost” which appeared last Aveek on the screen in the home of Mr. & Mrs. John Mackey of that city, and refused to get off, even AA’hen the set Avas turned off. Mrs. Mackey insists the apparition is that of her grandfather Avho died 4 months — and that it is even Avearing the suit he Avas buried in. The image appeared Sept. 10, and the set was moved to police headquai-ters Sept. 12 AV'hen Mrs. Mackey said she Avas “going crazy,” but the ghost remained on the screen Avhile nearly 500 persons came to observe it. “Grandpa’s ghost” is reminiscent of similar incident last year Avhen face of singer Francey Lane remained for 2 days on screen of a TV set in Long Island (Vol. 9:50). At that time, engineers said phenomenon was apparently caused by electronic “explosion” in set AA-hich fixed image on screen. Same explanation is given for this Aveek’s ghost, based on assumption that face is that of a TV perfonner Avho happens to look like Mrs. Mackey’s grandfather. Or it’s just possible that supernatural TV is compatible Avith the Ameiican 525-line system. Industry’s public-spirited promotion, annual Voice of Democracy contest for high school students, Avas launched this AA-eek Avith appointment of RETMA exec. v.p. James D. Secrest as chairman of event, succeeding Robert K. Richards, outgoing NARTB administrative v.p., Avho had served as chairman since its inception 8 years ago. As in past years, joint sponsors are NARTB, RETMA and U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. All contestants Avrite and recite original 5-min. scripts on theme, “I Speak for Democracy.” Local winners are selected in personal competitions, Avhile state and national Avinners are chosen from recordings of voices of local Avinners. .Judging Avill start during National Radio and TV Week, Nov. 7-13, Avith local Avinners to be announced by Dec. 1 and state and territorial Avinners by Dec. 28. The 4 national AA'inners Avill be announced Feb. 7 and Avill visit Washington and Williamsburg, Va. Aveek of Feb. 18, Avith annual aAvards luncheon in Washington Feb. 23. National winners receive $500 scholarship checks, and state Avinners I'eceive TV & radio sets donated by RETMA members, among other prizes.