Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

8 Telecasting Notes: They’re saying in Hollywood that TV film is now a better banker’s risk than independent featui'e production, and California Bank’s Ben Odell is quoted in Dec. 18 Billboard as stating that the rate of loss in TV loans has been less than in such established fields as real estate! He thinks some TV companies will soon be strong enough to get direct loans, as do the big movie concerns, rather than depend on loans against assignments of sponsor payments or assignments of payments from distributing companies . . . Bank of America executives told Billboard’s Hollywood reporter that they’re beginning to base more and more loans on a producer’s record for quality production; George Yosling, Security First National Bank, believes the industry is approaching point where loans will be made against residuals and on new productions which have not as yet found a sponsor; Wm. Andrews, Citizens National Trust & Savings Banks, thinks TV film production industry has reached a stability that independent theatrical producers never enjoyed . . . Paramount’s TV exploitation tieup with Lux Video Theatre (NBC) is exposing 44,000,000 potential moviegoers to continuing promotion of Paramount films, said J. Walter Thompson v.p. Robert H. Black at Paramount promotion coordinating meeting in Hollywood last week. Paramount, which owns TV station KTLA in Hollywood, was first movie maker to recognize exploitation value of TV through use of televised film trailers, he said . . . TV took away Hollywood’s “sure dollars” and forced it to produce better films, said producer Louis de Rochemont at Ford Hall Forum in Boston. “The improvements we see today in the theatres is because the spirit of competition is keen and Hollywood is no longer misjudging the public taste” . . . TV film makers are luring music editors away from theatrical film companies, 20th Century’s Leon Birnbaum told Bound and Indexed We will index and bind, between embossed hard book covers, a limited quantity of all 1954 issues of the Television Digest Weekly Newsletters, plus the semi-annual TV Faetbooks with all Addenda, plus all Supplements and Special Reports. This volume will provide a handy and handsome permanent reference for your own or your company library. Orders will be taken only until Jan. 5. Price: $25 per volume. Hollywood trade pres. Newer medium is copying Hollywood methods, he said, though TV uses canned music — “something we would never do” . . . “Yox box” is apt description for new device invented by CBS-TV Hollywood engineer Charles Douglas, which supplies laughter in any quantity or quality for film or live shows by mixing previously recorded laughs. Douglas holds patent, reportedly is planning to market device for about $1000, already has 2 out on lease in addition to one already in use at CBS’s TV City . . . Official Films Inc. pres. Harold Hackett announced Dec. 10 that from Jan. 15 Tele-Pictures Inc. will take over TV distribution of the Lippert features catalog . . . Wheeling’s WTRF-TV offered one free minute live commercial as prize at local board of trade Xmas party, and who should win it but sales mgr. Andy Hoffman of radio WRVA; he thereupon threatened to use the spot to discuss advantages of radio . . . Pulse Inc. is inaugurating cumulative rating service, showing percentage of families viewing each station in average day and average week, to be issued semi-annually . . . More than 190 cities will be available for closed-circuit business meetings after Jan. 1, notes new brochure of Theatre Network TV, 575 Madison Ave., N. Y. Shocking incident at Westinghouse’s KPIX, San Francisco, coincident with negotiations on new contract between station and NABET union, was sabotage “without precedent in the more than 30 years of broadcasting history in the U. S.,” according to mgr. Philip G. Lasky. With unionmanagement differences due to go to govt, mediation Dec. 15, at least the following acts of sabotage were committed, on night of Dec. 13, Lasky said: (1) More than 100 fuses were substituted with dummies. (2) Equipment was hidden. (3) Blueprints and instniction books were hidden. (4) Sync generators were disabled by tiny pieces of wire in obscure spots. (5) Scores of audio circuits were disabled. (6) Good tubes were replaced with defective ones. (7) Film projector optical systems were misaligned. Westinghouse flew top engineers to San Francisco, including Ralph Harmon and George Hagerty, got equipment partially repaired by week end. Meanwhile, station was on curtailed schedule, carrying only CBS network programs. Incredibly, identity of sabotem’s is clearly indicated, according to Westinghouse officials. Job was so extensive it obviously required a crew of expert technicians. Punishment for offense is 1 year imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine. FCC field men are investigating and FBI may be called in. Entering large-screen projection field, new Fleetwood Corp., 1037 Custer Dr., Toledo (Vol. 10:49) this week announced its closed-circuit TV projector FL-1001, developed “at the request of one of the leading closed-circuit conference organizations.” Designed for hotels, classrooms, etc., compact self-contained unit can project picture of from 3x5 to 9xl2-ft. The mobile assembly contains built-in TV receiver and speaker, as well as provision for optional remote speaker. Longest pickup for community system reported to date is that by Woodriver TV Service, Kethum, Ida., whose owner C. E. Atkinson says he uses signal of KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, 275 mi. away; antenna 9250 ft. above sea level. Transfer of ways-tv, charlotte, n. c. (Ch. 36), to local advertising man Hugh Deadwyler for token consideration of $4 was filed this week with FCC. Sellers are G. W. Dowdy, B. T. Whitmire, J. Horton Doughton and Harold H. Thoms, latter also owning WISE-TV, Asheville (Ch. 62). Group told FCC present owners “have sustained heavy and substantial losses [and] there would be distinct tax advantages to the transferors if this application could be acted upon by the Commission prior to Dec. 31, 1954.” Since it went on air just a year ago, station has shown net loss of $82,276, balance sheet indicates (Vol. 10:44), although operation now “has settled down to approximately a break-even point in terms of revenues and monthly operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation).” Though station currently owes more than $200,000, when Deadwyler takes over it will have $27,000 sm-plus — since under terms of agreement, notes payable to radio WAYS (a separate corporation) and to owners, totaling more than $114,000, will be forgiven. Remainder of debt is for equipment, payable in installments. Budget shows station’s cm’rent revenues and operating expenses balanced at about $4800 a month, only salaries being paid to engineer and 2 announcers. Purchaser is pres. & owner of Hugh Deadwyler Adv. Agency, Charlotte, pres. & 35% owner of Filmmakers Associates Inc., Charlotte (films) and public relations director of Southern Airways Inc. He plans to devote fulltime to management of TV station. Ownership of radio WAYS is not affected. Nominations for Alfred I. duPont 1954 awards for “public interest” service by TV-radio stations and news commentator must be submitted by Dec. 31 to Alfred I. duPont Award Foundation, Washington & Lee U, Lexington, Va. Winners will be announced in March.