Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1955)

16 Critical report on children’s programming on NBC-TV was issued this week by its recently-organized Children’s Program Review Committee, along with recommendations for improvement. Committee members are Dr. Frances Horwich, who is “Miss Frances” of NBCTV’s Ding Dong School; Mrs. Douglas Horton, wartime WAVES commander and an NBC director; Dr. Robert Goldenson, psychologist and expert on family relations. Committee listed 13 points of weakness but commended NBC for “trying to maintain a common standard of excellence” in children’s programming. Among points criticized were sequences showing destruction of public property, shooting seltzer water or throwing things, bad grammar and poor pronunciation, frequent use of slapstick of questionable taste, over-excitement of solid hour of disjointed action, over-emphasis on money, misuse of conunercials. Its recommendations called for better balance in children’s programs, elimination of some westerns on 0-&-0 stations, using 6-6 p.m. segment for 6-12 year group and 9-11 a.m. for nursery age, more how-to-do-it shows, more music & story-telling programs, improved standards for commercials. Richard A. R. Pinkham, NBC v.p. in charge of network programs, sent copy of report to all producers, along with letter urging prompt attention to its critical aspects. On a related front, NBC’s WRCATV & WRCA has j’oined N. Y. Youth Board in attack on j'uvenile delinquency in city, using its facilities & personalities to acquaint public with conditions in a test neighborhood designated as “Area 4.” Stations’ participation include regularly scheduled progress broadcasts, counseling of delinquent youths by station personalities, and information to citizens on how they can help. Two radio station sales this week, with TV overtones: R. H. Drury, Oklahoma auto finance man who controls KSWO-TV, Lawton, KMID-TV, Midland, Tex. & radio KRHD, Norman, heads group buying radio KGWA, Enid (1-kw daytime, 960 kc, MBS) for $62,500. He holds 74.5% of purchasing firm, Ted Warkenton owning 15.5%, Allan Page 10%. KBAK, Bakersfield, Cal. (1-kw on 550 kc, MBS) has been sold for $85,000 by San Francisco Chronicle interests, who retain KBAK-TV (Ch. 29). Purchasers are partnership comprising John Hearne, one-time FCC attorney now practicing in Los Angeles, and Benj’amin Pasacal & Howard Tullis, L. A. admen. Radio call letters will be changed. Deal was handled by Jack Stoll, L. A. broker. Note: Rumor was abroad this week that Cantrell & Cochrane, Englewood, N. J. (Super-Coola canned soft drinks), whose mainspring is ex-Pepsi-Cola pres. Walter S. Mack, was seeking to buy up a string of western radio stations — but there was no confirmation. On eve of “subversion” hearings on New York entertainment industry, AFRTA members overwhelmingly approved resolution calling for severe disciplinary measures, up to expulsion from the union, for members who refuse to tell Congressional committees whether they are or have been Communists (Vol. 11:30). Some 27 entertainers have been subpoenaed for the hearings by Rep. Walter (D-Pa.) and his House Un-American Activities Committee. Most witnesses are from legitimate stage, with no big TV names announced. Scripps-Howard newspapers, in 4-part series this week by Frederick Woltman, timed as curtainraiser to the hearings, explored subject of TV “blacklisting,” came to conclusion there’s no formal blacklist. Suspension of operators charged with disabling KPIX, San Francisco and radio KEAR, San Mateo, Cal. during laboi’-management trouble (Vol. 11:8) was recommended by FCC staff in proposed findings. Staff said evidence shows operators deliberately disabled stations, recommended 90-day suspension for 3 operators involved at KPIX, 30-day for 2 involved at KEAR. Week’s toll-TV developments: (1) Dealers will be helped rather than harmed by pay-TV, Zenith v.p. Leonard Truesdell argues in Aug. Electrical Merchandising, challenging NARDA chairman Mort Farr’s opposing views. Truesdell claims that subscription TV will mean better programs, hence more sales. (2) Pro-toll results of recent Saturday Review poll tell more about magazine’s readers than about general public opinion on the subject, researcher Elmo Roper says in Aug. 13 issue of the magazine. He notes that magazine’s poll showed 74% favoring subscription TV while his survey of Columbus, 0. indicated people are 67% against (Vol. 11:25). His conclusions: “SR’s readers are an unusual segment of society.” One piece of evidence, he said, is that SR readers rank nation’s No. 1 program, I Love Lucy, as 26th. (3) George Sidney, Screen Directors Guild pres., opines that public is willing to pay for good movies on TV; that “good TV shows are becoming too expensive to give away.” (4) Skiatron pres. Arthur Levey states: “The networks are attempting to cloud the real issues with irresponsible statements that are in a very real sense a betrayal of the public interest.” Walter Annenberg’s Triangle Publications Inc., publisher of Philadelphia Inquirer, operator of pioneer WFILTV & WFIL and owner of other publishing & TV-radio properties, is seeking a satellite for WNBF-TV, Binghamton, N. Y. (Ch. 12), which was recently acquired with WNBF for $2,700,000 (Vol. 11:11, 19), in application filed this week for uhf Ch. 18 in Elmira, N. Y., 48 mi. away. Previously, it made deal to purchase now-silent WLBRTV, Lebanon, Pa. (Ch. 15) for $235,000 with intention of reviving it but transfer has been stymied by objections from Harrisburg uhf operators. Elmira previously had 2 uhf stations, on Ch. 18 & 24, but both went off air last year (Vol. 10:22, 45), unable to make a go of it. Triangle’s pending purchase of WFBG-TV, Altoona, Pa. (Ch. 10) with WFBG (Vol. 11:32) was finalized this week, subject to certain adjustments; it will pay $2,900,000 cash to the Gable dept, store interests and give them an additional $750,000 advertising credit. Howard Stark was broker. Recently purchased WPFH, Wilmington, Del. (Ch. 12) and radio WIBG & WIBG-FM are being brought under one parent corporation, WPFH Bcstg. Co., according to application filed with FCC this week by o-wner Paul F. Harron. Corporation would take over some $2,000,000 in obligations for TV from Harron who retains control of Class B stock which will have power to elect 10 of 15 directors. Being brought in is Wanamaker dept, store, to hold 5.3%. Others who will hold 3.1% or more: auto dealer John P. Crisconi, 4.7 % ; Dr. Patrick J. Kennedy, 3.1%; Robert M. Brown, Esslinger Brewery v.p., 3.1%; Charles E. Compton, mgr. of Brovra & Bigelow (calendars, etc.), St. Paul, 3.1%; Boardman Smith Corp., 3.1%. Some 60 others will hold smaller percentages, among them John Morgan Davis, judge of Philadelphia common pleas court. WCOV-TV, Montgomery, Ala. (Ch. 20), whose technical equipment was destroyed by fire Aug. 6 in the transmitter room (Vol. 11:32), apparently caused by a short circuit in the master clock, unloaded new RCA equipment Aug. 9 and expects to have test pattern on air within 10 days and to resume regular program service Aug. 25. Gen. mgr. Hugh M. Smith reports entire control room as well as transmitter destroyed, large studio severely damaged, 2 cameras in bad shape. High-tower grant to KSWS-TV, Roswell, N. M., was finalized this week by FCC after Pentagon dropped its opposition — though first voting against the new 1610-ft. structure as member of Washington Airspace Subcommittee (Vol. 11:27, 31).