Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1956)

Personal Notes: Jack Poppele, feted at Willard Hotel party by colleagues and friends July 12, on occasion of departure from post of deputy USIA director in charge of Voice of America, announced he will become TV-radio management consultant, headquartering until fall at home, 9 Crest Circle, So. Orange, N, J. . . . Eric Jensen, ex-J. Walter Thompson, N. Y., named mgr. of WLWD, Dayton, succeeding H. Peter Lasker, transferred to N. Y. as v.p. for sales of Crosley stations . . . Harry J. Ockershausen, of law firm of Dempsey & Koplovitz, returned to desk July 11 following appendectomy . . . Donald A. Pels, from accounting firm of Arthur Young & Co., named business mgr. of WABC-TV, N. Y., succeeding Grady E. Jensen . . . Frank Conrad promoted to gen. mgr. of KNTV, San Jose, Cal., succeeding Douglas D. Kahle, who recently acquired radio KWIN, Ashland, Ore. . . . Glenn B. Lau promoted to commercial mgr. of WPFH, Wilmington-Philadelphia . . . Seymour Eaton promoted to north central sales supervisor, NBC-TV Films; Richard A. Baldwin promoted to south central sales supervisor, Robert B. Bersbach to Chicago sales supervisor . . . John J. Moffitt promoted to director of newly formed public service bureau, WEWS, Cleveland, combining all community service, public information & promotional activities . . . H. Wynn Bussmann promoted to public relations director, Nielsen broadcast div., Chicago . . . Joseph F. Greene promoted to asst, to Don L. Kearney, sales v.p. of ABC Film Syndication . . . Harris L. Katleman, west coast operations director, Goodson-Todman Enterprises, elected a v.p. . . . George Bilson, ex-RKO & Screen Gems, joins Briskin Productions Inc., Hollywood, in charge of developing new TV series for Columbia Pictures’ subsidiary Screen Gems . . . Albert Odeal, ex-KYW-TV, Cleveland, named film director, WRCA-TV, N. Y. . . . Jack Wiley promoted to adv. & promotion mgr. of WRCV-TV, Philadelphia, succeeding Morris Wattenberg . . . Donald H. Edgemon, ex-WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, named asst, sales promotion mgr., WBZ-TV, Boston . . . Charles King, onetime gen. mgr. of WKAL, Rome, N. Y. (same ownership as WKTV, Utica) , promoted to Mutual director of station relations . . . George S. Dietrich promoted to national director of NBC Radio Spot Sales, Fred Lyons to mgr. of central div., Larry Surles to mgr. of eastern div., Mort Gaffin to dh’ector of new business & promotion. "D KO TELERADIO’S Thomas F. O’Neil, whose purchase of Howard Hughes’ Hollywood “white elephant” and release of its movie backlog “broke the psychological barrier that has gripped Hollywood since TV first flickered,” is subject of cover story in July 16 Newsweek — best roundup yet on the business operations and personality of the son of founder-pres. Wm. O’Neil of highly diversified General Tire & Rubber Co. Steeped in big business, 1937 graduate of Holy Cross where he played football and was known as “Ox” because of his heft, O’Neil became a salesman in his father’s business after 4V2-year hitch in Coast Guard. Now, at 41, he’s described as “a shrewd dealer with a keen eye for costs and px’ofits” who carries a slide rule in his pocket. In last 2 years he has doubled General Tire’s entei’tainment investments (in movies, TV & radio stations, radio networks, recording company & 2 music publishing houses) — and “this year, helped by fat tax writeoff from the RKO investment, they will probably clear at least $6,000,000.” O’Neil sees the General Tire package “as the kind of integrated operation designed for maximum efficiency and minimum costs.” He’s quoted: “We’re in the manufacturing business, making films. We’re in the wholesaling business, renting films to TV stations [and] theati’es. And we’re in the retailing business with our own TV stations.” And — “If vaudeville comes back, we’ll probably get in that too.” OTORER BROADCASTING CO. purchase of WMUR-TV, ^ Manchester, N. H. (Ch. 9), contingent upon sale of one of its present 5 vhf stations, was disclosed July 13 when counsel Robert F. Jones, ex-FCC member, and Edward O’Brien, Worcester attorney & son-in-law of seller ex-Gov. Francis P. Murphy of New Hampshire, filed transfer papers with FCC. Storer proposes to pay $300,000 for outstanding stock, assuming indebtedness of $532,453, which includes $120,000 bank loan and $59,321 owed RCA. It’s also proposed, in separate application, to move transmitter 32 mi. southeast of Manchester, in Georgetown Township, Mass., or about 26 mi. north of Boston. Station gets service from all 3 networks, already claims big Boston and central New England coverage. Gov. Murphy recently sold radio WMUR for $150,000 (Vol. 12:5, 9), so radio isn’t involved in deal. WMUR balance sheet for combined TV-radio as of May 31, 1956 shows $640,349 total assets, of which $538,275 are fixed. Last Jan. 1, operating deficit was $250,426 but up to May 31 net gain from radio deal cut this by $126,728 while TV losses ran $35,916 — cutting deficit to $159,615 as of May 31. Which of Storer’s stations would be sold is conjectural, application stating it cannot designate one because it would be “forced sale.” The Storer vhfs are WJBK-TV, Detroit; WSPD-TV, Toledo; WAGA-TV, Atlanta; WJWTV, Cleveland; WBRC-TV, Birmingham. ■ The $4,250,000 sale of KGUL-TV, Galveston-Houston (Ch. 11) to newly formed Lone Star TV Corp., 90% owned by J. H. Whitney & Co., N. Y. investment firm (Vol. 12:19, 24), was approved by FCC this week. Other 10% is held by founder Paul E. Taft, who continues as pres.-gen. mgr. Actually, Lone Star acquires 90% interest in station, purchasing Taft’s 40.5% and the various holdings of Jimmy Stewart, actor; F. Kirk Johnson, Fort Worth oilman; R. Lee Kempner, Galveston banker; V. W. McLeod, Galveston attorney; and other minority stockholders (see TV Facthook No. 22). It has option to acquire other 10% from Wesley West. Whitney firm also owns KOTV (Ch. 6) and several community antenna systems. H. & E. Balaban Corp. is buying 50% of CP for WMCN, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Ch. 23), paying $7500 for 75 shares, according to application filed with FCC this week. Two of original owners retaining interest are theatremen John D. Loeks, 33%%, and Howard W. Freeh, 16%%. Balabans also own 50% of WTVO, Rockford, 111. (Ch. 39) and WICS, Springfield, 111. (Ch. 20) refuted to be successful vhfs — and are applicants for Ch. 42, Birmingham, Ala. Memorial plaque to Paul W. White, founder of the CBS news dept, and one of the great pioneers of radio newscasting, was unveiled in San Diego’s Balboa Park July 8 in presence of his widow, his former colleagues at KFMBTV & KFMB and others. Speakers were Howard Chernoff, ex-mgr. of the stations, and Hugh Baillie, recently retired pres, of UP, who stated: “Radio and TV news coverage would not be what it is today if it had not been for the hard work and farsightedness of Mr. White.” Practicing what it preaches: Philadelphia Inquirer and its WFIL-TV & WFIL have been crusading vigorously against drinking drivers — so when WFIL-TV daytime disc jockey Bob Harne was arrested last week on drunken driving charge it suspended him forthwith. Edward Blake Blair, 84, father of John Blair, the rep, and a veteran Chicago adman himself, died in Chicago July 12. Survivors are his wife and 2 sons.