Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)

5 EIDOPHOR-CBS color theatre-TV proponents appear to have new ally — color-conscious Sen. Edwin Johnson (D-Colo.), chairman of Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee — in their efforts to persuade NPA to lift ban on manufacture of equipment (Vol. 7:47). At time general color ban was imposed, Johnson said he thought that there was something “phony” but that he didn’t intend to do anything about it (Vol. 7:43). Now he says that he wants more information, that he’s “confused” about NPA’s action, that “I’m specially interested in the Swiss thing — the Eidophor system; I want to know why production can’t go ahead.” He doesn’t have any immediate plans for investigation or hearings, but says: “I don’t know what the committee might want to do. No one has complained to me about this; I’m just keeping my own eyes open.” He hasn’t conferred with Defense Mobilizer Wilson. All-industry theatre group (MPA A, TO A, et al) has directed counsel to prepare arguments against ban; lawyers expect to file protest in couple weeks. Skiatron expects to conduct press-public demonstrations of its “Ultrasonic” theatre-TV gear in few weeks. President Ai'thur Levey says optical system has just been redesigned by Rochester U’s Prof. Brian O’Brien, now gives 5 times previous brightness. System is mechanical, employs carbon arc. Equipment is “easily adaptable to CBS color system,” according to Levey, who adds, “We have a method for the compatible system, too.” He says company will enter appearance in FCC theatre-TV hearing due to start Feb. 25. RCA this week announced that more than 50 theatres are now equipped with its PT-100 gear, 34 of these since early fall. This rate of increase, says M. F. Bennett, theatre equipment sales manager, “justifies forecasts made some time ago that theatres capable of seating approximately 200,000 would be equipped by early 1952.” Skiatron’s quest for film fare to test its SubscriberVision system of pay-as-you-look TV this week took form of letters to 8 major producers, asking them to indicate, by Jan. 15, which recent pictures they’ll supply. Presumably, Skiatron will ask Justice Dept, for help if films aren’t forthcoming. Skiatron president Arthur Levey says he hasn’t slightest fear Justice Dept, will get cold feet because of recent Zenith-Finnegan disclosure (Vol. 7:49-50). Company’s new counsel is James M. Landis, substituting for Telford Taylor. Landis recently took over Gen. Taylor’s legal chores for Joint Committee on Educational TV (Vol. 7:47). Some 200,000 doctors have seen Smith, Kline & French color TV demonstrations (CBS equipment) at 28 medical meetings over last 2% years, says article in Dec. 15 Journal of The American Medical Assn, titled “Color Television as a New Medical Teaching Aid” written by Dr. Kendall A. Elson and G. Frederick Roll. Bright future for medium is forecast. TV and movies are compatible under certain conditions, according to Dr. Ernest Dichter, psychological consultant to advertisers. In recent study, he concludes that TV viewers often stay home rather than risk going to poor movie; that TV-set owner isn’t theatre’s “lost audience” — movie industry itself failing to keep pace with TV viewer’s change of psychological attitude toward entertainment. Screen Actors Guild (AFL) announced Dec. 4 it had signed union shop collective-bargaining agreements with these 13 TV film producers: Aladdin, B-M-D, C.G.S, D.N.S, Desilu, Des Moines Enterprises, Fidelity-Vogue, Raymond R. Morgan Co., Primi’ose, Screen-Televideo, TV Productions, Edmund J. Tingley Productions, Westminster. Cuba’s Goar Mestre, operating Circuito CMQ out of Havana, also CMQ-TV on Channel G there, reports .satellite station CMJL-TV, Camaguey, already operating on irregular schedule, using Channel G, DuMont equipment, 2-kw visual ERP, 1-kw aural, antenna 325-ft. above average terrain. Also projected by Mestre interests, as jjart of TV chain plan, are 3 more outlets: CMKU-TV, Santiago, Channel 2, GE equipment, 16-kw visual, 8-kw aural, antenna 1760-ft. above sea level; CMHQ-TV, Santa Clara, Channel 5, GE equipment, 18-kw visual, 9-kw aural, antenna height 1020-ft. above sea level, 700-ft. above average teiTain; and station in Matanzas, call letter unassigned, Channel 9, DuMont equipment, 3-kw visual, 1.5-kw aural, 760-ft. above sea level. Chief engineer Ventura Montes is supervising construction. ' Senator Wm. Benton’s willingness to sell his Muzak Inc., which has already closed down Elizabethtown, Ky., plant and sold W. 46th St. New York studios to RCA, is linked by Variety with antagonism of broadcasters toward his recent bill to establish advisory committee on TV-radio programming (Vol. 7:22), which they vigorously oppose. Muzak subsidiary is Associated Program Service, one of oldest transcription libraries, headed by ex-BAB chief and onetime CBS executive Maurice Mitchell, now being offered in parts instead of as full catalog. Variety says Muzak asking price is between $2,000,000 & $3,000,000 though Benton once reportedly turned down $4,500,000. y Televised Congressional hearings were assailed by New York State Bar Assn, civil rights committee as a form of “third degree” for witnesses. Committee recommended bar group go on record as favoring: (1) Banning of TV, radio, photos, movies of Congressional or executive hearings while any witness is testifying, except at public hearings on pending legislation. (2) TV, radio and photo apparatus at hearings on pending legislation be as inconspicuous as possible. (3) No telecasts or broadcasts of hearings be commercially sponsored. Committee said no “sound constitutional basis” had been found for assertion that TV cameras have legal rights to record hearings. Mass teaching potential of TV is treated in new study available from Commerce Dept. Office of Technical Services (Document PB 105 493, 75^). Report, second in series titled Training by TV (Vol. 7:36), details finding of study by Army, Navy and Fordham U in which 3000 Army reservists were given 8 weekly lessons via 10-city TV “network.” Stations participating: WNAC-TV, Boston; WCBSTV, New York; WCAU-TV, Philadelphia; WMAR-TV, Baltimore; WOIC (now WTOP-TV) , Washington; WHEN, Syracuse; WEWS, Cleveland; WJBK-TV, Detroit; WBNSTV, Columbus; WKRC-TV, Cincinnati. How TV is affecting 2 different sports — in opposite ways — is related in 2 “survey” stories in recent issues of Wall Street Journal, Nov. 24 article treats hockey, says attendance in U. S. is down 15-20% from 1947-48 season, whereas most games in TV-less Canada still attract overflow crowds. “The biggest part of the answer seems to be TV,” article concludes. However, Madison Square Garden president Gen. John Kirkpatrick is quoted as feeling that in long run TV might create greater attendance. Gen. Kirkpatrick reveals that TV-radio rights to Garden events now bring in more revenue (15% of gross) than does hockey (10-12%, down from 18%). Journal’s Nov. 26 story gives TV heavy credit for upswing in attendance at wrestling matches — to tune of 9% hike in attendance, 11% gain in gate receipts over year ago. TV stations and sponsors are paying more for wrestling matches, too. Says story: “In 1946, a promoter usually got $200-$400 for the right to televise one of Hs wrestling shows. Currently, a promoter can get up to $1500, [and for network shows] promoters [usually] receive more than $20,000.”