Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

7 Telecasting Notes: “One of the more interesting if little-noticed consequences of the Republican National Convention,” writes Jack Gould in July 14 New York Times, “is that the man who had appeared on TV the most went down to defeat and the man who had appeared the least won the nomination.” He then goes on to relate how Senator Taft seldom missed a discussion program, forum or press conference, appearing several times weekly, while Gen. Eisenhower kept away from “live” studio shows, even resisted the persistent blandishments of Martha Roundtree (Meet the Press). It was planned that way, says Gould, because the general in mufti stood out in contrast to the general in uniform and he wasn’t yet ready for the rough-&-tumble of the “informal and deadly inquisition of the live studio show.” Mr. Gould inferentially adds the point we raised in May (Vol. 8:21) — that there’s such a thing as “overstaying your welcome” as a visitor into the home via the TV screen. He observes: “No doubt in future primary campaigns, all candidates will have some second thoughts on the question of how early and how often it is wise to appear on TV, [and] the matter of timing in primaries may assume new and added importance” . . . Then the egregious blunder of the Taft forces — the one that burned up not only the TV workers in Chicago, but the folks back home: “After assiduously courting the TV audience for months and months, it is disastrous then to turn around at the last moment and try to bar TV [during] the fight over credentials.” That led to 50,000 letters and telegrams of protest, which some think may well have cooked Taft’s goose with many delegates. Gould opines: “To Senator Taft goes the dubious distinction of being the first candidate to be hoist on his own TV petard” . . . Ziv TV Programs Inc., one of biggest TV film producers, GENERAL TIRE & Rubber Co., which has achieved considerable success in acquisition and operation of TV-radio station properties, and which has also looked into possibility of purchasing one or more electronic factories, this week purchased control of Crosley Motors Inc., maker of bantam cars. General Tire acquires 317,077 of Crosley’s 569,254 outstanding shares in exchange for 756 shares of 3*4% of its own second preferred. Based on current market value of General Tire, this represents about 20<* a share for Crosley stock, or $63,400. Powel Crosley retires as president of Crosley Motors, but his brother Lewis continues as v.p. In 1945, Powel Crosley disposed of his broadcasting operations, notably WLW, to Avco Corp. for reported $22,000,000 in order to devote all his time to making small cars. He never achieved production goal of 150,000 a year, coming nearest with 30,000 in 1948, dwindling to 300 a month in 1951 and closing down entirely recently due to shortage of materials. The 65-year-old Mr. Crosley owns farms in Indiana and Georgia and also is owner of the Cincinnati Reds. ■ Network Accounts: Carnation Co.’s current cycle of Rurvs & Allen shows, alt. Thu. on CBS-TV, ends Sept. 5, after which they go on films, sponsored alternately by Carnation and B. F. Goodrich Co., time undetermined; they start filming soon at General Service Studio, Hollywood . . . Singer Sewing Machine Co. makes network TV debut Sept. 11 with sponsorship of filmed Four Star Playhouse on CBS-TV, alt. Thu., 8:30-9, thru Young & Rubicam; show will alt. with Amos V Andy . . . General Foods, for its Jell-0 Div. and Post Cereals Div., July 7 bought five 5-min. segments weekly of Today on NBC-TV, Mon.-thruFri. 7-9 a.m., thru Young & Rubicam for Jell-0 and Benton & Bowles for Post Cereals Div. (Sugar Crisp) . . . General Foods started quiz show IFlio’s There? July 14 on CBS-TV, Mon. 9:30-10 . . . Schick Inc. (electric razors), thru Kudner, and Thomas Leeming & Co. (Silk ’n’ Satin hand lotion), thru Wm. Esty, will sponsor Jackie Gleason apparently doesn’t go along with idea that New York may become TV film capital, feels its future is on West Coast, for production v.p. Herbert Gordon has moved his headquarters from New York to Hollywood . . . Use of TV film by national sponsors has increased 50% in past year — from 12 hours a week in May 1951 to 18 hours in May 1952, reports July 16 Variety; 5% hours of film programming was placed on national spot basis in average May 1951 week, 7% hours were spot this year . . . NBC-TV film library, now containing 15,000,000 ft. of carefully-indexed footage, leasing films to ad agencies, package producers, et al. . . . Bing Crosby, it now develops, will appear next season on CBS Radio, probably also CBS-TV, for GE and not for Coca-Cola, as previously reported; latter deal fell through . . . CBS-TV Film Sales to represent Bing Crosby Enterprises in sale of its TV films, with several new program series being offered . . . Largest contract ever made between TV network and a film processing laboratory signed by CBS-TV this week with DeLuxe Laboratories Inc. providing for minimum of 100,000,000 ft. of film processing . . . One of neatest coups of TV panel competition was Ted Granik’s signing of President Truman for his Youth Wants to Know on NBC-TV, July 30 . . . Emilio Azcarraga’s huge new Televicentro in Mexico City, home of his XEW-TV and his radio stations, will also be used by Romulo O’Farrill’s XHTV under deal whereby they share audience entry fees, reports Variety . . . KDYL-TV, Salt Lake City, has begun construction of new transmitter on 8600-ft. mountain peak in Oquirrh Range 17 mi. west of city ; when operating, it will add 200,000 homes to service area, covering 85% of population of Utah . . . XELDTV, Matamoros, Mexico (opposite Brownsville, Tex.) now represented by Adam J. Young Inc., replacing Blair TV. Show which starts Sept. 20 on CBS-TV, Sat. 8-9; show needs one more sponsor to be completely sold . . . Hotpoint Div., GE, will sponsor filmed version of Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet on ABC-TV as well as radio on alternate weeks this fall, thru Maxon Inc. Siaiion Accounts: WCBS-TV, New York, reports these spot users have taken advantage of its new 45% discount for volume purchases of 12 or more daytime announcements per week: Best Foods, Heilman’s Mayonnaise, Nucoa, Maxwell House Coffee, Rival Dog Food, Loew’s Theatres . . . Emerson Drug Co. (Bromo Seltzer) names Lennen & Mitchell, New York, to handle account, including TV-radio . . . Procter & Gamble, for new home permanent called Pert, using TV spots starting in August, thru Biow Co. . . . Piccadilly Tobacco Co. (cigarettes) to sponsor Maggi McNellis Show starting July 31, Thu. 9:30-10 p.m., on WJZ-TV . . . Lydia Pinkham TV-radio campaign starting in August, thru Harry B. Cohen Adv., N. Y. . . . Other advertisers reported using or planning to use TV: American Tea & Coffee Co., thru Simon & Gwynn, Memphis (WSMTV) ; Niagara Massage Co., thru Kamin Adv., Houston (WFAA-TV) . . . Bostwick Laboratories Inc. (Dynol moth pi-oofing and Hero fire extinguisher), thru Marfree Adv., N. Y.; Harris Chemical Co. (Fly-Ban), thru Marfree Adv., N. Y.; Dr. Shor’s Products Inc. (chlorophyll toothpaste), thru Herbert B. Shor Inc., Philadelphia; Globe Pharmaceutical Distributing Co. (Burn-Aid medicated bandage & ointment), thru Schwimmer & Scott, Chicago; Lurr Products Corp. (Lurr insecticide), thru Rand Adv., N. Y. WJR, The Goodwill Station Inc., Detroit, reports net profit of $468,045 (44^ a share) on sales of $1,670,366 for first 6 months of 1952, compared with $533,396 ( 56<f ) on $1,693,993 same 1951 period. AT&T lias produced 10-min. film on the workings of TV, with long lines dept.’s Dr. N. F. Strieby as commentator; to be released for theatrical & non-theatrical showings.