Variety (April 1962)

ht UNABC Coen § Cartain Tne | By LES. BROWN Chicago, April. 10. Broadcasting’s hot new act of a year ago has split up and. gone]. geparate ways as singles. From the. standpoint of the delegates, that. was the biggest—and happiest—news to come out ‘of last week's National Assn. of ‘Broada casters convention. ° _ Gov, LeRoy Collins, the “NAB prexy who in his inaugural. last year: exhibited dismaying. (to| Carson.. . broadcasters) congruency of}, As.a. postscript: Ao. the: ‘Chi thought with Federal Communicawingding, .. NBC’ ‘was par: tions Commission chairman Neéw-' ton Minow. cally influential lobbyist and the eloquent voice to answer back the ‘the NAB membership could. wish ment. ‘ployee of the industry organiza. tion, Collins gave the NAB mem-, -they wanted to hear — for one ‘Till Panitt, editor of TV Guide, Ing Club, Panitt ‘stated, ‘they have contributed to. public [' for in a president: . The breakup of the _Minow-| Collins act, ‘vintage -1961,‘matically ‘unfolded in: what proved. to be the. “great. debate” of this ‘year’s convention—-whether:.or not. the FCC’s public. hearings © in{ Chicago are fair and warranted. } * The crux. of the split is that Col] lins is foresworn to the service’ of | the industry and Minow to the service of the public. . Collins. at-' tacked the FCC for making broad-.| casters “live under the threat of | public thrashings”’; thrashed back with. “no respon-. sible broadcasters should . fear ,the. -public he is licensed to serve.’ The debate had neither an end nor a winner, although Minow. was. able to get inthe last. word at the. -closing FCC: panel (see ‘separate story): There was ‘an indication,. ‘from Commissioner.Robert E. Lee’s statemeng, that. the hearings were more expensive.and time consuming than the FCC had anticipated, ‘that the Windy City. hearings. may. be the first: and: ast of the. éxperi ‘As a $75, 000 a -year paid. em ‘bership its. money’s worth at last’ week’s conclave, telling them what thing, a. flattering . simile with: (Continued. on ‘page 55) . TV Guide Editor Raps FCC's: Chi Hearings As “Travesty on Democracy’ | Chicago,. April 10. “The Chi broadcast. industry heard the .FCC’s public hearings here called a “travesty on democracy” today (Tues.). Two days before the hearings reconvene. Mer-. called the hearings “a disservice. to the public, to the stations and to the commission.” He said the Chicago experiinent. was a serious m*take.Addressing the. ‘Chicago. Broadcast’ ASS te Ot: ‘ar confusion over a station’s role in a community; they have subjected the stations to gratutious insults that can destroy their public image; and they have made the. Com-mission part’ of a farce. that can cast a shadow on the positive. constructive efforts of the Commission in other area during the past few years. Everybody loses.” The hearings seem democratic enough, Panitt pointed out, but when the testimony of 99 people— “who ostensibly are. the public’—is added up it. con flicts with every known. means of. testing what the public. actually watches on tv. has succeeded only in niixing fact with faney, practically with. :-Uto Pianism, sincere do-gooders with: crackpots, educators with charlatans.” he said. = Panitt felt. a. wisei: ‘idea would have been to. send an FCC staffer to town to examiné station logs, seek out community and. organiza-: tion leaders to talk with. And to| ease local programming himself. He said the hearings are “ta hor rible example of Government dis service to a communications. medium.” . when: the latter. made]. ‘is historic ‘vast wasteland” . ad|. dress, emerged at this year’s con| vention as the potent clfimpion of |.broadcasting’s causes, thepoliti-|: and -Minow|} * violation -of antitrust laws. Philcbsaid. these companies had monopo 9|tv and other phases. of electronics. _ RCA: says that. its ‘lawyers -un| ‘profits’ of -moriochrome sets had: PARET DEATH. CUES ra “Phe deplorable. ’ exhibition you have seen so far To ‘Tom With Love’. . From. the manner in which. the NBC-TV. affils whooped it -up for. Johnny, Carson at:last — week's NEC-affil’ banquet “in © ‘Chicago, ‘“oné . would. ‘have .. thought. that. station relations boss Tom Knoade had: manev-°.. ticularly ‘heartened “By. the. ‘the ‘affils this: week reflecting ~ “their enthusiasm for the comic. — -who bows .on the’ late night -entry in’ October. _.-* The Catson contrib,. plus. ‘a “Mitch Miller. ‘singalong, gave © FCC and Congress. — everything | i the NBC event-.a luster: that’ — ‘made .it .one. of the-. more. -“ pleasant and ‘successful peri: pheral NAB_ convention events. . RCA Countersues ‘Philco, Charging | Tint TV Tether Countersuing ‘Philco, ’ the: Radio: 4 ‘Corp. of America ‘last week asked} e174 000,000. in. Gainages | in’ motions'| SS. Fred: “Engel, former :héad: ofl ‘fJled.in Philadelphia ‘Federal Court. | RCA. charged” that Philco had: sought to. keep. color ‘tv ‘from: the. public ‘and: had. hindered’ the’ mer-| chandising of . RCA color ‘developments. : Philco -vs;RCA‘ . are’ based on the ‘triple-damageé | clause, -allowitig a complainant -to ask three times its loss, which RCA. said was $58,000,000 due to Philco’ S |. alleged. anti-color activities... RCA ‘also asked the Court to include Ford Motor. Co. as one of the principals since. Ford. ‘purchased Philco-last September... In its own. suit, Philco.: charged. 4RCA,: General ‘Electric ‘and. AT&T fand. two. AT&T subsids (Bell ‘Tele phone .and. Western Electric) with lized the RCA patent pool in radio, covered the “unlawful combination, |conspiracy amd conduct” of. Philco. while’ checking: papers related: to Philco’s suit. vision apparatus,” gation that the idea. was. to retard the introduction of tint..tv until. been exploited and) until -Phileo: had time ‘to. develop. its own color T ‘process, -Complaint’ “said: that " Philo’ 3 agents. ‘had spread “falge informa-. tion as to the status. of. the devel-. opment of color’ tv.” Phileo. was’ charged -with ‘distributing | press: Staterhnents and pamphlets ‘attacking fhe value. ca RCA patents and “SWITCH OF CBS EPISODE ‘Holly wood,. April 10. . -kayoed -nearly'~ two ‘weeks: ago, ‘General Electric ordered Jast .Sunday’s. scheduled : telecast: of. “The: placed with “Little: -Amy. ”* Sponsor reasoned. it would :be in better taste. to. substitute. another seg-| ‘nent :on GE Theatre that had]: nothing to do with prize fighting. |: In the Paul Gallico | story, sequence but no one is. hurt. | publicity. given a bill proposed by Rep. Abraham :Multer (D,. Brook ' -yered the Jack Paar bowout' in ~ : order to. pave «the: _way “for: 1 "followup.-mail. response. ‘from: Motions: by ‘RCA. were. “made: in| ‘Felation “to. a. five-year-old suit: by RCA’s. damages: : Company . charged |: that “at least as early” as~.1953,.} ‘Philco “attempted to. monopolize. trade. and commerce. in color tele| adding the’ alle| _ Because of. the ‘tragic’ death’ of Benny “Kid” Paret after he was Roman.Kid” ‘ withdrawn : and -rée “The | . Roman Kid” appears. in :a-boxing | Decision to change the episode. May: also have ‘been prompted. by | lyn) that. would ‘ban fightcasts on. Fadia. and ty io : (ook Monash ia. Dal With CBS for. One Hoar be: shot. this’ summer in Peru.: Cook, and Monash, . presently. -€xec : pro ” } ducer of “Cain's -Hundred;” : will} ‘| write the’ pilot and be exec pro-|‘| ducer of the show. Righte ‘to such'| = la -televenture have: been. obtained |from ~ the” actual: Project ‘Hope, | 7 along. with ‘stories, and :files: .: any Project . Hope was Griginated tats | some time. ‘ago’ by. ‘Dr..: William | -# ‘Walsh, who: led a drive. toraise| F jiearly$4,000,000: for’ the project.’ ! ‘Hospital ship goes to: various coun|_| ‘tries’ at their: invitation, tréats. peo-| | Ble, . trains. doctors, été. :It is. not |. -| Government-subsidized inany way. | A good part of: the contemplated |: | series ‘will’ “be= shot | on. location, ‘thfoughout ‘theworld: Show. will deal with personal. ‘experiences of series... for Cook for next: season, the pre director : Franklin.’ Schaffner... a “Project. “Hope” . “package . was | repped.” by -: Ziegler, Heilman -. & the. literary department of the Jaffe pix and tv. departments, .and . Mar ] operation... JACK’ WEBB BACK WITH |TV slot ‘definitely. goes to the. new | Jack Webb: series. based :onarticles in ‘ True. mag.’: ‘Sponsor: General | will .give.-up : its. “GE Theatre.” : will have Webb. acting. as. host, ‘nar marks -Webb’s . first. return: to | tv as @ regular. porformer since: his produced. by: Webb’s Mark VII Pro NBC: TV ‘Aeking Sealtest which. ‘show : Sealtest ‘is -going: to ‘buy. for. 10-10: 30. pm. Wednesdays oiNg. ‘to. spend... terim, there. have ' ‘been reports that _} various. Sealtést execs figure. they'll. ‘| he: buying all -of ; :the half-hour... “tremote, that ‘Sealtest. will decide it ‘shows. for the NBC ‘time’ and will yet. ner on the ‘half-hour, coming ‘after Perry Como, are ‘the. return of ‘Bob Heved to have the ‘edge, ‘aisHoP SHOW: RENEWS: ‘StArR. :-Hollywood,. April ‘10:: “The Joey ‘Bishop Show”. yester-| ers for next season on ‘NBC-TV. .. “James: N.. ‘Kerns’. ‘picked. up : as . diréctor.: for ‘next ‘NCrang w were g reticketed, Pilot on ‘Project: Hope’| i om Hollywood, April: 10." i on ‘Producer-director Fielder’ Cook}. and producer-writer: Paul ‘Monash | have closed’ a: deal. with..CBS-TV | | whereby: ‘the network. will :finance |... ja pilot. of . an. hour-long ‘series, | “Project Hope,” for. the: 1963-64] season. “A -dramatic. fictionalized |--‘version, of. the. people-to-people |, ‘health “project inwhich a. hospital}. ‘ship. goes to: ‘under privileged areas} of the. world, the: series pilot..will |: well, 1, for one, was furious; ‘I felt: thoroughly insulted and. dis |": gusted.’ So Istarted ‘a-one-woman campaign to. change ‘the -situa-. mR who -éreated ‘the. series, _, thon: I passed. out. postcards.to my frien will. function ‘as ‘producer-directoy, |. those-. involved, is. not “a ‘medical : “?his is the: second network’ ‘deal ‘vious one being a$1, 000,000 seven special ‘production. program for. -‘DuPont on NBC, in association with ‘|. agency, has. joined ZH&Rin‘ its M tin Rosen: has’.‘exited .the Frank oa Cooper agency: to ‘run ZH&R’s ‘mooo * » tion. picture: * department in its N.Y. a if TRUE MAG SERIES ON CBS | ‘The Sunday 9:30 to’ 10 p.m: CBS-} Electric, after an ‘eight year. run,: Jack Webb series,.as “yet: untitied,, rator. ‘and: ‘occasional. ‘star.. Program’ “Dragnet”. outing. ‘Series. will be: duetions’ at Warner. Bros:. ‘studios. | “If, When and How: Much? ‘Not only ‘is. ita. -question.., ‘of on-NEC-TV, but ‘it’s apparently also | a question: of how much ‘Sealtest is ‘ Spokesmen | ‘for ‘the. sponsor ~ gala. recently. that..the company doesn't. fix its tv budget. for ‘62-'63 until.) the. end of this: month.‘ In the in Sealtest wants: to. buy only half’ of |. the ‘Wedriésday -at’.:10.. half-hour... Other ‘sources. have “stated: ‘that. BRITISH TOBACCO: C08. TO AVOD KIDDIE HOURS -Of course, ‘there “is always the |” ‘London, April 10. -’: likelihood, though: said. to be. quite | | doesn’t like any of the available’ back out: entirely. ‘This is ‘possible | only. because: there is. no fontract |Newhart’. or -a -‘situationer . called. ““Kentucky’s Kid.”: Newhart: is be day. renewed. its. director: ‘and. ‘writ -|t0.. produce’, its: . “option = was. semester,. ‘and writers Izzy Elinson, |’ ‘Fred Fox,. Stan. Dreben: and: Harry. i the battle for station clearances, -. @id and I did.: ae “This is ‘Monday ‘morning. ‘And; lol. At 9 o'clock shane; your, show, we returned to:the ‘air in Oklahoma. “City?” on ae Gis $ Big Mutual Bay Philip “Morris, ‘via’ Benton . 7 ‘Bowiles,. has made.a saturation news. -buy. on: Mutual: Radio to. give. the | cig firm a ‘four-network: AM spread: of 1,017: stations. : ‘Mutual buy’ is for. a. ‘five-minute | news strip, plus a package | of : seven, ‘five-minute. news. shows’ on Satur-. ‘days; -Company is ‘also. ‘bankrolling peak morning. and. ‘late’ “afternoon participations in. NBC's, weekend “Monitor.’ *_ : Holiywaod: “April: 10.” “British ‘television. companies ‘would: like:.to ‘sell more. programs. in the v. 'S; and “make it less ofa one-way © “gtreet,’””: ‘Greéne;. Director General .of: BBC, ‘commented: ‘upon his arrival” here. for a.looksee ‘at Holly wood: ‘ty pro ‘.| duction facilities, “The British exec ‘poltited « out ‘that U. S. programs are sold frequently. in England; ‘and.-said he. hoped for. ‘an increase inthe ‘sale: of United } Kingdom. shows: ‘here, -He: ™mentioned the success of. the. Britishmade. series; “Age’ of. Kings,” ” in distribution in this countrys”: ‘Greene’ said. “Perry Mason” * ‘is |§ "| particularly. popular .-in'’ ‘England. io “Sergeant: Bilko” also” ‘had a very. --1 successful ‘run .there;: he ‘added. -All American comedy. shows. do’ not meet with. British approval,’ he ob-. served, ‘adding. “thére. .are ; some areas: of ‘comedy. on: both sides. that: the other. country doesn't appreciate.”” -Greerie said he felt theré ds: too ; fo : Beech Nat Banked ou ‘Bing '| For. Hope Show on NBC-TV, : -Bat Sinatra Wil Do, Too. ee “Bob Hope sent out an’ invitation: oes | While: Bing . Crosby :¢an't make it,. .:-. . | Frank. Sinatra ‘tan: ‘Latter’ will ap much ‘violence. in ‘U.. S.-made-'se-. ries, particularly what: he described. as “general action”: .shows. As. ‘a result, BBC is careful about: ‘what | it ‘buys: and“ it.screens. .. ‘While: here’ Greene will visit the|-: set of “Perry -Mason;” and at. ;ABC| °. TY, -NBC-TVand MGM-TV.. ‘Six: ‘major’ “eigaret. ‘and. -tobacco firms “have decided .to.-limit. their tv advertising to-hours when chil dren are. least likely to. he viewing.. This voluntary:move™means that,| in future,. their. plugs will not ADpear. before 9 p.m. “Two ‘shows. ‘which: have. the cor-" Concern... over cigarét’ mercials—andespecially their: effect on young . -péople—has -been expressed: by various ‘sections of. the. community “and. botli: the. gov. erninent and the Independent Tele vision Authority have. begun ‘“‘investigations” ‘into the Problem. a FROUG. TAPPED FOR'SAM’ -. : Hollywood, April .10. . “ MGMETV ‘signed. William . Froug ‘hourlong : ‘dramatic: series starring ‘Edmond ‘O'Brien, | ',Froug | checks’ in’ “at “Metro. to Teady a June. 4 POR start | for the: ‘series for. NEC-TV. teers _Neinesy, Ave 4,1 1963 news ‘shows on. CBS. and ABC -and. “Hugh -’ Carleton. ‘the: com> ; “Sam | ‘Benedict, ad "eBS-TV's “Caléndar, ” which the wieb calis s“ikeraie a daytime ewe — tag? has had-a couple of. assists’ from “Minow-minded rit re: nos -:‘When the: feature, -interview and. news. ‘atrip’ was’ damped by. AE KHOU-TV, Houston, recently, viewer mail ‘prompted veepeear general manager James Richdale to take the air and annqunce the... .. -,:Show’s. return: Said Richdale, “Although we: felt the: show filled |.“ ‘a Void in daytime television, ‘the: ratings indicated that ‘Calendar’. | «°”:. ‘ had a low popularity factor. Since deleting the program, :we have™--. ~:: ¥ecéived a substantial: amount: of ‘mail asking for. its return.” ‘He ceri’ thanked Tespondents, and -urged viewing by others... Ce ey Then the. web says jt received. this letter from an articulate: gun. ea shine viewer in Oklahoma. City:... © vey ‘|. “Recently -KWTV, Oklahoma City, “replaced ‘Calendar’: ‘with Tew. uns of that insane, four-year-old-level comedy, ‘My Little Margie’... * ‘and asked them ‘to write the: program director of the. television station: and; protest. “They ee Benefactor.” Episode, dealing: with. abortion, . finds the three regular. © |. 7 sponsors pulling out..at. the night: -. of the scheduled :telecast--April 28.....-|: . The high cost of principle.in this: © ‘case came about when the network =. insisted. that the episode be filmed .~| despite: initial “negative-.rumbles . .: from sponsors: ‘The script by Peter. \:" Stone ‘ad been ‘greenlighted. bys the..web’s continuity: and. program :.~.. acceptance depaittment. Overriding, UF _-| sponsor ", dissatisfaction “:was.. the |: .°-~ ‘| web’s feeling. that:.the script and -.... the ‘later filming by’ the Herbert: ../ | Brodkin . and ‘Reginald “Rose unit: © .| did: ‘not Molate: the tenets: ‘of: good. taste.” According to:a.CB {Continued on page 87 ) pear’ as guest star, it‘ was decided late last week, on-the-April. 25: ‘Bob. . Hope special. on NBC-TV.. Trane ‘Sinatra ‘took: over: when-. ‘the’ ‘exe’ ee pected “appearance. of Crosby. fell. wee through .a few days earlier, seems that Beech-Nut was banking — on Crosby, : “who “was reportedly. ready. to‘appear . in” ‘exchange’ for: Hope’s. ‘recent appearance. on one: "|.of. Crosby’s own' specials. The. ‘Spon‘sor;-which had already: bought: one-‘ . ‘third. of.. the: $600,000-pius Hope. hour, decided. to. up it: ‘to two-thirds =. °. when ‘Crosby’s name: came: up: “After Crosby refused. dué to an-.*".. other engagement in.:late ‘April,...-" -Litalmost looked as df. Beech-Nut.. ."| would. cut. back -to. a. third. NBC," _ however; said it-would have to'can-. * “}eel the’ show. if: it ‘only ‘got. one| third. sponsorship... Fhe ‘pankroller : was convinced: by.. its-admen; ‘at the a ! same: time, that: Hopé'll probably: | get: .a rating” ‘even --witheut'Der. Bingle. ::: It ‘was ‘after. Beech-Nut. |. firmed. -up two-thirds . that’ Hope etl ‘Tot. ‘Sinatra. . oe y “CBS-TV. will: be: out: ‘about $250,wo | 600 : if: substitute’.sponsors aren't. | found for the.controversialepisode. oma in’ “The Defenders,”: titled . “The. © ~‘Deteoting. from “the” Saturday. ae . {night courtroom series’ onthe: night. . | of April. 28. are: regular. sponsors ~:~ : [Brown . & "Williamson: : Tobacco,“ h.|. | Lever:-Bros.,° and’ -Kimberly-Clark. «5! | Corp. ‘Web is seeking to find other.: -.. a? | fill-in’ Sponsors: ‘for, the “"Behefacgn “| tor? night. Jaf The “controversial. ‘episode had’ me ‘Deen ‘mentioned ..“in’ ‘Washington. .::. ‘testimony. of CBS .prexy:-Dr. Frank’. ° -_-. Stanton:before. the Federal -Com-. |: ™:. munications Commission, CBS-TV,... ; ‘which ‘is a: member. of ‘the. National.” wae ‘Assn. .of ' Broadcasters, informed: the .NAB ‘of’ the. upcoming. drama.” ’..”: TV‘spokesman,: “| -’ NAB.. has : not.‘asked. for “a:...°. * screening: of: the episode and. if": the NAB. did,.the web spokesman’ |. wo added, ‘CBS-TV‘would not accede; _*. to. ‘such a request. “It. would be... prior -cerisorship,” ‘to: grant’ NAB =. the.-right to screen and: ‘judge ‘the ° = . episode, ' CBS-TV. exec maintained,..'. ~: ‘CBS-TV, like the-other two webs, | .. subscribes. to: the ‘NAB Code.: Each pon -web;.. however, | has. Separate: con-: |". tinuity and program: acceptance ‘de, partments which rule on.the con-'* .:” formity of progrant. content. tothe. ©. ‘NAB. Code. At: the recent Chicago |... NAB. convention, NAB, as an ore": oa