Variety (Jul 1946)

Wednesday, July 17, 1946 TELEVISION 31 TELE ANTENNA KNOT UNSNARLED Teles Jurisdictional Showdown Hollywood, July 16. ■A committed has been appointed by the Screen Actors' Guild to Investigate in full the problems of jurisdiction of talent in television. Move looms likely as a step towards a battle between the SAG and other talent unions for control, as well as a hypo to the Four A's; which Has had the problem under adviaemeht for some time. SAG announced that its action came In cognizance o£ the fact that Equity, American Federation of Radio Artists, American Guild of Variety Artists and American Guild of Musical Artists, had/'nbt yet acted to organize the television field and establish minimum wage scales." SAG claims its main interest is in those who appear in video ^'consultation with the heads of other unions will be sought. Those named to present an elastic committee are Harpo Marx, Dick Powell . and Tudor Williams. CBS Nixed in Fancy Play to Get earing Washington, July 16. - Latest pay by CBS to upset pres- ent television allocations in the downstairs radio channels was blocked here by the FCC last Fri- day (12). The- commission, in. hearing on a proposal to hold out every other filth FM band for as- signment a year from now, nixed a move by Columbia to reopen the question of sweling the FM spec- trum space by grabbing off televi- sion channels Nos. 5' and 6. Acting Chairman Charles R. Den- ny refused to let the net get testi- mony on this point into the FM oral argument, but accepted the state- ment, of CBS vcepee Joe Ream for' the record. He later turned down a- motion by Ream that FCC delay decision on whether or not to re- serve FM slots until'an open hear- ing had been held on the question of enlarging the FM band. Ream's statement declared that taking away only two channels from low-band video would add 60 channels to the FM band. By re- ducing the tele spectrum by only 2\i%, he said, opportunities for- commercial FM would be expanded by 75%. Ream argued that if the FCC waits until many millions of FM sets are in the hands of the public, pres- sures against expansion may be so great, the service will be perma- nently constricted in its present in- adequate spectrum space. On the other haand, he said the commission has already served notice that tele- vision's final resting place will be in the upstairs portion of the spec- trum, and the impact of the move will scarcely be felt on the present television operations. On hand to do battle with Ream was Col. William Roberts, on behalf of the Television Broadcasters Assn. and Dumont Labs.. Roberts reminded the FCC that over 70 ap- plicants and authorized tele station operators are expending the vast sums of money on video in the con- viction that channel assignments will remain undisturbed. He was assured by Denny that the commission would not consider reshuffling any- body's assignments in this particular hearing, though Ream was at liberty to file his proposals for the record. FCCApproves 3 More Comm'l Video Stations Washington, July 16. FCC shoved up its postwar awards for commercial video op- eration to 23 here laiit Friday (12) with announcement of three new grants in St. Louis and Detroit. The Pulitzer Publishing Co. of St. Louis (KSD); King-Trendle Broadcasting Corp. (WXYZ), Detroit; and the Evening News Assn. (WWJ), De- troit, were handed filial permits for commercial operation. The 23 outstanding permits are in addition to six video, outlets already on the air with regular program service. To date, video has been authorized for 16 U. S. cities. Forty- one applications are . still awaiting action at the FCC. De Forest Begins Test To Amplify Video Screens Hollywood, July 18. Dr, Lee De Forest, pioneer in sound In motion pictures, leaves for Chicago today (Tucs.) to begin ex- periments at the American Tele- vision Laboratories to perfect ampli- fication of the size of. current video screens. Plans and theories are now on paper and the vet scientist will spend the next six months develop- ing theory for presentation to the television industry. Having suc- cessfully tackled problems of ampli- fying telegraphy, telephonies and sound pictures, in association with "arneis, he will apply similar Processes to television. Vet scientist's answer to present Diminutive video screen is system of lenses and reflectors to magnify and Project pictures as they flash through top of video tubes. Development of such system would, improve tele- vision reception to point of afford- ing viewers a screen limited only to Re size of the room in which the . 'eceiyers are situated. , RDG Wins Out In CBS Tele Balloting The Radio Directors Guild has won the recent labor election in the CBS. television division, but official certification as a. bargaining unit will not be forthcoming until the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees has held its convention. Both the RDG and IATSE are members of the AFL, and are com- peting for labor union jurisdiction over as mall handful of people— 13 in all. However, the fight is of strategic importance to IATSE which wants to establish itself in the television field on grounds claiming that video is more closely akin to films than it is to radio. The National Labor Relations Board had turned down IATSE*s claim to the kinship between pix and tele. When the election for the 13 CBS directors and assistant directors was held, a first NLRB count of the ballots showed the vot- ing Was 6-5 in favor of RDG. At that point, IATSE challenged the remaining two ballots and the NLRB impounded them. Dope is that IATSE's challenge was entered for purpose of staving off announcement of a defeat prior to its convention, which assembles in a couple of weeks. The two bal- lots challenged, it was said, are those of out-and-out RDG people and would only have increased the RDG's majority from one vote to three. As soon as the IATSE convention is over, the union is expected to relinquish its challenge—whereupon RDG will get certification as the bargaining agent for CBS television directors. RDG already has a con- tract with CBS for radio directors. Bendick's CBS Tele Post Bob Bcndick has been named news and special events director at WCBW, CBS' tele outlet in N. Y., ef- fective Aug. 4. Director of. special events since early this year, Bendick will also plan the station's news pro- gramming, following the resignation of Leo Hurwitz, who has directed the department since May, 1944. Hur- witz is going into motion picture work. Most Important step in licking the problem of television antenna systems for multi-tenant apartment houses has been taken by the Telicon Corp., with the. development of its "Intra-Video" system. Intra-Video involves the utilization of a single installation on the building's roof that can service indefinite number, of receiving sets and still provide each tenant with individual station selection, free from interaction from- his neighbor's set. The system, already successfully tested , in the Telicon laboratories, is expected to rule out the necessity for eacji tenant to set up his own an- tenna on the roof. With-a set. owner living in an area surrounded' by tall buildings, which caused ghost images on the screen, it has hereto- fore been thought necessary to in- stall a separate antenna for each of the seven channels for top reception. If each tenant in a 50-apartment Telewired MP'. , , London, July 11. Dolphin Square apartment house, the largest in Europe, which houses many members of Parliament, will be the first London residential building to be wired for television. Expected that every apart- ment will be fully equipped in three months. building installed seven different antennas,, consequently, the roof would look like a pin-cushion, with some 350 di-poles pointing toward the sky. The relatively low cost of setting up the intra-video system can be borne by the landlord, or can be shared cooperatively by the tenants. Total cost, as estimated by Telicon execs, is in inverse proportion to the number of tenants. The cost for a 50-apartment building would run about $4,500, including the initial survey conducted by Telicon engineers, which would make it about $90 per set. Apartment build- ing with 150-200 tenants would cast only $10,000-$12,000. making the cost per set about $60. How It Works In its intra-video system, Telicon plans to erect on the roof of an apartment building only as many separate antenna as there are tele stations serving that area, which would make seven the most in any city. In some cases, it might be possible to combine the antenha into a single Christmas-tree arrangement. On the basis of a thorough survey in each case, each antenna would be optically located and made as di- rectional as would be required for ghost-free reception of the station to which it is directed. Video signals picked up by the antenna would go through a pre- amplifier on top of the apartment house. The unit is encased in a box less than one cubic foot in area, and is small enough to be placed at the top of an elevator shaft. The box contains one amplifier for each an- tenna, and-steps the signals up by 10,000 units. Signals are "cleaned up" in the unit, with all outside noises eliminated, and are then fed to a coaxial cable about one-quarter of an inch in diameter. The cable runs vertically down the side.of the building and has an out- let in each apartment, into which each tenant will have a special box to plug in his set. The system definitely rules out the possibly of interaction between jets, according to Telicon engineers. If one set is shorted, it won't, affect any other set in the house. With all sets feed- ing oft a single antenna for each station, the intra-video system is also expected to preclude the.-net cesity for any remote control di- rectional antenna. Most top set manufacturers have already evidenced considerable in- terest in the system, which is ex- pected . to solve one of their most vexing problems. Intra-vidcb will be demonstrated to the industry and the public at .he. Television Broadcasters Assnl in N. Y., next Oct. 10-11. The Bitter Tea of Standard Brands' Points Up Anew Com'l Video Bugs 'Voice of the Turtle' There was no certainty last week whether it was a gag thought up by the flackery boys or a plan for a show, but it in- volved unique cooperation be- tween radio and television in the broadcasting of an event. Idea was to stage a turtle race at . Bronx Park Zoo, N. Y., to be covered simultaneously by NBC's local radio' flagship, WEAF, and the net's local video outlet, WNBT. Bob Stanton, who was kudosed for his tele- coverage of the Louis-Conri fight, would do the play-by-play on . the race. Television Reviews "PRO WRESTLING MATCHES" . With Don Ward, announcer Producer: Reinald Werrenrath, Jr. 180 M>ns.; Wed. (10), 8:15 p.m. WBKB, Chi (ABC) With ABC network sponsoring the last hour of this three-hour program. WBKB launched its remote pickup series, for .which Chi has been wait- ing a Ion time. - After weeks of experimenting, WBKB took the plunge, holding its breath, and sur- faced with flying colors. Success of the wrestling matches has encour- aged the station to go ahead with its extensive plans to telecast boxing, baseball, tennis and other sporting events in the Chi area. Despite the fact that most .of the equipment Used was homemade or of ancient vintage, technical difficul- ties were few and'the image was clear throughout the three-hour show. Lone camera-used was housed in a specially built booth at the arena. 15 feet from the ring. Harry Birch and Art Kambs took turns working the camera, and they did an excelr lent job Of keeping track of the fast- moving contestant*. Mikes placed over and around the ring caught the grunts and Kroans of the wrestlers and comments of the spectators, add- ing color to the event.. ABC sport scaster Don Ward did a nifty iob of announcing from the ringside. Aided by wrestling pro- moter Fred Kohler, who interpreted the rather vague wrestling rules. Ward kept the and posted as to the, different types of holds being used, making it much easier for the video aud to understand what they were looking at. Fifteen mniutcs before the arena pickup and between bouts. Jack Gibncy presented background infor- mation from WBKB's studios. Stills of the featured wrestlers, stories of their success in the ring, and a brief history of the game itself, helped in the general understanding and en- joyment of the evening's program. ABC's commercials were kept to a minimum and cleverly worked in the nrogram bv Ward, main pitch being (act that ABC is the first network to sponsor video in. Chi. Foos. «. With the number of sponsored television shows steadily increasing, ad :agency producers and copywrit- ers are discovering more and more of the problems unique to the new medium. Latest example of the bugs that will have to be ironed out through experimentation is that the actors and actresses who handle a dramatized commercial will have' to be specially-trained for their work. Producers have learned that regular dramatic thespers are seldom suited to give out with the plugs. Problem was pointed ■ up on the "Hour, Glass" show over WNBT. (NBC, N. Y.) last Thursday ill) night. Two femmes were, discussing the ■.'merits. Of Tenderleaf Tea. prod- uct of Standard Brands, the sponsor, when the younger girl ad libbed away from, her lines. This imme- diately threw the other actress, an older lady, off the beam, mixing her up to the extent that she . began plugging Lipton's Tea. Quite an ar- gument ensued between the two until the actresses got it straight that Lip- ton's had nothing to do with the show. Incident emphasises the fact, ac- cording to J..Walter Thompson pro- ducers who handle the show, that just as a regular radio acto,. is sel- dom capable of handling a commer- cial, the same "different quality" is required to an even greater extent in video, where the actors are seen. Lady who muffed the lines, they said, was a competent actress but her opponent's ad lib gave her a temporary case of mike fright, so that all she could think of was.Lip- ton's, which was probably more familiar to her personally. Regular actor, they pointed out, often rewrites lines in his own words, which is why the younger girl ad libbed. Since the effe'etive- ncss of commercials lie in certain key. words, which must be read casu- ally," it's impossible to ad lib. Con- sequently, they deduced, the actors who handle the commercials will have to be competent thespers who can memorize the exact script and Mill give the plug the certain touch required. "FARE ENOUGH" With Warren Hull, emcee; Emory Richardson Proilucer-directBr: Dick GogfIn 30 Mins., Thursday, 8 p.m. Sustaining WABU-ABC N. Y. In the rash of. zany aud participa- tion shows on video, since that for- mat has seemingly been hit. upon as the nearest'-thing to sure-lire for the i medium. "Fare Enough" stands out as fairly adult quiz-show entertain- ment. Sparked by the relaxed emcee iob turned in by Warren Hull, ex- 'Beefstakes' Copyright Beef vs. Tare Enough' First of Its Kind in Tele Marking the first instance of al- leged copyright infringement in tele- vision, the Carr & Stark package agency last week advised ABC tele- vision that the web's newest video show, "Fare Enough," "bore, a star- tling similarity" to "Beefstakes/' pro- duced by Carr & Stark over WABD (DuMont, N. Y.) last May 29. Claiming that their copyright' on the script dates back two years, reps M of the agency claimed that the basic format of the two shows is the same . and arc seeking an injunction re- straining ABC from repeating . the show, which preemed last Thursday <11). Carr & Stark is dickering with two advertisers to sponsor the show in the fall and claim that the ABC program will ruin their chances of closing the deal,, especially since both are being produced over WABD. ABC reps declared that they'd been advised by the agency at-. torneys via telephone that the simi- Vox Popper, and given a few com- cdy moments .by Emory Richardson, ! larity exists but will do nothing un- to d Negro thesner. orogram carries ; til the lawyers make their charges in off smoothly, and with good pace. I writing, at which time they'll turn As always on this type of show, lhe matter over to their copyright attorneys. Show is a package pro- duction of Warren Hull's who em- cees the program, and ABC has no or i. contestants chosen can make break entertainment values. All okay when - caueht. Conducted off the'cuff -by Hull, program awards each winner a railway trip to wher- ,cver he wants to-go. Quizzee states ibis preference and is then given a : series of Questions to answer, mov- ing one station closer to his destina- tion fo reach correct reply. Progress I is followed on a large-scale map of I rail lines. | Following his stint, each partici- : Dant is escorted to the desk of a | New York Central ticket agent and ' there onwntcd with his prize, Hull handles contestants In an easy, level manner rather than play- ing down to Ihcm or over-wagging. ,'i ■ Xoinni. interest in the basic idea except to sec that it gets a good production. DuMont After Navy Plant • Washington, July 16. Allen B. Dumont Laboratories it dickering with the Navy Dept. to pu-chase the $342,000 plant at Pas- saic, N. J. Plant was built by the Navy mid Mcased and operated by Dumont wi- lder Navy auspices during the war.