Variety (December 1951)

Wednesday, Decenber 26, 1951 Tderision Chatter New York Jay Barney into DuMont's “Not for Publication" on Friday (28) and CBS’ "Studio One" Dec. 31. . hen- ry A. Wallace guests on CBS-TV’s “Chronoscope” Friday (28) .. Art “Pancho” Raymond emcess “Latin Show/' preeming over WOR-TV tonight (Wed.) at 7:30-8... Com- manding general of the First Army has cited Ben Graiier for “excep- tionally meritorious service to the armed forces" for his “Headquar? ters, New York" airer.on WNBT Claire Mann, of WJZ-TV’s “Glam- our Show/’; off on a Virgin Isles vacation .. Larry Puck, producer of Arthur Godfrey's “Talent Scouts” and “Friends” shows, signed to longterm contract ..Maria Riva personally wrapped, addressed and delivered 350 Christmas presents to . everybody, at CBS Television who had even the remotest con- nection with her programs. In- cluded were the producer, Writers, Cameramen, etc., of her various shows, as well as all the members of the Press info staff, the still cameramen in izzle Siegal’s photo department, the elevator men, etc. Gregg Juarez playing his eighth heavy role on TV this season, when he appears on DuMont’s “Famous Jury Trials’’ tonight (Wed.) .■■■• . W. Russell David and Ernest A. Barbeau have set up a new TV con- sultants firm, headquartering in Schenectady . Wright King set for his first starring role oil TV, next Monday night (31) on CBS’ “Studio One/' Donald Buka into “Big Town” Jan. 3 and “Treasury Men in Ac- tion” Jan. 10 , Ruth Chatter- ton, Otto Kruger and Ilka Chase will star In ABC-TV's "Pulitzer Prize Playhouse” p’roductiop.. of “Fatal Weakness" Jan. 2 . .' WABD’s Kathl Norris starts a talent search on Jan. 15, with femme viewers and clubs nominat- ing performers to be showcased, Bruce Cabot and Virginia Gil- more will have leads on ABC-TV’s “Tales of Tomorrow" Jan. 4. Murder case broken . by Jack Hoins, now scripter for NBC-TV’s “Original Amateur Hour,” at the time that he was cubbing on the old N. Y. World, is to be dramatized on NBC’s “Big Story” Friday night (28) . . . Ben Blue set to repeat as guest on NBC’s “Ezio Pinza Show” Jan; 4 . . Charles King package agency gained an exclusive for radio and TV programs of all material connected with the Con- gressional Medal of Honor Society. . . Pearl Bailey guesting on CBS’ “Fred Waring Show” Jan. 6, When she r ll do an original titled “God’s Trombones,” based on a Roy Ring- wald adaptation of James Weldon Johnson’s writings. That show, in- cidentally, will mark Warlng’s last in its full hour format . . . Julie Bennett set for a role on NBC’s “Kate Smith Evening Hour” tonight (Wed.) , . . Maestro Milton DeLugg and trumpeter Mickey Bloom being feted with a luncheon by staffers of WNBT’s “Date in Manhattan” tomorrow; celebrating their 15th year of working together. Hollywood Frank Wisbar canned four more “Fireside Theatre” telepix at Eagle Lion, and Will be dubbing and propping scripts for next group, to start Jan. 28., .Space Ranger En- terprises inked pact with Whitman Publishing to put out comic books tagged, “Rocky Jones, Space Ran- ger,” telepix: series of same name get under way Jan. 29, Roland Reed producing at Hal Roach lot .. .KTTV bought merchandising rights to “Red Ryder,” to plug and tie-in with pix of same tag it. bought from Republic, and is now televising, inking one-year, d e a 1 With Stephen Slesinger Produc- tions. .Radio Writers Guild plans course for* new writers in televi- sion, with vets instructing new- comers into video., .Stan Freberg, voice of Cecil on “Time for Beany” on KTLA, off for 10 days with flu, although, channel flackery insisted he never was off..;Flying A Pro- ductions bought “Renegade Ranch,” original by Robert. Schaefer and Eric Freiwald, for “Range Rider” telepix., Frewald and Schaefer also sold “The Black Mane/’ original, to Commodore Productions for Clyde. Beatty yidpix series.. .Tele- pix producer Rene Williams loca- tioried at Lake Arrowhead for his "Invitation Playhouse” s e r i e s. Jerry Fairbanks pactees Bill/Lech- ner and. Jean Ruth wind first half of four-weeks personals, and re- turned from Kansas City for holi- days, resuming tour in Dallas Jan. 2 . Vidpix producer W. F. Broidy, Jack Jungmeyer Jr., director Frank McDonald and Ace Herman junket- ed to Mexico City on business.. TeeVee GO. exec Marc Frederic re- turned from two-week business trip confabbing with video toppers in N. Y. and Chicago. Maggi McNellis details why aadfcow TV Does the lmpossible in Its General Appeal another byline featere In tha 46th Anniversary Number . of OUT next week Studios as a. director and Ed Ahl^c joins the camera, staff . . Luckey North, WBKB femme gabber, per- sonally delivered over 4,000 Xmas greetings to Hines .Hospital vets which Were sent in by her viewers . Austin Kiplinger Will narrate and Dan Shuffman will produce WENR-TV’s weekly show starting Jail. 10, in cooperation with the Chicago Daily News , ... . WBKB hias scheduled a four-hour benefit telecast to seek contributions for th6 Chicago Boys Club;; Jan. 12 Chicago Bordens is dropping the Ransom Sherman tri-weekly, quarter-hour afternoon show on WBKB and will put the coin into a spot campaign. Show winds Jan. 11... Ted Weber, WGN-TV sales chief, vacationing in California ,. . . Actress Nancy Kelly visits Hugh Downs and Bette Chapel’s “Luncheon Date’’ tomor- row (Thurs.) on WNBQ .... . WENR- TV has decided to keep John Car- michael; Chicago Daily News sports editor, as a regular sports- caster with Monday-through- Friday show . . . Phil Buskin han- dled directorial reins on WBKB’s telecast of Christmas Mass from the Holy Name Cathedral,. Robert Wilson, Standard Oil board chairman, guested on Wayne King’s NBC-TV show last week, Which was the 100th program un- der Standard’s sponsorship . . . Bob Longlnt has moved to Kling Prisoners’Listin Korea Washington, Dec. 25. Radio and TV networks per- formed one of their best and most unusual acts of public service last week, with the all-night announce- ment of names of American pris- oners listed as. held by the Chinese communists in Korea. Continuous droning and screening of names and serial numbers made listeners and viewers acutely conscious that somewhere in the nation anxious relatives were patiently sitting by for the long-awaited news; Con- sidering that only a few thousand names were involved (an average of one to a county), and that prob- ably a small audience was served, it was felt here that a high sense of responsibility Was exercised by the industry in devoting its facili- ties to the purpose. NB<5 stayed up as far west as Omaha with TV until 5:30 a.m. oh Wednesday (19), with pickups from a mobile crew, at the Pentagon, where, confirmed lists were tele- vised. CBS televised the lists until 4:15 a.m. and ABC until Z a.m. ABC continued the reading by radio Until 5:36 a.m. \. Interest in. Washington was espe- cially great, because of the high proportion of people from all over the ..country, and the presence of wounded veterans in military hos- pitals, who gathered at radio and TV sets for word of missing bud- dies. Local stations received dozens of, calls from friends or relatives of persons whose names did not appear. Invariably, the caller want- ed to know if there was “a mis- take” or if the list was complete. “It was one of the most depress- ing things I. ever went through,” said Bill Hatch, newsroom editor of WMAL, who took a number of calls. But there were other requests that names and numbers be repeat- ed. The callers wanted to be sure they heard right. FH BAPTISTOUTtET IN DALLAS TO SHUTTER Dallas, Dec. 25. The State Baptist Executive Board has ordered the Baptist ra- dio outlet here, KYBS, to shut down. The FM outlet, which has been in operation since Oct. 28, 1949, was instructed to close “as soon as possible, in keeping with good business practices.” A committee will be named to work with Dr. Alton Reed, direc- tor of radio here, on disposition of j the outlet’s property. According to Reed, the outlet will be closed because a plan for. a statewide web of nine FM out- lets failed to materialize. .Surveys showed the listening audiences of FM outlets did not develop. This left the entire state supporting the local outlet, which only covered the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Two Baptist schools, Mary Har- din-Baylor in Belton and Wayland College in Plainview. will continue operation of their Em Cutlets. Frank Stanton’s WLSN Consultant Status Delaware, O., Dec. 25. Frank Stanton, Class of *30, Isn’t taking his job lightly as technical adviser and general consultant for his alma mater’s radio station, WLSN; at Ohio .Wesleyan here. Al- though the station isn’t on the air yet, the CBS prexy plans a visit to the campus “in the next few weeks” to inspect equipment and consult with station officials, he has appointed a two-man board on his New York staff to review problems submitted by the student staff, and has fired off a 16-page report by the board on step-by-step proce- dure for setting up a campus, sta- tion. Stanton has also offered Muzak service , cuffo to WLSN. WJAS, Church in Tie On ‘Midnight Minister’ . Pittsburgh, Dec. 25. WJAS, the CBS outlet here, arid the Council of Churches of Christ in Allegheny County have tied up on a new type of public service program here designed to help lis- teners in need, of spiritual guid- ance as well as assistance on hu- man relations, marital and family troubles arid religious questions. Program will be called “The Mid- night Minister" arid airs for half an hour every Thursday night at 11:30. Dr. Ansley Moore, pastor of the Sixth United Presbyterian. Church, has been picked to tee off the new series. Station will install a spe- cial phone, and Dr. Moore will re- ply over the air to questions phoned in during the progress of the broadcast. The audience won’t be able to hear the caller or his identity, blit can listen to the min- ister’s answers. Texas ’Ham’s’ Hearing Houston, Dec. 25. A formal hearing is being held here on the revocation of the ama- teur license of Henry Menefee of Madisonville, Tex., who is accused of participating hi the construction of an unlicensed television outlet in that city and rebroadcasting the programs of KPRC-TV. George E. Sterling of the FCC is in charge of the hearings. He agreed to hold the record open until Jan. 4 to permit Menefee to introduce character evidence. Philadelphia, Dec, 25. National Football League Coun- sel filed motion in U. S. % District Court here asking dismissal of the Government’s injunction suit which would compel the League to lift TV arid radio restrictions on pro grid games. Eight attorneys for the League filed the 35-page brief, which con- tends that professional. football is not trade or commerce within the meaning of the Shermari Anti- trust Act, arid is therefore exempt from the Act’s restraints. Almost half of the brief; was de- voted to the “restraint” argument. A decision by the U. S. Supreme Court in 1922, holding that base- ball did not coihe under the Sher- man Act was cited. “There are no facts alleged in this complaint/* the brigf states, “from which it is possible to determine that the ac- tions of the defendants are within the purview of the anti-trust laws.’/ It also avers there is rid viola- tion of the law in the League’s policy to limit radio and TV broad- casts to outside a certain radius of home games. It argues the pub- lic is riot being deprived of any- thing except seeing the game on the. day on which it is played; since the game can be seen later on film and‘ heard on. recorded radio broadcasts. The brief con- tends the League has a property right iii radio and TV and can se- lect the agency and the time for its telecasts and visible broad- casts. Admitting that it has limited broadcasting, the League declares this is not an. unreasonable re- straint, since it is imposed only on 12 days a year to protect the good- will and franchise of each foot- ball club. It further argues that to maintain this goodwill and to advance the value of the fran- chise, the League permits radio broadcasts and telecasts in cities other than where the games are being played. Federal Judge Allan K. . Grim fixed Jan. 8 as the date for argu- ment on the brief. ' Albany—Morgan Ryan, who re- cently resigned as vice-president and general manager of WPTR arid who previously served as an ex- ecutive with ABC in . New York, filed a petition in bankruptcy i U. S. District Court at Utica show- ing liabilities of $13,948 and ex- empt assets of $200. Eileen BARTON BILL GOODWIN SHOW — NBC-TV — Coral RaconMag Artiit Cincinnati, Dec. 25, Advertising by a television deal- er of a “mystery tune contest” on three radio stations was branded by George Young, head of the Bet- ter Business Bureau, as “not in the public interest/’ Listeners are offered a chance “to win $100" by naming the title of a song, usually familiar, played on the spot announcement. The award applies to a purchase at the dealer’s store, where“winners” for mailed responses are offered tries for a super award for naming the “prize mystery tune” played iri the store. Young said investigation showed that price tags Jn the dealer’s place were approximately $100 higher than those ori identical models in other stores. Also that few name brands were to be found among the sets on display. “Salesman try to switch customers to a private la- bel," Young added. Ill THE HEART OF THE THEATRICAL DISTRICT MODERN ELEVATOR APARTMENTS NEARING COMPLETION TVotc Renting for Immediate Occupancy 1%—2— 2 —3—3% Rooms Apply Ag«nt on Pr«misos or MAX LIPMAN A SONS 1271 St. Nicholas Avomo WA 7-f210