Variety (March 1952)

Wednewlay, March 12, 1952 1 a h « t * PfiSIEff TV-frlLMS S3 Vidpix Units for Financing Deals While a number of Coast banks 4 have participated in vidpix financ-' ing investigation by a major east- ern bank interested in the field has disclosed that none of the loans made so far has been on a basis equivalent to that of straight film angpling. Banks have made ad- vances, for television picture-mak- ing only where they have had their loans fully guaranteed. . vidpix are still considered too speculative by the banks to merit risking money-^thus. the mass of collateral that they have been de- manding. However, the jponey- men admit the time is fast ap- proaching when they'll accept biz with the telefilm makers on the same basis as indie makers of pix for theatrical showing. With this thought in mind, scouts for the banks have been eyeing the bigger and better-established units in the vidpix field. . Many banks are anxious “to get our feet wet" in the television angeling, be- cause they eventually see it a bo- nanza business for them, just • as indie pic financing once was. All the loans made so- far have been on one of two bases. One is that the borrower have sufficient collateral in other forms to guar- antee the loan. In the case of pro- ducers who have been making films for theatres, this could be nega- tives or such product. Thus, for (Continued on page 40) Ed Gruskin’s European Vidpix Findings; OF’s Pilots and‘Soundies’ Ed Gruskin, just returned from a European survey, for Official Films (Ike Levy’s Vidpix outfit), is of the opinion that filmmakers in Paris, Borne, Stockholm and Mu- nich can make films for American television consumption much cheaper. Former ECA radio chief in Europe has several ideas for short subjects lined up. -Bill Goodheart, ex-MCA exec and new prez of OF (Levy is board chairman), looks to the overpricing of live shows as a windfall for the vidpix producers, and avers that he has had considerable favorable re- action from top agencies on who- dunit series and the like on which OF has pilots. Official is now more of a releasing outfit than a producer, but occasionally plans to bankroll some. OF owns several hundred “Soundies,” 3 and 5-minute shorts made by Sam Coslow when he (Continued on page 40) LOU VICTOR'S NEW FIRM PLANS TOM MIX SERIES Hollywood, March 11. Negotiations Jfor the rights to launch a telefilm series tagged “Tom Mir’ Bides Again” are being dickered by Tele-Victor Corp., new vidpic production outfit formed by Lou Victor, who served as produc- tion coordinator for Snader Tele- scriptions since its inception. Vic- tor will be producer for the new firm, which has been capitalized at $100,000, and Gilbert King will be general manager. Tele-Victor will specialize in one, three and five-minute films.. The Mix series, however, will be a half- hour film if rights can be cleared with the Mix estate. Victor also plans a 15-minute. Washington newsreel format. Firm also-has a new prompting machine, tagged “The Silent Coach,” which operates on magnifi- cation principles and cues music and script for the players. PCG Recognizes Vidpix Hollywood, JMtarch 11. Five telefilm producers were ad- mitted to membership in the Permanent Charities Committee of the motion industry for the first time in the history of that Organi- zation. They were Maurice Ungar, Hal'Boach, Jr., Jack Voglin, Sid Bogell and Herve Foster. Ungar was elected to the board of direc- tors. PCC bylaws were amended to expand the membership to 61. Proxy Steve Broidy reported .that the organization has raised a total $13,574,686 in the 10 years of Us existence. Vidpix as Lure To . Small Town Retailers Offering further proof that TV films can provide the answer for small-budgeted local advertisers, NBC-TV last week sold its “Dan- gerous Assignment” series to jew- elry stores in both Erie, Pa., and Huntington, W.Va. Sales brought the number of market^ carrying “Assignment”' to a total of 33. Also pacted last week for the vidfilm series and included in. the 33 total were Salt Lake City and Toledo. Show was sold directly to the station, KDYL-TV, in Salt Lake, and to Bed & White Foods in Toledo. 1-Station Markets Problem in Vidpix Problem of the single-station television markets, which has been a bothersome thorn to the net- works, is creating even more havoc with vidfilm producers and dis- tributors. Where, they, face the same problem the networks have in getting * time in single-station areas, they’ve also found both sponsors and station managers in such markets attempting to force them to cut their prices or else be frozen out. Most of the syndication outfits have set up standard price struc- tures for each TV market, weighted according to set circulation, pop- ulation, card rates and the num- ber of competing stations. Yet when they try to sell their product in a single-station area, they’re vii> tually forced to toss such pricing formulas out the window. Spon- sors, agencies and stations, know- ing they can’t take their films to a competing station, tell them to (Continued on page 40) Vidpix Chatter Hollywood Jack Chertok Productions lensed a pilot for a new series, “Chal- lenge of the Yukon,” with Paul Landres directing a cast headed by Paul Sutton, Michael Whalen and Byron Foulger... George Arohain- baud will direct the George Baft “I’m the Law” vidpic series which Lou Costello’s Cosman Produc- tions launches today (Wed.)... French secret police gave David Chudnow Productions an okay to use their files for “Secrets of the French Surete,” in which Akim Tamiroff will star. Paul Guilfoyle and Jacqueline Duval have sup- porting roles.. . NBC-TV 'dickering with William Cameron Menzles to direct the upcoming “Fu Manchu” series which will star Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Herbert Bayard Swope Jr., will produce... Tom G r i e s ankled his job as associate pro- ducer for Wald-Krasna Produc- tions at RKO to join Ziv TV as story editor along with Julius Evans and .Down Mullallf... Lar- aine Day-Leo Durocher “Hot Stovft League” resumes scooting next Monday (17) with 19 more of the 15-minute vidpix needed to com- plete the series of 26. Mary Roberts Rinehart’s “Tish” stories have been acquired by Mar- tin E. Larmont, former N.Y. video packager, who plans to start film- ing the initial series of 13 shortly under the bahner of Lamorit Cine- vision Production... Delta Rhythm Boy* and Burl Ives churned out five Snader Telescripts each.., Dougfair Productions began its “Terry and the Pirates” series at BKO-Pathe, with Richard Irving directing... James Millican is set to star in “Wild Jack Rett,” new vidfilm series scheduled by Pliil- dan TV Productions. Blacklist Two Indies Los Angeles, March 11., L. A. Central Labor Council placed two producers of commer- cial and TV films on the unfair list —Bocket Pictures and the Fred- erick K. Bockett Co. Move was the result of the fail- ure of both companies to cooper- ate with the Hollywood AFL Film Council in employing studio union craftsmen. SAG Seeks New Indie Vidpic Pact, Rerun Pay Hollywood, March 11. Screen Actors Guild has notified 60 indie vidfilm producers, unaf- flliated with any association, to meet a Guild committee March 24 and launch negotiations for a new contract. All vidproducers advised of the meeting are signatories to a basic pact now in effect. At the session SAG will submit proposals including its major demand of added payment for reruns of vid- pix after their initial round. Previously SAG had .set March 19 as date for meeting with mem- bers of the Alliance of Television Film Producers for similar talks. Packard s Global Vidpic Venture Fred M. Packard returns to New York ajid Hollywood at the end ol the month to finalize his TV and feature film plans which have been maturing during his nine months’ stay in Europe. During his extended European stint, Packard has set the founda- tion for a comprehensive world- wide vidpic program. Packard will make a statement on his arrival in America, but it is known he is taking with him a great number of Technicolor and black and white prints of films that ho has produced and purchased in Europe. Currently, more than 250 vidpic and feature film scripts are now owned by Packard for produc- tion throughout the world. The project' is being financed partly in dollars and partly in iced sterling. ' Blocked continental cur- rency may also be used. TV Films in Production as of Friday, Marcli 7 WILLIAM F. BROIDY PRODS. Sunset Studios. Hollywood "CASK HISTORY" half hour telepix *•- rie* bused on career* of leading doctors now shooting. Regis Toomey «nd Sam Htuolen head cast. Producer: William T. Broidy Associate producer: Wesley Barry Director: Frank McDonald CBS-TV "AMO* 'N' ANDY" Hal Roach Studios, Culver City series of character comedy telepix now shooting. Sponsored Blatz Beer. Now shooting "TERRY AND THE PI- RATES" 26 half-hour adventure telepix. Producer: Dougfair Corp. Director: Dick Irving. JERRY FAIRBANKS 6052 Sunset Blvd.. Hollywood "HOLLYWOOD THEATRE" half-hour drama series resumes shooting mid-March. Directors: Derwln Abbe, Arnold Wester "MYSTERY THEATRE" series of half- hour adventure telepix resumes shooting March 21. Producer: J. Donald Wilson Director: Howard Bretherton + Hollywood, March 11, Vidfilms will new high in Hollywood this month ,and the growing field of television pro- ducers here is pointing to the hy- poed activity as a harbinger of prosperous times for Hollywood’* newest industry. Significantly, the boom spans the dog days of the theatrical film industry, Which habitually lets activity slacken prior to the March 15 tax dead- line date in order to lessen the as- sessment under California proper- ty. tax legislation. Pacing the bustling telepic activ- ity is Ziv Television, which has a total of 15 half-hour films sched- uled for the month. Firm’s sched- ule calls for actual shooting dur- ing every working day of the month and double crews have been ordered to be on hand for several days iii order to meet the sched- ule requirements. Ziv activity is believed to set an f in dividual .record for the brief his- tory of thd vidpic industry. Firm is rolling five in “The ITfiexpefcted” series; six in the “Boston Blackly* series; and four in the “Cisco Kid” series. Similar bustle is under way at the Hal Roach lot in Culver City where half-a-dozen films will keep (Continued on page 40) P&G Sets 2d Series; Combined Production Seen Cutting Costs Hollywood, March 11. ‘ On the theory that two can be made cheaper than one, Procter & Gamble has ordered another dra- matic series to be made by Frank Wisbar Productions, now turning out “Fireside Theatre.” William Craig; TV head of P h G, is here to conclude negotiations. New set of films, patterned af- ter “Fireside,” would be made by the same crew and using many of the facilities and props. It would put a second P 3c G television show in the Compton agency. Due to increased sales of union crafts, cost of producing half-hour subjects have risen better than 20% Jn the past year. By com- bining both productions it is be- lieved the price of each can be brought down to the old level of around $17,000. FILMCRAFT PRODS. •451 Melrose, Hollywood ^ nnitl , nr ., 1 K , ar7 nper OROUCHO MARX starred in 39 half-hour isps* Freeman G.eden. Chari.. correii. _ . _ NBC. DeSoto-Plymouth sponsoring. Director: Charles Barton. Producer: James Fonda JACK CHERTOK PRODS. General Service Studios, HoUywood "SKY KIND" series of half-hour vid- pix for Derby Foods shooting. Cast: Kirby Grant, Gloria Winter, Ron Hagerthy, set leads. Producer: Jack Chertok Associate Producer: John Morse COMMODORE PRODUCTIONS General Service Studios, Hollywood Twenty-six half-hour adventure telepix featuring Clyde Boatty. Shoot to March 20 , Producer: Walter White, Jr. Director: George Blair COSMAN PRODS. Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "IN THE LAW" series of half-hour tele- pix starring George Raft shooting to March 29. Producer: Jean Yarbarough Director: George Archainbaud BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES RKO-Pathe, Culver City Resume shooting half-hour dramas April 1. Executive producer; Basil Grulo Producer: Bernard Girard Director: B. Girard DESILU PRODS., INC. General Service Studios, Hollywood "1 LOVE LUCY" half-hour comody se- NBC. DeSoto-Plymouth sponsoring. Producer: John Guedel Film producer: I. Lindenbaum Directors: Bob Dwan, Bcrnie Smith FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 6920 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood "RANGE RIDER" second half of series of 52 half-hour telepix now shooting. Jack Mahoney,' Dick Jones in fixed leads. Producer: Louis Gray Director: Wallace Fox JOHN GUEDEL PRODS. 600 Taft Bldg.. Hollywood "LIFE WITH LINKLETTER," starring Art Linkletter in series of 16 vidpix, half- hour audience participation' show for ABC web, shooting every other week for 26 weeks. Green Giant sponsors. Producer: John Guedel Director: Irvin Atkins HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION SERVICE Republic Studios, North Hollywood "COMMANDO CODY-SKY MARSHAL OF THE UNIVERSE" scries of 39 half- hour sclentlfictlon telepix now shooting. REVUE PRODUCTIONS Eagle Lion Studios: HoUywood Half-hour series of .adult drama tele- Ix now shooting for Revue Prods, roducer: Revue Productions Director: Axel Gruenberg, Richard Irving, Norman Lloyd. ROY ROGERS PRODUCTIONS Goldwyn Studio, Hollywood ROY ROGER* in four oater telepix roll March 17. Vidpix are half-hour each. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans topline, Pat Brady in support. General western parts to fill. Sponsored by General Foods for NBC-TV. Producer: Roy Rogers Associate producer: Jack Lacey Director: Bob Walker SCREEN TELEVIDEO PRODS. Eagle Lion Studios. Hollywood "ELECTRIC THEATRE" series of half- hour drama telepix resumes shooting March 22. Producer: Gil Ralston Director: Victor Stoloff SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "RACKET JGUAD" series of half-hour adventure telepix resume shooting March 12 . Producer: Hal Roach, Jr.; Carroll Case Director: Jim Tinling SNADER TELESCRIPTIONS 177 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills March 14th, a shooting session with Duke EUington and his orch. A shooting session with Ralph Flanagan and his orch goes same day. Judd Holdren, Aline Towne head cast Producer: Louis D. Snader with William Schallert in support. Producer: Mel Tucker, Franklyn Adreon Director: Fred Brannon Assistant to producer: Boh Snader Director: Duke Goldstone HOUR GLASS PRODS. 6525 Sunset: Hollywood "ROCK HOUND" winding series of » ,« v -„ min. outdoor telepix with location shot® utes in length, two being combined to TEEVEE COMPANY California Studios, Hollywood "LITTLE THEATRE" series of O. Henry type dramas shooting; each film five min- ries for CBS-TV, sponsored by Philip p ro ^ucer: Wanda Tuchock Morris. Shoots to June. , . Cast: Lucill* Rail, Pesi Armil sft with William Frawlay, Vivian Vance In support. He parti to fill. Producer: Jess Oppenhelmcr Director: Marc Daniels , . Writers: Jess OppenhclmeY, Madclyn Pugh, Bob Carroll in Arizona. Begin shooting 15-min. series make quarter hour telepix. about-ham radios March 24 - ■ DONLEVY CORP-- Republic Studios, North Hollywood "DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT" half- hour adventure series starring Brian Donlevy shooting two films a week* 32 to be shot to June. Producer: Harold E. Knox. Director: Bill Karn DOUGFAIR CORP. «6tt N. Robertson Blvd.: Hollywood Director: George deNormand EDWARD LEWIS PRODS. Motion Picture Center, Hollywood Series of half-hour drama* featuring Irene Dunne as fcmcee resumes shooting April 1. ... Producer: Edward Lewis Production manager: William Stevens PHILLIPS LORD PRODS. Republic Studios. North HoUywood "GANGEUSTER" scries for NBC-TV, sponsored by Chesterfield, now shooting. Producer: Phillips Lord Director: Lew Landers ROLAND REED PRODS. Hal Roach Studios; Culver City Associate producer: Sherman Harris Executive producer: Marc Frederic Director: William Asher FRANK WISBAR PRODS. Eagle Lion Studios: HoUywood "FIRESIDE THEATRE" series of half- hour adult dramas. Now shooting. Producer-director: Frank Wisbar Associate producer: Sidney Smith ZIV TV r 5255 Clinton St., Hollywood Five in "UNEXPECTED" series of half- hour telepix shoot in March. Six "BOSTON BLACKIE" telepix in half-hour series shoot In March. Four "CISCO KID" half-hour telepix scheduled for March shooting. Director: Paul Landres, Eddie Davis, So- bey Martin BR0MF1ELD, MERRICK STORIES FOR TV PIX Two new series of half-hour television films, one based on writings of Louis Bromfield and ttie other on works of Leonard Merrick, known as the British O. Henry, will be launched by Bing Crosby Enterprises in the immedi- ate future. Outfit expects to com- plete several stanzas of each be- fore showcasing them for poten- tial clients and agencies.’ BCE has acquired rights to more than 300 Merrick stories. They're to be scripted for the vidpix series by parlous writers, working under the supervision of Walter Doniger. Outfit has already completed the first stanza, which is now being edited and scored. Deal for the Bromfield works, meanwhile, was agented by General Artists Corp. Pix will be lensed at the RKO- Pathe studios in Culver City, Cal. ‘New York's Finest' Set For Mel Ronson Telepix Mel Ronson, former Hollywood screenwriter, has obtained rights from the New York Police Benevo- lent Assn, to use the title, “New York’s Finest,” for a vidpix series. PBA holds copyright on the label and will share in the proceeds of the show. Police organization will also make available to Ronson each week a retired cop with a suitable story for telepixing. This circum- vents going into N. Y. police files, which are unavailable. Ronson, who has been working on the deal in New York for the past six months, returned to the Coast yesterday (Tues.) to set up production arrangements.