Variety (April 1952)

•22 |V«nU»IS Wdnttdiy, April SO,. 1952 « Llewellyn Set to Pen First BromfieM Telepic; BCE's Top Name Roster Hollywood, April 29. Production of spot film commer- cials for television, whose growth has almost been lost sight of in the ballyhoo attendant on vidpix package shows, has assumed the proportions of a major industry. In N, Y. alone, it’s estimated that spot producers: now do a gross of * $6,000,000 yearly and it’s expected that this figure will be upped to more than $20,000,000 when the new stations allocated by the FCC hit the air, Pointing, up the amount of coin being spent on the filmed spots even by strictly spot advertisers, U. S. Envelope Co, has pacted with Henry Fonda to make his first ap- pearance before a film camera "hi more than five years for a new aeries of three one-minute spots, which are being produced by Rob- ert Lawrence Productions in N. Y. As with most of the top name stars appearing • in the commercials, there'is a tie-in involved. .Spots Are designed for use In participa- tion shows and include a cross- plug for Fonda's current Broad- way legiter, “Point of No Return." Envelope outfit, through the S. R. Leon agency, plans to buy'time in other cities where “return" will play when it eventually sets out on a road tour. As with most of the major spot producers, Lawrence is lensing them on 35m film and takes two full days to shoot the three one- minute spots. Lawrence is also currently shooting a series of 13 spots for Life magazine, which are • to be used for special plugs in Du- Mont’s “Cavalcade of Stars." Since each spot is based on the current Life cover, it can be. used only once. Yet the spots are costing Life several thousand dollars each. Other bankrolled are also spend- ing considerable coin on their filmed commercials, Colgate, for example, has shelled out up to $5,- 000 for a single film for use in its Sunday night "Comedy Hour" on NBC-TV. Latter firm, however, can use the spots repeatedly and so amortize their cost over a pe- riod of time. Colgate has also gone in for star endorsements of its products on the plugs, which is partly responsible for the heavy costs. For another method of star endorsement, Bulova Watch has a deal with Universal-International in which UI stars plug Bulova Watches in return for plugs for each star’s current picture. Lawrence, who was formerly veepee for Jerry Fairbanks Pro- ductions in charge of eastern pro- duction, has set up a studio in N. Y. with 10,000 square feet of space to handle the spot business. While he has five package shows now under consideration, he said he plans to concentrate on the spot lensing. Under the current - setup, the spot producers bid' for their work with the ad agencies, with the agencies selecting which- ever outfit it thinks can handle each particular job best. WALL ST. COIN BACKS G&W VIDPIX OUTFIT Backed by Wall St. and inde- pendent financing, G & W Televi- sion Productions, Inc., N. Y., live- show packaging outfit, has entered the vidpix field. First 13 films of their initial sTiow, “Fun With Felix;" 15-minute comedy audience- participation magic series, has just been completed and production on the second 13 will get under way in a few weeks. Series will be re- leased next week for national, re- gional and local sponsorship. Outfit will operate both in the east and on the Coast. On Aug. 1 Robert Whiteman, company’s exec v.p., heads for the Coast to set up production for outfit’s second series, a half-hour mystery show. Whiteman will oversee casting and will hire a director and technical crew. ‘Telesports Digest* Sold in 14 Markets United Artists TV last week set its biggest sale of the year, when Phillips Petroleum pacted .to bank- roll its “Telesports Digest" in 14 central and southwestern markets. Show, narrated by Harry. Wis- mer, is currently In 43 markets, and is now in its 104th week of telecasting. ‘Late ShowV Fix Grab New package of 24 feature film oldies, including what are ' probably some of the top-budg- eted films yet. made available to TV, has been acquired on an exclusive basis for the Metropolitan N. Y. area by WBCS-TV, the CBS web’s Gotham flagship.»Pix will be incorporated into the station’s “Late Show" scries starting to- morrow night (1) for sponsor- ship on a participating basis. Features, all released the- atrically from 1945-50, are be- ing syndicated for TV by Qual- ity Films, Hollywood. Illus- trative of their calibre is “And Then There Were None," pro- duced by Harry M. Popkin and released originally by 20th-. Fox. Film was directed by Rene Clair and. stars Barry Fitzgerald, the late Walter Huston, Judith Anderson and Louis Hayward. Among other titles in the new series are “Angel on My Shoulder,” starring Paul Muni, Claude Rains ^arid Anne Bax- ter; “Diary of a Chamber- maid," with Paulette Goddard and Burgess Meredith; “Song of the Open Road," with Jane Powell, Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy and the- late W. C. Fields, and “Cover Up," star- ring William Bendix Richard Llewellyn has been inked by Bing Crosby Enterprises to script “Up Ferguson’s Way," Louis Bromfield yarn, for inclusion in. untagged series to roll May 5, Bromfield narrating. Move is. part of expansion program undertaken by BCE in which development and empasis of story department has hefen- objective, it’s explained by Basil Grillo, BCE" exec producer. Llewellyn joins ranks of other ,top scribblers such as Frances Cockrell, scripting “The Unaccept- ed," original by producers Bernard Girard and Dick Dorso for a "“Re- bound” telepic; David Chandlbr, “Two Flights Up," also a “Re- bound"; D. D. Beauchamp, “The Best Years," for* Bromfield series, and Robert Hardy Andrews, unas- Signed. Grillo says BCE has backlog of yarns with investment estimated at $40,000, that it feels story is most Important single factor of vidpix operation. These yarns will be designed to fit into various BCE series, such as “Rebound," “Crown Theatre," “Chair on the. Boule- vard," “Those Were the Days,” “Corny Johnson," untitled Brom- fields, “Trauma," and “Perry Mason." Bud Kay heads story depart- ment, which has four on .staff alto- gether, but Grillo, Dorso-and Gir- ard also read scripts. Grillo says BCE will go into film syndication if it finds sales results are not satisfactory nationally. 'Barber of Seville’ Pic Set for Video Release Los Angeles, April 29. Exclusive. seven-year television rights to the Italian-made “Barber, of Seville,” film version of the Ros- sini opera, has been obtained by Crown Pictures International. It will be offered in three separate 30-minute sequences or in its en- tirety as a feature. CPI, formerly known as Exclu- sive Distributors, last week ac- quired video rights to the Lou Buiiin “Alice in Wonderland," col- or feature lensed in Europe. “Basher" stars Met opera star Ferruccio Tagliayini and is nar- rated by Deems Taylor. Cast in- cludes such top Italian opera names as Tito Gobbi, Nelly Cor- radi and Italo Tajo. Deal was set between Walter Bibo for Tespi Pro- ductions and Maxwell J. Fenmore, CPI prexy and general counsel. Swanson** Mex TV=Short* Mexico City, April 29, Gloria Swanson Is here May 5 to make six television shorts. She is doing the TV films under a pact she inked here with Miguel Aleman, Jr.‘, son of Mexico’s presi- dent. TV Fil s in Production = a* of Friday, April 9-^ -—■ ■■■ ■ — ATHENA PRODUCTIONS, INC. California Studios: Hollywood Thre« series of 13 chapter plays each "SOM OF ROBIN HOOD" skedded to be-' gin shooting latter part of May. Producer-director: Clifford Sanforth Associate producer: A1 Weaten Assistant director: Nate Barrager Writer: Howard Laurence Field ARROW PRODUCTIONS KTTV Studios, Hollywood "RAMAR OF THE JUNGLE" 36 half- hour jungle adventure telepix series be- gin shooting May 1. Producers: Harry S. Rothschild, Leon Fromkess. FUm Producer: Rudolph :Flothow Director: Lew Lander* BREAKSTON-STAHL PRODS. General Service Studios: Hollywood "SAFARI BILL" series of 26 half hour telepix to begin shooting May 18. Location shots to be filmed in British Fast Africa. Martha Hyer heads cast, parts to fill. Producer-director: Breakston-Stahl Associate producer: Irene Breakston Technical executive: John R. Carter WILLIAM F. BROIDT PRODS. Sunset Studios, Hollywood "WILD BILL HICKOK," half hour tele- plx scries sponsored by Kellogg's now shooting third series of thirteen. Guy Madison and Andy DevinC head cast. Producer: William F. Broidy Associate producer: Wesley Barry Director: Frank McDonalq CBS-TV "AMO* 'N* ANDY" Hal Roach Studios, Culver City series of character comedy telepix now shooting. Sponsored Blatz B/eer. Supervisors: Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll. Director: Charles Barton. Producer: James Fonda JACK CHERTOK PRODS. General Service Studios. Hollywood '"LONE RANGER" half hour series of videoaters begin shooting May 19, John Hart, Jay Sllverheels set leads. Producer: Jack Chertok Associate Producer: John Morse CODRNEYA PRODUCTIONS United Producers Studio Shooting “Noah Beery, Jr. Adventure Series," 36 15*mlnute telepix. Cast: Noah Beery, Jr., Ann Savllle, Jack Harris, Norma Fenton. Producer-director: Jerry Courneya Supervising film editor; Jimmy Moore BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES RKO-Pathe. Culver City "REBOUND" series of half hour adult dramas sponsored by Packard Motor Car Corp. resumes May 5. Executive producer: Basil Grillo Producer: Bernard Girard Director: B. Girard Half hour series of adult drama films for "CROWN THEATRE" resume shoot- ing May 5. Produce?: Richard Dorso Producer: Richard Dorso, Bernard Girard, John Nasht. DESDLU PRODS., INC. General Service Studios, Hollywood "I LOYE. LUCY" half-hour comedy se- ries for CBS-TV, sponsored by Philip Morris. Shoots to June. Cast: Lucille Ball, Desl Arnett set leads with William Frawley, Vivian Vance In support. No parts to fill. Producer: Jess Oppenheimer Director; Marc Daniels Writers: Jess Oppenheimer. Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll DONLEVY CORP. Republic Studios. North Hollywood "DANGEROUS . ASSIGNMENT" half- hour adventure series starring Brian Donlcvy shooting two films a week. »32 to bo shot to June. Producer: Harold E. Knox. Director: Bill Kara DOUGFAIR CORP. 866 N. Robertson Blvd.: Hollywood Now shooting "THtJiy AND THE PI- RATES" 26 half-hour adventure telepix. Cast: John Baer, Mari Blanchard, William Tracy, Gloria Saunders, Jack Kruschen. Producer: Dougfair Corp. Director: Dick Irving, JERRY FAIRBANKS 6052 Sunset Blvd.. Hollywood "THE GREATEST MOTHER," half hour special program for Family Theatre pres- entation on Mother's Day now shooting. Cast: Ethel Barrymore, Loretta Young, Ruth Hussey, Gene Lockhart. Producer: Father Patrick Peyton Director: Arthur Pierson Assistant director: Joe Boyle FRANK FERRIN PRODUCTIONS 6528 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood Casting: Virginia Mazzu'ca Twenty half hour Jungle adventure tele- pix in "SMILIN' ED'S GANG" series to start shooting May 1. Ed McConnell, Nino Marcel head cast. Producer-director: Frank Ferrin Associate producer: Ralph Ferrin Assistant director: Don Olsen FILMCRAFT PROfcS. 8451 Melrose, Hollywood GROUCHO MARX starred in 39 half-hour audience participation film productions, to be made once a Week, began Aug. 23 for NBC. DeSoto-PIymouth ' sponsoring. - Producer: John Guedel Film producer: I. Llndenbaum Directors: Bob Dwan, Bernie Smith FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 6920 Sunset Blvd.. Hollywood "ANNIE OAKLEY" new series of 52 half-hour videoaters begins shooting April 22, Gail Davis, Billy Gray head cast. Parts to fill. Producer: Louis Gray Director: Wallace Fox GROSS-KRASNE, INC. General Service Studios: Hollywood Now shooting "BIG TOWN" series of 26 half hour telepix sponsored by Lever Brothers. Patrick McVey and Jane Nigh set leads. Producers: Jack J. Gross and Philip N. Krasne Director: E. A. .Dupont. JOHN GUEDEL' PRODS. 600 Taft Bldg.. Hollywood "LIFE WITH LINKLETTER," starring Art Llnkletter 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 Atipns HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION SERVICE Republic Studios, North Hollywood "COMMANDO CODY-SKY MARSHAL OF THE UNIVERSE" series of 39 half- hour sciontifiction .telepix now shooting. Judd Holdren, Aline Towne head cast with William Schallert in support. Producer: Franklin Adrcon Director: Fred Brannon HOUR GLASS PRODS. 6525 Sunset:*’ Hollywood Shooting "MAN OF -TOMORROW" series of 15-minute telepix. Producer: Wanda TUchock Director: George deNormand WERNER JANSSEN PRODS. California Studios: Hollywood First 10 of a series of 100 3-minute telepix based on classical music, featur- ing the Janssen Symphony Orchestra of Los Angeles, conducted by Werner Jans- sen. now shooting. Producer: Stanley Neal : Director: Sobey Martin LANCER PRODUCTIONS RKO-Pathe: Culver City "THOSE WERE THE DAYS" half hour telepix series starts shooting May 5.' Producers: Bernard Girard, Richard Dorso "CORNY JOHNSON" series of half hour comedy pix begin shooting May 5. producer-director: Bernard Girard EDWARD LEWIS PRCDS. Motion Picture Center. Hollywood Series of 52 vidpix “The Affair# of China Smith" roll May 1. Dan Duryea starred. Producer: Edward Lpwis Production manager: William Stevens PHILLIPS LORD PRODS. Visual Drama Studios: Hollywood "GANGBUSTER" series for NBC-TV, sponsored by Chesterfield, now shooting. Producer: Phillips Lord Director: Lew- Landers ROLAND REED PRODS. Hal Roach Studios: Culver City Now shooting "BEULAH" aeries of half- hour comedy telepix. Producer: Tom McKnight Director: Abby Berlin. • REVUE PRODUCTIONS Eagle Lion Studios: Hollywood Half-hour series of adult drama tele- pix resume shooting for Revue Prods. mid-May. Producer: Revue Productions Director: Richard Irving, Norman Lloyd. ROY ROGERS PRODUCTI#NS Goldw.vn Studio, Hollywood ROY ROGERS now shooting ten oater telepix. Vidpix are half-hour each. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans topline, Pat Brady in support. vGeneral wenem parts to fUl. Sponsored by General Foods for NBC-TV. Producer: Roy Rogers .« Associate producer: Jack Laccy “ Director: Bob Walker 1302 N. Gower, Hollywood "CROSSROADS, U. S. A." skedded foi April 28 start. Brown Holmes scripted. Producer-director: Jules Bricken Assistant director: Eddie Seata SCREEN TELEVIDEO PRODS. Eagle Lion Studios. Hollywood "ELECTRIC THEATRE" series of half hour drama telepix shooting cesumei May 1. Producer:.Gil Ralston Director: Victor Stoloff SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS y Hal Roach Studios, Culver City RACKET SQUAD" series resun A ? r ^l 30, first three pix entit: “Frightened Man," “A Place For Gra: ma," “Money to Burn." Producer: Hal Roach, Jr.; Carroll Case Director: Jim Tlnling SNADER TELESCRIPTIONS 177 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills i scooting telescriptions feat Jng different artists each week mid-M Producer; Louis D. Snader ADRIAN WEISS PRODS. 65. 5 N. Fairfax; Hollywood "CRAIG KENNEDY-CRIMINOLOGI3 half hour series of second 13 advent: telepix begin shooting April 18 to June Ca ^ : ■?rn na ^ ti Wood, Sydney Mason, Le G. Wilson set leads with general pa to be cast. Producer-director: Adrian Weis* Assistant director: Bob Farfan FRANK WISBAR PRODS. Studios: Hollywood . FIRESIDE THEATRE" series Of h hour adult dramas now shooting. Producer-director: Frank Wisbar Associate producer: Sidney Smith ZIV TV 5255 Clinton St.. Hollywood Five in "UNEXPECTED" series of h hour telepix shoot in April. Two "CISCO KID", half-hour tele scheduled for April shooting. Director: Paul Landres, Eddie Davis, bey Martin - John L. Sinn, prexy of Ziv Tele- vision Programs, and Herbert Gor- don, veepee in charge of produc- tion. for the syndicated vidpix out- fit, will. le*ve early next month on a European trip to open up foreign sources of writing and other creative talent, for telefilms Sinn feels, that product suitable fpr .TY is being “burned up at a shocking rate” and that new pools of talent have to he tapped. He and. Gordon, will spend several weeks confabbing with European TV and film writers, producers and execs, looking over available prop- erties, studying techniques and gandering facilities Sinn forecasts that the “already heavy pressure, on our. TV direct- ors, writers, actors and producers" will become even more, severe for two reasons; (1) “It is becoming more and more evident that in time perhaps at least 75% of TV programming will he on film. This will come about because filmed shows per- mit creative people to work with- out a relentless stopwatch in their hands,' allow for greater scope, permit unusual effects, and, for the advertiser, permit handpicked mar- ket selectivity at lower cost.” / (2) “Recent lifting of the FCC ‘freeze’ on new TV stations means that the entire country will be covered by television, opening a tremendous new field for film." Ziv said he was seeking to make deals with Europe tele experts to augment Yank creative talents. However, Sinn added, “I want to stress that Hollywood will con- tinue to he the main source of our films.” 0 ... ., >%• ‘CIO STORY’ CUFFOED AS VIDPIX SERIES Washington, April 29. CIO has launched a new program of using televised films to tell its story in industrial communities throughout the U. ,S. Set of 13 pictures, showing the viewpoint of the CIO on wages, prices, unem- ployment, health, social security, housing, civil rights, etc., has been prepared. Series of 15-hiihute subjects is offered to local CIO units through- out the country. The local labor bodies are urged to sponsor these films over local video stations. The series was prepared by the- CIO and its Political Action Committee. “We all know," said CIO prexy Philip Murray, “that television is becoming an increasingly important factor on the American scene. The new series has been carefully pre- pared tq achieve a constructive, educational program. In my opin- ion it is very important that these ‘issues of the day* be presented to the American public.” ‘TV Disc Jockey Toons’ Set for WNBT Ride “TV Disc Jockey Toons," series of'film briefies produced by Screen Gems, Inc., for use in video dee- jay shows, has been purchased by WNBT, NBC-TV’s N. Y. flagship, on an exclusive basis for the metropolitan N. Y.. area. Station plans to use them in a new 15- minute cjoss-the-board show, to be aired,at J2-.3Q p.m. Screen Gems, a Columbia Pic- tures subsidiary, has turned out 50 of the films to date and is cur- rently producing them at a rate of 10 per month/which are furnished to each subscribing station for use in a continuing library. Films in- clude live action, cartoons-or pan- tomime and 'each is geared for playing with a pop record release. WNBT has signed for them on a one-year d^al. WBAL TV’s British Bundle Baltimore, April 29. Prockter Syndications, Inti. (PSI) made the initial sale of its package of 64 British features this week to WBAL-TV here, in a deal which gives the station an exclusive in the Balto area for a year starting in May. None of the PSI-TV films have been seen before on video. P 1 * include such British stars as^ Sir Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, Francis L. Sullivan, Patricia Me- dina, Geraldine Fltzgeral t d, Ann Todd, etc.