Variety (June 1952)

Wedne**!*?* June 4* 1952 W-mMS 23 N.Y. Board of Trade i Concerted' effort to enlarge and 4 strengthen the scope of vidpix pro- duction in New York City, threat- ened by th^: growing shift of TV filming from Gotham “to Hollywood, has been 1 launched by the N. Y. Board! of Trade In cooperation with N. Y. telepix and commercial film producers. Fearing the loss of an important segment of industry, the Board; of Trade has formed a mo- tion picture and television commit- tee headed by M. p. Griffith, exec+ veepee of the Board, and David PincuS, head of Carvel Films, and an officer of 'the Film Producers Assn, i of New* York;, which reps 70% of the. local film makers. Committee wili begin function- ing immediately to counteract fac- tors Which are drawing filming ac- tivities, especially the filming of TV shows, away from New York. Problems confronting Gotham pro- ducers are -varied, ranging from lack of fadjities to labor and finan- cial woes. Space problem has re- sulted in a serious deficiency in studio, laboratory and, special ef- fects facilities, ft has been sug- gested .that even,a par barn hous- ing 10 or 15 sets, would he Of im- mediate help to the industry. Not‘ the least o.f the .drawbacks of vidpix making in the New York area. is the question of “financing. Coin quests have sent many of the producers to California where, it is pointed out/ the banks are more liberal in extending loans, to film makers. The stiff New York State la\Vs in regard to loans, on the other hand, have served as severe detriments to'the local vidpix in- dustry.' . > The demands of the craft unions are also seen as handicapping N. Y. telepix production. Producers point out that they are not seeking long er hours or salary slashes, but want more flexibility on the question of hours. Latter-will enable them to work on location during the pub- lic’s off-hours without the necessity of shelling out extra coin for night, early morning, or Sunday and holi- day work. Some modification in the conventional eight-hour day, 9 to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday week, is seen as necessary. • New York. City’s .3% sales tax (Continued on page 53) Hollywood* June 3. Series of .26 half-hour vidpix is planned by : newly-formed William Saroyan, Television Playhouse, Ine., with telepix to be shot in color. Arthur Desser of law firm of Des ser, Rau and Christensen, which handles playright’s legal affairs, set up corporation which will shoot telepix based on plays especially written for TV by Saroyan. Rodney Amatejui has been set as co-producer and co-director with Saroyan. Saroyan has finished five of the yarns, which will be separate plays. Writer himself will be on film, introing each vidpic. “ Desser is arranging financing o; series, which- begins rolling in about six weeks.. William Morris agency reps the new corporation • . . _ _ U.S. Merchandise Bally For Salzburg Puppets Via Telefilm Package ^ U. S. tour of the Salzburg Ma- rionette Theatre next fall will be tied into a merchandising package that will include some 13 film sub- jects in which the puppet group appears. Preparing the package is Trident : Films, Inc., an indie pro- duction 'Outfit, which is turning out the shorts on location in Salzburg, Austria, this summer. Series is de- signed for both TV and theatrical distribution. Trident reportedly will offer sponsors a local merchandising promotion that embraces use of film on television or in theatres together with the ^values of the Salzburg troupe actually on the scene. Marionette company's tour starts Oct. 11 and extends through the end of February for a total of some 180 performances in the U. S. and Canada. Slezak’s 'My Uncle Jan' Set as TV film Series Toronto, June 3, With Walter Slezak signed as cad, television rights to “My Un- cle Jan" have been in^ed by Ben Kamsler, currently in here from th£ Cbast as general manager of the 12-week season of “Melody Fair,” 1,646-seater setup of tent- arena ^musicals'. Now in its 10th edition by Pulit- zer Prize dinners .Joseph Aus- lander and Audrey Wurdemann, “My Uncle Jan" deals with a Czech family settling in Wisconsin; hook is in similar genre to “I Remember Mama" and “Anything Can Hap- pen." Scripts have been com- pleted by Aben Kandel, author of “City of Conquest." Negotiation are current for a TV film package deal, with films to be made in Hollywood for fall program teeoff. Leighton K. Brill, producer of the Toronto “Melody Fair" theatre-in-the-round series of summer musical comedies, is also in on the “Jan" deal with Kamsler, his production partner. Hollywood, June 3. United World Films, Inc., tele- vision subsid of Universal Pictures, launched Us activities at UI Mon- day with, the takeoff of “Action in Algiers," first of a series tagged “The Fighting Man," George Blair will direct the entire series. Blaine Riley, Michael Thomas and Cliff Clark are co-starred in the series. ^ Max Liebman, producer-director of NBC-TV’s “Your Show of Shows,!' planed yesterday (Tues.) for Europe on a six-week trip to scout foreign films for American video, He would buy the pix under the banner of Max Liebman Pro- ductions, and would have 1 no ties with NBC on this phase. Liebman’s first' stop is Madrid, and he's then due to go to Rome, Paris,,London and Vienna. Upon his return to New York, he’ll plane to Hollywood to discuss several long-discussed film propositions whereby he would produce-direct a* comedy starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca, stars of his TV re- vue. Latter ended its season last Saturday night (31) and Resumes ! in September. Telenews Fdm Spots Seek to Enlist a ® Viewer Support on D.C. Probe Ban Hamilton Watch Co. Into TV Via , Hamilton Watch Co, is making its initial venture 1 into television; pick- ing up the tab on 13 half-hour tele- pix to be shown in 20 markets, be- ginning In mid-September. Vidpix, which* will he shown on an alter-, nate week basis, were produced by Screen Television, headed by Gil Ralston. Stu Reynolds Productions final- ized deal with Hamilton, with the company making the purchase through BBD&O. Initial markets, which include N. Y,» Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston and Cincinnati, will be ex- panded gradually, According to present plans. liMifman’* Vidpix Tie-Xn : Chicago, June 3. ; The DuMont film syndication ad- junct has signed the Herbert S. Laufman package agency as its midwest sales arm. The Laufman firm will service the vidpix ih Chicago, Milwaukee,] Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. 4 Unusual case of a newsreel out- fit taking an editorial stand devel- oped this week when’ Telenew# Productions launched a campaign against the ban on telenslng public hearings of Congressional commit- tees. Three 30-second -film spots have been prepared, each of which covers a scene from! “pre-ban” newsreel footage taken at Congres- sional probes, and is designed for use on news or otlijer shows. Scripts allow local announcers to stress the importance of the hear- ing to the public and to enlist viewer support in fighting the ban on TV. Message urges the audi- ence to write Congressmen. ■ Telenews general manager Charles N. Burris wrote stations managers, “Congressional investi- gations are news of first impor- tance to the American public—and should be of first importance to you as telecasters. We 1 hope you will help in the ‘battle of the ban’.” TV Films fir Production ARROW PRODUCTIONS . KTTV Studio*, Hollywood "RAma* of THI JUNGLE" Vi half- hour jungle adventure telepix shootlnf. Producer*: Harry S; Leon Fromkess; FUm Producer: Rudolph Flothow Director: WaUy Fox ATHENA PRODUCTIONS, INC. California Studio*: Hollywood • Three series of 13 .chapter play* each "SON OF RORIN HOOD" ikedded to h«- fin shootlnf latter part of June. Producer-director: Clifford Sanforth Associate producer: A1 Weaten , A«*i*tant director: Nate Barrafer Writer; Howard .Laurence Field BREAKSTON-STAHL PRODS. General Service Studio*: Hollywood "SAFARI RILL" aerie, of 26 half hour telepix to befln shootlnf June 15.- Lock.- M of Friday, May 30 Casting: Virginia Maxxuca Now shooting "RRULAH" aerie* Of 30-i "SMILIN'ED'S OANO" series now shoot* minute situation comedies. Inf. Ed McConnell, Nino Marcel head cast. 'series now Producer-director: Frank Ferrln Rothschild Associate producer: Ralph Ferrln noensenua, AsSlgtant Jfrector: Don Olsen Don' FILMCRAFT PRODS. 8431 Melrose, Hollywood Cast: Louise Beavers, Ernie Whitman, . Ruby . Daodridge, David Bruce, Jane • Fraxee, Stuffy Singer. Producer: T6m McKnlght Director: Abby Berlin "MY LITTLR MAROIH" aeries of half hour .comedy telepix now shooting, Charles FarreU and Gale Stprm head cast. OROUCHO MARX starred in 39 half-hour p^lp MoVrls sponsors idience participation film .productions, tc - p - ‘ be made once a-week for.NBC, DeSoto Plymouth sponsoring, "THR BICKERSONS" series of 39 half hour comedy telepix now shooting. Phil Rapp i* • writer-director.. , Producer: John Guedel Film (producer: L Llndenbaum Directors: Bob Dwan, Bernie Smith Director: Hal Yates FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 6920 Sunset BIvd„ Hollywood . "ANNIE OAKLEY" new, aeries of 52 tion shot* to b« Rimed in British East half-hour videoater. begins shooting April S m • _ 1 *n«V n.ll W_ ..1 Will.. /Imhm J 19 a «*I-H REYUE PRODUCTIONS Eatfe Lion Studios: Hollywood. ' Half-hour series of adult drama tele- S ix resume shooting June 10 for Revue rods. ■ Producer: Revue Production* Director: Richard Irving, Norman Lloyd. Africa. Martha Hyer heads cast, parts to fill. Prrtducer-directOr^ BrOakston-Stahl Associate producer: Irene Breakstott Technical executive: John R. Carter 22, Gail Davis, Billy Gray head cast. Part* to fill. Producer:‘Louis Gray Director: Wallace Fox WILLIAM F. BROIDY PRODS. Sunset Studios, Hollywood "The Phantom Pirate," aerie* of half hour adventure telepix how shooting ex- teriors at Catalina island. Robert Stack heads, cast with parts to fill. Executive producer: William F. Broldy. Producer: Wesley Barry Associate producers: Bob Bailey. Hugh King Director: Frank McDonald GBOS5-KRASNE, INC.' General Service Studios: Hollywood Now shooting "BID TOWN" series of 26 _ half hour telepix sponsored by Lever Production executive: James Fonda Brothers. 1 Patrick Mcvi set lead*. . HAL ROACH PRODUCTIONS Hal Roach Studios: Culver City "AMOS 'N' ANDY" series of character comedy telepix now shooting. Sponsored by Blatz Beer for CBS-TV. Cast: TJm Moore, Spencer William*, Alvin Childress, Ernestine Wade, Johnny Lee, Horace Stewart. - . • Supervisors: Freeman Gosden, Charles orrell, Sidney Van Keuren actor: Charles Barton *2£ Dlr*< Mevey and Jane'Nigh Assistant director: Emmett Emerson JACK CHERTOR PltODS. General Serviee Studio*, Hollywood "LONR RANOHR" half hour series of Producers: Jack J. Gross and -Philip N. Krasne Director: ,E. A* Dupont. JOHN GUEDEL PRODS. . C00 Taft Bldg.; Hollywood Art Linkletter starring in a aeries of 104 13-r " ‘ -minute vidpix titled ."LINKLRTTIR NBC-TV. roy rogers Productions Goldwyn Studio, Hollywood ROY ROORRS resume* shooting, hater telepix June -4. Vidpix are half-Bour each. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans' topline, Pat Brady in support. General western parts to fill. Sponsored by General Food* for. AND THR KIDf." Producer-director: Maxwell Shane Associate producer: Irvin Atkin* HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION SERVICE Republic. Studios. North Hollywood. "COMMANDO CODY-SKY MARSHAL Producer: Roy Roger* -Associate producer: Jack Lacey Director: Bob Walker 32 videoater* now shooting. John Hart, Jay Sllverheel* set' leads. Producer: Jack Chertok < Associate Producer: Harry Poppe. COURNEYA PRODUCTIONS ^ Shootiing^*"Noah 0 Beery* JA*Adventure bwiVIRIR'' series of 39 bali- producer-director: Jules Bricken Series?"*!* W^mlnut# telepixf, ... “ . ... $£g **<“• With William Schallert in support. Producer: Franklin Adreon Director: Fred Brannon SCREEN GEMS 1302 N. Gower, Hollywood "SAMUIL MORSE" half-hour drama shooting for DuPont'* "CAVALCADR OF AMERICA" series, Cast: Noah Beery, Jr., Ann Saville, Jack Harris, Norma Fenton. • Producer-director: Jerry Courneya Supervising film editor; Jimmy Moore SCREEN TELEVIDEO ’ PRODS. Eagle Lion Studios. Hollywood BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES RKO-Pathe. Culver City Shooting "RRIOUND" series of half hour adult dramas sponsored by Packard ■ Producer: Wanda Tuchock "ELECTRIC THRATRR" "CAVALCADR OF AMRRICA" series of half hour drama telepix shooting resumes June 9. HOUR GLASS PRODS. 6323 Sunset: Hollywood producer- Gil* Ralston Shooting "MAN OF TOMORROW" series rrcKmcer - ''r of 15-minute telepix. Motor Car Corp. .. _ Executive producer: Basil Grillo Producer: Bernard Girard Director: B. Girard • Half hour series of adult drama film* for "CROWN THRATRR" shooting. Producers: Richard Dorso, Bernard Girard, DESILU PRODS., INC. General Service Studios, Hollywood "1 LOVI LUC Y'^haif-hour comedy se- ries for CBS-TV, sponsored by Philip Morris. Shoots to June. Cast: Lucille Rail, Dtii Arriax; set leads with William Frawley, Vivian Vance in support. Ne part* fa fill. Producer: Jess Oppenheimer i Director: William Asher .... Writers: Jess Oppenheimer. Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll DONLEVY CORP. Republic Studios. North Hollywood "DANGEROUS ASJICNMRNT" half* hour adventure series . starring Brian Director: George deNormand INTERSTATE TELEVISION Monogram Studios: Hollywood "THR OKNTLR YEARS" shoots June 4 in "Ethel Barrymore Television Theatre" series of half hour dramas. Walter Bren- nan starred, "DAUGHTER! starring Ethel Barrymore, skedded for June 9 start. Producer: Lee Savin Directors: Lewis Allan, Will Jason LANCER PRODUCTIONS RKO-Pathe: Culver City SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "RACKET SOU AD" series now shooting half hour telepix series. Producer: Hal Roach, Jr.t Carroll Case Director: Jim Tlnllng SNADER TELESCRIPTIONS * 177 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills Resume shooting telescrlptlon* featur ing different artists each week June. Producer: Louis D. Snader ADRIAN WEISS PRODS. 633 N. Fairfax; Hollywood "CRAIG KRNNEDY-CRIMINQLOOIST" "THOSE WERE THE DAYS" half hour half hour series of second 13 adventure telepix series now shooting. Producers: telepix shooting to June 12. Bernard Girard. Richard Dorso. Cast: Donald Wood, Sydney Mason, Lewi* "CORNY JOHNSON" series of half hour comedy plx now shooting. Producer-director: Bernard Girard JED WARD LEWIS PRCDS. Motion Picture Center. Hollywood Series of 52 vidpix. "THE AFFAIRS OF G. Wilson set leads with general parts to he cast. Producer-director: Adrian Weiss Assistant director: Bob Farfan Donlevy shooting two films a week, 32 CHINA SMITH" roll in June. Dan Duryea to he shot to June. Producer: Harold E. Knox. Director: Bill Kam DOUGFAXR CORP. 666 N. Robertson BlvdL: Hollywood Resume shooting June 9 on "TERRY AND THI PIRATES" 26 half-hour adven- ture telepix. . . Cast: John Baer. Marl Blanchard. William Tracy, Gloria Saunders, Jack Kruschen, Producer: Dougfalr Corp. Director: Dick Irving. JERRY FAIRBANKS 6052 Sunset Blvd.. Hollywood Resume shooting "HOLLYWOOD THI* ATRR" series June 15. * Assistant Director: Joe Boyl* Production Sup.: Raoul Pagel FRANK FERRIN PRODUCTIONS 6525 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood starred. Producer: .Edward Lewis Production manager: William Steven* MARCH OF TIME 369 LeXlngton Avc., N. Y. "AMERICAN WIT AND HUMOR" se- ries of 26 half-hour plx. Thomas Mitchell, narrator, with cast Including Gene Lock- FRANK WISBAR PRODS. Eagle Lion Studios: Hollywood "FIRESIDE THEATRE" aerie* of half hour adult dramas resume shooting In mid-June. Producer-director: Frank WIshar Associate producer: Sidney Smith WRATIIER TELEVISON PRODS INC. California Studios, Hollywood "ROSS LADY" series of half hour •# hart, Jeffrey Lynn, Arnold Moss, Ann sophisticated comodles now shooting. )lh ~ ' Burr and Olive Deering. Producer: Marlon Parsonnet Directors: Fred Stephanl. PHILLIPS LORD PRODS. Visual Drama Studios: Hollywood "OANOBUfTER" series for NBC-TV, sponsored by Chesterfield, now shooting. Producer: Phillips Lord Director: LeW Landers ROLAND REED PRODS. Hal Roach Studios: Culver City Cast: Lynn Bari, Glenn Langan, Richard Gaines, Lee Patrick, Charley Smith. Nicholas Joy. Producers: Jack Wrather, Robert Mann Associate producer: Sherman A. Harris ZIY TV 5253 Clinton St., Hollywood Four in "UNEXPECTED" series of half- hour telepix shoot in June. Four "BOS- TON RLACKII" half-hour telepix ached uled for June shooting. Director: Paul Landres, Eddi* Davis, tfo bey Martin A series v of vidpix featuring top Met Opera stars, to bf j filmed in Italy, is being prepped; by Frank Chapman, concert personal man- ager and press rep. Series,' which will be tagged “Land of Song," will be produced in cooperation with Teatro Films of Rome. 1 Among the Metop mimes who’ll be starred in the 26 half-hour pro- grams will be Dorothy Kirsten, Gladys Swarthout, Ramon Vinay and Cesare Slepi, Featured talent will also'include Marina Svetlpva, former prima ballerina of the Met, her partner Robert Calder, and Jill Kraft, who recently under- studied Audrey Hepburn in the Broadway legiter, “Gigi." Maestro Gino Nuzzi, of the Rome Opera, will conduct the Philharmonic Ra- dio Orchestra, Harlan Thompson Will produce and direct ; the y series. “Land of Song," which will cost more than $500,000 to shoot, will be distributed here by Dorset Produc- tions. Chapman planes to Italy, to- day (Wed.) to start, operations,. Vidpix Chatter Hollywood Bing Crosby Enterprises guns Perry Mason series July j31-at RKO Pathe, with Dick Dorso at producer and Gall Patrick associate pro- ducer . . . Reub Kaufman skied east to open sales branches for newly-formed Guild Fllihs in mid- west and N. Y. . . . JuYe Henry Marco lnjked for role 1 in “The Phantom Pirate/’ being directed by Frank McDonald, produced by William F. Broidy Productions . . . Mord Bogie, prexy of Schroeder*. Rockefeller, here from, Gotham for confabs with vidpix producer Jack Wrather . . , Flack B11L Hebert ac- quired rights to shoot exhibits and premises of Madame ■ Tussaud's, Ltd.', in London, for dramatic TV series tagged “Midnight at Madame Tussaud’s" . . . Third segment of Hal Roach’s “The Dramatic Hour” wound, with Onslow Steven* in “Valley Forge," Roy Kelllno direct- ing, and Gayle Gitterman produc- ing. Last segment, “Last Days of Pompei," to be shot in ; two weeks . . . Jack Mahoney and Dick Jdnes of Flying A Productions’ “Range Rider" series topline annual Police Circus in Pittsburgh July 31-Aug. 2 Hillary Brooke and Clarence Kolb in supporting roles for “My Little Margie," starring Gale Storm and Charles Farrell, shooting at Hal Roach lot, and going on CBS-TV June 16 as summer replacement for “I Love Lucy" .. .‘Bing Crosby Enterprises editing six pilot pix. “Up Ferguson Way," “The Best Year," “Corney Johnson," “Dreams of Glory," “Those Were the Days” . . Gross-Krasne, Iiic. canned 20 of 26 “Big Town" telepix, and are prepping final six for production within two weeks . . . Frank Wis- bar has four scripts ready in next group of “Fireside Theatre," roll- ing June 9 at Eagle-Lion studios . . . Don Gibson, Ed. Earl r Ils# Madcr, Frank Wilcox added to .cast of “Samuel Morse," “Cavalcade of America” telepic being shot iot Du Pont Co. by Screen Gems, Co- lumbia subsidiary