Variety (January 1953)

Wednesday* January 14, 1£53 PtSSIEff TV-FILMS wm m * ini' , >^ .i ■ * ■ < 19 Sovereign Theatre’ Pacts Anderson, Sets Sights on Thurher, Hagar Wilde Chi AFTRA in Unique Lend-Lease Pact, Repping SAG (or 10G in ’53 Hollywood, Jan. 13. 4 Following the lead set by the networks in signing top-name play- wrights for original properties, Sovereign Productions, Hollywood vidfilm outfit, has pacted Maxwell Anderson to script a half-hour show in blank verse based on Frederick Gerstacker’s classic “Germelshausen.” Sovereign in addition is huddling with James Thurber and Hagar Wilde for other stories. Vidfilms are to be included in the outfit's upcoming “Sovereign Thea- tre Series.” Anderson is to be con- sulted on casting and production matters. Production firm is hud- dling with Thurber for him to adapt his “Topaz Cuff Links Mys- tery,” and with Miss Wilde for an untitled project. Outfit has also purchased “The Happy Hypocrite,” novelet by Max Beerbohm, which goes into production soon. Sovereign is headed by Gil Ral- ston, Arthur Ripley and Stuart Reynolds. William Herndon, story editor, expects to establish a N. Y. office within the next few months to initiate more top-name writing deals for the company’s 1953 prod- uct lineup. Map Campaign On ‘Rnnaway’ Vidpix „ Hollywood, Jan. 13. National campaign to eliminate “runaway” TV film production abroad is planned by the Holly- wood AFL Film Council, hfeaded by Roy M. Brewer. Council’s for- eign film production committee was ordered to notify all producers, distributors, agencies, sponsors and television stations to that effect. “Runaway” films, according to Dolf Thomas, chairman of the com- mittee, are those produced abroad primarily to escape payment of standard American wages. Brewer added: “Television film production could provide equal employment with production for theatres in 1953, provided unjustifiable film- ing abroad is eliminated.” Screen Extras Mull Strike Against ATFP Hollywood, Jan. 13, With negotiations for a new pact deadlocked, Screen Extras Guild wilL consider strike action against the Alliance of Television Film Producers at a special meeting to- morrow (Wed.) SEG had sought a pact pat- terned after that of Screen Actors Guild, but prexy Richard H. Gordon charged that vidfilm pro- ducers are “trying to turn the clock back 20 years and force ex- tra players to ‘bicycle’ from pic- ture to picture in the same day.” Gordon declared the major dis- agreement is over payment for more than one film, plus additional coin for re-runs. Ballantine’s 26 -Week Renewal on ‘Intrigu nr,® a ^ an ^ ne beer has renew Foreign Intrigue,” Europea lensed vidpic series, for 26 Wee! effective in mid-March. Cycle will include 13 new filn reruns of 13 previous e] es - Agency is J. Walter Thom «un. DuMont Sets Raft Vidpi erFtPrt^ 0 ?^® three owned-and- S Nations will carry “I’m Georo a n S W ri. vidpix ser ies stari on a 8 in for Monarch Wii otl a local basis. Stan^f’ com P r isiiig 26 half-li duction^? S w m u de by Cosman I MC A 11 ^ 00 ^ J‘ nd D dlStl starts Z •.■yJ-pA-TV Ltd. Progi 8 P m. WABD * N - Y., Feb. If Pincuses to Coast On ‘Ellery’ Vidpix Version Norman and Irving Pincus, pack- agers of “Adventures of Ellery Queen,” leave for the Coast late this month to line up a pilot film for a vidpic version of the show. Option which ABC-TV held on the property has expired. It had been backed until a couple of months ago by Bayuk cigars. Parker‘Toast’Spot Nixed by Spouse Actress Eleanor Parker, co- starred with Robert Taylor in Metro’s upcoming “Above and Be- yond,” had received Metro’s bless- ing, along with Taylor, for a guest appearance on Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” Sunday night (11). Actress is under personal contract, however, to her husband, indie pro- ducer Bert Friedlob, and he nixed the date on the theory that other major studios with which, he is currently dickering for her services might object to her doing a live TV show. Taylor’s guesting marked the first time that Metro, long the’most .adamant objector among the ma- jors to any form of cooperation with TV, had permitted one of its contract stars to do a video show. Because his appearance was tied in with a fat plug for “Above,” all the top Metro execs, from prexy Nicholas M. Schenck down, were reportedly enthusiastic about the Sullivan program. As a result, it’s expected that-Mfetro will be looking henceforth for means ,of utilizing TV to promote its big features. GREENE SUES AGAIN ON ‘HERO’ SERIES OUSTER Los Angeles, Jan. 13. Ousting of Mort Greene as pro- ducer of the “My Hero” TV series, starring Robert Cummings, result- ed in a second suit, this time for $119,200, aimed at the star and his wife, Mary. Original suit demand- ed $19,200, covering a 48-week con- tract. Complaint charges Cummings with causing Greene’s discharge through interference and “by in- nuendo and slander.” Par to Construct L.A. Vidpix Studio Hollywood, Jan. 13. Paramount Pictures will be the first major motion picture studio to r construct a telepix studio, Par planning such a plant for its video subsid, Paramount Television Pro- ductions. Paul Raibourn, v.p. of Paramount Pictures and prexy of Paramount Television, disclosed here that when PTP begins shooting vidpix in Hollywood it will initially be on the Par lot, but that a studio espe- cially built for telefilms is planned on a site adjacent to the theatrical film studio. “We feel it’s far more advan- tageous to have a studio especially built and equipped for television film production. Only in that way could we keep it as an indigenous unit,” Raibourn commented. He de- clined to say whether studio con- tractees would be used in the tel- pix, but indicated this possibility is being considered. The Par exec said that while plans fbr the subsid are progress- ing, with one series already shoot- ing in Europe, no date has been set for start of production here. By BOB STAHL Major Hollywood studios may be flirting with the idea of television film production but they’re still treating vidpix as the unwanted orphan offspring of the industry. That, at least, is the belief of in- die vidfilm producer Les Hafner, who’s about to embark on an am- bitious film production Schedule for both TV and theatrical release based on the complete library of Mark Hellinger stories to which he recently acquired exclusive rights. Hafner said this week that he was approached by two majors which he believes were interested in his project because of the track record set by previous Hellinger pix. Each offered him a deal similar <to those habitually set by the majors with indie theatrical film producers. They invited him to come on their lot with his three properties (he owns vidfilm rights to the “Kerry Drake” and “Rex Morgan, M.D.” comic strips as well as the Hellinger stories), and to finance and distribute everything he turns out. But the deal also called for Hafner to re- ceive only a small percentage of the profits, meaning the majors would be getting the lion’s share of the gravy. Hafner turned down both deals after consultations with his at- torneys and the William Morris agency which reps him. Very na- ture of the majors’ bids, however, proves that they don’t yet recog- nize vidfilm production as big business. It’s Hafner’s contention that the majors must realize that they don’t control all film business and that an indie vidfilmer can work without their blessing. He himself has a contract to* shoot on the Hal Roach lot in Hollywood and has set his own financing through a combination of Wall Street, Madison Ave. and Broad- way entrepreneurs. In addition, the Morris office will r^p him on distribution deals for both his TV and theatricals pix. Despite his dealings with the majors to date, Hafner reiterated that indie vidfilmers can succeed in the future only if they turn out top-quality product which can match the quality of vidpix to be turned out by the majors once they do swing into vidfilm produc- tion. To that end, he revealed that he has pacted Jim Bishop and Malvin Wald to co-script the Hel- linger stories for both theatrical and TV pix. Bishop, at one time Hellinger’s editorial assistant, wrote “The Mark Hellinger Story,” just published by Appleton. Wald, w.k. Hollywood scripter, did the > screenplay of “Naked City,” which Hellinger produced. Hafner also revealed that, rather than attempt to wrap up three of the half-hour Hellinger vidpix into a theatrical feature, he has chosen a single story, “The $1,000 Window,” on which he’ll base a film grooved from the start for theatres. In leafing through the Hellinger manuscripts he said, he found a note appended to “Win- dow” written by Hellinger him- self, in which the'late author-pro- ducer opined that this would be a better radetrack story than his own famous “Broadway Bill.” He'S shooting for top names and hopes to use the same stars for both the TV and theatrical pix. Hafner plans to drive to the Coast about the first week in February to start intensive prepa- rations for the Hellinger proper- ties. He hopes to launch actual production in April on the first of the TV pix ‘Vet’ Lee to TV Hollywood, Jan. 13. David Lee, who as a moppet sat on A1 Jolson’s knees in “Tl^e Singing Fool” 24 years ago, has returned to show bhrot an ^an- cient” 27. He^s been inked as a singer on Jack Owens’ KECA airer. 86 Years Playing Time Les Hafner, who recently ac- quired exclusive film rights for both TV and theatrical release to the. late Mark Hellinger’s stories,* revealed this week that the author-producer left more than 5,500 stories \in his li- brary, some of which have never been published. It’s fig- ured that if Hafner produced a single half-hour vidfilm on each of the stories, it would take a station 86 years to* play them off at the rate of one a week. Hafner obtained rights to the properties from Gladys Glad Gottlieb, Hellinger’s widow. U Tapers Off On Vidpix Production While undergoing an extensive study of the market for TV films, Universal plans to continue produc- tion of video pix on a reduced scale and on the basis of single films rather than series. Determination of final policy will be made when Alfred E. Daff, U’s exec v.p., re- turns to the Coast next week from Australia. U some time ago completed a series of 13 TV films called “Fight- ing Men” which it is still peddling but so far without success. The studio announced recently that it was shelving the production of fur- ther series by its subsidiary, United World Television, pending a study of market conditions. Feeling at the U home office is that single pix would serve the im- mediate purpose of testing the mar- ket while at the same time keeping the company in the business of TV film production. ROACH STUDIOS ROLL WITH 5 VID SERIES Hollywood, Jan. 13. Following two-weeks holiday production hiatus, Hal Roach stu- dios swung into high gear with five telepix series skedded ,for starts this month. Studios operations chief Sidney Van Keuren reported “The Life of Riley,” starring William Bendix, di- rected by Abby Berlin, and pro- duced by Tom McKnight, is rolling. Others before the cameras, he said, are “Amos ’n’ Andy,” directed by Charley Barton, produced by James Fonda; Bing Crosby Enterprises’ “Rebound,” produced and directed by.Harve Foster; “My Little Mar- gie,” starring Gale Storm and Charles Farrell, directed by Hal Yates, produced by Hal Roach, Jr. Roach and Carroll Case produce the Jan. 19 starter, “Racket Squad,” starring Reed Hadley, di- rected by Erie Kenton and Howard Bretherton. Liberace Set for 3-Way $1,521,000 Vidpic Deal Hollywood, Jan. 10. Liberace will topline 117 half- hour telepix, as the result of a three-way deal involving $1,521,000. Contracts were signed by KLAC- TV general manager Don Fedder- son, Guild Films prexy Reub Kauf- man and Gabbe, Lutz and Heller, agents for the pianist. Guild, which will. distribute the product nationally, will put up $750,000, about half of the entire financing, during 1953. Each tele- pic has a $13,000 budget. George Liberace is musical director. Series started to roll yesterday (Mon). KLAC-TV plans similar national distrib deals on other programs currently being shown. ' Chicago, Jan. 13. Chi local'of the American Fed- eration of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild have entered into an unique agree- ment whereby AFTRA will serve as SAG’s rep here, handling all the. functions of the latter union. Lend- lease pact is for one year with SAG paying AFTRA $10,000, plus such extraordinary costs as may occur. Arrangement indicates the grow- ing adhesion between the two unions which previously had been marred by jurisdictional disputes arising out of the emergence of TV films. As a matter of fact, AFTRA had taken steps to organ- ize the Chi TV film industry just prior to SAG’s entry into the local picture. Previously the screen group had not established a unit here. Under the new agreement AFTRA’s exec secretary Ray Jones is empowered to organize, negoti-* ate and- administer for SAG in the filr" industry here. First or- der of .. ..siness will be the bargain- ing on new TV film commercial pacts, absence of same having re- sulted in the current SAG strike against the commercial lensers. “Best TV PIay$’ As Vidpix Series In what may be one answer to the problem of how to preserve the best TV shows, which are tradi- tionally aired once and then are dead, Robert Lawrence Productions has pacted for exclusive vidfilm rights to- William I. Kaufman’s an- nually-published “Best TV Plays.” Lawrence, Indie 1,'. Y. vidfilm pro- ducer, plans to lens a series of half- hour adaptations of the plays, which can be run and rerun nu- merous times and so preserve what TV producers, editors, etc., select yearly as the best video dramatic fare. As explained by Lawrence, the Kaufman anthologies should make for top-quality vidfilm fare. In addition to hhving already been se- lected as the “best,” they can be improved on where necessary in their transition to TV film. He pointed out that it will also be pos- sible to screen kinescopes of the original live shows to determine whether the same sets, casts, etc., should be retained or revised for the vidpix. Rights to all the plays In the anthologies belong to • the authors, but Lawrence has started to clear them for his project. Producer has created a special subsidiary organization for the ven- ture, tagged “Best TV Plays, Inc.” He plans to lens them at his own N. Y. studios where, he pointed out, the fact that he has a permanent crew working can make for re- duced production costs. He may in- clude one European TV play in each cycle of 13 (he noted that the current Broadway legit click, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” was originally staged on England’s BBC-TV) and also one original in each cycle. Lawrence hopes to lens them on a $25,000 budget each. Scripts pre- sented on an hour show in their original live production will be trimmed to a half-hour where pos- sible, or else serialized as two half- hour pix. Producer will not turn out a pilot on the series, declaring that he’ll iyait until a sponsor inks for them on a national basis before he starts shooting. Spot Biz Service Charles Michelson, Inc., tran- scription firm, last week opened an open-end spot announcement film service. » One-minute spot an- nouncements will be made avail- able to television stations on an an- nual subscription basis, with new releases furnished monthly. Firm will start marketing the {films Feb* 1. 4 k t