Variety (April 1953)

ss kabxo-tkuotsion X^MEfr Wednesday, April 22, 195S Ohio State Institute Continued from pate 29 (and presumably additional) tlmfc be given reserving educational TV channels. May Seek More Channels Earl^ James McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, whose speech was read by Asst. Commis- sioner. Ward Stewart (since McGrath was ili and unable to‘at- tend ), said at the same session, '.‘ft is important that these allocations be extended—at least for a year, if not longer.” Indications are, he said, that many more channels will be needed and “we may find 242 channels are not enough” This was the first indication given here that the educators' might not be satisfied with the orginal allo- cation but may go out after more channels. In many cases, the educators ac- knowledged and saluted the aid and example given them by many com- mercial broadcasters, few of whom, it appears, have obstructed the fight of the college men to gain their own stations. A ‘ majority of the Institute’s •‘special interest” and “work-study” sessions were devoted this year to “hpw-to-do-it” themes that ran all the way from the actual techniques of educational television to how to support the non-commercial sta- tion. There were sessions on re- search (which “can help educators sell worthwhile information and ideas just as it helps advertisers sell soap and beer”), public re- lations, program quality, farm broadcasts and telecasts, religious TV programs and community co- operation. There was a repeated admonition to get down into the market place and adopt many of the commer- cial techniques and methods. “If the business of educational broadcasting is to be conducted effectively,” Robert J. Coleman, director of WKAR, Michigan State Eileen BARTON CURRENTLY ON TOUR * * * Latest Coral Release •TOT LUCK" Dlr.t MCA Ctoflegp, said, "it must employ business methods.” William Hodapp, executive di- rector of Teleprograms, Inc., which produces “American Inven- tory” for NBC, said educational broadcasters must continually de- pend on the know-how and experi- ence of pommercial broadcasters who have proved themselves sym- pathetic to public affairs telecast- ing. “Since the most effective approach to adult education on television is to bring showmanship to the telecast of ideas, and make public affairs TV as absorbing and significant as possible,” Hodapp observed, “obviously the two ele- ments of educatonal and cultural institutions and professional knowl- edge and skill must join.” Katherine Fox, director of spe- cial broadcast services for WLW, Cincinnati, stated bluntly that “We believe there are no experts in educational television today.” She offered a plan designed to in- crease the “faith between profes- sional- educators and commercial telecasters” and to foster the “birth and growth”, of educational TV experts, RCA Color Continued from page 24 of 14-inch-tube‘ sets, which had better and easier-on-the-eyes re- ception than larger sets, could be started at once. The compatibility factor, which permits existing sets to receive color broadcasts in black and white, is a major factor in RCA’s favor. Gen. Sarnoff indicated his firm was “ready to proceed with color television as soon as the FCC ap- proves the standards.” RCA pilot production is ready for expansion, and could be geared to mass pro- duction in nine to 12 months. Meanwhile, RCA stock went up %ths of a point asr a result of Gen. Sarnoff’s statement. And Benjamin Abrams, president of Emerson Radio and Phonograph Corp., announced a color-TV “money-back” offer to current pur- chasers of black-and-white re- ceivers. The total purchase price of any 1953 Emerson television model, if turned in by June 30, 1954, Abrams said, can be Used as partial payment of any color re- ceiver (color sets are expected to be 50% higher than black-and- white sets). ’ ^ Demonstrate Lawrence Tube Proof that'the * Lawrence color TV tube fits in with both the FCO approved CBS color system and the standards proposed by the Na- tional Television System Commit- tee for. the industry, was offered last week (15) to members of the House Committee on Interstate NEW PAPER-MATE PENS IN 4 COLORS ! GOLD AND CHRpME TOPS- JADE GREEN, COCOA-BROWN AND BLACK BARRELS It’s here! The original “push button* pen—Paper-Mate—in four spar- kling color barrels! Start enjoy- ing finger-tip writing ease. Just press a button and out pops the point —ready to write. Another “click” and it disappears. The precision point always stays clean—can’t leak on hands or clothing.*And each Paper-Mate is guanranteed for 20 years against mechanical failure. DELUXE MODEL COLORED INK REFILLS!...*. 49c More bis writing news! Refills for all Paper-Mate Pens are now available In red, green and black ink—as well as the standard blue. And all are approved by bankers because they're guaranteed not to transfer, smear or fade. They're safe for checks and legal documents. '• Professional Discount 20% • SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER (We absorb postage) PARA-TYPE STATIONERY '200 Wist 52nd Street, New York 19, FT. Y. Phone Circle 7-3626 ««i»« pa» «ft • * M tt **** and Foreign Commerce, FCC staf- fers and the press. Twin demonstrations in New York did little more than show that the Lawrence tube is adaptable. Quality of the color it produces failed to impress observers. Reds came through as orange and flesh tones didn’t look real. Blues were particularly good and there was comment on the sharp definition of the image even when room lights were turned up high. Color tubes used were of the 22- type. Richard Hodgson, prexy of Chromatic Laboratories, which turns out the tube and in which Paramount has a 50% interest, said his outfit was getting set to pro- duce a 28-inch rectangular tube and should be out with the* first this summer. The Lawrence tube is. a single-gun tube, whereas • the RCA color tube is a triple-gun tube. Tele Followups Continued from page 27 interesting to relatives and friends than a national audience. Four acts chatted with Collyer, most of them at that indispensible desk, and then went through their eagerly ambitious paces—A/3c Jerry Van Dyke, in a comedy pan- tomime imitation (to a record) of Frank Sinatra, the Ink Spots and the Spike Jones band; M/Sgt. Steve Harwell, in a baritone ren- dering of “September Song;” the Range Dusters, hillbilly instrumen- tal quintet in the -Steel Guitar Rag, and A/2c Delbert Mook, a tenor, in 'the Serenade from The Stu- dent Prince. The U. S. First Air Force band backed the singers pleasantly. The applause meter showed Mook the winner, and he copped a two-day around-town tour with Maggie McNellis. The U. S. Air Force filmed commercials (the Army alternates as sponsor) sound a call for recruits of high calibre. It’s too much to expect to have the flyboys pass that kind of rigid test on entertainment. Horn. Continued from page 26 budget with 785 station members, would also .campaign to boost its membership to 1,000 broadcasters by April, 1954. “There are too many 'free riders’ who still refuse to invest in their own industry,” Ryan said. Another item on the agenda, he said, would be the seeking of a new theme to promote the vast- ness of radio, with its 98% pene- tration of all U. S. homes, and the fact that there are now 112,000,000 AM sets in the nation, including 24,000,000 ip autos. So far, he said, the best slogan had been developed by WJAR, Detroit: “Wherever you go, there’s radio.” It had been suggested that BAB promote a nation-wide con- test for a radio theme, but Ryan said he preferred it to come from “the brains in radio.” Meanwhile, he said, BAB was continuing its practice of sending stations 20- second and one-minute announce- ments, designed to boost radio vis- a-vis TV to consumers. . Still another subject that would he “hashed out” at the convention, said Ryan, would be the matter of “that.small minority of broadcast- ers” who are slashing rates. “I don’t care what a broadcaster wishes to charge,” said RyanT “But we are at BAB are firmly opposed to those who indulge in a rate gasoline war. It hurts the broad- casters worst of all, since ad agen- cies grow suspicious that the broad- caster is slicing rates for a com- petitor, but not for him.” ABG-TV ‘Fall Style’ Continued from page 26 in their favor that didn’t exist pre- viously. Network, they say, can now clear a minimum of 30 sta- tions live for the Thomas and Bol- ger vidpix, a drastic change over situation six months ago. They point to their “Ozzie and Harriet,” which currently is in 62 station areas,with 98.5% coverage. Show started on the network only last October. With more and more affiliates opening up, network believes it can satisfactorily amortize pro- duction costs over a wide network ] for the advertiser. Another factor, is a share in residual rights in the No ‘Deadlne on Educ’1 Channels Washington, April 21. FCC’s new chairman, Rosel Hyde, assured the Senate Committee * on Interstate and Foreign Commerce that “there Is no time limit” involved in applying for educational television channels. He and other FCC members told the Committee that the so-called “dead- line” of June 2 means only that commercial interests may apply for the 242 channels heretofore reserved for educational purposes. It was made clear that such applications would not necessarily be granted. Committee Chairman Charles A. Tobey (R-N. H.) said he favored an extension of the resen ition of the 242 channels for educational applicants. Comr. Frieda Hennock requested that resolution be passed providing that no commercial grants be given by the FCC for any of tho 242 channels after the June 2 deadline expires, even if the “reservations” aren’t extended. And retiring FCC Chairman Paul A. Walker made a “personal” appeal that the “reservations” be extended. films which presumably would be tied in to any sponsor deal. Strong selling argument which will be used-is the “weekly expos- ure” of the programs. Philosophy here is that unlike many other top comedy shows, the Thomas and Bolger airers will be shown weekly, this giving the audience a “viewing habit.” That's the pri- mary reason for putting the pro- grams on film, so that enough films can be made for weekly showings without “burning out” the performers and their material. Finally, the web Is giving seri- ous thought to the handling of the Thomas and Bolger vidpix for sec- ond runs and residuals. Under- stood web is planning a syndicated sales setup, but it’s still just in the thinking stage. One exec, queried about this, said, “Give us a chance to sell the first runs before we start worrying about the second runs: •* D.G/s 31 Outlets Continued from page 26 niEireiiR»i mn>,, 12:30 p.m., WASH will begin its broadcast day at 7 a.m. and sign off at 11 p.m. Dillard’s AM station will have separate advertising rates and separate studios from those of WASH but will use the same tower and transmitte^site occupied by WASH in Wheaton. In the morning hours its programs will be duplicated on FM. In the after- noon, it will duplicate the evening programs of WASH except for Mutual shows. (Mutual’s AM affili- ate in Washington is WWDC; the latter’s FM auxiliary has the Tram sit Raditf* franchise in the Capital.) Dillard’s AM program format will be keyed to the development of the Montgomery County (Md.) community and the fast growing towns of Wheaton, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville and Kensing- ton. The station will devote an un- usually large part of its schedule to live local programs, drawing on the many government officials who live in the area. A particular* target will be the vast automobile audi- ence which travels to and from the Capital. ABC Radio 525 Continued from page 24 successful antidote to video for many of the Independent opera- tions. Even in music, personalities will be keynoted, as in the Monday night musicale with Jan Peerce, its new Martha Lou Harp show, its Sammy Kaye airer. Personality stress extends to dra- matic programming too. Web’s “Heritage” series has adopted a ; name star policy which teed off last Thursday (16) with Raymond Massey. New “ABC Playhouse,” which preemed the same day, had Robert Cummings in a Desilu radio package. Future plays in the series will feature top names, some of them culled from the rolls of “Playhouse’s” video counterpart, “ABC Album.” Vertical programming is aimed to give the listener a sense of regu- larity so that he *can expect to know what’s on each evening of the week. Scheme has been used to some extent before by networks, as with NBC on its Tuesday “Com- edy Night.” But this is probably first attempt by a network to com- pletely categorize its entire week's schedule. Albany — Tom Mitchel, former sales manager of WTIK, Durham, JJ. C.; WRAL, Raleigh, and WIST, Charlotte, has been appointed commercial manager of WPTR. He succeeds Jack Charles,, who re- signed Friday (17) after 10 months’ service. DuMont Pacts Shrine Gridcast for 3 Years DuMont network' this week tied up rights to the annual Shrine East-West Collegiate All-Star foot- ball games for the next three years. Deal was finalized between Chris J. Witting, web’s director, ahd William M. Coffman, manag- ing director of the Shrine’s foot- ball committee, on Monday (20). Web has carried the games on tele for the past two years, with Motorola TV sponsoring in 1951 and Plymouth bankrolling last year. Late-December tilt for the benefit of the Shriners’ Crippled Children’s Hospital was carried last year over a network of 55 stations. Coffman also completed arrange- ments for Mutual to carry the games on radio. ' Hartford—Mike Cookish has been named chief engineer of WCCC, local indie here. Replaces John Rameika who becomes studio super- visor, A new post. ill II1111111 III III! KALAMAZOO THAR SEATTLE AS A TV MARKET I (241,832 Sets Against 232,700!) VKZO-TV (Official Basic C.B.S. 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