Variety (December 1954)

40 TV-FILMS Wednesday, December 8, 1954 Screen Gems on Comm’l Tint Spurt; Sets Agency Units, Mulls Canada Setup Screen Gems, whose commer-^ rials activity has been steadily on the upbeat, is currently on a color blurb kick, with eight tinted spots in the works Hong with two in- dustrial color films. Mass of the commercial work is for film manu- facturers, with five 90-second spots in production for Eastman Kodak for use in its “Norbv” tint series, and two more in production for the competitive Ansco. On the industrial front, the Co- lumbia Pictures telefilm subsid is turning out a quarter-hour pic, tracing the his'ory of color tv, for RCA. which will use it on televi- sion and in non-theatrical release, ^ther industrial is a 30-minute job on growth of tobaceo and cigaret Ivy’ Story Pairing Set For Consec Playdates Hollywood, Dec. 7. “The Halls of Ivy” producer Wil- liam Frye is tying together a pair of “Ivy” telepix storywise, to be shown on consecutive playdates. First of the two rolled last week at Motion Picture Centre, with Ronald and Benita Colman star- j ring. William Cameron Menzies George Shu perl (Pritidnnt of ABC Syndication) hat tom* latorostinq viowt oa The Path of Syndicated Film * * * an intornstinq oditorial foatur* In th« upcoming 49th Annivenary Number of VARIETY OUT SOON From the Production Centres Continued from page 2t CBS-TV ‘Morning’ Course The Jack Paar - ringmastered ring. William Cameron menzies : _ . n > n * r megging the first, and Norman Z. I fjjr S fOUF lOF MacLeod the second. “Faculty Follies” is name of the yarn. Frank Jenks, Arthur Q. Bryan. Herbert Butterfield, Mary manufacture for Lucky S'rike. SG > wickes, Paul Smith. Rex Evans and : "Morning Show” on CBS-TV has i*. also turning out a one-minute Frctl Grimes round out cast of | lurec j a quartet of new bankrolled, tinted spot for Luckies featuring "Follies.” which concerns a fund- ; , n . d f .. three Dar _ Dorothy Collins. 1 rais i n g affair sponsored by faculty. 1 Rexa " Drug 18 d ?" n f0, J hr f ? , Meanwhile, firm has laid out a . plan for what it calls “personal- _ . T ized” service for agency accounts | ‘Arch lipon 10 Large and is also engaged in setting up a Canadian commercial production subsid in association with Canadian interests. Ralph Cohn, v.p.-general manager, along with Ben Beren Pix Product Audience Chicago. Dec. 7. Strong argument that there's still a huge audience for fresh feature berg, eastern exec producer, and I fi i m pro duct was registered last M. Peter Keane, technical director, are in Montreal this w r eek laying out the details on'such a Canadian setup, while sales v.p. John Mitch- ell is in Toronto conferring with CBC officials on the project. Firm’s program series are dis- sipations on full web starting Feb. 15. (Order takes in “Pano- rama Pacific,” Coast version of program.) Eastco, for Clearasil, inked two-a-week starting last Thursday (2>. Campbell Cereal is in for a weekly alternating pair on midwest portion, over a seven-week span. Western Union is also down tribbed in Canada, and its deemed Q enera i Teleradio distributed Bank desirable to have a commercial month on WGN-TV’s Sunday night showcasing of “Arch of Triumph Charles Boyer-Ingrid Bergman f 0 r two and includes “Panorama,” starrer score a 34.6 ARB tally to j ^ 23-24 lead the pack of -locally-sponsored v ' ' , , . ... entries 1 I It was reported last week that Arch" is one of the bundle of j‘he commercial screening wing of one of the web’s owned-and- production service there as well. “Personalized” service involves the assignment of one producer to each agency using the firm for commercials. Berenberg will head up the unit producing for BBD&O. while Sonny Chalif will boss the Kenyon & Eckhardt unit. Two new producers have joined the firm in connection with the ex- pansion involved, with Ben Blake and Lee Goodman added, the lat- t . as an associate producer on the BBD&O unit. James Kelly has been added to the commercials sales staff. of America pix. being underwritten on WGN-TV by car dealer Jim Moran. Roland Reed’s N. Y. Arm Sets Howard as Head Roland Reed Productions has ac- quired a New York office, with Hampton W. (Hamp) Howard re- signing as Gotham rep for Gross- Krasne Productions to head the new setup. Howard will concen- trate on sales of commercials and industrial pix (of which the Reed unit has produced some 600 in the past). He’s also exploring possi- bility of setting up an eastern production unit for commercials and the public relations films. Pro- gram representation will stay status quo. with a number of out- fits handling sales of the Reed properties. Howard joined Gross - Krasne about a year ago after several years as head of his own firm, Spe- cial Purpose Films. Prior to that, he was officer in charge of the Army's Overseas Motion Picture Service. Before the war, he was a publicist for Paramount. It’s not known whether Gross- Krasne will replace Howard in N. Y., in view' of the takeover of its United Television Programs by Music Corp of America and the corollary production deals in- volved. Libby-McNeill’s 30 Pix General Teleradio pacted with j Libby, McNeill & Libby for sole sponsorship of the 30 features in ! the Bank of America package in all Canadian markets. It’s the first time in tv history that any spon- sor has bought sole identification with feature films, and it’s under- stood GT is seeking to bind similar deals on a regional basis within the U. S. Libby already has picked up air time in 14 Canadian markets, with operated stations had tentatively nixed the Eastco Clearsil order. Product is a skin ailment “van- isher.” Question may arise as to the practical meaning of owned-&- operated autonomy in the case of a “not acceptable” commercial. New Telepix Shows THE WHISTLER With Howard Duff, Martha Vick- ers, others [Producer: Joel Malone Director: William H. Claxton Writers: Malone, Adrian Gendot, others 39 half-hours time expected on the several other Distrib: CBS-TV Film Sales stations in due course. Penchant of syndicators for who- dunits has resulted in an oversup- ply of the crime shows in that mar- ket, along with a tendency of each show to resemble the next. It’s be- come a sort of stereotype, with the McDonald to Direct 26 Hollywood, Dec. 7. Frank McDonald has inked a'station filmbuyer or the agency tv deal with Italian Films Export to director now able to blindfold him- direct 26 “The Three Musketeers” | self, reach into the grabbag and vidfilms in Rome, with production ; up one as equally sat- due to begin in mid-January. ^factory as the next. One can t pin _ “ .... the blame on the syndicators too Jeffrey Stone stars in the series, ! much since the thriller-diller has . j - l_ l _ _ r» . . i l , ■ I * . produced by Ralph Serbe, and to be distributed by Official Films, Mc- been a radio-tv staple, but the ex- isting situation is still one of their Donald, who is winding his pact own making with William F. Broidy, leaves j C BS Television Film Sales has a Dec. 18 for N. Y. and Rome to couple of advantages over the rest prep the telefilms. Deal was set | 0 f the field in “The Whistler.” Sc- by Norman Brokaw of the William j ries has a long track record as a Morris agency. Pacey to Sonnenberg Jack Pacey former publicity and Telepix Followup PEPSI-COLA PLAYHOUSE (Desert Reckoning) Retribution is an old-saw theme. i radio property, for one thing. For another, CBS has extracted the best of the long string of radio scripts for conversion into tele. And finally, it’s being produced as a medium-budgeter, which allows Film Sales to price it a notch be- low the average. As result. Film Sales should do Iivviiuuuuu in tin Uiu-auw uivun., , - . . _,. .., but here it's been developed well | ^ allly , 1 lhe through to give the viewer a fair ] a j reac *y has been J; h f, ^oast shake for his dialing. Paul Landres’ ^ ,a , Lip t°n^ Tea. Combmation ^ of direction builds the Fenton W., go °^ scripts, better-than-avei age Earnshaw-Sid Swirsky teleplay to] production values attained with a a logical climax, and the three pro-i» ar ge proportion of loca ion shoot tagonists give meaning to their t in 8- and the use of medium names ro f es b ** as stars should project the series Action unravels when a plane, en ‘ as a " acceptable mystery vehicle route to the States from Mexico, j lo t cal stations ^ and ^sponsor^ develops engine trouble and sets ,"i., UC*ViUi>5 t'liKUlC 1IUUW1C UIIU SUS _ ... ... T_„| »,T.. down in the desert In the Diane : sensitive areas—producer Joel Ma- uown in me aesen. in inc piane |. . /-rc . nainct^kinuiv for Television Bureau of Advertis- ing on a temporary basis, with pos- sibility of bringing that account into the house. ; network. for year around farm safety promotion ... Jim McGovern, former WDGY radio news director and announcer, and recently with KGTV, Des Moines, and WISN, Milwaukee, named news director of KEYD tv and radio here . . . Minneapolis Ad Club to have Bob DeHaven, WCCO personality, at mike for Christmas party for 10th consecutive year He’ll also emcee U.S. Veterans’ hospital Xmas party and com- mentate Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Ballet” for Minneapolis and Duluth Symphony orchestras for second straight year . . . Jeanne Arland Peter- son, WCCO thrush, visited by stork. It was a girl. Dad is Willie Peter- son, WCCO pianist . . . Matthew J. Culligan, NBC-TV national sales manager, addressed Minneapolis Sales Executives Club’s Midwest Con- ference here. At same meeting Sylvester C. (Pat) Weaver, NBC presi- dent, was seen and heard over closed circuit tv from New York. Both painted a glowing picture of tv’s increasing advertising potential. fiV BOSTON . . . John McNulty, Northeastern Airlines flight superintendent killed in crash at Berlin, N.H. last week, formerly handled a deejay show at indie WJDA . . . Richard F. Hartnett, ex-sales rep for Eastern Airlines, has joined the WEEI sales staff . . . Ben Gross, New York News radio editor, was slated as guest speaker at joint meeting of the Radio-TV- Advertising Execs Club and Advertising Club at the Hotel Statler yesterday (Tues.) , . . Joe Tobin has ankled the sales staff of WCOP and plans to enter the tv field. Tobin and his wife. Eileen.Bell, con- ducted a husband-and-wife chatter show over WCOP for several months . . . Francis W. Hatch, BBD&O veepee, has been named chairman of next year’s Greater Boston Red Feather Campaign. IN PITTSBURGH . . . pulls a gun on his partner, dc- _ „ .. manding the payment check, but sors among the audience. the other, tipped off by femme not Segment caught, “Letters from to trust the pilot, has taken the j Aaron Burr,” stars Howard Duff as rotor out of the engine, which an ex-con who stumbles onto a Pacey left ABC in the web’s makes the takeoff impossible. Vio- racket involving the sale of forged mass personnel lop off in Septem- lent conflict ends when pilot breaks I manuscripts and cuts himself in. ber after several years with the his leg after deciding to hike back Yarn by Malone and Adrian Cen- to civilization, and is left to his dot unravels at a leisurely but not fate as a rescue plane appears I dull pace, and the final ironic twist Whitfield Connor, as pilot, and at the end is a good one. Duff does Ross Ford, who can’t fly but knows nicely as tbe ex-con, and Martha enough about an engine to remove i Vickers is attractive as the runner a vital part, are satisfactory inj °f the racket. Supporting cast is their respective characters, and Rood, and ditto William H. Clax- Jaclynne Greene makes the most lion’s direction. MOTION PICTURE H.IDUCER 10 y*art‘ experience, in The United States end Surope, in the production of feature films, government films, film programs for lo**v\- » . -rl vision commercials. Have c nsiderable writing and cutting ro:m e per.en.*. Will submit resuma. Writ# Box V. ?«0. Variety, 1S4 W. 44th St., N. Y. C. Automobile sponsor of 8-8:15 segment of Rege Cordic’s show on KDKA, has renewed for another 26 weeks . . . Infant son born to Moe and Norma Woolsey, lived only two days. Woolsey was a director here at WDTV before he left to join a tv station in Bay City, Mich. ... Ed Schaughency, of KDKA. will m.c. first anniversary party of Circus Saints & Sinners in William Penn Hotel Friday (10) when Jimmy Finks, quarterback of pro Pittsburgh Steelers, is “the fall guy” . . . Jim Thompson now doing hour-long hillbilly record program on KQV Saturday afternoons at 2 preceding the new Joe Mann wax session from 3 to 6 . . . Kenny Walborn started his 19th year on the KDKA engineering staff . . . Pat O’Connell, featured on Katharine Copeland’s “Be My Guest” Thursday afternoons on Channel 2. is also p.a. for Western Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind . . . Margaret Firth and Marlene Gornall begin shooting “It’s Fun to Reduce” telepix for Guild Films in New York on Dec. 17 ... Jay Michael, WCAF, deejay. pre- sented Jonl James with a plaque as being the vocalist whose platters are most requested on his program. He gave it to her when she was in town last week plugging her new MGM waxing, “When You Come of Age.” IN ALBANYSCHENECTADY . .. Staff additions and changes at WTRI-TV include: announcer Hank Maloy, doubling from WTRY, to handle “Late News” nightly; Frank Allen and Tom Gibson, for the production crew; Ray Gilbard, promoted from floor manager to staff director; Sue Schuster, for the publicity department, and Margo Benjamin, receptionist . . . George Miller is again play-by-playing the RP1 hockey games over WPTR, while Steve Davis is doing the commentary to highlights of filmed half-hours (de- layed) over WTRI-TV . . . “Ski Report,” by WTRI sports director Steve Davis, is a new Thursday evening program on WRGB-TV . . . John Eaton and Leo McDevitt are new r announcers at WPTR. Eaton is a graduate of the Syracuse U. Radio Workshop. iN CLEVELAND . . . Two new flacks named are George Franklin Way 4th to WTAM- WMNK, succeeding Bob Horan, who becomes news editor, and Pete Lee, named publicity-promotion head at WJW . . . Sohio’s radio voice. Bill Tompkins, deer-hunting in Pennsylvania, with Robert Waldrop taking over the WTAM stint . . . Waldrop also named as weekend WGAR announcer along with Bud Wendell . . . NBC’s assistant general man- ager Bill Davidson back from Florida hiatus . . . Louise Winslow doing woman’s show on WICA . . . WTAM disker Joe Mulvihill selected by Heart Assn, as member of “12 Team National D.J. Committee” . . . Bill Mayer will take over emcee chores on WTAM Bandwagon stint when Johnny and Betti Andrews vacation in New York . . . WGAR’s Reg Merridew and Lloyd Wingard off sick list . . . Ex-WHK announcer Alan Jenkins, has joined Northeast Airlines . . . WERE added Joyce King and Leonard Adams to sales . . . Mel Horace, ex-WXEL news cameraman, setting up tv news, special events film unit at Produc- tions on Films IN DALLAS ... Janet King, 16, is new staff vocalist for WFAA “Early Bird” break- fast show. Highschool junior was selected from over 100 auditioners . . . KGKO will carry all Southern Methodist U. basketball games play- by-play ... . KRLD-TV staffers honored by Kiwanis Club with plaque for raising over $5,000 via a tv auction for the Pilot Institute for Deaf Children . . . Rosemary Johnson new femcee of “Ladies First,” WFAA ayem across-the-board show . . . Barry Wood, NBC special events direc- tor, slated for Jan. 27 address to Dallas Salesmanship Club . . . Deejay Bob Mitchell switched from KGKO to KLIF . . . KRLD bowed “Top Twenty,” new nightly platter show with Ed Whitis spinning . . . Variety Broadcastirfg Co.. (KIXL and KIXL-FM*, declared a 10 % annual divi- dend. Stockholders include Greer Garson, Tyrone Power, Robert Taylor, William Holden, Tony Martin, Lee Segall and local businessmen. IN OMAHA . . . Dick Chapin, manager of KFOR, Lincoln, and Jack McBride of U. of Nebraska’s new' outlet, KUON-TV, addressed Nebraska Council for Better Education last week . . . Singer Betty Cox, who now has a new east coast tv morning show, “Look Up and Live,” in town between planes . . . KVTV, Sioux City, bringing in Ed Sullivan and his “Toast of the Town” Thursday (9) to City Aud there. Profits will go to Wood- bury County Society for Crippled Children building fund . . . Lyle Richardson handling play-by-play of Creighton, Omaha U., and local highschool basketball games for KBON . . . Dick Nesbitt, former Drake and Chicago Bears football player, named sports director of KSTP, Minneapolis, succeeding Jack Horner, effective Dec. 13 . . . Bud Makinster, announcer at KGFW, Kearney, suffered a torn knee carti- lage and w ill be hospitalized two weeks . . . Denver bowling proprietors have launched a new tv competition series over KOA-TV Sundays at 1 p.m. of her role. Polly Bergen gets all i Show can be slotted in just about dressed up for her three soiels any time, from early evening kid- about the merits of Pepsi-Col . [pix slots to the late-night hours. H*. Whit. I Chan. Cincinnati —Ruth Lyons, WLW- TV personality, is conducting her eighth annual pitch for hospital- ized children in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Funds raised by her appeals in previous years totaled more than $375,000. They supply toys throughout the jear. Des Moines—Donna DeCamp, former film supervisor for WOI- TV, Ames, Iowa, has been named television director of the Cary-Hill advertising agency, Des Moines. She'll be in charge of tele pro- grams, spot announcements and film activities.