Variety (December 1954)

S4 TV-FILMS Wednesday, December 29, 1954 Worsley to Film Classics Abroad As Full-Hour Tintpix; Bard V All Paris, Dec. 28. 4 New series of hour-long telefilms based on classic plays will be pro- duced here and in London by Wal- lace Worsley Jr., who for the past three years has been producing films in the Far East and in Eu- rope. Worsley i$ planning to do two series of 13 color films, each pic to be budgeted at about $75,000. Good part of the financing is com- ing from French banking sources. Plays will include several Shake- speare works, along with adapta- tions of Moliere, Ben Jonson, Oli- ver Goldsmith. Richard Sheridan and Alfred De Musset works. Al- ready completed are “Twelfth Night” and “Le Bourgeoise Gentil- homme,” with several others al- ready in the works. Pictures will be done in English with such groups as the Old Vic and the Comedie Francaise reportedly in- terested in performing the classics. Actual shooting will be done by two companies organized by Wors- ley, one English and already in existence, the other French and in the process of organization. Pro- duction starts on the two cycles in mid-March, but it hadn’t been de- cided whether to begin in London or Paris. Meanwhile, Anne Mi- chaels, who’s partnered in the proj- ect with Worsley, planes for the U. S. this week to finalize distribu- tion deals. Series will probably get theatrical distribution overseas and non-theatrical as well as tele vision exposure in the U. S. Series, according to Worsley. has been some six years in the mak- ing. He first came up with the idea on the Coast, but Ifas held back until American video could meet budget costs of the type in- volved in the series. Worsley, to- gether with Joseph Nash, has been adapting the plays for the past eight months. He’s presently wind- ing up production on a Suzanne Flon starring French release, "Pig- ‘non Sur Rue," which he wrote, pro- duced and directed for Pramata Films here. Kid Producer The radio-tv industry is made up of lots of young execs, but the youngest on record is 14-year-old vidpix producer, Ronald Friedman. The N.Y. school kid’s first pic, a 13 - minute soundtracked adaptation of Charles Lamb’s “Dissertation on Roast Pig," was brought home for the sum of $250, saved out of his own pocket, and a school friend supplied him with $50 more for prints. But the deal apparently isn’t just a juvenile lark, since friends and neigh- bors, “surprised and i m - pressed” by his first vidpix venture, have promised him “unlimited resources” to move his production from a Man- hattan living room to a film studio, one of which, inci- dentally, Friedman soon in- tends to build and rent out when not using it himself. First pic was done on “spec- ulation” by amateur thesping talent, with the only pro be- ing actor Roy Milton who turned director for “Pig.” Friedman, his mother and Mil- ton will be the only “origi- nals” remaining for future productions, with the teenager intending hereafter to use only pro thesps. Official Continued from pace 33 90-day representation, after which the strip reverted to Irving with the proviso that MPTV would get its pilot coin back when the series was sold elsewhere. Wil- liam Morris office has been ped- dling the show since, with the Of- ficial deal resulting from this. Consequently, it appears that $ 80,0004100 Continued from par* 1 S= an upped tempo, 35 syndicated se- ries in the works, as compared to 23 a year ago. Even series being filmed without sponsor or syndica- tion deals reflect the advance, with 13 such series planned, compared to half that last year. As usual, however, the no-sponsor deals re- main in the minority, few pro- ducers being willing to hazard a venture along these lines. Healthy mushrooming of the in- dustry disproved one prediction about vidfilms—that eventually the smaller companies would fade away and only a few giants would remain. True, some of the minor- league outfits did fold, but the overall picture reveals there are 51 companies with definite produc- tion set, as compared to 34 a year ago. Summed up, this means the giants grow even larger, but the impetus to film was such that there was ample room for more of the smaller companies lensing one or two sponsored seri es. T Ziv’s No. 1 Status | Ziv tv, which the past year was No. 1 with an estimated $5,000,000 in production, held on to that notch at year’s end. and had an estimated “$9,500,000” planned for production in 1955. But this time, it had sturdy opposition for the top post, with the strongest contender being Television Programs of America, with $9,000,000 budgeted. TPA coin includes not only its product, but celluloid lensed un- der the banners of Arrow' Produc- tions, Norvin Productions and Robert Maxwell Associates all con- trolled by TPA. Revue Productions, MCA’s tele subsid w'hich rated second locally last year (1954) production-wise, slipped to third even though it vir- tually doubled its production out- put. with an estimated $6,000,000 j in sight for 1955. TPA’s emergence as a power was the cause for Revue taking a third seat despite its tre- mendous growth the past year. All of Ziv’s product is syndicated; TPA’s is both syndicated and spon- sored, but Revue’s is all pre-spo-a- sored except for one series. Ziv Continued from page 33 —. American National, among which are three of Prockter’s series, will stay there for the time being at least. Prockter is shooting “Treas- ury Men in Action” for ABC-TV. “Reader’s Digest" (a Chester Ers- kine production which Prockter represents via his Prockter Televi- sion Enterprises) for Packard-Stude- baker and “Man Behind tne Badge” for syndication via MCA-TV. Prock- ter said he sold his interest in the studio at a profit, but that the pri- mary reason for the sale was so he could devote all his time to his packaging and production business, which aside from current and pend- ing tv packages, is planning three feature films for theatrical release. Deal ends a two-year search for a studio site by Ziv. Firm at one time contemplated building its own lot, and even went to the extent of having plans drawn up by the Coast architectural firm of Luck- man & Pereira. New setup will be run by Ziv s production v.p., Herb Gordon. Purchase comes on top of Ziv’s most prosperous year in syndication, and is part of an all- over expansion plan that includes a buildup in programs as well as sales force and services. Vidpix Chatter New York Roy and Doris Pinney leavin for Florida to shoot an underwatc film as one o£ a series of natur films being shot by the Pinneys o commission from the film divisio of Photo-Library Inc. . . . Tele Division of Association Films i offering a new industrial documer tary, “Goggles & Gauntlets,” pre duced by Firestone . . . RKO Path shooting a group of one-minut spots for National Foundation fc Infantile Paralysis . . . Fran O'Driscoll, Official Films' Detro manager, in for the holidays . . John Thomas just wound a fe; tured role in “The Magic Me ment," a tintcr produced for For Motors . . . United Television Pre grams’ N. Y. office did a whole sale moving job, ending up loci stoek-and-barrel in MCA’s office with MCA production units the moving over to occupy the ol UTP headquarters. Official may end up as the first firm actually marketing a series. It’s already sent out letters to sta- tions informing them the property is available in strip form for 39 weeks, available for one showing for each episode. Starting date would be May, with stations having the right to delay the start until October. Stations must indicate acceptance before Feb. 19, date the Official option expires. Official’s try also represents a shift in em- phasis, with the firm making the soaps available directly to stations instead of pitching them at na- tional or regional advertisers. If Official is to take the series, it would have to sell enough con- tracts to gross $8,000 a week, since while the original pilot group cost about $18,000, it's figured that a regular shooting schedule would bring the production nut down a couple of thousand dollars a week. McCadden Production, owned by Burns and Allen, is an excellent example of a “small” company which shot into the big leagues in one season. Filming only the B&A series when it was formed over a year ago, McCadden has expanded production-wise so that it now ranks fourth iir the Hollywood pic- ture, with more than $5,000,000 budgeted for multiple series the coming year. Desilu. the company Lucy built, is another which made spectacular progress, with Desi Arnaz planning on nearly $5,000,000 in production for the coming year, first in which he’ll be filming at his own studio, Motion Picture Centre, which he and Miss Ball bought recently. Rounding out the operators with big budgets for ’55 are Gross- Krasne, with a program costing an estimated $4,500,000 planned, and Screen Gems, whose production outlay for the ensuing year is $4,200,000. But a survey of the giants doesn’t Inside Stuff—Telepix Vet Coast producer Lou Edelman, who’s turning out the Danny Thomas “Make Room for Daddy” series for ABC-TV, has set a deal (o produce two pilots for the net. They’re his own properties, which the web will finance and offer up for sale. If the web sells them, Edelman will then put them into production. Pilots are -“Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal." a western about the legendary law-enforcer, and “It’s a Great Country," an anthology series about the American people. “Wyatt Earp” script, by Frederick Uazlitt Brennan, has already been approved by the web and Edelman will shoot the pilot in two weeks. “Country” will be shot later. Bob Sisk will produce the films for Edelman, probably at the Motion Picture Centre on the Coast. “Heart of the City," the United Television Programs-distributed “Big Town” reruns, is still packing lots of sales impact after several years on the rerun market. UTP last week set two big package deals on the property, selling a group of 91 of the films to WABD. N.Y. on a 65-week playoff deal and setting the entire series for a two-year unlimited run deal on WNAC-TV in Boston. WABD sale comes on top of the fact that the station already has run the films a number of times, having purchased the package two years ago on a library deal. Twist in Boston is that the series will be aired as a strip, at 5:30 p.m., and this in a tight two-station market. Incidentally, UTP is selling the strip idea elsewhere, with KTTV in Los Angeles having latched onto UTP’s “Lone Wolf” for cross-the-bo&rd airing at 10:30 p.m. Peter Elgar Productions last week wrapped up two color public relations documentaries for a pair of breweries. Firm put the finishing touches on a 20-minute tinter for Schaefer Brewing, tabbed "The Schaefer Story.” and also wrapped “From the Atlantic to the Pacific,” a 30-minule color job for Pabst. Both are historical pieces depicting the growth of the breweries. Films were shot on location and in N.Y. Vidpix Production Breakdown Hollywood, Dec. 28. Following is a company-by-company telepix breakdown of pro- duction for 1955, as best as can be determined at this time: Arrow: 26 “Ramar of the Jungle." Syndicated. Arrowhead: 18 “So This Is Hollywood." Sponsored. Authors Playhouse: 39 “Dr. Hudson’s Secret Journal." 26 “Authors Playhouse." Both syndicated. B & R Enterprises: 39 Ray BolgerP. Sponsored. CBS-TV: 39 “Gunsmoke." Not sponsored. Jack Chertok: 26 “Private Secretary.” 52 “The Lone Ranger." 13 “Cavalcade of America.” All sponsored. Joan Davis Enterprises: 33 Joan Davis. Sponsored. Dear Phoebe Prod.: 39 “Dear Phoebe." Sponsored. Jack Denove: 13 “Cavalcade of America.” 13 “This Is Your Music.” Both sponsored. Desilu: 39 “I Love Lucy.” 39 “December Bride." 39 “Our Miss Brooks." 39 “Willy.” 39 “The Lineup.” All sponsored. D.P.I. ic Martere: 30 Danny Thomas. Sponsored. Walt Disney: 26 Disneyland. Sponsored. Chester Erskine: 20 “Readers Digest.” Sponsored. Family Films: 26 “This Is the Life.” Sponsored. Don Fedderson: 39 “The Millionaire." Sponsored. Federal Films: 39 “Key Witness.” 39 Ernest Haycox. 39 “Amaz- ing Mr. Malone." None sponsored. Frank Ferrin: 52 “Andy's Gang.” Sponsored. 26 “Skin Diver.". Not sponsored. Filmcraft: 39 “You Bet Your Life." Sponsored. Flying A: 13 Gene Autry. 13 “Annie Oakley.” Both syndicated. 26 "Buffalo Bill.” Sponsored. Four Star Productions: 39 “Four Star Playhouse.” 'Sponsored. 24 “Favorite Playhouse.” Sponsored. Six “Star and Story." Syn- dicated. # Gross-Krasne: 39 “Big Town.”'Sponsored. 39 “O. Henry,” 39 “Jimmy Valentine,” 39 “Lone Wolf,” 39 “General Grafter," all syndicated. John Guedel: 39 “People Are Funny." Sponsored. Guild Films: 39 “Life With Elizabeth," 65 Liberace, 39 Frankie Laine, 39 “Confidential File, 52 Florian Babach, 39 Connie Haines, 30 “Fun to Reduce.” All syndicated. Herbert B. Leonard: 39 “Tales of the Bengal Lancers." Not sponsored. Lewislor: 35 Loretta Young. Sponsored. Leveton-Schubert: 39 “Topper.” Sponsored. Joel Malone: “Whistler.” Syndicated. Robert Maxwell: 26 “Lassie.” Sponsored. McCadden: 22 Burns & Allen, 52 Robert Cummings, five “Life With Father," seven Jack Benny, all sponsored. 52 untitled series. •Not sponsored. McGowan: 20 “Death Valley Days." Sponsored. Medic: 30 “Medic.” Sponsored. Meridian: 34 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. Sponsored. Nervin: 39 “Ellery Queen.” Syndicated. O’Connor Television: 19 Donald O’Conrj^r. Sponsored. Procter & Gamble: 44 “Fireside Theatre.” Sponsored. Prockter Television Enterprises: 39 “T-Men in Action," spon- sored. 38 “Man Behind the Badge.” Syndicated. Raydic: 26 “It’s a Great Life.” Sponsored. Roland Reed: 39 “Waterfront,” syndicated. 'SO “My Little Margie," sponsored. 39 “Stu Erwin show,” sponsored. Revue: 39 “City Detective,” syndicated. 39 “Pepsi-Cola Play- housfe,” 13 General Electric, 26 “Kit Carson." 39 Ray Milland, 39 “Studio 57,” 26 “Soldiers of Fortune,” all sponsored. Hal Roach: 26 “Public Defender,” sponsored. 26 “Passport to Danger,” 39 “Life of Riley,” both syndicated. Rawlings-Grant: 29 “Mayor of the Town.” Syndicated. Roy Rogers: 20 Roy Rogers. Sponsored. Mickey Rooney: 13 Mickey Rooney, sponsored. 13 “Dateline Tokio,” not sponsored. Screen Gems: 26 “Father Knows Best," 39 “Ford Theatre,” 34 “Rin Tin Tin,” 13 “Captain Midnight,” all sponsored. 26 “Celebrity Theatre,” syndicated. 26 “Jungle Jim,” not sponsored. Shamrock: 26 “Oliver Muddle.” Not sponsored. Sherry TV: 40 “Dragnet,” sponsored. Stage Five: 39 “Ozzie and Harriet.” Sponsored. Studio City TV: 13 “Stories of the Century,” syndicated. Superman, Inc.: 13 “Superman,” sponsored. Bernard Tabakin: 13 “China Smith,” syndicated. Television Programs of America: 39 “The Halls of Ivy," spon- sored. Three additional series planned. Visual Drama: 29 “Gangbusters." Syndicated. Ziv TV: 39 “Mr. District Attorney,” 39 “Meet Corliss Archer," 39 “I Led Three Lives," 39 “Cisco Kid," 39 “Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre,” plus five more series, all syndicated. in itself tell the overall story of the advancement in telefilms the past year, since many of the com- panies churning out only a series or two made singular contributions to the industry. Perhaps the best example of this is filmmaker Walt Disney, who set a historic pattern through h«6 pact to produce a reg- ular teleshow for ABC, with his Disneyland proving a spectacular success on the home tubes, as well as hypoing his theatrical pix. Another newcomer which cre- ated a good deal of comment was “Medic,” but even though the gen- eral reaction to it was favorable, the newcomer failed to make a se- rious dent on “I Love Lucy,” which still held on to its slot as top-rated show’ in teevee. Jack . Webb took time out from his second-ranking “Dragnet” to make a feature film based on his show for Warner Bros., and it proved such a b.o. hit everyone in town was talking about converting their tele properties to theatrical pix. Telefilm producers who a year ago cowered in fear, predicting that 1954 would prove a fateful year in that magnetic tape and color would revolutionize industry, came out of their corners with less awe and fear of these develop- ments. Why? They just didn't oc- cur, and the fear such develop- ments would force a changeover in the industry proved fruitless. No one was saying tape and color wasn’t en route, and some pro- ducers were lensing in tint, but neither seems to be In the imme- diate offing, not on a commercially feasible basis, with a mass audi- ence in sight. One development causing great satisfaction to producers was the growing tendency among agencies, sponsors and networks to seek deals whereby the producers are given tickets for 39 or 52 weeks. This was in sharp contrast with the not-too-long-ago days when a pro- ducer got a 13-week ticket, some- times with a clause cancelling out his project after four weeks. The new’ trend was one instilling se- curity and permanence into the en- tire telefilm operation in Holly- wood. Program-wise, no pattern has evolved over the past year. A year ago the prediction was made by many situation comedies have had their day, but the televiewers were still watching them in great abun- dance. On the whole, it seemed viewers wanted (and were getting) a variety of entertainment, a me- lange of comedy, dramatics, and so on. MPO’s Industrial Pix MPO Productions last week wound up five new industrial films for television release. Pix are “The Mercury," produced for American Airlines; “The Town That Came Back," for Ford; “The Hereford Heritage," for the Ameri- can Hereford Assn.; “The Valiant Heart” for the American Heart Assn, and “Milk for the City" for H. P. Hood & Sons. First three are in color.