Variety (March 1955)

34 BAPIO-VIDEO-TV FILMS GE Coin Behind New Org to Help Faltering TV Stations, Both U & V Plight of UHF stations and fal- tering V’s has brought about the formation of a new corporation, the National Affiliated Television Sta- tions Inc., comprising the equipment division of General Electric; the telefilm distribution outfit, Na- tional Telefilm Associates; and the Motion Picture Centre topper Jo- seph Justman. Purpose of the new company is to aid stations in trou- ble via the sale of NTA's film li- brary and other product On “favor- able” or even deferred-payment conditions, on-the-spot sales help both locally and on the national level, management consultation and if necessary, cash loans. Reason for the organization, and its curious composition, is the com- mon concern of the component per- sonnel over the shrinking market for their individual products. At a press luncheon last week an- nouncing the formation of NATS, all . concerned—GE’s Dr. W.R.G. Baker, NTA’s Ely Landau and Oli- ver Unger and Justman—spoke of the need to keep television compet- itive by aiding both U’s and V's in trouble through giving them saleable programming, sales and management help and cash to tide them through where necessary. For NTA and Justman, repping film dis- tributors and producers, an ex- panding station market is vital; for GE and-other equipment manufac- turers, it’s equally so. They stressed they couldn't do it alone, and called for aid from other sources. Pres- ence of Hal Roach Jr., who flew in from the Coast, suggested they might get his help on the producer front. Actual composition of NATS was left to be determined, however. Landau, in response to a question, said that a list of about 40 stations WGAL-TV has a potent effect on the spending habits of over three million people with effective annual buying income of $5 billion — the one station that reaches this market. Channel 8 Mighty Market Place which qualify for membership was currently being screened by the officers of NATS., Terms of quali- fication were also left vague, but apparently NATS will determine just who can join, with the yard- stick being the station's potential for economic recovery. “We won’t try raise any station from the dead,” Landau said. Nor was the extent to which GE is willing to put up ready cash am- plified, Dr. Baker declaring that the amount of cash advanced, would be determined by the conditions which. NATS met in the field. WARS Overhaul Continued from page 23 and 10 p. m. on through the night to 6 a. m. Portion of the plan has already been implemented. Renault has put the station on a 24-hour basis, effective Monday (21), with “Big Joe” Rosenfield and his “Happiness Club” having taken over the 3-6 a. m. .slot in a moveover from WMGM. From 12 to 3, it’s Bill Sil- bert and a disk-and-interviews show, with Milton Q. Ford, of WMAL in .Washington, coming up to Gotham to spell Silbert on Sun- days. From 11:30 to midnight six days a week, it’s “11:30 Club- house,” a half-hour sports show with Chris Schenkel. Schenkel, incidentally, is replac- ing N. Y. Herald Tribune sports editor Bob Cooke, who was sup- posed to do the show, but was can- celled out in a policy decision by the paper. Program, which will aim at a general audience rather than an exclusively sports-minded one, is packaged by sports attorney (Willy Mays, Monte Irvin are among the clients) Howard Cosell, who has the “All-League Club- house” on the ABC Radio net. Pro- gram will have guests from ‘the sports world, concentrating on con- troversy and human interest. Next in line for the revamp is the vital morning period, with other segments to be filled in later. Renault would neither confirm nor deny reports that he’s considering raiding other Gotham outlets for top talent for the ayem slot. ‘Ideas’ Peddled Continued from page 23 ble of which of late is the avail- ability of time on NBC-owned radio stations of the Southern Baptist Convention programs (with a tele- vision film series also worked up by the SBC). The Baptist “Hour” on radio is sponsored in New York, Cleveland, San Francisco and Chi- cago. Up to now religiosers have been granted slots as a public serv- ice at NBC and CBS. Question of extending the billings to the net- works as a whole is still to be re- solved. Some affiliate outlets would normally be expected to refuse such business, but radio is not in a position to let a “good thing’’ 1 ' get away> (There have been occasional departures from the privately im- posed ban; not sufficient enough to constitute mote than a hop-'skin- juhip regional trend.) With the armor of the network o&o’s. having been pierced by the entry of the National Tax Equality Assn., as well as 'by the Baptist “show,” there is no telling how far the groups with an axe to grind will go before they are through. WPIX SS Continued from page 27 12.8 in any other time slot. “Ramar,” which hits WPIX at 6 and is across the board (a novel approach for the half-hour skein) also did pretty well in the ratings sweepstakes: a 9.0 via ARB and a 7.4 on -^ulse. These ratings went up from previously because of the preceding "Rascals/* it’s felt. The setup has gotten WPIX an SRO bankroller status on both j'uve stanzas, with, a much*envied “waiting list” handy. (Fred Thrower, WPIX boss—in deference to the power of Walt Disney among kids—-intends pushing “Rascals” Wednesday, March 23* 1955 up to 6 p.m. next fall so as not to compete.) In substantiation of that “look, see what we’re doing to NBC” theory with regard to syndicated product, other towns report new highs on “Rascals”: Los Angeles, 16.0; San Francisco, 13.5; Seattle 29.8; Detroit, 32.6. From The Production Centres Continued from page 22 Sundays., .. KUON-TV, operated by U. of Nebraska in Lincoln, now offering college credit courses for tv viewers. in Pittsburgh P&G SSS Continued from page 23 den intentions were to become cock of the walk, moving up from joint topfull sponsorship status, but this was not. realized in the case of “Lucy,” which, with Philip Mor- ris moving„ out, goes to General Foods as co-backer though the suds company had visions of sole in-' heritance (a vision not in -line with CBS-TV’s commitments to GF that preceded P&G’s entry). On the other hand, Procter’s gamble in becoming a shareholder on “Favorite Husband” starting last January will pay off in May when it assumes f ullfledged weekly sponsorship. It could be that Young & Rubicam, which agents P&G, masterminded the Saturday night “Husband” deal for its “mil- lions in tv” client as a sop for the ad house’s fronting of General Foods (with an assist from CBS) as the alternator on “Lucy.” And Only last week P&G went for an- other eiggie’s show (Brown &• Wil- liamson's “The Lineup”) as. skip- sponsor, which to go by precedent would hint at the weeder’s move- out in the hot too distant future. There being, of course, no current statistics that in any way equate soap with even minor diseases, much less the “cancer scare.” In plainer words, where there's smoke there’s soap. Closed-Circuit Exams sa—= Continued from page 22 — of TNT' (whose largescreens range on the average from 7x9 feet to 15x20 feet, such as inaugurated for its coast-to-coast closed circuiting of business meetings in a network of 41 principal cities), looked over the high school for lighting, sound and seating values. WCBS-TV was represented at the planning sessions by general manager Sam Cook Digges, public affairs director Clarence, Worden, assistant program chief Dan Galla- gher and Ned Cramer, who directed the testcast and will also master- mind the closed-circuiter. In ad- dition tor Arthur Klein, the board of education has been represented by Joseph Jablonower; chairman of examining board; Jay E. Greene, who chairs the examiners’ commit- tee on public relations; James Macandrew, the board’s director of broadcasting (and closely - linked with WCBS-TV programs), and his assistant, Herman Haverkamp. Radio Chops’Em. —— Continued from page 21 ——; “Wristwatch Wrapup” glean) in his eye. “To subscribe to the expert- sounding theory that radio is doomed because it competes simul- taneously for the same audience with television is as erroneous as to predict that the wristwatch busi- ness is doomed because it on some occasions competes simultaneously with the block on the livingroona mantle,” Karol said. “The wrist-' watch, like the new-functioned ra- dio medium, fills a very real per- sonal need in a very busy and fast- moving American economy and so- ciety.” CBS-TV’s Kiddeo Continued from page 27 ^ “veteran” kid actors as the pivots. Fox, although New York reared, has been working in St. Louis for educational station KETC where his “The Finder” was launched last September to mucho kudos. (“The Finder” is now hot on the trail of a successor to Fox on a cross- the-board show that’s supported by a grant from Ford Foundation.) “Big Brother” Fox’s stablemates are Ginger MacManus and< Pud Flanagan, who'll be pitching the questions and curiosity stuff as the cameras focus on the various vig- nettes. Hundreds of youngsters were auditioned before this mixed duo was picked out. “Trip” is coming out of Irving Gitlin’s hatchery at public affairs with Ted Sack producing; Vic Maitland resigning from Walker-Downing agency to become ex- ecutive director- of advertising and promotion for Duquesne “^Brewing Co. He’s been handling sudsers’ radio and tv shows for years through WD.. .George Pep^ard, Carnegie Tech drama senior playing lead in “The Crucible” at Playhouse, works ats a parttime announcer on week- ends at WLQA. - Gloria Rodgers, of WJAS staff, wearing a sparkler from automobile man C. J. Thompson,.. John Cole, former WDTV salesman, appointed western sales manager for Guild Films with head- quarters in Los Angeles...Ed Bartell has resigned from KQV an- nouncing staff and Bill Martin, ex-WWSW, filling in for him Until a permanent replacement is named .. Dusty Brown, of EEC Ranch Gals on KDKA-TV, and Angelo Molinaro, of Channel 2 staff, have set the date—June 18-.. .Ken Hildebrand no longer under exclusive radio- tv contract to Duquesne Brewing although continuing his present pro- grams-for them. ..Jim Shannon back at work at KQV after being out nearly a month with serious knee injury. fiV PHILADELPHIA . . . Cal Jones arid Benn Squires, directors at WPTZ, mark up eight years with the station April 3 . . . Bob Williams, Evening Bulletin tv columnist, only local writer to interview Mary Martin prior to her production of “Peter Pan” on NBC . . . David Yanow exited WCAU radio sales staff (11), to join CBS radio spot sales . Jack Steck, V/FIL program director, will address the Phila. Chapter, Public Re- lations Assn. (24) at Warwick . . . Mark Olds, producer-director at KYW, has been named head of station’s record department. Olds re- places Grady Edney, recently named program manager of WBZ, Bos- ton . . . Ralph Brent, v.p. at WIP, addressed BMI Clinic meetings at Jackson, Mich, and Cincinnati . . . George Walsh taking time out from post with Louisville, Kentucky, station to do play-by-play for State Basketball Championship finals of the P.I.A.A. on WFIL-TV, (26) . . . Nancy Lewis, WFIL-TV chirper, and Rex Trailer, WPJTZ cowboy star, will be featured in “live entertainment” to precede the “Anta Album,” closed-circuit telecast at the Stanley Theatre (26) .... Jim Laming, WIP sports director, returned (21) from .two-week, tour of Grapefruit League with taped interviews for his’ nightly “Sports Shots,” IN WASHINGTON . . . WRC-NBC reversing current trend towards absorbing local time for web shows by adding eight hours weekly to its live local,tv schedule . . . New personalities on stepped-up tv slate include following: Jan Green, featured as teacher on “Romper Room;” Ray Haney, hillbilly singer who acts as singing emcee on moppet show built around Our Gang film series; and Jack Maggie, local singer who is" spotted on station’s new “Afternoon” show ... . . WWDC d.j. Fred Flske adding an extra 30 minutes to his daily airer in recognition of hitting a high spot (in top 10) on latest Pulse rating . . . “Churches of the Presi- dents,” a teleseries presented by Washington Federation of Churches, makes its bow on WMAL-ABC April 2, as part of the “This We Believe” show . . , Billy Johnson, one of town’s top rated tv personalities, makes a bid for adult, as well as moppet viewers, via his revised WTOP-CB3 show, retitled “Johnson’s Corner” . . . WTOP femmecaster Donna Douglas will he added to the new Johnson format . . . Variety corre- spondent Florence Lowe skedded to participate in a panel .discussion on use of radio-tv at next week’s confab of Girls’ Clubs of America. IN CLEVELAND . . . WGAR is dropping its all night session, with Chris Miller leaving the air at 1 a.m. Only two diskers, Carl Reese, WERE, and Teddy Blackman, WSRS, remain through the early morn ... George Gobel skedded for May 4 Supermarket appearance . . . Pinky Lee due for Arena, stand April 17 . . . Gas Company’s “Women’s Window” with Lfriisfe Frazier faded from WEWS after five year tv run . . . WGAR’s Bob Smiley upped to continuity director . Ethel Boros, Cleveland News disk columnist, into New York for visit... “Press Club Presents/’ weekly Press Club stanza on WHK, leaving airways after six years ... Two staffers being eased put of announcing berth at WSRS economy move . . . Harold Brinkman named chief engineer for WXEL-WJW . . . John Price - leaving daily WEWS “Weather Eye” stint to devote full duties as manager of upcoming Musicarnival . WGAR intro- ducing Emil Cote Glee Club in 15-minute daily stanza at 6:30 <p.m. with exception of Tuesday. Hooper, ARB Continued from page 27 tinue to sell their services separate- ly—that is, there will be no dis- count offered to clients of both services. Entry of Hooper into the national radio field,isn’t expected, although the five-year term under which Hooper was- disqualified from na- tional ratings under its contract with. A*. C. Nielsen has expired. The late C. E. Hooper in 1950, after 12 years in business, had sold all national radio and tv rights to Niel- sen with the Understanding that he wouldn’t reenter the national field for five years. The five years ended March 1, but a spokesman said no move Into national radio was be- ing considered. ARB, incidentally, up to a short while ago had a work- ing agreement with Trendex, but this, without benefit of interlock- ing ownership, fell through. Agreement has the virtue of giv- ing ARB one less competitor In the local tv rating field. It’s cur- rently bucking Pulse, Nielsen (which originated its local service on a- limited basis recently) and to a lesser extent, Videodex. In the national field, the situation Is still unchanged, with. Nielsen dominant and Trendex the mainstay in the “program popularity” field via its overnight 15-city service. In radio, Hooper’s chief competitor is Pulse, which over the years has had some slam-bang battles with the Hooper organization and the late Hooper himself in particular. TV Audiences from Maine to Washington— Minnesota/ to Florida— The TV film show with q COMPLETE mer- chandising packagel Write for FACTS Reid H.Ray Film Industries 2269 Ford Pkway. St. Paul, Minn. OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Talent Mgr. hat furnished three-room twit* to kharo at 365 5th Ave. (46th St.), WNEW Building, Now York. Eldorado 5-1540. .Vi > * V 1 .’ W* H't " , l « V + t t f f «* •> •