Variety (March 1955)

so OASIO - YIPEO - TV FILMS KSSIEFr Wednesday, March SO, 1955 RCA Ask Dismissal of Antitrust RCA asked for dismissal of the- Government .antitrust action against it yesterday (Tues.), brand- ing the suit "unreasonable, un- necessary and contrary to the pub- lic interest” and specifically deny- ing allegations charging violations of the Sherman Act, RCA’s brief, filed in New York federal district court, where the original com- plaint was entered last November, stressed RCA’s role in helping the electronics industry to expand “so far in so short a time” by its re- search and licensing activities, RCA used facts and figures on the growth of the industry to make its point, declaring that the indus- try is competitive and therefore the suit is not valid, and that it could not have grown so quickly if RCA, in its licensing arrange- ments, had unreasonably restrained trade, as is charged. It pointed out that sales of radio and television, receivers increased from $54,400,(f00 in 1932 to. $1,- 470,000,000 in 1954, or over 2,- 500%; that its major competitors, Admiral, CBS, DuMont, Emerson, General Electric, IT&T; Motorola, Philco, Raytheon, Sylvania, West- inghouse and Zenith, did a com- bined business for the most recent annual period of over $2,000,000;- 000; and that other manufacturers have entered allied fields of elec- tronics with direct application^ to radio-tv, such manufacturers being Boeing, Douglas, Hughes and United aircraft companies, Gen- eral Motors and Willys Motors, Burroughs Corp., International Business Machines, Remington Rand and National Cash Register, General Mills, General Dynamics, Paramount Pictures, Bell & How- til, Otis Elevator and many others: Cross-Licensing Tracing the history of its licens- ing operation, RCA said that the practice of cross-licensing was es- tablished with Westinghouse, AT&T and General Electric be- cause “without them the industry would have been paralyzed by con- flicting patent holdings and end- less patent litigation.” When the Government arranged a consent decree in 1930, new agreements were drawn up. This dercree was upheld by the courts in 1942, RCA pointed out, and RCA said it has lived up to the terms of the decree. “RCA avers that the Government (Continued on page 44) Telethons Murder « To Niteries: Hover Hollywood, March 29. Ciro’s boniface, H. D. Hover, has complained mournfully to Theatre Authority that present method of holding telethons is "murdering” the nitery biz here and has asked TA to switch hours of the marath- oners. Hover’s sorrows were con- tained in a letter sent I. B. Kom- blum, exec director of TA, which grants clearance on such events. Currently the telethons are held from 11 p.m. of one day to mid- afternoon the next. Hover’s woes were specifically directed at the next telethon, for City of Hope, on KTLA. June 11, and he suggested. that while the idea of such an event is "excellent” it be held all day on a Sunday, "perhaps from 10 a.m. until about 8 p.m.” "The way telethons are being held now, beginning at 11 p.m., they not only murder the night club business, which in this town is in a jeopardous position and which supplies most of the talent to these telethons, but such unrea- sonable hours allows for a mini- mum number of viewers with a maximum of inconvenience, Not too many people want to stay up from 11 p.m. on through the night,” wrote Hover. There seemed little chance TA would acquiesce to Hover’s request for the change in hours. Kornblum recently said TA had decided from the performer standpoint, it had been agreed the best hours for telethons would be 11 p.m; Satur- day to 4 p.m. Sunday, and strongly hinted under no circumstances would this be changed, All Holly- wood talent guilds are in TA, and each one has a representative on the board. j Space Shows Dwindle With the end of ABC’s “Space Patrol” and DuMont’s "Captain Video” soon at hand, the number of network space stanzas in tv will stand at two, and one of them will be ex- posed only occasionally. Kraft has "Tom Corbett, Space Ca- det” on Saturdays via NBC- TV. And "Disneyland” -on ABC-TV recently ran through an hour devoted to’the inter- planetary, with more such shows in the mill. Both remaining space shows incidentally have, the same technical consultant. “Cor- bett,” the Rockhill saga, and Disney's "Tomorrowland” each. come under rocket expert Willy Ley’s guidance. Point for Dailies The detailed newspaper video coverage and program listings to- day have become major circulation builders. The dailies’ trend is to- ward expanded video info, with some major papers in different parts of the country coming. out with weekly slick or semi-slick sup- plements on tv alone. While it is a circulation hypo for papers, which, ironically, have been blam- ing falling sales on the advent of tv, it poses a small threat—that may burgeon into a big one—to the regular program listing mags. Plus the beginhing of slicks by the N. Y. Joiirnal-American re- cently and by the Boston Post, there have been signs like the N.Y. Daily News’ "Best TV Movies” listings, which give synopsis and the year each feature was filmed, station and time in addition to regular video listings. Other N.Y. dailies and out-of-town sheets are adopting similar video gimmicks to push sales. An exec for the Boston Post fore- sees a major turn in the direction of tv supplements by what'he terms as “regional” newspapers, like his own. A regional paper, by the ex- tent of its-physical coverage alone, can' make such a proposition eco- nonmiCal feasible. The Post offi- cial opined that newspapers "have been so . reluctant to do anything along show business lines—yet, it is not hard to find out where everybody is these nights.” He added that the tv audience is a natural for. a weekly regional sup- plement since it is bigger than the film audience "and look,” he says, “how the movie fan magazines grew into tremendous enterprises.” Blondeau Sets TV’ers For Gallic Versions Jean Paul-Blondeau, French tv # producer holding proprietary rights to "Dollar a Second,” has nabbed an exclusive to a pair of U. S. tv programs, "What’s My Line” (CB§) and "This Is Your Life” (NBC). They’ll be presented in the Gallic version next fall and are being readied as commercial shows over outlets in the Luxemburg-Saar- Monte Carlo area. Latter are the only peripheric stations with com- mercial shows. Ziv’s Swiss Spread Ziv Television Program’s foreign setup advanced, a couple of notch- es last week when the company set 26-week runs of two of its, dubbed shows on the Swiss television net- work. French-language version of "Mr. District Attorney” and a Ger- man track of "Favorite Story” both start May 1 for a minimum of 26 weeks via. the facilities of SOciete Suisse de Radiodiffusion, with transmitters in Geneva and Zurich. Deal was set following good viewer acceptance of an experi- mentally dubbed version of “DA.” during February and March in Switzerland, . Dairymen’s Kid Series Hollywood, March 29. National Dairymen’s Assn, will sponsor the moppet telepix series, "Kite-Flite to MOonlaud,” on a coast-to-coast basis beginning late next, month.* Program features puppet char- acters and is produced by Elizabeth Barry. Featured also is the vocal combo, Stgrliters. Stand on Friday Washington, March 29. After more than a month’s recess, FCC hearings on Commie charges against broadcaster-publisher Ed- ward O. Lamb will be .resumed Friday (April 1) with Lamb taking the stand. Lamb is appearing at the request of FCC attorney Joseph Kittner who want to question him on his representations to the Com- mission that he fought Com- munism. Kittner contends that certain writings attributed to Lamb belie such representations. Plans to appeal a ruling by Ex- aminer Herbert Sharfman denying a motion to dismiss the.proceedings. have been deferred by Lamb for the time being. * In view of Kitt- ner’s argument * that the motion was premature. because of his- de- sire to call Lamb, attorneys for Lamb may wait until the Commis- sion has definitely rested its case before making further attempts to end the hearings. However, it seems likely that the proceedings will go on for some time. Russell Brown, co-counsel for Lamb, has indicated he will re- quest hearings in New York, Clever land, Toledo and Erie, Pa., for testimony by defense witnesses. Aside from the Commie charges, testimony may also be required on issues involving charges by Lamb that' Commission investigators of- fered bribes for false testimony. Lamb has petitioned the Commis- sion to delete these issues. Kitt- ner has* opposed their deletion on grounds they concern Xamb’s "re- sponsibility” as a broadcast licensee. The Commission has not yet ruled on the request. BUDDY EBSEN SIGNS AS DISNEY REGULAR Hollywood, March 29. Buddy Ebsen has been signed by Walt Disney Productions to a long- term d.eal as an actor-singer-danc- er. Unusual feature of the deal is that Ejbsen’s immediate assign- ments wil|. all be centered on tele- vision, ah indication that Disney is intent on building a talent stable for his video activities as well as theatrical. He’ll star in "Johnny Tremain,” a two-part his- torical drama slated for next year’s "Disneyland” series along with other "Disneylands,” plus ap- pearances in the daytime "Mickey. Mouse Club” which starts on ABC- TV in the fall. Ebsen was featured in the three* part “Davey Crockett” story on this season's "Disneyland,” cur- rently slated for theatrical exhibi- tion in an edited version. AnteU’s Easter Buy Charles Antell, whose Formula 9 Shampoo and sundry cosmetics have been upbeat of late as tv one- shots (Emmy Awards, for one), is making another special pitch. Chit- fit is latching on to NBC-TV’s "Easter in New York” show (April 10). Slotting at the mo- ment is 12:15 to 1 p.m., but if no other sponsor shows up, the Easter stanza will ride solely under the Antell banner as a half-hour commencing at e . 12:30 instead. About 52 stations are lined up so far. Although TAA ad agency placed the business (as with the Televi- sion Academy kudos, shared with Maybelline, and the others), An- tell has quit the commission house and accepting bids over the next 30 days to find a replacement* Columbus—Bud Gillis, member of WLW-C’s staff since 1953, has been named program manager of the Crosley tv outlet here, after serving acting p.m. for six weeks ■ wft? no b$mLtni.O) Clifton Fadiman, in his "Party of One” column in the March issue of Holiday magazine, writes; * ' "For some years people such as myself—not well educated hut frankly amorous of education—have been trying * to use every available, medium of communication as a means of closing the gap and ministering to a beleaguered audience that is in danger of becomingthe Forgotten Public. We have not done this out of ’social consciousness.’ or any nobility of soul. We have done it in part because it is the only way we know to make an . honest living and in part because it provides a most enjoyable occupation. "As I write this, for example; I am engaged In running a radio show (on NBC) called ‘Conversation.’ It attempts; using the talents of three good talker's plus my m.c. self, to revive an ■ obsolescent art, that of civilized, noncontroVersial. discursive, honpatronizing talk. We try, though not too sweatuy, to enter- tain; but, between you and me and don’t tell anybody, whatever modest vdlue the program has is basically educational,. ' Nothing we say deserves to bp treasured in the memory. But. merely to dramatize once a week the idea of mental play in a period unduly suspicious of that idea, has to my mind educational merit, " ‘Conversation,’ on its particular level, is one example ’of the mental brokerage business I have for years been engaged in, blending the pitchman and the would-be professor, a weird com- bination that only the wonderful flexibility of Our fluctuating cul- ture would permit.” Lee Blasts Bad Taste, Excessive —& Traex Switch James Truex, tv scripter and son of the w,k„ acting couple (Ernest and Sylvia Field Truex), is making the big transfer. Gov. Averell Ha.r- riman has named him public re- lations chief of the Dept, of Pub- lic Works with Albany as hq. Truex was active in the governor’s campaign last year and lived near Harriman's Arden Farms summer home. Truex has been repped on video with about a dozen works, includ- ing plays on "Lux Video” and "Hall of Fame.” Hygo’s 600 G Hypo As It Makes Like The near-record two-week haul by Hygo Films for its new block of feature.films is second only to the track record of Tom O’Neil’s Gen- eral Teleradio and its Bank of America 30, and it proves the con- tinued hungering by stations after more' vaulted quality Hollywood pix. Hygo so far has grossed $600,- 000 from the pix and as a result of tie-in sales of other properties. Sales were made In 12 major mar- kets, with at least five other small- er stations hopping on for the fea- ture-film ride as of yesterday (Tues.). The 13-package includes some Walter Wanger-ptoduced prints out of the U-A backlog, some U-I stuff, etc., and Hygo negotiated the features at about $45,000 each. In making the $600,000 (before costs), Hygo offered the 13 wrap- ped in the same package as the 10 Chesapeake features that have been the house about a year. In other cases (the General Teleradio station, WNAC-TV, for instance) the 13 were tied in with the Bill Elliot hoss operas and the cartoons, both of which were gotten from Columbia. Tie-in deals held true for about two-thirds of the Hygo stations in the past 10 days, enab- ling the stations to average down the cost per pic of the new group on low-budget deals for some of the other films. In addition to the four Meredith stations in K.C., Phoenix, Syracuse add Omaha (inked via Station Sales), there was N.Y., L.A., Seat- tle, Boston, Chi, San Francisco, Milwaukee and Detroit. To show how much Hygo commands for the pix, WCBS-TV, N.Y., paid its big- gest amount for features to date —$6,500 petf one. VIDPIX ROLL IN TEXAS * Dallas, March 29. Shooting has started here on a ty film series by First Colonial Films, a new organization with stu- dios on Lake Dallas. Steve Brodie It star of the series to be known as "Colonial Theatre,” which is be- ing written and directed by Frank Perri. .»R. L. Russell heads First Coloni- al Film*. Nashville, March 29. FCC Commissioner Robert ,E. Lee lashed out at broadcasters here yesterday (Mon.) for ex- cessive commercialism, bait and switch advertising and "bad taste” in programming. In ah address before Tennessee Assn, of Broadcasters, Coinr. Lee urged the industry to police itself "and thus not encourage those who would take the power of self-polic- ing away from you.” Continued abuse by broadcasters of their public interest responsi- bilities "may bring us close to a semblance of censorship that we all want to shun,” he warned. “Don’t force the FCC to enter thii dangerous area.” Asserting that free speech "is not a license for insurrection against public right,” Lee sug- gested "reasonable compliance” with the NARTB -code to “keep us all out of trouble.” Commissioner declared that complaints numbering "several hundred thousands” in recent years, largely on false and mislead- ing advertising, have become "a very real problem. Complaints of overcommercialism” he said, are "rather well taken.” "I personally,” he said, "would not object to 99.4% of commer- cially sponsored time, but I do ob- ject to an unreasonable' amount of the broadcast hour being devoted to the sales pitch.” Recognizing that many AM sta- tions "in desperation” are taking any kind of advertising to stay In the black, Lee asserted, "I do not believe this is a solution. It la merely a deterioration of / public service.” Stations would do "infinitely better,” he said, by redoubling their efforts to improve program- ming, thus capturing more, audi- ence and more advertising. Over the long range, he said, ex- cess commercialism arouses publia resentment with resultant demands for government intervention to the detriment of a highly* competitive industry. "Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water,” he urged. Chi Wants Share Chicago, March 29. Chi NBC-TV program lads have been making their annual spring pitch for a chance to fill some of the ^summer hiatus holes. Only thing definite at this early stage for program, chief Ben Park and his crew is a revival of the Sunday afternoon "Out On the Farm” rural display that saw hot weather duty last year. Park also has the -go-ahead. to start work on ideas for a group of telementaries, embracing midwest activities, which would be used in the web’s projected tv scrutiny pt the 2dtH century. Park has been boning iip on automation, the "look, Ma, no hands” techniques of mod- ern push button industrial produc- tion, and foes it with Its far-reach- ing social and economic ramifica- tions a likely subject for the docu- mentary treatment. .sseqtiite 1 wf orff baaolo ortoJ?