Variety (November 1955)

f Wednesday, November 23, 1955 PSrie*ty RADIO-TELE VISIOX 27 D.G. ROLLS ON NETWORK PROBE 4 * ‘Why Another Television Gode?" There, appears to be a growing wave of skepticism on both the east and west coasts over the proposal for the production code for telefilms, which, it’s assumed, would extend into live tv when if’i completed* Objections ftom New York industryites are many and varied: (1) They don’t want a tv code to supplant the NARTB’s, much less one'that smacks so strongly of Hollywood inspiration. The east is especially upset that many of the planners in favor of a new code are out'qf the major studio stables. (2) Though there are live producers involved in the recom¬ mendations, it’s, wondered whether such representation is ample enough to speak for on-the-spot video. (3) If everything is going comparatively well, why the need for an “extraneous” code? (4) The most likely prospect to administer the code, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, is still considered a Hollywood organization despite very recent attempts to lure N. Y. into the fold. Therefore that organization, it’s felt, should not speak for all the industry. The National Audience Board, which went on record when it was launched earlier this year as being against censorship groups, said that it favors the NARTB Code, and, though it doesn’t want a production code, will ride with the majority of the planning team if they decide in favor of one. National Audience Board is one of the several groups and indie producers, latter chiefly identified with Hollywood, that banded late last month to discuss the need of a tv code. Others are the Alliance of TV Film Producers, the National Society of TV Producers (which started the whole thing), several independents and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. ATAS, inci¬ dentally, reported neutral on the issue, will nevertheless “imple¬ ment” the code if it is adopted. As to the desirability of a set of rules apart from the NARTB code, an NAB officer said it is" difficult to decide “where does self-regulation end and censorship begin?” However, the propo¬ nents of the plan “evidently want something more specific than the NARTB Code.” A member of the planning committee on the Coast, said that while they wanted to be more “specific” about tv taboos (from sex to gambling and “colloquialisms”) he didn’t think that the current situation in video warranted regulation. Princess Margaret Can Have Equal NBC Time to Square Hopes Rib Hollywood, Nov. .22. British-born Bob Hope took ref¬ uge behind his American passport to ride out a storm of protest from Canada over his tv ribbing of Prin¬ cess Margaret and her ill-starred romance on his NBC-TV show last week. It was a controversy that rattled across the border and threatened to lower an electronic curtain between Hope and his tele¬ fans in Canada. Hope, who has lampooned Presi¬ dent Eisenhower, former President Truman, the late President Roose¬ velt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Joe Mc¬ Carthy and others, appeared to be calm through the ordeal. But one advertising agency exec, aghast, moaned that even Hope’s occa¬ sional needling of his various sponsors had never provoked such a furore. Those gibes, of course, rarely had.the benefit of an eager press department quick to seize on controversial material. Canadians, however, took a dim view of such lines as “Imagine trying to sell royalty the Town¬ send plan again after it flopped once.” British Broadcasting Corp. said it had received" many protests about the show and the president of General Motors of Canada (.Continued on page 38) CBS Cracks Down On Airline Blurbs Word has gone out from CBS to owned & operated tv stations to cease and desist” on overballying airplane credits. This applies to free plane service to contestants and others on certain programs, with a blurb in exchange for the gratis rides. At WCBS-TV, N. Y., for in¬ stance, there’s been a directive limiting the manner in which such credits are to be made. Sta¬ tion will allow a single printed frame with a “voice over” de¬ scribing the service rendered. No sell” copy is permitted, but in¬ cluded in the single frame can be a logotype for the airline. Flagship has forbidden a video or telop of the plane. But even *Mder this formula, the station wilh«ccept no longterm agreements from pro¬ grams covering such “free for free” blurbs. Friedman to Kudner | TV producer Hal Friedman checked in at the Kudner agency this week. He becomes an aide of Myron Ki'rk in staging the off-the- air General Motors “specs” (Mo- torama, etc.) which have become a major facet in “industry in show biz.” Friedman joined NBC-TV a few weeks back to work on special events in the “Wide Wide World” project, but resigned this post to join Kudner. Screen Producers Reject TV Series; Prestige Worry Hollywood, Nov. 22. After a “thorough study and analysis,” the Screen Producers Guild has decided against setting its own tv program at this time, prexy Samuel G. Engel informed a membership meeting Monday (21) night. All networks and major tv producers have made overtures but the Guild feels that despite the “high regard and respect for tv as a medium of information and entertainment,” that the organiza¬ tion's prestige “would be seriously damaged were It to conform to standards and practices generally In use In the tv industry.” Engel said Guild members now in tv “without exception” have de¬ clared it would be “imprudent as well as impractical” for the Guild to enter video until tv can afford “higher budgets with which to as¬ sure good basic story material, fine writers and toprate direction.” SPG position is that “to produce a firstrate tv show requires precisely the same creative talent, effort and care as a firstrate motion pic¬ ture made for theatrical release.” Guild will be mbre than willing to offer the services of its experi¬ enced 'and talented inembers when the time should come that the making of quality films for tv will be the “rule rather than the ex¬ ception,” the Guild declared. OUTLINES SCOPE OF flLLOUT STUDY Washington, Nov. 22. First step in the long-threatened investigation of the networks was taken today (Tues.) by the FCC when the Commission's four-man Network Study Committee promul¬ gated its first order, calling for an extensive inquiry into all phases of network operations. The scope of the order not only covers every manner of network operation and relationships, but goes into the matter of the competitive station situation, thus promising the in¬ dustry’s most widespread FCC soul-searching. I Order for the study goes hack to an $80,000 Congressional appropri¬ ation requested and granted to the FCC for the very purpose follow¬ ing inquiries by the Magnuson Committee. It will be undertaken with an eye toward possible new regulations covering the networks, since the order points out that the only network regulations in effect are the chain broadcasting rules laid down in 1943, before the ad¬ vent of television. Order further states that the information gath¬ ered would also be used in the frequent Congressional inquiries into the broadcasting industry. Inquiry will be divided into three broad categories, key portion of which is the first, which goes | into common ownership of radio and tv networks; the ownership of radio and tv stations by the net¬ works; the production, distribution and sale of programs for both net¬ work and non-network' broadcast¬ ing in radio and tv; the matter of station representation in the na¬ tional spot field; network-affiliate relationships; leasing of line facil¬ ities; related interests other than broadcasting by networks and per¬ sons involved in ownership and operation of network?; and mul¬ tiple station ownership. Won’t Spare Anyone In the area of network-affiliate relationships the study will touch on many sensitive areas—selection of affiliates, exclusivity, option time, free hours, division of rev¬ enue and term of contract. On the matter of production-distribution- sale of programs, there are said to be other sensitive areas such as charges of network control of pro¬ grams and possible monopoly an¬ gles on telefilm syndication activ¬ ities by network subsidiaries. In the station representation field, the order refers to “representation of stations in the national spot field by various persons,” but both NBC Spot Sales and CBS Spot Sales are expected to be included. The two other categories look at the (1) possibility of develop¬ ment of “multiple network struc¬ ture” In terms of the number of broadcast outlets available, the na¬ tional advertising potential, the costs of network'establishment and operation and “other relevant fac¬ tors”; and (2) the matter of “effec¬ tive competition” in the national advertising field between networks and “non-network organizations” in terms of broadcast outlets avail- (Continued on page 41) Maxwell Anderson’s ‘Huck Finn’ TV Original Slated for Hallmark Maxwell Anderson’s unproduced legit version of “Huck Finn” is scheduled as the April entry of Maurice Evans’ Sunday afternoon spec series on NBC-TV. This would make “Huck” a kind of “world preem” on tv, since Anderson had been working on the script as a Broadway show with composer Kurt Weill when the latter died, putting the idea on the shelf. The Evans office has signed Julie Harris to play the lead in “The Good Fairy,” which as a main stem click of years ago starred Helen Hayes and the late Walter Connolly; It’s on the agenda for February. March en¬ try will be “Anthony 3c Cleopatra.” NARTB Prexy ‘Disturbed’ Over H wood-incepted Code Plans Quick Sun. Wrapup In a quick deal, NBC-TV was reported having lined up three sponsors for its produc¬ tion takeover of the Sunday “Variety Hour.” Firmed up are Avco Mfg. and Brown & Williamson Tobacco, and fig¬ ured as good as in is Jergens Lotion. Colgate Concedes Sullivan Champ; Axes Its ‘Hour Colgate has finally thrown in the sponge in trying to compete j with the “Ec^ Sullivan Show.” NBC has agreed to a Colgate request that it be released from its “Va¬ riety Hour” Sunday 8 to 9 con¬ tract at the end of the current year, despite the fact that the client is committed to the time until next August. Colgate feels that it has “had it” and doesn’t \ want to hang around any longer. Network prexy Pat Weaver imme- mediately set an hour comedy show¬ case which will be sold on a three- sponsor participation basis (see box above), at $65,000 per client. It’s designed as a “new comedy” showcase, both for talent and writ¬ ers, with such ingredients as Pat Carroll, Jonathan Winters, Shecky Gi'een, Alan Green, etc., being tossed Into the hopper. Network has also had some client feelers ! on half-hour segments, though this ‘ was rejected since it would run counter to the network concept of expanding shows rather than tele¬ scoping them. Colgate decision adds up to a major victory for Sullivan and the CBS pattern of “weekly continu¬ ity.” Initially it was the Colgate show that took the play away from Sullivan’s “Toast,” but the rotating comic pattern on Colgate was be¬ lieved to be responsible for its diminishing rating returns. Sub¬ sequently, production control was j taken away from NBC and turned j over to Bates agency, then to Esly.! But Sullivan, with the few excep¬ tions when Martin & Lewis head¬ lined the Colgate stanza, had the hour In the palm of his hand. Dallas, Nov. 22. NARTB prexy Harold E. Fellows told broadcasters here last week he was “disturbed” about a new tv code originating with Hollywood film producers. Addressing the last of the trade organization's fall regional meet¬ ings, Fellow's admitted beiftg wor¬ ried because he doesn’t know whether or not the code would be “primarily a supplement” to the NARTB standards. He emphasized that “the final responsibility for the nature and content of tv pro¬ gramming rests with the individual station as- a licensed broadcaster” Fellows added he was even more concerned about the new code be¬ cause its basis is said to be “over¬ commercialization” of tv. “If there is over-commercialization,” he said, “it may be traced in many cases . to over-demand for the facilities.” But this problem, he asserted, will adjust itself as more stations get into operation. The NARTB topper urged broad¬ casters to provide “the finest kind of programming, the most con¬ structive and productive kind of advertising that is. possible within the human resources of the indus¬ try.” If the industry is to deserve and hold public support, he said, “we must program and advertise in a fashion which reflects a sen¬ sitivity to our family obligations.” turning to toll tv, Fellows said; “I cannot believe that any broad¬ caster. .. W'ould find it possible to support a charge to the American listener and viewer. I, for one, be¬ lieve that I have bought my tv sets with the same understanding that I bought my radio sot, that this con¬ stituted my investment in Ameri¬ can broadcasting as a listener and viewer, and that I would not be called upon at any later date to pay fees to be entertained or be in¬ formed.” FCC Comr. John C. Docrfer sug- (Continued on page 38) Rod Serling’s Three In a Row Over 5-Day Spread New TV Mark Official information from CBS- TV last week on telewriter Rod Serling’s “40 rejection slips” of yore before ho hit the mark, was: related by some sources to the playwright’s upcoming three-in-a- row dramas over a five-day period. Actually, Serling's three originals up for showcasing are not out of his old files but were written last summer, according to his repre¬ sentative, Blanche Gaines. The web, incidentally, mentioned only two Serllng plays, “Portrait in Celluloid” (Jack Carson, Kim Hun¬ ter, Don Taylor, Audry Totter), on “Climax” tomorrow' (Thurs.), and “The Man Who Caught the Ball at Coogan’s Bluff” (Alan Young, Gisele MacKenzie), on “Studio One” Monday (28). Preceding the twain will be “Incident in an Al¬ ley” on “U. S. Steel Hour” tonight (Wed.). In all, three full-hour plays within five days, for what's believed to be a record cluster. Columbia pacted Serling last spring for initial purchase rights to his Jiew teleplays. His “Pat¬ terns” and “The Rack” are re- i garded as his 1-2 punch in tv. Koracs to Strip It Up for NBC-TV Ernie Kovacs is returning to net¬ work tv via a morning show on NBC. The comedian, who’s played all over the local and web loops since being recruited from Phila¬ delphia a few years ago, will get a half-hour strip at 10:30 starting Dec. 12. He’ll compete with the first portion of Arthur Godfrey’s CBS stanza. Kovacs, who’ll be replacing the Ern Westmore “Search for Beauty” show, did a sub stint for Steve Allen’s late-nighter during the summer which got him “discov¬ ered” all over again. His last net¬ work ride was on CBS (about three years ago), which among other slottings sent Kovacs against the Milton Berle show* Subsequently he was farmed out to Columbia’s New York flagship, WCBS-TV, where he conducted a waker- upper. Later he did a nightowl stint on WABD, N. Y„ and for some time has been in the 6 to 9 a.m. slot on WABC. He’ll retain that. Format is not yet worked out except for Kovac’s puppets. His wife, singer Edith Adams, is with the Jack Paar show on CBS-TV. Bergen Show to Sub TV ‘Favorite Husband’ With “Favorite Husband” riding out the Tuesday night 10:30 time under cancellation by Frigidaire, the sponsor, via Kudner, will send in an Edgar Bergen quiz show as the CBS-TV replacement at cycle’s end. ' Bergen show, titled “Do You Trust Your Wife?,” is a Don Fed- derson package out of Music Corp. of America. Jackpot for husband- wife teams will be $100 a week for a year $nd they’re eligible to com¬ pete for 20 years. i