Variety (December 1956)

W ednesday, December 19, 1956 RADIO-TELEVISION NBC’S ‘I’LL CRY TOMORROW’ Gen. Sarnoff & The Two Bobs Miami Beach, Dec. 18. Gen. David Sariioff went on a “candor spree” and unburdened himself before the NBC affiliates as to the status of the two Bobs— Robert W. and Khitner, setting at rest, among other thing?, rumors that have been floating around in recent weeks. He said there was no intention of moving Bob Sarnoff upstairs and out of the net¬ work prexy slot and put himself on record that he was proud of the job his son was doing. “And Bob's happy, too,” he added. “As I am, he's convinced that -we’ve now got the strongest and • most skillful organization, at least since the days of Niles Tram¬ mell.” Don't, hold against Bob, he implored, simply because he didn't come up the messenger boy way. He denied that Kiritner, who moves in on Jan. 1 as an exec veepee, is being groomed to take over command, asserting that the ex-ABC president was brought in with the unanimous approval of the entire executive staff because “he’s a dynamic piece df man¬ power, and they’re hard to come by these days.” -Otherwise, he said, Kintner is on his own and takes his place along with the others. He also said that to be the best of his knowledge, “and I should know,” there were no more changes contemplated in the network administrative structure. The General went over a lot of the ground previously covered in Rdbert W.'s address to the convention, dwelling in particular on the live vs. film aspects of programming and appealed to the station operators not to turn the medium into a “national motion picture screen.” “If you do, he warned, you will be forgetting your responsibility and obligation to the' American public.” Trouble Looms If NBC-TV Moves 7:45 News into Station Time RESOUNDING HII By GEORGE ROSEN Miami Beach, Dec. 18. Nobody, but nobody, went away mad when NBC brought down the solid gold curtain on its 30th anni convention hoopla at the plush new Americana Hotel here. Picking up a tab in excess of $200,000, NBC spread out the red carpet for its key personnel, plus the combined radio-television affiliate family (whose only expense was the round- trip fare) for a four-day roundelay that was tops in NBC’s history of sociability, affability and hospital¬ ity. It was, in brief, a convention that outstripped in opulence and spirit all previous NBC-inspired frolics, cued to the “fun in the sun” 30th anni theme. There were only a few surface rumblings and one had to probe real deeply if he were in¬ terested enough to search for areas of serious apprehension or discontent. Not that the affiliates haven’t got troubles. It was sim¬ ply a case of holding everything in abeyance (at least until the affili- Plan But Mils More Concerned Over SarnoiTs Pix Repudiation That’s What They Said Miami Beach, Dec. 18. Although most of the NBC brass stopped at the Ameri¬ cana during the convention, they were saying, one of the headliners, J. Fred Muggs, checked in at a * little-known ' but ultra-exclusive hotel—the “San, Simian.” ' NBC-TV to Eddie & Debbie: Don’t Play CBS Time’ Miami Beach, Dec. 18. NBC got all the desired atten¬ tion (and Page 1 headlines) it craved in its revelation that the network was coming to the aid of the educational tv stations with a $300,000 program hotfoot. It was the prestige clincher of the con¬ vention for Bob Sarnoff, a gesture that won wide praise in educa¬ tional circles as the impetus to really get the cause of'educational tv rolling. With proper pressures applied, general assumption now is that, like NBC, others will fall in line with appropriate financial- program assists to finally bring educational tv in America out of its longtime slough. Sarnoff clicked with the public on this phase of his convention address; the affiliates, who prefer .to talk about the commercial phases of television, were more Miami Beach, Dec. 18. 4-- NBC-TV has finally decided to n m . scrap its 7:30 to 8 news and music Affiliates ftlf 1 llblltC strips. Network prexy Robert W. * * Sarnoff told the affiliate members Tn Mrc \ovnnff Tnn here that starting in the fall “or "“»* MIUOII, 100 perhaps even earlier” the new pro- Miami Beach, Dec. 18. gramming command under Manie Luncheon honoring Gen. David Sacks would inaugurate a new pat- Sarnoff at the NBC 30th anniver- tern of programming along the sary celebration here turned out to lines of both CBS and ABC. How- be a dual tribute, ever he did not reveal what shows In addition to the presentation I liMA haven t got troubles. It was sim- Miami Beach, Dec. 18. More NBC Convention News into otauon lime *** a„ d D e b . - o „^ 34 ate executive committee sits down bie Reynolds, among the flock of ^.v, r.~ ..■ tsttj m with the.NBCcelebs in attendance at the 30th concerned over Sarnoff’s live pro- ffihatesPayTnbute -ifw gotta? ry “ anni , N H BC . hoop ! a hare - were R in h f t ra ”f-®vLb!f u that _ „ * „ * row” Rut ac far ac th#» Miami structed by network prexy Bob It was inevitable that this would To Mrs. Sarnoff, Too ® arnoff a " d program ch “ io everyone conceded that NBC Manie Sacks to cancel out their tion For pvprv affiliate mpmhpr Miami Beach, Dec. 18. aphipvpH a masterful ctrnlrp in wn. , , , . , . , uon - r or ever y amnaie memDer Luncheon honoring Gen. David eratine goodwill 8 scheduled brace of guest appear- who was willing to champion Sar- imoff at the NBC 30th anniver- ‘ _ . ances on CBS-TV shows. They al- hoff’s cause for live shows, there ry celebration here turned out to Top 10 Tantnims ready had been lined up to appear were maybe two who were more s a dual tribute. . Here and there, but more or less both on “What’s e My Line” and inclined to take the position:. In addition to the presentation off the record, one could detect “I’ve Got a Secret” for some pro- “Don’t make too many demands on ever he did not reveal what shows In addition to the presentation off the record, one could detect “I’ve Got a Secret” for some pro- “Don’t make too many demands on would go into the Monday-through- of a plaque to the General, to signs of alarm over NBC's also-ran motion mileage on their new RKO us; give us our day with the fea- Friday time periods and there was whom, in the words of key affiliate status on the top-rated nighttime pic release, “Bundle of Joy.” tures. If the backlogs produce speculation as to whether these exec Harold Hough, “so many owe shows with the rival CBS ? clean NBC’s “surface” explanation the ratings and the billings, let us would be half-hour shows (the CBS so much,” Mrs. Sarnoff was also sweep of the Top 10 Nielsens even was, “WKy should we permit an have our fling with them for the way) or expanding to a full hour paid high tribute, particularly for occasioning some kidding-on-the- NBC contract star to make an ap- next couple of years.” While noth- 7:30 to 8:30 policy which has her contributions to public welfare, square byplay. Some were appre- pearance on CBS when the latter mg’ definite was resolved at the brought some rewarding rating pay- In presenting a scroll and brace- hensive over NBC’s determined bid makes it a point of keeping its convention'on this score, the gap offs to ABC. There’s a strong pos- let to'Mrs. Sarnoff, Jack Harris, to perpetuate the live network into stars off our network.” However, in philosophies may reach even sibility that both 30-minute and, 0 f KPRC, Houston, announced that toe fringe hours (as with “To- the NBC-to-Fisher edict is seen as more widening proportions in corn- hour shows will be used under the flip mmhino/i mHift imri + A ipvieipti night”), when the stations would the opening gun in a new iiitra- ing weeks (particularly if the af¬ filiates don’t like the network’s revised concept. affiliate membership was endowing rather ride the pix-on-tv local mural rivalry between the two net Also to be resolved Is the new a bed at the New York Infirmary gravy train. There was some con- works which may bring to 'an end new version of “Tonight” which - (Continued on page 34) in honor of the woman who has de- c ^rn, too, over the new radio news qot only the current guestar ex- preems next month) It’s a safe Mils Don’t Like Hope’s Cnffo Plugs Miami Beach, Dec, 18. Those Bob Hope cuffo plugs have once more come in for affiliate cen¬ sure. In fact, the station operators want NBC to do something pronto about it, claiming that they’re get¬ ting out of hand. It’s a ticklish situation all around. The network itself isn’t happy about the comic’s penchant for tossing off those gratis commer¬ cials (for which allegedly his writ¬ ers pick up some, fancy extra loot). NBC prexy Bob Sarnoff 1 ’g/ banquet address parenthetically (but in no uncertain terms) alluded to thejn. Hope’s % sponsor, Chevrolet, feels the same way about it and has hinted occasionally at a cease &» desist. But as ? far at, Hope is concerned, it’s a case of “take me the way I am or not at all.” Neither NBC nor Chevy is in a position to do any¬ thing about it for the simple rea¬ son that Hope’s been delivering up the most consistent high ratings on the network. But the affiliates still think some¬ thing should be done. CBS to NBC: Nice Going Miami Beach, Dec. 18. Hundreds of telegrams of con¬ gratulations were received by NBC here as it celebrated its 30th anni. Among those read were from President Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, Herbert Hoover, FCC Chairman George McConnaughey; ken. Lyndon Johnson and from the Senate Interstate Commerce Com¬ mission. And there was one other—per- h«'iP6 the most complimentary of the lot. It was from Frank Stan¬ ton, president of CBS. voted many years to advancing the programming venture calling on changes-but also end the friendly conclusion there will be plenty of wprk of the institution. (Continued on page 48) (Continued on page 34) OUT SOON! 51st Anniversary Number Forms closing shortly Usual Advertising rates prevail Special exploitation advantages Copy and space reservations may be sent to any Variety office NEW YORK 34 184 W. 46ft HOLLYWOOD 28 4404 Sunset Blvd. CHICAGO 11 412 N. Michigan Ave. LONDON, W. C. 2 8 St. Martin’s Place Trafalgar Square post-convention braintrusting and brainwashing on the issue, prior to “showdown” meeting of the affili¬ ates executive committee and the network brass in the next few weeks. Sarnoff’s announcement that the network in 1957 will provide the first live programming Over to be produced expressly for educational tv stations on a national basis won wide commendation, notably in educator circles. The specialized educational programs to the na¬ tion’s 22-non-commercial educa¬ tional stations will be produced in the NBC studies and furnished live over the network lines. NBC has committed itself to the tune (Continued on page 48) Hy Gardner Gets N.Y. Tonight’Nod Miami Beach, Dec. 18. Hy Gardner will hold down the fort on the New York end of the three-city “Tonight” origination under the 'show’s new format which preems Jan. 1‘5, NBC’s af¬ filiates were informed here. Irv Kupcinet will be the Chi-berthed columnist. The Hollywood column¬ ist-emcee has yet to be chosen, al¬ though a decision is expected to be forthcoming in the next few days. A total of 35 Coast column¬ ists already have been auditioned, with kinnies being rushed east on an almost daily basis for inspection by prexy Bob Sarnoff and program topper Manie Sacks. Mike Wallace was also consid¬ ered to share the N.Y. job along with Gardner, but these plans, fell through. The new “Tonight,” with its round-robin of N.Y.-Chi-L.A. pick¬ ups, represents the network's “live” answer to the rival station? (Continued on page 34)