Evening star., 1948-11-28

not yet clear, but the fact of its
of Hollywood is making certain Of
getting into television on the ground
floor. Paramount has two stations
in Los Angeles and Chicago and
owns part Of three Dumont- -oper-
ated stations In the East. The stu.
dio has sponsored much research.
including theatsr television.
Warmers and 20th Century-Fox
have combined with RCA in theater
television, and both studios have ap-
piled for station permits. MGM
has announced no television policy.
At RKO, there are rumors Howard
Hughes will make video films.
While the studios themselves issue
no statements, some of their stars
do, with a wide range of predic-
tions.
Humphrey Bogart: "Television
presents no more danger to movies
than cid RADIO
Rudy Vallee: "In three or four
years television will keep families
home four nights ( week.
OF all the allied arts, the one
most likely to be affected by tele-
vision is its parent industry, radio
brosdcasting. But although video
is making some inroads, radio is
a long. long way from the vanish-
ing point. and, in the opinion Of
some of its leaders, may never be
replaced. Says RCA President David
SSarnoff:
Lures Radio Listeners
"Teleyision, when fully developed,
will not Immediately supplant radio
broadcasting. The time may come
when an important broadcast that
we cannot see will seem as strange
as a movie we cannot hear. Pro-
grams limited to sound, however.
will continue to serve millions Of
people through many hours Of the
broadcast period when the eye can.
not be concentrated on the tele-
vision picture"
Video already is beginning to
wean away radio listeners. Big ra-
dio sponsors also are getting into
television. So far radio hasn't suf-
fered but the time may not be far
distant when radio will begin to
feel the effect.
Paramount Vice President Paul
Raibourne is one of those who con-
tends radio is the medium that will
be most affected by television, and
thinks the effect on movies, maga.
zines and newspapers will be minor
and temporary.
At a New York meeting of adver.
tising agency executives, one IN.
quired when radio would start re.
vising its advertising rates down.
ward to compensate for audiences
lost to television.
Radio Sales Dented
A spokesman for a large distribu-
tor of radio sets says television has
made a dent in sales. but nothing
measurable yet" However, 1t may
be significant that the price Of radio
sets has come down in a generally
rising market.
Symphonic music entered the tel
evision picture last March when the
NBC and Philadelphia Symphony
Orchestra were televised. Two les
sons were learned that day. First
of, music-lovers listen rather than
look, and many sit through con-
certs with their eyes closed. Sec
ondly, it was brought out that Q
combination of engineering and
musicianship Is required to know
where +o turn the cameras.
If you're left looking at violinS
doing routine work while the wood
winds, say. introduce a new theme.
you're getting very confused over
all picture.
Opera is expected to have a more
definite place in television. since 1t
contains so much theater where
sight adds greatly to enjoyment.
Toscanini may telecast "Falstaff'
with costumes and scenery. ABC
says it will televise the Metropoli-
tan Opera.
On Broadway, There are movie
house. theater and night club own
ers who admit television is keeping
some of their paying customers at
home. SO far, the number Is small,
but it's growing.
Opportunities for Actors
For show business, however, tele-
vision presents opportunities. Some
actors, like Dean Jaeger, are devot-
Il ing all their time to it. It's the
biggest bo6n, however. for many old
vaudeville acts not seen in years
sight" acts such as acrobats,
dancers, jugglers, Punch and Judy
shows, novelty turns.
Portions of some current Broad
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