Evening star., 1950-01-29
News of Video and Radio
Hollywood Starts to Weaken in
TV Film Situation
BY Harry Macarthur

Little by little Hollywood is fac
ing fact of life-that television
is, no more a passing fad than
talking pictures were. 1t was not
SO long ago that it was news when
Alexander Korda released to video
a block of his f1lms-some played
to death and some too British to
have been exported before. It
was still news this past week when
Nat Fowler, head of the ABC-TV
film department. obtained tele-
vision rights for % films from
several distributors. This, how
ever. was more indicative than
the Korda deal that a barrier is
breaking down.
Bill Boyd probably showed the
way. Mr.. Boyd. who is better
known as "Hopalong Cassidy"
spent himself almost broke awhile
back to buy up rights to a series
OF his old "Hopalong" pictures,
which were resting in studio ware
houses or playing Saturday after
moons in small towns. 1t was one
OF the smartest moves he ever
made and undoubtedly opened
some Hollywood eyes.
1t became obvious that a pic
ture sold to television was earn
ing more money than a picture
stored away in vault. 1t also
became obvious that television
would not damage a movie stars
oox ofhce prestige, since it made
MIR. Boyd one of the hottest per-
sonalities in show business. It
must have dawned on the movie
makers. too, that a family stay
ing home from the neighborhood
theater to watch television would
stay home anyway, Hollywood
films or no.
Ihere are some happily remem-
nered pictures on the list of those
just acquired by ABC-TV. One of
them is John Ford's Stage
coach" Among the others are "I
Married Witch" Trade Winds"
Foreign Correspondent" House
Across the Bay" Slightly Honor
able" ITO Be or Not to Be"
Biockade" and History Is Made
at Night"
For the present, the price per
showing is such that these pic
lures will be televised only in New
York and Chicago. A lower fee
based on the size Of the potential
audience, is sure to come. how
ever. bringing better feature pho
toplays to local TV screens.
Hollywood is turning to tele-
vision in other ways, too. Robert
montgomery, whose new drama
series starts tomorrow (WNBW-
$3.50 p.mo with Madeleine Car
roll in THE Letter." is not alone
Ann Sheridan is another photo
play personality who has turned
whole-heartedly to television. So
lar this has been a local affair
In Los Angeles, but Miss Sheridan
Is to be Ed Wynn's guest on Febru-
ary IL and Hollywood rumor has
IL that she will become a perma-
nent fixture on the show.
Edward Everett Horton is an
other now definitely committed to
video. He will be the star of a
new ABC program, starting in
March, playing the manager of a
mythical hotel to introduce the
acts in a variety show. Jack
Carson, who recently got his re-
lease from his Warner Bros. con-
tract, is going to follow a vaca-
tlon with serious television plans
John Payne is scheduled for a
new adventure series. You can
expect others to follow.
X y X X
Ted Mack's Original Amateur
Hour" (WMAL-Thursday, 9 p.m)
Will have this week the most dis
tinctive cast it ever has had. It
will be broadcast from Constitu-
tion Hall as part of a two-hour
show which will launch the 1850
campaign of the American Heart