Evening star., 1951-08-14
On the Air
On the Air
Film Actors
Want Some
| Protection
By Harry Macarthur

POhC0 11tO CClCF Ao1O1l p4Cs 1I1s
is the collective one of the Holly
wood actors and actresses who
belong to the Screen Actors
Guild. There is a situation in tele-
vision which the SAG, as any
proper union might, feels calleo
upon to deplore.
Television, especially this sum-
mer, has made extensive use OF
motion pictures made for theatel
showing. These have been re-
trieved in carload lots from the
studio vaults to be fed into the
Unsuitable NAV of TV.
There are several reasons why
TV broadcasters snatch up any
bit of celluloid made available
The broadcasters have committed
themselves to the filling of GER
tain time periods and the adver-
tisers are clamoring for the priv
ilege of spending their money
Anything which makes a picture
/ is a good television show, under
these circumstances.
Old movies, whether from Hol-
lywood or Elstree, have provided
one of the easiest answers to the
broadcaster's problem, Their pro-
duction and casting difficulties al
ready have been solved by some
body else and the broadcaster
does not have to endure any deal
ings with actors, directors, set de-
Isigners. stage hands or writer's.
Another strong factor giving old
movies the look to some of ideal
television fare is their cost. Com
Iparatively, they're mighty cheap
entertainment.
X
This could be changed, however
by the Screen Actors Guild. The
SAG feels that this continued use
of old movies is unfair to the stars
of same. Something, meaning
money, will have to be done about
this, the guild has made clear in
the proposals it has delivered to
the movie producers in Hollywood
as a basis for opening collective
bargaining negotiations late this
month. The old guild contract ex-
pired last December 81, but its
terms have been continued by mu-
tual agreement pending the nego-
tiations.
The SAG. in it's newest pro-
posals. considers the plight of the
actor in two different kinds OF
films, those made for theaters and
later shown on television and
those made for TV showing.
In the former field, a ban from
television showing is proposed fol
all films made after August l, 1948
pending agreement on "additiona.
compensation to actors for the re-
use in television of theatrical pic
lures" This, of course, is not
likely to be any great hardship or
you right now, since very few
movies as young as that are
wandering up and down the TV
channels. It's effect on your future
televiewing depends on the nature
of the additional compensation
agreed upon.
=
The SAG position in regard to
other films, those made especially
for TV showing, is that the actor's
salary covers one showing in each
television area and for each sub
Sequent showing he must be re-
paid his original salary.
This could knock the props
from under some of the argu-
ments about the economy in the
long run of filming a television
show and it is probable that some
compromises will be worked out
when the actual negotiations get
under way.
The present situation is unfair
to the actor, without doubt. II
Bill Boyd, for instance, hadn't
had the foresight to buy up those
old "Hopalong Cassidy" films
"Hoppy" might have become SC
sensationally popular without
turning a penny for Boyd. And il
Martha Scott had been paid her
original salary for every SUBJ
Isequent showing of Cheers for
Miss Bishop" she'd have made a
million after taxes this past year
X
MemOrial-Hosts of big league
baseball stars, past and present
will take part in a mammoth
Babe Ruth Memorial Program
Thursday at $50 pm. on DuMont
(WTTG). 1t will be the third
anniversary of Ruth's death.
Dizzy Dean and Mel Allen will
share the master of ceremonies
chores on the 212=hour program
to be broadcast from the stage of
the Adelphi Theater in New York
City. Telephones will be set up
there and well-known ballplayers
will be on hand to accept contri-
buttons for the Babe Ruth Foun-
dation, Inc. Proceeds will go to
the American Cancer Society and
to the Children's Village for un-
Iderprivileged children. at Dobbs
Ferry, N. Y.
The TV entertainment will in
clude ''Dugout Quiz" with pres
Ient day managers answering audi
ence questions; something called
Dizzy Deans Talent Scouts" a
batting contest, with big leaguers