FILM KATZ DISCONTINUES STATION FILMS INC. PLANS for the Katz Agency, representation firm, to discontinue the operation of its sub- sidiary Station Films Inc. were disclosed last week coincident with the announcement that Robert H. Salk, gen- eral manager of SFI, had been named di- rector of sales of Screen Gems Inc. Mr. Salk will take over the newly - COVERAGE created post at VÌ(L Screen Gems, tv sub- PRESENT at a meeting when Official Films sidiary of Columbia acquired exclusive distribution rights to Pictures Corp., on My Little Margie and The Stu Erwin Show Aug. 1. He will re- are (I to r): E. H. Goldstein, vice president port to John H. of Hal Roach Studios; Hal Roach Jr., presi- Mitchell, vice presi- dent of Hal Roach Studios, and Herman dent in charge of MR. SALK Rush, vice president of Official Films. sales, and will fur- ther develop and integrate all Screen Gems sales operations, officials said. 'Margie,' 'Erwin' Rights Station Films was formed in 1953 and has Acquired by Official Films operated as a film- buying organization, essen- tially for stations represented by Katz. Explain- DISTRIBUTION rights to 126 half -hour films PROVEN ing discontinuance of the operation, officials of My Little Margie and 130 episodes of The said that SFI was formed to help stations at a Stu Erwin Show have been acquired by Official TV AUDIENCE OF time when film distribution generally was in a Films, . The announcement was "chaotic" state, but that the field has now be- made last week by Harold Hackett, Official DAYTIME come stabilized with the result that the original Films president; Hal Roach Jr., president of need for SFI no longer exists. Hal Roach Studios, and Roland Reed, presi- (12:00 -6:00 p.m.) Mr. Salk has been general manager of Station dent of Roland Reed Productions. 880 Films since its formation. His association with The two series represent approximately $8 the Katz Agency dates to 1945, when he joined million worth of film footage. My Little Margie NIGHTTIME the company as director of research. He served was sponsored on CBS -TV by Philip Morris (6:00 p.m.- Midnight) later as head of Katz' Tv Sales Dept. in Chicago & Co. Ltd. and Scott Paper Co. L & M 87°70 then returned to New York and was put in Cigarettes and General Mills previously spon- sored The Stu Erwin Show on ABC -TV. Shreveport Telepulse charge of the Tv Sales Development Dept. In 1948 he created a presentation, "TV Facts For Jan. 23 -29, 1955 Advertising," which won wide acclaim. CBS -TV Film Sales In 1950 Mr. Salk moved to the CBS Network THERE'S MONEY IN MOTION in Four Sales Dept., returning to Katz the following To Syndicate More and Bossier Louisi- Shreveport City, year as tv program and sales development man- ACQUISITION of four tv film properties to be ana ... over $70,000,000 in new con- ager. In this post he worked with stations buy- syndicated by CBS-TV Film Sales was an- struction underway in 1955, for in- ing film for spot use until the creation of Station nounced at its national sales meeting last week stance ... and a consumer spendable Films as a separate entity. by Leslie Harris, vice president and general income 10.6% above the national aver- manager. The three -day meeting in New York age. ABC Film Syndication ended Wednesday. New programs are San Francisco Beat, half - And, once again Pulse proves that the Acquires 'Bolger' Rights hour films (re -runs of The Lineup carried on of Life with half series only SURE way reaching the re- GEORGE T. SHUPERT, president of ABC CBS -TV); Father, -hour (re -runs of the CBS -TV program); Eye on the sponsive Metropolitan Shreveport TV Film Syndication, is announcing today (Mon- World, new -hour dramatic news program; audience is by using the only station day) that the company has acquired distribu- half that gives it Grade A coverage . . . March or Die, half -hour adult adventures series tion rights to the Ray Bolger Show, series of starring Errol Flynn. KSLA. 60 half -hour musical comedy films starring The meeting, which briefed personnel from comedian-dancer Ray Bolger. The series nine offices on plans in all areas of the opera- Your Raymer Man has the com- started on ABC -TV in October 1953 under plete, convincing details. Why tion, including advertising, merchandising, sales sponsorship of Pall Mall cigarettes and Sher- policy and new programming, was presided over not see him soon and start let- win-Williams current Co. The season, which by Mr. Harris, with various sessions directed by ting KSLA put money into mo- ends June 10, has been sponsored by Lehn & Fred J. Mahlstedt, director of operations and Fink and Dorothy Gray Products. tion moving your products? production, and Wilbur S. Edwards, general With the addition of the Bolger series, six sales manager. now being programs are distributed by ABC Among speakers were J. L. Van Volkenburg, Film Syndication. The others are: Passport to CBS-TV president; Merle S. Jones, CBS vice Danger, Racket Squad, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. president in charge of owned stations and gen- Presents, The Playhouse and John Kieran's eral services; Sig Mickelson, CBS vice president Kaleidoscope. Another, Sheena, Queen of the in charge of news and public affairs; George Jungle, will be placed on sale some time in Abrams, vice president and advertising manager June, Mr. Shupert said. of Block Drug Co., and Richard Pack, national program manager of Westinghouse Broadcasting 'Rider' First in. Co. THE Range Rider film series distributed by Leon Bernard Joins TPA Shreveport, Louisiana CBS -TV Film Sales ranked first in Boston in American Research Bureau's April ratings. The LEON BERNARD, formerly with Ziv Tele- PAUL H. RAYMER CO., INC. film, which had an ARB rating of 35.9, was vision Programs Inc., has joined Television Pro- inadvertently omitted from the ARB list pub- grams of America Inc. (TPA) as its midwest National Representatives lished in DDT on May 9, and the list was manager, Michael M. Sillerman, TPA execu- labeled March instead of April. tive vice president, announced Friday. Mr. t age 96 May 23, 1955 BROADCASTING TELECASTING 1