Broadcasting, 1959-06-29
CBS Radio is moving the origin of two network programs, Suspense and Johnny Dollar, from Hollywood to New York. The change is due to a greater manpower supply in the East, Lucian Davis, executive producer of network programs, Hollywood, explained. Virtually all the people employed on these programs are being relocated on other jobs at either CBS Radio or CBS Television, he said. Writers of both series, William N. Robson of Suspense, and Jack Johnstone of Johnny Dollar, will continue in Hollywood, sending the scripts East for production.
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Variety, 1959-06-24
CBS Radio In Sweeping Coast Trim, Shakeup
Hollywood, June 23
An economic upheaval that will affect up to 20 staffers and send two dramatic half-hour shows packing for NY swept over KNX, the CBS Radio western flagship. Reason for the shakeup was attributed to more concentrated production in the east, where the net is better staffed to handle the shows.
Shows to be shipped east are Suspense and Johnny Dollar but their producer-writers, William N. Robson and Jack Johnstone, respectively, will remain here to continue the scripting. Both refused to move east with the shows. Shows still to be fed the network .from Hollywood are Have Gun -- Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Amos 'n' Andy Music Hall, Art Linkletter’s House Party, Pat Buttram and Rusty Draper. Reason the westerns aren’t moved east, according to a network spokesman, is that “they wouldn’t know how to do it.” The personalities have told the network execs they’d rather lose the shows than be moved to NY.
Engineers, announcers, clerical help and others associated with the shows to be moved will be relocated in other jobs, both in radio and TV, according to the network. No cutoff date for personnel cutback has been set by Lucian Davis, production head at the station, said enough of the moved shows would be recorded here to last through the summer.
No estimate of the saving was made at KNX but it is said to be in line, with a general overhauling at the web’s owned-and-operated stations, which, in the overall, may exceed $250,000 for the year. Understood that other network shows originated away from NY would fall under the sweeping edict.
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NOTES:
- $250,000 in US$2025 is approximately $2.75 million.
- Suspense first NY broadcast was August 30, 1959.
- Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar first NY broadcast was June 25, 1961
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