The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Page 121

LIGn REVIVAL -HON SEEKS NOURISHMENT IN TV FIELD HOLLYWOOO (UPI) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayeiywice was. the most Influential tiudn en earth, ruled by the iron fist of Louis B. Mayer, the archtype movie mogul who ignored television like a lion ignores a gnat But Mayer Is dead and MGM has been in the intensive care unit for years, scraping along selling its real estate, auctioning off its props and wardrobe and making so-so movies. Now the MGM lion, the studio's familiar trademark, Is being revived by some box-office movies, "Westworld" and "Skyjacked," end full recognition of television. At long last MGM is convinced the tube is here to stay.

Last year It had only a single series in prime time, "Medical Centre." This year It has fourr "Adam's "Hawkins," "Shaft" and "Medical Centre." Next season it hopes to add to the list 1 is often the case In a corporate turnaround, one man, Is responsible. At MGM television the man i Harris Kat-: leman, a former agent who joined Metre a year ago. Essentially a businessman with a sure grasp of show business, Katteman is in his 40s, tough minded and optimistic. He's put together a project called the MGM family network, signing 144 stations to carry old MGM family films from 5-7 p.m. several times a year.

have 14 films earmarked for the network," he said. "And then we'll start making our own projects for the MGM network. 1 7 The two hours between five and seven in the evening are family hours and they've been Ignored. We have begun to show the kind of pictures that appeal to the entire-family, not Just to seg-k ments of It" Each show Is hosted by a famous star known to kiddies and parents alike. Old flicks headed for the program are "The Glass Slipper," "Sleeping Beauty," "Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm," Torn Thumb," Knights of the- Round Table" and the fairly new Peter Rabbit and the tales of Beatrix Potter." "Our MGM family network will oper-; ate only four times a year.

It began in September and will return January, March and May. "But we'll be making 20 pilots for new series this vear. And we've got 300 produced movies which the studio still owns for titles and ideas, along with 5,000 unproduced novels and scripts." Katleman, who is vice In charge of television at the studio, is a different sort, Of man than Louis B. Mayer. Neither -he nor, the studio can afford to overlook, the revolution- in American entertainment "'preference.

Katleman and Metro are going where the action fs, By Vernon Scott.