Earns 125 Gs From TV-Radio Commercials By BEN GROSS While watching a girl doing said to yourself: "She probably on Broadway; but look at her pathy. Not if this saleswoman of the air is anything like Jan Miner, who both acts in Shakespeare and delivers plugs for products. She earns through the latter activity the tidy sum of more than 000 a year. During the last 25 years, Jan, an able actress, has made many thousands of commercials and has worked for some 90 different sponsors. In this specialized field of broadcasting, she is a veritable Julie Harris or Helen Hayes, and that is why today some 40 clients write generous checks for her services.
"Doing commercials looks easy enough, but it's really an she told me as we dined in Club 21. "Without them neither radio nor television as we know it in America could survive. Newspapers Essential "But my experience has taught me one important thing. For a sales campaign to be really successful, radio and TV must be used jointly with newspaper advertising. This is essential.
For example, at the time I'm on camera for a certain detergent my picture appears simultaneously in newspaper ads." Jan, Boston-born and Beacon Hillbred, a graduate of Wellesley College, began her career as an actress about 30 years ago. She has appeared in many Broadway plays, including "Milk Train," and toured the country with Sylvia Sidney in "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs." Entering radio a quarter of a century ago, she starred in such soapers as Hilltop House and The Second Mrs. Burton. Also, Jan played leading roles in radio's commercial on TV, have you ever to become a dramatic actress Well, you needn't waste your sym- Perry Mason and Boston Blackie, followed by a rich career in TV's The Defenders, The Nurses, Naked City and other top dramatic series. A member of the Shakespearean repertory company at Stratford, she recently scored as Mistress Quickly in "Falstaff" and is in the movie, "The Summer," with Burt Lancaster and Cornelia Otis Skinner.
Art Money Obviously an actress with such a formidable list of credits is not doing commercials because she has failed to achieve success in the dramatic arts. There must be some other reasons. Jan gave these to me. "First of all," she said, "although some may doubt it, this is artistically satisfying work. And, equally important, there's the money.
"You see, I was about the first Broadway actress to do commercials on the radio. Today dozens of the most famous stars sell products on TV. Among them you'll find such as Bette Davis, Robert Taylor, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall and Jason Robards Jr. "It isn't difficult to understand why.
A commercial calls for acting ability. I am a character actress, and in such a sales interlude, for example, as the one in which I portray Madge, the manicurist, I must bring into play all that I have learned about acting. "I must be truthful, convincing and also entertaining. That is quite an assignment for a minute commercial." Jan, a sprightly, 5-foot-4, 130-pounder, with ash-brown hair and grey-blue eyes which twinkle with laughter, continued to AM RADIO HIGHLIGHTS 570 WABC 770 WIRZ 620 WNYC 830 660 WCES 880 710 WPAT 930 970 WHE' 1130 WINS 1010 WLIE 1190 WHN 1050 1240 WHLI 1100 CO 1280 WYIP 1310 WNJR 1430 WEYD 1330 WHOM 1480 WPOW 1330 WOXR 1560 WENX 1380 WWRL1600 MORNING A -WHN New York Speaks Out; City Council President Frank O'Connor. A -WNYC Lee Graham Interviews: Porter MeKeever.
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-WARC Press Conference; State Assemblyman Anthony Travis. AFTERNOON World Series Report; Joe Garagiola. P. -WNBC Pre-World Series Game Show. -WNBC World Series Baseball; Dodgers P.
NFL Pro Football: Giants-Cardinals, P. Sounds of the Past: Eddie Cantor (Recorded), P. Forum for Discussion; "National Industrial Conference Board World Convocation." P. Opera Toples: Lorenzo Alvary, Peter Diamond. P.
-WNBC Monitor. Features throughout the day, P. -WLIB Community Journal; Dr. Eugene Reed. EVENING P.
Pro Football Scoreboard; Mike Palmer. P. -WNBC Meet the Press; John K. Fairbank. P.
Hour of Decision: Rev. Billy Graham (Also, WNBC, WHOM at 10, WABC at 11 P. WCBS Let's Find Out: Rep. Theodore Kupferman, Jerome Wilson, Richard Callahan. P.
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Concert. P. -WNBC Second Sunday; "The New Negro," Herbert Kaplow, others. Inquiry into progress of Civil Rights Movement since 1954 (Premiere). P.
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THE STEREO STATION OF THE DAILY NEWS AND WPIX-TV. NEWS 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE HOUR 18 HOURS A DAY. 6:00 A. Stereo Musie for 1 Qulet Sunday; Jim Lucas (Also at 7:30, 8:30 A. 6:30 A.
-WPIX Protestant Hour. 8:00 A. M.WPIX Local Issue: Theodore Kheel, Norman Frank. 10:45 A. -WRVR Religious Service From Riverside Church (Also at 8 P.
Spanish at 9:30 P. 12:00 Noon- -WPIX Stereo Festival of Music; Art Ford. 12:15 P. -WFUV Catholic Mass From Fordham University. 6:00 P.
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A. 1:00 A. Keep in Touch With George Douth; Vincent Price, (Many AM programs are also carried on FM stations) many as 60 persons. You may spend a day or two before the cameras." She emphasized that few of us realize how much money is spent. In black and white TV, a commercial may cost from $7,000 to $30,000, and for color, an advertiser may lay out anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000.
Out-of-Town Tests "That is why commercials are not only written but rewritten countless times. We have been working for a year on one Palmolive plug. Also, commercials are given tryouts on TV, just as a play, in certain 'test If they show results there, the sales plugs are brought to the 'big the networks." "In addition to what you've already said, what other qualities must a good commercial have?" I wanted to know. "It must be clear, simple and truthful, and with a point of view as logical as that of a good play," Jan answered. "And if the performer is a lucky one, the product also has merit." Earn Big Money "How much do actors and actresses make in the commercial field "Some earn very large sums.
But the pay rates are so complicated you could fill your entire column with the various rules, regulations and exceptions." For example, the base pay, the scale, for a "voice over" commercial, one in which the performer is not seen, starts at $80 for one taping or filming session. The on-camera scale is $105. "Of course, I and many others with reputations do not work for scale. Our pay is much higher and subject to individual contract. Also, you must remember that performers are paid extra sums every time a commercial is repeated on the air." Those Loud Commercials "What are some of the most famous can name right the past.
You a classic, Benny show. And oft-sung 'Look off two of them recall one that has 'J-e-1-1-0' of the old then there was sharp be do you think of commercials are so loud they blast you out of your chair?" "I think they're a disgrace," said Jan. "It seems to me somebody must be getting to the engineers to raise the volume. I know that when these commercials are made, they don't sound louder than the show." Jan, who lives in a fashionable section of mid-Manhattan's East Side with her husband, Richard Merrill, a designer and writer of movies, can also discourse learnedly about Shakespeare's plays. Loves Shakespeare "I love appearing in them; because the more you read Shakespeare the more you realize that he said everything." "As you are seen in so many commercials, do people ever recognize you on the street?" I asked.
"Often. And once while appearing in a play, dressed in a beautiful classic costume, a woman came back stage and greeted me with this: 'Oh, I know you. You're the Goodman's Noodles Lady!" Jan Miner said. Two-Part Movie "The Young a 1958 movie starring Brando, Dean Martin and the late Montgomery Clift, is to be screened over a two-week period by ABCTV. The first half will be televised tonight at the second part next Sunday at the same hour.
WPIX Covers Parade WPIX covers the Columbus Day Parade starting at 12:15 Wednesday afternoon. John Tillman is the commentator. This will mark the fifth consecutive year in which THE NEWS station has telecast the annual Italian American celebration. Some 100,000 marchers will participate in the parade up Fifth from 44th to 86th St. a a intended SUNDAY NEWS, OCTOBER Jan Miner Shakespeare detergent plugs hold forth earnestly about what makes a good sales plug.
"Just consider what qualities an effective commercial must have. Above all, its premise must be plausible, one that the viewer will believe. Many commercials fail because they strain credulity. I'm referring to the silly conversations of housewives in some detergent sales plugs. And it's absurd to show young lovers who, in the midst of their romancing, break off to talk about, say, toothpaste.
"But, of course, many commercials are written with the imagination and technical perfection of a good play. In fact, some of them show more creative ability than the programs in which they 60 Persons Involved "Just how are commercials made?" I asked. "As much effort may go commercial as into a play," "There are countless conferences ing the ad agency, the copy sponsor, the director, the the technicians. These might TELEVISION Today's Highlights 5 The Mormon Conference (Special). Searchlight; Gov.
Rockefeller. Discovery '66; "Discovery Goes to Israel" (Color). Newmakers; City Council President Frank O'Connor. 4 A Conversation With Raymond Aron. -11 College Football; Navy-Syracure (Color-Taped).
2 Face the Nation; Sen. John Stennis. 2 Key Plays of Pro Football; Lindsey Nelson (Color). Meet the Press; John Fairbank (Color). Elections '66.
World Series Report (Color). Issues and Answers: Thailand Foreign Minister Thanet Khoman. 2 NFL Pro Football; -Cardinals (Color). 4 World Series Baseball; DodgersOrioles (Color). 7 Fine Art of Football Watching (Color-Repeat).
4 AFL Pro Football; DolphinsRaiders (Color). 2 Campaign '66; Roger Mudd. Prospects." 4 Walt Disney Show: Tommy Kirk, Brain Keith (Color-Part 2). 2 Ed Sullivan Show: Wayne Shuster, Petula Clark, others (Color). World of Lowell Thomas (Color).
The FBI; Efrem Zimbalist Dean Jaggef (Color). 2 Garry Moore Show: Dionne Warwick, others (Color). 4 Bonanza; Lorne Greene, Dina Merrill (Color). David Susskind Show: Truman Capote, others 2 "Carol and Carol Burnett, Rock Hudson (ColorSpecial). 4 Andy Williams Show: Bobby Darin, Anthony Newley (Color).
9 One Man's Opinion; Walter Kiernan (Premiere). 7 A.M. TO NOON 7:30 11:00 A. 11:30 A.M.- 12:00 Noon- 12:00 Noon- 12:30 P.M.- 12:30 P. 1:00 P.
M- 1:00 P. 1:00 P. 1:30 P.M.1:30 P. 2:00 P.M.- 2:00 P.M.- 4:00 P.M.- 1:30 P.M.- 6:00 P.M.- 7:30 P.M.- 8:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M.8:00 P. 9:00 P.M.- 9:00 P.M.- 9:00 P.
10:00 P. 10:00 P.M.- 10:30 P.M.- Modern Farmer. 5 Light Time. 5 Conference. 7 The Evangel Hour.
2 Around Corner. Faith Films. Learn to Draw. 10 Thou With Me. 9 Sen.
Williams. Church School. 9 VIPs. Have 4 Fourth 7 Cat 9 Point of View. Talk About God.
Way to Go. 1 Heritage. 7 9 N. J. Report.
Unto My Feet. co 1966 into a minute Jan told me. involvwriter, the performer, and number as PROGRAMS 4 Meet 5 Movie. Elections Lloyd 2 Frank 4 Series 9 Movie. -2 N.Y.
A. A. Mike 47 Le Roy Paradise. 5 Movie. Scope.
47 Panorama. 3:309 Movie. Checkmate. Watch 4 Sports. 4 4:152 News.
Naked 2 Tell the 5 Outer Stardom. Hawaiian 2 Amateur 9 Addams 47 Miniatures. 6 P.M. TO: 11 Campaign 5 Movie. 47 Resurrection.
Perry 2 Eye on 9 Death 47 News 2 Sea 9 Movie. El Foro. Defenders. 2 It's Walt Ed 5 Lowell The Riverboat. 20th Hey 5 Opinion.
Sports 4 5 Davis 31 Arts Documentary. Rawhide. 2 Carol 2 Andy 10:30 -9 Walter commercials "I from become Jack Gillette's "What that WMCA WYNJ WHIC WOR 10:30 10:30 10:35 11:30 14:30 1:35 1:45 2:00 2:00 2:30 3:00 4:30 4:05 5:00 6:10 6:30 7:00 7:10 7:30 8:03 8:07 9:05 10:05 10:10 10:30 11:40 '66. Issues-Answers. Dodgers-Orioles.
N.Y. Allen. Hammer. City. Limits.
Eye. Hour. Family. P.M. '66.
Mason. N. Y. (Italian). Film.
World. Williams. Kiernan. 4 Youth Forum. Beany 9 N.
Y. Report. Look Up Live. 4 Man in Office. 7 Peter 9 Movie.
Camera Three. 4 Searchlight. 7 -2 Hearing. 4 Direct Line. 7 NOON TO 6 P.M.
Uncle 2 Newsmakers. 4 Conversation. Youth Knows. 2 Face Nation. 5 7 Page One.
9 Chaplin Festival. Football AFTER 11 PM. Word of Life. 2 4 5 Joe News. 9 Encounter.
2 4 It Is Written. 4 Movie. Movie. 2:004 Open Mind. Coloreast) CHANNEL NUMBERS WPIX 11 WABC WCBS WOR WNBC WNEW WNYC WNDT 3 Denotes Color).
