May and June 1943

NBC and CBS were the media companies with big incomes, but it was DuMont that expanded its TV schedule in mid-1943.

It had been beaming live shows and films into homes in New York and several other states on Sundays. It decided to add a live variety show on Wednesdays. The NBC and CBS stations were content to air four hours a week of non-commercial films.

Some of the national media in the U.S. started taking TV a little more seriously. There always seemed to be stories making predictions about post-war television. Now, Billboard began to review the DuMont shows. To a lesser extent, Variety did as well. The New York Herald Tribune printed partial listings; at first, it never mentioned W2XWV was broadcasting on Wednesday nights. The venerable New York Times had no TV schedules for now.

Below, you can read about DuMont’s “Café Television” which included Jerry Lester on the first show. In the ‘50s, he was back on TV as the hyper host of “Broadway Open House,” NBC’s initial attempt at a late-night show. Also appearing were Jack Gilford, a comedian who got caught in the blacklist but surfaced on television again in the ‘60s, and Benny Rubin, a one-time vaudeville headliner who showed up on Jack Benny’s radio and TV shows as well as the voice of Joe Jitsu on the 1960s el-cheapo Dick Tracy cartoons.

Dennis James also gets mentioned—as a sportcaster! James fronted a lot of DuMont shows in the ‘40s after the war, moving to ABC in the ‘50s, and popping up as the host of various quiz/game shows, including the ‘70s night-time revival of “The Price is Right” (and pitching Kellogg’s Product 19, among many things). James’ main career at the time was as a staff announcer at WNEW.

We’ve linked to a few films, too.

MAY

Sunday, May 2
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 “Your Victory Garden.”
8:45 Film: “Food for Fighters” (OWI, 1942)
9:00 “Play Ball.”
9:15 Sam Cuff, news.
9:30 “What Do You Know?” quiz.
Advice on how to get best results in a Victory garden will be given amateur gardeners tonight by Charles H. Nissley, extension professor of vegetable gardening at the College of Agriculture of Rutgers University, in the third of a series of Victory garden programs over television station W2XWV on channel No. 4.
Professor Nissley will be seen and heard at 8:30 o’clock, his image being radiated from the DuMont transmitter atop the skyscraper at 515 Madison avenue, New York City.
During the past two weeks, Dr. Frank G. Helyar, chairman of the New Jersey State Victory Garden Committee, and Professor Lyman G. Schermerhorn of the College of Agriculture, appeared on television screens to impart advice on successful home gardening.
The series was arranged by Will Baltin, radio-theatre editor of the Sunday Times, who is program director of the DuMont station, as part of a wide variety of war activity telecasts being offered to viewers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. (Sunday Times, May 2)

Monday, May 3
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.
Los Angeles—Continuing its alternate Monday night 1 1/2 hour television broadcasts despite the curtailment of set manufacturing, a program titled "Victory on the Kitchen Front" was presented Monday night from the Don Lee System W6XAO atop Mount Lee, Hollywood, Cal. Demonstration and discussion on rationing, nutrition and the preparing of lunch boxes was produced by Norma Young, home economist of KHJ-Don Lee, and Essie Elliott, head economics director of California Fruit Growers Exchange. The television broadcasts are scheduled to continue through Dec. 27. (Radio Daily, May 5)

Wednesday, May 5 (debut program)
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. Variety.
9:30 Sam Cuff, news.
9:45 to 10 p.m. Films.
The first in a series of Dumont television programs designed to permit experimentation by production staffs of ad agencies was telecast Wednesday night from the Madison Ave. studio in New York. Representatives of leading agencies were on hand to witness the show and watch the mechanics and techniques of television production.
The initial show was staged by the Dumont staff, but hereafter on Wednesday nights the agencies will have the run of the place for experimental programs which will be blended with station items. Benny Rubin was the featured entertainer of the show, presenting stories and songs. The blackout on Wednesday night prevented several other entertainers from reaching the studio on time and their spots were filled with the showing of news and musical film shorts. (Radio Daily, May 7).

DuMont—No. 1
Reviewed Wednesday, 8:30-10 p.m. Style—Variety (with live talent and films). Sustaining on W2XWV (New York).
DuMont launched its new Wednesday video series, with an effort which proved that television, insofar as this set-up is concerned, is going to require plenty of work before programs projected can rate as more than novelties.
In the studio audience were ad agency execs gandering the first show before tackling the production problem themselves in succeeding weeks on the station. DuMont has offered, and many agencies have accepted, the use of studio and staff facilities to those interested in working out program ideas for eventual commercial use.
NBC and CBS spent copious sums of money on program production before the war curtailed tele activity. At the moment, DuMont's new Wednesday spot is the first attempt to bring live talent back into the medium. Thus far, all stations, at least in this part of the country, have confined themselves to the use of films and simple programs requiring no production.
Unlike NBC and CBS, which are devoting the major part of their energies to radio, DuMont, able to concentrate wholly on television, is attempting to build acceptance for its facilities and programs by turning them over to agencies and advertisers. This obviates the financial nut incurred, by doing their own productions, and gives the agencies a chance to develop their own tele savvy.
Two advertisers, Butterick Patterns and Adam. Hats, participated in the first show and neither of their bits were overly effective. The pattern people used a model wearing one of their dresses and posturing while an off-stage voice did a patter about yardage, trim, etc. This was a pure case of too much talk and not enough action. The chapeau advertiser didn't even do as well as Butterick. Jack Gilford, comic seen not too recently at Cafe Society, interrupted his routine for a moment to mention Adam Hats and jam one of their fedoras on his head, after which he continued his act. A better stunt for Adam might have been the use of a juggler who manipulates hats instead of the usual accoutrements. At least he could have run in four or elite Adam hats.
From the production it was quite obvious that there was no dress rehearsal. The cameras had difficulty following Gilford's lively antics and keeping his image clear thru fast changes from close-up to fullshot even tho he is experienced in tele acting. Background was uninteresting—apparently just a curtain drop.
An accordionist, obviously a tele tyro, was sadly in need of rehearsals, and one over-all fault was the use of gestures which brought the hands too close to the camera. At times they resembled a not too choice specimen of uncured hickory ham.
Benny Rubin's routine came over swell. His patter and facial contortions projected perfectly. This was undoubtedly due to his film experience.
Another excellent job was done by Samuel Cuff, DuMont supervisor of the series and news analyst. He's a veteran in the field, having a regular spot on the DuMont Sunday night video schedule. He did a newscast illustrated with maps.
Dottie Wootin, also experienced before the tele cameras, opened the program and introduced Jill Stevens (Lillian Zatt), who emseed the show.
Fifteen minutes of movies rounded out the program when a surprise blackout prevented several scheduled acts from arriving in the studios. W. M. (Billboard, May 22)

Thursday, May 6; Friday, May 7
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

Sunday, May 9
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. Doug Allan’s “Thrills and Chills.”
9:00 “Victory Garden.”
9:15 “Shades of the Gay ‘90s.”
9:30 “Sports Parade” with Dennis James.
9:45 “Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.
Miss Marie C. Doermann, extension specialist in nutrition at the College of Agriculture of Rutgers University, will show Victory gardeners how to preserve the crops they produce in an illustrated television lecture to be given over Du Mont station W2XWV tonight at 8:30 o’clock.
Miss Doermann is the fourth and final speaker in the series, arranged by Will Baltin, radio-theatre editor of The Sunday Times, and program director of the television station, as a special war activity feature.
Others heard included Professors Frank G. Helyar, Lyman G. Schermerhorn and Charles H. Nissley. The telecast may be tuned on channel No. 4 between 78-84 megacycles. (Sunday Times, May 9)

Monday, May 10
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

Wednesday, May 12
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 “Behind the Scenes.”
9 to 10 p.m. “Café Television.”
“CAFE TELEVISION”
(Dumont Television, W2XWV—Channel 4)
Dumont's newest feature in video entertainment is "Cafe Television," an hour solid program of entertainment conducted by Jill Stephens, otherwise known to the trade as Lillian Zatt, WNEW publicity director.
The feature of Dumont Tele's Wednesday night show (8:30-10 p.m.) “Café Television” as presented by the actress-flack, is a fairly good entertaining hour, more so than most tele programs, from a standpoint of clear photography, name [guests] and carefully planned production and pacing of the program.
Stephens, "Cafe Television's" writer-producer-emcee and talent finder, proves to be a highly telegenic young lady with poise, personality and assurance before the camera, and will bear watching in the future, when television steps out of its swaddling clothes into a [ ] commercial medium.
Line-up of talent on the simulated [ ] included Jerry Lester, radio comic, who proved that laughs and [ ] can be coupled for comedic effectiveness before the tele camera (on the screen, even the belly
[ ] of the cameramen were highly [ ], Carol Dexter, night club singer, Billy Banks, Diamond Horseshoe featured singer and Joan Fields, concertmeister of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
Camera angles included many solos, side views and long shots of the varied performers who are put through the paces with Miss Stephens’ in ad lib interviews, followed by individual stints on the [ ] of each. Program, all things considered, had punch and audience interest, pulled together by Miss Stephens’ able handling and timing. (Radio Daily, May 17; parts are unreadable)

DuMont—No. 2
Reviewed Wednesday, 8:30-10 p.m. Style—Variety. Sustaining on W2XWV (New York).
DuMont's second live show (May 12) consisted of a half hour behind-scenes description of the tele studio and a full hour of Cafe Television, a variety bill against a mythical cafe setting.
The shows indicated clearly that programing of tele live talent is still experimental and still way behind that of the medium it most closely resembles, movies. Technically, the images are blurred around the edges of the small screen, the camera fails to follow the performers smoothly and permits them to get out of focus too frequently, the camera angles are too much alike (full face, head, head-and-shoulders and waist-up), and the betiding (apparently a simple backdrop with the New York skyline painted on) is dull. More imagination with the camera is sorely needed, as tele audiences will unconsciously expect this medium's screen to approximate the film screen in technical perfection, especially on clarity of the images and on smoothness and mobility of the camera.
The first part of program had Dorothy Wootin as emsee and Samuel Cuff, DuMont's supervisor of this series, as commentator who explained how the tele studio operates. Cuff has a pleasant personality. He urged listeners to write in and get on the DuMont mail list. Patricia Bright did a couple of spicy song-talks, coming over nicely.
The hour show was emseed by Jill Stevens, who has a flashy personality and good speaking voice. She brought on pretty Carol Dexter, doubling from the Casbah, who sang a couple of pop tunes nicely enough; Joan Fields, concert violinist, who fiddled a few long-hair numbers with high competence; Jerry Lester, from the Riobamba, who is always a hilariously funny guy but who obviously did not have an act prepared when he clowned with Miss Stevens; and Billy Banks, colored singer-comedian from the Diamond Horseshoe, who warbled a couple of novelty tunes in alternating sweet tenor and falsetto style, making a good impression.
The heat of the two cameras was great, apparently, as the performers perspired and Miss Fields had to bring down the violin strings after her first number. (Billboard, May 22)

‘CAFE TELEVISION'
With Jerry Lester, Carol Dexter, Billy Banks, Joan Fields, Jill Stephens
60 Mins.; Wed., 9 p.m.
Sustaining
W2XWV-DUMONT, New York
This is a feature that has promise despite a number of rough edges and flattened images. As part of the regular 'Wednesday Night Session' (8:30-10 p.m.), 'Cafe Television' teed off [sic] Wednesday (12) with a strong, “name" cast. As individual artists, Carol Dexter, Casbah vocalist; Jerry Lester, Riobamba comedian; Billy Banks, Diamond Horseshoe suiter, and Joan Fields, concertmeister For the Ballet Russe, performed, stylishly. But they performed as individuals and not as members of a show. There was little continuity which gave rise to the general impression of people aimlessly wandering on and off a stage. This was stretching informality beyond the point of good showmanship.
There was a decided luck of direction, and Jill Stephens, who makes an attractive m.c, couldn't seem to keep her performers in line. Lester ran roughshod over the set, garbling his and Miss Stephens' lines. Fortunately he's good for laughs with or without a script, so his out-of-bounds routine Wednesday registered solidly. Carol Dexter neatly socked across ‘Thou Swell’ and 'Panic in Panama.' but it was a crime the way poor lighting and camera work botched her good looks, Visualization, television's ace in the hole, proved to be a disadvantage instead of an added attraction on Wednesday's session because of these factors.
Billy Banks did a swell job with his numbers, a Gershwin medley and ‘As Time Goes By.’ The one classical touch was provided by Joan Fields, who performed, in a very proficient and melodious manner, 'Ave Marie' and the third movement of the Mendelsohn 'Violin Concerto.'
Several ad agencies are said to have an inside track on this idea of nightclubbing via television. If the idea pans out there is talk of offering it as a package to several interested sponsors who have already put in preliminary bids. However, firm direction, smoother continuity and a revamping of lighting and camera work are necessary before ‘Cafe Television' can rate as bigtime entertainment. (Variety, May 19)

Thursday, May 13; Friday, May 14
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

Sunday, May 16
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. “The Gay Mimic.”
8:45 Film: “Jungle Babies” (Columbia, 1938).
9:00 “Sports Parade.”
9:15 Film: “You, John Jones” (MGM, 1943, with Jimmy Cagney and Ann Sothern).
9:30 “Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.


Monday, May 17
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

A psychiatrist who interviewed Hitler three times and evidently found him nuts—since the psycho had to spend several weeks in the Dachau concentration camp-appeared on the Lee television system [W6XAO] last night and told Adolf off. Three times, Dr. Kenneth Walker said, he had the opportunity to study Herr Shrekkopf in the privacy of the retreat on Berchtesgaden. (Herr Dok, why didn't you push him off the cliff?) (Radio Daily, May 19)

Philco Corporation's Television Station WPTZ, Philadelphia, tonight resumes regular program telecasts on a limited schedule dictated by war time conditions. The station was off the air for some time while a new transmitter was being installed at Wyndmoor, Pa.
Telecasts on the company's station are scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30 p.m., EWT. (Radio Daily, May 19).

Thursday, May 20; Friday, May 21
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

Sunday, May 23
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. Texas Jim Robertson and Jean Lewis.
8:45 Film: “Right of Way.”
9:00 “Sports Parade.”
9:15 “Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.
9:30 “What Do You Know” quiz.

Tuesday, May 25 (postponed from Monday)
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

Wednesday, May 26
W2XWV—84mc
The Barry Sisters, singers heard daily on WHN's "Gloom Dodgers" will open at Loew's State Theater on May 27. They have a television date for May 26. [on W2XWV’s “Café Television]. (Radio Daily, May 21)

GEORGE WASHINGTON HILL: Your good looking "All Time Hit Parade" vocalist Jerry Wayne will be featured tomorrow night on a television broadcast from the DuMont Station. (Radio Daily, May 25).

Thursday, May 27; Friday, May 28
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

NEW YORK, May 29—The experimental Wednesday evening programs recently inaugurated by Television Station W2XWV have been postponed for two weeks. Lapse is due to delay in completion of technical changes as a result of injury to DuMont’s chief engineer, Walter Swenson. His injury, a twisted ligament, occurred during the installation of a new antenna. (Billboard, June 5).

Sunday, May 30
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. “Memorial Day Salute.”
8:45 Doug Allan’s “Thrills and Chills.”
9:15 Television Auditions.
9:30 “Sports Parade.”
9:45 “Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.
The impressive American Legion Memorial Ritual will be transmitted via television for the first time in history, with arrangements for the presentation in charge of Joyce Kilmer Post No. 25 of this city.
Televiewers in four states will see the ceremonial as it is radiated from the Du Mont station, W2XWV, in New York City. Andrew Reisfeld, past commander of the Kilmer post and now officer in charge of special events, will supervise the memorial service.
Participating in the ritual will be Lance L. Gibbs, past commander of the Kilmer post, not a member of High Park Post No. 88; County Legion Commander John J. Kennedy of the Carteret Post No. 63; Past Commander Benjamin Sunshine of the Harry Hansen Post of Fords; Michael Petran, county ritual officer of Woodbridge Post No. 87, and Michael Puskas, finance officer of Kilmer post.
All those appearing in the telecast will be garbed in Legion uniforms. The television studio will be draped with the national colors and Joyce Kilmer post flags. The ritual is expected to be seen by television set owners as far as Bridgeport, Conn., and Philadelphia, Pa.
Will Baltin, theatre-radio editor of The Daily Home News, and program director in charge of the television station, arranged the memorial service as part of the war activity series now being telecast over W2XWV. (Home News, May 29)

James Young, former reporter on the "Japan Advertiser" who once interviewed Hirohito, and who, at the outbreak of the war was placed in a Jap concentration camp, was a guest speaker on television station W6XAO, Los Angeles, Calif., last Monday [May 31]. Young, whose experiences will be the basis for a motion picture now in production at RKO, told a graphic story of his work in Japan. (Radio Daily, June 3)

JUNE

Tuesday, June 1 (postponed from Monday)
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

Thursday, June 3; Friday, June 4
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

Sunday, June 6
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. Seth Spalding, “Vocal Cut-Ups.”
8:45 Film: “Mission Accomplished” (OWI, 1942).
9:00 Pauline Alpert, piano.
9:15 Dennis James, sports.
9:30 “Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.


Monday, June 7
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

Thursday, June 10; Friday, June 11
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

PHILADELPHIA, June 6.—Television is spotting its cameras on the nitery floorshows. WPTZ, Philco television station, has scheduled pick-ups of the floorshows each week at DiPinto's Cafe and Lou's Moravian Bar. Television camera has also picked up the floorshows from the Swan Club and Lexington Casino. Because of their proximity to the television studios, WPTZ has been calling on the near-by nabe niteries rather than going into the downtown district. (Billboard, June 12)

Sunday, June 13
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. “A Sunday Afternoon.”
8:45 Film: “Doctors at War.”
9:00 Dennis James, sports.
9:15 “Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.
9:30 “What Do You Know?” quiz.

Monday, June 14
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

Thursday, June 17; Friday, June 18
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

Sunday, June 20
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 p.m. Doug Allan’s “Thrills and Chills.”
9:00 Dennis James, sports.
9:15 Film: “Bugville Romance” (1930, Van Beuren cartoon).
9:30 “Face of the War,” Sam Cuff, news.

Monday, June 21
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

Wednesday, June 23
W2XWV—84mc
Last Wednesday, five-year-old Bobby Hookey's television debut over Mutual facilities [W2XWV], had to be postponed when a defective tube exploded.... later that day, in trying to explain to his parents what had happened. Bobby said, "The station blew up". (Radio Daily, June 25)

Periodic spurt in television activity culminated yesterday with the announcement of a production tie-up between DuMont Television and WOR, Mutual's New York outlet. Arrangement will add another full hour of live broadcasting to the DuMont schedule which is the only one of the local broadcasters offering live studio entertainment. Station will celebrate a year of telecasting June 28 [sic], with a gala 90-minute presentation. Both the WOR series and the current Sunday and Wednesday night series are via W2XWV.
In the WOR-DuMont deal, WOR's program department will produce and present a series of experimental television shows, Tuesday evenings, about 8:30 p.m., starting July 6. Broadcasts will originate from the DuMont studios at Madison Ave. Others on WOR's staff, such as J. R. Poppele, chief engineer, technicians, announcers, artists, directors, writers, etc., will participate in the new project with WOR footing the bills. Most of those who will be affiliated with the programming will be WOR staffers, but any free-lance talent rung in will also be paid for by WOR.
Station will offer its new activity to advertisers and agencies who are now using WOR, so that they can adapt their productions for television and join in the experimentation. Commercial plugs, however, will be omitted.
Project represents the second in WOR's Post War Planning program. The first, announced in April, was a survey among agencies to ascertain post-war plans of advertisers. WOR's own application for television station has been reinstated but will remain dormant for the duration.
Seebach To Be In Charge
J. F. Seebach, v.-p. in charge of programs will head the WOR staff on this latest project. He will be assisted by Ray Nelson, director of daytime programs; Robert A. Simon, director of continuity; Ann Honeycutt, executive producer; Roger Gower and Sherman "Jock" MacGregor, staff directors. Audiences will be invited via announcements during broadcasts, to express opinions and make suggestions on the productions. To celebrate its first anniversary of studio telecasting, DuMont will offer the "Cavalcade of DuMont Stars" at 8:30 p.m., EWT, next Sunday. Among the talent participating will be Pauline Alpert, Chuck Palmer and his Royal Rangers, Arthur Boran, Jolly Bill Steinke, Texas Jim Robertson and Jean Lewis, Lillian MacLellan and Bobby Hastings, Charlie Taylor, Doug Allen, Sam Cuff, Dennis James and others. (Radio Daily, June 23)

Thursday, June 24; Friday, June 25
WCBW—65.75mc
8 to 10 p.m. Films.

NEW YORK, June 26.—Local 802, musicians’ union, this week advised its members that scale for the Dumont television station, W2XWV, is $12 per program and $6 per hour for rehearsal, with a minimum of one hour required.
Video outlet had been using musicians for its Wednesday evening “experimental” telecasts and paying them what 802 calls “carfare” money. Union will police further shows at this station. (Billboard, July 3).

Sunday, June 27
W2XWV—84mc
8:30 to 10 p.m. Station anniversary party with Texas Jim Robertson, Pauline Alpert, Jean Lewis, Charlie Taylor, Nick Kenny and others.

Monday, June 28
WNBT—55.75mc
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Air-raid warden instructions.
8:30 Films.

Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., with offices, laboratories and plants in Passaic, N. J., have just filed with the FCC a request for the reinstatement of a commercial television station application for Washington, D. C. The station will operate on Channel 1 or 50,000 to 56,000 kilocycles.
Already the Du Mont organization is operating a New York television station, W2XWV, at 515 Madison Ave., on a scheduled program basis. (Radio Daily, June 29)



Want a peek at 1943 television? The Heinl Radio Business Letter of February 23, 1943 wrote of a short film available to schools, churches, service clubs and such: “The wonders of home entertainment made possible through the medium of television are presented in General Electric's new television movie, "Sightseeing at Home", which has just been released. The movie was made at General Electric's Television Studio, WRGB, at Schenectady, New York.”

Parts of this film were later used in a 1945 Army-Navy Screen magazine short on television.