That’s perhaps the lowlight of east coast television in April of 1944. The highlight may have been the revival of live programming on WNBT, which actually had an in-studio show starring the head of the F.C.C., James Fly, which was relayed to stations in Schenectady and Philadelphia via transmitter and broadcast on film in Los Angeles and Chicago, the only other North American cities with television.
The sole CBS station, WCBW, announced it was dusting off its TV equipment for the first time since late 1942. The war had curtailed broadcasting due to equipment being needed for military use. Two years later, CBS would close its studios again.
Below, you’ll find schedules for the three New York TV stations. Vaudevillian Jack Pearl, who was a hit in early network radio comedy, gets a one-shot on television this month. And we note the presence of Raymond Scott on one programme, though he didn’t play any music. Petrillo made sure that cost money, and there was little money to spend.
Saturday, April 1
WNBT Channel 1
8:00 P. M. Film: War as It Happens.
8:15 Film: “Hunchback of Notre Dame” with Charles Laughton, Thomas Mitchell, Others (RKO, 1939).
10:15 Film: All Out for Victory.
After three years of experimenting with television projected from the Empire State Building in New York City to a specially constructed studio on Avon Mountain, The Travelers Broadcasting Service Corporation on Friday filed with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington an application for a television station that will serve the 1,000,000 people living within radius of 30 miles of Hartford. (Hartford Courant, Apr. 1)
CHICAGO, April 1.—Dan Cubberly, WLS announcer and WBKB television commentator, will be in the merchant marine in about three weeks. (Billboard, Apr. 8)
Sunday, April 2
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. Wide Horizons.
8:45 Film short.
9:00 “Meet the Misses,” one-act play.
9:30 Film short.
9:45 “Theatre House,” serial.
Monday, April 3
WNBT Channel 1
8:00 P. M. Films: Siamese Journey; The War as It Happens.
8:50 Feature Film: “Murder by Invitation” with Marian Marsh, Sarah Padden and Wallace Ford (Monogram, 1941).
9:42-10:00 Televues Film: All Out for Victory.
Tuesday, April 4
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. WOR Video Varieties.
B&K Television
Reviewed Tuesday (4). Film, dancing and news. Sustaining on WBKB (Chicago).
This was one day on which the entire B&K staff "should have stood in bed." Everything that could possibly go wrong at a television station went wrong. There were gremlins all over the place. The movie projector machine failed, a camera went on the fritz, things were knocked over to the studio. Noise and confusion reigned. In spite of valiant efforts on the part of the production and engineering staff, the program was hopelessly bad, and finally the station had to leave the air, a half hour before the usual signing off.
The first portion of the program, delivered by News Commentators Dan Cubberly and Jim Campbell, was okay. Their style, however, is becoming a bit worn from over-use.
The film shown was a cartoon comedy, a movie that most of the time could not be seen because of technical difficulties. Before it was completed station execs took it off the air.
Wayne Van Dyne did some singing as usual. That word "usual" just about sums up his work, and the work of his guest, Jean Sherry. Ho, hum!
When Beatrice Stronstorff tried to explain the difference, with examples, between modern and classic ballet, the trouble really began. It was then that the camera broke down and the show fell apart. One woman in the studio audience, a former professional ballet dancer, at this point said, "God, that's terrible."
It was just one of those nights. We all have them once in a while. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, Apr. 15)
Wednesday, April 5
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 P.M. Televisual specialties.
8:45 Film Short.
9:00 Face of the War, Talk.
9:30 Film Short.
9:45 Interesting People: Jane Withers, others.
Taking a cue from Mademoiselle which preemed a video show on DuMont’s W2XWV, N. Y. last week (29), photomag Click bows in on the same station tonight (5) at 8:15 p.m. with a half-hour program packaged by the Charles M. Storm agency. Ray Nelson, agency video chief, is producing.
Danton Walker, N. Y. Daily News columnist, will emcee variety presentation based on contents of Click’s May issue and featuring interviews with and specialties by Annabella and Raymond Scott. (Burton Rascoe, it's understood, will not appear.)
Joe Williams, N. Y. World-Telegram sports columnist and Click contributor, will handle sports session during which Mickey Walker and other athletic celebs will appear. Also skedded are dance and singing turns. Once-a-month series is planned if preem performance passes muster. (Variety, April 5)
DuMont Television
Reviewed Wednesday (April 5) 8:15-10:15 p.m. Style—Variety and Films. Sustaining on W2XWV (New York).
Legit, pix, vaude, opera and night club talent pitched in to make this show outstanding. The sports world and the press were also represented in what might have been a top tele presentation.
Inadequately prepared portions of the program, however, dimmed the brightness of the star-studded procession that marched before the studio cameras. Click's half-hour offering, responsible for major part of the evening's genuine entertainment, was by far the best of the Charles M. Storm Agency shows. Attempts to bring to life features appearing in the pub's current issue were made but not quite realized. Bringing a mag's pages to life was tried before by Ray Nelson, the agency's tele director, but insufficient rehearsal and lack of idea orientation made tor a less-than-perfect presentation that time.
Before a background of an enormous Click cover blow-up, Denton Walker, Daily News columnist, crossed the show. His job was more that of a referee, due to the rapidity with which each mag feature was brought on, but he handled his task neatly. Annabelle, of Jacobowsky and the Colonel, made a brief appearance; Gerhard Pechner, Met tenor, sang, and Kay Carroll, fem ventriloquist, did a routine with her Tommy.
To illustrate what muscles are used in ballroom dancing, Hager and May, Hotel Pierre's Cotillion Room team, cavorted in costume and again in rehearsal garb. Lieut. Com. Jack Dempsey and Mickey Walker were interviewed, and Walker announced he would soon put Dempsey on the canvas—in oil.
The Stratoliners' Club was discussed by one of its members. A group of over-six-foot gals danced with servicemen to show the org's war contribution. Improper staging and direction resulted in this feature falling flat on its face.
Max Weinberg, Brooklyn bartender who does a good business in selling War Bonds at $17.75 instead of $18.76, by paying the difference of $1 himself, came on to explain his plan. Conover Girls tried to don male attire, while keeping balloons in the air, as an example of good, clean home fun.
All acts were performed before the mag cover, which detracted from their entertainment value. There were plenty of Click plugs without using the blow-up.
The cover might have been opened to a printed page, which would have given the same advertising effect. It also, however, would have increased production costs.
Paul Wing was on hand again with his spelling bee, Words on the Wing, for Lever Bros. His team was composed of Dr. Fred Carter, Dan Burley, Mrs. Charity, Yvonne Gregory, Mrs. Marie Ellington and Mr. Hernandes. Wing gave the group a free hand, and their ad libbing was okay entertainment. Two tele appearances have taught Wing to learn his lines instead of relying on script—an improvement. Pat Murray, who emseed the show, pulled clothes out of a Rinso box to show the amount of washing one container would do. Commercial tied in neatly with spelling bee when contestants were asked to identify and spell the garments as they emerged. Ruthrauff & Ryan are doing a good job on these Rinso commercials.
Pic, Tell Me If It Hurts, was sandwiched in between agency shows.
Ben Pulitzer Creations' Interesting People, produced by the Irwin A. Shane Television Workshop, remains static. It appears that the producer feels he has found the best of all possible formulas and refuses to deviate. Format has not changed for several weeks, and the program suffers from exceedingly poor commercials and Dick Bradley's inability to cope with some of the interesting people. Marie Howard is still selling Bradley ties and then going into a song routine. Bradley continues to gush at length over the Nylon cravats. Might be a good idea to tone down Nylon angle. Every woman in the audience automatically wants to know why men can wear the precious thread around their necks while they struggle along with rayon stockings. There must be an explanation, and giving it on the show might be wise.
Actress Penelope Sax read a highly dramatic scene from Saint Joan, and Joel Herron, ork leader at the Copacabana, played a couple of Gershwin numbers. Jane Withers, Republic pix star, sat thru an interview and then gave with a novelty song number. Her exuberance and talent made for an altogether successful appearance. Dottie Wooton, who introes the entire show for DuMont, signed off, listing the week's tele shows on Dumont and other stations. Wanda Marvin. (Billboard, Apr. 15)
"HERE'S CLICK"
With Danton Walker. Annabelle, Lt. Comdr. Jack Dempsey, Mickey Walker, Maye & Harger, Gerhard Peschner, others
Writer-producer; Ray Nelson
Cameras: Ken Kistler, Lou Sposa
45 Mins.; Wed. (5); 8:15 p.m.
CLICK MAGAZINE
W2XWV, DuMont, N. Y.
(Charles M. Storm)
Producer Ray Nelson clicked for Click on this one and turned out a fast-moving 45-minute production featured by excellent camera work and plenty imagination which, more than anything else, is going to be needed when tele really gets going on a dollar and cent basis. Entire show was piloted by N. Y. Daily News gossiper Dan Walker working before a backdrop portraying cover of the mag's May issue from which video variety show was culled.
Most unfortunate was the fact that Nelson's best turn, the terp team of Maye & Burger, from the Pierre hotel and "Early to Bed," had to open the show because of other commitments. Backed by the piano of Sam Medoff, the ballroom team flashed some fine pirouetting in the limited studio space. Cameras caught the grace and skill of the pair to perfection with fadeouts and blendings hitting the mark, Return of the dancers in scanty attire to demonstrate physical effort required by routine could just as well have been eliminated.
Emcee's interviews with Annabella, Jack Dempsey and Mickey Walker were held short and entertained. Novelty bits included tall gals from the Stratosphere Club in a dancing party skit, a string of men demonstrating aprons. Kay Carroll, ventro just back from a G.I. tour, and chirper Naomi Stevens, ditto. Show closed with Dan Walker interviewing Max Weinberg, Brooklyn bartender, who explained his super-salesman technique of selling $18.75 War Bonds at one buck off.
Out of the apron routine came Metopera baritone Gerhard Peschner for a "Barber of Seville" excerpt—class but too long. Donn. (Variety, Apr. 12)
Thursday, April 6
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
Friday, April 7
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
NEW YORK, April 8.—CBS television outlet WCBW will resume live programming Friday, May 5. Outlet was one of video pioneers in these parts, but since December, 1942, the station has been airing only films. Schedule will now be two hours of pix on Thursday evening and two hours of live programing on Friday.
CBS is planning to bring in a sizable executive crew, 20 people have already been set, but unlike its competitors, net will move back into live shows cautiously and sans fanfare. Most of the staffers are from production and scripting staff of the web, with a spicing of outsiders.
Tentative schedule is to proceed with war, music and news videocasts and let dramatics wait till later. CBS won't try to play with commercials until the recreated television unit has shaken itself down. (Billboard, Apr. 15).
Saturday, April 8
WNBT Channel 1
8:00 P. M. Film: Under Water.
8:10 Tenpin Parade.
8:20 Film Feature: “My Favorite Wife” with Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, Cary Grant (Warner Bros., 1940).
Sunday, April 9
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. Wide Horizons.
8:45 Film short.
9:00 Television Canteen.
9:45 Film short.
10:00 Easter Services.
An Easter television dream-hat pantomime a la Lilly Dache, compromising a group of personable females adorned with the latest chapeaux cavorting in a fairyland of giant hat boxes, inaugurates today at 9 P.M. over W2XWV, Channel 4. The new series of Sunday night half-hour programs will be staged by Edna Gamble-Ann Miller Television productions. (T.R. Kennedy, Jr., NY Times, April 9)
Interesting experiment along religious lines is being staged at DuMont television studios, N, Y., (W2XWV) Easter Sunday night (9) when Rev. Harry Ulrich, of White Plains, will officiate at a non-sectarian Christian service before the video cameras. Program is skedded for 15 minutes with special scenic backgrounds arid musical effects.
Easier sermon will be brief, about four minutes, during which the minister will be in camera range. Scripture reading will be done off stage when religious scenic effects will be shown framed within two church windows to be constructed in the studio. Background organ music also will accompany scriptures.
Special program is an effort to chart future course of tele in religious presentations and seeks to determine whether special video chapels will prove more effective than pickups, from regular churches while services are in progress. Most observers feel that introduction of cameras, brilliant lights and working crews into churches present stumbling blocks ruling bodies and congregations will never overlook.
On the other hand it's felt that mere presentation of a cleric on the television screen will not serve as effective religious programming. Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick delivered sermons for NBC's New York television outlet several years ago but DuMont's program next Sunday is the first to use the chapel motif hereabouts, as far as is known. (Variety, Apr. 5)
Television transmitter statistics as of this date are: Nine stations operating—WNBT, W2XWV and WCBW, New York; WPTZ, Philadelphia; WBKB and WTZR, Chicago; W6XYZ and KSTL, Los Angeles, and WRGB, Schenectady, N.Y. Other stations licensed but inactive are: WMJTm Milwaukee; W2XMT, New York; W8XCT, Cincinnati; W9XG, West Lafayette, Ind., and W9XUI, Iowa City. Commercial applications pending—29
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The National Broadcasting Company has completed the installation of nine more television receivers at Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, bringing to thirty the RCA sets now in operation in service hospitals in this area. The General Electric service hospital set-installation program in New York district calls for twenty-five receivers, a total of fifty-five sets in seven hospitals. (T.R. Kennedy, Jr., NY Times, April 9)
Monday, April 10
WNBT Channel 1
8:00 P. M. James Lawrence Fly, Chairman FCC, introducing new film: “Patrolling the Ether.”
8:25 Film: The War as It Happens.
8:39 Feature Film: “Shadows on Beacon Hill” with Constance Cummings, Roddy MacDowall and Emlyn Williams (Joffberg, 1943).
9:40 Televues Film: All Out for Victory (Part 3).
The fact that MGM is co-operating with Zenith in this venture is viewed by some in the radio trade as an indication that MGM is out to compete in the Chicago tele pie, which up to now has been dominated by Balaban & Kate's WBKB. Apparently MGM is getting ready to line itself up with a television station here so that B&K, which is closely connected with the Paramount pix interests, does not have the movie company tele hand in Chicago at some later date.
With this show, Zenith will be putting on "live" talent for the first time in many months. Since the war started, Zenith has just been telecasting filme once a week. The reason for its use of film only, Zenith execs say, can be attributed to wartime security precautions at the Zenith plant, where the television station is located. Much secret work is being done at the plant and company officials don't want actors and actresses tramping around in the area. (Billboard, Apr. 15)
A MOVIE premiere via television occurred last Monday when "Patrolling the Ether," a short of the M-G-M series, "Crime Does Not Pay," was telecast by WNBT New York, WRGB Schenectady, WPTZ Philadelphia, WTZR Chicago and KTSL Hollywood, six weeks before the film will be presented to the public through the regular motion picture theatres.
James Lawrence Fly, FCC chairman, introduced the picture to audiences of the first three stations, speaking from the studios of WNBT. His picture and voice were relayed to WRGB and WPTZ for simultaneous telecasting. It was the first time WNBT had broadcast a live studio program in almost two years, marking resumption of studio presentations on a schedule which will be expanded as rapidly as men and material are available, according to NBC.
Activities Curtailed
Film is a dramatic presentation of fictional incidents based on actual records of the FCC Radio Intelligence Division, through whose cooperation the picture was made. In his introduction Mr. Fly discussed the use of radio by enemy espionage agents and reported that the science of radio detection as developed by the RID staff "has made it possible for the FCC to hold enemy transmissions in this nation almost to zero".
With the RID facing a million-dollar cut in its budget for the 1945 fiscal year [BROADCASTING, Jan. 31-March 27], much of the FCC's radio intelligence work outside the continental U. S. will be curtailed, according to George E. Sterling, RID chief. Monitoring in this country also will be somewhat curtailed, due to the necessity of cutting personnel, he added.
FCC executives have been in conference with military officials as to future policy, under the restricted operations made necessary by an expected reduction of $2,163,857 in the Commission's 1945 budget. The Independent Offices Appropriations Bill (HR-4070) is scheduled for conference next month. The House had reduced the FCC appropriation by $1,654,857 and the Senate, passing the bill March 20, added another $509,000 cut. (Broadcasting, April 17, 1944)
HOLLYWOOD, April 15.—Premiere of MGM's two-reeler Patrolling the Ether was held here this week and shown simultaneously in five other cities thruout the country. Advance bally touted the preem as in collaboration with Federal Communications Commission, as pic showed activities of Radio Intelligence Division of the FCC.
Televised over Don Lee's W6XAO, film had little to recommend it as video fare. Short, due to be released April 20 in theaters thruout the country, had been reduced from 35mm. to 16mm. for the special showing.
William Downey, local rep for the FCC, set the stage with brief commentary. Choice of Patrolling the Ether for such an occasion was not too wise, it was felt in most circles. While acting was good and most shots were effective, the night scenes, as could be supposed, did not come over any too well. Punch of the film was in the after-dark sequences, so naturally highlight was missed.
Many of those who have been talking up television as being "just around the corner," showed their disappointment at the showing. But this fact will have no bearing on the future of the new medium, only causing video officials to pick a better subject next time special showing is given a nationwide publicity build-up. (Billboard, April 22)
CHICAGO, April 15.— Television stations that in the future plan to use films flown in from distant spots will have to hire themselves some weather forecasters, it seems. Television crystal gazers have been trying to figure out ways to jump over every possible obstacle that might be put in their way, but so far they have forgotten about Old Man Weather and his habit of interfering with transportation schedules. The FCC-MGM film, Patrolling the Ether, was scheduled for telecasting on Zenith's tele station WGXZV Monday night, but at the last minute the plane carrying it from New York was grounded by a storm and the show was off –bang, just like that. (Billboard, Apr. 22)
Rapid burn was in evidence among television enthusiasts this week over manner in which NBC and CBS adopted "sneak preview" attitude on the reopening of their N. Y. video studios and the nets' preparations for resumption of live shows on regular weekly skeds.
Video vocalists took the attitude that re-entry of the two largest webs into the hear-see picture on what presumably will be a very active basis was being given a quick brushoff by NBC and CBS bally staffs. It's admitted that opening of NBC's tele studio this week (10) and announcement that CBS is getting its video facilities, in the Grand Central ljuilding ready for a live show preem, May 5, marks the most important step in television progress since Pearl Harbor.
CBS announcement of its studio reopening also was made very conservatively. But it's known that preparations are under way to take care of a large production and technical staff at the studios for what, on the surface, appears to be an ambitious video program by the net.
Miner's Minor Note
Worthington "Tony" Miner, however, restricted his comments on what lies ahead to statements that CBS will do its best to train cameramen, engineers and production personnel so that tele programming, as close to the level of the web's pre-war performances as possible, may be resumed. CBS will continue its color-tele activities and experiments but plans only two hours a week of live programs each Friday night.
Reason for NBC and CBS conservative attitudes as reflected in their Publicity presumably is desire on part of the networks to avoid creation of optimism on the home front plus the policy that, as far as materials and manpower are concerned, the armed services and war industry come first. (Variety, Apr. 12)
Tuesday, April 11
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. WOR Video Varieties
WOR-DuMont Television
Reviewed Tuesday (11), 9:15-10:15 p.m. Style—Variety. Sustaining on W2XWV (New York).
Anyone who is crazy about amateur shows, especially the kid brand with gobs of vocals, would have enjoyed this edition of Video Varieties. Bob Emery brought his Rainbow House Gang, dressed in costumes of the Gay '90s, before the cameras.
Joe Bolton emseed and neatly, too, while Emery, in clown make-up, popped in and out with some excellent pantomime.
A few of the dozen or so youngsters sing rather well. Most of the group are mediocre, however, but they are well-coached. Vocal program was balanced with most of the old pops and some not so popular. A take-off on a silent movie audience was an interesting intermission bit. Marcia Kobi, Lucky Fields and Harvey Marlow put on a dumb-show, pretending to react to a pic, the moods of which were indicated by Bill Wirges on piano. Fields and Marlow conceived and directed the skit. Credits were given via a movie-type roller, while the group sang I See Your Face Before Me, the program's theme song.
Despite the inexperience of the youngsters and the monotony of too many vocals, the show moved fast with Bolton's emsee patter and Emery's panto routine in clown garb. Wanda Marvin. (Billboard, Apr. 22)
Wednesday, April 12
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 P.M. Televisual specialties.
8:45 Film Short.
9:00 Face of the War, Talk.
9:30 Film Short.
9:45 Fashion Parade.
'HARPER'S BAZAAR FASHION PARADE'
With Jack Pearl, Gloria Lehr, Betty Gribble, Adrian Storm
Producers: Adele Dillingham, Jean McClure
Director: Cecil Hackett
HARPER'S BAZAAR. Wed., 9:45 p.m.
W2XWV-DuMont, New York
(Abbott-Kimball)
Following in path of two other mags—Mademoiselle and Click—Harper's Bazaar last Wednesday (12) inaugurated a 15-minute semi-weekly series of television shows over the DuMont station in N. Y. Tee-off was neither auspicious nor memorable, not because of the format of the stanza, but due to the lack of technical, finesse of the medium.
This sort of show could turn into one of the most popular video stanzas extant with its display of feminine pulchritude, styles, etc., but as it stacks up now much work will have to be done to hold the audience's interest for 15 long-drawn minutes of a style show blurred by poor technical facilities.
Format is primarily chatter with Gloria Lehr, of Harper's Bazaar, describing to Jack Pearl, comedian—and, of course, the viewers—the modes, colors, materials, etc., of the hats, dresses and sports clothes worn by models Betty Gribble and Adrian Storm. Pearl, in looking the situation over, makes with the supposedly funny remarks. Staging and direction were good, and maybe when new and larger studies are opened by DuMont technicians will be able to do a job with this program that should be accomplished without too much trouble. Sten. (Variety, April 19)
Dan Burley, managing editor of the Amsterdam News, Dr. Fred Carter, chiropodist and actor, and Juan Hernando, famous radio actor, headed up a team of word experts on the Lever Brothers television program over the Dumont Studio system last Wednesday night. The male members of the team competed against a team of women in spelling difficult words for cash prizes. The women, representing some of Harlem’s most intelligent persons, were the Mesdames Marie Ellington, whose husband is an officer in the 99th Pursuit Squadron, her sister, Charlotte Charity, whose husband is in the 369th AA, CA Regiment, and Miss Yvonne Noah, labor editor of the Peoples Voice. The half hour program followed on that featured Jack Dempsey, Mickey Walker and the Broadway columnist, Denton Walker of the News. (Amsterdam News, Apr. 15).
Thursday, April 13
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
B &K Television
Reviewed Thursday (13). Style—Film, drama, variety. Sustaining on WBKB (Chicago).
One thing about B &K video is the informality of the programs. There is no posing, no pretensions, no pompous ness. Instead there is a frank, friendly approach which smacks of shrewd planning, a sane approach and professional savvy. The result is an air of non-chalance and ease which makes for good and varied entertainment.
Fran Harris's work as mistress of ceremonies of an exhibition of weight lifting was typical. Fran had a calm charm and a friendly, gay manner of introducing and interviewing Weight Lifter Ed Wilkie which made enjoyable what otherwise might have been stilted television material. Weight lifting under ordinary circumstances might put a video audience to sleep, but this didn't. Credit Fran with adding zest to the performance.
Films at present are still just fillers in television, and not very good, so there is no sense going into detail about the three WBKB showed this night. Some day they will be better. Meanwhile, it must be remembered that they are not made for this medium. One fact is apparent, however. As long as available films are not suitable for television, they should not be used. "Live" talent is the answer.
The dramatic portion of this program really clicked. Again simplicity was the keynote, and its use proved WBKB program execs know the limits of current television and, consequently, don't ham up a show by over-reaching.
With good lighting, expert camera work and free-moving acting, this portion of the show dramatized why the average American should eat more potatoes. Sounds trite but it wasn't. It was a good documentary built around a housewife and husband discussing the value of potatoes as a food, a food which the government wants eaten right now. There was even a little sex via the wife, a blonde with curves, dressed in shorts and blouse. That always helps. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, Apr. 22)
Friday, April 14
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
Saturday, April 15
WNBT Channel 1
6:30 P. M. Ringling Bros. Circus, Madison Square Garden.
7:00 Test Pattern.
8:00 Film Cartoon: Love's Labor Won (Van Beuren, 1933)
8:10 Film: Land of the Yellow Robe.
8:30 Film: Prison Born, With Anne Nagel, Warren Hull (Mongram, 1939).
"SIDE SHOW"
With Ringing Bros., Barnum & Bailey Perforniers
Producer: Tony Leader
Technical Director: Ed Wilbur
Cameras: E. W. Stolzenberger
20 Mins.; Sat. (15), 6:30 p.m.
Sustaining
WNBT-NBC, New York
First of a series of three Saturday afternoon video shows emanating from Madison Square Garden, N. Y., and the first live production since NBC dedicated its reopened tele studios in Radio City earlier in the week, this one put on in cooperation with the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey management, was primarily geared for moppet appeal. Projecting the circus into the home proved, in itself, a distinct innovation in the video realm, and as such NBC has taken a forward step in experimenting with tele ideas. But it will remain for the succeeding two performances to illustrate just how successfully, if at all, the broad, kaleidoscopic pattern of circus life can be televised.
This one, as the title implied, made no pretense of being anything but a side show, with the usual assortment of freak attractions introed by the inevitable barker, backgrounded by the usual canvas placarded come-ons. As such it required but a minimum of imaginative camera work, the lens merely switching back and forth from spieler to performer, with closeups often sacrificed to work in the circus-mottled backdrops. Hence the performance might just as easily have eamnated [sic] from the WNBT-NBC studio, for the sawdust flavor of the big top seemed singularly lacking, despite the recurrent calliope theme.
Tele will come of age when it has created its own niche and developed an individual technique that is neither replica of stage, screen nor studio presentation. If you want to lure the kids indoors on the pretense of witnessing a televised circus, the video medium will have to capture the three-ring atmosphere, the smell of the sawdust, the call of the peanut vendor. And you can't give the animals a brushoff, either. Rose. (Variety, April 19)
Sunday, April 16
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 “Thrills and Chills” with Doug Allan.
8:45 Film.
9:00 Bureau of Missing Persons.
9:10 Meg of the Megacycles.
9:15 Film.
9:30 “Theatre House,” serial.
Boots Aircraft Nut Co., which has been televising "Wide Horizons" weekly since Feb. 27 on DuMont-W2XWV, N. Y. limited its own horizons Sunday (16) by yanking the Eddie Dowling emceed video show off the air. It was "revivified tele’s" first casualty affecting a sponsored weekly feature.
"Horizons," which also is broadcast over the Mutual net Sunday afternoons, had a gala dual preem in February when Cecil & Presbrey, agency producing the show, ballyed it as the first top-flighter to combine tele with straight broadcasting. Inference was that tele was advertising's "wide horizon" with Boots going along.
Dowling show is scripted around future prospects for America and its citizens in aviation, science and other progressive pursuits including, it was presumed, television.
Agency reason given for dropping the DuMont stanzas was that client felt Mutual shows were filling the bill and that too much work was entailed in propping both shows for presentation within four hours.
Producer Thomas G. Sabin henceforth will concentrate all activities on the afternoon airer, although Cecil & Presbrey will continue occupying the 8:15 p.m. DuMont Sunday slot for an experimental video dramatic series. (Variety, April 19)
Schenectady, April 18.
Appearance Sunday night (16) of Yale drama students in a television one-actor, "Where There's a Will—," for GE's video outlet, WRGB, points up increased activities in this new medium by eastern schools. Classes from Russell Sage Women's College, Troy, and the Feagin School of the Drama, N. Y. also have done experimental tele plays from GE's studios.
Troupe from New Haven under the direction of Edward C. Cole included three girls and a male for presentation of the play authored by Ira Richards, former Yale drama student Russell Sagers earlier televised "Taming of the Shrew," "Alice In Wonderland" and a Noel Coward short from "Tonight At 8:30 " Feagin school thesps put on J. B. Priestley's "Time-and the Conways" some time ago. (Variety, April 19)
Monday, April 17
WNBT Channel 1
8:00 P. M. Films: “Song of the Voodoo" (Van Beuren Vagabond Adventure, 1931); “The War As It Happens No. 9”.
8:25 Feature Film: “I Cover the Waterfront,” Claudette Colbert and Ben Lyon (United Artists, 1933).
9:35 Televiews: “Doctors at War”(OWI, 1942); “Jose Iturbi, Pianist.”
VIDEO STATION WCBW for CBS in New York, will resume a "limited production" of live programs originating in its studios at 15 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, across the street from the station's transmitter atop the Chrysler Bldg.
Studio programs, limited now to two hours a week, will be telecast each Friday night beginning May 5, replacing the film programs presented since suspension of studio shows in December, 1942. Station officials explaining say there are so many limitations of manpower and facilities they do not wish to make any definite statements about plans until they are sure they can carry them out. WNBT, NBC's New York video station, opened its television studio briefly last Monday for a talk by James Lawrence Fly, FCC Chairman. (Broadcasting, Apr. 17)
Tuesday, April 18
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. WOR Video Varieties.
Zenith Television
Reviewed Tuesday (18). Films and variety. Sustaining on Zenith's Experimental Station, W9XZV. [Chicago]
If Ben Franklin could have come back from the grave to see this television program he undoubtedly would have changed his axiom, "Experience is the best teacher" to say in effect that not only experience but also constant practice teaches one to be best in any activity. This night for the first time since war started, Zenith used "live" talent on its experimental television programs, the results indicated the boys had become a bit rusty.
The talent on the program, supplied by Maurice Golden, of MGM, was tops, but handling of the show did not bring out the performers' greatest television potentialities. Ann Marie Gayer, concert pianist, did a competent, professional job, but the cameramen who kept their lens focused so that Ann was viewed from afar, with a large expanse of her back showing, missed bets. A couple of close-ups of Ann's fingers pounding the keyboards would have added much to the show.
Jerry Scott, 15-year-old Negro, who is slated for a singing role in an MGM film, proved he had a good voice, but' it was noticeable that he was almost scared to death. The Four Vagabonds, NBC vocal combo, did the best work on the entire program. And the fact that a couple of good close-up and angle shots, the only top-notch camera work of the evening, were used here did not hurt a bit.
Film presented was MGM's well publicized FCC short, Patrolling the Ether. Just as it was apparent in New York and Hollywood, where this two-reeler was shown last week, Patrolling had good spots—and some very bad ones too. It wasn't made for television, and it proved it. Entire program was a joint presentation of MGM and Zenith, used by MGM to promote the FCC film. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, April 29)
NEW YORK, April 15.—Jessica Dragonette, pioneer radio singer, now becomes one of the first names to sign for video. The high and middlebrow artist will start on new Television Workshop series, Your World Tomorrow, April 30 over W2XWV-DuMont at 9 p.m.
In addition, she becomes one of the first four-figure wage slaves in television. (Billboard, Apr. 22)
Wednesday, April 19
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 P.M. Studio Varieties.
8:45 Film Short.
9:00 Face of the War, Talk.
9:30 Film Short.
9:45 Interesting People.
Thursday, April 20
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
Friday, April 21
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
Saturday, April 22
WNBT Channel 1
6:30 P. M. Ringling Bros. Circus, Madison Square Garden.
7:00 Test Pattern.
8:00-9:30 Film: Jeannie, with Barbara Mullen, Albert Lieven, Michael Redgrave.
Second of three programs televising Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus over WNBT-WBC last Saturday p.m. (22) featured aerialists and clowns in the main, but again failed to get over the aura of the "big-top" satisfactorily. Technical aspects of the stanza still lacked punch vital to complete enjoyment, although acres going through their antics and clowns, including the vet Emmett Kelly, were thrilling to watch. (Billboard, Apr. 29)
NEW YORK, April 22.—Television outlets are pooling resources and costs for special film coverage of the Democratic and Republican national conventions. Since telecasts are not competitive, the co-op set-up is a natural.
Films will be developed and planed back to each station in the deal. And all stations, GE, NBC, CBS, Philco, DuMont, etc., are in the pool. (Billboard, Apr. 29)
HOLLYWOOD, April 22.—Novelist Elliot Paul returned to the Don Lee television line-up this week. Several weeks ago Paul appeared over W6XAO with some boogie-woogie piano. This week's program found him teamed with Meade Lux Lewis, one of the top boys in the piano-pounding department. (Billboard, Apr. 29)
Sunday, April 23
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. “The Bayfield Picture” one-act play.
8:45 Film.
9:00 Television Canteen.
9:30 Film.
9:45 “Romeo and Juliet.”
"ROMEO AND JULIET"
Cast: Dermis Osborne. Helen Zampiello, Myron Ruckstull, Leonard Domian, Samuel Davis, Geraldine Marshall, Marjorie Tas
Director: Irwin Shane
30 Mins.; Sunday (23), 9:45 p.m.
Sustaining
W2XWV-DuMont
Shakespeare definitely is not the answer to television programming's current growing pains, judging from the video version aired Sunday night (23) by a group from Irwin Shane's Television Workshop on the DuMont outlet. Videocast was straight from the Bard of Avon's pen, only concession having been introduction of a femme narrator in a black graduation robe to bridge gaps made necessary by limited time allowed for the play.
Trouble was not with the casting—Workshop lads and ladies doing okay with lines and action. But the same old DuMont bugaboo—lack of space—contrived to make visual portions of the drama detract rather than add to the viewer-listener's enjoyment. Balcony scene fared okay with the cameras, but other sets were too claustrophobic and the two sword play scenes resembled duels in a closet or the Marx Brothers troupe in a phone booth.
It's questionable just how much a bigger studio and more expert camera work would benefit "Romeo," but chances are that lack of fast-moving action and stress on dialog would always militate against the classic reaching the broad appeal slot which commercial telecasters must seek.
Titlers turned in nice thesping jobs and got ditto support. Costumes, authentic enough, suffered from natural limits of black-and-white screen. Donn. (Variety, April 26)
Monday, April 24
WNBT Channel 1
8:00 P. M. Film: The War As It Happens.
8:30 Feature Film: “Road to Happiness” with John Boles, Billy Lee and Mona Barrie (Associated Artists, 1941).
9:45 Televues: Freedom Ride on Rubber (Part 1).
A WEEKLY experimental tele-toon series, a cross between the newspaper comic strip and the motion picture cartoon especially adapted for television, has been started on W6XYZ Hollywood, owned and operated by Television Products Inc. Character voices using off-stage microphones are synchronized with the camera focused on a screen where each pencil move of Frank Webb, cartoonist, is projected. Franklin Lacey and Shelly Mitchell [Shirley Mitchell?] portray the character voices. (Broadcasting, Apr. 24).
Tuesday, April 25
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. WOR Video Varieties
WOR-DuMont Television
Reviewed Tuesday (25), 8:15-9:15 p.m. Style—Variety and film. Sustaining on W2XWV (New York).
I See Your Face Before Me, theme song for WOR video varieties, has been recorded, and instead of having a featured role with a fem quartet at a piano, the tune now backgrounds the show's introduction. An enormous book with pages turned by a pretty girl serves as vehicle for opening credits and closing trailer.
Bob Emery produced and emseed a Command Performance that brought on entertainers who have made previous appearances on the show. There was Theresa Rillo, young accordionist, who wrestled an exciting People Will Say We're In Love from the box; Sam Herman, on xylophone for two solos and with pianist Bill Wirges in duet, and the Otis Elevator Company hillbilly band that gave.
Maurice Dreicer, originator of Mutual's Where Are You From?, held the spotlight for a quarter hour with guests estimating the retail price of a number of household gadgets. Items were held high for audience scrutiny, but cameras should have moved in for close-ups in each instance. Shot was interesting enough for repeat, but Dreicer's script could have had more punch. Participants could have been coached for more laughs.
Paul Killiam, WOR newscaster, refereed a frog-jumping contest between four boys clubs' entries. Race was perhaps too amibitious for the present studio facilities of the station, or camera angles were not worked out in advance because the picture jumbled kids and frogs with Killiam in the middle.
Chinok's Family, pic about dogs, was far better than most of the film fare usually seen on DuMont's screen.
Promise of a series of one -act plays and skits was given by Harvey Marlow, who plans to bring his acting company to the WOR show regularly. Marlow and Lucky Fields teamed for some Keystone cop slapstick. If the three skits presented, in which backs were slapped and faces splashed with water, foreshadow coming events, it might be just as well to skip the whole thing. If Marlow has better material, that's another matter. There is certainly room on the show for carefully chosen and well-rehearsed short dramatic or comedy bits. Wanda Marvin. (Billboard, May 6)
Wednesday, April 26
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 P.M. Televisual specialties.
8:45 Film Short.
9:00 Face of the War, Talk.
9:30 Film Short.
9:45 Fashion Parade, Helena Rubinstein. W2XWV, DuMont labs station outlet, forced to cancel programs skedded for broadcast, Wed. night (26), when technical difficulties knocked the station off the air. Bugs were eliminated, however, in time for DuMont’s next regular broadcast Sunday night (30). Cancellation recalled to oldtimers instances of similar nature in early days of broadcasting when stations frequently were silenced, sometimes in the middle of programs, because of equipment and power kickups. (Variety, May 3).
Thursday, April 27
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
BALABAN & KATZ TELEVISION
With Fran Harris, Jack Brickhouse, Genevieve Wright. Vicki Swift.
Producers: Helen Carson and Fran Harris.
Cameras: Rachel Stewart and Esther Rojewski.
60 Mins.; Thurs. (27), 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Sustaining
WBKB, Chicago.
Being an experimental station, one of the biggest problems here is that of programming. Insomuch as talent is on a "no-pay"' basis, the management has to use what is available on that basis, As a result many performers are televised when it would be better if they were just heard and not seen. Two such non-photogenic acts were on the show caught which for the most part was quite interesting.
Hour's show opened with 15 minutes of newscasting by Jack Brickhouse, one of WGN's best. He televises well, so was okay from pictorial standpoint. Fran Harris, emcee, introduced Genevieve Wright, who gave out with a typical dramatic art reading, but with gestures. In speaking her lines, which had to do with the visit of a wife to a night club with her soldier husband on furlough, she mugged all over the place, which, added to fact that the cameras weren't very kind to her in the first place, didn't add any to the pictorial effect.
“The Perfect Crime,” a drama by Lewis Herman, directed by Miss Harris, followed. Outstanding in the production was the clever way in which credits were introduced. Opened with a dead man lying on the floor and as a pair of hands took papers out of his pockets and unfolded them they showed the various production credits before the action started. Play done part by dialog and part by narration, showed how a crook had planned the perfect crime and the last scene finds him in a cell with no explanation, either by word or action, on how he was caught, a slight oversight by the author. Attempts were made to shoot part of the action in silhouette with fair results. Acting by Cisar and Gray was good.
Closing 15 minutes were occupied by Vicki Swift who sang a quartet of songs, accompanied by pianist Elaine Phillips, off stage. Morg (Variety, May 3)
Friday, April 28
WCBW Channel 2
8 to 10 p.m. Films.
B & K Television
Reviewed Friday (28). Style-News and drama. Sustaining on WBKB (Chicago).
Without a doubt, top billing on WBKB's marquee (if it had one) tonight would have gone to Bill Vance, who wrote and played the lead in a psychological thriller depicting the attempted murder of a beautiful woman by a crazed master killer. Vance realized the requirements of television and wrote a drama that fitted forcefully. He displayed his knowledge and ability by projecting a sombre, almost eerie mood that nevertheless managed to maintain an air of possibility.
Vance did some top-notch acting on top of this, and with the able assistance of his foil, Betty Babcock, had the people in the WBKB studios biting their nails. All that was missing were a few more close-ups of the climactic situations. This viewer often had the impression that the action was going on at a distance. More close-ups would have helped plenty. One of the primary requirements of theater—a more intimate feeling between audience and the actors. Preceding the Vance thriller was an informative, interest-holding newscast by Jerry Walker. He undoubtedly put plenty of preparation into the commentary for his combination chalk-talk and analysis of the news appeared almost ad lib. Walker appeared confident at all times and had an intimate, casual style of delivery that managed, in spite of its apparent informality to make the news as clear as a Brisbane editorial. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, May 6)
G. E. Television
Reviewed Friday (28). Special experimental program. WRGB (Schenectady, N. Y.).
Of special interest in demonstrating how video can be used, even without the benefit of a portable unit, to bring into the home actual scenes of news happenings within a short time of their occurrence was that portion of the show depicting the arrival of the newspapermen in Schenectady and their assembling at the hotel for the luncheon preceding the program. Motion pictures were taken as the delegates stepped off the train and as they circulated about the hotel, only two hours before the telecast, and hurriedly printed for television.
WRGB's director, Bob Stone, acted as emsee for the program, based on an issue of The New York Herald-Tribune, which co-operated in preparing the show. All this, of course, WRGB has done before with other newspapers. So, it was surprising to see elemental production flaws.
Among these were a tendency to use too few maps and maps drawn to too small a scale during the news part of the program. And Maj. George Fielding Eliot, The Herald-Tribune's war news analyst, failed to come across in lively fashion. His voice was a monotone and he neglected to move about or face the camera now and then for variety.
Interesting was the transition to the home institute field, achieved by a reader turning the pages of the paper and saying, "Let's see what the weather is going to be" and adding a moment later, "Hmm, it's going to be a swell day to go shopping." In this sequence was a cue for the food editor to go shopping and do some commenting.
Entertainment features, after a film interlude, included an exhibition by Joe Owens's puppets, piano reflections by Earle Pudney, and a commercial sketch produced by the J. Walter Thompson Agency, with Brenda Forbes, Gertrude Flynn and Byron Russell in the cast. A little more preparation would have improved the smoothness of the experimental telecast in some places but as an example of how television can be used to present the news it must have been a revelation to most of the newspapermen present. Everett L. Finch. (Billboard, May 6)
J. Walter Thompson agency's first venture into television production gets an unveiling Friday (28) at GE's WRGB, Schenectady, when the American Newspaper Publisher's Assn. meets in its closing convention session. Original 12-minute sketch will be filmed during staging and agency plans to syndicate the film for presentation by video outlets in N. Y., Philly, Chi and Hollywood. Publishers will view “Story of the Opera,” scripted by Nancy Hamilton, legit author and actress, and directed by Sherman Price. Project is under supervision of Tom Weatherly and Gene Kuehne, JWT video execs, who have lined up troupes of Broadway performers for the cast. (Variety, April 26)
Saturday, April 29
WNBT Channel 1
3:30-4:15 P. M. Films: “Spring Antics” (Van Beuren, 1932); “Jolly Good Felons” (Van Beuren, 1934); Nuri, the Elephant” (German, 1928).
7:30 Test Pattern
8:00 Film: “Our Russian Ally”.
8:20-9:30 Film: “Silver Stallions,” with David Sharpe, Chief Thundercloud (Finney, 1941).
Sunday, April 30
W2XWV Channel 4
8:15 p.m. “Memo to Heaven,” one-act play.
8:45 Film.
9:00 “Your World Tomorrow.”
9:30 Film.
9:40 Meg of the Megacycles
9:45 Bureau of Missing Persons
9:55 “Thrills and Chills” with Doug Allan.
“YOUR WORLD TOMORROW”
With Jessica Dragonette, Osham Constable, Walter Dorwin Teague, Dick Bradley.
Writer-director: Irwin Shane
30 Mins., Sunday, 9 p.m.
DUREZ PLASTICS
W2XWV-DuMont
First in a series giving dope on current developments leading to shaping of the post-war world registered as entertaining and informative fare with only deterrent being the technical production. Program idea was ably treated and adapted but the boys behind the camera, the camera itself and transmitting facilities did much to detract from the program's overall success.
Stanza was divided into three portions, one being straight news report on the week's industrial advances and their effects upon our post-war life. The second part dealt with post-war housing with architect Waiter Dorwin Teague, "designer for the week," demonstrating via sketches and models, a low-cost, four-room, prefabricated dwelling.
Last portion was a musical sketch with Jessica Dragonette and Isham Constable as principals.
Miss Dragonette provided spacing for the season's division's by vocals which were hampered because of bad placing of mikes. Teague's presentation suffered most heavily at the hands of technicians with much detail on models lost even in closeups. Long shots were so completely washed out that it's evident the camera was mechanically at fault.
All in all, though, basic soundness of program idea and staging managed to carry it along and gave adequate promise that models and drawings will play an important part in finished tele productions post-war.
Commercial announcements opened and closed. Final plug went visual by projection of booklet. Turo. (Variety, May 3)
Full 13-week sponsored series of tele airers will be presented over W2XWV-DuMont, New York, by the Durez Plastics Co., starting April 30. Session, tabbed “The World Tomorrow,” produced by the Television Workshop, will be headed by Jessica Dragonette and will present outstanding designers and their impressions of the post-war world. People like Norman Bel Geddes will present their designs for post-war homes, cars, planes, etc., somewhat in the vein of the famed “Futurama” presented by Bel Geddes for the General Motors exhibit at the New York World’s Fair in 1939-40. (Variety, May 3)
Two firsts...the first Air* WAC ever to be inducted through the medium of television and the first GI fashion show ever to be televised, will be presented on the Rome Air Service Command Air WAC revue Sunday night [30] over WRGB here. The neophyte Air WAC who will be given the oath by a high ranking air force officer is Alice Killips of Great Bend, Pa. Miss Killips was chosen from a group of girls who Joined the army as the result of the Air WAC recruiting team from Rome Air Service command now operating in this area. Regarding her novel induction, Miss Killips said:
“Naturally I'm thrilled. If the Air Wacs turn out to be this exciting all the time, it's going to be an adventurous life."
She added that she joined the WAC because her father had been a machine gunner in the last war and, having no brothers, she felt it was up to her that one of her family carry on the tradition in this war.
The GI fashion show will be presented by a group of the Air Wacs who will model various uniforms of the corps. They will be led by Pvt. Kathryn McDow of Los Angeles, Calif., formerly associated with the fashion department of one of the largest department stores on ths Pacific coast, and Pvt. Ruth Warnock, who recently was graduated from the Royal Academy of Acting in London, England.
The program is written and produced by S/Sgt Gerald Cullinan of Rome Army Air field. (Schenectady Gazette, Apr. 28)
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