Two new TV stations made their debut in October 1946. Sort of.
Both made test broadcasts. One wasn’t actually transmitted and was caught in the middle of an IATSE union power play. Both would begin regular programming after the start of the new year. Meanwhile, the FCC authorised the first station for San Francisco, which didn't sign on until the end of 1948. And Howard Hughes decided not to get into the TV business after all, for reasons known only to him. He pulled his applications for stations, meaning there were now the same number of companies that wanted licenses to broadcast in Los Angeles than there were licenses available. Two, of course, were already on the air with regular schedules. There may not have been more stations with schedules but TV sets were finally again being made in larger numbers.
Was another union power-play, the one involving J.C. Petrillo banning music by his members on television, petering out? Whatever the answer, it seems New York stations were again digging out their Poverty Row movies and putting them on the air again.
Several shows made their debuts in October 1946. One was a soap opera called “Faraway Hill” on DuMont. Among the actors was the future voice-over man for the NBC peacock animation, Mel Brandt. Ford has pumped money into the successful “Hour Glass” variety show, so Westinghouse decided to do the same with a DuMont comedy/variety endeavour called “Tonight, Fair and Warmer.” It had nothing in common with any other show called “Tonight.” The stars were supposed to be Bob Hope’s West Coast emigres Jerry Colonna and Wendell Niles, but Colonna walked off the set before the show aired.
NBC had on-location problems getting some football games on the air but finally succeeded. Play-by-play sports continued to be popular (and sponsored), with boxing, hockey, and even the rodeo at Madison Square Garden with insight by Texan John Henry Faulk, who later fought the blacklist and won a libel suit.
Below are reviews, news and the TV schedules from New York, which may not be altogether accurate.
Tuesday, October 1
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous news, music, test pattern.
8:00 “Play the Game,” charades with Harvey Zorbaugh, sponsored by Alexander Stores.
8:30 Film short.
9:00 “Serving Through Science,” sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
Wednesday, October 2
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 Film shorts.
8:15 Feature film:
“My Son, The Hero” with Patsy Kelly and Roscoe Karns (PRC, 1943).
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and test pattern (to 5).
8:00 “The Magic Carpet” by Bud Gamble, sponsored by Alexander Smith Carpets.
8:15 Excerpts from the opera Rigoletto.
8:45 Film short.
9:00 Dramatic Serial: “Faraway Hill”
[May not have aired according to Oct. 9 review below].
9:30 Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Paul Miderie vs. James Carter, four other bouts.
N. Y.'s W. 47th street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, became Manhattan's first "television row" last Thursday (2) as several bars on both sides of the street brought their customers the playoff game between the Dodgers and Cards, as televised by WNBT (NBC, N.Y.).
Telecast was advertised via large window cards in each bar, and the latter in the aggregate drew comparatively as large a crowd as saw the game in person out at Ebbets Field. Payees had to crane their necks to see the small 8x10 inch screens perched high up on the walls at the far end of the rooms; but, from the s.r.o. signs in evidence, the barkeeps undoubtedly sold more beer and liquor than they had before at that time of day. (Variety, Oct. 9)
Thursday, October 3
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Milo Boulton, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 Country Dance Party.
8:50 High School Forum.
WNBT Channel 4
1:15 Baseball at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cards. Bob Stanton, play-by-play.
7:50 Esso Television Reporter, newsreel compiled by Paul Alley.
8:00 “Hour Glass,” variety with Helen Parrish sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea/Chase and Sanborn Coffee.
8:30 “Judge For Yourself.”
8:50 “See What You Know,” game show with Win Elliot.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 Continuous news and music.
8:00 “Detect and Collect,” game show with Lew Lehr
[Did not air. See below].
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 “Cash and Carry,” game show with Dennis James.
See What You Know
Reviewed Thursday (3), 9-9:30 p.m. Style—Comedy quiz. Sustaining over WCBW (CBS), New York.
Program was fast, easy to watch and full of laughs. Emsee Win Elliot, a television natural, did a good job of keeping the show going at its fast clip and making with corny puns that were thrown around like William Morris contracts. Format is simple. Guest stars vie for points by acting out zany gimmicks. Guests on show included gag writer Jack Houston, dialectician Phil Kramer, and Aimie Seidel, billed as the world's fastest talker.
Funny gimmick at end had the three contestants making their own hats from a boxful of such odds and ends as fruit, furs, cans, feathers and ribbons. Altho skedded to run a half hour, show was thrown off by preceding seg which ran over some eight minutes, thus giving the Elliot show only about 20 minutes. (Billboard, Oct. 12)
ABC-POWERS CHARM SCHOOL
With Peggy Allenby, Pat Hosley, Walter Herlihy, John Robert Powers, others
Producer-director: Harvey Marlowe
Sets: Bob Bright
30 Mins.; Thurs. [3], 8 p.m.
TEENIOR, JUNIOR FIRSTS, JOHN WILHELM FURS
WABD-ABC, N. Y.
(Chernow)
As with most new television shows, the ABC-Powers Charm School chalked up several firsts for the. industry. It was the first time that an-ad agency has taken over a complete 13-week series of shows, with its various clients coming in later for each program on a participating basis. More important, however, the show marked the first time that the fashion industry, which can benefit to a great extent with tele advertising since its products can be seen, plugged fashions the way they should be plugged on the telescreen.
With television still at loggerheads over the color controversy, it may be sacrilege to bring the mention of color into a review of a black-and-white show. If ever a program illustrated a need for color, however, this was it. Dresses and fur coats were modeled by John Robert Powers mannequins during the last 10 minutes of the show in a well-enacted scene, with an ample description by emcee Peggy Allenby. With women's fashions depending as much on color as anything else, however, what can fashion modelling mean without it?
Program-wise, the show was only fair. Format follows the Powers "Charm School of the Air" theme, with the cast demonstrating different shortcuts to good grooming for the women. First half of the show, though, consisted of trite talk among Miss Allenby, a young gal who's trying to be a model (Pat Hosley) and a gym instructor (Walter Herlihy). Of the three, Miss Hosley's the only one who looked as though she knew she was supposed to act. Exercises demonstrated in the gym lent a novel touch, but the show never got going until the actual fashion modeling began.
Producer-director Harvey Marlowe, though missing out on his direction, did well with the cameras and also with establishing the basic technique of video modeling. Show was highlighted by Bob Bright's three sets. Last one was especially good, with the models stepping out of a montage grouping of the top fashion mags. Stal. (Variety, Oct. 9)
Wrestling Matches
Reviewed Thursday (3), 9-9:30 p.m. Style—Wrestling. Sustaining over W6XYZ (Paramount), Hollywood.
Outlet has gotten its studio -staged wrestling matches down pat to the point where ringside teleview keeps eyes and ears glued to the set. Grunt and groan routines make good video-fare, because there's plenty of action confined to a small area. Held in studio ring, lighting conditions are favorable, since they can easily be controlled. Gab side of the coverage has been developed to a point where it adds rather than detracts from visual effect. The usual sort of sports announcers' "He's up, he's down" patter is avoided, with Michael Roy's commentary replacing. Roy only calls the grips, names wrestlers and tries to sound more like another set-side kibitzer rather than the know-all, tell-all announcer. It would help if wrestlers were attired in black and white trunks for easy identification. Lensing was up to par, following grippers in okay fashion. (Billboard, Oct. 12)
Friday, October 4
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 “Television Quarterback,” Talk with Lou Little, sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
8:15 “For You and Yours,” variety.
8:45 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
9:00 Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena. Jerry Fiorello vs. Reuben Shank.
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous News, music.
8:00 American Theatre Wing, variety.
8:30-11:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
"FRIDAY QUARTERBACK"
With Lou Little, Bob Stanton, Arthur Daley
Producer: Ed Sobol
15 Mins.; Friday [4], 8 p.m.
UNITED STATES RUBBER
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
(Campbell-Ewald)
This will probably be a good show after the bumps are ironed out, but as it stands there are entirely too many inexcusable fluffs for it to pass as a professional job. Sloppy production, most unlike producer Ed Sobol's past efforts, was largely responsible for preem program woes.
Lou Little, whose voice is no bargain at best, was having trouble with his lines and it hurt to watch him try to get some of them out. He opened with an intro of the program and its general format, then Bob Stanton, NBC sport chief, moved in for some two-way banter. After the standard opening phrases, Little went to a blackboard to explain the difference between the regular "T" formation as used by most teams, and his own "Wing T" which has a back wide behind the line. Informal lecture would have been much clearer had it not been for Stanton's repeated interruptions.
First of a series of guests, Arthur Daley, was brought in for the show's final phase, prediction of the following day's scores. With Stanton acting as mediator, Daley and Little made their guesses, which were marked on a blackboard for future reference. Listeners were asked to send in their own predictions, and an obvious bid was made for a mail count on the audience.
Stanton's introduction in the show was preceded by films of last year's top games, with comment from the web sports ed which should have been either rehearsed or left out entirely. Result was that Stanton had the wrong team with the ball, talked at the wrong time, and finally Little came in prematurely for his second stanza. In future programs, this film will be replaced by pictures of the preceding week's games.
Entire direction and production will have to be picked up. Tomm. (Variety, Oct. 9)
American Theater Wing
Reviewed Friday (4), 8:30-9 p.m. Style—Variety. Presented by the American Theater Wing over WABD (DuMont), New York.
Wing's first in a series of four video shows this fall was a hit or miss proposition in spite of program being written, produced and acted by professional ex -G. I.'s taking the Wing's video training course. Following a series of cleverly worked out title cards introducing the show, program teed off with a vocal by Jane Dula [Dulo], star of Are You With It? Spot fell flat, however, because she failed to sync with one of her own platters.
Program was built around a vet applying to the Wing for info on its training courses. Story then centered around vet briefly and unhappily attending various classes in fencing, dancing, radio and acting.
Altho virtually all vets in the show were supposedly pros, acting was strictly corn and showed a need for more video training. Some tried too hard, with the entire show consequently overdone. Joe Graham, in the lead, went overboard in his enthusiasm. It was nothing that more training won't clear up.
Bob Loewi, who directs the Wing's video course and supervises productions, worked in some good lines and camera shots. These jacked up the production considerably. Byron McKinney did a good job as background narrator. Sets were designed by Dwight E. Hook. (Billboard, Oct. 19)
FCC last Friday (4) handed out its 33d postwar television permit. It went to the Minnesota Broadcasting Corp., for a new $136,500 black-and-white video transmitter in Minneapolis.
Interest is focussed on entry of Minnesota Broadcasting Co. (WTCN, Minneapolis) into black-and-white field since company is partially held by (John) Cowles Publications; and T.A.M. Craven, vice president in charge of engineering for Cowles Broadcasting Corp., is an outspoken advocate of CBS-color video. Craven has already filed at FCC for an experimental color station for Cowles-owned outlet WOL, Washington.
However, ownership of the company is split two ways, with Cowles' Minneapolis Tribune holding 50% and other half held by Northwest Publications, Inc., publishers of the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press. KSTP, St. Paul, already has a permit for commercial tele operation there.
At the same time, FCC okayed an experimental permit for the St. Louis University, St. Louis, which has earmarked $168,000 for a university transmitter to test out both black-and-white and rainbow transmissions. University will program only one hour a week. (Variety, Oct. 9)
Saturday, October 5
WCBW Channel 2
2:00 Football at Baker Field, Columbia vs. Navy, play-by-play with Mel Allen, sponsored by Ford.
8:15 “Feature Edition” news with Bob Edge; David Owen, guest.
8:45 “King’s Party Line” with Win Elliot.
WNBT Channel 4
2:00 Football from West Point: Army vs. Cornell, sponsored by Goodyear Tire, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
8:00 Film shorts.
8:15 Feature film: “Death Rides the Plains” with Bob Livingston and Fuzzy St. John (PRC, 1943).
After two postponements due to engineering difficulties in getting transmission lines working between N. Y. and West Point, NBC television finally got into the Army football schedule with the Army-Cornell game last Saturday (5).
Video-wise, the telecast was almost 100% better than WNBT’s first football coverage of the season with the Giants-Green Bay Packers pro game several weeks ago. Producer Burke Crotty had his camera technique down to a "T" that was just as successful as the Army's T-formation. Image Orthicon cameras with their turret lenses even brought in close-ups of the players' faces and the between-halves swing around the West Point campus, with the cameras still in their stationary positions on the 50-yard line, was something new and appreciative.
Telecast was partially spoiled, however, by the inept announcing of tyro Caswell Adams. A syndicated INS sports columnist. Adams undoubtedly has a good knowledge of football but he certainly has a lot to learn yet about video narration. Several times he referred to his station as "WBNT" and his voice at times sounded as though he were trying to outdo the pebble mouthings of Demosthenes. His constant references to the sweltering heat at the stadium had the video fans squirming in their seats and crime above crime as far as NBC is concerned, he made several allusions to the "red" handkerchief dropped by the referee to indicate an upcoming penalty.
Goodyear commercials during the game were also overdone, due probably to the fact that Adams couldn't think of anything else to say during a time-out. Commercial between quarters, however, was excellent, consisting of a slide with a huge clock inside the rim of a Goodyear tire, ticking off the 60-second intermission as Adams read the commercial off-screen. (Variety, Oct. 9)
HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 5.—Klaus Landsberg, Paramount's coast tele head, last week wrapped up two exclusive sports deals allowing his W6XYZ to scan all local games of pro footballers Los Angeles Dons and all hockey games held at Pan-Pacific Auditorium. This will give the area its first tele taste of both sports. First grid tilt is set for Sunday (27) when the Dons tangle with the New York Yankees.
Football will be picked up from Los Angeles Coliseum with hockey coming from Pan-Pacific Auditorium. All remotes will be beamed via relay to station's transmitter atop Mount Wilson. First hockey scanner is skedded for first week in November, with outlet possessing tele rights to all league games played by the Los Angeles Monarchs and Hollywood Wolves. Hockey nights here are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Landsberg expecting to cover at least two games per week. Since football comes on Sunday. Landsberg anticipates boosting present sked of around five hours weekly to between 10 to 15 hours per week by next month.
As reported by The Billboard, (September 28), outlet is boosting its remote sked and is now laying plans for year-around tele coverage of sports events. Months ago station brought in motorcycle races from Pomona (40 miles from here) and two weeks ago scanned complete nine -day Pacific Southwest tennis matches, five hours daily. (Billboard, Oct. 12)
Sunday, October 6
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 News with Tom O’Connor.
8:30 “Shorty,” cartoon show with Syd Hoff, sponsored by Ipana toothpaste.
8:45 “Sports Almanac” with Bob Edge, sponsored by Vitalis.
9:00 Rodeo at Madison Square Garden: John Henry Faulk.”
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 “Face to Face,” with cartoonist Bob Dunn, sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea.
8:15 “Geographically Speaking” with Mrs. Carveth Wells, sponsored by Minit-Rub/Trushay.
8:30 Television Theater presents: “The Curtain Rises” by Benjamin Kaye with Uta Hagen and Benjamin Fletcher.
Monday, October 7
WNBT Channel 4
7:50 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
8:00 Televues.
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30-11:00 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena, Roman Alvarez vs, Eddie Giosa.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and Test Pattern
8:00 Film short.
8:30-11:00 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
Tuesday, October 8
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous news, music, test pattern.
8:00 “Play the Game,” charades with Harvey Zorbaugh, sponsored by Alexander Stores.
8:30 Film short.
9:00 “Serving Through Science,” sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
Wednesday, October 9
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 Film shorts.
8:15 Feature film.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and test pattern (to 5).
8:00 “Barrett Textiles,” variety.
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 Dramatic Serial: “Faraway Hill” (debut)
9:30 Boxing at Jamaica Arena. Jimmy Carollo vs. Johnny Aichers, heavyweight, eight rounds.
Faraway Hill
Reviewed Wednesday (9), 9-9:30 p.m. Style—Dramatic Serial. Sponsored and produced by Caples Advertising Agency over WABD (DuMont), New York.
David P. Lewis, director of video for Caples, did a fairly good job in bringing soap opera to television and it may be the tip-off that this kind of a show will have a place in television. With only a $300 budget per show, Lewis produced a serial that has good possibilities for holding femme attention during the afternoons. Altho show was weak in spots, mainly direction and acting, production as a whole was strong enough to hold its own.
Story was about the usual rich city gal who gets romantically and otherwise involved with a poor yokel, ending with gal becoming socially conscious. Flora Campbell, who took the lead, at first seemed a little lost but her confidence warmed up fast. Both she and her leading man, Mel Brandt, the yokel, handled their lines well. Both are telegenic.
For a video soap opera, there were too many characters in the first program. Fewer would have been less confusing, made for better scanning, and show would have been better.
In opening, Lewis shot each actor in character, with superimposed title cards showing part played. Settings included a Pullman car, railroad station platform and a farm-house living room designed by the DuMont stage staff. (Billboard, Oct. 12)
"FARAWAY HILL"
With Flora Campbell, Mel Brandt, Ann Stell, Lorene Scott, Frederic Meyer, Melville Galliart, Jacqueline Waite, Jack Halloran, Ben Low, Vivian King, Bill Gale, Eve McVeagh, Julie Christy, Hal Studer, Barry Doig, Munro Gabler
Writer-director: David P. Lewis
30 Mins.; Thursday [9], 9 p.m.
WABD-DuMont, N. Y.
Sustaining
Caples ad agency, which buys time on DuMont for experimentation purposes, has walked where other video programmers feared to tread. The soap opera blight, long confined to radio for lack of greener fields, has spread to the infant medium, television, and if the same immunity from ill effects apparently enjoyed by daytime radio listeners can be built quickly in the televiewer it will mean dollars. Listening taste seems to disappear like the good fairy during radio's daytime grind of tragedy, because the programs sell product for sponsors. If the same effect can be achieved in television, the medium will be enriched that much more—by dollars.
Actually the program didn't look so bad, although a half hour is a pretty stiff dose. A quarter-hour, well-occupied by a synopsis of previous events and a couple of commercials would probably conform better to housewives' program habits, and leave them wanting just another peek to see what happens next. For it's to the hausfrau that this show is pitched, and when daytime video becomes a reality this type of program will fall into its own niche, safe from the grumble of tired husbands and bored moppets.
Story's plot concerns a New York woman who seeks escape after her husband's death by visiting some relatives' estate, only to find them middle class farmers with outside plumbing. On top of it all she finds herself liking the adopted farm boy, who's been promised to the farmer's daughter, and things begin to get tangled, at which stage they will remain until the last show, and if the program's a success that might never come. Gaps in the action are bridged by a voice which talks to lead Flora Campbell, telling her what's she's thinking.
Production-wise, "Faraway Hill" suffers from the same difficulty experienced by so many WABD dramats: cues are too slow, causing action lag, and title cards are held too long. Result is a bad slowup in pace. Fact that this can be easily cured is an indication that the program can provide entertainment of a type. Films are used where needed to illustrate sequences; e. g., a train in the first installment.
Thesping is not terrific, but done with competence considering show's lack of action and more than occasional dull lines. Entire Quality is diminished by poor pacing, which means production will have to be jerked up by the bootstraps or Caples' video director David Lewis' baby is not long for this world. Tomm. (Variety, Oct. 16)
One of the two tele cameras picked up the parade half a block from the station and the other showed clear details. KSD expects to begin regular tele broadcasts next March, and a transmitter tower, 540 feet above the street level, will be constructed atop the Post-Dispatch building. (Variety, Oct. 16)
St. Louis—Jurisdictional squabbles between rival AFL unions, unless ironed out, may interfere with television broadcasts by KSD, owned and operated by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Pulitzer) and skedded to start next March. A flareup between the rival unions last week prevented a tele broadcast of the Veiled Prophet ball in the Henry W. Kiel (municipal) auditorium.
The muddle was between the Chicago local No. 666 of the International Photographers union, affiliated with the IATSE, and Radio Engineers union, local No. 1217, of the IBEW. The photographers demanded that they should operate the station's tele cameras instead of the station's engineers who belong to IBEW. After huddles that lasted all day failed, members of IATSE refused to turn on the public address system in the auditorium and threatened to turn off the lights.
Rather than interrupt the ball, which highlights the local social sea-son, George M. Burbach,. gen. mgr. of KSD, called off the tele broadcast. However, before the critical stage was reached, KSD engineers succeeded in producing nearly 60 minutes of clear tele images at the scene of the ball but not of the ceremonies. These were reproduced on two receiving sets at the auditorium and also relayed by special coaxial cable to KSD studios several blocks away. (Variety, Oct. 23)
A new television educational series, in which junior high schools of New York will compete against each other in a weekly television quiz tournament, has been set by WCBW (CBS, N. Y.) in collaboration with the N. Y. Board of Education. Titled "All N. Y. Junior High School Quiz." The series is slated to tee off Nov. 7, supplementing the Board of Education's first video show, "There Ought to Be a Law," now in its second year on WCBW.
Forty schools have entered teams comprising 10 students each in the tournament, which is set up in two 10-week brackets. First ends Jan. 16 and the second April 24, with the two brackets meeting in the finals on May 1. Each team is slated to work out the- questions to ask the opposition, selecting not only the material but preparing the visualization of the question to meet tele requirements.
As an aid to faculty advisers of student teams, CBS early last June provided a special manual containing specific Instructions for the visualizing of quiz material. (Variety, Oct. 9)
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Milo Boulton, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 Playlet: “Don’t Fence Me In.”
8:50 Film:
“S.S. Hannibal Victory” narrated by Warren Bryan, Music by Jack Shaindlin (1945).
WNBT Channel 4
10:00 a.m. Television Conference from the Waldorf-Astoria.
12:30 Television Salute.
12:45 Coaxial Cable.
1:45 Television Salute to the U.N.
3:30 Special Film.
4:30 Film.
7:50 Esso Television Reporter, newsreel compiled by Paul Alley.
8:00 “Hour Glass,” variety with Helen Parrish sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea/Chase and Sanborn Coffee.
9:00 “American Business on Parade.
9:10 Famous Fight film.
WABD Channel 5
9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Television Conference Programs. (also at 8:15 and 10 p.m.)
3:00 Continuous news and music.
8:00 “John Robert Powers Charm School,” sponsored by clients of Chernow agency.
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 “Cash and Carry,” game show with Dennis James.
[Times has WNBT 8:15-10:30 Dinner and Awards of Merit, Television Conference.]
Your Town
Reviewed Thursday (10), 8:45-9 p.m. Style—Skit, demonstration. Sustaining over W6XYZ (Paramount), Hollywood.
Tonight's public service seg was not up to outlet's par. Devoted to city health department's methods of eatery inspection, scanner came up as a corny skit showing an inspector teaching a dishwasher proper safety measures. Idea of sugar coating health department's message by putting demonstration into skit form is okay, but too much emphasis was put on how dishes should be washed. Unless that happened to be the viewer's occupation, seg was a yawn-spurrer.
Seems home-lookers would rather know how many inspectors are in field, how often restaurants are examined, percentage of spots that violate the rules, how ops are punished, etc. Lensers followed action okay. (Billboard, Oct. 12)
NEW YORK—Nine awards to individuals whose contributions furthered the progress of television as a science and as a commercial utility were made this week at the Second Annual Television Broadcasters' Association Convention. Presentations were made Thursday (10) by Paul Raibourn, president of Television Productions (Paramount Pictures) and a member of the TBA's board of directors.
NBC's video veepee, John F. Royal, received the award for the outstanding special event program of the past year and was cited for his "initiative in bringing the Louis-Conn fight to the television audience thru the image orthicon camera." Donovan B. Stetler, advertising director of Standard Brands, rated for the best entertainment program of the past year and was cited for his "conception of the Hour Glass program, which has been widely characterized as having more entertainment than any other."
Paul Belanger, WCBW (CBS) television director, was cited for his "artistry in combining the previously used elements—music, ballet and setting into an attractive and appealing ensemble for television." He received an award for the most outstanding artistic program of the year.
For the best public service program, Klaus Landsberg, station director of W6XYZ, Los Angeles, was cited for "educating the citizens of Los Angeles, by means of the television program, Your Town, as to the problems of their government."
In making the awards, Raibourn commented that television, as compared with other media, affords an unbiased method of disseminating information. "Spoken or written words are colored by the minds of the men thru which they are transmitted," he said, "while television is the first instrument which makes it possible for a distant citizen to hear a presidential speech or closely watch the strife on an industrial picket line without the intervention of another and perhaps biased mind."
Awards for the outstanding technical contribution to television: Dr. Albert Rose, Dr. Harold Bell Law, Dr. Paul Kessler Weimer, RCA Laboratories; to individuals for outstanding contributions to the field of television: Dr. Oliver E. Buckley, president, Bell Telephone Labs.; Keith S. McHugh, vice-president, American Telephone & Telegraph Company. (Billboard, Oct. 12)
Friday, October 11
WCBW Channel 2
8:30-11:00 p.m. Football at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Chicago Rockets, sponsored by Ford. Connie Desmond, play-by-play.
WNBT Channel 4
Noon Film shorts.
12:45 Coaxial Cable.
2:30 Short films.
4:30 Special films.
8:00 “Television Quarterback,” Talk with Lou Little, sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
8:15 “For You and Yours,” variety.
8:45 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
9:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports: Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena, Ruby Kessler and Pat Scanlon, welterweights.
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous News, music.
8:00 Film short.
8:30-11:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
Television got itself another good sports announcer last Friday (11) night as Connie Desmond bowed into the video picture with a play-by-play of the Brooklyn Dodgers-Chicago Rockets pro football game over WCBW (CBS, N. Y.).
Desmond had already won his radio sports laurels as Red Barber's sidekick on the WHN broadcasts of the Dodgers baseball games for the last several seasons. Judging from his fine commentary Friday night, he's made the switch from radio to video with no trouble at all. As a good tele announcer should do, Desmond limited his commentary to a description of the finer points of the game, eliminating entirely the over-descriptiveness necessary for radio. In addition, through little side remarks, anecdotes, etc., he built up a good sense of intimacy with his viewing audience.
WCBW's coverage of the game was excellent. Players were wallowing around on a wet field, with the rain making it plenty uncomfortable for the hardy souls in the Ebbets Field grandstand, but home viewers were presented a clear, sharp picture. Innovation of putting Desmond before the cameras at half-time intermission for a resume of the first half was good and did much to liven up the usual between-halves "dead" time.
Ford commercials were also better than have been seen heretofore in football telecasts. Instead of the usual slides, the J. Walter Thompson agency this time provided films demonstrating all the finer points of the car, both inside and out, with enough of an intimate touch included through the use of actors to drive home the sales pitch. (Variety, Oct. 16)
Stump the Authors
Reviewed Friday (11) 9-9:30 p.m. Sponsored by American Broadcasting Company over WBKB (Balaban and Katz), Chicago.
Format of this show is the same as its ABC radio counterpart on Sunday and popularity of the radio show should be equalled by video production. Authors are presented with a grab bag, contents of which are suggested by fads. Whatever comes forth, they must construct a story around it, being given 30 seconds to think it out.
Cast aside the idea that authors are tipped on what they may draw. ABC couldn't afford to stage a fake ad lib telecast. Show is real entertainment from start to finish, with few drags, due primarily to nimble wits of authors Jack Payne, Dorothy Day and Louis Zara.
Payne constructed a dog story which was even better than most shaggy canine yarns and evoked healthy reaction from the studio audience. Dorothy Day concocted a net dramatic tale about two lovers in a railroad station from her draw of a suitcase and an umbrella. Zara, drawing a hand, a glass eye, a lunch pail and a burlap bag, wove a fantastic yet realistic story of an escaped Nazi.
Good video, among the best to come from the local stations. (Billboard, Oct. 12)
Three new shows have been lined up by ABC television, two for transmission over its Philadelphia outlet, WPTZ (Philco), and the third for WRGB (GE. Schenectady).
The two Philly shows, each 15 minutes, will tee off Friday (11), replacing "Stop the Clock" in the 8 to 8:30 p.m. slot. "Woman's Angle in Sports" is to feature Alice Marble in the first half of the show, with Vera Massey, radio actor, taking over the second half with monologs and songs. Schenectady show is an audience participationer, titled "Don't You Know Me?," slated to begin next Wednesday (16).
All three shows will be directed by Bobbie Henry. ABC production chief Harvey Marlowe is producer. (Variety, Oct. 9)
Saturday, October 12
WCBW Channel 2
8:00 News.
8:15 Film: “Glass Bell.”
8:45 “King’s Party Line” with John Reed King.
9:00 Feature Film.
WNBT Channel 4
1:30 Football at Baltimore, Navy vs. Duke.
8:00 Film shorts.
8:15 Feature Film: “Death Rides the Plains” with Bob Livingston and Fuzzy St. John (PRC, 1943).
WABD Channel 5
8:15 Football at Yankee Stadium: Yankees vs. Cleveland Browns, sponsored by Ford.
[Times says WNBT 2:00 Football at West Point, Army vs. Michigan.]
King's Party Line
Reviewed Saturday (12), 8:45 -9:15 p.m. Style—Audience participation. Sustaining over WCBW (CBS), New York.
John Reed King's Saturday night stint is a nice little show but it doesn't measure up to King's stand- ards of fast patter and zany tricks with home and studio audiences. Frances Buss, director of the show, has King shackled to a telephone behind a desk with only six or seven people in the studio participating. Consequently, with King so limited in action, feeling is that program is forced. King rings bells when he has a studio audience and can run around pulling gags and gimmicks as he did on his original video show of two years ago—Missus' Goes A Shopping.
Gimmick in Party Line is King posing a question or problem and asking home- viewers to call studio with right answer. Prizes are awarded to winners. Program guests help with the gimmicks. Whenever program begins to sink, as it frequently does, King yanks it up with a zany bit or some fast corny patter. Essentially he's the entire show. (Billboard, Oct. 26)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12.—Federal Communications Commission this week reached out to the nation's 20th ranking city, Indianapolis, in its only commercial television grant of the week. Award went to William H. Block Company, which was assigned to Channel No. 3 on the 60-66 mc. frequency band. Applicant was authorized to use a 14.44 kw. visual power peak, with an aural power permit reaching 7.6 kw.
Sunday, October 13
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 News with Tom O’Connor.
8:30 “Shorty,” cartoon show with Syd Hoff and guest Patty Foster, sponsored by Ipana toothpaste.
8:45 “Sports Almanac” with Bob Edge, sponsored by Vitalis.
9:00 Claude Marchard Dancers.
9:15 “The Rodeo,” Madison Square Garden.
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 “Face to Face,” with cartoonist Bob Dunn, sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea.
8:15 “Geographically Speaking” with Mrs. Carveth Wells, sponsored by Minit-Rub/Trushay.
8:20 “Magic in the Air,” featuring Russell Swann (debut).
8:45 “Telescope”: Film “The 49th State.”
9:00 Television Theater presents: “Lights Out: The Brave Man With a Cord.”
Shorty
Reviewed Sunday (13), 8:30-8:45 p.m. Style—Cartoons. Produced by Doherty, Clifford & Shenfield. Sponsored by Bristol-Myers over WCBW (CBS), New York.
In spite of cartoonist Syd Hoff's humorous line of patter while drawing his character, Shorty, poor direction and not enough variety in camera shots made for a dullish show. Also featured was Patty Foster, six-year-old radio and stage performer, who supposedly ad libbed while Hoff pattered to her as he sketched. Seg could have been jacked up considerable if Patty, a cute kid, had been in view more often and had better lines. Instead, Director Phil Booth passed her by completely, except for an occasional cutaway shot. In order to maintain pace, Hoff also used prepared sketches.
Ipana film commercial at beginning was the usual tooth paste stuff showing a gal with a toothy smile. In this case, film was cut so badly that only part of the copy could be read. Tail-commercial, which was good, had Shorty plugging the tooth paste. With a lot of brushing up seg could be developed into a good show that would please adults and tickle the kids. (Billboard, Oct. 26)
Sports Almanac
Reviewed Sunday (13), 8:45-9 p.m. Produced by Doherty, Clifford & Shenfield. Sponsored by Bristol-Myers over WCBW (CBS), New York.
Only good part in this show, which features sportscaster Bob Edge as background narrator on sport-films, was the commercial. On film it used fade-in shots of what the well-groomed Vitalis man should look like, a shot of Edge and a revolving glass shelf loaded with hair goo. In this particular show, Edge gave a spiel on the relative merits of guns used in hunting, followed by a film on duck-hunting. It was not only old but badly edited.
Edge is a good commentator and knows his stuff when it comes to sports, but needs material that flows smoothly. Entire production seemed to be a waste of the viewer's time. Director was Phil Booth. (Billboard, Oct. 26)
Monday, October 14
WNBT Channel 4
7:50 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
8:00 Televues.
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30-11:00 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Holman Williams vs. Sam Baroudi
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and Test Pattern
8:00 Film:
“Shadows Over Shanghai” with James Dunn (Fine Arts, 1938).
9:00-11:00 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
How To Make a Life Mask
Reviewed Monday (14), 9-9:45 p.m. Style—Demonstration. Sustaining over W6XAO (Don Lee), Hollywood.
Even assuming that there are enough home video focusers to be interested in the technicalities of making a life mask, this seg would fail to satisfy discriminate viewers. Chief trouble was that lensers failed to pick up enough action shots in a rather stagnant setting. Presented by high school students and instructors, idea was to demonstrate actual processes involved in creating a life mask. Demonstration was handled fairly well by art teacher Clara Banta, working on a willing, if not comfortable, subject who withstood the distress of having plaster applied to face for nearly half an hour.
Over-long sequence could easily have been brightened by interesting camera work. Lensers missed excellent chances to dolly in for close-ups of plaster being applied to face or showing full-camera shots of the gooey stuff being worked into victim's face. Instead cameramen settled for medium close-ups which after a few moments became static and dull. Occasional long shots brought out little or no detail.
So-called educational features such as this one can be made interesting and even entertaining. A little resource and imagination would have done the trick. Amateur talent is at best unsatisfactory and the only way tyro Thesps can put on a good show is with a shot in the arm from the boys in the control booth and those behind the view finders. Sometimes, however, it seems that those who guide production and programing fail to do the obvious—and the end result is far from acceptable. Don Lee could—and should—have done better with this stanza. (Billboard, Oct. 26)
Tuesday, October 15
WNBT Channel 2
8:00 Film of President Truman’s talk on meat and stabilization problems.
8:30 Feature film.
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous news, music, test pattern.
8:00 “Play the Game,” charades with Harvey Zorbaugh, sponsored by Alexander Stores.
8:30 Film short.
9:00 “Serving Through Science,” sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
Wednesday, October 16
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 Film shorts.
8:15 Feature film.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and test pattern (to 5).
8:00 “The Magic Carpet” by Bud Gamble, sponsored by Alexander Smith Carpets.
8:15 Talk on plastics.
8:45 Film short.
9:00 Dramatic Serial: “Faraway Hill.”
9:30 Boxing at Jamaica Arena. Tony De Rosa vs. Norman Rubio, eight rounds.
Thursday, October 17
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Milo Boulton, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “Judge For Yourself,” court trial re-creation
9:00 “Rodeo” from Madison Square Garden.
WNBT Channel 4
7:50 Esso Television Reporter, newsreel compiled by Paul Alley.
8:00 “Hour Glass,” variety with Helen Parrish sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea/Chase and Sanborn Coffee.
9:00 “American Business on Parade: The Doorway to Happiness.”
9:10 Famous Fight film.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 Continuous news and music.
8:00 “John Robert Powers Charm School,” sponsored by clients of Chernow agency.
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 “Cash and Carry,” game show with Dennis James.
RODEO
With Win Elliott, Johnny Faulk, announcers
Producer: Herbert Bayard Swope, Jr.
120 Mins.; Thurs. (17), 9 p.m.
Sustaining
WCBW-CBS, N. Y.
CBS took its new Image Orthicon cameras into Madison Sq. Garden, N. Y., several weeks ago to pick up the rodeo as the first in the series of Garden events to be sponsored by Ford during the coming winter. Ford's schedule calls for only about three remotes a week, however, and on interim nights, CBS goes into the Garden on a sustaining basis. Rodeo telecast last Thursday (17) night was rung in at the last minute as a replacement for the Society of Amateur Chefs show, which was postponed because CBS programming chiefs reportedly didn't consider it ready yet.
With several previous rodeo telecasts under its belt, consequently, the WCBW staff now has its coverage of the various events down almost to perfection. Two cameras used give both a longshot and closeup view and producer Herbert Bayard Swope, Jr., knows when to cut from one to the other for best results. On the bulldogging events, for instance, Swope used his longshot camera to follow the rider and calf out of the pen, cutting to a closeup shot as soon as the calf was roped. Supersensitive I.O. camera penetrated the lighting of the Garden to such an extent that viewers could almost see the bristles on the calf's back.
Novel announcing combo of Win Elliott, a ringer from the radio waves, and Johnny Faulk, who also had his own radio show on CBS last summer, added much to the telecast's color. Byplay between the two, with Elliott's staid Bostonian accent and Faulk's slow Texas drawl, was pleasing to the ears. Elliott handled the straight reporting, with Faulk coming in to point up significant facts to each event that are little-known to the eastern viewers.
CBS cut in on the rodeo at just the point where star Gene Autry was putting his trick horse, Champion, through its paces. Autry works to the music of a group of live musicians, which have been banned from tele, but the music came in clearly over the video mikes. As one CBS rep put it, the broadcaster can't help it if there happens to be an orchestra playing in the same arena.
In toto, the rodeo makes for good tele entertainment and the public desiring to see it that way can certainly save themselves a lot of pushing around from the capacity crowds the cowboys are drawing to the Garden nightly. Stal. (Variety, Oct. 23)
Harry Hermann, J. Walter Thompson producer, pulled a novel stunt in the Standard Brands' "Hour Glass" show over WNBT (NBC, N. Y.) last Thursday (17) night.
Spotting gagwriter Leo ("Ukie") Sherin and comic Danny Webb in a hoked-up magic act, Herrmann had Webb make Sherin "disappear" right in front of the audience. Stunt was probably effected by training a separate camera on each of the comics and then merely dissolving "Ukie" out slowly, while holding Webb on the screen. It was well done and offered a good example of something tele can do on the spot that can only be done in the laboratories for motion pictures.
"Hour Glass," which received a TBA award as the most entertaining tele program on the air today, certainly merits that distinction. Show gets better every week, as the agency and network staffers collaborate on sinking more production effort into it. Emcee Helen Parrish is probably as well known to tele audiences today as the top radio stars to radio listeners. (Variety, Oct. 23)
Wrestling Matches
Reviewed Thursday (17), 9-9:30 p.m. Style—Wrestling. Sustaining W6XYZ (Paramount), Hollywood.
Lensers went into high gear for this one, giving home viewers a better-than-ringside peek at outlet's studio staged grunt 'n' groan matches. Panning was well-handled, following muscle-men with smooth sweeps, yet keeping subjects centered at all times. Plenty of close-ups with an eye toward an occasional good angle shot, added to pit's interest. Altho pro wrestlers got a little corny at times with their screams and anguished faces, seg still packed plenty of eye-pull, combining action with rough-house comedy. Idea of studio audience chiming in with boos and cheers, gave seg added realistic flavor.
Michael Roy as announcer did well in calling the holds and providing participants' background info. Gordon Wright in the control room handled cutting from one camera to the other with good judgment, bringing in close-up shots when they meant the most. (Billboard, Oct. 26)
FCC decision: The Associated Broadcasters Inc., San Francisco, Calif. [owners of KSFO radio]-Granted CP for a new station; [KPIX] Channel (No. 5), 76-82 mc; visual power-23.6 kw, aural 12.6 kw; antenna 583 feet, on top of Mark Hopkins Hotel; main studio to be located in Mark Hopkins Hotel.(Broadcasting, Oct. 28)
FCC upon request of Television Broadcasters Assn., [on Oct. 17] waived until Dec. 31, Sec. 3.661(a) of the Commission's rules requiring video stations to broadcast 28 hours weekly. Present waiver expires Oct. 31. Simultaneously, the Commission denied a Television Productions Inc. request to waive requirements of Rule 4.182, with respect to making charges by experimental television stations. (Broadcasting, Oct. 28)
Friday, October 18
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 “Television Quarterback,” Talk with Lou Little, sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
8:15 “For You and Yours,” variety.
8:45 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
9:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports: Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena, Johnny Dell vs. Lulu Costantino.
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous News, music.
8:00 American Theatre Wing.
8:30 Film Shorts.
HOWARD HUGHES last week [18] petitioned FCC for permission to withdraw applications for Los Angeles television and FM stations, and it was reported that he planned to give up a conditional grant for a Class B FM station at San Mateo and drop his application for a San Francisco video station.
Informed sources said the San Francisco dropouts were "probable" but would not confirm them" at this time."
Withdrawal of Mr. Hughes' Los Angeles applications evens the
number of applicants seeking both FM and television stations in that city: Seven video applicants for seven available channels and four-teen applicants for 14 FM assignments. (Broadcasting, Oct. 28)
Saturday, October 19
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 Feature Edition news with James McMullin (last show of series).
8:45 “King’s Party Line” with John Reed King.
WNBT Channel 4
1:45 Football at Mitchie Stadium, West Point, Columbia vs. Army, Caswell Adams play-by-play, sponsored by Goodyear Tire.
WABD Channel 5
8:30 Football at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn, sponsored by Ford.
Sunday, October 20
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 News with Tom O’Connor.
8:30 “Shorty,” cartoon show with Syd Hoff and guest Patty Foster, sponsored by Ipana toothpaste.
8:45 “Sports Almanac” with Bob Edge, sponsored by Vitalis.
9:00 “The Rodeo,” Madison Square Garden.
WNBT Channel 4
2:00 Football at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Chicago Cardinals.
8:00 “Face to Face,” with cartoonist Bob Dunn, sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea.
8:15 “Geographically Speaking” with Mrs. Carveth Wells, sponsored by Minit-Rub/Trushay.
8:20 “Magic in the Air,” featuring Russell Swann.
8:45 News film.”
9:00 Television Theater presents: “The Black Alibi.”
Detroit, Oct. 22. Detroit's first demonstration of television was postponed a day and then held only after WWJ (NBC) chartered a special two-motored plane. The demonstration at the Postwar Products Convention in Convention Hall was originally scheduled Oct. 19-27 but opened next day (20). (Variety, Oct. 23)
Monday, October 21
WNBT Channel 4
7:50 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
8:00 Films of S.S. Queen Elizabeth en route to New York.
8:30-11:00 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Johnny Colan vs. Billy Grant, light heavyweight, 10 rounds.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and Test Pattern
8:00 Film:
“Long Shot” with Gordon Jones and Marsha Hunt (Fine Arts, 1938).
9:00-11:00 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
Tuesday, October 22
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous news, music, test pattern.
8:00 “Play the Game,” charades with Harvey Zorbaugh, sponsored by Alexander Stores.
8:30 Film: “Billy the Kid’s Smoking Guns” with Buster Crabbe and Fuzzy St. John (PRC, 1942).
9:00 Play: “Sugar and Spice.”
Wednesday, October 23
WCBW Channel 2
3:30-5:00 Pickup From UN General Assembly.
WNBT Channel 4
3:15-5:00 Pickup From UN General Assembly.
8:00 Film shorts.
8:15 Feature film.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and test pattern (to 5).
8:00 Talk on designing with Dorothy.
8:30 Film short.
9:00 Dramatic Serial: “Faraway Hill.”
9:30 Boxing at Jamaica Arena. Julie Bort vs. Augie LaPara.
Object of the "sneak" opening was to get an actual television show on the air during the exposition, even tho nothing more than the exposition demonstration had been promised. Idea was kept carefully under wraps until Wednesday morning, with even some of the participants completely in the dark until that morning.
First day's program relied heavily on News and WWJ talent, including a string of columnists and commentators, plus Mayor Jeffries, Ex-Gov. Murray D. Van Wagoner and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
Detroit has an estimated 30 receivers. (Billboard, Nov. 2)
Thursday, October 24
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Milo Boulton, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “There Ought to Be a Law,” discussion with high school students.
9:00 “See What You Know,” quiz show with John Reed King.
WNBT Channel 4
11:00 a.m.-1:30 U.N. General Assembly (again 3:00-7:00)
7:50 Esso Television Reporter, newsreel compiled by Paul Alley.
8:00 “Hour Glass,” variety with Helen Parrish sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea/Chase and Sanborn Coffee.
9:00 “American Business on Parade: The Doorway to Happiness.”
9:10 Famous Fight film.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 Continuous news and music.
8:00 “John Robert Powers Charm School,” sponsored by clients of Chernow agency.
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 “Cash and Carry,” game show with Dennis James.
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Producer: William Garden
150 Mins.; Thursday (24), 11 a.m.
Sustaining
WNBT-NBC, N.Y.
Television's getting a chance to demonstrate its true worth as an honest reporter of news events via coverage of the United Nations General Assembly.
Tele's most valuable contribution to culture and establishment of world peace supposedly lies in its ability to depict things when and how they happen, thereby overcoming the foreign language barriers experienced in radio. If coverage of the UN meetings is any indication, video has a unique role ahead, which will point up the slogan of "Uniting All Nations." banner of both the TBA and UN.
NBC was on the air for almost three hours at the opening day's ceremonies Wednesday (23) at the old World's Fair grounds at Flushing, N. Y., .with five Image Orthicon cameras. (CBS was also out there with two I. O.'s on opening day.) Viewers were brought interviews with delegates and visiting celebs, as handled by Ben Grauer, and were then given President Truman's speech in its entirety.
On Thursday and Friday. NBC used two I.O.'s to bring viewers pictures of the assembly's proceedings, witii Ben Grauer again doing the announcing. WNBT, the web's N. Y. tele outlet, was on the air from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m. on both days. Radio, of course, could have done just as good a job of presenting the speeches. Tele added to that job, however, by showing the other delegates' reactions as they listened in.
In one spot, for instance, during Sec. Gen. Trygve Lie's welcoming address. NBC producer Bill Garden swung his cameras away from the speaker down to the audience. Vyacheslav Molotov and Andrei Gromyko were diligently following a Russian translation of Lie's speech. Another member of the Russian delegation, however, was diligently filing his fingernails. Moral to this is anybody's guess, but it spotlights tele's all-discerning eye—something that politicians in the future will have to contend with before attempting to pull any wool over the collective eyes of the public.
Cost of setting up the relay link between Flushing and their N. Y. transmitters was borne entirely by NBC and CBS. Two webs deserve a nod for helping break in tele's public service benefits. Stal. (Variety, Oct. 30)
Cash and Carry
Reviewed Thursday (24), 9-9:30 p.m. Style— Audience-listener participation. Produced by Carr & Stark Productions. Sustaining over WABD (DuMont), New York.
Fast-gabbing Dennis James, program emsee, does a good job of pitc ing a show that's full of laughs and zany gimmicks which makes for good scanning. Participants, selected from the audience, vie for prizes by enacting silly stunts. They also try for a cash grand prize award by attempting to guess what's hidden under a barrel on the set. Since almost anything can be hidden under a barrel, it's next to impossible for contestants to guess correctly what's under the barrel and consequently prize money is added to the following week's award.
In this show, object under barrel was a lemon—the fruit, that is. Home viewers are also asked to guess barrel contents by phoning studio. In this particular show, James picked contestants who were really good and co-operated so fully that it almost appeared as tho they were plants—which they might have been. At any rate, contestants were completely at ease and added a lot to the program with their fast gags and gimmicks. Highlight of show was male contestant who pantomimed a woman undressing to take a bath.
Other gimmicks included blind-folded gals trying to feed partner-contestant ice cream and slinging cream–puffs—Mack Sennett style. Guest artist on show was telegenic Miss New Yorker of 1946.
With concentrated action on stage, cameras were able to do a good job of getting plenty of variety shots and at the same time not slice off participants. Altho show is not top video fare, it's not bad and is worth a half-hour scanning period. Charles Stark directs. (Billboard, Nov. 2)
Friday, October 25
WCBW Channel 2
8:25-10:00 Football at Ebbets Field, Dodgers vs. Miami Sea Hawks, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4
11:00 a.m.-1:30 U.N. General Assembly (again 3:00-7:00)
8:00 “Television Quarterback” Grantland Rice, sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
8:15 “For You and Yours,” variety.
8:45 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
9:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports: Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena, Billy Graham vs. Doll Rafferty.
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous News, music.
8:00 Western Film: “Billy the Kid Wanted” with Buster Crabbe (PRC, 1941).
9:00 Wrestling at Jamaica Arena.
Saturday, October 26
WCBW Channel 2
7:30 “King’s Party Line” with John Reed King.
8:00 “Saturday Revue” with Jean Sablon (debut).
8:30 Feature Film.
WNBT Channel 4
1:45 Football at the Polo Grounds, Army vs. Duke, sponsored by Goodyear.
Saturday Revue
Reviewed Saturday (26), 8-8:30 p.m. Style—Variety. Sustaining over WCBW (CBS) New York.
Paul Belanger's show starts off with a Continental atmosphere and winds up as a Wild West show, with a fashion stint thrown in for good measure. Saturday Revue has a little bit of everything but most of it is bad. Show opens with a newscast, which did everything but put the viewer into the proper frame of mind for a snappy revue. Program was done in vaude style.
Jean Sablon's entrance after the newscast was made so fast that viewer had barely time to appreciate his appearance. Since there was some delay before he began to sing, he just stood still and grinned like a moon-struck cow. His songs were well done, however, but when it comes to being video-wise, Sablon makes better listening than viewing.
Gal terper followed, while another fem, off-stage, sang. Stint was nothing to get excited about. Belanger tried a number of superimposed shots during the show, but for some reason they didn't click. A couple of trick rope spinners, Berrwick and Brady, were next, but they too were lost because there were too many close-ups and rope tricks were missed. Ended up by chasing 10 cowgals, who suddenly popped onto the set.
Next in line was a dull fashion preview which seemed out of place. Emsee Martha Percilla is easy on the eyes but her voice fell flat and made the stint hard to watch. Mike-booms also missed much of her gab. The fashion stint, entirely too long, could have been jacked up considerably if gal with good voice had been used and if there had been some back- ground music.
Dance team of Ellsworth and Fairchild was fairly good, but again Belanger missed by allowing them to dance out of camera range. Production finished off with plugs and tip- offs -on current Broadway legits and night clubs.
Belanger is a good director and has done some fine work, as evidenced by his winning one of the TBA awards recently, but he missed the boat completely in this production. Show needs a lot of working over before viewers will stay home on Saturday nights to see what is supposed to be a good revue.(Billboard, Nov. 9
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.–Video receivers are beginning to move into the American home at a rapid clip, with 3,242 sets produced last month as against a total of 225 for the previous eight months of 1946, Radio Manufacturers' Association declared this week. (Billboard, Nov. 2)
Sunday, October 27
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 News with Tom O’Connor.
8:30 “Shorty,” cartoon show with Syd Hoff and guest Patty Foster, sponsored by Ipana toothpaste.
8:45 “Sports Almanac” with Bob Edge, sponsored by Vitalis.
9:00 “The Rodeo,” Madison Square Garden.
WNBT Channel 4
2:00 Football at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Chicago Bears.
8:00 “Face to Face,” with cartoonist Bob Dunn, sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea.
8:15 “Geographically Speaking” with Mrs. Carveth Wells, sponsored by Minit-Rub/Trushay.
8:30 Sunday News film.
9:00 Television Theater presents: “The Black Alibi” Part 2.
Dons Vs. Yankees
Reviewed Sunday (27) 2:15-5 p.m. Style—Football remote. Sustaining over W6XYZ (Paramount), Hollywood.
Remote-minded Paramount gave home viewers an exciting tele treat with this scanning of the grid tiff between the Los Angeles Dons and New York Yankees, area's first pig-skin pick-up. Lensers shot from the 50-yard line with two side-by-side cameras located halfway up the grandstand. From this vantage point, lads could easily cover the field, taking in plays with smooth and steady sweeps. Boys were on their toes thruout, turning in a fine example of tele -eye wielding. Director Klaus Landsberg was paid off in full measure for having his cameramen attend recent football games played here, so that they could study grid clashes from the lenser's angle.
Outlet got a tough break from the weatherman. Despite efforts by the chamber of commerce, the California sky was heavily overcast with black clouds, cutting down light to the minimum. Armed only with Ikes (Image orthicons have as yet to bless Coast tele), outlet was forced by insufficient light to work sans tele-photo lenses. For the most part, pic quality was good. Ball was visable when on the ground, yard markers could be read easily and action was distinguishable until growing darkness forced cameras to fadeout the latter part of the fourth quarter.
Patter chores were adequately handled with Michael Roy, calling plays, and Keith Heatherington for in-between-quarter gabbing. Roy had little to say, sticking only to naming gridmen, replacements, etc., obviously banking on pic to do the rest. While danger of overdescription exists, interpretation of football strategy would have added to scanning's enjoyment. Heatherington went to the other extreme, describing events that were clearly visible on the screen. Crowd mike also would have helped.
All in all, tho, seg was top eye material and a definite tele booster. Above mentioned
, but im- portant, details should clear up after tele crew gets a little more football under its belt. Considerable credit should go to outlet for its current remote spree. Taking cameras out into the football stadium gets public tele minded, shows 'em the airpic medium is here and indicates type of program coverage possible. (Billboard, Nov. 9)
Monday, October 28
WNBT Channel 4
7:50 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
8:00 “Televues.”
8:15 N.Y. Herald Tribune Current Problems Forum.
10:00-11:00 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Johnny Greco vs. Tony Pellone, heavyweight, ten rounds.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and Test Pattern
8:00 Film:
“Men of San Quentin” (PRC, 1942).
9:00-11:00 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE FORUM
With Radcliffe Hall, announcer
Producer: Noel Jordan
105 Mins.; Mon. (28), 8:15 p.m.
Sustaining
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
After giving yeoman service on coverage of the United Nations sessions at Lake Success last week, NBC television turned its cameras this week on the N. Y. Herald Tribune annual forum on current problems from the Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y. for another public service show. WNBT, the web's N. Y. tele outlet, covered the forum Monday (28) night, Tuesday afternoon and evening, and will repeat with the final session tonight (Wednesday).
As with the UN coverage, the speeches could have been carried just as effectively by radio, but NBC takes full advantage of tele's sight factors to perk up viewer interest. Video viewers undoubtedly got more out of the speech delivered at the opening night's session of the forum by Prof. Robert Gardiner, a native of Africa, for instance, than did radio listeners by being able to watch the colorful Gardiner in action. Producer Noel Jordan also panned his cameras around the Wadorf ballroom during the speeches to show the attendees as they listened.
NBC used two Image Orthicons for the show, which brought in clear, sharp images, despite the only normal lighting of the room. Camera range was limited to three views, including a long shot, a medium closeup, and a closeup. Long shot wasn't very effective, since the images lost clarity when the cameras had too much territory to cover. Best shot, of course, was the closeup of the speaker's face.
Announcer Radcliffe Hall, with his deep, sonorous voice, added to the dignity of the proceedings with his introduction and side remarks on each speaker. Stal. (Variety, Oct. 30)
Tuesday, October 29
WNBT Channel 4
2:00-5:00 Herald Tribune Forum.
8:00 Herald Tribune Forum.
WABD Channel 5
3:00-5:00 Continuous news, music, test pattern.
8:00 “Play the Game,” charades with Harvey Zorbaugh, sponsored by Alexander Stores.
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 “Serving Through Science,” sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
Playing the Game
Reviewed Tuesday (29) 8-8:30 p.m. Style—Charades with home-viewer participation. Sponsored by Alexander's Department Store, New York, thru Chernow Advertising Agency, and produced by the American Broadcasting Company over WARD (DuMont), New York.
Richard Goggin, ABC video director, and Harvey Zorbaugh, originator and emsee of this show, came thru with an offering that was not only interesting but a lot of fun to watch. Playing the Game has been developed into a good all-round program that doesn't allow time for boredom. Charades used were fairly easy, giving viewer more than an even chance to win a $5 award by calling studio with correct answer.
Format consisted of five permanent guests and one guest star who pantomimed various song and book titles, poetry or quotations from books. Since some of the participants really let their hair down, many of the charades were screamingly funny.
Guest was Jinx Falkenburg. Permanent participants, in addition to Zorbaugh, included Charlotte Adams, food editor of Associated Press; Willard Mullin, sports cartoonist of New York World-Telegram; Irene Wicker, radio singer; Victor Hammer, art gallery prexy, and Alan Chidsey, book designer.
Alexander commercial was presented abruptly and so caught viewers completely off guard. It wasn't offensive, however. Plug had a young couple in the process of setting up housekeeping, with the wife telling the husband about the "wonderful bargains at Alexander's." (Billboard, Nov. 9)
Wednesday, October 30
WCBW Channel 2
3:00 Hockey at Madison Square Garden, Rangers vs. Boston.
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 Fourth N.Y. Herald Tribune Forum.
WABD Channel 5
3:00 News, music and test pattern (to 5).
8:00 “Tonight, Fair and Warmer,” comedy sketch with Jerry Colonna and Wendell Niles, sponsored by Westinghouse (debut).
8:30 Film short.
9:00 Dramatic Serial: “Faraway Hill.”
9:30 Boxing at Jamaica Arena. Jimmy Carollo vs. Cliff Koerkle, heavyweights, eight rounds.
Announcer Win Elliott has been signed to do the play-by-play on all hockey games telecast from Madison Sq. Garden, N. Y., this Winter by WCBW (CBS, N. Y.). Hockey series, to be sponsored by Ford Motors, tees off with the N. Y. Rangers-Boston Bruins clash next Wednesday (30).
Elliott, announcer for the "County Fair" show on the CBS radio net, is an old hand at hockey. He played the game as an undergrad at the Univ. of Michigan and later described hockey to radio listeners in Boston, Baltimore and Washington. (Variety, Oct. 23)
Tonight, Fair and Warmer
Reviewed Wednesday (30), 8-8:30 p.m. Style—Comedy skit. Sponsored by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company thru McCann-Erickson, New York, over WABD (DuMont), New York.
For a show that was backed to the tune of $4,000, this was a pretty bad job. Practically every rule for good video was violated. There was no talent value, scanning didn't measure up, and technique was that of a radio show, not a visual program. Reason may have been that the director was changed at the last minute or that the entire show hung on Jerry Colonna, who backed out after a dry-run rehearsal reportedly because his part was too small and in pantomime.
Production itself was ambitious. Six full sets, four model sets, short film sequences and slides were used. Program was a legit producer's dream or a Hays' office nightmare; practically every scene included a bed—with someone either getting in or out or bed. Even a colonial-day bundling bed scene was used.
Skit, written by Bill Vance, of McCann-Erickson, traced the development of household heating from prehistoric days to the present. Entire production looked like one long over-done commercial—which, in effect, it was. Commercial tie-in was promotion of Westinghouse's Electric Heating Blanket.
Wendell Niles was background narrator. Cast included Arthur Page, Phil Kramer, Gil Mack, Tom Ewell, Patricia Kelly, Mary Cooper, Johny Gibson and Melville Galliart, Page replacing Colonna. (Billboard, Nov. 9)
NEW YORK, Nov. 2.—Jerry Colonna backed out of Tonight, Fair and Warmer on WABD, DuMont video station, Wednesday night (30), a few hours before show was skedded to go on the air. According to spokesman connected with program, Colonna blew after rehearsal because his part was too small and was to have been done in pantomime. Four-grand Westinghouse sponsored production used Arthur Page, burly actor, in Colonna's place. Colonna was to have worked cuffo.
Another last-minute mishap in production was sudden switching of director just before show time. Russ Johnston, vice-president in charge of television for McCann-Erickson, Westinghouse agency, was reported to have called a DuMont official after the afternoon rehearsal demanding , that Lou Sposa, DuMont director and program head, replace Bill Vance as director of show. Vance scripted the production. Consequently, Sposa took over director's chores. (Billboard, Nov. 9
Opening of the National Horse Show at Madison Sq. Garden. N. Y., next Monday (4) night will be televised by WCBW (CBS, N. Y.) as part of the "Ford Parade of Stars" series. Jack Cramer, radio writer and author, of several articles on horses for various mags, is slated to announce the show, with Lucy Cochrane, w.k. society horsewoman, covering the women's angle.
With Ford deciding to sponsor only the first night. WCBW will also carry the show on Friday (8) night on a sustaining basis. Bob Edge, CBS television's director of sports and special events, produces. (Variety, Oct. 30)
NEW YORK.—RCA's demonstration of electronically produced color television at Princeton Wednesday (30) officially joined the long due battle over color tele standards. Battle to the end is now foreseen between black-and-whiters and RCA on one side, and CBS on the other, with the main joust centering on electronic versus mechanical systems. Considering the RCA dem as Round 1, Round 2 may be expected December 9 when the FCC opens its long-awaited tele hearings.
Color slide video camera used in the RCA demonstration produces signals from 35 mm. Kodachrome slides. Transmission of the picture on the slide is achieved when a light beam from a kinescope is focused thru the slide and separated into component colors by mirrors " and photo-electric cells.
Each of the three transmitted images—red, blue and green—is of the same number of lines; that is, 525; also the same horizontal scanning rate and the same picture repetition rate of 30 pictures 4, second as in present commercial television.
Receiving set is equipped with three three-inch kinescopes which separately receive the red blue and green signals which are optically combined into one colored composite picture on a 15 by 20-inch screen. When seen, picture appeared free of flickers, color fringes and break-up of color. (Billboard, Nov. 9)
Thursday, October 31
WCBW Channel 2
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Milo Boulton, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “Judge For Yourself: The Case of the Poisoned Powder.”
8:50 Feature film.
WNBT Channel 4
7:50 Esso Television Reporter, newsreel compiled by Paul Alley.
8:00 “Hour Glass,” variety with Helen Parrish sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea/Chase and Sanborn Coffee.
9:00 Children’s Halloween Party.
9:30 Film: “Rodeo Rhythm” with Fred Scott (PRC, 1942).
WABD Channel 5
3:00 Continuous news and music.
8:00 “Charm School.”
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 “Cash and Carry,” game show with Dennis James.
After viewing the Hour Glass program on WNBT (NBC) one can easily see why the Television Broadcasters' Association selected show as the best entertainment program of the year. There have been relatively few shows, if any, to measure up to the standards of the weekly half-hour show sponsored by Standard Brands thru J. Walter Thompson.
Thursday's show (31) had a top-talent lineup which featured Joey Faye and Pat Rooney. Also in the vaudeville-style bill were Del Casino, Sid Stone, Roberta and Aida, Betty Leonard, the Four Cantons, Jack Mann, James D. Meglio, Mike Kennedy, Dr. and Mrs. Weiss and a line of pretty chorus chorus girls.
It was a short and snappy show, well put together and with some excellent camera shots. With Joey Faye terping with the chorus girls and showing yesteryear hoof-steps, one couldn't help being reminded of the good old days of vaude. This kind of a show will easily find itself among top programs in video. Helen Parish, as usual, did a good job of emseeing and introducing the acts. She's a natural for scanning. Show was produced by Ronald Oxford and A. Protzman was technical director. Bob Wade handled the scenery. (Billboard, Nov. 9)
Minor Operation
Reviewed Thursday (31), 8-8:15 p.m. Style—Juvenile audience participation. Sustaining on WBKB, Chicago.
Even tho an inexpensive simple telecast, this show was much better than many more expensive segs presented on WBKB. It was good because it had human-interest, naturalness and an air of spontaniety [sic] that cemented interest. Cast consisted of one professional radio actor and Announcer George Menard, and about 10 children between the ages of 6 and 9. Reason program had top quality was because the children, with their honest, frank and sincere answers to questions about how they were going to spend a safe and sane Halloween, had more appeal than self-conscious actors who over-try and thus become hamy. [sic] This is not an implication that Menard wasn't good; he, too, did a top job.
Program was the first in a new series produced and directed by Pauline Bobrov, in which grade school children of the Gary, Ind., public school system will discuss current topics. Programs on subsequent weeks will deal with such sub- jects as elections, housing and the high cost of living.
Remarkable way in which the kids are able to apply straight-to-the-point logic to problems and not get themselves lost on extraneous mental paths is one reason rest of series can be expected to be as good as the first show.
Format was simple. There were only two scenes. Program opened with the kids having a Halloween party, which was interrupted by Menard as a hypothetical teacher who got them to leave to return to school. Second scene was in school room, where the kids answered the safe-and-sane questions.
A promising, more than satisfying tele series. (Billboard, Nov. 9)
Smog Control
Reviewed Thursday (31), 8:45-9 p.m. Style—Interview and demonstration. Sustaining over W6XYZ (Paramount), Hollywood.
Paramount hit on a timely topic in this public service seg. Currently hogging space in the local newspapers, town's smog problem was presented in an interesting manner. Problem, its cause and effects, was brought home in a commentary illustrated with filmslide scenes of hazy skies, etc.
What is being done to combat this was explained in interview and demonstration form, with Jack Latham firing questions at two health department reps. Graphs were shown as well as lab tests for checking polluted air What could be a dull topic was made interesting by Latham's informal manner, plus "here's how" technique used in demonstrations. Not-too-difficult lensing chores were handled smoothly. (Billboard, Nov. 9)
The first program consisted of a biological survey picture, “The Cougar Hunt,” which was followed the week of March 16 by “She’s Wild,” a film sponsored by the Forest Service, showing cowboys of Western cattle ranges in a rodeo. It proved especially popular judging from letters received at the Jenkins Laboratory, going through particularly well because it had large images, photographic contrast, and plenty of movement, three essential requirements of motion pictures that are “sliced” for radiovision broadcasts, according to engineers.
