An old station and a new station signed on the air in the first half of March 1947.
The old station was WABD, the DuMont station in New York. It had erected a new antenna and returned to the air after an absence of about six weeks.
The new station was WWDT, owned by the Detroit News. There’s little information about it under those call-letters. Tim Kiska’s book A Newscast For the Masses, The History of Detroit Television News (Wayne State University Press, 2009) reveals how there was an experimental, three-hour show on October 23, 1946 where people had to wear blue make-up to be seen. The broadcast included a Red Wings/Black Hawks game that featured a discounted goal by Detroit rookie Gordie Howe.
WWDT’s inaugural show was March 4, 1947 and lasted three hours. Kiska states Dave Zimmerman did a television edition of his WWJ radio show Coffee Club without a studio audience. There’s little else available publicly about the station. There were limited transmissions and it was off the air by month’s end, returning in June as WWJ-TV.
The old concept of T-Day was dragged out to the West Coast. This was a gimmick to help stores sell radio sets. If people were hoping to see Clark Gable on their home sets, they would be disappointed. They did get a fair bit of hockey, though, and “Queen For a Day,” which eventually a good, long run on television into the 1960s.
We’ve chopped the March 1947 post in half. We now have daily listings for seven stations instead of three just a few months earlier, and more than a full broadsheet page of reviews from Billboard every week. Television continued to broadcast major current events (At least stations on the coaxial cable. Sorry, Midwest and West Coast) as President Truman addressed Congress, seeking approval for American aid for Greece and Turkey.
KSD in St. Louis sure loved Van Beuren cartoons, and aired a pile of them. Coincidentally, the film studio’s musical director, Gene Rodemich, was born in St. Louis and formed several orchestras there.
Saturday, March 1 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:00 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music.
7:45 CBS Television News.
8:00 Variety Showcase.
8:30 I.C.-4A Track Meet at Madison Square Garden, Tom Greenwald and Stan Saplin, commentators, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Income Tax Quiz.
8:20 Feature Film.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
5:00 Special program.
8:15 Basketball: Northwestern vs. Notre Dame and De Paul vs, Loyola at Chicago Stadium.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 Atlantic Refining Co. Sports. Basketball direct from U. of P. Palestra. Dartmouth College vs. University of Pennsylvania.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Recorded Music
8:30 Ice Hockey: Los Angeles Monarchs vs San Diego.
Sunday, March 2
6:30 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music.
7:15 Feature Film.
8:15 “Come Into the Kitchen,” Heloise Parker Broeg, cooking demonstration.
8:30 “Party Line” with Gil Fates, sponsored by Bristol-Myers.
9:00 Hockey at Madison Square Garden, Rangers vs. Bruins. Win Elliot, play-by-play, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 “Dancing on Air” with the Astaire dancers, sponsored by Standard Brands.
8:20 “Tele-Varieties,” sponsored by Minit Rub/Ipana toothpaste.
8:35 Film short.
8:40 Television Theatre presents “Where There’s a Will,” comedy drama with Carol Gardner, Mary Patton, Cyrille Dorn, Alexander Clark.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:30 Hockey: Blackhawks vs. Detroit, sponsored by Henry C. Lytton and Sons.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 to sign-off NBC programs.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Cartoon.
8:35 “Shopping at Home.”
8:45 News.
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” variety with host Dick Lane.
WHERE THERE'S A WILL
With Carol Goodner, Mary Patton, Cyrilla Dorn, Alexander Clark Producer-Director: Fred Coe
Writer: Lex Richards
Set: Bob Wade
25 Mins.: Sun. (2), 8:45 p.m.
Sustaining
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
Production of "Where There's a Will," new play by Lex Richards, on WNBT last Sunday (2) night, offered further evidence that television offers a near-perfect medium for the almost extinct one-acters. Running 25 minutes, "Will" was much easier to take than the full-length, three-act plays which have become WNBT's Sunday night forte. With video still operating in the red, the lower budget for a one-acter should also be a point in its favor.
Featuring a competent cast and on-the-toes production by Fred Coe, "Will" nonetheless faltered slightly because the script itself was weak. Supposedly a subtle comedy about three catty sisters fighting over some jewelry left them by their mother's will, the show was all talk and no action and, with slight alterations, would have gone much better on the all-audio radio. Tele requires more action than most video producers want to give it.
Carol Goodner, legit actress who scored recently in the preem production of Emlyn Williams' "Thinking Aloud" on WNBT, topped the cast with an excellent portrayal of the wealthy sister trying to fight off the greed of her old-maidish sister to protect the third member of the family. Mary Patton overplayed the role of the spinster. Cyrilla Dorn, as the third sister, and Alexander Clark, as the lawyer caught in the middle of the family squabble, were good.
Coe directed the actors with the light touch required for situation comedy and handled his cameras in excellent style. Bob Wade's single set of the late mother's living room was unostentatious but good. Stal. (Variety, March 5)
Monday, March 3
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Books on Trial. Rex Stout’s “How Like a God.” Simulcast from WHN.
8:30 Film: Alexander Graham Bell Birthday Tribute, with Raymond E. Johnson as Bell, Mason Adams, Taylor Holmes, Sara Anderson and Jed Prouty..
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Larry Fontana vs. Jerry Fiorello, ten rounds.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety.
8:30 Wrestling from the Midway Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
2:00 to 3:00 Philadelphia Electric Company Presents Television Matinee. “Menu of the Day,” Florence P. Hanford, home economist; “Rhythm in the Rich Manner,” Paul Rich, harmonica; short subjects; “Guest Time: New Fashions in Table Settings” by Mrs. Marian Kemp, Home Service Director, American Stores Company.
7:45 Twice Eight-eight.
8:00 to sign-off NBC programs.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis.
3:00 News and picturescast.
3:15 Film shows.
3:30 Tax Facts from the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue.
4:00 Man on the Street, conducted by Frank Eschen, sponsored by Hyde Park Breweries. 4:30 Film show: Raymond Johnson in "Mr. Bell," a dramatization of the career of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone.
7:00 Film short.
7:10 Feature film, "Heroes of the Alamo" with Bruce Warren, Ruth Findlay (1937)
8:30 Basketball game in the Arena. St. Louis Bombers vs. Providence Stags.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
6:30 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Film: "Heir To The Throne" and selected short subjects.
Tuesday, March 4
No Television in New York.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
4:00 Sport and Travel show.
7:30 “The Jordans.”
7:45 Short subjects.
8:00 Behind the Headlines.
8:15 Bob Elson’s Interviews.
8:30 Short subjects.
8:45 “Tommy Bartlett Time,” variety show.
9:00 Sports and Travel show.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:15 ABC Sports. Ice Hockey direct from Philadelphia Arena, Springfield Indians vs. Philadelphia Rockets.
3:00 News and picturescast.
3:15 Film shows; "Man Eaters" with Boris Karloff (Mascot, 1931); "College Capers" (Van Beuren, 1931); "Calling on Cairo" with Gardner Wells (Central, 1931).
4:00 Man on the Street. Frank Eschen, M.C.
4 30 Film shorts: "Crosby's Comer" (Pathe, 1930), "Fli Hi."
8 00 Style Show from the Hotel Statler.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test pattern and records.
8:30 Short Subject.
8:45 “Your Town—Inviting the Burglar.”
9:00 Wrestling Matches.
Detroit's first operating television station preemed yesterday (Tuesday) [4] with a reduced power transmission intended largely as a test of equipment. Outlet is owned by the Detroit News, which also owns radio station WWJ, and will transmit on Channel 4, as an NBC affiliate.
Video studio facilities are arranged in conjunction with the radio station and have been fully completed. Transmitter on the Penobscot Building is finished enough to transmit at reduced power. Schedule set up calls for Monday-through-Friday operation 12 hours a week, all but two devoted to test patterns with music. The live shows will be split into four segments, with a half-hour in afternoon and evening of Tuesdays and Fridays.
Station has no remote equipment ready to operate as yet. (Variety, March 5)
DETROIT.—Detroit's first television station, WWDT, made its test debut Tuesday [4], using 500–watt power. No regular sked yet, but experimental operation is slated to continue for some time. Campaign of 24 sheets promising television "this winter" is now on the billboards.
Opening broadcast presented the Coffee Club show, regularly fed to NBC by WWJ, the new station's parent station. Critics found reception "good." (Billboard, Mar. 15)
Wednesday, March 5
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:15 to 8:00 Test Pattern.
8:00 Eleventh Annual Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Madison Square Garden, Caswell Adams and Win Elliot commentators, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Film: “Batting Stars of Baseball.”
8:30 Charles R. Denny, FCC Chairman, at the Institute of Radio Engineers Dinner, Hotel Commodore.
WBKB Channel 2, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
8:30 Hockey: Blackhawks vs. Rangers, sponsored by General Mills.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
2:00 to 3:00 Philadelphia Electric Company Presents Television Matinee. “Menu of the Day,” Florence P. Hanford, home economist; “Rhythm in the Rich Manner,” Paul Rich, harmonica; short subjects; “Guest Time: New Ideas for Your Kitchen” by Mrs. Ruth Welles.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and picturescast
3:15 Dr. Lillian M. Gilbreth; Girl Scout Council Program.
3:30 Lutheran Hour Chorus, Dr. Louis J. Sieck.
4:00 Man on the Street; Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Film show: "Objective Prisoners."
8:30 Boxing Matches in Kiel Auditorium: Phil Terranova vs. Humberto Zavala, Charley Riley vs. Paulie Jackson.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Ice Hockey at the Pan Pacific Arena — Los Angeles Monarchs vs Oakland Oaks.
Highlighting television’s West Coast “T-Day,” Don Lee television station W6XAO will present three “live” and three film features to be televised Monday from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Radio will be represented by a special telecast at 4 p.m. of Mutual Don Lee’s “Queen For A Day” program, featuring emcee Jack Bailey, Fort Pearson, and the woman selected as queen on the day’s show.
From the stage of the Hollywood Theatre, the Actors’ Lab will televise “All Cultural Levels Eat Here.” Also to be shown, at 9:30 p.m., is “Rehabilitation,” an original one-act play by Glen Haley, directed by Anthony Quinn, starring Miss Sammy Hill and Bill Phipps.
Featuring the film bill lined up by film director Marjorie Campbell is the full-length musical “Hats Off.” starring John Payne. A special Telefilm sports production will be shown, along with a western, “Sundown Trail,” a cartoon and short subjects. (Hollywood Reporter, Mar. 5)
Hollywood.—Even astral television isn't safe from nature's freak-of-freaks. Lightning twice at different times struck Hollywood's television on the afternoon of March 5, temporarily silencing and darkening Paramount's KTLA, atop Mt. Wilson. The only station operating, and at that merely for dealer demons} ration in connection with "T-Day," it was however, back on the air after only a brief shutdown, demonstrating alertness and preparedness of the crew.
No damage was sustained by the transmitter. Only the power and light and telephone lines were knocked out, the latter last, when struck. The station got its auxiliary Diesel power in operation in a matter of minutes and with the aid of radio relay atop its Hollywood quarters got its image and voice to the peak, 18 miles distant. (Variety, March 12)
Chicago, March 4.—Whether it be a trend or not, a disk jockey show will be televised from ladies lounge of hotel here when Ernie Simon brings his zany disk antics before WBKB cameras from Continental hotel this week.
This marks first time Chi video takes on platter show, and the Simon method promises to be unique. Jock, who is regularly heard via WJJD, uses gimmick of breaking into vocal at certain spots by stopping turntable, "conversing" with singer, and receiving as answers next line of song. (Variety, March 5)
Du Mont, Washington’s only television broadcaster, was all set to air a basketball game recently when the equipment conked out.
An official announced to studio guests that a movie would be shown instead, and Jane Wolff, of 2301 Cathedral ave nw., groaned, “Just my luck.” She had come to watch hubbie Bob do his stuff on television.
But by some quirk of fate, the studio showed the only movie in which Bob has ever appeared. It was made so long ago Jane hadn’t even known of its existence. (Washington Post, Mar. 5)
Thursday, March 6WCBW Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:30 Test Pattern, Time, Music.
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Larry Lesueur, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “All-News York Junior High School Quiz.”
9:00 Suspense Drama: “The Case of the Futile Warning.”
9:30 From Northwest American Indian Room of the Museum of Natural History.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Hour Glass” with Eddie Mayehoff, sponsored by Tender Leaf Tea/Chase and Sanborn Coffee.
8:45 Ski News and Film short.
9:00 “You Are An Artist,” with John Gnagy.
9:15 “Income Tax Quiz” with Joseph Nunan, Jr., Collector of Internal Revenue.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” drawing show.
7:45 Songs by Carol Robbins.
8:00 Jose Castro’s dancers.”
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30 Luther Institute campaign.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
7:50 NBC programs.
9:15 “Sears Visi-Quiz.”
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:15 Brig. Gen. Charles Davidson of the Salvation Army.
3:30 Film show, "Mr. Bell."
4:00 Man on the Street; Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Film shows: "Coast Guard Academy"; "The Fly Guy" (Van Beuren, 1931)
8:30 Ice Capades, telecast from the Arena Ballroom.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 "Lest We Forget."
8:45 Western Feature Film.
NBC television broke even on its sponsor list this week, picking up Kraft for a new series of shows starting May 1 and losing Standard Brands, one of the top-spending bankrollers on tele to date. SB wound up its "Dancing On Air" show last Sunday (2) night and "Hour Glass" bows out after tomorrow (Thursday) [6] night. J. Walter Thompson agency handles both accounts. (Variety, March 5)
Friday, March 7
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
8:15 Ski News and films.
8:30 “I Love to Eat” with James Beard, sponsored by Borden’s.
8:45 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
9:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports: Boxing at Madison Square Garden, Herbie Kronowitz vs. Artie Levine, middleweight, ten rounds.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 Short subjects.
8:00 “Telequizzicalls,” sponsored by Consolidated Edison.
8:30 Red Cross program.
9:00 Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Chicago Stadium.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
2:00 to 3:00 Philadelphia Electric Company Presents Television Matinee. “Menu of the Day,” Florence P. Hanford, home economist; “Rhythm in the Rich Manner,” Paul Rich, harmonica; short subjects; “Guest Time: Tomorrow’s Gadgets Today” by Miss Paula Schuyler.
8:00 NBC program.
8:15 Video Report to America.
9:00 to sign-off NBC program.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:15 Sinbad the Sailor, the Coast Guard's dog mascot.
3:30 Tax Facts from the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue.
3:45 "Fly Hi," “Farm Foolery”(Van Beuren, 1930).
4:00 Man on the Street; Frank Eachen, m.c.
4:30 Film shorts: “The Phantom,” “Flying Dutchman.”
8:30 Wrestling matches in Kiel Auditorium, sponsored by Hyde Park Beer.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Ice Hockey (PCHL) at Pan Pacific Arena: Los Angeles Monarchs vs San Francisco Shamrocks.
Saturday, March 8 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:00 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, music.
7:45 CBS Television News.
8:00 Variety Showcase.
8:30 Knights of Columbus Track Meet at Madison Square Garden, Tom Greenwald and Win Elliot commentating, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
9:45 a.m. to 12:30 N.Y. Herald Tribune High School Forum from the Waldorf-Astoria.
1:45 to 5:00 N.Y. Herald Tribune High School Forum from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Ingrid Bergman, Sen. Irving Ives, Warren Austin, Spruille Braden, Ellis Arnall, Nelson Rockefeller, Juan Trippe, others. [Simulcast to WTTG Washington.]
8:00 Feature Film.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:45 to 5:00 NBC program.
3:00 Variety program.
8:15 Basketball: Staggs vs. Providence Steam Rollers at Chicago Stadium.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 Atlantic Refining Co. Sports. Basketball direct from U. of P. Palestra. Columbia vs. University of Pennsylvania.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Ice Hockey (PCHL) at Pan Pacific Arena: Hollywood Wolves vs San Diego Skyhawks.
Sunday, March 9
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
6:30 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music.
7:15 Feature Film.
8:15 “Cartoon News Oddities,” Lawrence Lariar with guest artist Ed Nofziger,
8:30 “Party Line” with Gil Fates, sponsored by Bristol-Myers.
9:00 Red Cross Show from Brooklyn Naval Hospital.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 “Tele-Varieties,” sponsored by Minit Rub/Ipana toothpaste.
8:30 Film short.
8:40 NBC Television Theatre Presentation: “Feathers in a Gale,” three-act comedy with William Post, Maxine Stuart, Grace Coppin, Alan Hale.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:30 Hockey: Blackhawks vs. Montreal, sponsored by Henry C. Lytton and Sons.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 NBC programs.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Cartoon.
8:35 “Shopping at Home.”
8:45 News.
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” variety with host Dick Lane.
FEATHERS IN A GALE
With Maxine Stuart, William Post, Grace Coppin, Allan Hale, Cyrilla Dorn, Ben Lackland, Ed Nannery, Barbara Townsend, others
Director: Ed Sobol
Writer: Pauline Jamerson
Sets: Bob Wade
55 Mins.; Sunday (9), 8:35 p.m.
Sustaining
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
WNBT's presentation of "Feathers in a Gale" Sunday (9) night offered unimpeachable proof of something Will Shakespeare expounded on 300 years ago—that the play's the thing and no matter how much you try to dress up a weak play with good acting, production, etc., if it goes in bad to the cameras, it will come out bad on the receiving screen .
An original three-act play by Pauline Jamerson, "Feathers" might have done okay as an amateur high school production but certainly had nothing to offer television, or any other professional medium. Tale revolved around three destitute widows in a New England fishing town of the last century, where the town laws required them to be sold into servitude to pay their debts. Situation offered possibilities for a good comedy but it emerged as a tired, hamstrung production, full of clichés and not much else.
Apparently still trying to find a way to bridge the acts in these full-length shows, the NBC production staff came up with a new idea for "Feathers"—and it was probably the worst yet. Since the play was a sea story, a male quartet garbed in what probably were supposed to resemble mariners' costumes of the last century gave out with sea ditties between the acts. First time they appeared wasn't too hard to take, but being forced to watch them at every break in the show was too much, even for a video fan hardened to all the producers' idiosyncracies.
On the credit side was the cast, with Maxine Stuart in the lead role paralleling the fine work she's done in other video shows. William Post and Allan Hale were okay in the male leads but Ed Nannery, as an old sea dog, offered a poor caricature of the role. Grace Coppin and Cyrilla Dorn also rate nods for their work as the other two widows.
Ed Sobol's production and direction was okay and Bob Wade's two sets were good.Stal. (Variety, March 12)
Monday, March 10
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Books on Trial. Simulcast from WHN.
8:30 Film shorts.
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Sanders Cox vs. Jimmy Carollo, heavyweight, 10 rounds.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety.
8:30 Wrestling from the Midway Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
2:00 to 3:00 Philadelphia Electric Company Presents Television Matinee. “Menu of the Day,” Florence P. Hanford, home economist; “Rhythm in the Rich Manner,” Paul Rich, harmonica; short subjects; “Guest Time: Home Management Hints” by Mrs. Mary McCue, director, Grace Godfrey Home Management House and Drexel Girls.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 Newscast and picturescast.
3:15 Film shorts: “Songs of the Range,” and “Jamaica.”
3:30 Income tax facts.
4:00 Man on the Street with Frank Eschen.
4:30 Test film: “State of Missouri.”
7:00 Radio Reporter.
7:15 Film short: “Story of Money."
7:30 Another Man on the Street show.
8:00 Feature Film: “Prelude to War” (OWI, 1942).
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
6:30 Test Pattern and Records.
7:30 Cartoon "Bird Scouts" (Van Beuren, 1935).
7:30 "Hats Off.”
8:45 "Rehabilitation” live drama.
9:15 Film: "Ski Wings."
9:30 Live drama, "All Cultural Levels Eat Here.”
9:45 Short Subjects (Film)
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
5:00 Film Program.
7:30 Cartoon.
7:30 Keith Hetherington.
8:00 Short Subjects.
8:15 Mystery Film.
Pastoral
Reviewed Monday (10), 9:15-9:55 p.m. Style—Drama. Sustaining over W6XAO (Don Lee), Hollywood.
Climax of a full day of T-Day programing by Don Lee was an excellent tele version of the Actors' Lab production of Pastoral. As on several past occasions, W6XAO again brought home the video potency of good drama—well presented. This was Don Lee's best effort by far, and a credit to West Coast television.
Backed by a well-written, suspenseful story, and a cast of competent thesps, outlet had but to adapt the stage play to tele and concentrate its efforts on lensing, set- tings and lighting. In all three departments station shone brightly, but it was the top-flight camera work which gave seg the mark of professional polish. Lensers roamed the sound stage at will, switching from camera to camera with skill and deliberate judgment. Never once did cameras linger too long on an established scene, nor did lensers miss any bets on composition, close-ups, or effective panning. In short, it was the flawless camera work which made the play stand-out tele fare.
Pastoral marked Actors' Lab bow into video. Legit group's tele adaptation was simple and direct, but retained all the power and force of author Glen Haley's serious theme. When an ex-G.I. (played by Bill Phipps) returns to find his wife gone to a new lover, boy broods and drinks. Despite parental pressure, there are implications that the lad may take matters into his own hands and settle things with a gun. Swift climax comes when the estranged couple and the lover meet and boy pleads in vain for his wife's return. Reconciliation having failed, lad's parents (played by William Cottrell and Maxine Tucker) save the boy from himself by some stern talk. "Sammy" Hill, as the unfaithful wife, and Charles Cooper as the other man, round out a cast of uniform excellence. Anthony Quinn's. direction and Jack Stewart's tele adaptation combine to make a smooth production. Settings by Ted Driscoll were complete to last detail, adding much to the play's effect. Companion piece on the same Lab bill was a 10-minute tele adaptation of All Cultural Levels Eat Here, currently playing at Las Palmas Theater as curtain raiser to Juno and the Paycock. Scripted by Peter De Vries and adapted by Stanley Prager, playlet proves an entertaining tele tidbit. Alan Fischler. (Billboard, Mar. 22)
Reviewed Monday (10), 4 to 4:20 p.m. Style—Interview. Sustaining over W6XAO (Don Lee), Hollywood.
Aside from the fact that this was the first videocast of a West Coast commercial air show, Don Lee's tele version of Mutual's Queen for a Day was thcroly dull and uninviting. In the shift from radio to tele, seg lost all of its spontaneity, freshness and novelty, leaving only a tired and redundant gab session.
Queen emsee Jack Bailey made a fair try at capturing the color of his daily show, but without the battery of eager contestants to interview, there was little he could do. After explaining the basic operation of the give away show (which became much too repetitious) Bailey, aided by regular announcer Ford Pearson, re-interviewed today's "queen" and went thru the motions of the "queen's coronation." Final and corniest touch was a lyric soprano warbling Always and I Love You Truly. Why this touch of gushy sentimentality was added is a mystery.
Adaptation of popular air shows to tele might work in some cases so long as originality and novelty is sustained. Human nature being what it is, home viewers can get a boot out of watching their neighbors act silly—for free gifts. When said neighbors fall victims to premeditated and rehearsed foolishness the total effect is hardly worth the effort. Alan Fischler. (Billboard, Mar. 22)
HOLLYWOOD.—KFI, local NBC affiliate, will break into the Hollywood video picture coincidental with tele's T-Day promotion beginning March 10. Outlet will devote a week to public exploitation, with free closed-circuit demonstrations of tele in operation originating from Earl[e] C. Anthony downtown showrooms.
Using two image orth cameras recently acquired, KFI will hold afternoon and evening sessions, with special off-the-air shows to be produced by the station's Ron Oxford. Added gimmick will offer visitors a chance to be televised, a la New York's Radio City tour device.
Stars lined up for the week include Jane Harvey (named local tele queen for T-Day stunts), Broadwayite Donald Buka, Faith Domergue, Mar[v]in Miller, Arthur Q. Bryan, Art Baker and Don Wilson. Sales pitch will be in the form of five new RCA receivers on display.
Promotional stunt has been preceeded [sic] by a week-long radio plug campaign, including station breaks and special spots on KFI's newscasts. (Billboard, Mar. 15)
T-Day gave an estimated half-million people here their first glance of tele, with one store alone claiming that at least 15,000 jampacked its display rooms. All the major stores put tele sets on display for the all-tele industry drive. ...
Outstanding in Paramount's T-Day fare was a field pick-up of a practice game between Chicago White Sox and Hollywood Stars, showing would-be set buyers type of material they can expect from the airpic medium. Picture quality and camera work was out of the top drawer, giving viewers a better than box-seat view of game. This, coupled with Bill Welch's smooth play-by-play voicing, made Para's pickup a surefire set peddler.
Home viewers also got a taste of tele's great selling power. Best of the day's commercials was KTLA's plug for Acme Beer. Between innings, beer bottle and glass filled the screen. Hand moves in to uncap bottle and then pours glassful. Fine close-up showed even the foam rising in the bottle as cap was removed and made many a beer-loving looker feel the need for thirst quenching. Other plugs included a Le Roy Jeweler's time signal in which camera scanned close-up of a snazzy watch. Later in the evening, tele plugged itself, showing slide views of General Electric's latest video set models, with voicer Kieth [sic] Hetherington filling in when and where they can soon be purchased.
KTLA then aired a full-length Western feature film, which points to oaters as sock afternoon stuff for kids. However, KTLA probably learned that full-length features are a little too tiring for afternoons and may be prompted to use shorter stuff. Would make terrific material if they could be serialized into 15-minute segs. (Billboard, Mar. 22
Tuesday, March 11
WCBS Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:15 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music. 8:00 to 11:00 Basketball at Madison Square Garden, N.Y.U. vs. C.C.N.Y and St John’s vs. St, Francis, sponsored by Ford.
WABD Channel 5, New York
7:30 to 8:30 Movies for Small Fry, hosted by Bob Emery.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “Looking at Life.”
7:45 Short subjects.
8:00 Behind the Headlines.
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30 “Tommy Bartlett Time,” variety show.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 Newscast and picturescast.
3:15 Film shows: "New Orleans"; "Man-One Family"; "Songs of Mother"; "Workshops of Old Mexico."
4:00 Man on the Street with Frank Eschen.
7:00 Film short.
7:15 Dean Sweet of Christ Church Cathedral.
7:30 Preview of "Operation Palette."
8:00 Feature film: Jean Hersholt and Fay Wray in "Melody for Three" (RKO, 1941)
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood.
2:00 Film Program for Television Dealers.
8:00 Tune Up Time—Test Slides—Recorded Music.
8:30 pm Hockey Championship Playoff from Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Hollywood Wolves vs. San Diego Skyhawks.
Wednesday, March 12
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
11:15 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music.
12:00 Prologue to President’s message.
1:00-1:30 President Truman Addressing Congress on the situation in the Near East.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
12:30 Prologue to President’s message.
1:00-1:30 President Truman Addressing Congress.
12:30 Prologue to President’s message.
1:00 to 1:30 President Truman Addressing Congress [Relayed from WTTG Washington].
3:00-5:00 Test Pattern.
8:30-11:00 Boxing from Jamaica Arena, Tony LaBua vs. Corky Davis.
WBKB Channel 2, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
8:30 Hockey: Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins, sponsored by General Mills.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
2:00 to 3:00 Philadelphia Electric Company Presents Television Matinee. “Menu of the Day,” Florence P. Hanford, home economist; “Rhythm in the Rich Manner,” Paul Rich, harmonica; short subjects; “Guest Time: Dolls—Past and Present” by Mrs. Frank S. Glendenning.
8:00 Atlantic Refining Co. Sports: Basketball direct from U. P. Palestra, University of Maryland vs. U. of Pennsylvania.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 Newscast and picturescast.
3:15 Film.
7:00 Film short.
7:15, Lenten Service.
7:30 Preview of "Operation Palette".
8:00 Feature film.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:15 Film shows: "Roaming the Spanish Main;" "Jungle Jam" (Van Beuren, 1931); "Office Boy" (Van Beuren, 1930).
4:00 Man on the Street with Frank Eschen.
4:30 Film Shorts: "Glamor Girl;" “Bugle from the Blue Grass” with Bill Corum (Van Beuren, 1935)
7:00 Tuning a Television Receiver.
7:10 Table tennis.
7:30 News Forum in connection with Flower Show.
8:00 Feature film: Tim McCoy in “Code of the Cactus” (Victory, 1939).
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood.
8:00 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 pm Hockey Championship Playoff from Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Los Angeles Monarchs vs Fresno Falcons.
New Borden's series on WNBT (NBC, N. Y.), tees off Sunday (16) with a one-act dramatic hsow [sic] titled "Florist Shop," in the 8:30-9 p.m. slot. Program is the first to be produced by the Kenyon & Eckhardt ad agency, after six months of Young & Rubicam productions. Borden execs are expected to judge the two series and then decide on which agency should handle the teleshows,
"Florist Shop" was selected not so much because it will make for a good tele production but because it will fit a new Borden's product, Lady Borden's Ice Cream, which is to be plugged for the first time anywhere in the show. Bruno Wick and Nydia Westman -will appear in the three-character cast, with the star yet to be. selected. "Fred Coe produces for NBC.
Next show in the series, for March 23, may be "Little Brown Jug." Psychological comedy-drama played a year ago on Broadway starring Percy Kilbride and did a quick foldo after five performances.
'Show Business, Inc."
"Show Business, Inc.," original new show devised by Warren Wade, NBC television production chief, is expected to replace the defunct "Hour Glass" on WNBT (NBC, N. Y.) in the Thursday night 8-9 slot. "Hour Glass," first bigscale commercial tele show under Standard Brands sponsorship, was pulled last week after a year on the air.
"Showbusiness" will follow a variety format, serving chiefly as a program showcase for sponsors via a trial spot for package shows. Until the show is ready, WNBT has revised its schedule to fill the Thursday night spot. Present setup includes a studio fashion show-at 8-8:15 p.m.; ski news (film), 8:15-8:20; "In Town Today" (live studio), 8:20-8:35; "What's New in N. Y." (film), 8:35-8:40; "You Are an Artist," studio show featuring John Gnagy, 8:40-9 p.m. Of the line-up, the Gnagy show is the only commercial program, sponsored by Gulf.
As a temporary filler for "Dancing on Air," another Standard Brands sponsored show, which was pulled out of the Sunday night 8-8:15 slot, WNBT has moved up Bristol-Myers' 'Tele-Varieties" and lengthened it, so it now runs from 8 to 8:20. Ten-minute film short follows, with the regular NBC theatre presentation starting at 8:30.(Variety, March 12)
Thursday, March 13
WCBW Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:30 Test Pattern, Time, Music.
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Larry Lesueur, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “All-News York Junior High School Quiz.”
9:00 Suspense Drama: “The Experiment of Dr. Bronson.”
WNBC-TV Channel 4, New York
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 Fashion Show.
8:15 Ski News.
8:20 “In Town Today.”
8:35 Film: “What’s New in New York.”
8:38 “You Are An Artist,” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf.
9:00 “Income Tax Quiz” with Charles A. Church, internal revenue agent.
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” drawing show.
7:40 Short subjects.
8:00 The Misfits.
8:15 “Cavalcade of Medicine.”
8:30 Film: “Forever Yours” with Beniamino Gigli, Joan Gardiner (UK-Grand National, 1937).
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
7:50 NBC programs.
9:00 “Sears Visi-Quiz.”
3:00 Newscast and picturescast.
3:15 Film shows: "Contrasts in China" narrated by Alois Havrilla (Van Beuren, 1933); "Singing Saps" (Van Beuren, 1930); "San Francisco."
4:00 Man on the Street with Frank Eschen.
4:30 Film show: "Royal Steeds"; "Winter Sports"; "On the Wing."
7:00 Choral concert.
7:15 St. Louis Personalities.
7:30 News in Sports with J. Roy Stockton and Harold Grams.
8:00 Art Museum program with Mrs. Betty Grossman.
8:30 Film shorts.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
12:00-2:00 Television Dealers Test Film.
8:00 Test Slides and Records.
8:30 “Your Town: Parade of Trade.”
8:45 “Lest We Forget.”
9:15 Amateur Boxing, Jeffries Barn.
NEW YORK.—In a sudden, drastic retrenchment move Thursday (13), Allen B. DuMont cut the personnel of his two video stations (WABD, New York, and WTPG [sic], Washington) from over 80 people to fewer than 25. On the exit line were General Manager Samuel H. Cuff, Commercial Manager Lou Sposa, and Mrs. J. Kennedy, who headed spot sales. Leonard Cramer, executive veepee, will assume Cuff's managerial duties.
Blow-up occured at the weekly DuMont staff meeting, shortly after Cuff's return from the University of Oklahoma Radio Conference. Dismissals were believed caused by operating expenses going far above budget allowances.
Ironic Situation
Elimination of Cuff from the DuMont picture had its ironic side, because it is known that for months he has advocated cutting the cost of broadcasting operations. Cuff set the stations' break-even period for about 1949, while DuMont himself took a more optimistic view and held that more elaborate operation would speed a balanced budget. Cuff joined DuMont four years to the day before Thursday's policy switch, leaving the NBC video department for the post.
The receiver picture has been a difficult one for DuMont during recent months. Since RCA announced its $350 10-inch screen receiver. DuMont sets of the same size, which sell for nearly $800, have been moving slowly, according to reports. Further, DuMont is said to have a large inventory of parts which makes the switch-over to lower selling models a knotty problem.
Sposa leaves his post as commercial manager after only two months. During that period, he is said to have brought about $30,000 worth of billings to the stations. Sposa and DuMont are said to have disagreed about commercial policies, with DuMont urging increased emphasis on spot ales and Sposa holding out for more program sales efforts. (Billboard, Mar. 22)
Friday, March 14
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
8:15 Ski News and films.
8:30 “I Love to Eat” with James Beard, sponsored by Borden’s.
8:45 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
9:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports: Boxing at Madison Square Garden. Jake LaMotta vs, Tommy Bell, welterweight, ten rounds.
WABD Channel 5, New York
8:30-11:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 Short subjects.
8:00 “Telequizzicalls,” sponsored by Consolidated Edison.
8:30 Red Cross program.
9:00 Amateur Boxing.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
2:00 to 3:00 Philadelphia Electric Company Presents Television Matinee. “Menu of the Day,” Florence P. Hanford, home economist; “Rhythm in the Rich Manner,” Paul Rich, harmonica; short subjects; “Guest Time: South America, Take it Away” Mr. Fred Niedland and Miss Elsie Milio, Arthur Murray Studios.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 Film shorts: "Boulder Dam"; "Pinehurst"; "Jungle Jam"; “Britain and Her Empire”; “Ride em, Cowboy”; "Devil Drivers"; "Stray Lamb"; "Exotic Egypt."
7:00 Choral concert.
7:15 Income tax facts.
7:30 Jay Lee, magician.
7:45 Newsreel of President Truman and Mexico.
8:00 Feature film: “Orphans of the North” with Bob Webster and Mary Joyce (Northern Dawn Productions, 1940).
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Hockey (PCHL) Southern Division Playoff at the Pan Pacific Auditorium: Los Angeles Monarchs vs. Hollywood Wolves.
Time's Up
Reviewed Friday (14), 3:30-3:45 p.m. Style—Dramatic record show. Presented sustaining on WBKB, Chicago.
Neither pretentious nor grandiose, this program nevertheless was an example of how good video programing can be if top talent is used and if every little detail of production is worked out without flaws. Directed by Lewis Gomovitz of the WBKB staff, it was a fast-moving, entertaining musical vignette that went off without hitch.
Attempting a recorded music program that would utilize all the visual advantages of television, Gomovitz designed a show that had a plot, love interest and top singing all in two scenes and a length of only 15 minutes. Even the typical lovers' clinch was worked in for a closing.
Show opened with a scene of a gal (Nancy Elleman) playing records on a portable set at home. Enter the male interest (Bob Dunne), former singer with Joe Sanders' orchestra, and the show was under way. Dunne and Elleman carried on easy-flowing romantic patter while talking about the music on some records he brought and proceeded to play. As the records were played, he sang vocal accompaniment that was plenty good.
At one point there was a camera switch to the Dreamcasters, vocal group of two men and two women who also demonstrated they had good voices and knew how to synchronize their singing with recorded music. Thruout all this, direction, stage setting, lighting and camera work were plenty good, giving an over-all effect that left little to be asked for. Gomovitz has designed the series to get around the Petrillo video music ban too. Here also he was successful. If WBKB and other stations continue to perfect their use of recorded music for dramatic background and vocal accompaniment, Petrillo might find out his video policy has boomeranged and that musicians will get little if any television assignments. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, Apr. 5) Saturday, March 15 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:00 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, music.
7:45 CBS Television News.
8:00 “Fashion Showcase.”
8:30 National Invitational Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Feature Film.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 Atlantic Refining Co. Sports. Basketball direct from U. of P. Palestra. Princeton vs. University of Pennsylvania.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Hockey (PCHL) Southern Division Playoff at the Pan Pacific Auditorium: Los Angeles Monarchs vs. Hollywood Wolves.
Sunday, March 16
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
6:30 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music.
7:15 Feature Film.
8:15 “Come Into the Kitchen,” with Heloise Parker Broeg.
8:30 “Party Line” with Gil Fates, sponsored by Bristol-Myers.
9:00 Hockey from Madison Square Garden, Rangers vs. Canadiens, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 “Tele-Varieties,” sponsored by Minit Rub/Ipana toothpaste.
8:30 Film short.
8:40 NBC Television Theatre Presentation: “The Florist Shop,” one-act comedy with Nydia Westman, Bruno Wick, others, sponsored by Borden Dairy Products.
9:15 “In Town Today.”
9:30 Filmed Bible stories: “The Prodigal Son.”
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:30 Hockey: Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings, sponsored by Henry C. Lytton and Sons.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 NBC programs.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Cartoon.
8:40 “Shopping at Home.”
8:55 News.
FLORIST SHOP
With Virginia Smith, Nydia Westman, Bruno Wick, Ben Lackland
Producer: Garth Montgomery
Director: Fred Coe
Writer: Winifred Hawkridge
Set: Bob Wade
35 Mins.; Sunday (16), 8:35 p.m.
BORDEN'S
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
(Kenyon & Eckhardt)
After about six months of Borden's-sponsored tele shows produced by the Young & Rubicam agency, Kenyon & Eckhardt took over Sunday (16) night for the first in its series of productions. With the account presently split between the two agencies, the idea is for Borden's advertising execs to weigh the work of the two agencies as far as their tele shows go and then choose one to carry on from there. Judging from the so-so results of "Florist Shop," that might be a tough job for Borden's.
Whereas Y&R experimented with all types of shows, K.&E. is apparently going to stick to straight dramatic presentations. That's okay, if the play is good, but "Florist Shop," a one-acter penned by Winifred Hawkridge, was not. It was another one of those efforts that would have been vastly appealing if done on the radio, but didn't have the visual accoutrements necessary for video. If the tele producers would only bear in mind that a play for video must be suited more to the stage or films than to radio, they'd make out okay, but they haven't shown that sort of wisdom too often yet.
Production-wise, K.&E. producer Garth Montgomery's first job was good. Only drawback was the commercial, with a gal speiling through an animated head of Elsie, the cow, all about the merits of Lady Borden's Ice Cream — something too juvenile for adult audiences to appreciate.
Cast was fine, doing as good a job as possible with the talky and slow-paced play. Virginia Smith did a top job as the romantic salesgirl in the shop, and Nydia Westman, familiar from her motion picture work, was equally good as the spinster who'd been engaged tor 15 years and whom Miss Smith finally got married off. Ben Lackland was okay as her long-standing fiance, but Bruno Wick was just a little too explosive as the florist shop proprietor.
NBC director Fred Coe had an easy job of handling his cameras and lived up to his reputation as one of the top directors in the business. Bob Wade's single set was good. Stal. (Variety, Mar. 19)
The May 6, 1947 issue of the Windsor Star (across the river from Detroit) carries a story regarding "experimental" broadcasts from WWDT. The story seems to imply that WWDT changed transmission facilities, from 500 watts to 5,000 watts. A few days later, the May 18, 1947 edition of the South Bend (IN) Tribune notes that WWJ would start broadcasting a television signal early in June; earlier, WWDT signed a contract to broadcast Tigers baseball games starting in June.
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