After numerous demonstrations and pontifications, the FCC decided in March 1947 to reject CBS’ attempts to license colour TV transmitters in the UHF band.
Now that things were settled, companies could apply for television licenses in the VHF (Channels 2 to 13) frequencies, and set makers could boost production of black-and-white models knowing that colour was not an issue.
CBS wouldn’t take “no” for an answer and kept pushing the issue into the 1950s (it eventually lost but we ended up with colour anyway).
Something else significant for CBS happened in the last half of March 1947, though nobody realised it at the time. Larry LeSueur had been reading the Thursday night newscast on WCBS-TV. However, he took on the moderation duties of a new Sunday afternoon half-hour radio series titled “As Others See Us.” This meant a change for the television news. Replacing him was a 29-year-old correspondent named Doug Edwards. He may have wondered why he accepted the “offer” as less than two months later, CBS closed its TV studios. Edwards survived, reading news off-camera over film until the network re-opened everything and installed Edwards as the permanent anchor when newscasts were expanded to five nights a week.
Outside of New York, the new St. Louis station was ready to expand while the new Detroit station was pulled off the air for, presumably, technical re-tooling (it had been operating with a temporary transmitter) and a change of call-letters.
Monday, March 17
WCBS Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:15 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music. 8:00 National Invitational Basketball Tournament Quarter Finals at Madison Square Garden, Utah vs. Duquesne; L.I.U. vs. Kentucky, sponsored by Ford.
1:00 St. Patrick’s Day Parade as seen from Rockefeller Center opposite St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
8:00 Feature Film.
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Feature Film: “St. Patrick’s Day.”
WABD Channel 5, New York
8:45 Boxing at Jamaica Arena. [Note: matches were postponed due to St. Patrick's Day.]
10:00 Film Short.
10:15 Boxing resumed.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety.
8:30 Wrestling from the Midway Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
1:00 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
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: The New Streamlined Trains” by Dr. Michael Watter of the Budd Co.
3:00-5:00 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and picturecast.
3:15 Film shows.
3:30-3:45 Concert by a chorus from Sunnydale Academy at Centralia, Mo.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 to 5:00 Test films.
7:00 St. Louis Personalities.
7:20 Film short.
7:30 Man on the Street.
8:00 Feature Film.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2:30 Films.
4:00-4:30 Live Program, dancing by Sally Neilson.
6:30 Test Pattern and incidental music.
8:30 Feature Film, “Skip Tracer” starring James Dunn and Frances Gifford.
9:45-10:00 Short subjects.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film Program for television dealers.
Tuesday, March 18
WABD Channel 5, New York
7:00 to 8:00 Movies for Small Fry, hosted by Bob Emery.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “The Sound Man.”
7:45 Film.
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30 “Children on the Street.”
9:00 Flower show from International amphitheatre.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Receiver Test Chart.
2:00-5:00 Receiver Test Chart.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and picturecast.
3:15 Film shows: "Julius Caesar," "Gold Coast Builders."
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 to 5:00 Test films.
7.00 Films: "China;" "Forest Gangsters."
7:30 News in Sports.
8:00 Feature film: James Cagney and Mae Clarke in "Great Guy" (Grand National, 1936).
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Tune Up Time: Test Slides and Recorded Music.
8:30 Cartoon Comedy.
8:40 Short subjects.
9:00 Western Feature Film.
Washington, March 18.—Commercial television received its official go-ahead signal today (Tuesday) when the Federal Communications Commission settled once and for all the color television controversy by turning down CBS' bid for the immediate establishment of commercial color standards.
Color battle, which had been raging since before the war between CBS and the RCA-led black and white proponents, was considered the chief barrier in the medium's path of progress. With the FCC having finally given a clear path to present monochrome standards, most of the confusion in the minds of set manufacturers, sponsors, broadcasters and the public is expected to be cleared away. Manufacturers, heretofore undetermined as to the number of black and white sets to produce through fear that the FCC would back color by pushing tele to the higher frequencies and so make their sets obsolete, now have a clean-cut assurance that their sets will remain useful for at least five years. ...
"There has not been adequate field testing for the Commission to be able to proceed with confidence that the system will work adequately in practice," the ruling stated. "There may be other systems to transmit color that offer the possibilities of cheaper receivers and narrower band-widths that have not yet been fully explored." FCC pointed out that all CBS field testing had been done within range of one city—New York — with only 15 receivers in Operation and all 15 in the hands of CBS personnel. When commercial standards were established for black and white video, on the other hand, there were seven stations in operation and several thousand receivers in the hands of the public. ...
In a surprise statement, the FCC implied that the present black and white standards were not the best obtainable, pointing out that it might be possible to get better pictures than those now transmitted by incorporating more of the war-time electronic developments. Present black and white system, however, affords an adequate service to the public, the Commission said. (Variety, Mar. 19)
Hollywood, March 18.—Coast television made its first stab into politics today (Tuesday) when Paramount's KTLA televised a tax protest meeting in the Hall of Records.
Tussle, in which the City of Los Angeles and County were on opposing sides in a dispute of increasing taxes, was aired for several hours, starting at 2 p.m., vividly demonstrating the immediacy of the medium. (Variety, Mar. 19)
Hollywood, March 18.—Paramount's televising of the tax assessment fight via KTLA directly from City Hall has run into a political brickwall, indicative of what may be things to come during video's growing pain years. Coverage of the first civic event was to have been another "preem" for Par today, but was nixed at the last minute by John R. Quinn, county tax assessor, on advice of his attorneys.
In a letter to Klaus Landsberg, KTLA director, late yesterday, Quinn stated: "My attorney has advised me that there is serious doubt whether or not the attempt of the City Council of Los Angeles to impose their will and opinion upon the county assessor may throw a serious legal cloud upon the validity of the assessment roll now being prepared. Consequently, I do not deem it wise to dignify this meeting with a television broadcast. My sincerest regrets."
Impression is that the showdown fight expected today might have excited citizen-taxpayer watchers and created a "situation" via televising of some surprising" happenings. (Variety, Mar. 19)
Hollywood, March 18.—New York and points east, take it away—if you can.
In a challenging step, station W6XAO, here, started calling itself "the nation's first television station."
The Don Lee experimental station has been on the air for 16 years but just last week started billing itself as the No. 1 video station. Announcers are instructed to tag their station identification announcements with the historic line. (Variety, Mar. 19)
Hollywood, March 18.—In the eyes of television, Universal- International's "Egg and I" is an omelette. Don Lee's W6XAO was slated to telecast the curbstone doings of the premiere of the film at the Carthay Circle theatre, March 21. But the word came down from company brass that the deal was laid low for unexplained reason.
The impression here is that producer fears of exhibitor resentment, plus the always possible legal aspects of cameraing folks, intentionally or otherwise, without full release was too fraught with possibilities—that might also lay an egg.
Another film also bit the dust of television. This time it was Paramount's "My Favorite Brunette," slated for a telecast coverage preem here, tomorrow (19). Par's own station, KTLA, was to do it but the curb 'n' cuff deal fell through.
Reason this time was confliction with the ice hockey championships at Pan Pacific Auditorium. Having covered the games all season, it was decided to follow through and not incur wrath of watchers. (Variety, Mar. 19)
Wednesday, March 19
WABD Channel 5, New York
8:45-11:00 Boxing from Jamaica Arena. Bobby Ruffin k.o. Pat Demers in the third round.
3:00 Variety program.
8:30 Wrestling from Rainbo Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
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: Quick Turns with a Cartoonist” by Ned Steel.
3:00-5:00 Test Chart.
8:00 Philco Sports: Bowling direct from 69th Street Bowling Center.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and picturecast.
3:15 Film show: "Ski Revels."
3:30 Lenten sermonette.
3:45 Film short: "Unfinished Symphony."
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 to 5:00 Test films.
8:30 Boxing bouts in Kiel Auditorium: Phil Terranova vs. Paulie Jackson, featherweight, ten rounds; Charley Riley vs. Luis Ramos, featherweight, ten rounds.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Hockey (PCHL) Southern Division Playoff at the Pan Pacific Auditorium: Los Angeles Monarchs vs. Hollywood Wolves.
General Foods, following through on its promise to plunge heavily into television, has signed with WNBT (NBC, N. Y.) for a one-hour weekly show, which will probably include a half-hour adaptation of "Juvenile Jury," radio show now aired Sunday afternoons over the Mutual web. Other half-hour has not yet been formatted, with G-F execs giving serious thought to making it a variety show. In addition. G-F will bankroll a one-minute weather report five times weekly over WABD (DuMont, N. Y.).
Already signed to co-sponsor (with Ford Motors) all home games of the Brooklyn Dodgers over WCBS-TV (CBS, N. Y.), the new lineup will make the food firm one of the heaviest tele spenders and the only one with shows on all three N. Y. stations. No assignment of products has been made for any of the shows, but it's likely that Gaines' Dog Food will be plugged on the "Jury" program, same as in radio.
G-F toppers also haven't yet picked the time slot on WNBT. In view of the company's announced intention of sewing up the best time available now, it's probable that it'll move into the 8-9 p.m. spot Thursday nights, recently vacated by Standard Brands. (Variety, Mar. 19)
Thursday, March 20
WCBW Channel 2, New York2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:30 Test Pattern, Time, Music.
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “All-News York Junior High School Quiz.” Prospect Avenue Junior High vs. Benjamin Franklin Junior High, both Bronx.
9:00 Suspense Drama: “The Case of the Borderline Arrest.”
9:30 N.C.A.A. Basketball, Madison Square Garden, Win Elliot and Bill Mazer commentators, sponsored by Ford.
WNBC-TV Channel 4, New York
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 Show Business Incorporated.
8:45 “You Are An Artist,” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf.
9:00 Television Newsreel.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” drawing show.
7:40 Short subjects.
8:00 Eager Beaver.
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30 Variety program.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
7:50 NBC programs.
9:00 “Sears Visi-Quiz.”
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and picturecast.
3:15 Film shows: "Poland"; "Heir to the Throne."
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 to 5:00 Test films.
8:30 Basketball game in the Arena, St. Louis Bombers vs. New York Knicks.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Slides, Recorded Music.
8:30 Wrestling Matches, El Monte Legion Arena.
9:00 “Lest We Forget.”
Show Business, Inc.
Reviewed Thursday (20), 8-9 p.m. Style—Variety. Sustaining over WNBT (NBC), New York.
NBC is spotting this experimental program in the Thursday night slot for two weeks, after which General Foods takes over the time—formerly held by Standard Brands. General Foods will probably divide the time into two half hours, programing the first of them with Mutual's Juvenile Jury—for which Benton & Bowles is now clearing video rights with Jack Barry and Dan Ehrenreich.
There'll be no mourners when the current NBC program folds, for Show Business, Inc., ain't like show business. Stretched over the hour period, the production by Fred Coe was dreary and disjoined, being neither good vaudeville nor good television nor good nothin'. It began as a typical variety bill, with the Four Carters, a skating turn, doing routine business on a small mat. Gus Van followed, singing McNamara's Band, with background music supplied by the Variety Four, a harmony act. Latter warblers were apparently in lieu of musicians banned by AFM chief Petrillo—and the effect could only be called dull. So were Van's take-offs on Bert Williams and Stepin Fetchit. While these goings-on were unfolding, a double emsee team—John Graham and Helen Parrish, tried to tie the works together with conversation touching on Van's experiences in noted Broadway hits, etc. All pointless, sentimentalized and serving no entertainment purpose. Why two emsees were needed, to give the effect of father and daughter, is a video mystery.
Following this straight vaude stuff, Show Business, Inc., turned very fancy—with a piece tabbed variations on a theme. This was vague in execution and meaning, but chief idea seemed to be an illustration, via film, of the theory that there's a story behind each melody. Narrator delivered the story—having to do with a musical cobbler in a haunted Vienna opera house—in World War I days. While the story unfolded a dance team, Ellsworth and Fairchild, cluttered up the screen. There were all sorts of montage and dream effects, adding up to a climax in dullness when the suffering musician died at his instrument.
For the televiewer all the pain was not over yet, tho. A nickelodeon turn was flashed on, with narrator giving Wagnerian double-talk comment to a corny silent film. A cute idea, but it didn't come off.
When Terry Bennett came on to do a vent turn, one viewer in the video audience was damn tired, and of the opinion that black and white, perhaps even more than the tinted stuff—must either get out of the laboratory or run right back into it.
Frankly, there's something in the air, and it ain't spring. Paul Ackerman. (Billboard, Mar. 29)
Friday, March 21
WNBC-TV Channel 4, New York
8:15 Film: “Our Town.”
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. Billy Graham vs. Tippy Larkin, welterweight, 10 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 Carries On.
9:00 Water Polo from Illinois Athletic Club.
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: Make Your Own Hat and Bag” by Dolores Boland.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and picturecast.
3:15 Film shows: "Wheel Across India;" Newsreel.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Films: “Kings Up”; "Smooth Approach;" “Sea Killers.”
8:30 Wrestling matches in Kiel Auditorium, Lou Thesz vs. Whipper Billy Watson, one fall, sponsored by Hyde Park Beer.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2:30-4:00 Short Subjects.
4:00 George Hanson interviews Laura Archera, Italian musician; films on Siena, Italy.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program.
Saturday, March 22 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:00 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, music.
7:45 CBS Television News with Tom O’Connor.
8:00 “Variety Showcase.”
8:20 N.C.A.A. Basketball from Madison Square Garden, Navy vs. Wisconsin and C.C.N.Y. vs. Holy Cross, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 “Everyman,” a play from Fordham University.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
8:30 Basketball: Stags vs. Cleveland Rebels.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 NBC program.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Records.
8:30 Hockey (PCHL) Southern Division Playoff at the Pan Pacific Auditorium: Los Angeles Monarchs vs. Hollywood Wolves.
Sunday, March 23
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
6:30 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music.
7:15 Feature Film.
8:15 “Happy Headlines” with Lawrence Lariar and Ed Nofziger.
8:30 “Party Line” with Gil Fates, sponsored by Bristol-Myers.
9:00 Hockey from Madison Square Garden, Rangers vs. Chicago Blackhawks, play-by-play with Win Elliot, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 “Tele-Varieties,” sponsored by Minit Rub/Ipana toothpaste.
8:20 Film short.
8:30 NBC Television Theatre Presentation: “Little Brown Jug Florist,” three-act psychological drama with Katherine Alexander, Vaughn Taylor, Margaret Hayes, John Drew Devereaux, sponsored by Borden.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:00 Film.
8:30 “X Marks the Spot.”
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Cartoon.
8:40 “Shopping at Home.”
8:55 News.
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” variety with host Dick Lane.
TELE-VARIETIES
With Tex McCrary, Jinx Falkenburg, George McManus, Slick Goodlam, Barney Ross, Frances Counihan, others
Producers: McCrary, Wes McKee
Director: Roger Muir
25 min.; Sun. (23), 8 p.m.
BRISTOL-MYERS
WNBT-NBC, N.Y.
(Young & Rubicam)
Format followed the McCrarys' "Hi Jinx!" radio show, enabling McCrary and his wife to imbue it with the off-the-cuff chatter that's made the radio show a success. Photogenic qualities of the pair and their stage presence are also commendable factors. With video, however, they were also able to run in a group of specially-filmed events, which heightened the visual appeal considerably. Film features, all revolving around Miss Falkenburg, included such events as the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the naming of Mrs. Downtown Brooklyn Shopper, President Truman accompanying the couple to the Washington preem of "Best Years of Our Lives," etc.
Mr. and Mrs. team narrated the film in engaging fashion, with the show then segueing into a live presentation from the NBC studios in which they interviewed such celebs as George McManus, test pilot Slick Goodlam, Barney Ross, and others. As an added fillip, Frances Counihan and her son, Bobby, first family to appear in Ipana's "Model Mother" series of ads, were also interviewed.
Better preparation of the script would have prevented some of the conversational pauses in this segment but it still ran off well. Commercial for Ipana toothpaste was one of the best yet seen on tele, being confined to a film sequence showing Miss Falkenburg demonstrating the proper method of tooth-brushing to her infant son. Besides being well integrated into the script, it was entertaining.
McCrary and Y&R producer Wes McKee rate definite nods for their able handling of the show and the way they wrapped up all the loose ends into a compact package. NBC director Roger Muir also did well with the camera work. Stal. (Variety, Mar. 26)
LITTLE BROWN JUG
With Katherine Alexander, Vaughn Taylor, Margaret Hayes, John Drew Devereaux, Alexander Kirkland
Producer-Director: Ernest Colling
Writer: Marie Baumer
Sets: Bob Wade
65 Mins.; Sun. (23), 8:30 p.m.
Sustaining
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
Story of how a psychopathic homeless handyman dominates the lives of a woman and her daughter through blackmail, the play, penned by Marie Baumer, was well-suited to video. It lacked the action usually expected on a telescreen put the suspense built up by Miss Baumer through the tight weaving of her plot more than made up for the talkiness. NBC producer Ernie Colling came into his own on this show as one of the top men in the business, with his skillful direction of the east and his production credits rivalling a Broadway show for professional efforts.
Actors were uniformly good, for which NBC's Owen Davis, Jr., rates a nod for casting. Katherine Alexander was outstanding in the role of the mother she originally created on the stage. Vaughn Taylor, in the handyman role originally played by Percy Kilbride, gave an excellent portrayal of the psycho character, reflecting credit on television through which he's received all his thesping experience. Margaret Hayes as the ingenue and John Drew Devereaux as the juvenile lead were okay, although Devereaux appeared youngish to be Miss Alexander's future son-in-law. Alexander Kirkland was capital as the uncle who finally broke the handyman's spell over the two women.
Show pointed up amusingly the labor difficulties confronting video. In the Broadway presentation, the Handyman kept picking out the title tune on a piano. Since the AFM bans all live music from tele. Taylor was forced to play "Jug" on a harmonica. It would have been okay except that Miss Alexander's line referring to Taylor as Chopin went slightly awry. Stal. (Variety, Mar. 26)
Monday, March 24
WCBS Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
6:45 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music. 7:30 National Invitational Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden, Kentucky vs. Utah and N. Carolina State vs. West Virginia, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Feature Film: “Fugitive of the Plains” .
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Lou Valles vs. Tony Riccio, middleweight, ten rounds, Win Elliot and Bill Mazer, commentators.
WABD Channel 5, New York
10:00 Film Short.
10:15 Boxing resumed.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety.
8:00 Film: “Clear Track Ahead” (Audio Productions, 1944).
8:30 Wrestling from the Midway Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart. 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: Fashions in Fabric” by June Graff, fabric designer.
3:00-5:00 Test Chart.
6:30-7:15 Test Chart. 7:30 Little Old Lady.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and pictures-cast.
3:15 Film shows "Songs of Ireland"; "Daredevils on Ice."
4:30 Film show: "Bubbles and Troubles"; "Music in America".
7:00 Mississippi Valley Dog Show.
7:20. Film: “Wing, Fang and Claw.”
7:30 Man on the Street.
8:00 Feature film: Barton MacLane in "The Underdog" (PRC, 1943).
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2:30-2:50 Test patterns and musicals.
2:50-3:00 Cartoon.
3:00-3:35 Short subjects.
3:35-4:00 p.m. Sea of Strife.
4:00-4:30 p.m. Queen For A Day.
6:30-8:30 Test Patterns and Recorded Music.
8:30 Cartoon.
8:40 Musical.
8:50 Short Subjects.
9:30 Live show.
9:45 “The Desert.”
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
Solution
Reviewed Monday (24), 9:15-9:30 p.m. Style-Drama. Sustaining over W6XAO (Don Lee), Hollywood.
There was little of interest in tonight's dramatic vignette offered by students of L. A. Junior College. Technically, the gabby, 15-minute skit offered nothing to challenge Don Lee lensers, inasmuch as entire action was confined to a narrow 10-foot radius. Story was a warmed-over version of eternal plot in which a boy and a girl, bent on self-destruction, meet for a brief span on the bridge of doom. By baring each other's spiritual wounds, they conclude that life is worth living, and pledge to fight for a better world together.
Lack of writing mobility, coupled with the narrow confines of the setting, gave cameramen a choice of only two stock shots—close-ups or a long range pic of the bridge set. Concentration on close-ups supports tele theorists who claim that only close shots register in video medium and that attempts to do long projections are lost by lack of detail. While it's true that close-ups can be generously employed, it remains certain that full-on shots are effective only when trained actors are used—actors whose every facial gesture is important. When the same treatment is given to amateurs, effect is unfortunately lost.
At best, this sesh was no more than a "live" filler for a more ambitious program, but hardly worth spotting as the featured attraction. In short, such shows don't sell sets. Alan Fischler. (Billboard, Aug. 5)
Tuesday, March 25
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York.
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
6:45 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music. 7:30 Basketball at Madison Square Garden, C.C.N.Y. vs. Texas U and Holy Cross vs. Oklahoma U., sponsored by Ford.
WABD Channel 5, New York
7:00 to 8:00 Movies for Small Fry, hosted by Bob Emery.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 Track Meet.
8:00 “Behind the Headlines.
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30 Preview of Table Tennis Tournament.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:00-5:00 Test Chart.
6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
8:00 Philadelphia Motor Boat Show direct from Convention Hall.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and pictures-cast.
3:15 Film show: "White Magic."
3:30 Interview with George Weller, war correspondent.
4:30 Feature films: "Big Bad Wolf"; "Bolivia."
7:00 Telecast of Mexican art at St. Louis Art Museum.
7:20 Film short.
7:30 "Range Riders".
8:00 Feature film: James Dunn and Mabel Todd in "The Ghost and the Guest," original story by Milt Gross and Screenplay by Morey Amsterdam (PRC, 1943)
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Boxing bouts at the Olympic Auditorium, Bernard Docusen vs. Bobby Yaeger, welterweight, ten rounds.
9:00 Western Feature.
State Street Fashion Show
Reviewed Tuesday (25), 3-3:45 p.m. Style—Remote pick-up of fashion show. Presented sustaining by WBKB, Chicago.
This program, rated as an historical video event (The Billboard, March 29) was a noble engineering experiment, but as program material it fell flat on its face. The novelty of having a remote pick-up from a moving vehicle even tho it has very important applications for future video news programs, was not, we are sure, of sufficient interest to the home viewers to make them satisfied with a flickering picture, dull program material and repetitious narration.
For 45 minutes the WBKB mobile camera truck, pulling its own power generator to make it completely independent of stationary power sources, followed a float on which gals modeled various Eastern gowns featured by State Street department stores. At about four spots on State Street the flat stopped and the gals modeled the same gowns they had shown at previous stops. The first showing was interesting, but the last was very boring.
During the entire tour Russ Davis, Chi free-lance televiser, gave a running vocal commentary describing the gowns and giving details about how WBKB was doing his "historical" telecast. Because of the repetition of the modeling, Davis' commentary was boring too. His constant reference to how new and unusual the pick-up was became monotonous also.
One lesson learned from the show was this: Any station attempting similiar pick-ups should be able to broadcast commentary from the scene and not from the studio. Television stations doing similar programs are going to have to have their own mobile voice as well as picture transmitters. WBKB doesn't have a mobile oral transmitter license now, but it intends to apply for one in the near future. When it has that, and when it is able to overcome the electrical interference and signal bouncing which accounted for today's flickering picture, then television will really have a new means of covering news. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, Aug. 5)
Wednesday, March 26
WABD Channel 5, New York
8:45-11:00 Boxing from Jamaica Arena. Jimmy Carollo vs. Henry Jones, eight rounds.
3:00 Variety program.
8:30 Wrestling from Rainbo Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
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: Your New Easter Bonnet” by Mrs. Ella Waters, fashion coordinator of Strawbridge & Clothier.
3:00-5:00 Test Chart.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and pictures-cast.
3:15 Film show: "Daredevils on Ice."
3:30 Lenten sermonette.
3:45 Film, "Summer on the Farm."
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Film cartoon and "On to Jupiter."
7:15 Film short, Sibelius music concert.
7:30 Choral concert, G. Calvin Ringgenberg, organist.
8:00, Feature film: "Sky Bandits" with James Newell (Criterion, 1940).
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Short subjects.
8:45 “Your Town: Los Angeles presents Opportunity for All”
9:00 “Lest We Forget,” presented by your new regular Army.
Paisiello’s comic opera, “The Barber of Seville” will be given its television premiere at General Electric’s Station WRGB in Schenectady on Wednesday evening, March 26, by the Opera Department of the Julius Hartt School of Music, according to an announcement by R. B. Stone, WRGB Manager.
This will be the seventh Hartt School opera to receive a television premiere since 1943. (Hartford Courant, Mar. 26)
A serious threat to the early growth of television as a manufacturing industry and a public service was eliminated yesterday when a proposed order to extend the 20 per cent amusement tax to establishments offering video entertainment was officially rescinded by the Bureau of Internal Revenue of the Treasury Department. Action was taken last week when all phases of the industry, led by the Television Broadcasters Association and the Radio Manufacturers Association, lodged formal protest to the Treasury Department emphasizing that the order would impose “unnecessary limitations” on an infant industry. ...
Joseph Nunan, Commissioner of Internal Revenue...pointed out that a thorough review of the circumstances led to the conclusion not to tax tele sets. In part, Nunan’s letter said: “It is stated that television sets are not unlike radio sets except for the addition of the important element of vision, and that to levy the tax imposed by Section 1700 E, of the Code as amended, on the owners of public places utilizing this type of entertainment would be discriminatory in view of the fact that other mechanical devices such as radio sets, Muzak, juke boxes and even live instrumental music alone have been held to not fall within the purview of the above cited section of the code.” (Radio Daily, Mar. 26)
Thursday, March 27
WCBW Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:30 Test Pattern, Time, Music.
8:15 “CBS Television News” with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “All-News York Junior High School Quiz.”
9:00 “Your Song for Tonight” with Judy Lynn.
9:30 Drama: “Too Little to Live On” with Anne Burr.
WNBC-TV Channel 4, New York
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Show Business Incorporated: Julius Caesar” with John Carradine, Helen Parrish, John Graham Gus Van, others.
8:45 Film: “This Week in New York.”
8:50 “You Are An Artist,” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf.
9:00 Television Newsreel.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00 Variety program.
7:30 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” drawing show.
7:40 Short subjects.
8:00 “Cavalcade of Medicine.”
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30 Scenes from Macbeth.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:00-5:00 Test Chart.
7:50 NBC programs.
9:00 “Sears Visi-Quiz.”
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and pictures-cast.
3:15 Film shows: “Here Comes Malicious”; “Headlines in Celluloid.”
3:30 Interview with Dr. Roland G. Usher, the commentator.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Film shows.
7:00 St Louis Personalities, interviews with James Dunn, Rhys Williams and Mary Welch of the cast of Eugene O’Neill’s play “Moon for the Misbegotten.”
7:20 Film short: “Chinook’s Children.”
7:30 News in Sports with Harold Grams and Amadee Wolfschlager.
8:00 News Forum.
8:30 “Words to the Wise”: Television quiz show.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
7:30 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:00 American Bowling Congress Opening Ceremonies from the National Guard armory.
8:30 World’s Bowling Championship, first squad.
Junior High Quiz
Reviewed Thursday (27), 8:30-9 p.m. Style—Quiz. Sustaining over WCBS-TV (CBS), New York.
Quiz, produced by Columbia Broadcasting System in co-operation with the board of education, is a notable effort to channel video's special advantages for the purposes of educational programing. Show as seen Thursday (27), the seventh in a series—was largely successful, with teams of junior high school kids going thru a lively quiz session touching on many subjects including art, mathematics, mythology, history, current events, literature and music.
Format very simple, two school teams scoring points for correct answers. From the educational point of view, show was interesting from various angles—first, the fact that many kids participated; second, questions seemed carefully selected for children in the 12-14 age bracket; third, thru the medium of video, which makes possible the acting out of answers via charades, etc., the quiz can be built into something more than a simple question-and-answer program. In fact, the juveniles' attempts in this line make good entertainment of a sort not possible in radio broadcasting.
Production-wise, Junior High is commendable, for despite the fact that kids make up the cast, there's considerable pace to the program. There also is no evidence of talking down to the contestants, and there's an enviable degree of naturalness and humor to the half-hour. In toto, show shapes up as a good public service feature, calculated to appeal to kids and their parents, and de- signed to explore some of the uses of tele as an educational medium.
Junior High Quiz is directed by Frances Buss. Ed Stasheff is moderator. Paul Ackerman. (Billboard, Aug. 12)
Both canned and live television were shown over about a dozen sets spotted throughout the auditorium. Various forms of television "commercials" were displayed on the film. Qualify of filming and sound for the demonstration was very acceptable, showing a marked improvement over the experimental programs telecast the first week. The telecasting of the first week was hampered by film distortion. (Variety, April 2)
Television goes under water for the first time in history April 10 when NBC cameras are installed in a submarine al the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Occasion is the eve of the 47th anniversary of the acceptance of the first sub by the U. S. Navy.
Full crew will br. aboard the ship, USS Trumpetfish, from which a complete eye-witness pc1ure will be provided for viewers In New York at 9 p.m., EST. NBC will use two image orthicons in the ship, two others on the surface to record the submerging, comprising a full-hour studio, film and field telecast commemorating the event. (Radio Daily, Mar. 27)
Friday, March 28
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
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. Marcel Cerden vs. Harold (Red) Green, middlewright, 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 Carries On.
9:00 Golden Gloves bouts from Chicago Stadium.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
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: Romance of Time” by Miss Jerrie Rosenberg, S. Kind and Sons.
3:00-5:00 Test Chart.
6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and pictures-cast.
3:15 Film shows.
3:30 Interview with Harold Russell, Motion Picture Academy Award winner.
3:45 Film shows: "Exotic Egypt."4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Film shows: "Discontented Canary" (MGM/Harman-Ising, 1934); scenes from "Macbeth."
7:00 Music festival chorus.
7:20 Film short.
7:30 Women's Ad Club program, skits from the club’s production of “Oh, Doctor!” featuring Miss Bea Adams.
8:00 Feature film: Preston Foster in "The Last Mile" (Sono Art, 1932).
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2:00 Test Pattern.
2:30 Film Program: “Crofters” (travel film); “The Village Barber” (cartoon, Iwerks, 1930); Musical; “Navajo Sand Painting”; “Baseball.”4:00 Live Program: Interview with Hazel Hurst and demonstration of guide dogs for blind.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00-4:00 Film program for television dealers.
11:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
11:30 DC-6 dedication. The first postwar air liner direct from Douglas Air Port.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Hockey. [This listing was incorrect. The first game of the PCHL finals was on the 29th].
Dedication of the DC6
Reviewed Friday (28), 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Style—Remote pick-up of special event. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount), Hollywood.
It is tele fare such as this that peddles sets, for it punches home with convincing impact the potentialities and many advantages of the airpix medium. A would-be buyer getting his first tele glimpse at a dealer's shop saw KTLA pull in an on-the-spot pickup of the dedication ceremonies of the Douglas super-air-liner DC-6 from Douglas Airport.
First of all the viewer would have been impressed by the fact that he was clearly seeing the ceremonies altho they were being held in Santa Monica a good 25 miles across Los Angeles County. The fact that he was viewing the procedure in the dry and warm comfort of indoors while the event itself was being held in a downpour also would have pleased him. But probably most impressive of all would have been the subject material and the interest-enhancing manner in which it was presented. Lee Zhito. (Billboard, Aug. 12)
The Federal Communications Commission approved yesterday an extension of the 28-hour minimum weekly broadcast schedule for commercial television stations from March 31 to June 30, in order to permit stations to further co-ordinate program lineups to conform with the minimum hour ruling.
At the same time it was announced that the Television Broadcasters Association recommended to the FCC last week that the 28-hour rule be waived for the present, and suggested that the Commission adopt a “graduated scale” of operating hours to be applied to stations now operating, or about to go on the air.
TBA proposal comprised the following recommendat1ors: any station operating in an area with receivers numbering from 0 to 25,000, a minimum of seven hours per week; from 25,000 to 50,000, a minimum of 14 hours per week; from 50,000 to 75,000 receivers, 21 hours per week; any station operating in an area with 75,000 sets or more a minimum of 28 hours per week. It was also suggested that in “hardship” cases, where a new station goes on the air in location with few receivers, special consideration be made in the matter of minimum hours broadcast. (Radio Daily, Mar. 28)
Saturday, March 29 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:00 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, music.
8:00 “Fashion Showcase: Hats.”
8:30 Second Annual Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund Basketball Game from Madison Square Garden, Eastern College All-Stars vs. Western College All-Stars, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Feature Film: “Swiss Family Robinson” with Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Freddie Bartholomew (UK, 1940).
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:30 Variety program.
8:30 Track Meet from Chicago Stadium.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
3:00 Philadelphia Portrait direct from the Philadelphia Zoo.
8:00 NBC program.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” Test Pattern and Recorded Music.
8:30 Hockey, PCHL finals at the Pan Pacific Auditorium, Los Angeles Monarchs vs. Portland Eagles.
NEW YORK, March 29.—Harriet Van Horne, New York World-Telegram radio scribe, and James Beard, of the NBC video opus I Love To Eat, will be featured in consecutive quarter-hour television programs each Thursday night over NBC's WNBT starting April 3. General Foods has brought the entire 8-9 p.m. period. Miss Van Home will be on from 8:30 to 8:45, Beard from 8:45 to 9. Both shows will plug Bird's-eye products. The agency is Young & Rubicam.
The Van Horne show will be an interview type with Sally Victor, designer, and Donald Bain, actor, as first guesters. , Beard's will be set in a kitchen, where he'll prepare foods—same as he's been doing on WNBT for some time. Miss Horne is repped by Lester Lewis.
The time from 8 to 8:30 will be used to plug Gaines Dog Food. (Billboard, Apr. 5)
Sunday, March 30
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
6:30 Test Pattern, Time Pattern, Music.
7:15 Feature Film.
8:15 Adrienne Matsonauer, songs.
8:30 “Party Line” with Gil Fates, sponsored by Bristol-Myers.
9:00 Basketball from Madison Square Garden, N.Y. Knickerbockers vs. Warriors, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 “Tele-Varieties,” sponsored by Minit Rub/Ipana toothpaste.
8:30 NBC Television Theatre Presentation: “Orchids For Margaret,” one-act comedy.< br> 9:00 “Designers Easter Parade,” Jo Copeland, Maurice Reniner, John Fredericks, others.
9:30 Filmed Bible story.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:30 National Table Tennis Championships from Rainbo Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:00 NBC programs.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00 Gene Autry’s Rodeo.
8:00 Test Patterns and music.
8:30 Cartoon.
8:40 “Shopping at Home.”
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” variety with Dick Lane.
Gene Autry's Championship Rodeo
Reviewed Sunday (30), 2-5:30 p.m. Style—Rodeo field pick-up. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount), Hollywood.
KTLA hit the tele bell with a resounding smack in its coverage of the Gene Autry Rodeo. Outlet which first started its splurge on remotes with the scanning of a rodeo last August, has come a long way since it first moved its cameras out of the studio.
Living-room lookers saw more of what was going on than those in the stands. Fine camera work framed each event in a manner that kept viewers on seat's edge. Telescopic lensing brought lookers within horn's reach during the bulldogging event. Calf-roping, bronk bustin', steer riding, harness racing and trick riding kept the screen alive with action from start to finish. Novel camera angles and on-the-toes shooting made this one of the best pieces of tele material yet to be delivered by this station. Also scanned was Gene Autry's entry, as well as the grand entry march of Palomino-borne riders, and Virginia Mayo, queen of the event.
Altho seg lasted three and a half hours, fine commentary by Bill Welch and Kieth [sic] Hetherington as well as the top-drawer camera work kept interest at high key thruout. Lee Zhito. (Billboard, Aug. 12)
Monday, March 31
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Film: “World Series of 1946.”
8:30 Film: “Gentle Art of Cookery.”
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Al Guido vs. Willie Beltram, lightweight, ten rounds.
WABD Channel 5, New York
8:45 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
3:00 Variety.
8:00 Film on Baseball.
8:30 Wrestling from the Midway Arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
1:00 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
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: Ceramics in Home Decoration” by Maxine and Henry Ewerts.
3:00-5:00 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and picturescast.
3:15 Film, "New York."
3:30 Interview with Mrs. Anna Barnett of the British Foreign Office.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Films, "The Big Bad Wolf" and "Scenic Sweden."
7:00 Film show.
7:30 Man on the Street.
8:00 Feature film, James Dunn and Frances Gifford in "Mercy Plane" (PRC, 1939).
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
6:30 Test Pattern and music.
8:30 Cartoon.
8:35 “Honeymoon House” (Newsreel),
8:40 to 10 “Miracle on Main Street” with Margo and Walter Abel, Lyle Talbot (Columbia, 1939).
BEGINNING this week, the KSD-TV television broadcasting schedule will be changed to Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Hitherto, KSD-TV has gone on the air Monday through Friday. The change has been made to give Saturday shoppers an opportunity to view television and to put television into the homes of the community on Sundays. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mar. 30)
St. Louis voters went to the polls today to elect a president of the Board of Aldermen, aldermen in the even-numbered wards and four members of the Board of Education, and to decide whether summer daylight saving time shall be continued in the city....
Last night, [Fred J.]Hoffmeister [of the Citizens’ Committee to Oppose Repeal of Daylight Saving Time] conducted a 10-minute discussion and demonstration over KSD-TV on how to mark the ballot to retain daylight saving time. (Post Dispatch, Apr. 1)
THAT James Beard?
ReplyDelete(I know it wasn't THAT Billy Graham)