CBS bucked the trend in television in 1947.
New stations were coming on the air and broadcasting live shows from their studios. CBS went the other direction in May 1947 and closed its studios. Its New York station (it wasn’t a network yet) decided to broadcast live events on location. The only exception was the two newscasts. Readers Doug Edwards and Tom O’Connor were mere voices speaking over film and graphics.
The FCC set the channels for the four coming New York stations. What this meant for Bill Still's experimental station isn't clear, as he was licensed to broadcast on Channel 13, though it seems his station was more of a school than anything interested in sending out signals.
The only non-commercial station with programming felt getting out of the studio was a good idea, too. W6XAO’s mobile crew found new locations to shoot sport shows. The station also decided to make the radio show Queen For a Day part of its schedule. It’s hard to say how successful that was; the Los Angeles newspapers were inconsistent about how often they printed the station’s listings.
This month, the Kraft Television Theatre made its debut. It had a healthy life into what we call the Golden Age of Television (1948 into the ‘50s). In Chicago, WBKB put on an actual television series, much like you see on any channel today. It was a detective show. Chicago had many radio actors who went on to fine television careers. This show, one reviewer sniffed, had better than radio actors. If you look at the cast list, no names may stick out, though one went to on play an angry neighbour on an episode of Leave It To Beaver.
A familiar name with a show this month was Buffalo Bob Smith. Howdy Doody wasn’t around just yet.
Other than that, the first half of the month featured lots and lots of baseball, shorts and ‘B’ Westerns.
Thursday, May 1
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
1:30 Mexican President Miguel Aleman addressing Joint Session of Congress.
8:15 CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 “All New York Junior High School Quiz.”
9:00 “Your Song For Tonight,” Judy Lynn.
9:03 Drama: “No More Alice.”
Weather reports sponsored by Reid’s Ice Cream.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
1:30 Mexican President Miguel Aleman.
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Juvenile Jury” from NBC’s Studio 8-G with Jack Barry, sponsored by Gaines Dog Food.
8:30 “Birdseye Open House,” interviews by Harriet Van Horne and food with James Beard, sponsored by Birdseye Frozen Foods
9:00 “You Are an Artist” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
9:10 Television Newsreel.
WABD Channel 5, New York
3:00 News Tape, from the International News Service.
4:45 Financial News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film short.
7:45 Soccer Game Preview.
8:00 Show Case, “Cavalleria Rusticana.”
8:30 “Swing For-e Golf.” with Ernie Jones, sponsored by the Perry Blouse Company.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
7:30 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” cartoon drawing show.
7:45 “Let’s Face It.”
8:00 “Humanity’s Heart.”
8:30 Film: Short subjects.
8:45 Milt Hopwood’s Sports Show.
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
5:30-7:30 Test Chart.
7:50 NBC program.
8:00 Mac McGuire’s Harmony Rangers, Film, Pete Boyle’s Sketchbook, Sears Visi-Quiz.
2:25 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Washington Senators, play-by-play with J. Roy Stockton and Ellis Veech, sponsored by Purity Bakeries.
7:00 Feature film, "Utah Trail" with Tex Ritter and White Flash (Grand National, 1938).
8:10 News and Views.
8:20 Film show, "Yellowstone National Park."
8:30 String quartet from St. Louis Institute of Music.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00-5:00 Film program for television dealers.
7:30 “Tune Up Time”: Test Slides - Recorded Music. 8:00 Valley Television Girl Contest.
8:30 Boxing Bouts.
9:00 “Lest We Forget,” presented by the U.S. Army.
Valley Television Girl
Reviewed Thursday (1), 8-8:30 p.m. Style—Song, dance, dramatic contest. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount), Hollywood.
Here's an example of an old promotional stunt that still pays off program -wise. KTLA worked a tie with The Valley Times (San Fernando daily) for a contest to name a gal Miss Television of San Fernando Valley. Ballots were sent to the Times with the top 10 vote pullers getting the tele tryout. Viewers called in votes to pick the winner. First prize is a paid appearance on KTLA Hits and Bits seg.
As each of the 19 contestants came on, Dick Lane interviewed the gal as to ambitions, etc. Vocal offerings ranged from pop to opera, while others presented dramatic readings and dance routines. All in all, the 10 contestants made for a well-balanced bill. After each entry, Lane asked the audience to call in their choice when the contest was completed. During each act, cameras gave a full view of the contestant, then moved in for a close-up.
Aside from getting a fairly interesting seg, KTLA undoubtedly aroused considerable interest in tele thru the contest gimmick and resulting generous newspaper space. Outlet expects to work similar ties with other sheets in the area. Lee Zhito. (Billboard, May 10)
Friday, May 2
2:30 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
8:20 “In Town Today” with Buffalo Bob Smith.
8:30 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:45 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports”: Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena. Herb Kronowitz vs. George (Sonny) Horn.
Time Signal sponsored by Benrus.
WABD Channel 5, New York
4:45 Financial News sponsored by Bache and Co.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
8:00 Teletalent.
8:30 Film Shorts.
9:00-11:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 Short subjects.
8:00 “Telequizzicalls,” sponsored by Commonwealth Edison.
8:30 Films.
9:00 Boxing.
[Note: no boxing matches are in the Chicago papers for this evening.]
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinal, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
5:30-7:30 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC program.
8:20 “Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbels.
8:35 “Pleased to Meet You.”
8:45 NBC program.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
2:25 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Washington Senators, play-by-play with J. Roy Stockton and Ellis Veech, sponsored by Purity Bakeries.
7:00 Feature film.
8:10 News and Views.
8:20 Film show.
8:30 News in Sports, with Harold Grams and J. Roy Stockton. sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
2:50-3:50 Test patterns and music.
3:50-4:06 Film: “Our America” (educational).
4:11-4:22 Film: “Rails to Romance” (BC Govt, 1945).
4:22-4:33-Film: “Tide Pool Life” (animal).
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00-5:00 Film program for television dealers.
7:30 “Tune Up Time,” Test patterns, recorded music.
8:00 Baseball from Wrigley Field, Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Rainiers.
CBS is eliminating all of its studio television programs and will hereafter confine its schedules to telecasts of sports and special events. A network spokesman made this announcement last night [2]. Effective May 11, a number of engineers and other personnel connected with its television department—reported to total 26—will the taken off the payroll. This entrenchment follows short» after the FCC had rejected Columbia’s plea for permission to go ahead with color television. “We are curtailing research activities in line with our previos statements on the subject,” said President Frank Stanton. “We are concentrating our efforts for the time being on actuality telecasts such as sports and special events.”
CBS is reputed to have spent approximately $2,800,000 on its color television experiment—which was given a knockout blow by the FCC. Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, director of engineering, research and development, who was in charging of the project, is reported to be fighting for the retention of some of his engineers. But CBS headquarters refused to comment on rumor. (NY Daily News, May 3)
Saturday, May 3
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
2:00 Baseball at Ebbets Field, Dodgers vs. Cincinnati, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post cereals.
7:45 CBS Television News with Tom O’Connor.
8:00 Fashion Showcase, latest styles and dancing.
WNBT Channel 4
2:30 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:45 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
2:25 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Washington Senators, play-by-play with J. Roy Stockton and Ellis Veech, sponsored by Purity Bakeries.
7:00 Feature Film.
8:10 Ranger Riders.
8:30 Film show.
8:45 St. Louis Personalities.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3 p.m. Film program for television dealers.
4:30 p.m. Feature harness race direct from Hollywood Park.
7:30 p.m. Tune Up Time. Test slides - recorded music.
8:00 p.m “Your Town—Los Angeles presents Boys in Command,” a feature of International Boys Week.
8:30 p.m. Western feature film.
FASHION SHOWCASE
With John Butler & Allyn Ann McClerie, Nadine Gae & Tommy Wonder; Mary Alan Heganson, narrator; others
Director: Paul Belanger
Asst. Director: Lucille Hudiburg
Set: Jim McNaughton
30 Mins.; Sat. (3), 8 p.m.
Sustaining
WCBS-TV-CBS, N. Y.
CBS television, which is slated to take an indefinite hiatus from live studio programming starting Sunday (11), shuttered its "Fashion Showcase" series last Saturday (3) night on the same high level the show has held since preeming last fall. It's too bad that televiewers will be deprived henceforth of seeing a show that's been consistently one of the most expertly-staged and ambitious productions on the air.
Under the adept direction of Paul Belanger, who long ago learned the knack of integrating choreography with his camera shots, the show followed the usual format of presenting beauteous models draped in new creations of a top designer, this time Nettie Rosenstein. Belanger abandoned his idea of giving the models some acting to do in favor of letting them merely pose, but more than compensated for this with his trick camera work. Standout was a novel method of superimposition, in which two girls were viewed through the lenses of two different cameras and then paraded side by side from a medium shot to a closeup.
Jim McNaughton, long recognized as top tele set designer, outdid himself on this show with an intricate mounting for the action that took full advantage of the large CBS studio. Both he and Belanger are among those dropped from the payroll under the new video policy, but neither of them should have too much trouble tying op to another station. Expert work of the cameramen also rates a nod for this production. Stal. (Variety, May 7)
Sunday, May 4
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
2:00 Baseball at Ebbets Field, Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post cereals.
7:15 Feature film.
8:15 “Come Into the Kitchen” with Heloise Parker Broeg.
8:30 “Party Line” with Bert Parks.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:05 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: New York Giants vs. Chicago Cubs, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
8:00 “At Home With Tex and Jinx,” sponsored by Ipana Toothpaste/Minit-Rub.
8:20 Television Theatre: “Show Business Inc.,” with George Price.
8:50 Sunday Evening Supper, with Lady Mendl.
WABD Channel 5, New York
2:50 Soccer at Yankee Stadium, New York All-Stars vs. Palestine Hapoel.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:00 Film.
8:30 Circus from Chicago Stadium.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:45 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
7:00 City Art Museum program.
7:15 Film show.
7:30 Cartoon Quiz with Amadee.
7:50 Film show.
8:00 News comment by Dr. Roland G. Usher, “Palestine and Oil.”
8:15 Film show.
8:30 Concert by Metropolitan Church Federation Quartet, G. Calvin Ringgenberg, directing.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides, recorded music.
1:30 Baseball double-header from Wrigley Field, Los Angeles vs. Seattle.
8:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides, recorded music.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 “Shopping at Home,” presented by leading Los Angeles stores.
8:55 Latest Paramount News highlights.
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” variety show, m.c.’d by Dick Lane.
9:30 “Adventure Is My Hobby,” with explorer Erwin Williamson.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Western Film.
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports”: Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Rocco Rossano vs. Chester Rice.
WABD Channel 5, New York
12:45 News Tape, from the International News Service.
1:00 to 1:15 Financial News.
3:00 News Tape, from the International News Service.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
8:00 N.Y.U. Presents “Atomic Power in Peace.”
8:30 Film shorts.
8:45 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:30 Wrestling from Midway arena, with Russ Davis, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Weather Forecast and film.
3:25 Occupational therapy demonstration.
3:40 Film.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Film and Personal Appearance by Hilma Seay, 1947 Queen of Cotton.
7:00 Sports Close-Ups with Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
7:20 Film.
7:30 Barbershop Quartet.
8:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m.c.
8:30 Film.
8:50 Board of Education program.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
8:30 Film: “Land for Pioneers.”
8:46 New York Newsreel.
8:46 Film: “Woody Grows.”
9:04-10:04 Film: “Wheels Across India” (Denis-Roosevelt, sponsored by Dodge, 1940)
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides and music.
8:30 Ice Capades of 1947.
“Queen for a Day,” Mutual’s daytime airer, will be televised five evenings a week beginning tonight at 10:30 p.m. over Don Lee’s tele-station W6XAO. Show will not be sponsored, since station does not hold commercial license. Products may be advertised, though Don Lee can not accept payment. (Hollywood Reporter, May 5)
Tuesday, May 6
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:30 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
WABD Channel 5, New York
12:45 News ticker from INS, Test Pattern.
1:00 Financial News.
3:00 to 5:00 News ticker from INS, Test Pattern.
7:00 “Movies for Small Fry” hosted by Bob Emery.
7:30 “Cash and Carry” with Dennis James.
8:00 Western Feature Film, sponsored by Chevrolet, relayed to WTTG.
9:30 “Serving Through Science,” sponsored by U.S. Rubber, relayed to WTTG.
[Herald Tribune has no WABD daytime programming.]
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 “Behind the Headlines.”
7:45 Film short subjects.
8:00 “Remember the Days.”
8:15 Film short subjects.
8:30 Drama: “Speak of the Devil.”
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides and music.
2:30 Baseball. From Wrigley Field. Los Angeles vs. Hollywood Stars.
8:30 p.m. Boxing from Olympic Auditorium. Main event, state featherweight championship bout. Carlos Chavez vs. Harold Dade.
Olympic Boxing Card
Reviewed Tuesday (6), 8:30-11:30 p.m. Style-Boxing bouts. Remote from Olympic Auditorium. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount), Hollywood.
This is the type of tele fare that packs the set -selling punch. For the first time in six years, area's living room lookers got into Olympic Auditorium (or any fight arena) to view boxing thru the video eye. Judging by what was seen at this show, dealers may well expect receiver sales to mount, especially since the outlet has put its Olympic visit on a two-a-week sked.
While KTLA has been scanning studio-staged matches for more than two years, the atmosphere of the professional ring, the roaring crowd and the feeling that is the real thing made tonight's offering head and shoulders above any leather-pusher seg yet to be picked up by this outlet. KTLA brought the Olympic's complete card, including the State championship featherweight bout between Carlos Chavez and Harold Dade. Experience gained by lensers in wielding the tele eye at KTLA's studio matches paid off with high dividends. So well were the cameras piloted that not once did the home-viewer miss his ringside seat. Actually, the set watcher had a better-than-ringside seat from his easy-chair. OWO cameras (image orthicons) were used, blanketing all corners of the ring.
Bill Welch turned in an excellent announcing job. Avoiding the perils of radio's right-to-the-body, left-to-the-jaw school of fight patter, Welch let the tele screen speak for itself, stressing mostly identification of the leather-pushers. A tele-wise move on the part of KTLA Chief Klaus Landsberg was the occasional cut-in shots of the crowd, helping to project into the home the ringside atmosphere. Lee Zhito. (Billboard, May 17)
Wednesday, May 7
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
1:50 Baseball at Ebbets Field, Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Bob Edge announcing, sponsored by Ford and Post cereals.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:20 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
7:30 “Kraft Television Theatre” Drama: “Double Door” with Eleanor Wilson and others.
8:30 “In the Kelvinator Kitchen” with Alma Kitchell. Relayed to WTTG (DuMont) Washington
WABD Channel 5, New York
12:45 to 5:00 News Tape, from the International News Service.
1:00-1:15 Financial News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
8:00 “Dawn of Better Living,” sponsored by Wanamaker’s.
8:30 Film Shorts.
8:45-11:00 Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Tony La Bua vs. Cyril Gallie, sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 “The Time and the Girl.”
7:45 Film short subjects.
8:00 A.F.R.A. show.
8:30 Wrestling from Rainbo arena, with Russ Davis, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00-5:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:30 p.m. Wrestling from Olympic auditorium. Main event, Enrique Torres vs. Maurice La Chappelle.
DOUBLE DOOR
With Eleanor Wilson, Valerie Cossart, Romola Robb, John Baragrey, John Stephen, Joseph Boley, others
Producer-director: Stan Quinn
Adapted by Edmund Rice from play by Elizabeth McFadden
Tech. dir.; Al Protzman
Set: Bob Wade 60 Mins.; Wed. (7), 7:30 p.m. KRAFT
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
(J. Walter Thompson)
New series of Kraft-sponsored one-hour dramats got off to a faulty start over WNBT Wednesday (7) night through the unfortunate selection of a dull, overly-done melodrama that has lost whatever merit it might once have possessed through the passage of time. "Double Door," scripted by Elizabeth McFadden, enjoyed a long run on Broadway in 1933 and was filmed the following year by Paramount but, for video purposes, it was too heavy, slow-paced and outdated.
Cast, most of them experienced legiters, tried hard with the script but could never make their caricaturish roles ring true. Eleanor Wilson built up the right type of antipathy as the sexless, domineering head of the old Van Brett family but the script, forcing her sudden transformation into a gibbering idiot at the fadeout, negated the character. Romola Robb and John Baragrey seemed cold and ill at ease in the romantic leads, never eliciting the audience sympathy they should have had. John Stephen as the doctor, Joseph Boley as the family attorney and Valerie Cossart as the second spinsterish sister fared better in supporting roles.
Quinn integrated his camera work neatly with the script, receiving good support from technical director Al Protzman. Kraft commercials were unobtrusive and deftly-executed, constituting an okay method of filling the screen between acts. Bob Wade's single set of the family's living room and entrance to the double-doored vault was heavy and cold, adding considerably to the play's motif. Stal. (Variety, May 14)
IN THE KELVINATOR KITCHEN
With Alma Kitchell; Ray Forrest, announcer
Director: Howard Cordery
Tech. dir.: Bill States
Set: Bob Wade
20 Mins.; Wed. 8:30 p.m.
NASH-KELVINATOR
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
(Geyer, Newell & Ganger)
An interesting enough show, "In the Kelvinator Kitchen" is another of those slanted directly at the housewives that would best be slotted in the afternoon hours. Because of the difficulties inherent in daytime programming presently, ad agencies are experimenting with such packages after dark, hoping the experience gained will give them sufficient knowhow to take advantage of the time when there's a large enough daytime audience to make such shows pay off.
With her radio background, Mrs. Kitchell speaks her lines well, although it seemed at times as though she was referring too often to a script lying on the table before her. She definitely knows her way around the kitchen and makes the show interesting enough to appeal to whatever male chefs may be in the audience, as well as to the majority of distaffers. Stal. (Variety, May 14)
THE TIME AND THE GIRL
With Bob Dunne, Nancy Elleman
Director-Writer: Lewis Gomevitz
15 Mins., Wednesday [7], 7:30 p.m.
Sustaining
WBKB-Chicago
The very simple, uncomplicated presentation of a 15-minute video show which does nothing but offer glimpse of love match between two nice-looking kids, may be stepping stone to problem of using music in television without worry of criticism from musicians' union.
Program, which is part of series of boy-girl plots, is devoted to singing of two or three romantic ballads by Bob Dunne, bow-tied juvenie, to sweet-faced Nancy Elleman, Catch is that music used for songs, "You Go to My Head," "East of the Sun," and "Goodnight Sweetheart" were ordinary disks with Dunne's voice dubbed in.
Director Lewis Gomevitz did remarkable job of helping Dunne select suitable scores, with odds that audience didn't realize not one of numbers done were in boy's key. Melodies performed were so relaxed, synchronization was not noticeable.
Sets used deserve mention because they were realistic enough to make park and garden scenes authentic. In remainder of series, backgrounds used will include records shops, front parlors and other spots which will create an excuse for a few vocals. Cameras did neat job of following through on actors' smooth performances by not jumping or fading when opposites took over. One camera faux pas of making a scheduled close up a long shot, found hero completely ignoring heroine by looking straight at audience in singing "Goodnight Sweetheart" instead of her. Hunt (Variety, May 14)
Hollywood.—Los Angeles viewers will get regularly scheduled professional fights and wrestling matches on their television receivers under deal made here between Paramount's KTLA and Olympic Stadium. Localites follow example set by New York operators in latching on to the two sports as tops among come-ons to set buying. Coin exchanged, if any, was not revealed.
Deal went into effect tonight (Tues.) [7] with the airing of a State welterweight championship tussle between Carlos Chavez and Harold Dade. It will be further implemented tomorrow night (Wed.) with the coverage of the first wrestling match, and thereafter both will be regularly scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Par claims it has a long-term deal, but this is moot since other prospective operators are sure to pressure the Stadium, among them the Los Angeles Times and other radio stations, both of which can hurt or help the stadium with their double-barreled, coverage. Nearly all seven of the prospective video ops should be in action by next year. At that time there should be considerable action on the question of exclusives.
Hollywood Legion Stadium, considerably smaller, also opens itself to bidding this week. Don Lee station, W6XAO, will carry one fight on a special event basis, but thereafter the Stadium- is open to all comers. It's possible that the Par station will also be in these pitching with others. (Variety, May 7)
Young & Rubicam ad agency, continuing experiments with various television formats for General Foods' sponsorship, is lining up a new half-hour show to replace the Harriet Van Home and James Beard 15-minute segments Thursday nights on WNBT (NBC, N. Y.).
New show will plug La France and Satina, both household products, and will be slanted at housewives with a view to making it a potential daytime program. Agency production staff is currently auditioning talent, with none signed yet. Show has been set for six weeks, to follow "Juvenile Jury," other G-F show, on WNBT.
Y. & R. execs emphasized that neither Beard nor Miss Van Home are being replaced, but that they were signed only for seven weeks for experimental purposes. Duo plugged Birdseye frozen foods, and NBC has received more than 500 requests for food recipes introduced by Beard on his "I Love to Eat" segment.
Y. & R. is also prepping a series of one-minute weather commercials to plug Instant Sanka coffee, another G-F product, which will preem on WABD (DuMont, N. Y.), June 2. Commercials, which will run 39 weeks, are being filmed by Audio Productions, N. Y. indie outfit. (Variety, May 7)
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:45 “All New York Junior High School Quiz.”
8:15 CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 Baseball from Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post cereals.
Weather reports sponsored by Reid’s Ice Cream.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Juvenile Jury” from NBC’s Studio 8-G with Jack Barry, sponsored by Gaines Dog Food.
8:30 “Birdseye Open House,” interviews by Harriet Van Horne and food recipes with James Beard, sponsored by Birdseye Frozen Foods
9:00 “You Are an Artist” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
9:10 Television Newsreel, Frederick Woltman, guest.
WABD Channel 5, New York
12:45 to 5:00 News Tape, from the International News Service, with Financial Talks.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film short.
8:00 Junior Jamboree.
8:30 “Swing Into Golf” with Ernie Jones, sponsored by the Perry Blouse Company.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
7:30 Milt Hopwood’s Sports Show.
8:00 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” cartoon drawing show.
8:15 “Let’s Face It.”
8:30 Teen Agers of America.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
7:50 NBC program.
8:00 Pete Boyle’s Sketchbook, Film, Sears Visi-Quiz.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Air Fair Atomic Energy Exhibit.
3:45 Man on the Street.
8:25 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Philadelphia A’s, play-by-play with J. Roy Stockton and Ellis Veech, sponsored by Purity Bakeries.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00-5:00 Film program for television dealers.
4:30 “Lest We Forget,” sponsored by the U.S. Army.
8:00 Baseball. From Wrigley Field. Los Angeles vs. Hollywood Stars.
Network television for Chicago came into view yesterday [May 8] with the announcement by William C. Eddy, director of radio station WBKB, that it is ready to telecast, by way of very high frequency (VHF) radio relay, special events from northern Indiana. Construction of relay links, now in their final stage, will connect South Bend with the station’s transmitter at 190 N. State st. This will make it possible to telecast Notre Dame’s home football games next fall. A special two hour program from Indiana, saluting Illinois televiewers, is planned for early in June to celebrate completion of the relay system.
Besides bringing Chicago viewers an expanded coverage of sports and special events, the new video relay system gives promise of providing the necessary link in the summer of 1948 to show the midwest the Republican national convention in Philadelphia. Other television features now carried over the eastern coaxial cable network also are expected.
Further Connections Possible.
The WBKB relay can be tied in with any other similar system that may be developed to the cast, possibly out of Detroit, Toledo, or Cleveland, which either have television stations or soon will have them. The relay also can be linked up with any telecasting that may be done thru coaxial cable systems now being laid by the American Telephone and Telegraph company.
A coaxial cable link between Cleveland and Chicago is scheduled for completion within a year. A coaxial cable is already laid from downtown Chicago southward to the city limits. Another line being laid westward from Cleveland will pass thru South Bend.
Plan Fair Telecast
Eddy said plans are being made to telecast highlights of the La Porte, Ind. fair, perhaps the Columbian yacht races at Michigan City, and other south shore events. Construction of other relay links later will make it possible to show events in Purdue university at Lafayette and in the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Construction of the new relay system, with transmitter-receiver towers in Michigan City and New Carlisle, constitutes a major step toward making Chicago the television hub of the nation, Eddy said. (Larry Wolters, Chi. Trib. May 9)
Middletown.—A shortened version of the ’92 Theater Group production, MacBeth, will be televised through General Electric Television station WRGB in Schenectady, N.Y., on May 8, at 7:30 p.m., Ralph Pendleton, director, announced today [3].
Present statistics show that Macbeth will be the first Shakespearean production ever televised, as well as the first Wesleyan play ever televised.
Arthur Weld, ’37, program director for WRGB and former Wesleyan drama star noted for his performance of Herod in the Shearman and the Taylors, originated the idea. The directors of WRGB have shown their enthusiasm by offering to pay the expenses of the 18 persons in the cast.
Members of the cast will leave the campus next Thursday, and have three preliminary rehearsals before showtime. The original costumes will be used. (Hartford Courant, May 3)
Friday, May 9
2:30 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: Giants vs. Boston Braves, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
8:20 “In Town Today” with Buffalo Bob Smith.
8:30 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:47 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports”: Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena. Willie Beltram vs. Al Guido.
Time Signal sponsored by Benrus.
WABD Channel 5, New York
12:45 News Tape from INS.
1:00 Financial News, sponsored by Bache and Co.
3:30 News Tape from INS.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film Shorts.
8:00 “Open Door”: Television Talent Hunt.
8:30 Film Shorts.
9:00-11:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 Short subjects.
8:00 “Telequizzicalls,” sponsored by Commonwealth Edison.
8:30 Films.
9:00 Boxing at Rainbo arena, Jackie Darthard vs Ray Barnes, welterweight, eight rounds, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00, 2:00-5:00, 6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC program.
8:20 “Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbels.
8:35 “Pleased to Meet You.”
8:45 NBC program.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Southern Baptist Convention Program.
3:45 Man on the Street.
4:00 Film Shows.
8:25 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Cleveland Indians, play-by-play with J. Roy Stockton and Ellis Veech, sponsored by Purity Bakeries.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2:30 Test Pattern.
3:30-4:30 Variety Film.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00-5:00 Film program for television dealers. Begins with the 10-minute short "What a Day," produced especially for television with a cast of children.
8:00 Baseball. From Wrigley Field. Los Angeles vs. Hollywood Stars.
HOLLYWOOD, May 10.—Reciprocal news film-strip exchange plan between Don Lee's W6XAO and Columbia's CBS-TV in New York has now reached an active stage and bids fair to become an important tele adjunct in the future, according to Harry Lubcke, Don Lee tele director. Film switch deal was consummated around first of this year and provides for free interchange of news shots deemed of interest to video lookers in both areas.
Exchange to date has been one sided, with Don Lee airmailing eight news strips to CBS. Columbia last week shipped a total of 11 minutes of footage as its first contribution to Coast lookers.
It has been Don Lee's practice to shoot footage on week-ends for inclusion in regularly skedded Monday telecasts, with prints flown to New York the same day. Films are silent, altho Don Lee provides cue sheets for narration and music cues to be edited and produced by CBS in New York. (Billboard, May 17)
Saturday, May 10
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:45 CBS Television News with Tom O’Connor.
8:00 Variety Showcase.
8:30 Circus from Madison Square Garden, Gil Fates, commentary, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT Channel 4
1:30 Clown Alley, with performer from the Circus.
2:20 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: Giants vs. Boston Braves, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:45 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:30 Junior Achievement Fashion Show.
4:00 Film Shows.
8:25 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Cleveland Indians, play-by-play with J. Roy Stockton and Ellis Veech, sponsored by Purity Bakeries.
3 p.m. Film program for television dealers.
4:30 p.m. Feature harness race direct from Hollywood Park.
7:30 p.m. Tune Up Time. Test slides - recorded music.
8:00 p.m “Your Town—Los Angeles presents Music For Everyone.”
8:15 “Adventure is My Hobby” with explorer Irwin Williamson.
8:30 p.m. Western feature film.
Sunday, May 11
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:15 Feature film.
8:15 “Happy Headlines” with Lawrence Larrier, cartooning oddities in the news.
8:30 “Party Line” with Bert Parks.
2:05 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: New York Giants vs. Boston Braves, Bob Stanton play-by-play.
8:00 “At Home With Tex and Jinx,” sponsored by Ipana Toothpaste/Minit-Rub
8:30 Feature film: “Turn of the Tide” with Geraldine Fitzgerald (Gaumont, 1935).
[Note: Inquirer says Tex-Jinx, Film, NBC Tele-Theater, Religious Film.]
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
8:00 Interview with Ralph Edwards of the Truth or Consequences program.
8:10 Film.
8:20 Comment by Dr. Roland G. Usher on "The Strategic Position of Turkey".
8:30 Film.
9:00 Film.
9:10 Art Museum program.
9:30 Southern Baptist convention program; Dr. L. D. Newton, president of the convention; Oklahoma University Glee Club.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:30 Baseball double-header from Wrigley Field, Los Angeles vs. Hollywood.
8:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides, recorded music.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 “Shopping at Home,” with Keith Hetherington and Harrise Brin, presented by leading Los Angeles stores.
8:55 Latest Paramount News highlights.
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” variety show, m.c.’d by Dick Lane.
Killers of the Deep
Reviewed Sunday (11), 9:30-10 p.m. Style—Film plus live running commentary. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount), Hollywood.
Having ironed out the kinks in its thriller-diller series, Adventure Is My Hobby, outlet's Killers of the Deep episode tonight was its smoothest to date. Opened with telephone operator gimmick, gal telling a "caller" that the show is about to go on. Then a brief shot of a glamour gal operator was faded into a close-up of explorer-narrator Erwin Williamson. Latter then presented a short explanatory intro to the undersea footage, laying the groundwork for the suspenseful material to follow.
Filmed by Williamson off the coast of Florida, footage showed the deadly creatures of the deep. Undersea camera suddenly sprung into action as it was focused on an eel and octopus locked in a death battle. Williamson, providing the live commentary, made the most of the situation in describing the struggle that brought death to the octopus. Williamson's "I was there" patter, was voiced and worded in a manner that had viewers biting their nails.
Roy Rowen [Rowan] this week replaced Dick Lane in the interviewer's slot, definitely improving the question-answer portion of the seg that followed the film. Rowen handled the queries in a straight fashion, giving Williamson the limelight thruout. Audience participation gimmick is worked, with studio audience as well as home viewers calling in questions. Seg is rounded out with a shot of the "phone operator" and "call in your questions next week" routine. Operator's fade-out sequence could be improved by trimming it down to just a brief shot. Lee Zhito. (Billboard, May 17)
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
1:30 Baseball at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn vs. Boston, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post cereals.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Film: “Idaho Kid” with Rex Bell (Colony, 1936).
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports: Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Amelio Agramonte vs, Billy Grant.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00-1:15 Financial News.
6:45 Sports News,
7:00 “Small Fry Club” hosted by Bob Emery.
7:30 Feature Film.
8:30 Film Shorts.
8:45-11:00 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:30 Wrestling from Midway arena, with Russ Davis, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00, 2:00-5:00, 6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Weather forecast; film.
3:30 Interview with Dorothy and Ernie Lind, sharpshooters.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, M C.
4:30 Film.
7.00 Barbershop quartet and film.
7:30 Sports Close-Ups with Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
8:00 Man on the Street.
8:30 Film.
8:45 Board of Education Program.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2:30 Test Patterns and Station Identification.
2:35 Film: “Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.”
3:03 Test Patterns and Station Identification.
3:30 Film: “India’s Prize Cattle.”
3:41 Film: “Lima.”
3:51 Film: “Strength of the Hills.”
4:01-4:30 Test Patterns and Station Identification.
6:30-8:31 Test Patterns and Station Identification.
8:31 Film: “The 5C Clubs of Cuba.”
8:48 Film: “The Redwood Saga.
8:59 Test Patterns and Station Identification.
9:00 Film: “New Trails Through Mexico.”
9:28 Film: “The Steam Locomotive.”
9:39 Test Patterns and Closing Announcement.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides and music.
8:30 Ice Capades of 1947.
Tuesday, May 13
WNBT Channel 4, New York City
2:00 Opening of RCA Exhibition Hall.
WABD Channel 5, New York City
1:00 Financial News.
1:50 Baseball from Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. St. Louis Browns, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
7:00 “Movies for Small Fry” hosted by Bob Emery.
7:30 “Cash and Carry” with Dennis James.
8:00 Western Feature Film, sponsored by Chevrolet, relayed to WTTG.
9:30 “Serving Through Science,” sponsored by U.S. Rubber, relayed to WTTG.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Boston Braves, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
7:30 “Behind the Headlines.”
7:45 Film short subjects.
8:00 “Remember the Days.”
8:15 Film short subjects.
8:30 Drama: “Speak of the Devil.”
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Cleveland Indians, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides and music.
4:00 Film program for television dealers.
4:30 “Your Town—Los Angeles Presents.”
8:30 p.m. Boxing from Olympic Auditorium. Main event, Bobby Zander vs. Fitzy Fitzpatrick, heavyweights.
Wednesday, May 14
WNBT Channel 4, New York
7:30 “Kraft Television Theatre”. Drama: “Merton of the Movies” with Eddie Mayehoff.
8:30 “In the Kelvinator Kitchen” with Alma Kitchell. Relayed to WTTG (DuMont) Washington.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00 News Tape, from the International News Service, with Financial Reports.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. St. Louis Browns, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
6:54 Sports News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
8:00 “Dawn of Better Living,” America's Own Fragrence, sponsored by Wanamaker’s.
8:30 Film Shorts.
8:45-11:00 Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Warren Peterson vs. Andy Peppe, sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Boston Braves, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
7:15 “Name Your Temperature.”
7:30 “Frank Wood, Private Detective.”
8:00 Film short subjects.
8:15 “The Time and the Girl.”
8:30 Wrestling from Rainbo arena, with Russ Davis, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Cleveland Indians, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
8:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides and music.
8:30 Wrestling matches at the Olympic Arena, George and Bobby Becker vs. Jules Strongbow and Rebel Russell; Reginald Siki vs. Billy Venable.
New series of Kraft-sponsored full-length plays on WNBT (NBC, N. Y.) is still having trouble getting its best foot forward. After teeing off with a slow-paced melodrama, "Double Door," May 7, the J. Walter Thompson producers came back last Wednesday (14) night with "Merton of the Movies," another slow-paced dramat. Only difference was that "Merton" was supposed to be a comedy—at least that's the way the old Famous Players treated the George S. Kaufman-Marc Connelly script in 1924 and the way Metro hopes its remake of the film will turn out this year.
Chief fault with the televised version of "Merton" is in the direction which never brought the script above the dull, stodgy pattern set in the first act. Eddie Mayehoff, star of the late "Hour Glass" series on WNBT, at several times achieved the pathos inherent in the tragicomic character of the star-worshipping hick who wants to act in "finer things" on the screen." Rest of the cast, including Barbara Joyce as the girl, played their roles competently but without the relish that better direction would have imparted.
After two tries, the series' chief saving grace is its novel method of presentation — which doesn't make for a full hour of entertainment. (Variety, May 21)
WASHINGTON. May 14—-The Federal Communications Commission authorized today four new television stations in the New York metropolitan area.
Making final a proposed decision announced April 15, the commission assigned television channels to Bamberger Broadcasting Service. Inc., operator of station WOR in New York: American Broadcasting Co., Inc., which operates WJZ in New York and other stations: News Syndicate Co., Inc., publisher of “The Daily News” in New York, and Bremer Broadcasting Corp., which operates station WAAT in Newark, N. J.
The commission gave America Broadcasting Co. channel No. 7, Bamberger No. 9, “The News” No. 11, and Bremer No. 13. (Herald Tribune, May 14)
Thursday, May 15
8:15 CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 Exhibition Billiards: Willie Hoppe, Charlie Peterson, Jimmy Caras, Jimmy Cattrano.
9:00 Film: “Ticket to a Dance.
Weather reports sponsored by Reid’s Ice Cream.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Juvenile Jury” from NBC’s Studio 8-G with Jack Barry, sponsored by Gaines Dog Food.
8:30 “Birdseye Open House,” interviews by Harriet Van Horne and food recipes with James Beard, sponsored by Birdseye Frozen Foods
9:00 “You Are an Artist” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
9:10 “In Town Today” with Buffalo Bob Smith.
9:20 Television Newsreel.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00 News Tape, from the International News Service, with Financial Reports.
6:54 Sports News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Birthday Party with Bill Slater (debut).
8:00 Film short.
8:15 “Swing Into Golf” with Ernie Jones, sponsored by the Perry Blouse Company.
8:30 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
8:40 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. White Sox, play by play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. N.Y. Giants, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
7:30 “Let’s Face It.”
7:45 “Cavalcade of Medicine.”
8:00 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” cartoon drawing show.
8:15 Film, short subjects.
8:30 Milt Hopwood’s Sports Review, with western conference championship fencing team.
9:00 “Thoughts and Silhouettes.”
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Detroit Tigers, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
7:50 NBC program.
8:00 University Museum—Once Upon a Time in Music, Film, Sears Visi-Quiz.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Folk Festival Interview.
3:45 Man on the Street.
4:00 Film shows.
8:10 Sports Closeups with Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
8:25 Baseball from Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Boston Braves, sponsored by Purity Bakery.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides and music.
4:00 Film program for television dealers.
4:30 “Lest We Forget,” presented by your regular army.
8:15 Baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. San Francisco Seals.
Birthday Party
Reviewed Thursday (15), 7:30-8 p.m. Style—Amateur show. Sustaining over WABD (DuMont), New York.
Concocted by Dave Alber and Lou Dahlman, Birthday Party is a kiddie package geared strictly for the moppet viewer. With veteran Bill Slater playing Uncle Bill to a precocious gang of juveniles at the DuMont studios, each show has as guest of honor some tyke who is celebrating a birthday to make the viewers part of the party, youngsters who have birthdays are invited to send their names in to Slater, who reads them off during the program. Show itself consists of orthodox amateur stuff rendered by the guests at the studio party.
Best portions of the show were those where the kids were spotted doing their acts or sitting at the birthday table. Slater on his own was okay, and his sympathetic and fond handling of the four-year-old chief guest was well done. However, when Slater engaged the older performers in pre-performance chatter, they seemed wooden, ill at ease and acutely conscious of the cameras, at which the kids, without exception, stared.
There were some original touches to the production, with Slater making his entrance via a chimney, to plop on the floor for a camera close-up. However, while the 10 acts presented were capable enough, they offered little variety from the humdrum tap and song stuff. Moreover, excessive mugging and gesturing by most of the performers seem to indicate that, regardless of age, presence of a mike or a camera is sufficient to bring out the ham in a performer. School-agers may find Birthday Party satisfactory fare if greater variety can be instilled init. Sam Chase. (Billboard, May 24)
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