A company called Austin Nichols did that in May 1947. It put together four and even eight-minute commercials that ran in conjunction with some New York Yankees games. The shorter one was sold to a wine company. This sounds much like the two-minute Coca-Cola cartoons produced by the Walter Lantz studio in the early 1950s.
The second half of May included some tests as new stations were about to sign on. Milwaukee’s shows were aimed at women in department stores as they were closed-circuit. The Detroit News’ WWDT had been allowed to change its call-letters to match the newspaper’s radio station and was selling air-time for its relaunching.
The Los Angeles experimental station decided to experiment with morning television, as W6XAO moved Queen For a Day from evenings. This was a separate show from the one airing on the Mutual radio network.
TV viewers must have loved Tex and Jinx. They now had two shows, both sponsored. That doesn’t include their radio work (they had a newspaper column at one time as well). The photo to the right was taken off a TV screen in 1947.
It’s a long way from hosting an audience participation show to calling a play-by-play of fighter jets in the air, but that’s what announcer Gil Fates did this month. He later produced What’s My Line.
There’s no story on it, but the TV listings below reveal KSD-TV in St. Louis had a deal with NBC to broadcast its newsreel. As there was no cable to St. Louis, a reel would have had to have been sent by plane. Considering people were used to going into a theatre and seeing Friday newsreel footage screened three days later on a Monday, the delay was not unusual in that era.
Coincidentally, two comic strips had TV gags on the same day. They’re reprinted below.
Friday, May 16
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
12:00 Mock Air Raid Over New York by 125 B-29s. Gil Fates will describe the “bombing runs.” CBS Television cameras will be located on the Chrysler Tower.
No Time Set: U.N. Plenary Session on Palestine.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
12:00 Mock Air Raid Over New York.1:00 “Swift Home Service Club” with Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenberg, Walter Florell, guest.
1:30 Newsreel.
1:40 Tatiana Angeline, soprano.
1:45 Film: “Leda and the Elephant” musical with five-year-old Natasha Zashipina (USSR, Brandon, 1946).
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
8:15 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:30 Photo Carnival: 71st Street Regiment Armory.
9:15 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports”: Boxing from Madison Square Garden. Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Georgie Abrams.
Time Signal sponsored by Benrus.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00 Financial News.
6:55 Fishing News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film shorts: “Shad Fishing in the Hudson.”
8:00 “Open Door”: Television Talent Hour.
8:30 “The Magic Carpet” by Bud Gamble, sponsored by Alexander Smith Carpets.
8:45-11:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
WBKB Channel 5, 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 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 Short subjects.
8:00 “Telequizzicalls,” sponsored by Commonwealth Edison.
8:30 Films.
9:00 Boxing at Madison Athletic club, 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 program.
8:20 “Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbels.
8:35 “Pleased to Meet You.”
9:15 NBC program.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views. 3:15 "Looking Ahead"; St. Louis University dramatic presentation of television in education.
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, Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton announcing, sponsored by Purity Bakery. W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2:30 Test Patterns and music.
2:35: Film: “Life of a Hummingbird.”
2:45 Film “Death Valley.”
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides and music.
4:00 Film program for television dealers.
SWIFT HOME SERVICE CLUB
With Tex McCrary, Jinx Falkenburg, Martha Logan, Sandra Gahle, Walter Florell, others
Producer: Lee Cooley
Directors: Tom Hutchinson, Ed Sobel
30 Mins.; Friday, 1 p.m.
SWIFT
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
(McCann-Erickson)
Show also marks the first entry of the Swift Co. into video bankrolling and the second tele series starring the Mr. and Mrs. team of Tex and Jinx (they also have a Sunday night show on WNBT sponsored by Bristol-Myers). McCann-Erickson tele director Lee Cooley has wrapped up a neat package for the daytime series, format of which is akin to most home economics shows currently on the air.
McCrary and Miss Falkenburg act as dual emcees, with their chatter keeping the program rolling at a nice pace. Show has been broken into three different segments, one featuring interior decorator Sandra Gahle, one with Swift home economist Martha Logan and the last featuring a little audience participation stint judged by a different guest each week. Teeoff program had hat designer Walter Florell judging three women on their hat judgment, with the prize consisting of a specially-designed Florell chapeau for the winner.
Miss Gahle handled her part of the show well, seemingly perfectly at ease before the cameras and in her chit-chat with Tex and Jinx. Miss Logan, while apparently at home in the kitchen, needs much more experience to overcome her faltering monolog of explanation. Commercials for Swift Premium Ham were integrated neatly into the script, which made them entirely unobtrusive. Stal. (Variety, May 21)
THE MAGIC CARPET
With Mr. and Mrs. Frank Clinton
Producer-Director: Bud Gamble
15 Mins.; Fri., 8:30 p.m.
ALEXANDER SMITH CARPET CO.
WABD, DuMont, N. Y.
(Anderson, Davis & Platte)
Search for new, inexpensive and easy ideas for production is still video's main preoccupation and this show is just another indication that the medium will have to direct its energies into more creative channels before it makes the grade. New format for the Alexander Smith Carpet show is built around parlor room sleight-of-hand tricks and will feature a roster of w.k. magickers. Nothing's wrong with this idea that some imaginative production couldn't cure.
As it unfolded on the preem (16), however, show was a carelessly assembled bag of tricks with only an occasional flash of interest. Frank Clinton's stunts were okay, even if a bit conventional, but the performance lacked sufficient pace to carry through the full session. Handling of the cameras didn't help matters either with switchovers from long shots to closeups frequently taking place just at the point where they obscured the illusion.
Staging of the plugs, moreover, made no attempt to exploit video's possibilities, and as a result they ended up being less effectual than straight radio commercials. It's no help having the cameras staring coldly at a femme announcer as she runs through a typical spiel in behalf of the bankroller. Almost any illustrative material would have improved the situation. Herm. (Variety, May 21)
Saturday, May 17
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:45 CBS Television News with Tom O’Connor.
8:00 Documentary Film: “The City.”
8:30 Boxing from Ridgewood Grove. Harry Berntsen vs. Earl Lowman, heavyweight, eight rounds.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
3:45 Withers Handicap, Belmont Park.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:20 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. White Sox, play by play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. N.Y. Giants, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
8:30 Harness Racing from Maywood, sponsored by Fox Brewing.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:45 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Detroit Tigers, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
2:25 Baseball from Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Boston Braves, Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton announcing, sponsored by Purity Bakery. 7:00 Film show: Gene Tierney in “Shanghai Gesture” (UA, 1941)
8:30 NBC newsreel.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:00 Film program for television dealers.
3:00 Film.
4:30 Feature harness race direct from Hollywood Park.
7:30 p.m. Tune Up Time. Test slides - recorded music.
8:15 Baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. San Francisco Seals.
NEW YORK, May 17.—First results of DuMont Television's sales drive started earlier this month became evident this week with announcement of several new spot sales for WABD, New York outlet. In addition, the station is said to be deep in negotiations for sale of two sustaining programs, Small Fry and Cash & Carry.
The Pepsi-Cola Company has signed to sponsor one-minute spots before daytime Yankee baseball games, and six-minute spots before each evening game. The agency is Newell-Emmett. Four-minute spots before afternoon games and eight-minute spots preceding night contests have been taken by the Austin Nichols Company for Mouquin Wines. These will be in the nature of brief quiz programs called Faces To Remember. Alfred Lilly Company is the agency.
One-minute weather broadcasts Monday thru Friday will be sponsored by Sanka Coffee thru Young & Rubicam, Inc. Keystone Plating Company has signed to sponsor a five-minute program of sports news daily immediately preceding the Small Fry show. This contract is renewable after 13 weeks. (Billboard, May 24)
NEW YORK, May 17.—Mueller's Macaroni Products on May 28 at 8:30 p.m. on WABD will bankroll a half-hour dramatic show adapted and directed by ex-G.I. graduates of the American Theater Wing Professional School. Production, supervised by Harvey Marlowe, will be All Men Are Created— written by Bernard Karlen and Barbara Leondar.
Duane Jones is the agency. (Billboard, May 24)
Sunday, May 18
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:30 Film: “Last of the Mohicans,” first chapter in a film serial of James Fennimore Cooper's classic.
7:50 Film: “Where Love Is God Is,” film version of Tolstoy's Cobbler story.
8:30 Photo Carnival: 71st Regiment Armory.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
3:00 Soccer game: Hapoel vs. New York All-Stars at Triborough Stadium.
8:00 “At Home With Tex and Jinx” sponsored by Ipana toothpaste/Minit-Rub.
8:15 Feature film.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians, play by play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. St. Louis Browns (doubleheader), play-by-play with Claude Haring.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
8:00 Comment by Dr. Roland G. Usher.
8:15 Film show.
8:30 Record Shop; Ted Ford, lyric tenor, formerly of D'Oyly Carte opera company; ballet presentation of Debussy's "Claire de Lune."
8:50 Film.
9:00 Art Museum program with the discussion by Mrs. Edwin Grossman of the art of Greece and Rome.
9:20 Film show.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:30 Baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. San Francisco Seals.
8:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides, recorded music.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 “Shopping at Home” with Keith Hetherington and Harrise Bris, 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.
9:15 “Adventure is My Hobby” with explorer Irwin Williamson.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Film: “The Range Busters” with Ray Corrigan, Dusty King, Max Terhune (Monogram, 1940).
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports: Boxing at St. Nicholas Arena. Leo Matriccini vs. Cleo Everett.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00 Financial News.
1:45 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians, play by play with Bill Slater.
6:54 Sports News,
7:00 “Small Fry Club” hosted by Bob Emery.
7:30 Feature Film: “Shanghai Gesture” with Gene Tierney, Walter Huston and Victor Mature.
915 Amateur Boxing at Jamaica Arena, sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
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 Film.
3:25 Dean Alexander Langsdorf of the Washington University School of Engineering.
3:40 Film.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m. c.
4:30 Film.
6:00 Hobnobbers singing duo.
7:10 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 to 9:00 Film and National Folk Festival program.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
2.30 Test Patterns and music.
3:15 Films.
4.20 Rocket Test Film.
8:30 Film: “Pancho and the Burro.”
9:33-10:05 State Golf Championship.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:30 Charlie Chaplin Film Revival.
9:41 “Ice Capades of 1947.”
Beginning Wednesday "Queen For A Day" will be televised five days a week at 10 a.m. over Don Lee's W6XAO. (Hollywood Citizen-News, May 19)
Tuesday, May 20
1:00 Financial News.
1:45 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball from Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians, 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. Philadelphia Phillies, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
7:30 “Behind the Headlines.”
7:45 Songs by Carol Robbins.
8:00 “Remember the Days.”
8:30 Poe’s “Cash of Amontillado.”
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. St. Louis Browns, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
4:30 “Your Town—Los Angeles Presents.”
8:30 Boxing from Olympic auditorium, main event, Turkey Thompson vs. Johnny Haynes.
Chicago, May 20.—Since first of March, 19 days of video demonstrations have been held by Milwaukee tele station WTMJ-TV with 455,398 people clocked as having watched video shows. Most shows have originated in department stores and feature fashion and cooking pointers.
Station still has not started to transmit for home receivers. (Variety, May 21)
Wednesday, May 21
WNBT Channel 4, New York
7:30 “Kraft Television Theatre.” Drama: “A Doctor in Spite of Himself” by Moliere, with William Lynn and Elizabeth Morgan.
8:30 “In the Kelvinator Kitchen” with Alma Kitchell. Relayed to WTTG (DuMont) Washington.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00-1:05 News Tape, from the International News Service, with Financial Reports.
6:54 Sports News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film Shorts.
8:00 “Sew For Summer.”
8:30 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
8:40 Baseball from Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
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, 2:00-5:00, 6:30-7:30 Test Chart.
8:45 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Chicago White Sox, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
4:00 Film.
8:30 Wrestling at the Olympic Stadium, Enrique Torres vs. George Becker.
QUEEN FOR A DAY
With Jack Bailey
Directors: Gilbert Wyland and Stuart Phelps
30 Mins.; Wed. (21) 10 a.m.
Sustainer
W6XAO, Hollywood
The televizing of a regular radio commercial show of this type sans any video dressing proves two things: First, those who thought it simple are right. Second, adding nothing but picturization to a productionally-light show proves that there's really little show when audio illusion is lost. This instance further demonstrated little showmanship as well, but this was due largely to the imposed restrictions on interloping televisionaries. In short, nothing new has been added. Perhaps there's something removed that should merely be replaced.
As an experiment in which regular sponsors (Alka-Seltzer and Philip Morris) get a cuffo plug due to the station's non-commercial status, it must serve as a proving ground for testing things of its kind, daytime audience tastes or preferences, and otherwise help pave the way for tele's one-day certain commercial future. But this isn't it. There's some spontaneity for tele that is a kick but then there's also the time alerts, applause encouragements and other matters that do not go for making a visual show. M.C. Jack Bailey, fortunately, was not camera shy and his animated style and mugging were an assist, along with such items as the Earl Carroll cuties who ladle the loot. On the other hand, the circuit riders of daytime shows who show up for every giveaway program are stereotyped, dull and dowdy. Question is how long can they sustain interest—even from a curious femme who wants to see the lucky girls daily.
Crew did all possible with a faulty Orthieon and an I.O. planted in the center aisle. When given more latitude and privilege, coverage should improve. They were further limited by completely uninspired commercials of an off-screen announcer ballying as camera centered on huge posters on stage drop, plus a darkened house that permitted no audience reaction or other teletricks. Previous sneak preview was obviously of little help but reports are event has perked since first live run. It's also interesting to note that retail shops have installed window bally cards at their own expense. Hurl. (Variety, May 28)
Reviewed Wednesday (21), 8:30-11 p.m. Style—Wrestling matches remote from Olympic Auditorium. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount) Hollywood.
In addition to its other out-of-the-studio tele ventures (boxing, baseball and harness racing), KTLA's weekly pickup of the Olympic wrestling card adds considerable weight to its already formidable sports array. Wrestling, as boxing, is ideal video fare, since it offers that remains plenty of action restricted in a relatively small area.
Thanks to on-the-toes lensing, grunt and groan addicts get a far better view of the action via tele than the ringsiders.
Dick Lane is at his best in calling the holds. Possessing a thoro knowledge the various holds and at the same time flavors his gab with the general excitement.
As the drive continues to boost the number of sets here, outlet bringing segs such as this automatically works hand in glove with dealers. With sports one of the area's biggest draws, KTLA is wise to follow its present trend of intensive sports coverage. Lee Zhito. (Billboard, May 31)
Thursday, May 22
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
8:15 CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 Quickie Quiz.
8:35 Museum of Natural History.
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 “The Wife Saver” with Allen Prescott, sponsored by General Foods (debut).
9:00 “You Are an Artist” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
9:10 “In Town Today” with Buffalo Bob Smith.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00 Financial News.
1:45 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball from Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
6:54 Sports News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 “Birthday Party” with Bill Slater.
8:00 Film short.
8:15 Shad Fishing in the Hudson.
8:30 “Swing Into Golf”: footage of the National Celebrities Golf Tournament, sponsored by the Perry Blouse Company, relayed to WTTG Washington.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
7:30 “Cavalcade of Medicine.”
7:45 “Let’s Face It.”
8:00 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” cartoon drawing show.
8:15 Film, short subjects.
8:30 Milt Hopwood’s Sports Show, with Freddy Casserio, Golden Gloves championship team coach, and six members of the American team.
9:00 “Northwestern university’s Playhouse.”
[Note: Chicago listings are incomplete. See story below. Women’s baseball debuted on this date.] WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:00-12:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Chicago White Sox, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
7:50 NBC program.
8:00 “Pleased to Meet You,” Film, Sears Visi-Quiz, Film.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views. 3:15 Film. 3:25 Singing Miners.
3:45 Board of Education program.
4:00 Film.
8:00 N.B.C. Newsreel.
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. Pittsburgh Pirates, Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton announcing, sponsored by Purity Bakery. KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
4:00 Films for television dealers.
4:30 “Lest We Forget,” presented by your new regular army.
8:15 Baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Portland Beavers.
THE WIFE SAVER
With Allen Prescott, Arthur Harold, Linda Watkins, Barney Goodwin, Edwin Brunce
Director: Ernest Colling
Producer: David Levy
Set: Bob Wade
30 Mins.; Thurs., 8:30 p.m.
GENERAL FOODS
WNBT, N. Y.
(Young & Rubicam)
Allen Prescott, of course, is an old hand at this sort of thing; he has been dishing out household hints via his "Wife Saver" shows on the radio for years. Homemakers who care for his off-the-elbow, sense and nonsense style of patter on the air should really enjoy this tele edition, inasmuch as it gives them a chance to see the fellow (who's quite personable looking, too) demonstrate his odd assortment of time and labor saving devices—buttons strung on strings, pins stuck in corks, etc.
Prescott carried off his video debut with remarkable ease considering the fact that he had to keep up an almost continuous monolog throughout the half-hour. He managed it with scarcely a hitch, hum or haw. His rather deadpan, preoccupied fooling was faintly reminiscent at moments of the late Robert Benchley in film shorts.
For variation from his routine, Prescott introed (1) several femme guests to tell their own household hints (they got ciggie cases for their trouble; (2) Arthur Harold, "the gadget man," to explain a couple of kitchen accessories, and (3) a running gag about a father chasing his son around the table, trying to get him to eat an egg. Latter was weakest part of the show, being a little too far on the silly slapstick side. Show's commercials could stand some dressing up. "Housewife" who delivered the first one sounded unsure of her lines and the sliding cartoon strip used fore and aft was flat and unappealing, considering what is possible in tele commercials. Doan. (Variety, May 28)
Chicago.—The shape of things to come in television seems to be pretty feminine. You may get a glimpse of it any Thursday evening thru the eyes of station WBKB when it telecasts the games of the National Girls’ Baseball league from Parichy stadium on the west side. The cameras, hoisted onto a special stand overlooking the park, give televiewers excellent closeups of pretty girls in natty blouses and shorts and two toned knee length socks. The fact that the diamond is so much smaller than that of a major league park and that the cameras are located near-by makes it possible to get clearer pictures and to cover the whole field.
Use a 12 Inch Ball
The pictures show the wheeling, underhand pitching of the girls and the dizzy speed they achieve with this type of a throw. They use a 12 inch ball, its size and nearness make it possible to follow it all the time.
Thursday evening the televiewers saw pretty Nelda Bird of Los Angeles pitch her first game—a game her team, the Cardinals, won largely because of her skill. Laura Holder of Chicago was the catcher. The other team’s [Chicks] battery was Helen Congleton of Louisville and Ruby Knezovich, Regina, Canada. Shirley Dressander of Maywood relieved Miss Congleton In the seventh.
Play 90 Game Schedule
The six team Chicago league plays a 90 game schedule1 winding up on Labor day. Eighty per cent of the players come from outside of Chicago. Twenty-one states are represented.
Harold [Red] Grange is the commissioner of this feminine league. (Larry Wolters, Chi. Trib., May 24)
Milt Hopwood's Sports Show
Reviewed Thursday (22), 8:30-9 p.m. Sustaining sports commentary interview and demonstration presented by WBKB, Chicago.
This show, like so many aired via television today, proved that unless all details of production are worked out in advance, and unless plenty of rehearsal and pre-show confabs on direction are the rule, the program just won't make the video grade.
Hopwood, it should be said immediately, does put a lot of work into advance preparation that has to do with lining up top talent and trying to get interesting subject matter. But, obviously, after he has his part of the advance work done, the station does not do its part by seeing to it that there is plenty of rehearsal and that camera angles and other directional chores of an elementary nature are taken care of.
Tonight, for example, Hopwood lined up six boxers on the American Golden Gloves team who will compete in the international amateur fights here May 28. He had their trainer put the boys thru their paces and had them show exactly how they scientifically work out various offense and defense blows under specific fighting conditions. As subject matter, it was interesting. But when it was given its video presentation, it began to fall on its face. Camera direction was bad; the fighters often were performing out of the picture. Interviews were made with four people trying to crowd into a close-up with the result that half of the end two were not seen.
At other times the trainer had to give the fighters instructions to get into focus or to fight within cameras' range. All of these details, of course, should have been worked out before the show went on the air. And, in our opinion, there was no reason why some production, such as having fighters perform in a ring, etc., could not have been included. It seems to us that unless a show is going to be done well, it shouldn't be done at all. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, May 31)
Friday, May 23
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
8:15 Baseball at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Post cereals and Ford.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
1:00 “Swift Home Service Club” with Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenberg,
1:30 “Ladies Matinee.”
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
8:20 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:35 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports”: Boxing from Madison Square Garden. Gus Lesnevich vs. Amelio Bettina.
Time Signal sponsored by Benrus.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:00 Financial News.
1:50 Baseball from Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
6:55 Fishing News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film shorts.
8:00 The Open Door.
8:30 Film shorts.
8:45-11:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
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 Madison Athletic club, David Coleman vs. James Mayes, welterweight, five 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 NBC program.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis3:00 News and Views. 3:15 N.B.C. Newsreel. 3:25 Folks Festival; dancing Indians of the Kiowa tribe. 4:00 Man on the Street. 4:30 Film.
8:25 to 10:30 Wrestling matches in the Arena, sponsored by Hyde Park Breweries. W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
9:30 a.m. Test Pattern.
10:00 “Queen for a Day” with Jack Bailey.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
4:00 Films for television dealers.
8:00 Seventh Annual Los Angeles Coliseum Relays, 14 events.
Home Service Club
Reviewed Friday (23), 1-1:30 p.m. Style—Home economics. Sponsor—Swift & Company. Agency—McCann-Erickson. Stars—Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenberg. Directors—Tom Hutchinson and Ed Sobel. Producer—Lee Cooley. Station—WNBT (NBC), New York.
Topnotch in most details of conception, only minor flaws of scripting and execution keep this from being a first-rate production. As it is, with Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenberg as dual emsees, show maintained a high level of interest thruout, with enough novel twists to keep even the stray male viewer on the leash.
Three-part program led off with some tips on home decoration by Sandra Gahle, who showed how to dress up those clumsy looking screens which often are used to hide ugly walls or divide rooms. Miss Gahle showed how to turn the screen into smart, utilitarian pieces of furniture. She produced one which housed a complete kitchen unit on shelves built on it, even to a toaster and hot plate. Another, fitted out with mirror, hooka and shelves, became an attractive "closet." Unfortunately for the homeless vet, she did not produce a substitute for a roof and four walls. Miss Gahle showed a pleasing appearance and complete case before the cameras.
Same can't be said for Martha Logan, who followed with a session in the "Swift test kitchen." Apparently suffering a mild case of nerves, Miss Logan fumbled about a bit with her lines and action, which consisted of making bacon and eggs, to the point of wearing one fried egg in the yolk. However, she's got the voice and personality to deliver if she can shake the shakes.
Fashion Finish
Show wound up with three visiting Hokinsons competing for prizes, with the fashion expert of Harper's Bazaar acting as judge. Contest consisted of selecting items from a batch of accessories and draping the most attractive combination on a bevy of glamorous models. To the utter befuddlement of the male viewers, what appeared to be the silliest looking outfit proved the winner. Natch.
Major direct commercial comes right at the start, when shots of various Swift products are paraded in the introduction. Other plugs were packaged into the kitchen scene, with Swift products used and mentioned, and in the final episode, when the two losing participants were handed Swift Brookfield Hams. First prize was a make-up set. Most viewers probably felt that the privilege of dressing Candy Jones, who served as a guinea pig in the contest, should be prize, enough.
Directors Tom Hutchinson and Ed Sobel and Producer Lee Cooley allowed some of the timing to get out of hand, particularly in the screen sequence, and the show ran nearly 10 minutes too long. Sam Chase. (Billboard, May 31)
Saturday, May 24
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York1:50 Baseball from Ebbets Field: Dodgers vs. Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post cereals.
8:00 CBS Television News with Tom O’Connor.
8:15 Film: “Little Men” with Kay Francis, Jack Oakie and Elsie as Buttercup. (RKO, 1940).
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:30 Children’s Program, Film: "Adventures of Chico" (Woodard Productions, 1938).
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:45 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, Bill Slater play-by-play.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
8:30 Harness Racing from Maywood, sponsored by Fox Brewing.
[Note: Evidently, the Trib.'s listings are incomplete. See story below.]
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:45 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Washington Senators, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00-5:00 Film, Man on the Street and studio 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. Pittsburgh Pirates, Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton announcing, sponsored by Purity Bakery. W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
8:00 Celebrity Interview, Hollywood Legion Stadium.
8:30 “Fight For Lives” (Chavez-Escobar), live from Hollywood Legion Stadium.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
4:00 Films for television dealers.
8:00 Baseball from Gilmore Field. Hollywood Stars vs. Portland Beavers.
Harness Racing
Reviewed Saturday (24), 9 to 11 p.m. Direct pick-up of harness racing at Maywood (Ill.) Park. Sponsored by the Fox Bros.' Brewing Company on WBKB, Chicago.
With this new series of sports telecasts, WBKB and its sponsors continue to bring to Chicago video set owners program material of high caliber. Harness racing, slower than regular horse racing, is much easier to follow with television cameras, and this f[]us the hard work, imaginative direction, production and teamwork of all involved in presenting the telecast, resulted in a top show. And, whereas those at the track sat thru a hard rain, video viewers had a chance to sit in comfort in their homes and enjoy a presentation that brought the racing to them.
Of no small measure among the factors accounting for the success of the program was the co-operation of the race promoters, who made every effort to give the WBKB crew and management the essential assistance and permission to do whatever was needed to make the show a success. WBKB field crew used only two cameras and surprisingly was able to get all of the important details of the races, from the break at the starting gate to the final spurt across the finish line. Close-ups were used often enough to allow the audience to follow the nags closely and most of the time to see their numbers.
Direction of the remote pick-ups was handled by Don Cook, with Lewis Gomavitz in charge of commercials presented from the studio. But in any run-down of persons responsible for the success of the show, high on the list would have to be a crew of engineers under direction of Dick Shapiro, who, under adverse weather conditions and geographic location (11 airline miles from downtown transmitter) came thru with a picture that was just about perfect.
Altho live commercials from the studio were good, the same could not be said for all of the commercial presentations originating at the track. Three studio commercials, two of which were 45 seconds long, and one, one minute in length, were novel and had actors drinking Fox Beer or praising its merits in situations that were interest-holding. At the track the plug was a long ad-lib discussion between Bob Barron and Jack Fuller, supposedly discussing the races over a couple of bottles of suds. Conversation was forced, foolish and pointless. Much better and, in fact, good enough to be the only commercial material needed, were shots of a guy dressed in a Fox trade-mark costume of a hunting master. Trademark figure on Fox bottles is pictured blowing a racing horn, and before each race, as to-the-post trumpet was played at the track, the trade-mark actor blew a horn having a large fox sign on it. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, June 7)
Hollywood Legion Boxing Card
For the first time since Pearl Harbor, Don Lee put its mobile equipment to work on a sports remote and came thru with a creditable job. Set owners were treated to an exciting boxing event, made more enjoyable by better-than-average tele scanning.
While Don Lee's lensers were expected to be rusty after a six-year sports remote layoff, camera boys did a generally competent job. Task was difficult inasmuch as only one camera could be used (outlet's new image orthicon). Station had stand-by standard orthicon lense box on hand just in case, but relied completely on its image orth, alternating between full ring and semi close-up shots.
With only one camera doing double duty, lensers worked about 100 feet from ringside. For most part, telephotogs were able to catch the action easily, altho a few times fray was too fast for camera without view finder. Principal weakness was complete absence of full-face close-ups which were in order when fighting was at its height. This was particularly noticeable in main event (Chavez-Escobar fray) when Escobar unleashed his full attack to knock Chavez senseless. Had camera setup permitted full-face close-ups as Chavez struggled to remain conscious, home viewers would have gotten a better vantage point than even ringsiders. Close-ups could also have been wisely employed to pick up celebs like Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey (referees at the charity fight) as well as other celebs. Still another drawback of the one camera set-up were dead spots caused when camera lads switched rotary lenses. Without portable faders on hand, cameramen were unable to make switch fast enough, thus momentarily destroying pic continuity.
Announcing chores were shared by Larry Finley and George Martin. Finley's running commentary was kept to a minimum, making sure that scrappers were identified at all times. Otherwise he let action speak for itself. Martin's between-the-rounds gabbing was adequate, but could have been sparked had Martin been armed with data on the fighters to fill dead time. Post -fighting awards of prizes to lucky ticket holders were adequately scanned, altho here again close-up lense was sorely needed to bring Hollywood celebs (introduced from ring) into viewers' homes. Alan Fischler. (Billboard, June 7)
Detroit News plans elaborate fanfare opening June 3 week for its WWJ-TV (changed from WWDT), formalizes end of test and start of commercial operations with imposing list of sponsors, plans exceptionally long regular Schedule of operation -- 2:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Ebullient Bill Scripps, who as a kid pioneered with WWJ, reports tieups with local and nearby sports stadia, is already televising Detroit Tiger home games, plans U of Michigan gridcasts from Ann Arbor this autumn. Among sponsors using Detroit's first TV station are Ford, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, U.S. Rubber, Bulova, J. L. Hudson Co. Dept. Store, Detroit Edison, Grinnell Norge, Industrial National Bank, Goebels beer. Revenues already assure inevitable commercial success of project, enthusiastic staffmen assert. (TV Digest, May 24)
Sunday, May 25
1:50 Baseball at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Bob Edge play-by-play, sponsored by Post cereals and Ford. 7:30 Film: “Last of the Mohicans,” part two of serial.
7:50 Film: “The Glory Trail” with Tom Mix (Crescent, 1936).
8:30 Red Cross Water Safety Show, from the pool of the St. George Hotel.
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 “At Home With Tex and Jinx,” sponsored by Ipana/Minit-Rub.
8:30 Play: “Welcome Jeremiah,” one-act comedy with Vaughn Taylor, Vinton Hayworth, others.
9:00 Feature Film.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:45 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, play by play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field: Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds, Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse announcing, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford.
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. Washington Senators (doubleheader), play-by-play with Claude Haring.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
8:00 Arthur Nelson and his marionettes.
8:10 Film.
8:20 Comment by Dr. Roland G. Usher on “Union or Disunion for India.”
8:30 Film show.
8:40 Fashion Varieties with hats by the Beta Sigma Phi sorority and songs by Ted Ford.
9:00 feature film.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:30 Baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. San Francisco Seals. 8:00 “Tune Up Time.” Test slides, recorded music.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 “Shopping at Home” with Keith Hetherington and Harrise Bris, 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.
WELCOME JEREMIAH
With Vinton Hayworth, Vaughn Taylor, John McQuade, William Woodson, Robert Lieb, Percy Helton, Virginia Smith, Douglas Parkhurst, Jay Jackson, Gordon Ayres
Director: Fred Coe
Adapter: Coe
Sets: Bob Wade
25 Mins.; Sun. (25), 8:40 p.m.
BORDEN'S
WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
(Kenyon & Eckhardt)
Still experimenting with various formats before settling down to a television series, Bortlen's came up with a one-act legiter Sunday (25) night that was adapted by NBC director Fred Coe from a short story in the current Esquire mag. Script, acting and production mountings were all on the credit side, although the idea of starring Vinton Hayworth, Vaughn Taylor and John McQuade in roles so similar to those they played in the recent "Mr. Mergenthwirker's Lobblies" gave first evidence that tele actors may some day be faced with the same "typing" problem as are film stars currently.
Story, a fantasy farce, relied mostly on an O. Henry-type switch ending for its punch and got the point across neatly. Hayworth and McQuade were plausible as the fly-by-night pitchmen who finally latched on to a payoff gimmick via Taylor's electromagnet razor. McQuade's glib gab stood him in good stead in his street-corner spiels but Hayworth acted at times as though he hadn't sufficiently memorized the script. Taylor was standout as the mild inventor. Supporting cast, topped by William Woodson and Virginia Smith, were good.
By having his actors sprint from one set to another, Coe successfully carried out the flashback technique employed and otherwise did his usually capable directorial job. Bob Wade deserves special credit for building four full-sized sets in the limited confines of the NBC studio.
As with other legiters bankrolled by Borden's, the Kenyon & Eckhardt staff staged their commercials so that they wouldn't obtrude into the script. Plugs, consequently, came off on the interesting side, with Jay Jackson and Gordon Ayres doing an okay job, both in the commercials and in the novel way of setting the stage for the story. Stal. (Variety, May 28)
WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:00 Film: “Law and Lead” with Rex Bell (Colony, 1936).
9:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
9:10 Film: “Let’s Sing Again” with Bobby Breen (Variety, 1936).
WABD Channel 5, New York
6:54 Sports News,
7:00 “Small Fry Club” hosted by Bob Emery, sponsored by American Pipe Cleaner Co. (new sponsor).
7:30 Show Case.
8:15 Film shorts.
8:30 Sports Names to Remember, sponsored by Mouquin Wines.
8:40 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, play by play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:15 Sidelights on Sports.
8:30 Wrestling from Midway arena, with Russ Davis, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30-5:30 Test Chart.
8:00 NBC programs.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Weather forecast; film show, "This Changing World".
3:43 Scientific experiments by pupils of Blow School.
4:00 Film show, "Pheasants Galore" (Olin Industries, 1946?).
8:10 Sports Closeups with Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
8:23 Baseball from Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Pirates, Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton announcing, sponsored by Purity Bakery. W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
6:30 Test Patterns and music.
8:00 Film: “Redwood Empire.”
8:23 Film: “Flight to Palm Springs” (newsreel).
8:33 Station Identification.
8:34 Film: (NBC) “Abbott and Costello.”
8:40 Film: “The Road Runner.”
8:50 Film: “How to Serve a Buffet Supper.”
8:56-9:00 Test Patterns.
9:00-9:25 Film: “Night Mail.”
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and music.
8:30 “Your Town Los Angeles Presents: Our Vote Tomorrow,” special election information.
9:00 “At Your Request”: Another Charlie Chaplin Film Revival.
9:43 The Entire Second Part of Ice Capades of 1947 from Pan Pacific Auditorium.
The exclusive films were taken by Leroy C. Phelps. NBC’s cameraman with the National Geographic Society USAAF expedition, and were flown to New York from Brazil They were immediately processed and shown on the NBC East Coast television network—60 hours after the eclipse. (Hollywood Reporter, May 26)
Tuesday, May 27 WNBT Channel 4, New York
8:35 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
WABD Channel 5, New York City
6:54 Sports News.
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
7:30 “Behind the Headlines.”
7:45 Film: Short subjects.
8:00 “Looking at Life.”
8:30 “Jailbait.”
8:45 World’s Best in Magic.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30-5:30 Test Chart.
8:45 Baseball from Shibe Park, Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
9:30 a.m. Test Patterns and music.
10:00 “Queen For a Day” with Jack Bailey.
10:30-10:40 Test Patterns and closing.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:30 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and recorded music.
2:30 Baseball from Wrigley Field. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco.
8:30 Boxing from Olympic Auditorium, main event, Larry Cisneros vs. Chalky Wright.
Wednesday, May 28
3:20 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
7:30 “Kraft Television Theatre.” Drama: “Her Master’s Voice.”
8:30 “In the Kelvinator Kitchen” with Alma Kitchell. Relayed to WTTG (DuMont) Washington.
WABD Channel 5, New York
6:54 Sports News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film Shorts.
8:00 Film: “Fine Glass.”
8:30 American Theatre Wing: “All Men Are Created—,” sponsored by Mueller Macaroni (debut).
9:00 Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Freddy Menna vs. Frankey Cardinal, welterweight; and Warren Peterson vs. Billy Pappas, light heavyweight, both eight rounds. Gil Fates, commentary. Sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 West Side Dog Training School program.
7:45 Film: short subjects.
8:00 “Frank Wood, Private Detective.”
8:30 Tenth Annual Golden Gloves bouts, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30-2:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball from Shibe Park, Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
8:30 NBC programs.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
9:30 a.m. Test Patterns and music.
10:00 “Queen For a Day” with Jack Bailey.
10:30-10:40 Test Patterns and closing.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and recorded music.
4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:30 Wrestling from Olympic Auditorium. Main event, George Becker vs. Enriques Torres.
All Men Are Created
Tele workshops, particularly those set up to give vets an opportunity to learn the budding video biz, are certainly to be encouraged, and it is therefore regrettable that All Men must be tabbed a good try which fell far short of its mark on many counts. Major mistake was in selection of the material. Satire is among show business's most difficult assignments for writers, producers and/or actors and even professionals (in all three categories) with long years of experience miss the boat more often than not.
For a bunch of kids, with admittedly little solid entertainment industry background, to try the trick was sheer folly. In the case of All Men, it showed up first in the writing, and then, of course, most glaringly in the performances. Taking the story of Cyrus Simean, a chemistry prof who thru a laboratory mishap, grows a monkey's tail, the Theater Wingers tried to show how, because of his appendage, he was ostracized by society. In the process they lampooned the unwitting cruelty of children, the fatuous smugness of college officials, the fat -headed screaming defenders of the American way of life found in chamber of commerce and women's club circles, panic-preaching radio newscasters and the cliché-caspaders in the halls of Congress.
Feeble Smash
The intention presumably was to smash at prejudice, but as has been indicated, the smash turned out to be the most feeble kind of slap on the wrist. It lost effectiveness because practically all the characters were written in stereotype fashion and further because of overacting by the great majority of the cast. Marlowe, as producer, and even more Miss Kirkbride, as director, must be held largely accountable for this.
On the other hand at least three of the performers-Simean, the halfway-point-to-heaven gatekeeper, and particularly the gal who did the club -woman caricature show definite promise. It would be this reporter's guess that with a better, easier-to-handle script and more astute direction, at least several others of the troupe will make the grade.
Good Music Cueing
Musical cueing thruout was well done and Gaines rates a bow for this. The Duane Jones Mueller commercials were good, especially the middle one, which was neatly tied into the script. Midway point in the show had radio newscaster shrieking the news of havoc Simean was causing by his mere existence. The scene segued from the broadcast studio to the kitchen, where a gal was listening to this newscaster. She turned off the radio and went into her Mueller pitch, built around a $25 prize contest to name a macaroni salad she whipped together. Mueller and Duane Jones rate a bow for sponsoring the Wing show, at any rate.
The newscaster closed the show by talking directly to the video audience and admitting that maybe the whole story was a "little silly." It was, kids, but try again, with something not so tough. Joe Csida. (Billboard, June 14)
FRANK WOOD — PRIVATE DETECTIVE
With Joe Bellucci, Mary Ann Russell, Joe Daffner, Joe Haug, Bruno Vesota, Art Copulos
Director: Lorraine Larson
Writer: Gordon Urquhart
30 Mins.; 8 p.m., Wed.
Sustaining
WBKB, Chicago
Cast is composed of players from Affiliation of Television Actors, which means they have more than average radio artist knowledge about working in video field. Entire company uses skill developed for particular show by Bruno Vesata, to make this more than picture-talking presentation.
Story involves gang of car thieves who have murder in own circle and call Frank Wood to solve case. In process he almost gets killed himself by several bumps on head, which looked very realistic, and he teaches a juvenile romance-hungry girl to become a lady. Plot is thin, but excuse for using four separate backgrounds, all very authentic, including short boat cabin scene.
Most commendable feature of show is job cameras did in following many switches of scenery necessary to produce factual murder mystery. Camera man-ers allowed only one quick flutter, and program viewed from new three-by-four-foot screen was easy to watch. Sound effects department deserve break on this one for provided boat whistles and fog horns seemed like the real thing.
Joe Bellucci, who portrays Wood in weekly series, is extremely dark, and though deep colors register better on video screen, he might try lighter clothes to contrast his coloring. He does okay job and is particularly convincing in roughing scenes.
Lorraine Larson was responsible for the undisturbed job the cameras did. As script is now, it leaves little to imagination, because on opening crime is committed, with no body in evidence, and story is not clue-type which gives listeners chance to match wits against hero. Hunt. (Variety, June 4)
Despite the unwritten nix on presenting hypnotists on television, WABD (DuMont, N. Y.) has signed hypnotist Marsh Babbitt for a half-hour show next Monday (2) night. To obviate the possibility of any of the home audience going under his spell when he goes into action, however, Babbitt will put his subjects to sleep before the show goes on the air. Post hypnotic suggestion that they'll go to sleep again when he tells them will, it's hoped, put them under before the cameras, with no danger to the audience.
Most tele broadcasters swore off hypnotism after a BBC show had demonstrated that the sleep-inducers could work on subjects via video. (Variety, May 28)
NBC television, with video rights to the Davis Cup tennis championships already in the bag, has signed for exclusive rights to the National Singles championships. Both events will be broadcast direct from Forest Hills, L. I., with the Davis Cup matches Aug. 30-Sept. 1 and the National Singles Sept. 4-15.
Although definite plans have not yet been set, it's expected NBC will air the tennis matches only when the N. Y. Giants are playing out of town. If the Giants continue their pace-setting in the National League, moreover, it's also possible the web might forego some of the tennis to pick up any out-of-town Giant games available. (Variety, May 28)
NBC television has obtained exclusive video rights to the Miss America beauty pageant at Atlantic City Sept. 1-6. Web will film the event for later transmission from WNBT, its N. Y. outlet, but is also mulling the possibility of getting some form of facilities set up to permit a live broadcast from the scene.
WNBT will also carry the preliminary contest to select a Miss New York, starting with a presentation of the contestants Friday (30) night on the U. S. Rubber-sponsored "Campus Hoopla" show. Finals in the Miss N. Y. contest will also be televised some time in mid-August, from a site yet to be selected. (Variety, May 28)
Thursday, May 29
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
8:15 CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:30 Metropolitan Museum of Art—Metrovic collection of sculptures: Walter Terry, narrator; Talley Beatty, Tommy Gomez, Roy Tobias and Helen Constantin, dancers; talk by Francis Henry Taylor.
9:00 The True Glory, General Eisenhower’s Film Report of the European Invasion.
Weather reports sponsored by Reid’s Ice Cream.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
10:00 Finals, National Spelling Bee, from the National Press Club, Washington.
2:20 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Juvenile Jury” from NBC’s Studio 8-G with Jack Barry, sponsored by Gaines Dog Food.
8:30 “The Wife Saver” with Allen Prescott, sponsored by General Foods.
9:00 “You Are an Artist” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
WABD Channel 5, New York
6:54 Sports News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Alber-Dahlman Productions present “Birthday Party” with Uncle Bill Slater.
8:30 “Swing Into Golf” with Ernie Jones, sponsored by the Perry Blouse Company.
WBKB Channel 4, Chicago
7:30 Frank Payne
7:45 Film: Short subjects.
8:00 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” cartoon drawing show.
8:15 Film, short subjects.
8:30 Milt Hopwood’s Sports Show.
9:00 Girls’ softball from Parichy stadium.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30-2:00 Test Chart.
2:15 Baseball at Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s vs. Boston Red Sox, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
7:50 NBC program.
8:00 “Pleased to Meet You,” Film.
9:00 NBC program.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views. 3:15 Film, “Sports Thrills.” 3:23 St. Louis Home Show Interview; film.
4:00 Man on the Street; Frank Eschen, m.c.
4:30 Film shows.
8:10 Arthur Nelson and his marionettes.
8:20 Film.
8:30 Washington University Fashion Review.
9:00 Film show, "Big Trains Rolling" (United World Films, 1946)
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and recorded music.
4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:00 Baseball from Wrigley Field. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco.
LIVING ART
With Talley Beatty, Tommy Gomez, Roy Tobias, Mariane Oliphant; Mahlon Naill, commentator
Director-writer: Fred Rickey
20 Mins.; (29), 8:40 p.m.
Sustaining
WCBS-CBS, N. Y.
"Living Art" marked the first attempt of CBS television to incorporate live talent into its remote pickup shows since the web eliminated all studio programming from its video activities early last month. Use of live talent, it's believed, offers further evidence that CBS is not throwing in the towel on television, but will return to its studio in the future when the latter can be operated at a profit.
No tele broadcaster—and no dancers, for that matter—probably ever had a stage the size of the Museum's spacious interior, and Rickey and Levy took full advantage of that. Image orthicon cameras, on which CBS will concentrate for all remotes, were moved about easily, with the camera shots integrated neatly into the script. Good use was also made of an overhead shot, which lent a novel touch to the view of the dancers.
Groups of terpers, including Talley Beatty, Tommy Gomez, Roy Tobias and Mariane Oliphant, all well-known in either musicomedy or ballet, were standout. Wider variety of shots, including the dissolves and super-impositions incorporated into earlier CBS dance shows, might have shown them to slightly better advantage. Mahlon Naill's commentary was tailored perfectly to the show, with the actor's subdued voice adding to the overall mood. Stal. (Variety, June 4)
Friday, May 30
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
9:00 a.m. Memorial Day Parade, Riverside Drive.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
1:00 “Swift Home Service Club” with Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenberg,
1:30 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
8:00 “Campus Hoopla” with Clair Bee, coach of the Long Island U. basketball team, sponsored by U.S. Rubber Co.
8:20 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:30 Memorial Day Program.
Time Signal sponsored by Benrus.
WABD Channel 5, New York
6:55 Fishing News.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film shorts.
8:00 “The Open Door.”
8:30 “The Magic Carpet” by Bud Gamble, sponsored by Alexander Smith Carpets.
8:45-11:00 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.
8:40 Drama: “The Gordons.”
9:00 Boxing at Madison Athletic club, Richard Hagan vs. Ocie Talbert, heavyweight, five rounds, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPLZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30-1:00 Test Chart.
1:15 Baseball from Shibe Park, Athletics vs. New York Yankees (doubleheader), play-by-play with Claude Haring.
8:00 NBC program.
8:20 “Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbels.
8:30 NBC program.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
1:10 Sports Closeups with Harry Carey and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
1:25 Baseball from Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Pirates (doubleheader), Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton announcing, sponsored by Purity Bakery.
9:30 a.m. Test Patterns and music.
10:00 Live: “Queen For a Day” with Jack Bailey.
10:30-10:45 Test Patterns and closing.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune-up Time,” Test pattern and recorded music.
4:00 Film program for television dealers.
8:00 Baseball from Wrigley Field. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco.
Saturday, May 31 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
4:15 Belmont Stakes, Alfred Gwynn Vanderbilt, guest.
8:00 CBS Television News with Tom O’Connor.
8:15 Film: “The River.”
8:35 Film: “Oliver Twist.”
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:20 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y. Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:45 “Faces to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Boston, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:00 Harness racing from Maywood, sponsored by Fox Brewing.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
8:30 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs, play-by-play with Claude Haring.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 NBC television newsreel.
3:25 Junior Talent.
3:50 Film.
4:00 Man on the Street.
4:30 Film show.
8:00 NBC television newsreel.
8:10 Sports Closeups with Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
8:30 Film show.
8:40 Range Riders.
9:00 Feature film.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:00 to 4:00 Air circus from Santa Anita, in behalf of disabled American veterans.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:45 Western feature picture.
Air Circus
Reviewed Saturday (31), 2 to 4 p.m. Style—Direct remote pick-up of stunt flying from Santa Anita. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount), Hollywood.
In the hands of Paramount, tele again proved itself as the ideal medium for covering special events. Without doubt, those viewing the Santa Anita Air Circus from the comfort of their living rooms saw far more than the throngs that attended the event in person. Thru use of telephoto lenses, scanners gave the home lookers amazing close-up shots of the planes as they went thru their stunts. In one case, the long-barrel lenses brought the tele viewer so close that the pilot's face and features were clearly visible.
Adding to seg's enjoyment was smooth commentary of Dick Lane and breather gab breaks handled equally well by station announcer Keith Hetherington. Lee Zhito. (Billboard, June 14)
NEW YORK, May 31.—Unusual situation, whereby the television adjunct of one network station will feed programs to the TV station of another web, has developed on the Gulf Oil news program on WCBS-TV. Starting Thursday (5) WCBS-TV Gulf show will carry interviews with Washington notables, with pick-ups made by WMAL, Washington, an American Broadcasting Company (ABC) affiliate. Feed to the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) station will be via coaxial cable.
Heretofore the Gulf newscasts have used film and stills, the interviews being added this week. They will feature Washington people in the news of the day's (Thursday) events. WMAL has studio equipment but no transmitting equipment yet.
Gulf, via Young & Rubicam, renewed the program this week, to start its second year. (Billboard, June 7)
NEW YORK, May 31.—WABD, New York DuMont video station, will try out a new program, Write You Are, Monday (9). The program is a handwriting analysis session featuring Dr. William Pearl, formerly with the U. S. Army and the University of Vienna.
The show is being produced by Marty Schrader, former trade paper reporter, who owns the package with Pearl and Milton Lipson. (Billboard, June 7)
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