A transmitter and antenna arrived at the newspaper’s offices on June 6, 1947. On August 6, the first test pattern was beamed out from Philadelphia’s second station and the 13th in the U.S.
Or was it the 14th? The Cincinnati experimental station had already been broadcasting starting last month but transmissions weren't regular. It didn’t begin commercial broadcasts until 1948.
Programming was still almost on an experimental basis. Shows would appear on the air and either vanish if they couldn’t attract a sponsor or vanish when the sponsor decided not to renew a contract. During the first half of August 1947, a comic-strip-reading show starring cartoon actor Danny Webb (Warner Bros., Columbia, Walter Lantz) debuted, then disappeared. A night-time soap appeared on DuMont’s two-station airwaves and lasted a little longer.
The press was full of pontifications about whether TV was hurting attendance at sports events. Opinions were mixed.
Bela Lugosi and Edward Everett Horton appeared this month in an obscure show in Schenectady.
Below, find news, reviews and schedules (we don’t have access to the Detroit News, so there’s nothing from WWJ-TV). A personal note: I owned a cream-coloured, 1948 Packard convertible, though it was the lower-priced model than the picture below (no cormorant on the hood). It had a very quiet straight-eight engine.
Friday, August 1
WNBT Channel 4, New York
1:00 “Swift Home Service Club” with Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg, and Martha Logan in the Swift Test Kitchen.
1:30 News and films.
8:00 “Disk Magic” with Jack Kilty.
8:20 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:32 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports.” Boxing from Madison Square Garden, Sonny Horne vs. Anton Raadik. [Note: Card was cancelled as Horne had an injured nose.]
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:30 Test Pattern.
1:45 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
Pre- and Post-Game spots from Pepsi-Cola.
6:30 INS News, music and test pattern.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film shorts.
8:00 Feature film.
9:00 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena, sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
7:30 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 “Free For All.”
8:15 Air Force Day.
8:30 Golf with Bill Gordon.
8:45 Film: “Cartoon Capers.”
9:00 Boxing at Madison Athletic club, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 5:30 Test Chart.
7:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
7:45 Kiddies Cartoon.
8:00 NBC program.
8:20 Motion picture short.
8:30 “Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbel's.
8:45 Selected motion pictures.
9:00 Miss Television of Philadelphia.
9:16 NBC Programming.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
1:00 Army Air Force Day; 5:30 Test Pattern; 8:00 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
6:45 News with Walter Compton; 7:00 DuMont; 7:30 Santa Fe Trail; 8:30 Baseball at Griffith Stadium, Washington vs Chicago White Sox.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Dogs on Display.
3:35 Film.
3:45 Man on the Street.
4:00 Film.
8:00 Film.
8:20 Wrestling at Kiel Auditorium, Bill Longson vs. Mike Sharpe, sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles9:30 a.m. Tests and music.
10:00 “Queen For a Day” with Jack Bailey.
10:30-10:45 Test Pattern.
8:00 Test slides and music.
8:25-11:00 Boxing at Hollywood Legion Auditorium, Enrique Bolanos vs. Eddie Prince
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test pattern slides and recorded music.
3:30 Films.
4:30 “Streamliner Time.”
8:15 Pacific Coast League baseball at Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Oakland Oaks.
Free for All
Reviewed Friday (1), 7:50-8:20 p.m. Variety show presented by the Chicago Repertory Theater, sustaining via WBKB, Chicago.
Some of the shows on WBKB are so bad they make one believe that the station doesn't care that it invests about $800,000 a year on its operation, and that it does not realize that it's about time shows have quality worthy of that expenditure. Tonight's show was one of this very poor caliber. How it ever got past the station's reception desk we'll never know.
The Chicago Repertory Theater is a local amateur theatrical group. The fact that it is amateur was made very apparent by what it did tonight. It used up a half hour of good air time and what the thought was behind the show we'll never know. The show's emsee, Bobbin Lee, couldn't have been worse. The charades, dancing and singing was noting but a hodge-podge of so-called talent that should never had had the chance to take the public's time and use the public's air.
The pertinent point about all this is that the station and not the Repertory Theater is to blame for lousing up the air. The station controls pro- graming and if its executives are foolish enough to allow material like this to appear, then you can't blame the talent for trying to get air time. The sad part is that the public has to suffer too. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, Aug. 9)
Streamliner Time
Reviewed Friday (1), 4:30-5 p.m. Style—TMan-on-the-street. Remote from Union Station. Sustaining over KTLA (Paramount), Hollywood.
Paramount's lensers and gabber Dick Lane braved the blistering sun to haul their equipment to Union Station (railroad terminal) in downtown Los Angeles for a man-on-the-street remote. Today's airing smacked as an audition telecast for Union Pacific sponsorship of Streamliner Time on a regular basis. Passengers about to board UP's plush-lined City of Los Angeles were turned camera-wise for an interview, with Lane shooting queries designed to bring favorable comments about the Union Pacific line.
While there's nothing excitingly new about the radio-worn man-on-a-mike format, tele gives it fresh appeal. KTLA's scouts rounded up a couple of celebs for the question-and-answer fest, thereby adding considerable interests to seg's eye appeal. Slipping occasionally into ruts of redundancy, Lane's overall job as the quiz master proved satisfying. Camera work was capably handled, with lensers following their subjects into the train. Good shot that rounded out the 30-minute seg was the sign-off pan that followed the streamliner down the track as it pulled out. The UP trademark shield was then flashed on as Lane spieled the travel advantages of this railroad. Only weakness was his tendency to oversell Union Pacific.
All in all, seg showed tele's versatility in being able to convincingly peddle even a railroad. Lee Zhito.(Billboard, Aug. 9)
Saturday, August 2 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:15 Test Pattern, time signals, music.
8:00 CBS Television News.
8:10 Film: “County Agent” (US Dept Ag, 1944).
8:45 Feature film: “Flaming Hearts”.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:00 to 4:30 Air Show, Mitchell Field.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:15 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:20 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
4:30 Racing from Washington Park, sponsored by Canadian Ace beer.
7:30 Film Theatre.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
1:50 Baseball at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. St. Louis Browns, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
2:00 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
2:50 Baseball at Griffith Stadium, Washington vs Chicago White Sox.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Modern Art program. 3:35 Film. 3:45 Man on the Street.
4:00 Film.
8:00 Film.
8:10 Baseball Closeups, Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
8:25 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton, sponsored by Purity Bakeries. KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test pattern slides and recorded music.
4:00 Films for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” test pattern slides and recorded music.
8:15 Pacific Coast League baseball at Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Oakland Oaks.
Sunday, August 3WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
6:15 Test Pattern, time signals, music.
7:00 “The Grab Bag,” children’s hour, juvenile news, films, hobbies, nature studies, etc.
8:00 “The Week in Review,” news highlights.
8:10 Feature film: “Lady in the Morgue” with Preston Foster, Patricia Ellis, Barbara Pepper (Universal, 1938).
WNBT Channel 4
8:00 “Ringside” with Tex and Jinx,” filmed show sponsored by Ipana/Minit-Rub.
8:20 “Party Line” with Bert Parks, sponsored by Ipana toothpaste and Ingram’s Shaving Cream.
8:50. Film shorts.
9:00 “Borden Sunday Supper Club.”
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:30 Test Pattern.
1:45 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
8:30 Midget Auto Races at Soldier Field.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:00 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
1:20 Baseball Double header at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. St. Louis Browns, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
7:45 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
8:00 NBC programming.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
5:00 Catholic University Play; 6:00 Test Pattern; 7:45 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
2:50 Baseball at Griffith Stadium, Washington vs Chicago White Sox; 8:00-9:00 Vatican Choir.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis.
8:00 Dr. Roland G. Usher discusses "The Proposed location of the 1953 St. Louis World’s Fair".
8:15 Film show.
8:30 Municipal Opera preview, by Frank Eschen.
8:50 Film.
9:00 Art Museum program.
9:15 Film.
9:30 Panorama of the Dance.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:30 Baseball Double Header at Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Oakland Oaks.
3:30 Films.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 “Shopping at Home” with Keith Hetherington and Harrise Brin, presented by leading Los Angeles Stores.
8:55 Cartoonews.
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” Variety Show with Dick Lane.
Monday, August 4
8:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
8:10 Feature film: “Trailing Double Trouble” with the Range Busters (Monogram, 1940).
9:05 Trotting Races from Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury, L.I.
10:05 NBC Television Newsreel.
WABD Channel 5, New York
3:00 INS News, music and Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” hosted by Bob Emery, sponsored by American Pipe Cleaning.
7:30 Film shorts.
8:15 Know Your New York.
8:30 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
8:40 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Philadelphia Athletics, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
8:30 Wrestling from Midway arena, Tony Galento vs. Olaf Olson, call by Russ Davis, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 5:30 Test Chart.
7:45 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
8:00 NBC programming.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
4:00 Test Pattern; 5:00 Swimming Pool Party; 6:00 Test Pattern; 8:00 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
6:45 News with Walter Compton; 7:00 DuMont; 7:30 Step ‘n’ Fetch It; 7:45 “The Black Doll,” drama; 9:00 The Music Album; 9:15 Film shorts; 9:30 Step ‘n’ Fetch It.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis.
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:30 Program preview with Harry Gibbs and Dottye Bennett.
3:40 Film.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m c., sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
8:00 “Telequizicalls,” charades acted in the studio with solutions telephoned in by members of the television audience. Harry Gibbs, who has played lead roles in KMOX's “The Land We Live In series,” is the quizmaster, and Dottye Bennett, KSD singer, and Jan Dysart, actress, are featured. Sponsored by Union Electric.
8:30 Film.
8:40 Sports Closeups with Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
9:00 Film.
9:10 Man on the Street.
9:30 Film.
W6XAO Channel 2
8:00 Test slides, music.
8:25 Wrestling from the Hollywood Legion Auditorium. George Becker vs. Wild Red Berry, Nanjo Singh vs. Maurice LaChapelle, Dick Trout vs. Tony Morelli, Jan Blears vs. Bob Corbey, Lucky Simovich vs. Bob Nelson.
KTLA Channel 5, Los Angeles
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
4:30 “Your Town—Los Angeles Presents.”
8:00 Program to be announced.
TELEQUIZICALLS
With Harry Gibbs and Dottye Bennett
Director: Jack Gibney
Producer: Al Chance
30 Mins.; Mon. [4] 8:00 p.m.
UNION ELECTRIC CO. OF MO. (Gardner)
KSD-TV, St. Louis
Aside from a natural timidity of the cast to do their stuff before a camera, the initial show of this station, the first newspaper-owned in the U.S to televise sports and news programs, was a click although the format was a quizzer with prizes dished out by the sponsor for the o.k. answers.
Presence of Harry Gibbs, who m.c'd, and Dottye Bennett, a photogenic gal, were of material aid. Both are vets in the local radio field, Miss Bennett serving as a featured songbird with Russ David's orch (also KSD), for a number of years. Gibbs has plenty on the ball and in addition is an acceptable cross between Sonny Tufts and Alan Ladd. The gals will like him on the screen. Candidates for the quizzes were selected from a mob attending the sponsor's dealer meeting across the street from the station and others to follow will be chosen from similar powwows.
The charades were on the themes of three songs. "Give Me Five Minutes More," "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" and "Under the Old Apple Tree." Failure of scripters to permit Miss Bennett to warble was a slight drawback as she has won a host of friends in this burg with her interp of pop tunes. She did the commercials pantomime.
Production values were consistently good and the direction took advantage of the cameras' capacity of movement. Plenty of preparation was revealed in the teeoff program and aside from opening night jitters, those to follow should attract plenty of attention. A recent survey shows there are more than 600 tele sets in St. Louis and the number should increase with the growing popularity of tele programs. Sahu. (Variety, Aug.13)
BOTANY WORSTED MILLS, Passaic, N.J. has renewed for 13 weeks its weather forecast spots on Paramount television stations WBKB Chicago and KTLA Los Angeles. Spots are aired Sunday evenings on KTLA and before Friday night boxing bouts on WBKB. (Broadcasting Aug. 4)
Tuesday, August 5 WNBT Channel 2, New York
8:00 Newsreel and Film shorts.
8:40 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
WABD Channel 5, New York City
2:30 Test Pattern.
3:00 INS News, music and test pattern.
6:30 Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Movies for Small Fry” hosted by Bob Emery.
7:30 Film shorts.
8:00 Western Feature Film, sponsored by Chevrolet.
9:00 Boxing from Jerome Arena, Jimmy Hooper vs. Johnny Colan (ten rounds), three six-round bouts, sponsored by Teldisco.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs St. Lous Cardinals, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
7:30 “The Lights Go Out.”
7:45 Film.
8:00 “Streamliner Parade,” sponsored by the Union Pacific and Northwestern railroads.
8:20 “Behind the Headlines.”
8:30 The Love Plot.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 5:30 Test Chart.
7:45 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
8:00 Motion picture featurette.
8:35 Baseball at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. New York Yankees, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
1:30 Test Pattern; 6:45 News with Walter Compton; 7:00 DuMont; 8:00 To be announced; 8:20 Baseball at Griffith Stadium, Washington vs. Boston Red Sox.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
9:30 Test Slides and music.
10:00 “Queen For a Day.”
KLTA Channel 5, Hollywood
2:30 Pacific Coast League baseball at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles vs. Seattle Rainiers. 8:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 Short subject.
9:00 Mystery picture.
Wednesday, August 6
2:25 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
7:30 “Kraft Television Theatre”: “The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife” and “Write Me a Love Scene,” sponsored by MacLaren’s Imperial Cheese.
8:30 “In the Kelvinator Kitchen” with Alma Kitchell.
WABD Channel 5, New York
2:30 Test Pattern.
3:00 INS News, Music and Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 “Bob Wolff Sports Clinic,” relayed from WTTG.
7:45 “Swing Into Sports” with Vincent Richards.
8:00 Film shorts.
8:45 Boxing at Jamaica Arena, sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
7:30 Frank Wood, Private Detective.
8:00 Film short subjects.
8:15 Jack Payne, sponsored by Terman Television Sales.
8:30 Wrestling from Rainbo arena, with Russ Davis, Hans and George Schnabel vs. Ray Kay and Al Williams, Pat Fraley vs. Riccardo Lopez, Johnny Silvi vs. Billy Goelz, Karl Gray vs. Pete Bartu, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 2:00 Test Chart.
2:20 Baseball at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. New York Yankees, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
7:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
7:45 Sports Scrap Book with Stoney McLinn and Bill Campbell.
8:00 Motion Picture Featurette.
8:30 NBC programming.
8:45 First semi-final of the Miss Great Philadelphia Contest.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
4:00 Test Pattern; 7:30 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
6:45 News with Walter Compton; 7:00 DuMont; 7:30 Sports Clinic with Bob Wolff; 7:45 Dumont; 8:00 Unannounced; 8:20 Baseball at Griffith Stadium, Washington vs. Boston Red Sox.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
9:30 Test Slides and music.
10:00 “Queen For a Day.”
10:30 Tests.
KTLA Channel 5, Los Angeles
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:30 Wrestling from the Olympic Auditorium, Becker Brothers vs. Dusek Brothers, sponsored by Ford.
The Inquirer’s television station, WFIL-TV, is putting its test pattern on the air for the first time this week, officials announced yesterday, and telephone calls from South Jersey, the Main Line, Willow Grove and the central city have told engineers that the image is being received with clarity.
Philadelphia’s newest video outlet, made its bow Wednesday night [6] after installation of the stations five-kilowatt transmitter in the record time of 62 days. The initial test telecast was made at 9:02 P.M.
FINAL ADJUSTMENTS
At that time announcements were made explaining the purpose of the experiment. Resulting telephone calls quickly attested the strength of the signal at many out-of-town points.
For the remainder of the week the WFIL-TV test pattern will be transmitted intermittently to enable the owners of television receiver sets to make certain they can receive the station’s signal and, additionally, to give station engineers a chance to make final transmitter and antenna adjustments before going on the air with a regular program service.
The test pattern carries the station’s call letters in the center with a series of lines radiating to the margins of the image. In the background is a drawing of The Philadelphia Inquirer tower.
REGULAR SERVICE SOON
Starting next Monday, at intervals during the day, the test pattern will be aired from 8 P.M. to 9 P. M. An announcement telling of the inauguration of regular program service will come shortly, station officials promised.
The first lot of equipment for Station WFIL-TV was delivered June 6, according to Kenneth W. Stowman, director of the station. Installation of the transmitter on the 18th floor of the Widener Building was started immediately, he said, and the three-bay super-turnstile antenna was built on a tower at the top of the building within the last two weeks.
ENGINEERS COMMENDED
For getting the whole job done in record time, Stowman commended WFIL’s chief engineer, Louis E. Littlejohn, as well as his assistant chief in charge of television. David J. Mil1er, Jr., and the outlets technical staff.
Likewise, he had high praise for the engineering products department of the RCA-Victor Co. in Camden, which was commended for the speedy production and delivery of the apparatus. (Inquirer, Aug. 8)
New sports show, “Swing Into Sports,” opened over WABD Wednesday night [6] at 7:45 p.m. EDT, with a family-cast designed to entertain a family audience.
Show will evolve around veteran tennis champ Vincent Richards, his wife, daughter, and two sons, who will participate in sports as a family. Variety of sports activities, such as swimming, fishing, table tennis, skiing, golf, shooting, etc.—as well as dancing—will be covered. Guest authorities will visit the Richards’ “household.” Show will be produced and directed by Bob Loewi. (Radio Daily, Aug. 6).
Stars of each week's Saratoga summer theater presentation will make personal appearances in l0-minute television programs over WRGB on Wednesday evenings at 7:20 p.m. The series will open tonight [6] with Bela Lugosi, well known horror man of the movies who is playing the lead in "Arsenic and Old Lace", before the cameras in General Electric's television studios. The schedule for the next three weeks will be:
Edward Everett Horton, playing in "Springtime for Henry" on Aug. 13.
Zasu Pitts, playing in "The Late Christopher Bean" on Aug. 20.
Faye Emerson, playing in "Profile" on Aug. 27.
This series, known "as "Backstage at the Spa Theater," will be directed by Duff-Brown and arranged by Ted Beebe. John Huntington, manager of the Spa theater, is expected to accompany Bela Lugosi and take part in the inaugural program tonight. (Schenectady Gazette, Aug. 6)
Fred A. Stebbins, Schenectady soap box derby champion, will climax a week of feasting Friday with a trip to New York city as guest of the Colonial Beacon Oil Co. which sponsored him in the local derby. ... Tomorrow night [7] Stebbins and Joseph Reynolds, the derby runner-up, will appear on a special television show over WRGB. This show, which is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., will include movies of the derby. (Schenectady Gazette, Aug. 6)
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
2:00-5:00 Test Pattern.
7:15 Test Pattern, time signals, music.
8:00 CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:15 Quicky Quiz.
8:20 Fashion Show Room from the St. Regis Hotel. or 8:20 “On Exhibit” from Brooklyn Museum. Collection of musical instruments.
8:50 Film: “A Shot in the Dark.”
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:25 Baseball at the Polo Grounds: Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Author Meets the Critics,” guest, Charles Abrams, sponsored by Maxwell House Coffee.
8:30 “Friend of the Family.”
9:00 “You Are an Artist” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
9:10 NBC Television Newsreel.
WABD Channel 5, New York
2:30 Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery, sponsored by Fisher Baking.
7:30 “Birthday Party” with Bill Slater.
8:00 Feature Film: “Cheers for Miss Bishop” with Martha Scott, William Gargan (United Artists, 1941).
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
7:30 The Singing Smiths.
7:45 Film: Short subjects.
8:00 “Over Shoemaker’s Shoulder,” cartoon drawing.
8:15 Film: short subjects.
8:30 Milt Hopwood’s Sports Show.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 5:30 Test Chart.
7:35 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
7:50 NBC program.
8:00 “Pleased to Meet You,” with Roy Neal and celebrity interviews.
8:15 Short subjects.
8:30 Second semi-final of the Miss Greater Philadelphia Contest.
9:00 NBC Programming.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
3:00 Test Pattern; 6:00 Swimming Pool Party; 7:00 Photo Desk; 7:15 Test Pattern, Dinner Music; 7:45 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
1:30 Test Pattern; 2:50 Baseball at Griffith Stadium; Senators vs. Boston Red Sox; 6:45 Walter Compton, news; 7:00 DuMont.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis.
3:15 N.B.C. Newsreel.
3:25 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m c., sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
3:40 Film show, "Second Chorus," starring Paulette Goddard, Fred Astaire, Burgess Meredith, Music by Artie Shaw (Astor, 1940).
8:00 Program inaugurating special high power transmitter.
8:30 “The Game of Chess,” with a cast of actors from WOW-TV, Omaha.
9:00 N.B.C. television newsreel.
9:10 Fashion Creators of St. Louis show.
9:30 Film show featuring Toscanini, the conductor.
9:50 Sports review featuring Gabby Street and Harry Caray.
10:10, Variety Show, starring Herb Shriner and Harvey Stone, comedians; Russ Severin, singer; Arthur Murray dancers and others.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
9:30 a.m. Test Slides and music.
10:00 Film: “The Gay 90’s.”
10:10 Tom and Jerry cartoon (Van Beuren).
10:20 Tests.
KTLA Channel 5, Los Angeles
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:30 Midget Auto Races from Gilmore Stadium, seven great events featuring the leading AAA drivers.
Television broadcasting with 20,000-watts power in the St. Louis area will begin officially with a special program at 8 o'clock tonight on KSD-TV. This will mean telecasting with a ten-fold increase of power, and will put the 546-foot tower aerial erected on the roof of the annex to the Post-Dispatch building into permanent service.
The high power Inauguration program at 8:00 will include: Addresses by Acting Mayor Charles E. Albanese; George M. Burbach, general manager of KSD-TV: Robert L. Coe, program chairman for the television exposition planned for Nov. 19-23 in St. Louis; Niles Trammell, president of the National Broadcasting Co.; Paul Walker, acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission; Harold Grams, program director for KSD-TV, and Robert Coe, chief engineer for KSD-TV.
A map of the greatly enlarged area covered by telecasts from the new 20,000-watt transmitter will be shown as well as a film of the new 546-foot aerial, installation of the transmitter and television studio operation. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug. 7)
THROUGH PROGRAM exchange arrangement, television staff of WOW Omaha presented a telecast titled "A Game of Chess" on KSD-TV St. Louis as one of the features of that station's dedicatory program Aug. 7. WOW has been conducting television experimental work since December 1946 but is not yet on the air. Later when WOW begins television operations, KSD-TV will send a program there to salute Omaha area viewers. "A Game of Chess" was WOW's first attempt at serious drama. Cast included Ray Clark, WOW's chief newscaster; Richard Cole, Omaha advertising agency operator; Eldon Anspach, instructor at Creighton U. and Don Keogh, former Creighton student. (Broadcasting, Aug. 18)
Friday, August 8
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
2:00-5:00 Test Pattern.
7:35 Test pattern, time signals, music.
8:20 Baseball at Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post Cereals.
WNBT Channel 4, New York1:00 “Swift Home Service Club” with Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg, and Martha Logan in the Swift Test Kitchen.
1:30 News and films.
8:00 “Disk Magic” with Jack Kilty.
8:20 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:32 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports.” Boxing from Madison Square Garden, Billy Fox vs. George Kochan.
WABD Channel 5, New York
2:30 Test Pattern.
3:00 INS News, Music and Test Pattern.
6:30 Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film shorts.
8:00 “Doorway to Fame.”
8:45 “The Magic Carpet” with Bud Gamble, sponsored by Alexander Smith Carpets.
8:45 Wrestling from Jamaica Arena, sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
7:30 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 “Cartoon Capers.”
8:00 Battenfield and Echohawk.
8:15 Novelty Night.
8:30 Golf with Bill Gordon.
9:00 Boxing at Madison Athletic club, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 5:30 Test Chart.
7:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
7:45 Kiddies Cartoon. 8:00 NBC program.
8:20 Motion picture short.
8:30 “Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbel's.
8:45 Selected motion pictures.
9:00 Miss Television of Philadelphia.
9:16 NBC Programming.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
4:00 Test Pattern; 7:45 News Review, 8:00 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
6:45 Walter Compton, news; 7:00 DuMont; 7:30 Santa Fe Trail.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis.
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Songs by Betty and Bill.
3:35 Film.
3:45 Man on the Street, sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
4:00 Film.
8:00 Film.
8:25 Baseball Closeups, Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
8:40 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, play-by-play with Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton, sponsored by Purity Bakeries.
8:00 Test slides and recorded music.
8:25 Boxing at the Hollywood Legion Auditorium, Bobby Yaeger vs. Roman Alvarez.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:15 Baseball from Wrigley Field, Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Oaks.
MISS TELEVISION
With John Franklin, emcee
Director: Herb Horton
Producer: Bob Jawer
15 Mins.; Fri. (8), 9 p.m.
RUSSOF FURRIERS
WPTZ, Phila.
The idea of a beauty contest via tele is a sound one, and this show shapes up fairly well, considering the limitations of time and fact that not many contestants appear on the screen. Program evolves around judges selecting a winner of weekly contest on six shows, and then choosing a finalist at end of the period.
As in flesh beauty competitions, girls are judged on basis of talent, beauty, poise and personality. Judges for this session were Bandleader Ray Eberle, currently appearing at Frank Paiumbo's Click nitery; Lee Fuhrman, former city editor of the Atlanta Constitution and now with the Phillie flack firm of Adelphia Associates, and Bernie Kershner of the Russof organization.
Judges are introduced to video audience by emcee John Franklin, and then view the contest over a tele set in the studio. After selection of winner is made, the judges return to announce name of winner to Franklin.
Models were Jeanne Lindmark. Angela Del Vac, Mildred Shecter and Dolores Smith. The winners were Miss Shecter and Miss Lindmark, the judges hitting a deadlock, and thus giving a double award. Girls set gift certificates for appearing on show, and the finalists win a $1,000 fur coat.
In addition to modeling furs on the show, the contestants appear in batb-ing suits, as well as doing a specialty such as singing, dancing, or dramatic reading. This third show in the series came over the tele set with clarity, and contest idea is basically entertaining. Needs more showmanship. Shal. (Variety, Aug.13)
Chicago—With WBKB set to increase time rates by August 15 from $200 to $375 per hour, advertisers have signed new contracts to insure covering this city’s growing television audience at the old price.
First to ink their new contracts were the Keeley Brewing Company, Botany Worsted Mills, Inc., and the Elgin Watch Co. Station execs indicate that several other advertisers are expected to effect renewals before the new rates apply. On August 5, WBKB execs feel that the number of sets in Chicago will exceed 5,000. The new rates will apply until 15,000 receivers are said to be in use.
The Keely Company, according to WBKB, has been “pleased with sales increases and fan mail provoked by boxing-wrestling shows, now also sponsorship of the Chicago Rockets professional football games played at Soldier Field. Boxing and wrestling telecasts continue, giving the company a three-a-week schedule. Malcolm Howard agency handled the Keeley account.
Botany has reinstated its weather forecasts, spotting ahead of boxing-football. Alfred J. Silberstein-Ed. Goldsmith, Inc., Botany’s agency, signed the contract with Paramount’s television department in New York. Elgin’s time spots were renewed through J. Walter Thompson. (Radio Daily, Aug. 8)
Saturday, August 9
1:05 Test Pattern, time signals, music.
1:50 Baseball at Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post Cereals.
8:00 CBS Television News with Tom O’Connor.
8:15 “This is New York” with Bill Leonard.
8:45 Feature film: “Yellow Cargo” with Conrad Nagel (Grand National, 1936).
WNBT Channel 4, New York
2:25 Baseball at the Polo Grounds, N.Y Giants vs. Boston Braves, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:45 Eastern Grass Court Tennis Championships, South Orange, N.J, sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Brooklyn Dodgers, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
4:30 Racing from Washington Park, sponsored by Canadian Ace beer.
7:30 Film Theatre.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
1:50 Baseball at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. Washington Senators, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
4:00 Test Pattern.
8:00 “Capital Citizens,” Bill Herson.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis.
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Interview.
3:35 Film.
3:45 Man on the Street.
4:00 Film.
8:00 Film.
8:25 Baseball Closeups, Harry Caray and Gabby Street, sponsored by Griesedieck Brothers Brewery.
8:40 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, play-by-play with Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton, sponsored by Purity Bakeries. KTLA Channel 5, Los Angeles
2:30 Baseball from Wrigley Field, Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Oaks. 8:00 “Tune-Up Time,” test slides and recorded music.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 Short subject: “Desert Fiesta.
9:00 Western feature film: “The Fighting Deputy” with Fred Scott and White King the Wonder Horse (Spectrum, 1937).
Sunday, August 10 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
1:50 Baseball at Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post Cereals.
7:00 Films.
8:00 “The Week in Review,” news highlights.
8:10 Feature film: “Murder at Glen Athol” with John Miljan, Irene Ware (Invincible, 1935).
WNBT Channel 4
2:00 Baseball Double header at the Polo Grounds, Giants vs. Boston Braves, play-by-play with Bob Stanton.
8:00 “Ringside” with Tex and Jinx,” filmed show sponsored by Ipana/Minit-Rub.
8:20 “Party Line” with Bert Parks, sponsored by Ipana toothpaste and Ingram’s Shaving Cream.
8:50 Film shorts.
9:00 Borden Sunday Supper Club with guest Ethel Waters.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:45 Eastern Grass Court Tennis Championships, South Orange, N.J., sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
1:25 Baseball at Wrigley Field, Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds, play-by-play with Joe Wilson and Jack Brickhouse, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison and Ford; Post-Game “Scoreboard” for Kass Clothing.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:00 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
1:20 Baseball Double header at Shibe Park, Athletics vs. Washington Senators, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
7:45 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
8:00 NBC programming.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
4:00 Test Pattern.
8:00 NBC.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis.
8:00 Commentary by Dr. Roland G. Usher, "The Importance of Egypt ".
8:15 Film show.
8:30 Municipal Opera preview, by Frank Eschen.
8:50 Film.
9:00 Virginia Wesley, song recital.
9:10 Film.
9:20 Amadee’s Cartoon Quiz.
9:35 Film.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
1:30 Baseball Double Header at Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Oakland Oaks.
3:30 Films.
8:30 Cartoon comedy.
8:40 “Shopping at Home” with Keith Hetherington and Harrise Brin, presented by leading Los Angeles Stores.
8:55 Cartoonews.
9:00 “Hits and Bits,” Variety Show with Dick Lane.
Monday, August 11
8:00 Esso Reporter, newsreel narrated by Paul Alley.
8:10 Feature film: “Crime Over London” with Margot Grahame, Paul Cavanagh and David Burns (Gaumont, 1936).
9:20 Trotting Races from Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury, L.I.
10:20 NBC Television Newsreel.
WABD Channel 5, New York
3:00 INS News, music and Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” hosted by Bob Emery, sponsored by American Pipe Cleaning.
7:30 “Funny Time,” with Danny Webb.
8:15 Know Your New York.
8:30 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
8:40 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Philadelphia Athletics, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
8:30 Wrestling from Midway arena.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 5:30 Test Chart.
7:45 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
8:00 NBC programming.
8:10 Motion Picture Featurette.
8:20 Motion Picture: Langhorne Speedway, Aug. 10 Races.
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
8:00-9:00 Test Pattern.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
4:00 Test Pattern; 8:00 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington6:45 Walter Compton, news; 7:00 DuMont; 7:30 Step ‘n’ Fetch It, audience participation; 7:45 “I'm From Arkansas” with Arthur Q. Bryan (PRC, 1944); 9:00 The Music Album; 9:15 Film Shorts; 9:30 Step ‘n’ Fetch It.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis.
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Exhibition of tumbling by public school playgrounds children.
3:40 Film.
4:00 Man on the Street, Frank Eschen, m. c., sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
8:00 “Telequizicalls,” charades hosted by Harry Gibbs, with singer Dottye Bennett and actress Jan Dysart, sponsored by Union Electric.
8:30 Film.
8:40 Man on the Street.
9:00 Film.
9:10 Range Riders.
9:30 Film.
W6XAO Channel 2
8:00 Test slides, music.
8:25 Wrestling from the Hollywood Legion Auditorium. Danny McShain vs Wild Red Berry for the lightweight title, Jan Blears vs. Tony Morelli, Gorilla Ramos vs. Angelo Savoldi, Jimmy Lott vs. Lucky Simonovich, Bob Corby vs. Ken Ackles.
KTLA Channel 5, Los Angeles
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
4:30 “Your Town—Los Angeles Presents.”
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
8:30 Amateur Boxing from South Gate Arena.
Accelerating its program experimentation, WABD tomorrow night debuts a new dramatic serial, “Highway to the Stars,” and tonight will showcase a “Sunday comics program” titled “Funnytime.”...
“Highway,” set for 7:30 p.m., is produced and directed by David P. Lewis of the Caples Agency, who handled “Faraway Hill,” one of tele’s first drama series. Story for the serial is written by Bob Wald, and will feature Patricia Jones, Pat Fay, Charlie Osgoode, Earl George, John Becher, Hal Studer, Susan Thorne and Warrant Stevens.
Reports that the 20th Century Sporting Club, which operates all major boxing activities in Madison Square Garden, and the St. Nicholas Arena, is seeking to terminate its television contract with NBC was flatly denied yesterday [11] by a spokesman for the organization who declared, in fact, that “we expect to continue with television when the present contract runs out.” The present one-year agreement with the National Broadcasting Company expires May 31, 1948.
First reports of the cancellation came over the week-end when it was rumoured Madison Square garden and Twentieth Century club officials attributed dwindling gate receipts to television, and that they had permitted the medium to run too long on an “experimental” basis. Many thousands of would-be and past attendants at the bouts at Madison Square and St. Nicholas Arena, were seeing them in local bars and taverns, etc.
Trade execs yesterday and over the week-end were watching for further developments on the issue, indicating that any action of this type would seriously hinder television at this time, since other sports officials—baseball, football, etc.—might adopt a similar attitude. It’s felt, also, that the boxing officials would be denying themselves a fairly lucrative plum if they clamped down on video coverage of the Monday and Friday night events. NBC is said to be paying approximately $50,000-$75,000 for the rights. (Radio Daily, Aug. 12)
Tuesday, August 12 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
7:35 Test pattern, time signals, music.
8:20 Baseball at Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post Cereals.
WNBT Channel 2, New York
3:00 Hole in One Golf Tourney, Bayside Golf Club.
WABD Channel 5, New York City
2:30 Test Pattern.
3:00 INS News, music and test pattern.
6:30 Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Movies for Small Fry” hosted by Bob Emery.
7:30 “Highway to the Stars,” dramatic serial.
8:00 Western Feature Film, sponsored by Chevrolet.
9:00 Boxing from Jerome Arena, Billy Smith vs. Pat Brady, sponsored by Teldisco.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 Teen Town.
8:00 “Streamliner Parade,” sponsored by Union Pacific and Northwestern Railroads.
8:20 “Behind the Headlines.”
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 2:00 Test Chart.
2:00 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
2:20 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. New York Giants, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
7:45 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
8:00 Motion picture short.
8:15 Motion picture feature.
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
8:00-9:00 Test Pattern.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
2:30 Test Pattern; 3:00 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
2:30 Fashion Show; 6:45 Walter Compton, news; 7:00 DuMont.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
3:30 Film: “Swiss on White,” (Nu-Art, 1936)
3:40 Film: “It Could Happen to You.
3:52-4:30 Tests.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
8:15 Pacific Coast League baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Los Angeles Angels.
HIGHWAY TO THE STARS
With Patricia Jones, Pat Fay, Charline Osgood, Earl George. John Beeher, Hal Studer, Susan Thorne, Warren Stevens
Writer: Bob Wald
Producer-Director: David P. Lewis
Tech. Director: Frank Bunetta
30 Mins.: Tues., 7:30 p.m.
Sustaining
WABD, N. Y.
Caples ad agency's television director David P. Lewis introed the soap opera technique to video last year when he wrote-directed-produced a series called "Faraway Hill." "Highway to the Stars." which teed off last week (12) is his second stab at adapting this radio form to the tele medium. This time, however, the scripting has been turned over to Bob Wald and a plot has been chosen which permits integration of music into the story—a device designed to hypo the dramat's appeal.
Story centers around the trials of a small-town girl singer (Patricia Jonesi who wants a bigtime musical career in New York. Viewer knows in the opening minutes of the opening sequence that she made the grade—she is pictured in a backstage dressing room a few moments before the curtain rises on her bigtime debut. She thinks aloud of the long, hard road she's traveled to bring her dreams true. The rest is flashback.
The bulk of the first sequence was devoted to unreeling the complications which the young chirper faces as she sets her mind on the Bright Lights. Her music teacher (John Becher) says her singing has made no progress of late; her father (Earl George), just getting on his feet after being bedridden two years, wants her to marry her hometown sweetheart (Warren Stevens) and settle down; her young brother (Hal Studer) is miserable in his bank job; her sweetheart is insistent in his marriage proposals. Her mother (Charline Osgood) and bobbysox sister (Susan Thorne) presented no problems in the initial sequence, but no doubt will later on. The real Love-of-her-life (Pat Fay), a struggling young pianist, didn't even get into the opening round, save for a bow in the intro flashes of the cast.
This is daytime-type fare, of course, cut of standard soap opera cloth. In tele, it's reminiscent of the early silent-film serials (including the closing "Continued until next Tuesday") The dramaturgy is elementary, the format familiar, the characters stock, the dialog routine. Direction could stand a lot of improvement; action throughout is too slow and halting. The cast has much too much mugging to do. Camera work is more efficient than any ether feature of the stanza.
Miss Jones got two song stints in the opener, with piano accompaniment (non-union) once by her music teacher, other time by her kid sister. Her piping, uneven and thin, sounded indeed as though she had a long road to travel to musical fame. Doan. (Variety, Aug. 20)
Schenectady—“Café Domino,” television series produced by Video Associates, Inc., returned to the air on WRGB, the GE station here, last week-end, and will be presented each Friday at 7:30 p.m., EDT. (Radio Daily, Aug. 12)
Television rights to motion pictures taken aboard the Kon-Tiki raft as it drifted for fifteen weeks across the Pacific from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands have been obtained by NBC, according to an agreement announced yesterday [12] by the Norwegian Embassy and NBC officials. The films were taken by members of the six-man crew which left Peru last April 18. (Radio Daily, Aug. 13)
What will happen to the two shows after B-M cancels out hasn't yet been determined. (Variety, Aug.13)
Edgar Allan Poe's classic suspense story "The Fall of the House of Usher", adapted especially for television, will be presented for the first time on television Tuesday evening [12] at 8 o'clock. Produced by Irwin A. Shane, and directed by Peter Strand, the "House of Usher" will, utilize a large New York cast starring the Broadway actor Barnett Franks as Roderick Usher, and featuring Judith Fisher, Bernard Burrows, Patricia Lordler and Gilbert Strange. "The Fall of the House of Usher", is a presentation of the television workshop of New York. (Schenectady Gazette, Aug. 9)
Wednesday, August 13
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
1:05 Test pattern, time signals, music.
1:50 Baseball at Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post Cereals.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
7:30 “Kraft Television Theatre: Laburnum Grove,” sponsored by MacLaren’s Imperial Cheese.
8:30 “In the Kelvinator Kitchen” with Alma Kitchell.
8:45 Journal-American Sandlot Baseball, Polo Grounds.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:30 Test Pattern.
1:45 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball from Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Philadelphia Athletics, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
6:30 Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 “Bob Wolff Sports Clinic,” relayed from WTTG.
7:45 “Swing Into Sports” with Vincent Richards.
8:00 “America Sings.”
8:30 Film shorts.
8:45 Pro Boxing at Jamaica Arena, Tommy McGovern vs. Joe Murray, sponsored by American Stores.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 Frank Wood, Private Detective.
8:00 Jack Brickhouse, sports.
8:15 Jack Payne, sponsored by Terman Television Sales.
8:30 Wrestling from Rainbo arena, with Russ Davis, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 2:00 Test Chart.
2:00 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
2:20 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. New York Giants, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
7:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
7:45 Sports Scrap Book with Stoney McLinn and Bill Campbell.
8:00 Motion Picture Featurette.
8:10 “Record Shop” with Maxine Marlo.
8:25 Selected motion picture.
8:30 NBC programming.
8:45 Motion picture short.
9:10 Bubble Gum Contest.
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
8:00-9:00 Test Pattern.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
7:00 Test Pattern; 8:30 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
6:45 Walter Compton, news; 7:00 DuMont; 7:30 Bob Wolff Sports Show; 7:45 DuMont; 8:30 Western Film; 9:00 Turner’s Arena Wrestling.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
3:30 Film: “Wings To Alaska” (Pan-Am Airways, 1946)
3:45-4:30 Tests.
KTLA Channel 5, Los Angeles
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:30 Wrestling from the Olympic Auditorium, Dusek brothers vs. Enrique Torres and George Becker, Tiger Moore vs. Vicente Lopez, Ed Strangler Lewis vs. Jack Kennedy, Major Sammy Menacker vs. Reginald Siki, Jules Strongbow vs. Jack Page, sponsored by Ford.
Philadelphia—Bowman Gum Co., makers of “Bub” bubble gum and Warren’s Mint Cocktail Chewing Gum, started a new 15-minute series over WPTZ, the Philco station, this week [13] which is described as a possible pattern for youngster-participation programs. Show revolved around a father vs. son competition in blowing bubble gum “bubbles.”
Company’s video show on WPTZ is the first to use the medium as follow up to the national “Bub” bubble gum contests which have been featured in a score of large cities this summer. (Radio Daily, Aug. 20)
The Colony Opera Guild of Schroon lake will give a foreshortened version of "Carmen" tomorrow night [13] over the television station WRGB. The opera will run from 8:30 to 10:15 o'clock.
John Seagle, the guild director, will sing the role of Escamillo, the toreador. Helen Spann will play Carmen and Joe Tocci, Don Jose, the tenor lead. Bob Stone will conduct. (Schenectady Gazette, Aug. 12)
General Foods has signed to sponsor Martha Roundtree’s “Leave It to the Girls” on television for a six weeks tryout starting Thursday, August 21, on WNBT, NBC’s New York tele outlet. Program, placed through Benton & Bowles, will be a half-0hour show and will be televised from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m., EDT.
Eddie Dunn will emcee the tele-version of the feminine program with Dorothy Kilgalllen, Maggi McNellis, Harriet Van Horn and Eloise MacElhone comprising the first panel of girls. Willian Bradford Hure, author, lecturer and correspondent, is scheduled as the first male guest.
Unlike the radio version of “Leave It To the Girls” heard Friday nights on Mutual, the television show will dramatize each of the questions brought up for discussion. In the radio version the emcee handles the questions.
Joan Sinclaire will direct the video production. (Radio Daily, Aug. 13)
Thursday, August 14WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
1:05 Test Pattern, time signals, music.
1:50 Baseball at Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves, play-by-play with Bob Edge, sponsored by Ford and Post Cereals.
7:15 Test Pattern, time signals, music.
8:00 CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf.
8:15 Film: “Midsummer in Sweden.”
8:50 Film: “Captain Calamity.”
WNBT Channel 4, New York
7:50 Television Newsreel.
8:00 “Author Meets the Critics,” discussion of Budd Schulberg’s “The Harder They Fall,” with Joe Baksi; welterweight champ Sugar Ray Robinson; Lester Bromberg, World-Telegram boxing writer; John Connors, New York Sun book reviewer. John K.M. McCaffery moderates. Sponsored by Maxwell House Coffee.
8:30 “Friend of the Family.”
9:00 “You Are an Artist” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
9:10 Newsreel.
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:30 Test Pattern.
1:45 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
1:50 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Philadelphia Athletics, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
6:30 Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery, sponsored by Fisher Baking.
7:30 “Birthday Party” with Bill Slater.
8:00 Feature Film: “Thunder in the City” with Edward G. Robinson and Luli Deste (Columbia, 1937).
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
9:00 Girls baseball from Parichy Field, play-by-play with Guy Savage.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 2:00 Test Chart.
2:00 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
2:20 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. New York Giants, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
7:35 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
7:50 NBC program.
8:00 “Pleased to Meet You,” with Roy Neal and celebrity interviews.
8:15 Short subjects.
9:00 NBC Programming.
9:10 Motion Picture feature.
10:10 Winner of “Miss Greater Philadelphia” Contest.
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
8:00-9:00 Test Pattern.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
1:00 Kiwanis Club Crippled Show for Children; 2:00 Test Pattern.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
6:45 Walter Compton, news; 7:00 DuMont.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 N.B.C. Television Newsreel.
3:25 Russ Severin, singer.
3:35 Film.
3:45 Man on the Street, sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
4:00 Film Show.
8:10 N.B.C. Television Newsreel.
8:20 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Detroit Tigers, play-by-play with Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton, sponsored by Purity Bakeries. W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
3:00 Tests, films.
3:30 “Fun in Florida.”
3:32 “Swimming and Diving Aces” (United World, 1940)
3:52 Tests.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:15 Meet the Dons.
8:30 Midget Auto Races from Gilmore Stadium, seven great events featuring the leading AAA drivers.
IF I HAD A CHANCE
With Jessica Dragonnette, Ben Grauer, Russ Case, Carol Brooks, Robert Lieb; Roger Bowman, announcer
Director: Roger Muir
Technical Director: Dick Pickard
20 Mins.; Thurs., 8:40 p.m.
GENERAL FOODS (Young & Rubicam) WNBT-NBC, N. Y.
One of video's persistent miracles is that it can do so little with so much. "If I Had A Chance" is one of those shows that begins with a pair amount of talent at its disposal but in only 15 minutes succeeds in creating one of the most perfect vacuums televised to date. Single merit of this show on its preem (14) was a highly interesting five-minute-long commercial demonstrating research advances made at General Food labs. This section, which was neatly produced with an array of test tubes, retorts, and ovens for sock eye-appeal, set an important landmark in the development of video plugs.
What preceded, however, was only a feeble gesture in direction of entertainment. Program idea is to have celebrities state the careers they would choose if they were given a second chance, and then let them work at it for a few minutes. Initial guest was Carol Brooks, a John Powers model, who passed by Madame Curie to select a career as a night club singer. Her warbling indicated that she didn't have the stuff to make the grade. Jessica Dragonnette chose to be the curator of a museum full of knick-knacks presented to her by her radio fans. Camera failed to pick up any of the detail on these gifts and made this bit wholly meaningless.
Members of the Kiwanis Club will visit Children’s Hospital today [14] at 1 p.m. without leaving their luncheon tables at the Mayflower Hotel. Through a WNBW television program, the Kiwanians will see young polio victims being treated at the hospital’s orthopedic clinic. (Wash. Post, Aug. 14)
Television Station WNBW, a National Broadcasting Co. affiliate, will televise the home football games of the Navy this fall.
The games also will be transmitted to NBC’s New York television station WNBT.
Games scheduled by the Navy which will be telecast are:
October 4—Columbia vs. Navy at Annapolis; October 11—Duke Vs. Navy at Baltimore; November 8—Georgia Tech vs. Navy at Baltimore; November 15—Penn State vs. Navy at Baltimore.
All home games of the Baltimore Colts, newly franchised team of the All-American Professional Football Conference, also will be telecast. (Washington Post, Aug. 14)
B.V.D. Corporation has made its entry into television with the purchase this week of weather reports on WNBT Sunday and Thursday nights. Company presents 20-second weather predictions and advertising spots on sound film.
Contract, which runs for 21 weeks, was handled through Grey Advertising. (Radio Daily, Aug. 14)
Friday, August 15
WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
2:00 to 5:00 Test Pattern.
7:35 Test Pattern, Time signals, music.
8:20 Baseball at Ebbets Field: Brooklyn Sandlotters vs. World All-Stars.
WNBT Channel 4, New York
1:00 “Swift Home Service Club” with Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg, and Martha Logan in the Swift Test Kitchen.
1:30 News and films.
8:00 “Disk Magic” with Jack Kilty.
8:20 “The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:42 “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports.” Boxing from Madison Square Garden, Anton Raadik vs. Ernie Vigh, Lou Belles vs. Tony Riccio (both middleweight, ten rounds).
WABD Channel 5, New York
2:30 Test Pattern.
3:00 INS News, music and test pattern.
6:30 Test Pattern.
6:45 News from Washington with Walter Compton, relayed from WTTG.
7:00 “Small Fry Club” with Bob Emery.
7:30 Film shorts.
8:00 “Doorway to Fame.”
8:30 “Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Mouquin Wine.
8:40 Baseball at Yankee Stadium, Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, play-by-play with Bill Slater.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
7:30 “Telechats,” sponsored by The Fair.
7:45 “Barn Dance.”
8:15 It’s Not Too Late.
8:30 Golf with Bill Gordon.
9:00 Boxing at Madison Athletic club, sponsored by Keeley Beer.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 to 5:30 Test Chart.
7:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Wilf Bros. Appliances.
7:45 Kiddies Cartoon. 8:00 NBC program.
8:20 Motion picture short.
8:30 “Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbels.
8:45 Selected motion pictures.
9:00 Miss Television of Philadelphia.
9:15 NBC Programming.
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
8:00-9:00 Test Pattern.
WNBW Channel 4, Washington
1:00 NBC; 1:40 Test Pattern; 7:49 News Review; 8:00 NBC.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
6:45 Walter Compton, news; 7:00 DuMont; 7:30 Santa Fe Trail; 8:00 Cecil Travis Testimonial; 8:20 Baseball at Griffith Park, Washington vs. Philadelphia Athletics, play-by-play with Bob Wolff.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 St Louis Personalities.
3:35 Film.
3:45 Man on the Street, sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
4:00 Film.
8:25 Tom Packs wrestling matches in Kiel Auditorium, Lou Thesz vs. Bobby Maganoff, sponsored by Hyde Park beer.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles3:00 Tests and music.
3:30 Film: “Golden Gate City” (1939).
3:42 Film: “Children of Russia.”
3:55 Tests.
8:00 Test slides.
8:24 Boxing from Hollywood Legion Auditorium, Rudy Cruz vs. Billy Gibson.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers.
8:15 Pacific Coast League baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Los Angeles Angels.
Barn Dance
Reviewed Friday (15), 8-8:30 p.m. Typical barn dance show with instrumental acts. singing and square dancing. Presented sustaining by WBKB Chicago. Television, it now seems as a result of the success of this show, can follow the example of radio and find a source of good program material and top entertainment in the ranks of the folk artists and hillbilly and Western singers. This show on WBKB, directed by Lorraine Larson and featuring a cast of Chicago pro and amateur rural-type entertainers, had visual and audio appeal; it was a half hour of television that was entertaining at most times.
On the show, which was emseed by Bob Smith, were such singing and instrumental groups as the Midwest Trio (singers), the Singing Smiths and the Thorton Boys, a juvenile group using novelty, unregistered instruments. The entire show was presented in a simulated barn setting with large cast of performers and on-lookers dressed in rural costumes, altho performances of singers and instrumentalists were above average, square dances offered little in the way of entertainment, and should have been presented less often if at all.
Non-Union Show
One significant reason why video should look to folk artists more is that most of the instrnments they play are unregistered. Those playing are not members of the musicians' union and are able to make appearances on television. As is the case in so many other types of talent used on television, folk artists will have to be good to be even acceptable. Amateur performances show their defect on television even more than on radio, and folk artists, because their brand of entertainment is liked by many only when it is tops, will have to be picked with the greatest of care.
If such care is exercised and if mistakes such as those committed by this show's cast members, who did not know how to play to the camera, are made impossible, this type of video show could very well become solid commercial fare for the right sponsor. Plenty of sponsors have sold a lot of merchandise by backing folk artist shows on radio. There's no reason why they can't do the same in television. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, Aug. 30)
A swim suit style show, direct from New York’s Park Central Pool, featuring women’s swimming and diving champions and eighteen of the country’s top models, will mark the Friday, Aug. 15, telecast of the “Swift Home Service Club over Station WNBT (1:00 p.m., EDT). (Radio Daily, Aug. 13)
Saturday, August 16 WCBS-TV Channel 2, New York
2:30 Wightman Cup Tennis Matches, Forest Hills, N.Y., call by Vincent Richards.
8:00 CBS Television News.
8:15 “This is New York” (debut) with Bill Leonard or
8:15 Documentary Film: “Fishing in the Fjords,” narration by John Martin (Sanders, 1938).
8:35 Feature film: “King of the Sierras” with Rex the Wonder Horse (Grand National, 1938).
WABD Channel 5, New York
1:30 Test Pattern
1:45 “Sports Names 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
4:30 Washington Park Futurity with Guy Savage.
WPTZ Channel 3, Philadelphia
1:30 INS News Tape, sponsored by Good House Stores.
1:50 Baseball at Shibe Park, Phillies vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, Claude Haring play-by-play, sponsored by ARCO and Philco.
WTTG Channel 5, Washington
2:50 Baseball at Griffith Park, Washington vs. Philadelphia Athletics, play-by-play with Bob Wolff.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00 News and Views.
3:15 Film.
3:25 Song recital by Sally Schiller
3:35 Film.
3:45 Man on the Street.
4:00 Film.
8:20 Baseball at Sportsman’s Park, Browns vs. Detroit Tigers, play-by-play with Ellis Veach and Ray Stockton, sponsored by Purity Bakeries. KTLA Channel 5, Los Angeles
3:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
4:00 Film for television dealers, “The Chase.”
8:00 “Tune Up Time,” test patterns and recorded music.
8:15 Pacific Coast League baseball from Gilmore Field, Hollywood Stars vs. Los Angeles Angels.
THIS IS NEW YORK
With Bill Leonard
Director: Fred Rickey
30 Mins.; Sat. (16), 8:15 p.m.
WCBS-TV, N. Y.
Bill Leonard, WCBS roving reporter, went behind the scenes of a local telephone exchange last Saturday (16) with a crew of video cameramen and turned up with a fascinating and instructive on-the-spot documentary. While program was able to give only a superficial glimpse into the complex network of men, machines and wire that make telephones work it was enough to satisfy any initial curiosity. Leonard, who could use make-up to hide that five-o'clock shadow, revealed a nice change in pace in cutting back and forth between technical and personal questioning of the exchange-workers. Camera crew did an excellent job under obviously difficult conditions.
In half-hour session, Leonard found the answers on what happens when you dial a number, who handles the long distance calls and why the current shortage of equipment. In questioning various employees, ranging from the operators to the wiremen, Leonard occasionally failed to follow up his line of queries on how the equipment worked. In general, however, he conducted his interviews with a proper balance for the limitations of the cameras which could not pick up all of the details relating to switchboard operation, relays, etc. Show was a striking example of what video is capable of in way of public service and education given that rare combination of resourcefulness and imagination. Herm. (Variety, Aug. 20)
All the spots were produced by Gamble & Haussier Productions, Inc., of New York. (Billboard, Aug. 23)
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