As 1947 was about to close, one of the most famous television shows of its day appeared for the first time.
You wouldn’t recognise it. The programme on WNBT appears in newspaper TV schedules on December 27 as “Puppet Television Theater.” It was later called “Puppet Playhouse” but the station finally decided in mid-March 1948 to name it after its marionette character—Howdy Doody.
The week around Christmas featured another multi-network broadcast. Again, it was from Washington, D.C., and starred President Harry S. Truman and the White House Christmas tree. All stations in the East were on the air over Christmas and were joined by test broadcasts from WBAL-TV in Baltimore, which aired an NBC broadcast from a hospital for war veterans. The station wouldn’t officially sign on until March.
Several versions of “A Christmas Carol” were televised, including a film version that some newspaper listings claimed starred Sir Cedric Hardwicke, when it was actually Sir Seymour Hicks (this is why TV listings can be suspect). Another starred John Carradine. Making an appearance was a pre-teen boy named David Carradine. And we get the first appearance of what later became the NBC Comics—on CBS.
New York did not get a white Christmas, but a blizzard dropped almost 26 inches of snow the next day. DuMont supplied special traffic reports. This wouldn’t be out of the ordinary today but it was unheard of on television back then. The aftermath prevented people from getting to the radio and TV jobs, including a young man named Bob Keeshan who was supposed to be helping on “Puppet Television Theater”'s debut. (By contrast, it was 82 degrees in Los Angeles on Christmas Day).
The Daily News’ station wouldn’t be officially on the air until June 1948, but it was given call letters this week that are still familiar to New Yorkers—WPIX.
Here are stories and schedules for the week. We are missing Detroit, Cleveland and, with the exception of one day, Milwaukee.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1947
WCBS-TV (CBS), Channel 2, New York City
6:30—“Scrapbook, Junior Edition,” children’s program with Gil Fates.
7:15—“Fighting with Kit Carson,” film serial.
7:25—Selected film shorts.
7:50—“The Week in Review” with Don Hollenbeck.”
8:00—“Personalities in the News,” from Washington.
8:30—Hockey at Madison Square Garden: N.Y. Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens.
WNBT (NBC), Channel 4, New York City
4:30—Embassy Children’s Party, from Washington.
7:50—United Press news.
8:00—A.N.T.A. presentation: “The End of the Beginning,” one-act comedy with Frank Thomas, Vaughn Taylor, others.
9:00—Newsreel.
9:05—Television Screen Magazine.
9:35—Travel film.
9:55—Film: “Time Out,” a film of the National Tuberculosis Association.
WABD (DuMont), Channel 5, New York City
Off the air.
WRGB (NBC) Channel 4, Schenectady
8:00—Xmas Land.
8:30—Santa Play.
9:00—NBC Newsreel (from WNBT).
9:10—America’s Song.
9:30—United Press News.
WPTZ (NBC) Channel 3, Philadelphia
10:45—“Musical Prelude.”
11:00—High Mass direct from the Cathedral SS. Peter and Paul.
4:15—INS Television News.
4:30—NBC children’s party (from WNBW).
7:15—INS News.
7:30—Going Places.
8:00—play, newsreel, magazine, films of the nations (from NBC).
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
1:30—Test Pattern.
2:00 to 4:00—Sunday Inquirer Comics and Children’s Matinee.
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:00—Inquirer News Review.
8:30—Let’s Pop the Question.
9:00—Film.
9:20—Religious program.
9:45—Sign off.
WMAR (CBS/DuMont) Channel 2, Baltimore
6:30—kids show and serial (from CBS).
7:45—Associated Press Television News.
8:00—Personalities of the Week (from WMAL).
8:30—WMAR’s Baltimore Television News.
9:00—Film show.
9:50—Hockey (from CBS).
10:45—WMAR Previews.
WNBW (NBC) Channel 4, Washington4:05—Coming Attractions.
4:30—International Children’s Christmas Broadcast, Christmas greetings from young diplomats from 52 nations, direct from the Statler Hotel, announcer John Batchelder.
5:00—Religious Film.
6:00—Musical Interlude.
8:00—Christmas Land; 8:30—American Academy Play; 9:00—NBC Newsreel; 9:10—America’s Song (from NBC).
9:30—News.
9:35—Hymn.
WTTG (DuMont) Channel 5, Washington
Off the air.
WMAL-TV (CBS) Channel 7, Washington
6:00—Test Pattern.
6:30— kids show and serial (from CBS).
7:45—Associated Press Newsreel (from WMAR).
8:00—Personalities Who Make the News with Bryson Rash (to WMAR).
8:30—The News Today with Earl Godwin.
8:45—Film.
9:00—Christmas Carols.
9:15—Film.
10:00—Hockey (from CBS).
W8XCT Channel 4, Cincinnati
2:30—Police Safety Swing Band.
3:30—Television News.
3:45—Story of the Nutcracker Prince.
WTMJ-TV Channel 3, Milwaukee
8:00—Choral Concert: Special Christmas musical feature.
8:15—Gimbels View the News: Newsreel.
8:30—Film shorts.
8:45—Life at the Boston Store.
9:00—Film Program.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
2:00—Basketball at the Chicago Stadium: Chicago Stags vs. Baltimore Bullets.
7:55—News Pictures.
8:00—Telenews, sponsored by Chevrolet.
8:25—Hockey at Chicago Stadium: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, sponsored by Emergency Radio and Appliance and Philco.
KSD-TV (NBC) Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00—“A Family Worships at Christmas,” Christmas Service from Second Presbyterian Church. Sermon by the Rev. James W. Clarke, with the church choir. 8:00—News Comment by Dr Roland G. Usher, “The Eastern Boundary of Germany.”
8:15—Film cartoon: “Night Before Christmas.”
8:30—Russ Severin’s Music Room.
8:45—Films.
9:00—Associated Press News and View.
9:15—Film: Sach Sascha Gorodnitzke, pianist.
9:30—The Christmas Story in Art; Ruth Mose.
9:45—Film: “News Review of 1947.”
10:00—Christmas Carols Association Show.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
Off the air.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood8:00—World-Wide News and Recorded Music.
8:30—Cartoon comedy.
8:40—“Shopping at Home” with Keith Hetherington and Harrise Brin, sponsored by the Pep Boys, Sears Roebuck and Frey Schwabacher.
8:55—Cartoonews.
9:00—“Who’s News?”
9:15—Film: “Beyond Tomorrow” (1940, RKO) with Harry Carey, C. Aubrey Smith and Jean Parker.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 21. (AP)—The mechanical eye of television was focused today for the first time on the principal form of worship of the Roman Catholic Church, a solemn high mass telecast from the cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The broadcast was by station WPTZ and officials of the station and the archdiocese of Philadelphia, which arranged the broadcast with the approval of Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, said they could find no previous record of such a television program. WPTZ, which said the program was one phase of a pre-Christmas religious series, previously has televised Protestant services.
A spokesman for the chancellory said Cardinal Dougherty would not comment on the broadcast. The Rt. Rev. Msgr Hubert J. Cartwright, who delivered the sermon, told a reporter that witnessing such a broadcast would not meet a Catholic's obligation to attend mass each Sunday.
Must Attend Sunday
Church rulings have stipulated that hearing a radio broadcast of the mass does not comply with the requirement that Catholics be "physically present" at mass. Msgr. Cartwright said this would apply to television.
A WPTZ official said the telecast, picked up from a mobile unit outside the century-old cathedral in downtown Philadelphia, was available for some 14,000 home receivers in the Philadelphia area. He added no accurate estimate could be made of the number of persons who witnessed it.
One high church official, declining to be identified by name, expressed the opinion that such television programs "might give non-Catholics a better understanding of the Church's principal form of worship."
Two cameras, in the choir loft followed the celebrant, the Rev. Francis R. Mc Veigh and his assistants during the mass with occasional views of the church interior, the choir and congregation.
The Rev. Edwin L. Gallagher, speaking through a microphone adjacent to the camera, read in English principal parts of the ceremony as Father McVeigh sang them in Latin. Pickup microphones at the altar and in other parts of the church also carried the words and music of the mass. (Charles A. Welsh, Jr., Associated Press)
Step ‘n’ Fetch It Reviewed Monday (22), 9-9:30 p.m. Style—Interview. Sustaining, Originates in WTTG (DuMont) Studio, Washington, for WTTC and WMAR (Baltimore). Producer, Jules Huber. Director, Roger Coelos.
This show tried to extract fun from a scavenger hunt performed by half a dozen contestants vying for a weekly grand prize. The contestants, who are assigned to hunt various scavenger pieces two hours before the performance, parade their trophies one by one before the video camera as emsee Mike Honeycutt offers comments.
On the technical side, Step ‘n’ Fetch It is expertly handled. Director Roger Coelos and producer Jules Huber make the most of WTTG’s camera and studio facilities. The camera direction is particularly deft. The idea for the scavenger hunt on video originated with WTTG’s Walter Compton.
The show may well have good entertainment possibilities. It can be extremely dull, however, when the emsee is short on wit, grace and ingenuity, as was the case the night the show was reviewed. Honeycutt, a one-time vaude actor and now a morning disk jockey on a Washington AM station, has been doing the emsee stint on Step ‘n’ Fetch It since the show’s start six months ago. His video performance is characterized by an anything-for-a-laugh clownishness which probably might better be confined to the drowsy morning hours of his unseen standard broadcast show. Honeycutt tried for laughs by uttering incoherent noises at pretty contestants and giggling at his own gags. Borrowing some of the moldiest gimmicks used in audience participation shows, he consumed a tedious amount of time asking contestants where they resided and then harriedly recalling name of other folks he happened to know in the contestant’s neighborhood. At times the dialog got so thin that one wished Honeycutt might have disposed of all the scavenger pieces with one final thrust at a gag, bowed goodnight and thereby brought relief to himself and his audience.
WTTG has developed an effective arrangement for attracting contestants and studio audiences to this show thru co-operation with a local agency called the Federal Recreation Committee of the Federal Personnel Council. The latter agency posts weekly notices about the show on approximately 3,000 bulletin boards In the various government buildings in the nation’s capital. Ben Atlas. (Billboard, Jan. 3)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1947
WCBS-TV (CBS), Channel 2, New York City
11:00 a.m. to 5:00—Test pattern.
WNBT (NBC), Channel 4, New York City
7:50—United Press news.
8:00—NBC Television Newsreel.
8:10—“Americana Quiz,” with John Mason Brown and guests.
8:41—Universal trailer for “The Senator Was Indiscreet,” starring William Powell.
8:45—Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena. Feature bout: Dennis Pat Brady vs. Johnny Dell.
WABD (DuMont), Channel 5, New York City
6:35—Film shorts.
6:45—Walter Compton, news (from WTTG), sponsored by General Electric.
7:00—Small Fry Club, with Bob Emery.
7:30—Doorway to Fame, hosted by Johnny Olson.
8:00—Film shorts.
8:15—“Magic Carpet,” sponsored by Alexander Smith Carpets.
8:30—Film short.
8:35—“Swing Into Sports,” with Don Pallini and Maxine Barratt, sponsored by Transmirra Products Corp.
9:00—“Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Moquin Wines.
9:07—Boxing from Jamaica Arena with Dennis James, sponsored by Winston Radio and Television Co.
WRGB (NBC) Channel 4, Schenectady
6:55—Program Announcements.
7:00—News Page.
7:15—Santa Claus Show.
7:30—Moonstory.
7:55—Behind the News.
8:00—News, Americana and boxing (from NBC).
10:30—Spot News.
WPTZ (NBC) Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.—Test Chart.
1:45—INS Television News, sponsored by Wilf Bros.
2:00—“Television Matinee,” sponsored by Philadelphia Electric Co.
7:30—INS Television News, sponsored by Superfine Appliances Co.
7:45—Eavesdropping on Santa, direct from Gimbels, sponsored by Gimbels.
8:00—Newsreel.
8:10—Motion Picture Short.
8:30—Christmas Carols in the Grand Court of Wanamakers.
9:00—Boxing (from NBC).
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to noon, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30—Test Pattern.
8:00—Inquirer Television News, with Wally Sheldon.
8:10—Magic Made Easy, with Tom Osborne.
8:30—Film.
8:45—Film: Inquirer Hero Award.
9:00—Temple University Forum: “Is Europe Playing Us for Santa Claus?”
9:30—Boxing from New York (from DuMont).
WMAR (CBS/DuMont) Channel 2, Baltimore
2:00—Test Pattern.
7:00—DuMont programs from WABD.
8:00—DuMont program from WTTG.
8:45—Christmas Greetings.
9:00—Boxing from DuMont.
WBNW (NBC) Channel 4, Washington
Off the air.
WTTG (DuMont) Channel 5, Washington
10:30 a.m. to noon—Morning Melodies.
6:15—Dinner music.
6:30—Preview Time.
6:35—DuMont programming.
6:45—Walter Compton, news, sponsored by General Electric (to DuMont).
7:00—DuMont programming.
8:00—Music Album, Joby Reynolds (to DuMont).
8:15—Film shorts (to DuMont).
8:30—Way Down Home (to DuMont).
8:45—Film shorts.
9:00—Step ‘n’ Fetch It, Mike Hunnicutt.
9:30—DuMont boxing program.
11:00—News.
WMAL-TV (CBS) Channel 7, Washington
10:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00—Test Pattern.
W8XCT Channel 4, Cincinnati
1:30—Newsreel.
1:45—Film: "Hello Mama".
2:00—Countryside Melodies.
10:00—Film: "The Drunkard."
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00—Chicago Television Showcase
4:00—Junior Jamboree with Kukla, Fran and Ollie, sponsored by RCA.
KSD-TV (NBC) Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00—Associated Press News and Views.
3:15—Films: “Sadie Hawkins Day” and “Mary Lee.”
3:30—Fred Lowery, the whistler, and Dorothy Rae, with Russ Severin.3:45—Film: “Yesterday Lives Again.”
4:00—“Christmas in the Kindergarten,” Board of Education program.
4:15—Film Cartoon: “Old Mother Hubbard” (Iwerks via Castle Films, 1935).
8:00—Tele-Quiz-Calls, with Harry Gibbs and Dottye Bennett, sponsored by Union Electric.
8:30—Film: “Touchdown Thrills of 1947.”
8:45—Puppet Show: “The Night Before Christmas.”
9:00—Films: “What a Difference a Day Makes” and “His Rocking Horse Ran Away.”
9:15—Associated Press News and Views.
9:30—Film: “The Night Before Christmas.”
9:45—KSD Television Theater: “Carol of the Wind” with Mathilde Leimkuehler, Sam Sacks, Wallace Ross and Otha Barnett, produced by Betty Goodwin.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
8 p.m.—Test Slides, Music.
8:25—Wrestling Card and announcements.
8:30 to 11:00—Wrestling Matches, Hollywood Legion. Enrique Torres vs. Manuel Garea, Martino Angelos vs. Antone Leone, Angelo Savoldi vs. Bill Varga.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
3:00 to 5:00—World Wide News and music.
7:00—“Uncle Phil,” with Shirley Dinsdale and Judy Splinters, sponsored by Philco.
7:10—Adventure Serial, sponsored by Philco.
7:30—Bar None Ranch, with Pat Buttram.
8:00—Featurette: “Taro.”
8:30—Amateur Boxing.
New call letters—WPIX—have been assigned to The News television station, F.M. Flynn, president and general manager, announced yesterday [22]. The station, scheduled to go on the air over Channel 11 next Spring, temporarily had been called WLTV. The change was authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. Flynn pointed out that “pix” is a newspaper term for pictures and added that the new call letters are particularly appropriate for The News, New York’s Picture Newspaper. “Newspix” for many years has been The News cable address and the name of its house organ. (Daily News, Dec. 23)
Scripps-Howard Radio, Inc., has requested the FCC for a television construction permit for the Cincinnati area, M. C. Watters, vice president, announced Monday. Mr. Watters is general manager of WCPO and in charge of all Scripps-Howard Radio activities in Cincinnati.
Construction of the television station is to begin as soon as the permit is granted. The company plans to spend a quarter of million dollars on television which will include new suburban studios and an FM-Television transmitter to be located in Mt. Healthy.
Mr. Watters said the station probably would be in operation sometime in 1948.This will be the second Scripps-Howard television-station in Ohio. WEWS, the state's first commercial station, opened in Cleveland last week.
Lee Wailes, general manager of Fort Industries, Inc., blasted the rumor that his company was applying for a television grant in Cincinnati. “Fort Industries has two television grants—one in Detroit and one in Toledo," Mr. Wailes told The Post. “Cincinnati has never been considered by us as a site for a television station. (Cincinnati Post, Dec. 22)
SANTA MARIA, Calif., Dec. 22. (U.P.)—A coaxial cable to carry television will be laid between Los Angeles and Santa Maria in 1948, Bell Telephone Co. announced today.
The company announced it obtained rights of way for the cable.
New Orleans will have its first demonstration of live television next week as the result of a schedule set yesterday [22] by ABC in co-operation with RCA and the network’s affiliate, WDSU. Highlight of the demonstrations, which get underway Monday, Dec. 29, will be a live telecast of the Sugar Bowl game New Years Day.
All of the telecasts will be remotes made via an RCA “jeep” unit equipped with two camera chains, and fed to 12 RCA receivers in the Hotel Monteleone. Pickup of the Bowl game itself, between the University of Texas and Alabama, will be made via a two-jump radio relay. Highlights of game will also be filmed and made available to one station in each city flow operating in a 15-minute “package,” with network sportscaster Harry Wismer handling the narration.
Arrangements for the telecasts, which also include pickups of collegiate boxing and basketball contests between the Bowl participants, were made by Paul Mowrey, ABC’s director of television. (Radio Daily, Dec. 23)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1947
WCBS-TV (CBS), Channel 2, New York City
Off the air.
WNBT (NBC), Channel 4, New York City
Off the air.
WABD (DuMont), Channel 5, New York City
6:35—Film shorts.
6:45—Walter Compton, news (from WTTG), sponsored by General Electric.
7:00—Small Fry Club, with Bob Emery.
7:30—“Photographic Horizons,” with Joe Costa.
7:45—“Mary Kay and Johnny.”
8:00—Western Feature Film.
9:00—“Know Your New York,” with Don Roper.
9:15—“Sports Names to Remember,” sponsored by Moquin Wine.
9:22—Boxing from Park Arena with Dennis James.
WRGB (NBC) Channel 4, Schenectady
7:10—Program Announcements.
7:15—News Page.
7:30—Drawing Room.
7:55—Behind the News.
8:00—Otie Carp’s Country Store.
8:20—Film short.
8:40—Strollin’ With Yole.
8:55—Spot News.
WPTZ (NBC) Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.—Test Chart.
7:45—INS Television News.
8:00—Film: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Footbal game.
8:15—Motion Picture feature.
9:30—Hansel and Gretel, dance interpretation.
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to noon, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.—Test Pattern.
7:30—Visit With Santa Claus.
8:00—Inquirer Television News, with Wally Sheldon.
8:10—Film.
8:30—Play from Lisner's Auditorium (from WMAL).
WMAR (CBS/DuMont) Channel 2, Baltimore.2:00 to 4:00 and 8:00—Test Pattern.
8:30—Film show.
9:00—WMAR’s Baltimore News.
9:15—Wrestling from the Colesium. Primo Carnera vs. Frank Hewitt, Nanjo Singh vs. Ace Freeman, Harry Armus and Francois Miquet vs. Fred Caroni and Sheik Abed.
10:45—WMAR Previews.
WNBW (NBC) Channel 4, Washington
2:00—Test Pattern.
3:30—Coming Attractions.
4:00—The Local Crowd.
5:00—Film Feature or Music.
8:45—Basketball at the D.C. Armory: Georgetown Hoyas vs. Santa Clara.
WTTG (DuMont) Channel 5, Washington
10:30 to 12 noon—Morning Melodies.
1:30—Afternoon Musicale.
6:15—Dinner Music.
6:30—Preview Time.
6:35—DuMont programming.
8:00—Bob Wolff Sports Clinic.
8:15—The Visionaires.
8:30—Hockey from Uline Arena: Washington Lions vs. St. Louis Flyers.
11:00—News.
WMAL-TV (CBS) Channel 7, Washington
1:00 to 5:00 and 7:30—Test Pattern.
8:00—Film.
8:30—Play from Lisner’s Auditorium: Princeton Triangle Club performs “All Rights Reserved.” (to WFIL-TV)
9:00—Film.
W8XCT Channel 4, Cincinnati
1:30—Alter Predicts.
2:00—Films: “College Grapplers” (1932, Van Beuren) and “Outboard Stunting” (1931, Van Beuren)
2:30 to 2:45—Pinup a Star.
7:30—On Wings of Song.
8:00—Puppet Show: “The Night Before Christmas in Santa Land,” with Sally Sellers.
8:15—Film: “Outboard Stunting” (1931, Van Beuren).
8:30—Evening at Galords.
9:00—Newsreel.
9:15—Film: “College Grapplers” (1932, Van Beuren) with Grantland Rice.
9:30—Television Party.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago.
3:00—“Jane Foster Comes to Call,” cooking and home management show, sponsored by Commonwealth Edison.
3:30—Chicago Television Showcase.
4:00—Junior Jamboree, with Kukla, Fran and Ollie, sponsored by RCA.
7:30—Animal Crackers.
7:45—Film shorts.
8:00—Civil Air Patrol.
8:15—Behind the Headlines.
8:20—Today’s World Picture.
8:30—Hockey from the Stadium: Chicago Blackhawks vs. New York Rangers, sponsored by Emergency Radio and Appliance and Philco.
KSD-TV (NBC) Channel 5, St. Louis
Off the air.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
10:30 a.m.—Test Pattern and Incidental Music.
11:00—Queen For a Day.
11:30—Test Pattern.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
12:30 to 1:30—On the Town, tour of the George Pal animation studio, including talks with artists and technicians, a story conference, a visit to the puppet shop and the showing of some of Pal's stop-motion films for Paramount.3:00 to 5:00—World Wide News and music.
7:00—“Uncle Phil” with ventriloquist Shirley Dinsdale and Judy Splinters, sponsored by Philco.
7:10—Adventure Serial, sponsored by Philco.
7:30—Home Economics with Monica Whalen and guest.
7:45—“Star Views” with Lois Andrews; Frankie Albertson, guest, sponsored by Philco.
8:00—“Tele-Newsreel,” sponsored by Buchanan Co.
8:10—“Your Town—Los Angeles Presents.”
8:30—Western Feature film: “Rebellion” (1936), starring Rita Hayworth and Duncan Renaldo.
TELEVISION does not always show its subjects with particular detail and clarity. And more’s the pity because WMAL-TV has a musical comedy presentation planned [23] for Tuesday night which should be shown in all its beauty.
The chorus line is unmatched—for muscles, blue chins, hairy limbs and double sets of left feet.
Getting this hefty, hirsute chorus line for the television cameras was wangled by a former chorine now working for WMAL-TV. Harry Hoskinson, who tripped the light fantastic for Princeton’s Triangle Club show as an undergraduate, has signed this year’s production lock, stock and barrel chest.
“All Rights Reserved,” the Triangle Club’s fifty-sixth production, is the first one to be televised, and will be Washington television’s first attempt to shoot a theatrical production at the same time it is being presented to a regular audience.
Burke Crotty, WMAL-TV’s chief, and Van De Vries will handle most of the actual production work.
De Vries has already caught the show on the Northern leg of its scholarship-fund-raising tour, and sadly censored the lines which seemed unfit for television’s shell like ears.
Telecasting will begin at 8:30 p. m. when the curtain goes up at Lisner Auditorium, and continue through to the end of the show, an estimated two to two and a half hours. The intermission will be filled in somehow, probably with interviews in the lobby.
Among the local (or nearly so) Princetonians cavorting through the satire on “the high pressure turmoil which makes up the daily routine of the American publishing business” are Co-Author and Lyricist Edward Tuck of Upper Marlboro, Md., John and Roberto Cuniberti of California, Md. and Trombonist Jack Manger of Washington.
They are striding in big footsteps; past Triangle performers in clude Jose Ferrer James Stewart, Bretaigne Windust, Booth Tarkington, who founded the club, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, who wrote the 1914 show. (Washington Post, Dec. 21)
College Grapplers
(RKO Pathe Action, Interest
One of the Grantland Rice Sportlight series, with plenty of pep and action, depicting the embryonic wrestling champions at a typical college. The boys are shown in training on the mats, and the short is climaxed by a series of bouts, in the college gymnasium, between boys of various weights, against a background of an enthusiastic, cheering mob of classmates. Sport fans will like it; any one will enjoy the enthusiasm of the young wrestlers and the spectators. Running time, 10 minutes. (Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 20, 1932)
“Outboard Stunting”
RKO Pathe Time, 9 mins. Fine Novelty
A snappy Sportlight, showing all the new wrinkles in outboard sports. A flock of outboards engage in a dizzy race, making some hair-raising turns at the signal flag. Another group of young daredevils hitch on outboards with surf-boards, and go shooting over obstacles at dizzy speed/ Two girls on surf-boards go tearing through the water side by side, and engage in a jousting contest with long poles, till one takes a header. Another unique stunt was a polo match between two outboards, which traveled as fast as any polo pony. A novelty reel that packs a wallop. (Film Daily, May 17, 1931)
As has been said before, WLW'S television station has been going around televising all sorts of programs in an experimental manner. By now, however, this has paid off to the extent that several types of programs have been found of such good quality and interest to be continued as regular programs.
At 1:30 p. m. today a new and very different type of program will have its first airing. It too, is slated to become a regular show and its interest is guaranteed by the subject. J. Cecil Alter, Chief Meteorologist of the local weather bureau, is to be interviewed on the program which is to be known as "Using the Weather."
Since his predictions already receive ample space in both newspapers and radio, Alter on this program will go into detail in explaining how different businessmen use the weather forecast in their lines of work. To show how the bureau arrives at its conclusions, he is planning to take different instruments to the studio and explain the working operations. An enlarged weather map will hang on the wall to better enable Alter to show weather conditions across the country and the effect of such varied conditions on the Cincinnati smog. (John Caldwell, Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec. 23)
Chicago.—RCA Victor’s Chicago television show, “Junior Jamboree,” a full-hour variety program for children from six to 16 telecast over WBKB five days a week, has established itself as the top video production in Chicago in the two months since Oct. 13, 1947, when it went on the air, according to survey reports.
With a flexible format, “Junior Jamboree” combines use of puppets with animal films and cartoon films to keep the youngsters interested in television from the hours of four to five, Monday through Friday.
Home viewing audience for “Junior Jamboree” was estimated at more than 12,000 in early December. This is based on an extensive telephone survey made by J, Walter Thompson, which revealed that over 58 percent of the 5376 television sets then in Chicago area homes were turned on during the RCA Victor program; and that there was an average of 4.0 viewers to each set. (Hollywood Reporter, Dec. 23)
Dallas, Tex.—Application has been filed with the FCC by the A. H. Belo Corporation for a television station permit for the Dallas News and WFAA lo operate on channel No. 12 with 30,000 watts power, it was announced here by Martin B. Campbell, managing director of WFAA.
If the permit is granted, the new television station would serve the Dallas-Fort Worth area with an approximate range of 45 miles. The Dallas News-WFAA contract with the Mercantile Bank for use of the building’s tower for FM transmitter and antenna, now in operation, also includes provisions for television.
Application for a television permit also has been filed with the FCC by L. F. Corrigan, local contractor and real estate operator, to operate on channel No. 10. His application designates the Tower-Petroleum building as the proposed site of the transmitter and studios.
Of the six existing television channels in this territory, permits have been granted to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Tom Potter and the late Rogers Lacy, and the Dallas Times-Herald. Application of the Interstate Theaters, the Dallas News and WFAA and of Corrigan are still pending before the FCC. (Radio Daily, Dec. 23)
Television coverage of the 13 home games of the University of Pennsylvania basketball team in the Palestra Stadium in Philadelphia vil1 be sponsored over WPTZ by The Atlantic Refining Company, it was announced this week by Joseph R. Rollins, advertising manager, through N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc. Byram Saam and Claude Haring, veterans of Atlantic’s sports broadcasting staff, will be the announcers.
Series begins on January 10 with the contest between the Penn and Yale squads, and will conclude with the Penn-Princeton game on March 13. Other teams appearing on the schedule are Gettysburg, North Carolina, Lafayette, Cornell, Harvard, La Salle, Navy, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, St. Joseph’s and Columbia. (Radio Daily, Dec. 23)
Philadelphia—With the sale of tele casts of the remaining home games of the professional ice hockey Rockets this week, video schedule of major sporting events on WFIL-TV is “completely sold out,” according to John E. Surrick, sales director. Rockets telecasts were bought by Thornton Fuller, Dodge and Plymouth dealers and distributors, and contract will cover the period from January 21 to March 20. During that time a total of 17 matches will be telecast from the Philadelphia Arena.
Previous sale of telecasts of the home games of the Philadelphia Warriors, this city’s entry in the professional Basketball Association of America, to Norge, and of wrestling matches to Scott and Grauer, beer distributors, left only the ice hockey games unsold. (Radio Daily, Dec. 23)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1947
WCBS-TV (CBS), Channel 2, New York City
1:00—Film short.
1:30 to 2:00—“Missus Goes a-Shopping” with John Reed King, from the Big Ben Supermarket, Lynbrook, Long Island.
4:45—President Truman, Christmas tree ceremony lighting on the White House lawn.5:30—“Santa and the Little Angel,” Telecomics Christmas film, with Ireene Wicker, written by Oskar Lebeck.
7:30—Riverside Church choir and carillon.
7:50—Christmas Story, with Jini Boyd O’Connor.
8:00—Feature film: “Beyond Tomorrow” (1940, RKO) with Charles Winninger, Maria Ouspenskaya, C. Aubrey Smith and others.
WNBT (NBC), Channel 4, New York City
4:30—President Truman, Christmas three ceremony lighting on the White House lawn.
5:30—Christmas music and Christmas slides.
6:00—“Playtime,” children’s program (from WNBW).
7:00—“Views and News” or Christmas slide and music.7:15—Music or United Press news.
7:24—“Tonight’s Television Press Releases.”
7:30—“Kraft Television Theatre”: "Reverie" and “Desert Shall Rejoice.”
8:30—Film: “A Christmas Carol” (1935) with Sir Seymour Hicks, sponsored by Kelvinator.
9:45—NBC Christmas Card.
WABD (DuMont), Channel 5, New York City
4:45—President Truman, Christmas three ceremony lighting on the White House lawn.
6:35—Film shorts.
6:45—Walter Compton, news (from WTTG), sponsored by General Electric.
7:00—Small Fry Club, with Bob Emery.
7:30—“Small Fry Christmas Card,” hosted and produced by Bob Emery. The show features five Christmas cards each leading into a story about Christmas.
8:00—Candlelight Service from Grace Church, Riverside. The Clergy and 50 boys will carry candles in a long procession. Service by Rev. Louis W. Pitt, rector; organ music by Ernest Mitchell, sponsored by U.S. Rubber.
9:00—Film shorts. Herald Tribune listing.
9:10—Sylvie St. Clair, songs.
9:30—Film shorts.
9:45—Film: “Frolics on Ice.”
10:45—Story of “Silent Night” (from Philadelphia).
11:30—Boys Choir from Christ the King Church (from Philadelphia).
Midnight Mass from Christ the King Church (from Philadelphia).
WRGB (NBC) Channel 4, Schenectady
4:30—Children’s program, Truman Christmas tree. (from WNBT)
7:10—Program Announcements.
7:15—News Page.
7:30—Television Theatre, In the Kitchen (from NBC).
8:45—Behind the News.
8:50—Music is Where You Find It.
9:15—Spot News.
WPTZ (NBC) Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and 3:00 to 4:15 p.m.—Test Chart.
1:45—INS Television News.
2:00—Television Matinee, sponsored by the Philadelphia Electric Co.
4:30—Truman, Christmas tree (from NBC).
5:30—NBC children’s show (from WNBW).
6:30—Christmas Music and Slides.
7:15—United Press news.
7:20—Musical Prelude.
7:30—Candlelight Serve from Leverington Presbyterian Church.
8:30—NBC programs.
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to noon, 1:00 to 4:45 p.m.—Test Pattern.
4:45—White House Christmas tree (from DuMont).
7:30—Test Pattern.
7:45—Santa Claus Departure from North Pole.
8:00—Inquirer Television News.
8:15—Christmas film: “Harmony Lane.”
8:30—Yuletide Greetings from Temple University.
9:00—Film Featurette (from DuMont).
9:45—Frolics on Ice, with Irene Ware (from DuMont).
10:45—The Story of “Silent Night” (from DuMont).
11:15—News.
11:30—Boys Choir from Christ the King Church (to DuMont).
11:45—Midnight Mass from Christ the King Church, Haddonfield (to DuMont).
WMAR Channel 2, Baltimore
No programs today.
WNBW (NBC) Channel 4, Washington
2:00—Test Pattern.
3:30—Coming Attractions.
4:45—White House Christmas Tree ceremonies with Pres. Harry Truman (to NBC).
5:30—Playtime (to NBC).
6:30—Musical Interlude.
7:30—plays (from NBC).
8:30—Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.”
WTTG (DuMont) Channel 5, Washington
10:30 a.m. to noon—Morning Melodies.
1:30—Afternoon musicale.
4:45—Pres. Truman and the Christmas tree lighting on the White House lawn (to DuMont).
6:15—Dinner Music.
6:30—Preview Time.
6:35—Television Film Shorts (from DuMont).
6:45—Walter Compton news, sponsored by General Electric (to DuMont).
7:00—Small Fry Club (from DuMont).
7:30—Elder Michaux and the “Happy Am I” Choir Christmas Carols (to DuMont).
8:00—Feature film (from CBS).
9:45—Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.”
10:45—Story of Silent Night.
11:15—News.
WMAL-TV (CBS) Channel 7, Washington10 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:30—Test Pattern.
4:30—Christmas Carols.
4:45—President Truman and the Lighting of the White House Christmas tree (to CBS).
5:30—Christmas Film. 7:30—Test Pattern.
8:00—Christmas Carols.
8:10—Dick Mansfield.
8:25—Charles Dana Beaschler Singers.
8:45—Night Before Christmas.
9:00—Christmas Carols.
W8XCT Channel 4, Cincinnati
1:30—Film: “Arcade Varities.”
1:45—Film: “Mexican Idol.”
2:00—Tea For Two.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00—Chicago Television Showcase.
4:00—Junior Jamboree, with Kukla, Fran and Ollie, sponsored by RCA.
KSD-TV (NBC) Channel 5, St. Louis
Off the air.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
10:30 a.m.—Test Pattern and Incidental Music.
11:00—Queen For a Day.
11:30—Test Pattern and Transcribed Show.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
12:30—“On the Town.”
3:00 to 5:00—News and music.
7:00—Uncle Phil, with Ventriloquist Shirley Dinsdale and Judy Splinters, sponsored by Philco.
7:10—Adventure Serial, sponsored by Philco.
7:30—“Sunset Room” with Joan Barton. Guests: William Farnum, Jimmy Lydon and the Caroliers.
8:00—“Night Before Christmas.”
8:30—Wrestling at the Olympic Auditorium.
President Truman will deliver his annual Yuletide message to the Nation during tree-lighting ceremonies Christmas Eve on the south lawn of the White House.
Between 15,000 and 20,000 persons are expected to attend the ceremonies in the twenty-fifth lighting of the National Community Christmas tree.
The program, including the President’s message, will be broadcast from 5 to 5:30 p. m. It will be televised from 4:30 to 5:30 p. m.
The southeast and southwest gates of the White House will be opened to the public at 3:30 p. m. Wednesday. Persons carrying cameras or packages, however, will not be admitted, the Secret Service said.
Band Concert First
Ceremonies begin at 4:30 with a 15-Minute concert by the United States Marine Band. At 4:45, 50 members of the Central High School Glee Club, dressed in white surplices, will march onto the scene, singing carols as they come. The President, Mrs. Truman and Miss Margaret Truman will arrive at 5 p. m. escorted by an honour guard composed of cadets of the District’s high school cadet corps.
Greetings to the President on behalf of residents of Greater Washington will be extended by Mary Frances Hurley, representing the Girl Scouts, and Kenneth McDonald an Eagle Boy Scout.
Miss Hurley, Troop 289, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Hurley, 5210 1st st. nw.; McDonald, Troop 144, is the son of Mr. and. Mrs. Cecil P. McDonald, 119 W. Mason ave., Alexandria.
Mr. Truman will light the tree at 5:16. His message will follow immediately. Ceremonies end at 5:30 with the piping of the National Anthem. (Washington Post, Dec. 21)
Twelve year old David Frank of 53 Morrell street, who played on Broadway in “Life With Father,” will appear in a Christmas play tonight [24] at 7:30 on television station WNBT. Two plays will be given on the one-hour program, “Reverie” and “Desert Shall Rejoice.”
Joseph Frank, David’s father, said his son has had only two days rehearsal for the role. He a replacing a youngster who was in an accident recently and now is in the hospital.
David played in a road company of “Lite With rather” last year with his two older brothers, Donald and Richard. and then in June played in the 3,183rd performance of the comedy on Broadway, which established a new long-run record. Dorothy Stickney and Howard Lindsay returned for this performance to play again the roles of the mother and father.
David is a student at Roosevelt Junior High School and at present is on Christmas vacation. (Home News, New Brunswick, N.J.)
The Candlelight Service of Carols of the Grace Protestant Episcopal Church will be televised over the DuMont station, WABD, from 8 to 9 P. M. on Christmas Eve. The telecast will be sponsored by the United States Rubber Company as a public service under arrangements made with the Rev. Dr. Louis W. Pitt, rector of the church. The procession of fifty choir boys carrying candles is expected to be the highlight of the television presentation. (Jack Gould, New York Times, Dec. 19)
For the first time in history, the solemn high Mass at midnight in the Church of Christ the King, Haddonfield, will be televised.
Station WFIL-TV has arranged the telecast to be carried over the eastern network, which extends from New York to Washington.
The telecast will start at 11.45 p.m., with the procession of the Holy Child to the Crib. At midnight, the Mass will begin with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph B. McIntyre, celebrant.
The sermon will be delivered by the Very Rev. Bonaventure McIntyre, vice provincial of the Franciscan Fathers. He will serve as narrator during the telecast. He is a brother of Msgr. McIntyre. (Camden Evening Courier, Dec. 24)
Make Believe Time
Reviewed Monday (24) 8 to 8:15 p.m. Video musical impersonation show presented sustaining on WBKB, Chicago.
A novel attempt to bring to television the successful technique of impersonators of famed musical personalities, this show, featuring Marvin Himmel, originator of the Three Make Believes nitery and vaude act, could have been top video entertainment if it had not been marred by video production mistakes which detracted plenty from over-all impact.
Cast as a record shop salesman, Himmel, in order to get into his impersonations, went into a daydream trance a la Danny Kaye's Walter Mitty performance, and then was shown costumed in the roles he duplicated. With recorded music in the background supplying work of talent imitated, Himmel gave impressions of Phil Harris, John Charles Thomas and Dorothy Shay. As in make-believe act, Himmel provided action, while music was supplied by recordings. Production mistake was superimposition of shot of Himmel on moving clouds to accentuate dream impression. Result was that cloud shapes distracted attention from Himmel and took away attention from his actions, the real entertainment value of the act. Clouds could have been used briefly for transition, but Himmel should have worked in front of plainer background.
Unique idea was using revolving pix of Himmel as introductory shot preceding dream sequences. But after it had been used once it had been milked dry and use second and third time was monotonous. This show, a one-timer packaged by the Phil Gordon Agency, proved that Himmel has top video potentialities with his comical routine. But if his work is used as basis for series, greater production perfection will have to be attendant to capture maximum entertainment value. Cy Wagner. (Billboard, Dec. 27)
Washington—The FCC this week has received a batch of new television applications, including a number of technical matters from NBC, DuMont and WGN, and application for new stations in Birmingham, Ala., Akron, O., and Erie, Pa. In addition, the Yankee Network, in Boston, has asked to shift the frequency of WNAC-TV, now under construction, to Channel No. 13.
Seeking channel No. 4 in Birmingham is the Birmingham Broadcasting Co., licensee of AM station WBRC; the Akron applicant is Allen T. Simmons, licensee of WADC, and the Erie applicant is Dispatch, Inc. (Radio Daily, Dec. 24)
The schedule of 54 major sports events comprising the 1918 Madison Square Garden indoor program on WCBS-TV were allocated this week at a conference of representatives of the three sponsors who recently signed for coverage of the events, Ford Motor Co., General Foods, and Knox the Hatter.
Original package covered 79 events dating from the beginning of the indoor season last September. Ford bought 35, GF 32 and Knox 12. First 25 events will have been consummated by the end of the year, leaving 54 to be aired during 1948. Many of the shows aired since beginning of the schedule have been picked up in Baltimore via WMAR and in Washington via WMAL-TV.
Philadelphia will be added to this hook-up when WCAU goes on the air with its video signal, expected to be shortly after the first of the year. All three outlets have working agreements with CBS for the exchange of programs.
The ‘48 Garden schedule will run through part of April, when the indoor season ends. Events included are: collegiate and professional basketball, skating, amateur boxing, ice hockey, track meets, the Circus and the Westminster Kennel Club Show. (Radio Daily, Dec. 24)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1947WCBS-TV (CBS), Channel 2, New York City
7:30—Christmas carols.
7:40—“Santa and the Little Angel,” Telecomics Christmas film, opening narration by Ireene Wicker.
8:00—CBS Television News with Douglas Edwards, sponsored by Gulf Oil.
8:15—Merry Christmasland Exposition from Grand Central Palace.
8:45—Basketball from Madison Square Garden: New York Knicks vs. Providence Steamrollers.
WNBT (NBC), Channel 4, New York City
3:00—Christmas program, St. Alban’s Hospital, with Ilona Massey, Harvey Stone, others, sponsored by Hamilton Watches. RCA Victor television sets will be presented to veterans hospitals in five cities in time for the broadcast.
7:50—United Press news.
8:00—Christmas play, "Strange Christmas Dinner."
8:30—NBC Television Newsreel.
8:40—Musical Merry-Go-Round, with Jack Kilty.
9:00—“You Are an Artist,” with John Gnagy, sponsored by Gulf.
9:10—Universal trailer for “The Senator Was Indiscreet,” starring William Powell.
9:15—Choir.
9:25—Feature film: “The Second Chorus” with Fred Astaire and Paulette Goddard.
WABD (DuMont), Channel 5, New York City
11:00—Christmas Services from National Episcopal Cathedral, Washington (from WTTG).
4:00—Christmas Show from the Walter Reed Hospital, Washington (from WTTG).
5:00—Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” starring John Carradine.
6:45—Walter Compton, news (from WTTG), sponsored by General Electric.
7:00—Small Fry Club, with Bob Emery.
7:30—“Birthday Party,” with Grace Gioe.
8:00—“Champagne and Orchids” with Adrienne.
8:15—Film: “The American Home.”
8:30—“Charade Quiz,” with Bill Slater.
WRGB (NBC) Channel 4, Schenectady
3:00—Hospital vets (from NBC).
7:10—Program Announcements.
7:15—News Page.
7:30—Memory Lane.
7:55—Behind the News.
8:00—Programs (from NBC).
9:45—Pictorial Spots News.
WPTZ (NBC) Channel 3, Philadelphia
2:45—INS Television News.
3:00—Veterans hospital (from NBC).
7:35—INS Television News.
7:45—United Press news.
8:00—Film.
8:30—NBC programs.
9:10—Film.
9:15—Choir.
9:20—French Diary.
WFIL Channel 6, Philadelphia
10:45 a.m.—Test Pattern.
11:00—National Cathedral Service, Washington (from DuMont).
3:30—Test Pattern.
4:00—Walter Reed USO show, Washington (from DuMont).
7:30—Test Pattern.
8:00—Inquirer Television News.
8:15—Feature Film.
9:00—St. John’s Christmas Service.
9:45—Sign Off.
WMAR (CBS/DuMont) Channel 2, Baltimore
10:30 a.m.—Test Pattern.11:00—Washington Cathedral.
12:15—Christmas Concert.
2:40—Feature Film: “Miracle on Main Street” (1939, Columbia) with Margo, Lyle Talbot, Willie Best.
4:00—Walter Reed Hospital Christmas show (from DuMont).
5:00—“A Christmas Carol” (from DuMont).
6:00—Carol Program.
6:45—News with Walter Compton, sponsored by G.E. (to DuMont).
7:00—Programs from DuMont.
8:15—Christmas Scenes in Baltimore.
8:30—Quiz show (from DuMont).
9:00—WMAR’s Baltimore Television News
9:15—Basketball at the Colesium: Baltimore Bullets and Chicago Stags, sponsored by National Bohemian Beer.
10:45—Christmas Scenes in Baltimore (repeat broadcast).
11:15—WMAR Previews.
WNBW (NBC) Channel 4, Washington
2:00—Test Pattern.
2:30—Coming Attractions.
3:00—Naval hospital Christmas program (from NBC).
4:00—Choral Music and Christmas Story.
5:00—Musical Interlude.
8:00—Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
WTTG (DuMont) Channel 5, Washington
10:30 a.m.–Christmas Song.11:00 to 12:15—Washington National Cathedral Christmas Service (to DuMont).
3:30—Afternoon Musicale.
4:00—USO Christmas party, Walter Reed Hospital (to DuMont).
5:00—Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” starring John Carradine (from DuMont).
6:15—Dinner Music.
6:30—Preview Time.
6:35—Film Shorts (from DuMont).
6:45—News with Walter Compton, sponsored by G.E. (to DuMont).
7:00—DuMont programming.
8:15—The Music Album. Sherry Sherwood, vocalist.
8:30—Quiz show (from DuMont).
9:00—Feature film.
10:30—News.
WMAL-TV (CBS) Channel 7, Washington
7:30 to 8:00—Test Pattern.
8:00—Feature Film: “Miracle on Main Street” (1939, Columbia) with Margo.
9:15—Christmas Services.
W8XCT Channel 4, Cincinnati
Off the air.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00—Chicago Television Showcase.
4:00—Junior Jamboree, with Kukla, Fran and Ollie, sponsored by RCA.
7:50—Today’s World Picture.
8:00—Christmas Capers.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00—Associated Press News and Views.
3:15—NBC Television Newsreel.
3:30—Russ Severin’s Christmas Studio Party; guests, Earl Wrightson, baritone, former soloist in radio’s Family Hour; Keith Anders, movie actor, and Ruth Gillette, singing leads in “The Chocolate Soldier”; Gay English, St. louis soprano; Peter Rich, young ventriloquist, and 10-year-old Zane Farhat of the Junior Jamboree show.
4:15—Film cartoon.
8:00—Film: “Watch Out and Detour.”
8:30—NBC Television Newsreel.
8:45—Basketball (BAA) at the Arena: St. Louis Bombers vs. Washington Capitols, sponsored by Hyde Park Breweries.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
10:30 a.m.—Test Pattern and Incidental Music.
11:00—Queen For a Day.
11:30—Test Pattern.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
12:00—Solemn High Mass from Blessed Sacrament Church.
3:00 to 5:00—Test Pattern and music.
7:00—“Uncle Phil” for kids, sponsored by Philco.
7:10—Adventure Serial, sponsored by Philco.
7:30—“Judy’s Christmas,” with Shirley and Judy.
7:45—“Star Views” with Lois Andrews, sponsored by Philco.
8:00—“Holiday Carols.”
8:30—“Christmas in Hollywood.”
Wounded war veterans confined to government hospitals along the Northeastern Seaboard will be entertained on Christmas afternoon with a one-hour television program arranged by the Hamilton Watch Co.Veterans in the hospitals at Coatesville, Perry Point, Md. and Ft. Howard, Md., as well as those in 9 other hospitals in the area will see the show.
The show will be telecast from St. Albans Naval Hospital, Long Island, N. Y., from 3 to 4 p. m. and will feature a series of acts by stage and screen actors headed by Ilona Massey, Hungarian singer and actress. The Hamilton Chorus of 62 voices will introduced and sign off the program with Christmas carols via a movie taken on the company grounds last week.
* * *
MEMBERS of the Chorus will witness the show at the Lancaster RCA plant through the cooperation of RCA and the Conestoga Television Association. The latter group operates a transmitter in the Welsh Mountains. The transmitter will pick up the Philadelphia signal and relay it to the RCA plant.
The show will be telecast over an NBC network including stations WNBT New York, WMBW Washington [sic], WTPZ Philadelphia, WBAL-TV Baltimore and WRGB Schenectady.
Over the same network Hamilton will sponsor a special New Year’s Eve program from 9 p. m. to 12:15 a. m. heralding the New Year with several hours of entertainment and featuring flashes to Times Square, the National Capitol and Philadelphia’s Independence Square as celebrants welcome in 1948.
Richard Hughes and Jack Rill will transmit the relay from the Welsh mountains. E. E. Hoffman, president of the Association, and I. D. Calmes will receive and monitor it from the penthouse at the RCA plant. (Lancaster, Pa. New Era, Dec. 20)
DuMont will preem what’s to be an annual Christmas Day affair tomorrow (Thursday) [25] with presentation of Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.” Officials of the net hope they can build the show into equal status with the radio version of the classic, which has starred Lionel Barrymore over the ABC web for the last 10 years.
John Carradine will play Scrooge in DuMont’s adaptation, which is to be produced in the studios of WABD (N.Y.), and will be carried to WFIL-TV (Philadelphia), WMAR-TV (Baltimore) and WTTG (Washington). Hour-long play is to employ 12 sets and a cast of 22. Carradine’s 11 year old son will also appear in the show.
Entire production is supervised by DuMont program manager James L. Caddigan. David Lewis will produce and direct, with Rudy Lucek designing the sets. Frank Bunetta is technical director. (Variety, Dec. 24)
Television station WBKB has scheduled two daytime shows and a two hour revue for tonight which will probably provide many families their first glimpse of radio pictures. The Chicago Television Showcase will have special Christmas pictures at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m. Kukla, the puppet and his gang take over the Junior Jamboree, offering a holiday flavored show.At 8 o'clock tonight a two hour Christmas Capers will be offered. Burr Tillstrom’s Puppets, Fran Allison and Russ Davis as master of ceremonies will be featured. There'll be a sports review with Jack Brickhouse, Joe Wilson, Guy Savage, Milt Hopwood and Don Ward. A special Christmas movie [cartoon] "Santa and the Angel" will be shown.
Many a Chicagoan has made a teleset the big Christmas gift of this season. The television census as of Nov. 1, 1946 in the Chicago area was around 350 sets. On Oct. 10, 1947, it was 6,843. This week, according to last minute checks, it crossed the 11,000 mark. (Larry Wolters, Chi Tribune, Dec. 25)
Newspaper and news service reports describing the “epoch-making first television broadcast of a Solemn High Mass” in Piladelphia [sic] last Sunday found a quiet reception in Los Angeles.
Those with television sets viewed a telecast of the Christmas Solemn High Maas from Blessed Sacrament Church last year.
Fr. Cornelius McCoy, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, chuckled indulgently as he read the reports from Philadelphia.
“Television station KTLA televised our Christmas Mass last year and will do so again this Christmas,” he said.
Official Permission
The television broadcasts here are done with permission of Bishop Joseph T. McGucken, administrator of the Archdiocese.
Two cameras are used, one concealed in the sanctuary and another placed at one side of the church. No extra lights are required as new lenses are capable of recording the scene with the church's regular illumination.
Witnessing a television broadcast does not, of course, meet the obligation of attending Mass. Canon law requires that Catholics be physically present at the Mass and radio or television broadcasts do not meet this requirement. )(The Tidings, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Dec. 26)
CHICAGO, Dec. 25—(INS)—Football television fans will face a blank screen Sunday when the Chicago Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles take to the field in Comiskey Park to decide the National League Championship.
All Cardinal home games were televised this season, but the league, which has jurisdiction over the championship title, banned television.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1947
WCBS-TV (CBS), Channel 2, New York City
8:25—Pro Tennis at Madison Square Garden: Bobby Riggs vs. Jack Kramer; Pancho Segura vs. Dinny Pails; Sarah Palfrey Cooke, announcer.
WNBT (NBC), Channel 4, New York City
1:00—Swift Home Service Club with Tex and Jinx, and Martha Logan, home economist; Sandra Gahle, decorator and home planner.
1:30—NBC Television Newsreel.
7:50—United Press news.
8:00—Play: “Our Lady’s Juggler.”
8:15—Universal trailer for “The Senator Was Indiscreet,” starring William Powell.
8:20—“The World in Your Home,” sponsored by RCA.
8:30—Television Screen Magazine.
9:00—“Gillette Cavalcade of Sports,” Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena. Terry Young vs. Bobby Plant, Theodore Davis vs. Harry LeSame, Joey Jordan vs. Ray Soloman, Bobby James vs. Lou Perez.
WABD (DuMont), Channel 5, New York City
6:35—Film shorts.
6:45—Walter Compton, news (from WTTG), sponsored by General Electric.
7:00—Small Fry Club, with Bob Emery.
7:30—Hubert Brill’s Playhouse.
8:00—To be announced.
8:45—Film shorts.
8:54—Sports Names to Remember, sponsored by Moquin Wine.
9:00—Wrestling from Jamaica Arena, with Dennis James.
WRGB (NBC) Channel 4, Schenectady
7:10—Program Announcements.
7:15—WRGB News Page.
7:30—Songs of the Sea.
7:40—Sportsreel.
7:55—Behind the News.
8:00—NBC programs, including “Juggler” and boxing.
10:30—WRGB Pictorial Spot News.
WPTZ (NBC) Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 1:40 to 3:45—Test Chart.
1:00 to 1:40—NBC programming.
3:45—INS Television News.
4:00—Children’s Matinee: cartoon, Clyde Beatty serial, and Western Feature.
7:35—INS Television News.
7:50—United Press News.
8:00—Children’s program (from NBC).
8:15—Short subject.
8:30—“Handy Man” with Jack Creamer, sponsored by Gimbels.
8:45—Motion Picture Short.
8:55—Sunshine Sportsman’s Show.
9:10—Boxing (from NBC).
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to noon, 1 to 5 p.m.—Test Pattern.
7:30—DuMont gospel program (from WTTG).
8:00—Inquirer Television News.
8:15—Teen Canteen.
8:30—Motion Pictures.
9:00—Basketball at the Convention Hall—Philadelphia Warriors vs. Providence Steamrollers.
WMAR Channel 2, Baltimore
6:00—Test Pattern.
6:45—News from DuMont (WTTG).
7:00—Evening Sun Bowling Tournament.
7:30—Gospel show from DuMont (WTTG).
8:00—Film from DuMont (WTTG).
8:30—Hockey from DuMont (WTTG).
WNBW (NBC) Channel 4, Washington
12:45—Coming Attractions.
1:00—NBC programming.
1:45—Musical Interlude.
3:30—A Day at the Zoo.
4:30—Film Features.
5:30—Musical Interlude.
7:50—Coming Attractions.
8:00—“Juggler” (from NBC).
8:15—Film Features.
8:30—Story of the Week, with Richard C. Harkness.
8:45—Let’s Learn To Dance, sponsored by Georges Radio and Television Stores.
9:25—News in Review
9:30—NBC boxing, sponsored by Gillette. Washington Post has 9:00—News, 9:05—Boxing.
10:45—Telesports Show.
WTTG (DuMont) Channel 5, Washington
6:15—Dinner Music.
6:30—Preview Time.
6:35—Film Shorts (from DuMont).
6:45—Walter Compton, news, sponsored by General Electric (to DuMont).
7:00—NBC program with Bob Emery.
7:30—Elder Michaux and the “Happy I Am” Choir (to WMAR).
8:00—Film Featurette (to WMAR).
8:30—Hockey from Uline Arena: Washington Lions vs. Springfield Indians (to WMAR).
11:00—News.
WMAL-TV (CBS) Channel 7, Washington
10:00 a.m. to noon, 1:00 to 5:00—Test Pattern.
W8XCT Channel 4, Cincinnati
1:30—Film: “Return of the Buffalo.”1:45—Film: “Latin Rhythm.”
7:30—Cartoon: “Fresh Ham” (1933, Van Beuren) with Cubby Bear.
8:00—Film: “Latin Rhythm.”
8:15—Wrestling at the Music Hall Sports Arena. John Demchuck vs. Bill Darnell (two falls, 90 mins.), Angel Martinelli and Whitey Wahlberg vs. Monte LaDue and Buck Lipscombe, Paul Steuer vs. Jack Smithers.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
3:00—Chicago Television Showcase.
4:00—Junior Jamboree, with Kukla, Fran and Ollie, sponsored by RCA.
7:30—Variety program.
7:40—Film shorts.
8:00—Telechats, sponsored by The Fair.
8:15—“Lost Jungle.”
8:44—The Singing Smiths, sponsored by Terman Television Sales.
9:00—Boxing from Madison Athletic Club, sponsored by Atlas Prager Brewing Co.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00—Associated Press News and Views.
3:15—Film: “Holiday Carols.”
3:30—Behind the Fashion Scene with Marjorie Wilten.
3:45—Films: “I Don’t Know Enough About You,” “Aquabatics” and “Crazy Things.”
4:00—Vaudeville Matinee: Punch and Judy, juggler clown; George Woods.
4:15—Film cartoon.
8:15—Films: “Boy and Girl From North Carolina” and “The Cowboy Isn’t Speaking to His Horse.”
8:30—France Laux, Sports Review.
8:45—Feature Film.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
10:30 a.m.—Test Pattern.
11:00—Queen For a Day.
11:30 to noon—Test Pattern and Music.
8:00—Test Pattern and Incidental Music.
8:25—Boxing Card and Announcements.
8:30—Boxing at the Hollywood Legion Stadium, Paolino Montes vs. Chuey Figueroa, Vince Turpin vs. Jimmy Shans, Lou Fillipo vs. Darnell Carter, Richard Lopez vs. Chuck Railey, Butch Maxwell vs. Jose Louis, Ray Mills, Ozzie Biggie.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
12:30-1:00—“On the Town,” sponsored by local television set distributors.
3:00-5:00—World Wide News and Music.
7:00—“Uncle Phil,” with ventriloquist Shirley Dinsdale and Judy Splinters, sponsored by Philo.
7:10—Adventure Serial, sponsored by Philco.
7:30—“Looking at Music” with Al Jarvis, sponsored by Philco.
8:00—Tele-Newsreel, sponsored by Buchanan Co.
8:30—Hockey from the Pan-American Arena: Los Angeles Monarchs vs. San Francisco Shamrocks.
The Snow Storm . . . WNEW [radio] yesterday and last night [26] broadcast traffic bulletins supplied by The News every hour on the hour and will continue to do so as long as snow-bound conditions prevail. WOR, WCBS, television station WABD and practically every other outlet in this area also provided similar services. The storm caused little interference technically with local broadcasting yesterday by productions schedules were affected by the late arrival of performers temporarily marooned by the storm. Perry Como was unable to make it to the NBC studios in Radio City last night and Mel Torme took his place on the “[Chesterfield] Supper Club” show as a last-minute substitute. (Ben Gross, Daily News, Dec. 27)
Television Screen Magazine
Reviewed Friday (26), 8:35-8:45 p.m. Sustaining via WNBT. Director, Ira Skutch. Assistant director, Theodore Mills. Writer, Gene Hand. Technical director, Richard Pickard. Video director, Frank Burns. Cameramen, Henry Bomberger, Stoddard Dentz, Henry Albert. Audioman, Thomas Smiley. Title, this broadcast, “The Story Behind Stamps.” Cast: Walter Law.
The Story Behind Stamps, with Walter Law, shaped up as a modest, comparatively inexpensive, brief program in the Television Screen Magazine series aired over WNBT. Such a program, of course, appeals primarily to a specific audience segment—those interested in stamp collecting. But in addition to people who are active stamp collectors, it would seem that such a program might also snag a sizable number of people whose interest in the subject might be passive.
The reviewer is one of the latter. Never having collected stamps, he nevertheless found Walter Law’s commentary and stamp exhibits of more than passing interest. It would seem, then, that a program built around a hobby might draw considerable audience from among non-hobbyists, assuming that the program was well-presented. This show did ring a bell, even to alien ears.
What the program did was to show how topical stamp collections are made—illustrating this with pictures of stamps portraying winter spots. Law also demonstrated how a series of stamps could tell a story, and to illustrate this he displayed a series portraying the history of the events leading to the construction of the Panama Canal. Brief sections of film were used in the telecast—most of the time being devoted to shots of the stamps and Law’s commentary.
The program apparentaly [sic] presented few technical difficulties. The film footage was clear, the details on the stamps were sharp and the commentary was concise and interesting. Paul Ackerman. (Billboard, Jan. 3)
SATURDAY, DECEMEBER 27, 1947
WCBS-TV (CBS), Channel 2, New York City
2:55—Pro Basketball at Madison Square Garden: N.Y. Knicks vs. Chicago Stags.
7:45—News, Tom O’Connor.
8:00—Selected film shorts.
8:15—College Basketball at Madison Square Garden: St. Francis vs. Arizona, N.Y.U. vs. Missouri, Bob Edge announcing, sponsored by Ford.
WNBT (NBC), Channel 4, New York City
5:00—Puppet Television Theater (debut).
WABD (DuMont), Channel 5, New York City
Basketball in Orange, N.J.: Rutgers vs. Seton Hall.
WRGB (NBC) Channel 4, Schenectady
No programs scheduled.
WPTZ (NBC) Channel 3, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.—Test Chart.
4:45—INS Television News.
5:00—Puppet show (from NBC).
WFIL-TV Channel 6, Philadelphia
2:30 and 7:00—Test Pattern.
7:30—“Starlet Stairway” with Jack Steck.
8:00—Inquirer Television News.
8:10—Better Sports, with Don Kellett.
8:30—Motion Pictures.
9:00—Basketball at the Convention Hall: Temple vs. Dartmouth.
WMAR (CBS/DuMont), Channel 2, Baltimore
2:55—Basketball (from CBS).
7:45—news, films, basketball (from CBS).
10:30—WMAR Previews.
WNBW (NBC) Channel 4, Washington
12:30—Test Pattern.
3:00—Coming Attractions.
3:45—Musical Interlude.
4:30—Energy to Burn.
5:00—Puppets (from NBC).
6:00—Musical Interlude.
8:00—Gypsy Singers.
8:30—Film Features.
8:45—Song in the House.
WTTG (DuMont) Channel 5, Washington
7:15—Dinner Music.
7:45—Arnold Fine Show.
8:00—Film short.
8:15—Scholastic Sports Association.
8:30—Film short.
8:45—Basketball (B.B.A.) from Uline Arena: Washington Capitols vs. Philadelphia Warriors.
11:00—News.
WMAL-TV (CBS) Channel 7, Washington
3:00 to 5:00 and 7:15—Test Pattern.
7:45—news, films, basketball (from CBS).
W8XCT Channel 4, Cincinnati
7:30—Film: “Not So Dumb.”
7:45 to 10:45—Basketball at the Music Hall Sports Arena: South Dakota vs. Morehead, Universituy of Cincinnati vs. North Carolina State.
WBKB Channel 5, Chicago
Off the air.
KSD-TV Channel 5, St. Louis
3:00—Associated Press News and Views.
3:15—Films: “Boogie Woogie Cindy” (1946, Soundie) with the Nilsson Twins, “I’m Not That Way” and “Pay Day Rolls Around.”
3:30—“Junior Jamboree” with Russ Severin.
4:00—Film Cartoon.
4:15—Film: “News Review of 1947.”
8:00—Musical Shorts: “Hi Neighbor” (1942, Soundie) with Anita Boyer, and “Mail Order.”
8:10—Hockey at the Arena: St. Louis Flyers vs. Indianapolis Capitals, sponsored by Crosley Dealers.
W6XAO Channel 2, Los Angeles
Off the air.
KTLA Channel 5, Hollywood
12:30-1:00—“On the Town.”
3:00 to 5:00—News and music.
7:00—“Uncle Phil,” with Shirley Dinsdale and Judy Splinters, sponsored by Philco.
7:10—Adventure Serial, sponsored by Philco.
7:30—Pantomime Quiz, hosted by Mike Stokey. Guests: Morley Drury, Cotton Warburton, Tom Harmon and other sports celebrities.
8:00—Los Angeles National College Invitational Basketball Championships at Olympic Stadium.
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 27 (U.P.)—A television set builder announced today he will put television on a senior-size screen in a big theater—just like a movie—for the first time New Year’s Day.
And, so far, nobody’s mad at him for doing it.The radio-television station people just scratched their heads when they heard that Bert D’Orsay was going to install an ordinary set in the Shrine Auditorium. He’ll project the image on a big screen and invite 6,700 paying customers in to see the Tournament of Roses parade and the Rose Bowl game.
They said they believed it was all right for a person to receive a television show and charge admission. However, N.B.C., which owns the television rights to the Roses events, said it was seeing its lawyers anyway to “find out how far those rights” can go.
D’Orsay’s not worried.
“I receive the program, I can do what I want with it,” he shrugged. “This proves television theatres are here.”
The prices at the big television show ae $2.40, $1.80 and $1.20. Profits go to veterans’ hospital, D’Orsay said.
He figures people who don’t have home television sets and couldn’t buy tickets to the game will swamp the auditorium, the biggest in town.
A customer can arrive at 7 a. m. to watch the parade on a 9x12 foot screen instead of over the heads of a million other guys. He can stay until the last whistle of the game blows about 5 p. m. No traffic jams, no elbowing crowds, no aching feet.
“I may be able to use a 15 by 20 foot screen,” D’Orsay said. “But even with the smaller size, this will be the largest commercial telecast in the world.”
D’Orsay rigged up an ordinary table model television set with photographic lenses. This he’ll park behind a translucent screen on the stage. He said he tried out his trick set at a night club Monday night and it worked.
NBC, not owning a television station here, leased the television rights to Paramount’s KTLA. The radio network mournfully indicated that citizens who would have stayed home to hear the game probably will jam D’Orsay’s demonstration.
But the television station isn’t miffed.
“The more people who can see how wonderful television is, the better for our business,” said station head Klaus Landsberg. “How they see it, we don’t care.” (Aline Mosby, United Press)
Union trouble which threatened to interfere with televising the Rose Bowl parade and game was disclosed today to have evaporated.
Klaus Landsberg, manager of KTLA television station, said the televising would proceed on schedule.
Carl Cooper, international vice president of AFL International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, agreed that an IATSE bid to unionize KTLA employes “would be straightened out" in time to avoid interference with the scheduled television.
When KTLA employes rejected a proposal that they join an IATSE local, the union reportedly threatened to bar member cameramen from working for newsreel companies at the Rose Bowl event if non-members handled television cameras. Cooper would not comment on status of the reported union ultimatum, but was sure the matter will be resolved.
Both Landsberg and Cooper said the IATSE has offered KTLA employes a charter for a television local under the IATSE banner. (Hollywood Citizen-News, Dec. 27)
WITH national leaders in the industry predicting the emergence of television on a national scale in 1948, Buffalo is looking forward to its first see-and-hear programs in the new year through The Buffalo Evening News television station WBEN-TV.
David Sarnoff, president of RCA, predicts that it is only a matter of time before a radio program without television will be as out of date as a movie without speech.
WBEN-TV plans to go on the air about Feb. 1 with test patterns and is scheduled to begin regular commercial programs April 1. The patterns will serve to test the strength and quality of the station’s signal and to serve as a “sample picture” for dealers, radio service men who will install the antennas and the set-buying public.
The antenna for The News television station atop Hotel Statler was completed last Fall, and the construction of the studio’s transmitter in the Statler is under way.
WBEN-TV is making extensive preparations to televise football, hockey, basketball and boxing, and its mobile units will telecast parades, civic celebrations, and other out-of-the-studio special events. The station has obtained the latest motion picture and slide projectors. Dramas will be broadcast both from the studio and theater stages. WBEN-TV will broadcast on Channel 4 or a frequency of 66-72 megacycles. (Buffalo News, Dec. 27)
New York video stations last week got their first inquiry from a brassiere manufacturer about buying time on the medium. Interest was specifically in a series of spot announcements.
The bra man was quoted the spot rate but was also advised that the business, of course, would have to be subject to approval of commercial "copy." (Variety, Dec. 24)
Philadelphia, Dec. 23. WFIL-TV last week made its sports program 100% commercial with the sale of the telecasts of the home games of the Philly Rockets ice hockey team to Thornton-Fuller, auto distributors.
Other sporting events on the Philly Inquirer's video outlet are the home games of the Warriors, basketball pro club, bankrolled by the Norge distributors, household appliances, and wrestling matches at the Arena, sponsored by Scott and Grauer, beer distribs. (Variety, Dec. 24)
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 27. — Larry Finley, currently supervising Philco’s series of live tele shows here, will start filming the segs in mid-February and will make them available to other stations and sponsors thruout the country. First to go on film will be a Hollywood gossip stint and a fashion show. Finley said his top headache in developing usable video-cine fare is James C. Petrillo’s ban against using music in pix intended for tele. Only type of shows he will be able to can are those that do not have to rely upon the use of music. Finley’s reasons for swinging from live to film are twofold: (1) One sponsor has to shoulder the cost burden of a live show while a multiple number of bank-rollers can share the load if filmed version is made available to other stations. (2) Final product is superior on film than live since it has the benefits of retakes, editing, etc. Furthermore, Finley feels the Motion Picture Producers’ Association, which recently banned screen celebs from appearing on tele, will look more kindly to the video medium if shows using their people are filmed. One of the main reasons studio execs have forbidden stars from exposing themselves to the tele lens has been the fear that they would be scanned to ill-advantage. By filming a tele seg pic brass arguments against tele can be minimized. Finley said filmed versions will be carried on KTLA (outlet currently beaming his live Philco shows) and will be distributed to other tele outlets via his radio transcription firm (Larry Finley Transcriptions). He estimates the half-hour show would cost him $2,000 for talent and filming. Above mentioned segs, 15 minutes each, will be made available to video stations on a non-profit basis, Finley said. He added that the number of stations carrying shows will be expected to share only the production costs, and as a number of outlets increase, cost for each station using the films will decrease. He will distribute pix on a non-profit basis until such time when there is a sufficient number of stations to defray production costs to the point where an outlet can get a film at a reasonable fee yet allowing him a margin of profit. (Hollywood Reporter, Dec. 27
