Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1955)

They Listen! HN1NA WRIGHT Packs her daily morning program with a wealth of information, helpful to both urban and rural housewives. Broadcast from her kitchen, Nina places major emphasis on the important subject of food. In addition, she frequently discusses other subjects of vital importance to women — fashion, good grooming, current events and civic affairs. Guest interviews are often a part of her interesting programs. Several times each month, Nina Wright is invited to appear as featured speaker at area functions, or to give homemaking and cooking demonstrations. In towns and cities throughout KSOO's 60-County Coverage Area this past summer, the average attendance at a Nina Wright appearance was 24% of the total population. The only publicity used to attract housewives to these events were announcements in the "NINA WRIGHT SHOW" itself. Yes, when Nina Wright talks, homemakers listen. And when Nina Wright sells your product, homemakers BUY! This popular KSOO "Personality Show" draws listeners at a low cost per thousand of approximately *13 cents. * based on Nielsen Coverage Service Figures NINA WRIGHT SHOW 10:25 A.M.— Mon. thru Fri. KSOO 4* Sioux Falls, S. D. Nationally Clear Channel 1 140 KC ABC Radio Affiliate 10,000 WATTS DAYTIME 5,000 WATTS NIGHTTIME :ented Nationally by A very-Knodel, Inc. Page 14 » January 17, 1955 IN REVIEW PROFESSIONAL FATHER THE IDEA of a tv series based on the troubles experienced by a child psychologist in attempting to apply his book-learned ideas to his own children is sound enough. The trouble with Professional Father, which started Jan. 8 as a Saturday, 10-10:30 p.m. series on CBS-TV, is that the good basic idea is executed on the comic strip level. To begin with, the characters are absurd. The father-psychologist is pictured as too dumb to match wits even with a six-year-old child, yet somehow he earns enough to support a comfortable suburban home, complete with maid. The publisher who comes to discuss the hero's book decides to publish it only when a couple of neighbors march in to complain of the ideas it has given their children, yet he is supposed to be an astute businessman. The plumber, who takes time out from his job to play with the children, "at half pay," is such a poor example of a working man as to make a union boycott of this series not at all improbable. Next, the plot was as ridiculous as the characters, its central theme that young children would read a treatise on child psychology, latch on to the idea that it is normal for children to be noisy and disorderly and decide to harrass their elders by acting normally. To be consistent with the writing, the program should have been produced as slapstick comedy, but the producer and director tried to make the actors take their roles seriously and behave like real people. Their failure was inevitable. The kids in the cast had a fine romp, while their elders suffered through their parts. Production cost: Approximately $30,000. Sponsored by Helene Curtis Industries Inc. for hair care products through Earle Ludgin & Co. and Gordon Best Co. Broadcast on CBS-TV, Sat., 10-10:30 p.m. Created and produced by Harry Kronman; executive producer: Ben Finner Jr.; director: Sherman Marks. Cast: Steve Dunne, Barbara Billingsley, Ted Marc, Beverly Washburn, Ann O'Neal, Phyllis Coates. YELLOW JACK ALL HANDS associated with the "Yellow Jack" production on Producers' Showcase last Monday evening rate a rousing round of applause for bringing to the television audience throughout the country 90 minutes of theatre at its best. All of the elements of excellent theatre were fused into one unit — a story of substance with excitement, suspense and spirit of adventure; a highly gifted cast; striking sets and purposeful lighting effects; robust characterization, and well-paced direction. In less capable hands, the oft-repeated story of Dr. Walter Reed and his efforts to conquer yellow fever could have suffered from sticky oversentimentality and exaggerated heroics. It is a high compliment to James P. Miller, who wrote the tv adaptation, and to all others associated with the production that Yellow Jack emerged as a most effective theatrical teleplay, emotionally packed but tempered with restraint and sensitivity. Lome Greene, substituting for Broderick Crawford in the role of Dr. Reed, offered a skilled portrayal of the quiet but dedicated scientist, who dared to experiment on human "guinea pigs." Dane Clark, Dennis O'Keefe and Carlos Montalban were highly effective as scientist-associates of Dr. Reed. In a starstudded cast that included Raymond Massey, Victor Jory, E. G. Marshall, Rod Steiger and Eva Marie Saint, special praise should go | Jackie Cooper. In his role of a soldier v.1 yearns to become a physician Mr. Coopi fashioned a most heart-warming characteriz tion. The high level of performance of this pn duction of Producers' Showcase extended e\e to the commercials. Presented on behalf t RCA Victor television sets and records, Me cury cars and Ford tractors, the commercia O'Keefe, Saint, Clark were fresh, original and imaginative. Those fortunate to view them in compatible coloi were served with a visual treat. The Playwrights' Company served as guesi producer for the Producers' Showcase presentation of "Yellow Jack." It is to be hoped that television will continue to be blessed b\ offerings of this theatrical organization. Production costs: Estimated $150,000. Sponsored by RCA and Ford Motor Co. through Kenyon & Eckhardt. Broadcast as Jan. 10 program of Producers' Showcase series of color telecasts on NBCTV every fourth Monday, 8-9:30 p.m. EST. Producer of "Yellow Jack" was The Playwrights Co.. with Fred Coe as NBC-TV producer; director: Delbert Mann; technical director: Larry Elikann. Adapted for tv by James P. Miller from Sidney Howard's dramatization of a chapter in Paul de Kruif's book. Microbe Hunters. Cast: Lome Greene, Dennis O'Keefe, Carloa Montalban, Raymond Massey, Dane Clark, Watty Cox, Jackie Cooper, Victor Jory, E. G. Marshall, Rod Steiger, Eva Marie Saint; with William Red field, Fred Stewart, Frederic Tozere, Philip Abbot, Peter Donat and Neil MacKenzie. Settings by Otis Riggs. * ★ ★ BOOKS TRANSISTORS: THEORY AND APPLICATION, by Abraham Coblenz and Harry L. Owens. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York. 313 pp. $6. THE principle of transistor operation, the way transistors are made and their use in electronic circuits are described in this volume, which the authors, in their preface, hope "will be a practical and useful guide and reference to those entering this fascinating field, as well as to those already in it." Written for technicians and engineers, the volume gives a good picture of transistors and their place in electronics. Each chapter is accompanied by a reference list for those who wish to do further reading. Broadcasting • Telecasting