Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1955)

AWARDS il r First Edison Awards Honor Five Programs THREE network television programs, two network radio shows, one television station and one radio station received the first National Mass Media Awards of the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation last week at a dinner in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. Three motion picture films also were honored. The awards were made as part of the Edison Foundation's program for "improving the quality of mass media, particularly as they affect juvenile audiences and interest boys and girls in science." The winners were: 1 You Are There (CBS-TV), the television program best portraying America; Lets Take a Trip (CBS-TV), the best children's television program; Mr. Wizard (NBC-TV), the best science television program for youth; Family Theatre (MBS), the radio program best portraying America; Adventures in Science (CBS), the best science radio program for youth; WBNSTV Columbus, the television station that best served youth in 1955, and WTIC Hartford, the radio station that best served youth in 1955. A special citation was made to ABC Radio for "outstanding public service in making reports on the growing shortage of engineers" to the American people, and to "The Big Idea," a tv film program that has presented 1,700 inventors and encouraged "the scientific imagination of the American television audience." No award was given to "the best children's radio program," because the Foundation's Committee on Recommendations felt "there was no nationally available children's radio program that merited an award this year." Representatives of 38 national service organizations chose winners of the Edison Awards through written ballot. Fund for the Republic Raises Amount of Television Awards A SERIES of 1955-56 television program awards totaling $40,000 was increased to S55,000 last week by the Fund for the Republic. The fund, which earlier this month had announced the awards, named them for the late Robert E. Sherwood, noted playwright. The fund will award $20,000 each to the JOSEPH M. BRYAN, president of the Jefferson Standard Broadcasting Co. (WBT, WBTV [TV] Charlotte, N. C, and WBTW [TV] Florence, S. C), presents the Lee Kirby Memorial Trophy to Nelson Lowe as the outstanding player in the Carolinas' 1955 Shrine Bowl. Established in 1952 to honor the late WBT-WBTV sports director, the Lee Kirby Trophy is awarded annually. The game features high school players from North and South Carolina. Advertisement From where I sit 6y Joe Marsh New Light on an Old Subject Mr. Evans from the Lighting Company gave an interesting talk at the Community Hall last night — on how farmers can cut electric bills. For those who missed it, here's a short recap. Don't try to light up the cobwebs in the rafters. A reflector and a smaller bulb will probably do the job. Too many farmers use naked bulbs that waste 50% of the light. Try using movable projector bulbs that beam light the way a searchlight does. A couple of these "spots" will often give you better illumination where you want it than a whole gang of juice-wasting overhead lamps. From where I sit, it's amazing how often we misuse the things we have . . . like electricity. We also make a mistake if we misuse our right of personal choice — about which candidate to vote for, say, or whether beer or coffee makes the ideal mealtime drink — by trying to force our opinions on others. Respect for the other fellow's point of view should be our "guiding light." Copyright , 1955, United States Brewers Foundation 'ROAD C A STING Telecasting December 19, 1955 • Page 10L