Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

San Francisco — highest rated syndicated program (22.7, Pulse, 2/57) outrating George Gobel, Gunsmoke, Zane Grey Theatre, Jackie Gleason, Lux Video Theatre, etc. Twin Cities— highest rated syndicated program in MinneapolisSt. Paul (16.0, Pulse, 11/56) outrating Warner Brothers, Father Knows Best, West Point, etc. Outrates all competition in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Portland, Oregon, etc. Stage 7's a dramatic anthology which can do a fine-rating, fineselling job in your market, as it is already doing in more than a hundred others. Better check Stage 7 for your market today. Write, wire or phone collect for availabilities. Television Programs of America, Inc. 488 Madison Ave., N. Y. 22 • PLaza 5-2100 IN REVIEW SALUTE TO BASEBALL THE WEDDING on a Saturday in spring of professional baseball and professional tv show business in 90 minutes network time left a reflection of people and associations sometime new, sometime old and sometime blue. That was "Salute to Baseball,*' the April 13 show on NBC-TV's Saturday Color Carnival. Newness shone in Gene Kelly's effervescence— either he has neglected tv or vice versa; in the program's gay song and dance numbers, and the monosyllabic deliveries of the baseball heroes. The seasoned old was in Stan Musial. Pee Wee Reese, Billy Pierce, Joe DiMaggio, Eddie Yost and a host of other baseball stars. And there probably were blue reminders to the aging viewers themselves when they saw such ancients as Lefty Grove, Jimmy Foxx, Pie Traynor, Gabby Hartnett et al. The contrast was made more startling in the film flashbacks of stars such as Bob Feller, on the diamond and at the height of their careers. Though for the hard-bitten baseball fan the self-styled and syrupy Saturday Color Carnival on baseball was a bit too sweet, it had its kicks too: For example, in a rundown of players and teams, Janis Paige, who we assume misread the prompter, moved the Pirates from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. If one remembers that the Athletics now are in Kansas City, this can be real muddling for the younger than Little League class. Some of the sketches were all right in their place but lacked originality. Comic Frank Fontaine satirized as the "rookie of the year" and showed that he does all his lowbrow impressions in the same way, be it a blockhead baseball player or a punchy fighter. Comedian Ed Gardner in his bit proved he is typed, be it tavern or clubhouse. An interview by sportscaster Mel Allen of the "dream outfield" — Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musial — seemed contrived and strained. Ball fans among the viewers, however, got their reward of unadulterated baseball on television in the past week, starting with last Monday's opener at Griffith Stadium. Production costs: Approximately $100,000. Sponsored by Oldsmobile Div. of General Motors Corp., through D. P. Brother Co., RCA and Whirlpool Corp., both through Kenyon & Eckhardt, colorcast on NBCTV Sat.. April 13, 9-10:30 p.m. EST. Executive producer: Barry Wood: producer: joe Cates; director: Barry Shear; associate producer-special composer: Ervin Drake; writers: Ray Allen, Harvey Bullock; supervisor for baseball: Frank Slocum; music director: Harry Sosnick; choral director: Earl Rogers; choreographer: Bob Herget; announcer: Don Pardo. Cast: Gene Kelly, host, Johnny Antonelli, Ernie Banks, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Friend, Lefty Grove, Gabby Hartnett, George Kell, Ted Kluszewski, Harvey Kuenn, Don Larsen, Mickey Mantle, Ed Mathews, Stan Musial, Don Newcombe, Billy Pierce, Pee Wee Reese, Robin Roberts, Herb Score, Harry Simpson, Pie Traynor, Ted Williams, Eddie Yost and Baseball Commissioner Ford C. Frick. Guest Stars: Janis Paige, Tony Bennett, Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney, Ed Gardner, Robert Alda, Bill Hayes, Happy Felt on, Mel Allen, Frank Fontaine, Pat Marshall and Robert Strauss. BASEBALL SPORTACULAR— 1957 BASEBALL fans who heard this special presentation offered on the eve of the baseball season opening were treated to a highlyinformative 55 minutes of diamond talk that went beyond the usual "puff" interviews that beset radio and television. Howard Cosell is to be commended for his intelligent questioning of the baseball personalities likely to make the headlines in 1957. He evoked answers that contrasted refreshingly with the usual "we-will-win-thisyear-with-a-team-that-looks-great" responses. More than 60 baseball figures were questioned by Mr. Cosell this spring. By scrupulous editing of the wealth of material, Mr. Cosell and his associates presented a wellrounded program. It included forecasts by club managers and officials, plus human interest anecdotes about many of the leading players and a glimpse into behind-the-scenes talk that makes conversation during the "hot-stove" league. Mr. Cosell set out to present a baseball show and he achieved his objective — without gimmicks and fanfare. Estimated Production Costs: $3,000 Presented sustaining on ABC Radio, Sun.. April 14, 6:30-7:25 p.m. EST Emcee: Howard Cosell Co-Producers: Mr. Cosell, Ed Silverman Director: Tom Shea SEEN & HEARD A recent trend in radio commercials is to adapt a popular song. The current spot campaign for Florists Telegraph Delivery offers a chance to turn the tables: Its melody is so catching as to deserve popular lyrics, and its commercial lyrics are attractive enough that it should peddle a pile of posies. Commercials don't often compete in entertainment value with the programming in which they appear. This one does. BOOKS TELEVISION RECEIVING EQUIPMENT, fourth edition, by W. T. Cocking. Iliffe & Sons Ltd., London and Philosophical Library, New York. 454 pp. $15. THE AUTHOR has completely rewritten three-fourths of Television Receiving Equipment in this fourth edition. Among the subjects thoroughly treated are band III reception, increasing problems of attaining freedom from interference combined with high definition, and automatic gain control systems. Magnetic deflection has been expanded to five chapters and synchronizing methods are discussed including flywheel sync. Page 12 • April 22, 1957 Broadcasting • Telecasting