Broadcasting Telecasting (Apr-Jun 1957)

AWARDS Top Sherwood Awards Go To CBS-TV Shows CBS-TV came off with the two top prizes in the $55,000 Robert E. Sherwood Television Awards competition last week, winning $20,000 in the best network documentary category and another $20,000 in the drama category. The awards, established by The Fund for the Republic to honor the best programs dealing with freedom and justice, were presented at a luncheon last Wednesday in New York. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, a member of the jurors' panel, announced the winners and presented the prizes. The winning CBS-TV shows were the documentary "Clinton and the Law", produced on See It Now, and the drama, "Island in the City," produced on the Climax series. Mrs. Roosevelt announced that the jurors felt there was no nomination that warranted an award in the $15,000 category for a program produced on an independent station and had voted instead $5,000 each to three program series which have "done much to stimulate intelligent and forthright discussion of important issues affecting life in a democratic society." Winners: Open Mind series on WRCA-TV New York, Camera Three series on WCBS-TV New York and Nightbeat on WABD (TV) New York. Honorable mention citations went to four programs for contributing to a greater understanding of American freedom: "The Puerto Rican Story {See It Now, CBS-TV); "Error in Judgment" (Armstrong Circle Theatre, NBC-TV), "The Family Nobody Wanted (Playhouse 90, CBS-TV) and "Portrait of a Citizen" (Studio One, CBSTV). "Clinton and the Law" documented events leading up to and following the integration of the local high school in Clinton, Tenn. It was produced by Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly. "Island in the City" centered on a New York detective of Puerto Rican origin whose efforts to improve the reputations of all Puerto Ricans cost him his job and his family safety. Author Adrian Spies, director Buzz Kulik and producer Edgar Peterson shared equally in the award. Richard Heffner produced Open Mind, Lewis Freedman produced Camera Three and Mike Wallace, Ted Yates and Ted Cott created Nightbeat. Radio-Tv History Contest Set by WBC for U.S. Outlets DETAILS of the first annual Radio-Tv History Awards Contest of the Westinghouse Broadcasting Co have been described by Donald H. McGannon, WBC president, and distributed to radio and tv stations throughout the U. S. and its possessions and to state and local historical societies. First announcement of the project was made at the first Boston conference on local public service programming, held by WBC last February [B«T, March 4]. Mr. McGannon said any radio or tv station, with the exception of WBC outlets, is eligible to combine efforts with its state or local historical society in the production of programs or program series for entry in the contest. A $1,000 cash grant will be divided equally between the winning station and its state or local historical society. Each participating station will be asked In the lap of luxury all the way This is United's Red Carpet* Service: softly spacious seats, soothing music before takeoff. Superb meals with the compliments of United's own master chef. Club lounge, games, delicious snacks. Service that's thoughtful and swift. And you're there before you know it, in the magnificent DC-7, nation's fastest airliner. (A final friendly Red Carpet plus: extra fast luggage delivery.) Next time, pamper yourself with Red Carpet Service. It costs not a cent extra. For reservations, call United or an authorized travel agent. Red Carpet Nonstop Service coast-to-coast and to 15 cities including Honolulu. *"Red Carpet" is a service mark used and owned by United Air Lines, Inc. Broadcasting • Telecasting June 24, 1957 • Page 91