Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

IN REVIEW CONTINUED KLZ's newest LIVE PERSONALITY already a selling sensation! JACK WELLS Monday thru Friday Morning & Afternoon MAN-SIZED SELLING 7:15 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 4:55 p.m. Entertainment as the listener likes it . . . songs at the piano . . . popular (middle of the road) recorded music . . . informative quickies from time to lost pets . . . plus solid sell . . . has endeared JACK WELLS to listener and client alike! For full details, call your KATZ man or Lee Fondren in Denver. |C IT »«uUft 560 KC CBS IN DENVER . . . Represented by The KATZ Agency tain and the cuddling of its co-stars to wink at the audience. Sample: Jane receives a package in the mail (the incident that sets off the plot); hubby is asleep; Jane tells him a package has arrived; Dick, whose head is face down in the pillow reaches out, his hand lands on Jane's knee, he hesistates then says — "It's rather soft isn't it?" A word about the audience laughter. The canned chuckles are out of step with an otherwise well-produced show. The co-stars are closer to Nick and Nora Charles than are Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk, the husband-and-wife team on the new Thin Man series (NBC-TV, Fridays) [In Review, Sept. 30]. Advice to MGM-TV: swap titles of the two shows, lend Asta to Dick and his lovely British duchess, and you've solved the Thin Man's problem for the season. Production costs: Approximately $40,000. Sponsored by Helene Curtis, through Gordon Best Inc., and Mogen David Wine, through Edward H. Weiss & Co., on CBSTV, Saturdays, 8:30-9 p.m. EDT. Started Sept. 28. Producer and director: Sheldon Reynolds; executive producer: Nicole Milinair; writer (Sept. 28 play): Harry Kurnitz. Cast: Patrick O'Neal and Hazel Court. CRESCENDO From the swirling, translucent shapes that imaginatively introduced the show to the last fade-out of Rex Harrison, "Crescendo" should have been a joy — and some of it was. This first, highly-touted 90 minutes of the Du Pont Show of the Month series was a giant kaleidoscope of talent. Moulding it all into cohesive entertainment was a task of no mean proportions, and its tempo, style and continuity showed the fine hand of producer Paul Gregory. Unfortunately, Mr. Gregory's story line was not quite strong enough to hold all the weight it was asked to bear. Basically, Rex Harrison as a "just-off-the-boat" Englishman went around America in 90 minutes, with America's music changing him from a reluctant visitor to an enthusiastic fan. At the end of the program, the show's skeleton was somewhat bare — but the padding was often so delectable that it almost didn't matter. As is usually true when an enormous amount of talent is amassed, some of it is very good — and by comparison, some is not. But there were magic moments — Satchmo and Harrison singing together, the wondrous, brassy enthusiasm of Carol Channing, the complete joy of Stanley Hollaway and Julie Andrews. Too brief a snatch of Goodman music served as a somewhat poignant reminder of how good swing was. The tremendous pace at which the show moved was a saving grace, and here again the credit must go to Mr. Gregory. Fine choreography, stunning sets and costumes were an added plus, shown off to their best advantage by excellent handling of a large group on the stage. Interesting camera work added to the professional flavor. "Crescendo" was overwhelming, interestcontinues on page 124 Page 16 • October 7, 1957 Broadcasting Telecasting