Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1957)

THE FAMILY DENVER Denver families buy the products and services they see advertised on KBTV because KBTV is the only Denver station programmed for the entire family . . . For the highest-rated one-minute availabilities, Daytime or Nighttime in Denver, see Peters, Griffin, Woodward, Inc. NOW! KBTV e Denver's ^pi^ Family Station John C^MwIlins Joe Herold President -, Station Manager IN REVIEW CONTINUED rector: Vincent J. Donehue; music and lyrics by Irving Berlin; book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields; musical and dance numbers: Ernest Flatt; production designer: George Jenkins; musical director: Louis Adrian; costume designer: Dorothy Jeakins. Presented in conjunction with the Los Angeles and San Francisco Civic Light Opera Association. THE DAY CALLED X The day began in an ordinary way. The sun rose at 6 : 3 1 a.m. in the city of Portland, Ore., pop. 415,000; principal industry, shipping; in many ways, the U. S. counterpart of Hiroshima. At exactly 10:32 a.m., the air raid sirens began their eerie wail. In an elaborate emergency underground bunker — 140 ft. long, 46 ft. high and reinforced with 26 inches of steel and concrete — 300 men and women comprising Portland's municipal government, its multinumbered subordinate departments and the local Conelrad operations (manned by sportscaster John Carpenter) were calling the play to the greatest mass exodus in the American Northwest's history. This was the day called "X." By 1 : 27 p.m., Soviet bombers, out of Vladivostok, first picked up three hours earlier over the Aleutians on the DEW system, reached the city and seconds later, after dropping their nuclear payload, Portland was no more. Or was it? In this brilliantly produced half-hour filmed report on how civil defense-concious Portland — one of the 99 "critical targets" — has laboriously and successfully worked out a survival scheme for itself, CBS Public Affairs, working with the U. S. Civil Defense Administration, has brought home a lesson no alert citizen ought easily to forget: that right now only one city in the entire U. S. is ready to meet an atomic cataclysm. This report should be repeated until other cities follow Portland's example. There were no professional actors starred in the film other than narrator Glenn Ford; the cast was led by Portland mayor Terry D. Schrunk and included the 415,000 Oregonians who participated in the test. So realistic was this study that CBS-TV officials inserted a non-subliminal disclaimer: "An attack is NOT taking place!" The voice of actor Ford was cold and calculating: "If and when 'The Day Called X' ever comes, Portland is ready." (Its citizens two years ago cheerfully voted to tax themselves in order to underwrite the CD program). Portland is ready, said Mr. Ford. "Is your town?" Production costs: Approximately $60,000. Produced by CBS Public Affairs on Sun. Dec. 8, 6-6:30 p.m. EST on CBS-TV (sustaining). Producer-director: Harry Rasky; assoc. producer: Arthur Swerdloff; writers: Lester Cooper and Harry Rasky; narrator: Glenn Ford; film editor: Bernard Birnbaum; production manager: Victor Allan; unit mgr.: Craig Fisher; chief cameraman: Fred Dietrich. TO TURN RANDOM TUNERS INTO VETERAN VIEWERS Now — in many markets — three great adventure -action series combined into one great 5-daya-week show! Why pay a pretty penny for programs when you can get top-rated series in your market and hold on to all of your own cash! For complete details about this new plan, phone today. Or wire Michael M. Sillerman at TPA for your market's availability. Hurry! Markets are being reserved today! Wire or phone for private screening-! Television Programs of America, Inc. 488 Madison Ave., N. Y. 22 • PLaza 5-2100 Broadcasting December 9, 1957 • Page 15