TV Radio Mirror (Jul - Dec 1961)

The Xational I civet crew is very well fed . . . thanks to Ann Doran. No surprise these are look-alikes — they're Stephen McNally, son Horace. Can you picture Efrem Zimbalist's beautiful hair covered with a cap? Introduction of handsome Karl Held into the Perry Mason series may mean a "romantic" break, too. Held will portray David Gideon, an eager young law student hero-worshiper of Mason who helps out in the office from time to time. And there's no reason why the new character can't occasionally become romantically involved with a client — something Mason never does. To Cap the Climate: A gent named Edward M. Meyers, of the National Cloth Hat Institute, has been having a rough time trying to clamp "the lid" on our male stars. He would like them to wear cloth hats on their shows and his prime target was Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Meyers was sure Eff could do as much for caps as "Kookie" Byrnes did for combs. The Warner execs, however, wary of any danger to their successful 77 Sunset Strip, wouldn't go for the idea. "Zimbalist's allure for women fans is partly based on his beautiful mop of hair," said the front office. "Putting a hat on it would be like putting Elizabeth Taylor in a muu-muu." Meyers got one break, from bearded Sebastian Cabot, who promised to continue wearing his hat as often as possible on Checkmate. Said Cabot, "It's not just that I feel hats are what vitamins are to food, a needed supplement to character . . . it's that soundstages are so terribly drafty." It's Greek to Angela : Eight-yearold Angela Cartwright does a variation on the ancient Greek saying about "a healthy mind in a healthy body." She believes a clean body makes for a strong memory and learns her lines for The Danny Thomas Show while scrub-a-dubbing in the tub. Thinking Ahead: Jack Kelly, this season's one-and-only Maverick, is busy with a new project — installing a bomb shelter in his home. Jack believes the survival of the country depends on the survival of its individual citizens. The Range-Finder: It'll mark the fifth consecutive year that Donald O'Connor has been away from home during Christmas when he opens December 22 at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. But, this year, he won't be opening his presents alone. Donald will charter two busses so he can have his relatives and friends brought up from Los Angeles to enjoy the Yule with him. . . . Darryl Hickman just bought a twenty-unit apartment house in Beverly Hills. "Security for my old age," the thirty-year-old actor explained. Although his show, The Americans, was cancelled, Darryl isn't really worried. He just sold two more teleplays to Four Star Productions. In Self -Defense: Because so many TV shows are featuring karate in scenes of struggle, it has become as important for actors to master this art of mayhem as it once was to learn fencing. With this in mind, Poncie Ponce has opened a karate school. His first two students were probably the best-looking pupils in town, Connie Stevens and Bob Conrad. Since Poncie's star instructor is John Leoning, who plays a policeman in the series, the Eye (Hawaiian as well as private) is in full control. The enrollment has been limited to 200, all carefully screened. "Business is booming," says Poncie with a grin, "but it gives me nightmares— what if one of my students proved to be a homicidal maniac?" Stunting Is a Dog's Life: In Bend, Oregon, during a 90-degree hot spell, a segment of Have Gun, Will Travel was being shot. The scene called for a wolf dog to crouch on a huge (Continued on page 80) For What's New On The East Coast, See Page 4