Screenland Plus TV-Land (Nov 1953 - May 1955)

Paul Winchell got his start on Major Bowes' "Amateur Hour. V era-Ellen was only a kid when she won audition. EVERYONE LIKES TED MACK, GUIDING HAND OF THE "AMATEUR HOUR," FROM HIS SPONSORS TO THE DOG WHO CAME TO DINNER ^Ted Mack's "Original Amateur Hour" is now 1,001 broadcasts old ... as of April 10. . . . The equivalent, in human terms, of a spry oldster's 4,000th birthday — on the basis of TV contracts calling for thirteen weeks, and renewable if all's well. And all is well with Ted and the eager amateurs displayed over 115 NBC-TV stations, Saturday evenings at 8:30, EDT. "There are just as many talented amateurs today," says Ted. "as there were twenty years ago." It was twenty years ago when the late Major Edward Bowes took to radio with the program and his: "The Wheel of Fortune spins. Around, around she goes, and where she stops, nobody knows. . . ." The wheel stopped on the winning jackpot number for the program itself — Bowes units swarmed over the entire U. S. after the show became a top radio favorite. After the major's death, Ted Mack, his right-hand man, took over, and the show went on television. Eight hundred thousand hopefuls have been auditioned by both regimes. Of the fifteen thousand who reached the air, some have fallen by the theatrical wayside, many have done well or fairly-well — a select few made the very top, such as: Frank Sinatra, Robert Merrill, Mimi BenzelL, Vera-Ellen, ReginaResnick, Stanley Clements, Jack Carter, Teresa Brewer, Frank Fontaine, Ray Malone, Larry Storch, Paul Winchell, Dave Barry, et al. Some of the old grads showed up for broadcast No. 1,001. Three-time winners on the half-hour "Hour" compete on June 19 at the show's Annual Championship finals at Madison Square Garden — the highlights to be televised. Cash scholarships run up to $2,000 for the top money. Pet Milk, the sponsors, reports that the amateur show is their best salesman, with Mr. Mack the idol of their customers. Which suggests something — everyone knows the amateur story, but how many viewers are up on the life and times of Ted Mack? Is that his real name? Ted Mack was born William Edward Maguiness, February 12, 1904, in Greely, Colorado. The family moved to Denver, where Ted graduated from Sacred Heart High, worked as a theatre usher, fell for the saxophone playing of the Six Brown Brothers (remember, Dad?) — then had to do his saxophone practising in a closet because his father, a railroad brakeman, worked nights and slept days. For economic reasons, Ted became a Denver stockyard hog caller during summer vacation from law studies at Denver University. He understandably jumped at an offer from a cowboy orchestra — a hot bath, and he was ready, saxophone in hand. Since Ted was the only member of the band who'd been within four feet of a cayuse, he was also the only untroubled musician — aside from the bass player who stood up anyway — after a press agent had decided that the band should parade to the theatre in San Francisco on their fiery steeds. Ted's orchestral career — out of the saddle — included work with Ben Pollock, alongside many musical greats to-be. In 1926, after he heard that a rival was beating his time with his childhood sweetheart, Ellen Marguerite Overholt, Ted dropped everything to go back home and marry the girl. Together, they organized a band — Marguerite, its manager and Ted's (continued on pace 70) 47