Variety (December 1950)

Wednesday, December 6, 1950 TELEVISION REVIEWS 33 a "Ford Televisipn Theatre” Friday ( 1 ) ventured aomethtag new ^ it® oramatics by Vpre-testing” a new play by Zoe Akins called Another Darling. * <Aldrlcb & Myers have an option on the legit property;) A^produced by Garth Montgoiiiery and directed by Franklih Schanner, the video adaptatioUt by Nancy Moore, hewed closely to a^ legit pattern” presentation of a one-setter (living room). As far as the viewer was concerned, the cameras might Just as well have been lifting it bodily from the stage. Judged even on the less exacting standards of TV, iMiss Akins* new play is no great shakes in dramaturgy. In writing about a Clevel^d teenager who has all of the attributes of the original Eve, she 4s neither scintillating nor believable. The dialog is rather pitiful and the situation strains credulity. Actually, “An^ other Darling is a flimsy, if not worthless, item, suggesting more the creation of an immature playwright or scripter, rather than the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning ”The Old Maid” of a genera- tion ego. The attempts at comedy Were woeful and the characters ©ne-dimensional stereotypes following a prescribed formula. _ Pat Crowley, as^the girl who wishes herself uninvited upon a distant relative and immediately proceeds to capture every male in sight by lavish flattery and argyle socks, had a thankless role, yet gave ^promise of a charming performer. Barbara Robbins and Grant Gordon as her harassed relatives were stiff in their trite Rose. JACK EIGEN SHOW Director: Bill Seaman Producer: Philip Lane 15 Mins.; Wed., 10:30 p.m. ANSONIA SHOES Dii Mont, front N. Y. (Lane) This is a lightweight program- ming idea. Not only have the usual trappings been cut away, but some of the essentials have been trimmed in this airer. Session presents little beyond disk jockey Jack Eigen (without disks) with a telephone as the main production prop. If this goes over as TV entertainment, then video has solved its central problem of pro- gram costs. Even as a 4ate evening stints program offers too little, particu- larly in view of the fact that it’s not a sustainer. Format, or lack of one, has Eigen tossing out a few gossip items at the outset, answering calls from his fans and introducing some show busine ss, guests. Eigen’s gossip news is nott . headline stuff, his phone conversa- tions are routine, and his guests, at least on the preem, are not top- ranking. It’s to Eigen’s credit, however, that he can parlay these minuscule factors, plus some plugs for the bankroller, into a tolerable quarter-hour for the casual dialer. On the teeoff stanza (29), Eigen conducted a perfunctory Interview with a chorine, Seri, from Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe and chatted briefly With Mary Beth Hughes, whom he introduced as “his favorite film star.” Eigen, incidentally, referred to Bill Snyder as currently head- lining at the Paramount when the orch leader had in fact wound up the day before. This generally may be a trivial error, but in Eigen’s fromework, it’s an im- portant detail. Herm, BEHIND THE HEADLINES With Ulmer Turner Director; Phil Bondelll 15 Mins.; Tues.-Wed.-Thars.; 10:15 CONSOLIDATED CHEMICALS WBKB, Chicago iRuthrauf & Ryan) Ulmer Turner> a competent newscaster, works against great odds in this commercial - laden news show. Aside from the gen- eral question of how much com- mercial content a program dealing with news—especially war news- can bear, there’s the more imme- diate one of how much the Viewer will tolerate. Client and agency seem to be asking for trouble rrt- ing-wise if they continue the heavy-handed impact evidenced on the segment caught (21). Besides minute opening and closing plugs, quarter-hoiir show was interpersed with three pitches of same length. Gabber managed to squeeze in a lot of news in the remaining time. Emphasis was on local happenings. Using pix supplied by Sun-Times, Commentary portion was devoted to a surprisingly candid discussion of the effects on tele production resulting from the recent cobalt restriction order. Except for use of the few stills, no production was used. Because of the necessity of hitting the sev- eral cues, Turner read most of his stories with only an occasional glance at the camera. General ef- fect was dull and choppy. Dave. Horwin, Liebman Set For RWG Diseassion %ed Jerry Homin, CBS story exec, will speak on CBS-TV script needs, and Max Liebman, producer of NBC-TV’s **Your Show of Shows,” will discuss comedy skits for vid^> at a special meeting of the Badio Writers Guild at Holland House, N. Y., tomorrow (Thurs,), Session Is for RWO members only,. RANGER JOE With JesSe Rogers, Silver Saddle Ranch Boys, guests Producer: Thomas G. Brennan Director: Jack Hirst 15 Mins., Sun., 12 noon ranger JOE WFIL-TV, from Philadelphia {Lamb & Keen) “Ranger Joe,” newest hero for the living-room wranglers, gal- loped in On his horse Topaz Sun- day (3) for. a lively 15 minutes On the ranch. . Ranger Joe (Jesse Rogers, local hillbilly singer) .de- livers Western tunes with the aid of his recording group, the Silver Saddle Boys. Rogers demonstrates how to make a lariat, narrates the story of “Bad Bill” (on film) and feeds Topaz and. his cowpokes “Ranger Joe” breakfast food. Com- mercials are easily tied In with the camera doings, since the hero and the product have the same label. Cereal plugs are certain to impress moppets, which will auto- matically make it a niust on maipa’^ shopping list. Each week brings a guest cow- boy to demonstrate stunts that distinguish the Wild West. Opener had some very fancy rope-twirling by Jimmy Breslin, who not only performed difficult tricks but ex- plained them for the benefit of young viewers. Rogers sang a couple of characteristic lilts, and also, caroled the Commercials. Rogers, who left a hospital bed, where he is being treated for ulcers, seemed noticeably short of breath on the opener.. He plays the guitar, and the Silver Saddle Ranch boys backing Includes vio- lin, bass and accordion. Produc- tion values were elementary, back- ground representing a corral fence. Show is fed from WFIL-TV to the ABC network. Gogh. »GANSETT TIME With Frank Petty Trio Producer: Lawrence Baker 15 Mins.; Fri., 6:45 p.m. NARRAGANSETT BREWING CO. WBZ-TV, Boston Another in WBZ-TV's program- ming of local shows is this 15- minute segment of instrumental music and vocalizing by the Hub’s w.k. Frank Petty Trio. Boys, who are rapidly grabbing themselves a solid national rep via their MGM recordings, have long been a fix- ture at the Showbar, popular Hub bistro, and accordingly have netted a solid following in this area. It was only natural that a TV shot would follow and the <boys don’t disappoint, giving out With a bright musicalinterlude. It’s a strictly musical, stanza. Frank Petty, neatly handling the vocal solos While plunking the gui- tar, is solidly backed by pianist Mike DiNapoli and bassist Joe Perella. Boys mix up routines nicely interspersing Petty’s solos with ensemble singing arid some fine ’88ing by DiNapoli. On show caught, latter got several solo spots, among them “Petite Waltz,” with camera shots pointing up guy’s sock agility, on the keybodard; Boys stick mostly to standards and old- ies such as “When My Dream Gomes True,” “I’m in Mood for Love” and '“Bless Your Heart,” with guest star, Pat Colleen, thrush currently appearing at the Show- bar, vocalizing “Bushel and a Peck.” Camera action was not too Imag- inative, mostly longshots of the trio or closeups of soloists, while com- mercials were off the beam with film hazy and content strictly ordi- nary* Em* Baltimorer-Carl B,^Slw^te, for- mer pub relations chief for the Rustelcfs Iron & Steel Corp. here, has been named promotion me- ager for WBAL and WBAL-TV* He replaces Fred S. Hey wood, vim was recently promoted to TV production manager* NATIONAL FARM Sc HOME HOUR With Everett Mitchell, Paul Visser, * Ken Gapen, H. H. Kildee, Max Cullen, Helen Shepard Producer-director; Don Meier 60 Mins.; Tues. (28), 2 p.m. ALLIS CHALMERS NBC-TV, from Chicago (Gittins) Allis Chalmers, for the third year, picked up the tab for NBC’s telecast (28) of. the highlights of the International Live Stock Ex- position. Hour-long show, cli- maxed with the crowning of the grand champion beef animal, was a smoothly-handled, well-rounded production that held a great deal of interest for both the urban and rural viewer, Web and farm equip- ment sponsor hit a high level of public service with the venture. Show Was a two-ply stint, with portions coming direct from the Exposition and others from the Chi NRC studios. Paul Visser, NBC farm chief, and Dean H, H> Kildee of Ohio State, shared the mike at the Amphitheatre. Everett Mitchell, host Of regular AM ver- sion of the “National Farm and ^ Home Hour,” erriceed proceedings j at the studio. Highlight of the session was the selection of the grand champion steer, with Dean Kilbee explaining how the judge picks the winner. Well-placed cameras effectively captured much of the excitement attending the climax of the World Series of American agriculture. Studio segments included dem- onstration by 4-H club winners, and an informative display of meat selectiori and preparation by Max Cullen arid Helen Shepard of the National Live Stock Meat Board. Latter invested the show with more than . academic Interest for the housewife audience. Also Of interest to the homemaker was a film, narrated by Ken Gapen of the U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, showirig activities of the depart- ment’s meat inspectors. Adroit use of film was evidenced in other parts of the show, with clips of previous Exposition con- tests woven in to give a fairly complete run-down of the week- long everit. Numerous switches from film and live studio to the South Side stock show were expertly done, with only one slight mike miscue. Producer-director Don Meier, Vis- ser and Mitchell did themselves proud with their years biggest as- signment. Dave, LEAVE IT TO LEAFER . With WootVe Leafer Producer-Director: Irwin F. Poepe, Jr. . „ 30 mins.; Mon. thru Fn., 3 p. m. Sustaining 'WDSU-TV, New Orleans New series slotted in an after- noon lull spot in the WDSU-TV schedule, “Leave It To Leafer featuring Woodie Leafer, staff announcer, stacks up as pleasing fare. It’s light and breezy with informal chit chat, interviews with visiting personalities . of show biz, civic leaders, housewives, studio visitors and others, and recorded music. , . Leafer also takes televiewers behind the scenes of vid^, mov- ing about the huge WDSU-TV studio and its sets, showing camer- amen, prop men and others at work, and stopping to chat with them a la Garroway. , Set for the show is section of studio under stairs leading to control room. Here are pasted maps, zany signs, photos of film stars. Props include a battered easy chair, from which he reads news and fan mail, and interviews guests...;" It’s mostly ad lib, but it’s relax- ing. Camera work and lighting are good, with one camera following Leafer all over the set when he’s on the move. Liuz. COCKTAILS IN FASHION With Elaine Drooz, others Producer: Bob Stone . 15 Mins.; Sat., 5:45 p.m. MADY^S • WEGB-TVj Schenectady First program in a new series of fashion shows, sponsored by an Al- bany and Schenectady women’s store, moved with a reasonably sat- isfactory degree of smoothness and imagination. Four models dis- played an attractive line of dresses, in a nicely decorated cocktail room setting. Elaine Drooz, who has done fashion cpmirientarles In Al- bany stores and theatres, handled that assignment on television for initial occasion. Miss Drooz,. director of women's programs'at wROW, did the com- mentary almost flawlessly. Glose- lip$ flattered her. The models Weren’t completely at ease in spots. Commercial copy was in good taste. Feature Is advantageously spot- ted before an hour Godfrey kinO- scoper. Women will like the pro- gram, the second of type to be tele- cast her#. JacQ* YOUR PROBLEM PANEL With Dr. George Crane, Ruth Goldman, Rev. Ken Hildebrand, Tommy Bartlett, Eleanor Engel, Dick Jordan, Sam Siegel, Bill Sarnoff, Tony Parrish, Jean Christians, Patti Wilkiis Director: Ernest Feikas Producer-writer: Jules Pewowar 45 Mins.; Mon., 8 p.m. KOMISS CO. WGN-TV, Chicago Local nighttime shows slotted in Class A time must inevitably stand Comparison with network offer- ings. All too frequently the local segments unsuccessfully attempt to carbon the big-budgeted web formats. Occasionally, however, a local packager comes up with a program idea distinctive enough for strong appeal in the evening audience sweepstakes and close to network calibre in its treatment. Such a package is Herbert S. Lauf- man’s “Your Problem Panel.” Show is built around typical human relation problems which are presented to a panel of experts in the field for discussion and ad- vice. Although cases are tailored to real life situations, roles of the troubled individuals are played by professional thespers, which avoids undue mawkishness arid makes for a smoother presentation. Panel is headed by psychologist Dr. George W, Crane, assisted by guest ex- perts, and a lay panelist.. An idea that might be overly hbkey and even dangerous in less capable harids, is. given an adult, intel- ligent treatment, which results in interesting and constructive fare. Three cases were presented on frame seen (27K Besides Dr. Crane, the panel was rtiade UP oF Mrs. Ruth Goldman, deputy com- missioner of Public Welfare, Rev. Kerineth Hildebrand, pastor of Chi Central Church, and radip-TV em- cee Tommy Bartlett as the lay meiriber. First problem, presented by a man and wife, was based on hubby’s penchant for spending his evenings pub-crawling rather than at home with his family. Second case was a father-and-sori situa- tion, having to do with the son’s decision to drop out of law school to get married. Final problem evolved around a daughter who felt she’d outgrown the simple homelife of her immigrant parents. Problems were believably pre- sented by the pro actors and ac- tresses, with soap opera overtones carefully played down. Device makes for good audience identifi- cation. But it was. the authoriza- tive counseling of the panel that gave the show its plus Values. No pat solutions were offered; lUst sound advice well-grounded m modern psychology. Dave, ( GUESS OR KNOW With Mrs. Harold S. Faust Producer: Dr. Harold S. Faust 30 Mins., Sun., 2 P.m. COUNCIL OF AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY WCAU-TV, Philadelphia _ - “Guess or Know”. .A religious quiz program with..teenage partic- ipants, said -to ihe one of the first of its kind on video,.,preemed Sun- day (3) on WCAU-TV. Although it is strictly religious in content, the program maintains a nice degree of affability and informa- lity. This is due to Mrs. Harold S. Faust, wife of the producer and a graduate of Temple’s TV Work- shop. Pleasant and never dog- matic, Mrs. Faust kept the young- sters at ease, most of whom seemed very familiar with the questions. Mrs. Faust displayed, exhibits from museums arid churches, about which she queried the contestants. A team of four youngsters", an- swered questions on Old and New Testament lore, various religious symbols and terms. Queries on Biblical geography were; presented with the aid of a map, on which a bulb lighted when the correct spot was located. A “Mystery Hymn”. was played on the piano, with both studio eritrants and the home audience (the latter, by mail) asked to guess the answer for prizes (dolls fashioned from Old Testament characters). Prograiri has broad scope and aims at good relationship among all religions. The exhibits rep- resented an interesting range of historical lore, which had refer- ence not only to the world’s past but to Philadephia’s. Among the items . shown were the world’s smallest Bible, one of the smallest Hebrew scrolls extant, original Indian-treaty papers, the chains used to rope off streets ri century ago when services were being conducted, a painting of Moses and symbols of the Christmas sea- son. Informative and evenly paced, the half-hour session ranks well in the class of educational enter- tainment.- Isabel Redman, who directs the network TV program “Lamp Unto My, Feet,” assisted in the initial planning. ^ Gogh, REMEMBER THIS DATE With Bill Stern, Mary Denny, Jet MacDonald; Murray Ross, orr ganist Producer: Hal Fimberg Director: Don Hillmann Writer: Ray Kimball 30 Mins.; Tues.-Thurs.; 3:30 p.m. Sustaining WNBT, New York “Remember This Date, a modi- fied quiz program. Would be excel- lent for AM, where it belongs. On television, however, it evokes at best mild Interest. Show uses the date it’s pro- grammed on as the basis for ques^ tions asked of studio contestants. For example, on show caught (30) contestants had to identify Win- ston Churchill, whose birthday it was; the water crisis in New York of a year ago; the first transmittal across the Atlantic of a wire photo, and J, Parnell Thomas’ plea of guilty of fraud, which took place - on Nov. 30. To add interest, rtudio con- testants are screened beforehand, then asked which date is mort memorable to them. Contestants, including a refugee, an archaelo- gist, a former vaudevillian and a housewife, related some interest- ing experiences. However, the program held little visual interest. 4 *^ attempt was made to make the clues visual to some extent, Jet MacDonald, for example, sang a couple of sorigs which served as elues to some of the questions. And a couple of silhouettes were fla.shed on a screen. But these were rather ob- vious and lent little interest tp the segment. Bill stern handled the show capably, assisted by Mary Denny, Stern tended to overdramatize his narrative questions, and constantly interrupted contestants to summa- rize what they had said. But on the whole, his emceeing was authorita- tive arid smooth. Miss MacDonald did an okay job on the songs, and Murray Davis’ organ was good In accompaniment and lent a touch of drama to the narrations. Chan, international chef With Maj. George Haig, Madeloiv . Mason, guests Producer-director: Si Merrill 30 Mins., Mon. and Fri., 11:30 a.m. Sustaining WOR-TV, N. Y. Another morning , TV cooking show, “Interriational Chef” plays up economical dishes with a for- eign flavor. Show should find favor with housewives interested in pick- ing up new recipes. Handling the chef assignment is Maj. George Haig, a likeable personality, whose only fault is a tendency to overuse the term “you know” after making a rtatement. Assisting the major as hostess is Madelon Mason, whose chief purpose obviously is to look good before the cameras. Gal also helps point up significant portions of the major’s commen- tary when he’s preparing various dishes. Food purveyors are brought on as guests on each show, with Dick Salisian, manager of N. Y.’s Golden Horn restaurant, holding down that assignment a week ago Mon- day (27). On Friday’s (1) show the guest was Claire Brown, home economist for I. Rokeach & Sons. Both guests provided interesting chitchat sessions. The former noted the preferred dishes of cer- tain celebrities who frequent his eatery, while the latter gave a brief account of how her company acquires recipes that individual families have passed down through centuries. In addition to offering cooking . tips. Major Haig, when preparing a foreign food, also gives the his- tory of its origin. Prizes are also given for correct ari.swers to a question asked on the Friday ; shows. Gros. MEMORY LANE With Ted Beebe, Howard Relg 15 Mins.; Thurs., 7:30 p.m, ROTllBARD UPHOLSTERERS WROB-TV, Schenectady ( Goldman, Walter & Kanna) Sponsor changed format of this presentation from a musical show to a viewer-participation quiz. Ted Beebe, last featured on a family serial, is emcee. Seated in a com- fortable chair at a table,, he jeads, —from a book of reminiscences^ highlights of a specific year arid then asks a telephoned question of a chosen contestant. Super-imposi- tion shows the year, through a floating cloud effect. Viewers are" asked to send names and phone numbers. Program might have stronger appeal If more contestants could participate. How- [. ard Relg adequately handles the advertising on this modest budg- eteiv Joco. (