Variety (December 1951)

"86 BABIO-TELEVISION George R. Dunham, Jr,* formerly GBS-TV spot 'sales eastern sales chief, named general sales 'mana^ ger of WCBS-TV; the web’s N. Y. flagship . John. Wray, director of CBS’ ‘‘Toast :of the Town/' also signed to produce - jdirefct the Sammy Kaye series for the same net /, Exfilm star Nils Asther plays a foreign con man. on “Ellery Queen" Sunday (10), when the whodunit: switches from DuMont to ABC . . Songwriter Bob Mer- rill producing CBS' “Perry Como Show” while regular producer Lee; Cooley vacations. . ... . Angus D. Mackintosh, formerly radio-TV chief for Ward Wheelock, named sales director for Qoodson - Tod- man productions . . . David-Lasley named central division sales man- ager for the DuMont web * , Ac- tress Helen Donaldson doing a zany society dame Olsen and John- son’s stint on NBC's “All Star Revue” Saturday. (15) Singer Georgia Gibbs guesting on Garry Moore’s CBS daytime stanza to- morrow (ThursJ for her first ap- pearance. with him since they were both on radio’s “Camel Caravan" show five years ago . . . John Till- man, WPIX’s chief announcer, named to work concurrently as tha station’s night' manager . .. No" man Grant, manager of NBC stag- ing services in Chicago, joined the net in N. Y. as art director , . ; “Suspense,” Tuesday night CBS show for Auto-Lite, cited for the “excellence” of its camera work by Modern Photography mag, mark- ing What's believed to be the first time a TV show has been so hon- ored Jack, Kilty signed by WPIX. to emcee a new tri-weekly . audience participation show, “Call- ing All Women," which is spon- sored by Winston Stores . . George Lefferts and Edgar Marvin have written a satire on TV pro- ducers -attitudes to scripters, for the tele seminar which Radio ■Writers Guild is running at Hotel Astor tonight (Wed.) Clinic will feature discussion of DuMont’s “Hands of Destiny" ... . . Tom Camp- bell appointed an account Cxec at Blair-TV, station rep firm , . . Roberta Quinlan guests on “This Is Show Business" Sunday (16) mid on “Cavalcade of Stars” Dec.- 21 . . . NBC-TV’s Joe Bigelow to speak at Gag writers Institute s showcase for hew comics and sketch writers Dec; 19 at Matin Studios. Ezra J>tone has been signed to stage and supervise the weekly Ezio Pinza show on NBC-TV spon- sored by RCA, in_addition to his fo for the Coast Saturday (15) for the Thomas show, but will block out the Pinza show before he leaves, with Norman Tokar standing in for him while he's away . . ..Hope Miller plays a chorine in featured part on CBS' “Big Town" next week (20). Hollywood William Heath joins Commodore Productions as story ed, first as- signment being stories for Clyde Beaty telepix series rolling this week at General Service studios, Shirley Thomas producing. , . NBC auditioned TV show starring Buddy Ebsen and Sam. Hearn in comedy- variety format . . . Bob Raisbeck’s family comedy, “The Sprouts," firmed for 26 weeks on KTTV. Frieda Inbscourt plays lead . ZaSu Pitts and Virginia Grey top- line vidpix series tp be produced by Hal Roach, Jr., rolling Jan. 14. Roach and Carroll Case wound “The White Carnation," 39th in first “Racket Squad" series, with next to go Jan. 14 .... Fraiik Wood- ruff; who directed most of the Bigelow Theatre telepix, leaves Y&R to resume freelancing in video and pix, first assignment be- ing “Inventory for a Golden Year," public relations documentary for John Sutherland Productions Central Chevrolet picking up $91,000 tab to sponsor block of Edward Small pix on KTTV, pay- ing $3,500 for each pic and time 7*, KTLA veepee Klaus Landsberg to Cedars of Lebanon hospitals for minor surgery 7 . . Last of 26 in first cycle of Amos 'n' Andy yid- pix series canned, an cast takes six-week layoff before resuming , . KLAC program chief C. G. Renter moves over as ekec pro- ducer of A! Jarvis daytime video show on KLAC-TV, reeplacing Cy Miller, who ankled, ana Felix. A. Adams, Jr., joins KLAC as pro- gram director . , . Official Films exec Mike Nidorf to New York oh two-week business junket Arthur Pearson inked to help script telepix series, “Terry and the Pirates," roHing in January for Odyssey Pictures , . M. B. Paul, developer of one-piece translucent background and other technical effects, returned from Gotham, contracted to sell portions of his local library to eastern TV . . . Desilu Proa has stepped up sked to allow 10-day vacash for cast and crew of “I Love Lucy" . , . William T. Crago ankles ABC Jan. 2 to join Leonard Shane agency as AM-TV director . . . Jesse Gold- chores, for D anny Thomas, Ma rtha. fnr Raye and Fr«d Allcii. Stone leaves . L? Eddie Cantor's video show, Aida Broadbent set as choreographer on program . . . Renzo Cesana leaves this week for N. Y. to tee off net TV series, “The Continental" , .•••.. Telepix producer Rene Williams wound 10 in series of “Invitation Playhouse," at Goldwyn lot . , 7 Telethesp Sammy Pierce in hospi- tal for minor op. - . . Jerry Fair- banks Prod. V. p. Ralph Catteli on 14-day tour/ huddling with video execs. Edmiind Lowe, star of Fairbanks' “Front Page Detective" series, to N. Y. for personals, Chicago Gov.. Adlai Stevenson guests on DuMont's “Down You Go" Friday night (14). Eugenie Baird, Janet Blair's “South Pacific" Understudy, guests next week . . . Ed Sullivan, “Toast of the Town" host, here gladhanding Lincoln and Mercury dealers , . . Walt Holohaii desert- ing ABC radio sales for a tele sales spot with the same web., Gordon Sheehan has joined the Chi Sarra office as animation di- rector , . . Admiral Corp. came through with a regular 25c quar- terly dividend last week . . . ABC- TV sports spoiler Wayne Griffin feted at Rainbo Arena for his third anni as caller of the Wednesday night wrestling show from there via ABC . . . William E. Evans, of the Stanford Research Institute, will discuss color video at the So- ciety of Motion Picture and Tele- vision Engineers meeting Thurs- day 113) J . . Earle Ludgin agency prepping a .mail pull test for Manor House Coffee on its Chi co-op sponsorship of ABC-TV’s “Studs' Place" . . . Cliff Norton putting his “Public Life," five- minute briefie, on film for spot selling Zenith Corp. divvying up a 50c year-end shareholder slice .. . Alan Sweetow has depart- ed his veepee berth at Sander Rodkin agency to take over” as prexy of Television Features^ pack- age This particular coverage problem can be fixed in a jiffy with Just a tug and a tightening of the safety pin. It’s as simple as that* And your advertising ' coverage problems in the Middle West can be solved just as easily by making WGN your basic buy* No Chicago statioh can match WGN's coverage *«• no station reaches as, many homes per week. Get the most for your advertising dollar • • • cull yOur WGN representative for top availabilities. A Clear Channel Station Serving the Middle West MBS Chicagoll Illinois H,lll \VitM 720 On Your Dial CHIeai»»fTWrf»r MlnnMpalU'-St. Paul, ••trait, Cjntlndiiti and Mllwauhaa (••Urn Salt* OfffcavZM E. 42nd Strati, Naw Y#rk if, M. Y. far Naw Vark Ctty.fhlladtltlila and Baitta , _ ,. C«o; Ti Bglllatbary Qo. Adrcrtliint Sollpltari totAII Other Cities Loa Adialea—411 W.'SthS treat • NiwY4tk^-»M5thA*«itu* • Atlanta—22) Vaacfc Street, CkicRfb^- 3t7 N. Michigan AtMuji ■ Siit^iaclaco>;4tl Mont^onaaryStraat dliW Vtf 1951 Television Reviews Continued front pace 31 tation of performers on the stage of the studio theatre. In the fore- portion, * such names as Pearl Bailey, Connee Boswell, Patti Page, Juanita Kail, Herb Shriller, Sam Levenson and Jack Carter took over for brief turns. Others appearing at various times throughout the show were Victor Bbrge, Arlene Francis, Don Ameche & Francis Langford, Wal- ter Kiernan, Mindy Carson, Robert Merrill, Maurice Rocco, Georgie Tapps, Doodles & Spider, Ray Ma- lone/Donald Richards, Sid Stone, .Billy Williams Quartet, Yul Bryn- ner, Johnny Coy, Benny Fields, Harry Hershfield, Peggy Lee, Tony Bavaar, Jean Carroll, Jackie Miles, Jane Pickens, Dorothy Sarnoff, Lew Wills, Jr. arid Mel Torme. Also Ken Murray and his troupe, Johnny Johnston, Phil Silvers, Dorothy Collins, Sriooky Lanson, Eileen Wilson, Mary McCarty, Buddy Rich, Morey Amsterdam/ Barry Gray, Lewis & Van, Jimmy Dorsey, Jack Leonard, Joey Adams, Irving Fields Trio, Phil Foster,- Jim Fair, Xavier Cugat, Fred Waring, Betty Reilly, Bill Norvas, John Pratt, the “Sugar Hill Hour" revue, Stump & Stumpy, Neil Hamilton, Nancy Craig, Gil Lamb, Martin Bros., Nancy Evans, Carrii- vales, Andy & Della Russell, Fori-, tane Sisters, Joan EdW:ards, Wally Brown, Betty Ann Grove, Paul Whiteman, Earl Wrightson and numerous disk jockeys. Herm, SULTAN OF MAGIC With Sam Zovello Producer: Zovello 15 Mins., Sun., 3:15 p.m. JOYVA WPIX, N. Y. (Louis E. Shechter) Basing his new series on the old adage “it's fun to be fooled, but it’s more fun to know," magico Sam Zovello has come up with an unpretentious 15 minuter that should appeal to the moppet vfew- er. pressed in the garb of an Ori- entaf swami (a likeness of the fig- ure used oil his sponsor’s candy bar), Zovello looks like he just stepped out of a juve storybook; His magical feats on the preem (9)/were simple enough to be es- sayed by any ydung amateur and his explanatory remarks were easy to follow. Zovello, however, didn’t display too much camera ease and his overt “milking" of the studio aud for applause after each trick stilted the’stanza unnecessarily. It's not a permanent flaw and could be done away with on future stanzas. The Joyva commercials were okay. They’re in for a 13-week ride. Gros. Tots and tales With Marge Green Director: Dennis Kana 15 Mins.; Sat.v ,12:30 p jit. WPTZ, Philadelphia An idea that has possibilities of shaping up into an interesting study of child reactions, “Tots and Tales" Is based on the premise that the moppets are naturalibdrn story-tellers. Group of youngsters, iri the four to 10-year-old category, is asked to view a series of unre- lated objects, displayed one at a time by tnoderator Marge Green. The jump from a pair of longhorns (off a. Texas steer) to a candle- holder failed to stimulate any flights of fancy, nor did the sprouts come up with any interesting in- coherCncies. •' Station claims the children are not coached, but the responses seemed a little pat. As child study there was even more interest in the deportment of the tykes, which probably accounted for the breath- lessness of moderator Green, a Philadelphia advertising exec. At the beginning of the session, when all the children gave names, one youngster (who has probably seen too many gangster films) clammed up completely until she was per- mitted to hold the puppy, awarded as a prize to the viewer who sug- gested the items Used to stir the juve imaginations. Another pint-sized Bernhardt (aged nine) griniaced all over the screen . and behaved as if she wanted to take over* Miss Green's program is a sound idea, but her first batch of youngsters could have been stronger in charm, and a little less extrovert. . An obvious remedy would be more careful screening of the young partici- pants* Gagli. BRONCO BILL With Bill Mulvey 30 Miris*; Mon.-thru-Frl., 6 p,tri. Participating WRG&-TV, Schenectady 7 Program for children, originated by. WRGB after “Cactus Jitri ywas, withdrawn, from area distribution, has Bill-Mulvey lit the role of nar- rator-bridger tot filmed: “Tales of the West." The pictures are I old, elemental and often blurry ride-and-shoQt-ems, but presum- ably they evoke steady receptivity from youngsters. Mulvey’s charac- terization is not as deep, rounded and distinctive as that of “Cactus Jim," nor is it as surely projected. He is cast as a young Cowboy; Who leans over a fence post as he [ talks through clenched lips. "For the commercials—live and filmed —Mulvey moves: out of focus to “meet" an unseen individual bring- ing the mail, or to get a drink of Water. He supplements the tie-i narration with , bits of western his- tory, preachment on conduct, read- ing of fan mail, etc. Mulvey is uneven alternately sure and un- certain. There are hints of sufficient preparation on occasion, hi»t mail indicates the kids like Mulvey. Jacq, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT With Janet Sills, guests 30 Mins.; Tues. and Thurs., 11 a.m.. Sustaining WRGB, Schenectady WRGB, Which like WGY (also GE-owned) cooperates closely with Schenectady ? s public schools, has allotted 30 minutes twice Weekly for a new program conducted by the adult education division. Mrs. Janet Sills, of the system, iriod- erates. When viewed, she, discussed with two representatives of a local women’s group the question of in- flation, and with a Schenectady bank woman, the procedure * budgeting for a club. Show closed With the reading of announcements on affairs under church auspices. Pitched on a high level, it prob.ably held the greatest interest for dub women. Telecast impressed as long, talky and a bit haltirig; the all-femme voices did riot make listening easier. Jaco. Seattle—kew FM station of the Univ. of 'Washington’s radio school set to go on air Jan. 14. New Out- let, With call letters KUOW, Was originally scheduled to start broad- casting in October from a transmit- ter atop the Administration build- ing, but U authorities nixed it be- cause the appearance of the trans- mitter was “unesthetic." OFFICIAL BASIC CBS OUTLET FOR VIEWED BV 54 . 7 % MORE FAMILIES THAN STATIONT 1 WRITE US OR AVER/-KS6 FOR ALL ''-ST;