Variety (December 1952)

h ft. 24 w-msfs PS&aEft “Wednesday, Decewil»ei* 10, 1952 ,;y ’ j fflt M..’ H » H H -H »HHM f f ♦ ♦ H 4 + * +■»♦ ♦♦+>♦♦♦♦ MM f+M MM t- HIW - fW -MUHKMMtfHI M l( M I Ml >M 11 ttttltr r 11 M> TELEPIX REVIEWS 44 4 444 4 * M - M4 MM M » ♦ # M M M < < 1 ♦ 4 M-MM ♦ ♦ + * M M M M M » f ♦+♦* ******** »"t M M MM 1111 ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW (The Wrestling Story) With Bud- Abbott, Lou Costello, Hillary Brooke, Joe Kirk, Sidney Fields Producer-director: Jean Yarbrough Writer; Fields 30 Mins.; Fri., 10:30 p.m. CHEVROLET DEALERS WCBS-TV, N. Y. ( CampbeU-Evcald ) Abbott & Costello have proved too often in the past that there’s an audience for even the lowest type of their shenanigans, so its impossible to write off this assault on the intelligence of TV viewers. But they’re going to have to pull long and hard to attract an audi- ence if the rest of the stanzas in their new telepix series is as bad as the initialer, which had its N. Y. bow last Friday night (5) on WCBS- TV. Show carries screen credit for a writer but what his contributions were is difficult to determine. Preem stanza resembled the weak- est of the old two-reel comedies which the Hollywood studios once turned out as filler material for the- atres. It had an ultra-thin story line, true, but while this was bad enough, it served only as a peg on which the comedy team could hang some unrelated and mostly unfunny situ- ations. These were dragged in from all sides and one was no better than another. Even the gray-beard- ed burlesque routines, on which A&G have got by in their shows for NBC’s “Colgate Comedy Hour,” were not present to.lift the vidfilm out of its lethargy. Series is being financed mostly by Abbott & Costello, with Music Corp. of America syndicating through its Revue Productions. Show has already been sold'in 40 markets, which indicates that ad- vertisers and/or stations feel the comics can lure an audience. But any such audience must be com- posed of grade-schoolers or adults with equal intelligence. If they can be counted on as prospective purchasers of the client’s product, then all should be well. Preem’s “story” had Costello, play- ing his usual knocked-about self to Abbott’s sideline urgings, pitted against a neighborhood sissy named “Stinky,” of course) in a police benefit wrestling match. It’s needless to point out the incon- gruity of the basic situation, with Costello as a grown man with an eye for a pretty waitress feuding continually with the sissy charac- ter (in. actuality, another adult actor in boy’s clothes.) Tied in with this was a scene—and the only faintly funny one in the show —which had Costello being blitzed in a checker game by a trained chimp, plus the comics’ system for getting a free meal in a restaurant, etc. Joe Kirk and Sidney Fields played in support of the comics. Hillary Brooke is also in the perma- nent cast, but wasn’t spotted in the Initialer, Filmed commercials, both for Chewy Dealers and the car Itself, were par. StaL LIFE WITH BUSTER KEATON (The Collapsible Clerk) Producer: Clyde Brockman Director: Arthur Hilton Writer: Jack Harvey 30 Mins.; Thurs., 7:30 pjn. MARCALUS MFG. CO. WARD, N. Y. (Calkins & Holden ) Attempt to recreate Buster Kea- ton’s madcap antics of the Keystone era for the TV audience was only partially successful as the “Life With Buster Keaton” series preem- ed over WABD last Thursday (4). Film hit some highspots indicating the comedian still can sock across his “dead-pan” routines effectively, but on the whole the first install- ment was disappointing. Series has Keaton as assistant and general handyman in a sport- ing goods store. First episode, “The Collapsible Clerk,” set a good pace for the nonsense parade with the limelight steadily on the laugh- getter. Keaton tries to sell boating equipment and some fishing tackle With equally disastrous results and then manages to get hopelessly en- tangled in his attempt to demon- strate how to set up a collapsible tent. He also runs afoul two wrestlers, who promptly challenge him and his friend to a match. Proceedings shift to the .ring where in an occasionally hilarious sequence, “Killer” Keaton and his buddy first suffer and then manage to subdue their opponents by having them collide head-on in an around-the- ring race. Fadeout has the come- dian and his pal hit the canvas when someone tries to shake their hand. Wrestlers involved are The Great Scott and The Lord Blears. Wrestling portion of the show was good for laughs, but ran tdo long. For reasons known only to the director, an announcer de- scribed for the TV audience what it was seeing on its screen. Narra- tion presumably was supposed to be in the nature of a takeoff on TV sports gabbers, but didn’t jell. Ring noises and crowd* reaction also were overdone. The store section was more rem- iniscent of the Keaton of yester- year. Comedian should ring the bell with the older generation whom he had once rolling in the aisles with his slapstick routines and may go over also with the younger crowd who knows him only by name. Show could have used some real or dubbed-in audience reac- tion. Lack of studio laughter weak- ened the climax of several of his acts, particularly the one when Keaton tries to wrap the fishing tackle and his straight-faced tussle with the collapsible tent. Producer Clyde Bruckman and exec producer Carl K. Hittleman have kept the sets simple. Carl Struss camerawork gave the arena sequence a good feeling of realism. It’s questionable whether Keaton’s invasion of the world of the grunt- ers and groaners added much to the value of the show. Excessive time was spent following the cere- monial disrobing of the gentlemen- wrestlers and the other niceties that have come to be accepted as the comic byplay on these occa- sions. That section of the program seemed like something that TV viewers must have been many times before, and the addition of Keaton just added slapstick upon slap- stick. Performances beside Keaton were routine. Hift. CHEVRON THEATRE (Horses and Fur Coats) With Lynn Bari, Paul Cavanaugh, others Producer: Revue Productions Director: Kingman T. Moore Writers: Stanley Ranh, Adele Com- mandini 30 Mins.; 9 p.m. Fri. CHEVRON STATIONS KTLA, Hollywood (BBD&O) Fairly diverting entertainment, this is the story of a public steno who finds herself involved with a racketeer of the race tracks, and escapes the heavy’s clutches in time to buy herself a mink coat with coin he’s given her for m- advertently helping him. Hence the tag, “Horses and Fur Coats.” While this is passable fare, the story has too many flaws to hold up as anything more than routine stuff. Lynn Bari is the central figure, and as such becomes involved with a slick con man who tells her he’s a private eye for race tracks, and on the trail of a guy who frames races. Thus obtaining her aid, he gets her to pass him a copy of a letter dictated to her by the al- leged raceframer. After a good deal of hokus pokus, it develops that the real con man is the pur- ported private eye, and' the Tace- framer is actually a cop on his trail. Then there’s a last-minute rescue of the steno, about to be erased by the real con man who figures she double-crossed him. That the story comes off as well as it does is due in large part to the ability of Lynn Bari, a gal TV Filins in Production as of Friday, Dec. 5 ARROW PRODUCTIONS KTTV Studios, Hollywood Second set of 13 in "RAMAR OF THE JUNGLE" half-hour jungle adventure tel- epix series shooting. Jon Hall stars. Producers: Harry S. Rothschild. Leon Fromkess Film producer: Rudolph Flothow Director; Paul Landres BARRY-ENRIGHT PRODUCTIONS On Location, N. Y. "OH BABY" series of 13 five-minute tel- epix. To be sponsored by Mennen through the Grey agency, starting Nov. 1. Producers: Jack Barry, Dan Enright BING CROSBY ENTERPRISES Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "REBOUND" series of half-hour adult dramas. Sponsored by Packard Motor Car Corp. Now shooting. Executive producer: Basil Grillo General Manager: Harve Foster JOAN DAVIS PRODUCTIONS General Service Studios, Hollywood "1 MARRIED JOAjty" series of half-hour situation comedies currently shooting for General Electric sponsor. Starring Joan Davis & Jim Backus. Producer: P. J. Wolfson Associate Producer: A1 Simon Director: Hal Walker. Writers: Arthur Stander, PhU Sharp. DESELU PRODUCTIONS General Service Studios, Hollywood "OUR MISS BRqpKS" half-hour com- edy drama series now shooting for CBS* Ty.. General Foods sponsor. Cast: Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Jane Mor» S an, Dick Crenna, Gloria McMillan, Boh ockwelL Virginia Gordon. Production Executive: Larry Berne Director: A1 Lewis Assistant director: Jim Paisley Writers: A1 Lewis, Joe Quillan POUGFAIR CORPORATION RKO Pathe: Culver City First 18 of half-hour adventure' series "Terry and the Pirates" shooting. Canada Dry sponsors. Cast: John Baer, William Tracy. Gloria Saunders. Producer: Dougfair Corporation Associate producer: Warren Lewis Directors: Lew Landers, Arthur Pierson Producer: Mort Greene Director: Les Goodwin Assistant director: John Pommer Production supervisor: Ruby Rosenberg GROSS-KRASNE, INC. RKO Pathe: Culver City Now shooting "BIG TOWN" series of 26 half hour telepix sponsored by Lever Brothers. Patrick McVey and Jane Nigh set Icsds, Producers: Jack J. Gross and Philip N. Krasne Director: E. A. Dupont. JOHN GUEDEL PRODS. 600 Taft Bldg., Hollywood Art Linkletter starring In a series of 104 15-minuter vidpix titled "LINKLETTER AND THE KIDS." Producer-director: Maxwell Shane Associate producer: Irvin Atkins PAUL F. HEARD, INC. KTTV Studios: Hollywood Series of 13 quarter-hour telepics en- titled "WHAT'S YOUR TROUBLE?" with Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale. Producer: Paul F. Heard Director: Paul F. Heard Production supervisor: Harry Cohen KEY PRODUCTIONS Eagle Lion Studios, Hollywood Shooting Red Skelton series of 30-min- ute comedy telepix. Stars Red Skelton. Producer: Red Skelton Director: Marty Rackin KNEELAND-SAX PRODS. ' Centaur Studios, Hollywood Thirteen 15-minute telepix series "DOU- BLE PLAY," featuring Laraine Day and Leo Durocher shooting. Different sports personalities will be guesting each week, producer: Carrol Sax * Director: Ted Kneeland January. Patti Lee heads cast. Producer: Michael Phillips Associate producer: Dan Hadzick Director: Jo Graham "ERNEST HAYCOX THEATRE" series of half-hour telepix skedded for January start. Michael Phillips directs. , who deserves better material. Paul Cavanaugh is polished and suave as the con man, while Gil Stratton Jr., Myron Healey, Bob Carson and Murray Alper are okay in lesser parts. Direction by Kingman T. Moore has a fair tempo. Original teleplay by Stanley Rauh and Adele Com- mandini is unbelievable at certain key points, and rates as a routiner. Production credits were uniformly good. Daku. OFFICIAL FILMS SETS 3 NEW TV SERIES Official Films this week set deals for national syndication of three new vidpix series being turned out by indie producers. Topping the list is “Hollywood Close-Ups,” a quarter-hour series featuring snap- shot sequences of film stars. Oth- ers are Tel-Ra Productions’ “Ideas on Parade,” featuring new inven- tions and gadgets, and 18 new shorts on sports and animal adven- tures, produced by Jerry Cournyea. Plans are also under way to gear some of OF’s network shows into local syndication. “Terry and the Pirates,” now sponsored alternate weeks by Canada Dry in some 45 markets, is to be offered to local sponsors and stations on a spot basis in the remaining market areas. ROLAND REED PRODUCTIONS I- Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "MY LITTLE MARGIE" series of 30- minute situation comedies now shooting. Producer: Roland Reed Director: Hal Yates Associate producer: Guy V. Thayer, Jr. REVUE PRODUCTIONS Republic Studios, No. Hollywood Half hour series of "ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON" telepix now shooting for Revue Prods. Producer: Revue Productions Director: John English. "BIFF BAKER, USA" series of 30-mln- ute situation comedies currently shooting. Randy Stuart, Alan Hale, Jr., head cast. Director: Richard Irving Assistant director: Willard Sheldon HAL ROACH PRODUCTIONS Hal Roach Studios: Culver City "AMOS 'N* ANDY" series of character comedy telepix now shooting. Sponsored by Blatz Beer for CBS-TV. Cast: Tim Moore, Spencer Williams, Alvin Childress, Ernestine Wade, Johnny Lee. Horace Stewart. Supervisors: Freeman Gosden, Charles CorrelL Sidney Van Keuren Director: Charles Barton Production executive: James Fonda Assistant director: Emmett Emerson VERNON LEWIS PRODUCTIONS Lewis Sound Films, 71 W. 45th St., N. Y. "NIGHT EDITOR" series of 15-mlnute weeklv newspaper-localled dramas, star- ling Hal Burdick. Now shooting. Spon- sored by Kaiser-Frazer in five markets, via welntraub. Producer: Vernon Lewis Director: M. Baron HAL ROACH STUDIOS "LIFE OF RILEY" series of 30-mlnutc situation comedies for NBC shooting. Supervisor: Sidney Van Keuren Producer: Tom McKnlght Director: Abby Berlin SCREEN GEMS' 1302 N. Gower, Hollywood Now shooting the FORD THEATRE aeries of 39 half-hour telepix. Producer-director: Jules Brlcken Assistant director: Eddie Seata Malvin Wald’s Telepic Stake in U.S., Europe Hollywood writer-producer Mal- vin Wald, just returned from year in Europe, is part-ower of four vid- pic packages, all in different cities,. two in America and two in Europe. Overseas series are “Tales of Hans Christian Andersen,” pro- duced in Copenhagen and bought by Interstate TV of Hollywood, and an untitled detective series which starts lensing next month In Lon- don under aegis of Antony Beau- champ Productions. In the U. S. Wald authors “Pulse of the City” which Telesene Film Productions of N. Y. has booked into 20 markets and co-authors “Justice for All,” starring Edward Arnold, which NBC has optioned. Wald left for the Coast last week for conferences with Arnold on “Justice.” FAMILY FILMS TELEVISION KTTV Studio*. Hollywood Twenty-six half hour religious dramatic shows "THIS IS THE LIFE." Cast: Forrest Taylor, Onslow Stevens, Nan Boardman, Randy Stuart, Michael Hall; David Kasday Producer: Sam Hersh Director: William F Claxton FEDERAL TELEFILM. INC. Goldwyn Studios, Hollywood "MR. AND MRS. NORTH" series of half hour situation comedies now shooting first 39. A John W. Loveton Production starring Barbara Britton and Richard Denning. Producer: Federal TV Corporation. Director: Ralph Murphy. » FILMCRAFT PRODS. 0451 Melrose, Hollywood GROUCHO MARX starred in 39 half-hour THE McCADDEN CORP. General Service Studios: Hollywood "THE BURNS AND ALLEN SHOW" now shooting series of half hour comedy telepix. The Carnation Co. sponsor. Cast: George Bums and Grade Allen, Fred Clark, Bea Benadaret, Harry Von Zell Producer* Ralph levy Associate Producer: A1 Simon Director: Ralph Levy Writers: Paul Henning, Sid Dorfman, Har- vey Helm. William Burns SHELDON REYNOLDS PROD.’S Post Parlsien Studios, Paris- FOREIGN INTRIGUE series of half- hour adventure films for presentation in U. S. TV for various sponsors now shoot- ing in Paris, starring Jerome Thor and Sydna Scott Producer-director: Sheldon Reynold* Assoc. Producer: John Padovano Director of Photography: Bertil Palmgren Musical Director: Paul Durand MARCH OF TIME 369 Lexington Ave., N. Y. "AMERICAN WIT AND HUMOR" se- ries of 26 half-hour plx. Thomas Mitchell, narrator, with cast Induding Gene Lock- hart, Jeffrey Lynn, Arnold Moss, Ann Burr and Olive Deering. Producer: Marion Parsonnet Director: Fred Stephan!. audience participation film productions MARK VII PRODUCTIONS now shooting once a week for NBC. Walt Disnev Studios. Burbank DeSoto-Plymouth sponsoring. Producer: John Guedel Film producer: 1. Lindcnbaum Directors* Bob Dwan. Bernio Smith "IT'S A SMALL WORLD," starring A1 Gannaway in a series of 39 half-hour £am* lly-appeal programs. Now shooting. Cast: A1 Gannaway and others Producer: Isidore Lindenbaum Exec chg. prod.: F. H. Fodor Production manager: Glenn Miller FLYING A PRODUCTIONS 6920 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood Second series of 52 half-hour Gene Autry Western telepix shooting. Gene Autry. Pat Buttram set leads. r> "RANGE RIDER" shooting second se- ries of 62 half-hour vldeoters. Jack Ma- honey, Dick Jones head cast. Producer: Louis Gray Directors: Wallace Fox, Geo. Archalnbaud New series of half-hour western dramas entitled "DEATH VALLEY DAYS" now shooting. Producer: Darrell McGowan. Director: Stuart McGowan FOUR STAR PRODS. RKO Pathe Studios, Culver City "MY HERO" series of 36 comedy dra- mas starring Robert Cummings now shoot- ing. SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS Hal Roach Studios, Culver City "RACKET SQUAD" series now shooting half-hour telepix. Producer: Hal Roach, Jr.j Carroll Cas* Director: Jim Tinling SWARTTZ-DONIGER PRODS. Motion Picture Center, Hollywood "WARDEN DUFFY OF SAN QUENTIN" series of 13 half-hour films now shooting. Paul Kelly stars. Producers: Walter Doniger, Berman Swartts Director: Walter Doniger half- ™ucaon manager: William Stephen, hour telepix based on actual cases from police files. Producer: Mike Meshekoff Director: Jack Webb Executive producer: Stanley Meyer Production supervisor: Sam Ruman MERIDIAN PICTURES, INC. Goldwyn Studios. Hollywood "SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE OF STARS" &eh VOLCANO PRODUCTIONS, INC. TEEVEE COMPANY California Studios, Hollywood Preparing 13 15-mlnute telepix of two vignettes each to begin shooting Decem- ber 10. Casting: Sherman Harris Producer: TeeVee Company Associate producer: Sherman Harris Director: William Burke week. Producer: Meridian Pictures, Inc. Associate producer: William Self PARSONNET TV FILM STUDIOS, INC. 46-02 Fifth St., Long Island City. N. Y. Casting: Michael Meads. Shooting half-hour drama* for scries en. titled 'The Doctor," sponsored by Procter & Gamble. Features Warner Anderson. Producer: Marlon Parsonnet Production manager: Henry Spitz Directors: Robert Aldrich, Peter Godfrey. PHILDAN TV .Eagle Lion Studios, Hollywood Series of 13 half-hour comedies "CA- REER FOR CATHY" to begin shooting General Service Studios, Hollywood "THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET," half-hour comedy series now shooting. Cast: Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard Nel- son, David Nelson. Ricky Nelson, Don DeForo Producers: Robert Angus and BUI Lewi* Director: Ozzio Nelson Writers: Bill Davenport, Don Nelson, Ben Gcrshinan, Ozzie Nelson zrv tv 6255 Clinton St., Hollywood Two in "BOSTON BLACKIE" series of half-hour adventure telepix shoot In De- cember. Two In untitled series shoot in December. General casting for all pictures. Directors: Eddie Davis, fiobey Martin, Hollywood K. T. Stevens makes her tele- pix debut in Screen Gems’ “Tht Sermon of the Gun,” starring op- posite Macdonald Carey in the Ford telepic series directed by Robert Stevenson, with Jules Bricken producing . . . Basil Ruys- dael has role in Sovereign Pictures' “The Wedding Day.” rolling at Eagle Lion studios . . . United Television Programs inked 14 two- year pacts for complete libraries of 750 Snader Telescriptions, end 370 Studio Films musical briefies . . . J. G. Stevens Productions can- ned first in “I Cook for a Star” 15-. min. series, with Mrs. Pat O’Brien in initialer ... Arthur Frimz and Marjorie Lord have leads in Mer- edian Pictures’ “The Devil’s Other Name,” shooting at Goldwyn stu- dios for Schlitz, with Ted Post helming, and Bill Self as associate producer . . . Telemount producer Henry Donovan is negotiating for Franchot Tone and Cesar Romero for a new series, “The 13 Dia- monds,” with 26 vidpix to begin rolling Jan. 15 . . . .Pete Robeck, general manager of Consolidated TV Sales, left on business junket across the country . . . Vidpix pro- ducers Jack Gross and Phil Krasne whipped up script tagged “Grand- ma Robbed a Bank,” inspired by L. A.’s bank-robbing grandma, and are including it in their “Big Town” series . . . NLRB hearing set Dec. 11 on petitions of Tele- vision Writers of America for elec- tion on TV jurisdiction for writer$ n in L. A. only, and of Authors'* League of America and Screen Writers Guild for jurisdictional electional on national basis only . . . Producer Edward Lewis back from junket to London . . . PSI TV prexy Paul White returned to Gotham over weekend following three weeks ogling company’s op- erations here.