Variety (November 1953)

U ,-tlnesday, November 11, 1953 TI I I VIMOX HKVIKWS S3 pisM R WITH LISA U,ih Lisa Ferraday m riter- Producer: Bob Claver p.rerlor: Paul Jones 11 Min'.: Tues.-Thurs., 7 p.m. L u ,hs( ii beverage t o. M VBC TV. New York (Grey) i Ferraday is a charming , , who's been kicking around !, u ,i,. 0 guest spots since making 1 . pictures where her physical i.mlnumcnts suuulicd DR. I. Q. f With Jay Owen. Tom Reddy. Ed Michaels. Art Flemming. George ! Ansbro Producer: Frederick Heider Director: Charles S. Dubin 30 Mins.; Wed., 9:30 p.m. Co-op ABC-TV, from New York Quiz addicts and others, embar- rassed by the farcical large-de- ! ..... T ._ ... nomination giveaway shows, should i ‘ i t .!iu)ting endowments supplied | hail the return to the air oi “l)r j In this “at home” show on j q •• Question and answer stanza. 1 \BC-TV local she’s been sad* I a longtime radio regular, made its ...i with a double burden, being video bow over ABC-TV Iasi hnt.'i performer-hostess and com- Wednesday (4*. Whether aired , iaI plugger at very nearly one ovor \M or tele, show puts the . j tiu* same time. In a 10-minute majority of other quizzors to 1 in /t. the sponsoral blurbs eau shame. Problems presented con- . I do denature the intimate for- testants are puzzlers and there’s no f • ,.f this two-a-week. bending back to make it easy go- ; I Tuesday <3> Miss Ferraday ing for those at whom the queries; •ml by calling attention rather are pitched. , , ,|i)loodedly to her Ceil Chapman Show is given rapid-fire han- , cat ion; and in between a tepid j dlinc* with silver dollar awards of /pi:. hat with Victor Borge that got generally small amounts adding to tr.nl/ flip ctlirntv Ini' •- t." r-nuheie, she took the stump for V>.('.il beverage a couple of times, v Hi Borge being caused to jam program’s integrity. Format re- mains the same as it was on radio, whereby quizmaster has several the bread-and-butter verbiage. An aides spotted throughout the audi- aopiu ser with a deep penchant for Pnce with portable mikes for the the delicacy would undoubt oil.v use 0 f contestants. Questions were p* Ter the Hungarian goulasli thai. j punchy and included the switch- \! - Ferraday hinted she can con- j PIOO D f having a quizzee give the ni t like nobody’s business. wrong answer to a particular poser. I tom appearances on other pro- j ( j ea provC( i a stumper on opener, glams, it seems obvious that Miss Kerradav is cut out for better things than fronting for a product t„ the extent that zeal in deliver- ing the plug beclouds the program t ntiter f , to its detriment. She is ap- p-icnMy being forced to follow a n nil design, instead of set into a pattern that would provide an at- mosphere of spontaneity wherein the actress can display her genuine •Dinner With Lisa*’ mood. As is. the show caught was stiff, well over the commercial allowance and a weak showcaser for the guest. T ran. Major change in program since exiting radio a few years ago is-fn the Dr. I. Q. identification. Lew Valentine, long associated with the role, has been replaced by Jay Owen. Latter gives affable and dramatic handling to his quizmas- tering. Assistants perform effi- ciently. Lee Segall is credited as show’s creator. Jess. WHY DOCTOR? With Dr. Douglas M. Kelley, guests ON CAMERA ‘Shoethine Boy’ On “See It Now” last Tues- day 3> Edward R. Murrow presented '.among other sub- jecta filmed interview of former President Truman from Kansas City alter an “at home" chat 'also on celluloid* with Gen. George C. Marshall on his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize. When HST was a>kod what he thought of the person who had called Gen, Marshall ■’■’disloyal." he said that person i> not fit to shine the general’s s v .oes. It was a ease of “no names’’ please but an unmist.ikcable refer- ence to a l tilted States Senator That Murrow himself w as not avi i sc to falling in with the former President’s thinking along this line was obvious in the commentator*s windup, when lie declared him-, se’f as admiring Truman’s selection for a shoeshine hoy. The direct way in which this was put hinted tliat Mur- row was trying to “smoke out” the senator for a reply, and it's no secret among a small coterie of broadcasters, cor- respondents, etc . that Murrow is on the senator’s “hate” list. Too bad that even the usu- ally fearless Truman took the indirect attack route. There were trade hints before the program that the senator would he mentioned by name. But Truman socked over his point nevertheless — and Murrow made sure of it in his postscript. Tran. TAKE IT FROM ME N th Jean Carroll, Alan Carney, l.vnn Lnring, others Producer-director: Alan Dinehart medics, pinpointing cause, treat Waiters: Coleman Jacoby, Arnie 1 ment and cure Itosen Director: Russ Baker 30 Mins.: alternate Sun., 8 p.m. KGO-TV, San Francisco Better understanding of medical problems are sought here by Music: Bernie Green 30 Mins., Wed.. 9 p.m ABC-TV, from New York With Frank Hoy. George Curtis Director: Rill Gildersleeve 15 Mins., Tues.. 6 p.m, WPMT, Portland. Mr. Station manager George Curtis of this new UHF’er has chosen the direct approach to viewers and po- Why Doctor?” under auspices tential timebuyers, teaming with of the California Medical Assn., j owner Frank Hoy for a strong paints a vivid picture of human j P*teli for the outlet’s programs. ... _ - ailments with fine professional in- J policies and new-type signal, in a Sci inters Coleman Jacoby and terpretations by specialists. Stanza market that now lias a single TV Arnie Rosen, no newcomers on the is successful in keynoting medical sender, but soon will have four tel«* comics’ circuit, have hit a pay- language simplicity. j serving it on a primary basis, three dirt format for nitory monologist Program viewed was an exempli- ^ which will he* in the* VIII* hand. Jean Carroll on ABC-TV’s “Take fi cal , on 0 f human skin disorders.! Curtis and Hoy pull no punches | It From Me.” Withput sacrificing | p ro gram host Dr. Douglas M. as to difficulties being encountered Kelley handled his assignment in in Hie shakedown period, which a simulated consultation manner ’ frankness adds impact to casual with easvflow conversation he- mentionings of plus items. In tween visiting medics, Drs. Walter stanza caught, reception difficulties Weber, Carroll Russell and Ber- encountered by set owners In out- nard V. O’Donnell. Doctors were ! lying areas were hashed over. C’ur- comfortably poised and warmly in- tis tactfully suggested to one formative before cameras. Drs. \ miffed set-purchaser that lie might Weber and O’Donnell were* espe- j cheek to see if the installer hadn’t dally effective in their humorous i bolted the UIIF bowtie directly to Miss Carroll’s standup patter forte, tluw ve set her in a family situa- tion comedy that’s fluid and funny. As a hectic hausfrau (Alan Car- ney’s wife and L'nn Loring’s mot hern Miss Carroll carries the weight of the show on her shoul- ders. The half-hour is hers from start to finish and she shines all the way. Her monolog opportuni- ties. all hefty yock material. Is neatly introduced via the "stream of consc iousness” pattern. It never interrupts the flow of the plot line and iis rib-tickling impact is sure- fit e. Her intonation and her grim- aces are gems of-comic inventive- ness and fortunately the writers don’t let her down. Opening stanza Wednesday (4) was nothing more than a report of her day at home, but Us approach comments during less serious deni onstrations. A layman’s understanding was projected by guests in explaining and advising viewers on skin maladies, accidents and diseases. Free use of charts, diagrams and special medical equipment gave viewer a clear picture of subject matter. Doctor Kelley is an affable host. ■ • (II m/uiv , uuc ll.l Iipizi II • ... /. was lively and lighthearted. It ‘ questions were pertinent and followed her from breakfast with j brought forth heady info fiotn his the VHF mast, which circumstance would result in a grounded UIIF | antenna if the mast had been fitted with a lightening arrester. (The foregoing being phrased in the most diplomatic language, of course, as installers’ attitudes are crucial during the initial stages of UHF in a competitive market.) Hoy allowed his manager to hold orth for most of the session, coming in at the end with an informal ac- count of a recent visit to the net- l/l UUKIIl IOI III 1 IVUWJ IIIIW II will , | . ^ 1 j u . r husband hi* farp huried i n I guests. Specialists passed medical ; wor * ts headquai ters, and some ’ 1 husband, his face buried in w aI1 skillfully each extiressive and « rassroots t0mmonK on foIorcast ‘ he morning newspaper.-of course, j h d, l skintun>. eacn expressive ana jn( , Hp expre ssed himself as through a laundry-klatch in the informative in his prc.sent.it >n. thrilled by the quality of the tinted apartment house’s community Simple. . forthiight production signal, but somewhat puzzled as to laundry room and winding up with and artistically alert lensing pro- how smaller operators could ever a quiet evening at home with hub-1 vided proper accoutrements for a a jf or( j with camera tube re- bv leading the paper and daughter well-rounded medical forum, dnmg the homework. Tour. It was a tintop scripting and ! tlic’sping job. Carney was an ex- ! , vvv Qlvn . v fl ' ent foil for Miss Carroll and , LA LAJSNE Slion L'ttje Lynn Loring did okay in a Director: Russ Faker placements alone amounting to more on an annual basis than a ; monochrome outfit's total budget. Stanza sizes as a useful promo- tional device, drawing viewers inief assignment'* 4 Show^'hoAged 30 Mon.-thn.-Frl,. 9:45 p.m. with its “inside" angles, and per >111! IV ill. oiiww u \r\ *i 1 vt 11 J-'h'-n a hit in the laundry scene, i r There tho woman-to-woman talk KGO-TV, San Francisco y is obvious and strained. Alice} Jack LaLanne imparts to tele- j sonalizing what might otherwise seem just another notch on the Don. tuner. iVarcp sparked the supporting viewers living proof that “fighting pi p . ln*re but in all the thespers the battle of the bulge” pays divi- % •” ** better than there lines. I dends. Mm Dinehart’s direction and His daily 15-minute segment is' p. inu* Green's scoring maintained instructive and educational. View- 1 ‘‘how’s good spirits. Gros. ers are given actual exercise dem- onstrations as well as dietary notes for balanced, high-protein menus. LaLanne, physical culturist and former "Mr. America." has a plead- ing manner before cameras. His EDUC’L RADIO VIA MUSIC SPREADS IN N.C. SCHOOLS Educational radio, boosted via classical disks aired over WBT, Charlotte. N. (’. a CBS affiliate, is currently entering the North T1IE TV 1IOI R (Outlaw's Reckoning) With Eddie Albert, Jane Wyatt. Wallace Ford, Vicki Cummings. Lee Marvin, George Mathews. John Shellie, Ruth Gates. G. Albert Smith, Dickie Allen, Den- nis Rohan, Dan Frazer, others; music, Ralph Norman. sets. Fred Stover Producer: Herbert II. Riodkin Director: Ralph Nelson Writer: llul.stcd Welles 60 Mins., Tues., 9:30 p.m. Sustaining; (alt. weeks) ABC-TV. from N. V. When V. S. Steel finally chose ABC-TV to carry its television dramatic entry on alternate Tues- days, one of the provisions of the deal was that the network^supply a drama series (if comparable sta lure to fill the alternate week niche. ABC-TV chose its old “Al- bum" unit, beaded by Herb Broil- kin. to produce the series, then proceeded to wrap up Motorola to sponsor it. starting Dec. 1 Whatever doubts Steel max have fell about the merits ot the net work-produced entry should have been dispelled by the initial di.un.i in the series, produced last Tues day (J) on a sustaining basis It ABC doesn’t bring in teleplavs ot the dramatic intensity of the Steel entries, it will more than* make up for kt in the* scope ot general appeal its shows promise to have Initialler. for example, was an adult western, "Outlaw’s Reckon ing.” adapted by llalsted Welle, from a story by Finest Havens and the web gave it .v production ride that was virtually unprccc dented. Many of the viewers must have thought it was on film until the final card said it originated live from ABC studios. Brodkm brought horses and a stagecoach into ABC Studio 1, had a 40-foot bridge con- structed. along with a corral, road, couple of buildings and a twb- room Interior. It really looked like the wild outdoors <it piobablv smelled that way too, afterwards' and gave a convincing background to the drama. Story itself ran along routine lines, hut managed to pack in a good deal of suspense and action Eddie Albert was an innkeeper in the west, a quiet guy until aroused Lee Marvin was the bullying out- law who came to kill Wallace Ford, the sheriff, and to flirt with Jane Wyatt. Albert's waitress. Sheriff gets killed. Marvin arouses Albert to the point where Albert kills him. and Miss Wyatt, who’s been pining for Albert, finally wins him But director Ralph Nelson got some excellent effects: the slienfl and Marvin opposite each other at the dinner table, each waiting for the other to make a move; a wild and uninhibited fight between A! bert and Marvin that was equal in realism to anything put on film, and a constant building of suspen •• and tension. In the acting depait ment, Marvin walked-aw ay with the honors with a sterling job a the villain. Albert was effective as the hero, and Miss Wval'1 scored as the girl. Vicki Cum mings was good as a wealthy girl who fell in love with Albert, and Ford scored as the old but dogged sheriff. Others In the cast, includ- ing George Mathews as the .stage driver. Ruth Gates and Dickie Allen as were excellent. On the technic Stover’s sets and Jimmie MeNaiigli- ton's art direction were* topdrawei Ralph Norman’s original music helped build suspense, but at times it was intrusively loud Ditto sound effects, which at tunes interfered with the voices of the players. But taking into account all the many production elements, il was a vii tually herculean job that ua brought off very well Steel rued not fear about its alternate week and it looks like Motorola will have a good thing on it- handv come Dec. 1. ('inn. as the rook a .voungstn. i! side. Fred WCBS-TV Inks Thompson j To Kid Pubservicer ip ” manner before cameras. Jfi? 1 Carolina school systems, according Tr , i light touch of humor and blithe to wison Benton, station publicity , ;• •' Thompson, former producer- manner lifts stanza from the ranks director Nvh() S visiting N. V. and '‘for of WOR-TV’s “Merry of a common exercise* program t | )e (ds web. Educational public service show. of WOR-TV’s “Merry of a common exercise ; ’ h as been signed hv LaLanne could add aditional pro* v.crs-tv to a new Saturday morn- gram polish by using more control . „ ... . to 10 show. Program will of his hands when instructing. He chums Benton, hi „.in lot smm.i.i k M!’ Nov. 28. and is being sjometiin.es gives an impression of as a Li-vvc*i*k pilot, series: cut iru od a- an important public <> wrestler angling for a strangle- the Brevard Mu-k festival. » ,0 ' •• “■-’’.gged sta, /T s antcul o ho’d. grams. Iht.oduced under the aus- The hour will follow ex-bM'i- ° n thirrt Program. Jack inter- pices of the Junior League of T «,r Henrieh\'* “Jmiidr vl.’^cd Steve Rj’ev^. ’ M, .. A-m* Charlotte, run dinm. ly into nty lea. World and t'niverse” title- holdc’r. now turned film star. In- Scs-ion” > retitled from ( uhhoi,»** '. wlio-e open- tervieW v\a« pertinent and int'er- ‘l been deJ.ov.ed and finally t ,, ljnc wil i, b oih “bodv beautifuls” '.inched on Saturd ;v 1 “ i in »o ft slot on the N. V flag* "i. ( BS. ■1 "!' v itii ‘ .Junior” i- the ' Si-hools Athletic League, n Weldon is v riiei producer chatter direction bv Ned Cramer. i triv ia. explaining value* of phvsieal tiini- ne^s and, importance of diet and exercise. But for full value, inter- views should he trimmed. Aft/1* meat of conversation is devoured. falters to insignificant To r. ela-s-ropm's where kid-, learn music appiceiat'ion Id* a spread to otlvr sin rounding school ♦• stems, reports Beni on. when kids enthusiastically greeted mu-ie at a Charlotte fsynj- rjbonv Orchestra concert they had hoard belor«* over WBT. WBT pro- dncer« noting good r"Sults. are considering (urtber expan-ion of Hit* music education pitch. MIDDAY With Wanda Ramey guests Director: Dorothy Hooker Vyr 15 Mins., week days, 1M5 p.m. Sustainini; KGO-TV, San Francisco A quarter-hour ot femme ric,* views and interviews Wap da 1 Ranu v. delmting in b'-r fit t s<»l i tedeshovv. bas f|tialificaii«ms 1 <» make her one of town - leading video charmers. A \ear’s radio inteiview e xperi- ence ()ii KROW <()aktaral , ha her v ith confidence and She balances fcn inter view, i gift V. ire — alio- 'gin '-fy/'i for them'eive . defriy J>•;,Z! into channels p(*rtine/.t . to .subject niatter, 'J he imtiah r foural Warid i in a plea apt homey s<-uy g, Ai'ei w <*l( omii g ( ui rent J’o > Master- ('onvc*n.tir»n to Rav area she riiup'*'l into n<*.\^. city doings and hum an in , c*r<*st stori* s. 4 liitcrview with gut* t ot the d.*:,, armed poise, on a spe«k them Gt Y LOMBARDO SHOW With (iuy Lombardo Orch, Kenny Gardner, Bill Flannican. Clients Producer: Lombardo Director: Jim Klson 30 Mins.; Fri., 7 p.m. LINCOLN MERCURY WN’BT, N. Y. ( Kcnj/on & Krkhnrdt > Band remotes have not enjoyed any particular success on video, but this new show with Guy Lom- bardo's oreh could establish a solid niche on the Friday night sked. Picked up from the Hotel Roose- velt's Grill Room in N V. where Lombardo roosts for most of the year, this stanza shapes up as a pleasant, unpretentious session of pop and dance music for post- dinner relaxation. Lombardo is handling both the batoning and emcee chores in Ins usual relaxed, affable maimer. On tin* preem it»), he intrned the family portion of Ins organization ifrores Carmen. Lebert and Victor and brother-in-law Kenny Gardner* and gabbed with vet librettist Otto \ II.irbach who was seated at a ringside table*. Passing waiters oc- casionally blocked the cameras table view but that was part ot the realistic* setting ll.irbaeh spoke about what it takes to become a successful songwriter. Lombardo also chatted briefly with a couple celebrating their 4(Mh anni and brought on Ed Sullivan's secretary, Julia Meade, to p.i\<* the way for a Lincoln-Mercury Him commercial. Backdrop for tin* hand also showed a placard for the motor company. Otherwise, the* show is based on the standard Lombardo pattern of sweet dam eabb* music. Repertory on the opening show included such current hits as "You. You. You.” “Yaya Con Dios,’’ vocaled by Gard- ner and Bill Elannigan. “Ricochet,” more* pop medleys and u fine twin piano version ot “1 Love Paris.” Tills show, of course, i.s a dou- ble plug, one for tin* bankrolling Mereury-Lincoln dealers, and Hie other tor tlie Roosevelt hostelry, which reaps the benefits' iron! the remote pickup. Hern i. CHICAGO SYMPHONY With Fritz Reiner, conductor; Ken Nordine, Stanley Gordon Producer: W. G. T. liver Director: Barry McKinley 60 Mins.: Wed.. 7:30 p.m. CHICAGO TITLE A TRUST W.GN'-TV. Chicago ( Hiiehen >. This prestige show for a pres- tige* account does two important things It goes a long way in dis- sipating local TV's set ions music vacuum And if refutes charges that there’s nothing really woi Ill- while’’ oil TV. Thai these weekly telecasts built around the Chicago Svinplmnv, now in tile third sea on have paid oil more than satrsfactoi ily for Chicago Till** A ’I i o l is seen ill the fact that tin* *-how has been expanded to a full boor will) all I he ore he leal 1 1 apnmg • including a (iO-man cicw 1 Shaw ' al o get- tin i< net w oik v bo we a ini’ on Du- Mont Via the kllie loUte el rwlielt# Sundays at f» p m » Concert watched maik<d the initial anpearame on the I V series of l)r. Fritz Iteimi. who took over this season as Chi Svinphonv ('in- ductor. The mo t elleclivi* shot s caught in director Many McKin- ley's four camera barrage wen* the head-on sequences of the mae.lio, showing his studious, precise baton manner. Despite the u <* of four cameras in WG.N I Vs gcncioudy propor- tioned Studio I A the problems of ((inverting a nm nal group of tins size to video are still apparent But W. G. T Hver, batullirig piodue- tmn for Television Ail hows, has apfiai<*ntly rc*aelre#| the conclusion that even on 1 V a conceit is really listened to more than it’s watched Not that the vi nal values aren’t important. The until <• iv<* close- ups of Reiner and tin* pinpointing ot the various see!inns of the or- chestra provide a plus But with 60 pros working under the stick of i conductor of Reiner's stature, what comes out of the speaket i i mine* important than what coihes out of the picture lube A "win this sea on tin* com- mentary is" bandied bv Ken Nm - dine who lends ju t tin* right riom of dignity and authority 'Fran ( ou'.'hl.ih does the network fom- ment.iry.i Single major blurb for Chicago Title goo in at nridpoint with Stanley Gord<m doing a fine in litutinna! sell lioee. Vu'b.'ir'e s Hilda Si/lu/*y. Ki '■( It, was ‘•hort. inf oi mat jv to II. c* notrit Mrs Kic(h '.•a given fi.ee rein to discus - 1 <■> tome. 1 I Ik* Many Lives Of .M deiri Worfiatt Excellent c amera work bv. director Dorothy Nye a< <-entiiated aliveru* s of women’s conversation Gal is up to date, modern and fully conscious of cm lent aotiyi* tics.' 1’liotogcnic, t'z«z. Tone.