Variety (July 1954)

26 RANO REVIEWS f^SMETf GUNSMOKE " ' With .William Conrad, Parley Baer, Chester Proudfoot, Georgla El- lis, Howard McNear, others; mu- sic, Rex Roury; Georye Fenne, .man, Georye Walsh, announcers Producer-Director; Norman Mac- donnell Writer: John Meston 30 Mins., Mon., 9 p.m. LIGGETT & MYERS CBS, from Hollywood (Cunningham A Wdlsh) With ‘Lux Radio Theatre" on Its way to NBC as part of the gen- eral radio-tv exodus of Lever Bros, from CBS, the latter has installed two of its half-hour stalwarts, “Gunsmoke” and “Gangbusters,” Into the breach; There’s no ques- tioning the seriousness of the “Lux” loss—a 20-year showcase that’s always stayed up among the top three shows is not so easily re- placed. But the parlay of a solidly- scripted adult western followed by a time-proven crime show gives CBS a good chance to retain its Monday night following.. “Gunsmoke” deserves the term “stalwart.” The web rode with it for some 18 months before snaring its first sponsor,, and at that only a shortterm bankroller. But Ches- terfields, one of the slick timebuy- ers in the business, bought the Cx- Lux time and installed the show in it. “Gunsmoke” is a natural pairing with Xhestie's other big radio show, “Dragnet.” Programs have much in common —- tense scripting, good. acting and an in- dividuality all their own that’s hard to beat. First commercial show for the ciggies this Monday (5) had Wil- liam Conrad, as U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, run into one of his old gun- slinging pals who had been hired to kill the lawman. When the gun- man learned his employer wanted to spring loose a prisoner who had killed an unarmed man, he backed down, avoiding the gunfight with Conrad. But when the employer tried to frame him for a murder, the gunman shot the employer, and then while resisting arrest, was shot by Conrad, who had tried so assiduously to avoid a fight. FREDDY MARTIN SHOW With Johnny Cochrin, BUI Curtis, The Martin Men- 34 Mlnft., Sun., 9:34 p.m, CBS,* from New York Band remotes, which seem to have fallen out of favor In 1 the past couple of years, get a neat lift via CBS’ new summer series spotlight-, ing the Freddy Martin orch from New York’s Waldorf-Astoria. (Be- ginning July 10 CBS will take its mikes over to the Hotel Astor.Roof to pick up Sammy Kaye’s orch for a Saturday night run through the summer). i; Martin has an easy-bn-the ear style and he fills the half-hour with a light medley of pops and stand- ards. It’s a tuneful session excel- lently suited to Sunday summer listening. Martin’s vocal contin- gent, Johnny Cochran, Bill Curtis and The Martin Men, all pitch in for okay results. Martin also man- ages to squeeze his keyboard solo- ing in, and it* too, is easy to take. On show caught Sunday (4) Mar- tin’s tunebag included such tasty items, afe “Young At Heart,” “Steam Heat.” “You Alone” and “It Had To Be You.” Gros. Basic script, a good one, \vas^ sketchy transitions often too .a* . . o . ’ . honnc7!irn cinoo stirnAf 1 urac aim. embroidered with some fancy ef- fects in the way of dialog and sound. It’s remarkable how effec- tive the sound of foofcteps can be on radio; it’s nothing new, but watching too much television can make one forget it. And John Mes- ton, while maintaining terseness In his script, endowed it with flashes ©f humor that gave it the character of maturity.' Conrad was excellent as Dillon, and he was backed by a topflight cast. Norman Macdonell's direc- tion was taut and .his all-around supervision kept the show to a high standard. Rex Rotiry’s music fitted the mood. Liggett & Myers pitches by George Fenneman and George Walsh were pleasantly low- pressured. ' Chan^ YOUR AMERICAN SPORTS PAGE OF THE AIR With Ed Michael, Art Fleming, ’ Glenn Osser Orch Producer-Director: Drex Hines Writer: Ira Marion 34 Mins., Fri., 14 p.m. Sustaining ABC, from N. Y. ABC bit off quite a lot to chew on when it successfully bid for television rights to the NCAA college football games this year. One of its commitments is this half-hour weekly sports show about sports in general, which will run through the summer and into the fall. On first hearing, though, it's difficult how this can serve the field of college sports in arty but the broadest institutional manner. It’s a format similar to many that have gone; before it, a four- part setup that includes a “memo- ry” section, a sports biog, a “where are they now” segment and a ‘‘thrill of the week” highlight. Ed Michael and Art Fleming do the honors, singly and together, aided by some sound effects and the web orchestra under Glenn Osser’s baton. It’s aii old-hat type of show and pretty much on the dull side, in spite of Ira Marion's diligent researching into - periods and per- sonalities. First show had a sports picture of 1927, “The Golden Year” of sport; a vignette about Roger Ban- nister, a report on the present whereabouts (Welfare Island, in JV. Y.) of former light-heavyweight champ Mike McTigue, and a discus- sion about what was the highlight of the Giant-Dodger series of last week. . „ ■ • The web might be better off if It asked the NCAA for an out on at least this *phase of the all- round promotional program it’s pledged to, Chan* MAN’S RIGHT TO KNOWLEDGE (Socrsitcs) with Fredric March, Florence -Eldridge, Donald Buka, Roger deKoven, others Producer: Erik Barnouw Director: Edward King Writer: Arthur Arent 30 Mins.; Sun., 1 pan. NBC, from New York (transcribed) Arthur Arent’s dramatic treat- ment of Socrates’ last days was the first of four radio stanzas probing Columbia U.’s bicentennial theme of . “man’s right to knowledge and the free use thereof.” As with al- most everything handled by Erik Barnouw, the show’s producer and an associate professor at the col lege, the preem (4) was clearly an effort to popularize the profound. Generally he’s successful; how ever, the Socrates theme has been done, and this one was. not out- standing. Story Is a recap of the events leading up to Socrates’ execution ■—of his trial and of his discourses on truth. Because scenes were haphazard, since author was aim ing at what he considered essen tials, the stanza lacked roundness. Fredric March, as Socrates, was more orator than discussionist, the role typified by the philosopher; Other parts, including Florence Eldridge’s brief turn as Xantippe, were slick without much feeling. Art. i'ri a WOMAN TALK With Helen Hall Producer-writer: Miss Hall 15 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Thurs., 10:15 ■ PJU. WABC, N. Y, (transcribed) “Woman Talk” is the first Of WABC’s, N Y., nighttime shows for daytime working gals. The station’s programmers feel there's a vast and untapped audience which might like a taste of. pror gramming heretofore’reserved-for the housefrau. In session caught (30), femcee Helen Hall carried the ball for. the entire 15 minutes She was eloquent about' intelli- gently chosen topics fOr gals. She blended ancient history, current events and certain prac- ticalities in discussing things like June brides, diamond buying, smoking habits of the femme film stars, -etc. Miss Hall has a firm mastery of the English language and historical miscellany that makes her an admirable essayist, but in this same virtue lay the show’s major failing: her intellec- tualized -delivery probably lost some of the audience WABC was seeking.. . .. Integration of. fact and fancy was so subtle as to possibly elude the casual listener, and to appre- ciate Miss Hall she had to be at- tended carefully. One more thing: it might be more, effective were the lady gabber to give 1 way to a brief two-way conversation during each show, because one person, especially one as vbluble as she, tends to wear thin before time is UP- Art Campbell Buys Lawford To Sub 'Soundstage* Campbell Soups has bought a new half-hour Peter Lawford situ- ation comedy series as replacement for the “Campbell Soundsfage” dramatic series, for the Friday night 9:30 period on NBC-TV. “Soundstage” . was. given the axe after a season’s whirl. Lawford series is on film, with deal negotiated via William Morris agency. “Soundstage” was live, originating in New York. Campbell agency is BBD&O, which recently! inherited biz from Ward Wheelock. l STRICTLY FROM DIXIE wpit J*lm Hicks * Producer: George Vmiu ■ Director. Telly; Savglla Writer: Arlene Wood 25 Mini;, Sat., 11:30 pja. ABC, from. New York* “Strictly From Dixie” is right oh top of the dfsk industry and nitery jazz kick. The" platters are pegged fdr the hepsters but unfortunately, the script hi penned for the squares. This could turn out to be a hot platter Show .once spripter Arlene Wood gets on the ball and gives emcee JohnHicks" sharper disk intros. As the show stands no wilt’s an odd mixture of, jazz and corn. • *.'■■■- -.V Hicks' , pedantic pose; doesn’t help either. His style Is directly opposed to the free-wheeling jazz beat which adds up to a mismating of music and dialog; There’s noth- ing Wrong with the platter pro- gramming, however. On show caught Saturday (3), a flock of Dixieland staples were spun. Out- standing was “The South- Ramparts St. Parade” and Muggsy Spanier’s sock workover of “Lady Be Good.” Gros. Radio With all the juggling in the post- midnight period in-New York ra- dio, it should have "'become appar- ent tq^WNBC by this time that its “Music Through the Night” in its original format is certainly the NBC flagship’s best bet for the early morning hours. Yet, for some unexplicable reason, the station has persisted in juggling the mid- night-to-dawn segment so as to make it lose , the identity that it established a couple of. years back when the all-classical music format had the whole industry talking. First, the station dropped it. Popular \demaiid, as jthe station put. it, brought it back a couple of months ago. Latest innovation is use of pop music in the first hour (12 to 1 a.m.) with classical music the rest of the way. Decision to program pop in that first hour is remarkable in view of the fact that other stations hastened to jug- gle their programming to avoid competing with the classical Seg- ment. WQXR, when “Music” was dropped, immediately moved its “Symphony at Midnight” in, and when WNBC brought “Music” back, reshuffled to put. “Symphony” at Jl so as not to compete .and sent in a chamber music segment, ‘World pf Music,” in to compete ^against WNBC’s symphonic session. . Another indication of. the. hold ’Music’ has over N.Y. broadcasters is'WINS’ Bob Leder’s recent state- ment that he was planning a mid- night symphonic show but had to junk the idea when “Music” re- turned. Then why the pops, just at the hour when classical music would be most effective? If it’s because WNBC hasn’t been, able to garner any sponsors, it certain- ly isn’t going to do better by pro- gramming the same kind of pop music that a half-dozen other sta- tions air at the same time. - Incidentally, (Harry) Fleetwood, the permanent 'announcer-com- mentator, is in reserve training,' with Roger Bowman doing a nice job in his place, Chan. Chi’s Timeout Station’ Chicago, July 6. WSBC, foreign language indie, has come Up with a new switch in its latest sales pitches. In con- trast to the “sustained listenership” line peddled by the other Indies, WSBC is bragging about its pronto listener dialout when it changes lingos. Station is offering a new bundle of six blurbs aired in the six tongues it features, Including Eng- lish, and the salesmen are making a big thing out of its audience turn- over as the spielers turn from one language to another.. Good Luck and Good Eating * •pinto • . ' ' t .. Walter J^ifrnan * ■ * *:' 0 . I, M entertaining bylhfe, piece I» the 9th AnnUal Radio and Television Review and Preview ISumber of OUT SOON •*,^1 .4 ’ > t 0 A fr .. ; . » r> A •■*. , ", I Wednesday, fj&y 1954 ft n ?*S IN NEW YORK CITY . ■ His CBS pals” partied- exiting sales! mgr. Eldon Hazard pt Toots Shor’s 'last week, Hazard joins J. Walter Thompson jn Detroit , . .. WNBC program; chief Steve White sporting new yellow and black . Plymouth ... Flack^ Lee Sailers (& O’Rourke) commuting jfroni Rhlnebeck for the summer . , . NBC program v.p! Tod Cbtt planed - to Europe Saturday (3) on blz-pleasure trip! . . . CBS producer . Oliver Daniel vacationing in Labrador for two weeks . . . Gene Atltr? Visited Arthur Godfrey’s-daytime *airer last week ; . WNBChantoosie Kay! Armen signed by- Metro ior. a. lead in ‘.'Hit the .Deck.”...; . Charles Gollingwood subbing for Ed Murrow for-eight weeks . . . CBS batonist -Alfredo Antonin! conducting three concerts at Lewisohn Stadiurti this month . . ^’Pianist Bernie Nlerow', recent “Talent Scouts” winner, guesting on, CBS’.“Music Room” Sunday, (ID . . . Gwen Davies (“Let’s Pretend”) back on' the CBS’er after birth of her third "child, a son ... Boh Richer upped- to assistant continuity-director at WABC . Alan Fine, ex-WHAM, Rochester, has joined.the.staff of WHLI in Hempstead , Stanley . Burns, announcer at WINS and WABC-TV, in Long Island Hospital recuperating from appendectomy, j. Leon Goldstein, WMGA .program boss, resting at’ summer home | after illness . ■. . N.Y. and N.J. Hudson Dealers pacted for WMCA’s “Johnny-on-the-Spot” 15-minute, strip preceding thfe Giant games . ; .• Tom O’Neil,'prexy of Mutual-, did a tape that was-repeated-frequently this-past weekend on each of the web’s 560 some odd, -stations. It concerned safe, driving . . ...Bob Harris, now concentrating strictly on Broadcast Advertising promotion,! has had his flack du ties assumed by Jane Pinkerton ... Hudson Motors has bought' into. WINS’ base- ball warmups , . . Shirley-Eggleston into ABC “Modern-Romances.” Additions !to “Tex & Jinx”, production crew are- Barbara £avint and Lee Elliott, latter Mrs. Bob Elliot of Bob gc Ray , / . .Millie T. Trager back from a year’s leave of absence in Europe and resumes as pub- licity chief of Raymond Spector ad agency and Hazel Bishop cosmetics. I1S SAN FRANCISCO . . . David Bogard, formerly with Ruder & Finn in New York and with KGO in San Francisco, has joined KCBS as sales ; promotloa assistant replacing Robert Fairbanks who was transferred to L.A. . . * Walter | Conway is the new sales manager at KSAN. He was formerly on the I KY'A sales staff . v; . William .Dempsey,, educational director of KPIX, I has been named by the U. S. National Commission for VNESCO as one of three tv producers to attend an international study and dis- cussion group meeting in London . . .Henry Sohaeht Celebrated his 3,000th broadcast of his “Farmer’s Digest” on'KNBC Sunday ... . Glenn King returned to the air Saturday with a Saturday morning disk show on KSFO . . . Wanda Ramey signed for the summer oh KRON-TV as “Saturday Showcase” hostess. '.Macy’s has signed a 13-week deal with KNBC calling for station breaks and spot announcements on KNBC personality shows at a special discount. Shows being used include Doug Pledger,. Bill Guy- man, Marjorie King, Hal)Wolf, Gordon Soltau and Ira Blue . ..... Lee Giroux hospitalized with complete exhaustion after his rugged 17-hOur chore on thg) KGO-TV Cerebral Palsy telethon. IN MINNEAPOLIS . . . Because of their ABC affiliation the "comparatively new tv arrivals, WMIN and WTCN, sharing the same channel, will boast the cream of the football crop next fall, taking much of the play from the older - video entries, WCCO and KSTP, They’ll have the NcXA football “game of,the week’,’ Saturdays and Thanksgiving, professional games Sunday afternoon and Frank Leahy’s new series of., sports shows. How- ever, WCCOTV has signed Murray Warmouth, new U. of Minnesota football coach, to an exclusive contract and on Sundays with Warmouth also before the camera will show the Aims of the preceding day’s Minnesota games. : Warmouth also will -discuss football strategy, and the general gridiron picture.# WCCO-TY, also is planning ■ other of its own and radio affiliate shows for Warmouth . . . WCCO radio again to sponsor “Plowville” show for third. consecutive year. It’s a Min- nesota State Conservation department field day-which includes plowing matches and other doings such as speeches by prominent agriculturist^' and national figures.. Event will take place and be broadcast from a southwestern Minnesota farm Sept. 17-18.. . .. During past four months ' every municipality in 109 . Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa counties have received “gbod neighbor” salutes from - WCCO[ radio on its hourly station 'identifications. Each, day 15 communities receive the plugs 1 and station’s heads feel It’s a good public relations stunt. ' IN CHICAGO ... Rudl Neubauer, WMAQ sales manager, feted by his colleagues for his 25 year service with NBC . . .Grant Atkinson, ex-Kling Studios new radio-tv director for Campbell-Mithun’s Chi shop . . . BMl’s “The American Story” series getting a near saturation spread In the Windy • City. Series kicks off this month on WLS, WMAQ, -WBBMy WJJD, WAIT, and WHFC. WIND in cooperation with: the Board of Educa- tion’s Radio Council will air the show in September * . . George Stanton, ex-Free & Peters sales manager, named media director at Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample in Chicago . . . Bill Ftneshriber, NBC Radio veep, in for huddles this week . . . WBBM newsman John Harrington and his producer Jerry Dee and families vacationing at Harrington’s summer home at Waljoon Lake, Mich. Also a Michigan vacationer is • Gene Dailey, WBBM assistant program director , . * WOR sales chief William DIx here last week checking on the station's midwest sales . office... , . Henry Sjogren, assistant general manager of the Chi NBC o&o’s, piloting his boat through the Great Lakes from the east coast to its new Lake Michigan berth . . NBC commentator Alex Dreier’s report oh comic books entered into the Congressional Record , . , Key- stone Broadcasting continues to add to fts string of affiliates with 14 new additions, bringing the total to 745; IN PITTSBURGH . . . Kay Neumann and her husband, Don Comer, spending two weeks in San Francisco and “Kay’s Kitchen” on WDTV, hatTbeen taken over for that period by Mary Brown Allgood, associate professor, of Home •' Economics at Penn State U. . . , Virginia Offenhiser, publicity director of wQED, the educational channel, and Lex Hoedt) wlth the Fuller, Smith it Ross agency in New -York, have announced* their engage- ment . A u Paul Trauvetier, of the ABC-TV staff ln New York, is leav- ing to return to thp faculty of his alma ihater< Garhegie Teen Drama School, next season as technical director-designer. Trauvetteb grad-' uated from Tech with the class of ’50 . . . Bill Brant, in addition to his own early morning platter shows on WJAS and three weekly tv half-hours on WDTV, is pinchhitting for the vacationing deejay Barry Kaye oh former station-for the next three weeks . . ! Portia Clark, formerly with Encyclopedia Britannica Films, is the new libra!- rian at Channel 13 . . . Rege Cordic off for a month from his daily WWSW wake-up program. He and his wife, by the way, have dated the (Continued on page 34)