Variety (February 1958)

Wednesday, February 5, 1958 Uasoety TELEVISION REVIEWS SHOWCASE With Fanny Hurst, others; Art Arn¬ old, announcer Producer: Art Arnold Director: Artie Forrest 30 Mins., Mon.-Fri., 1 p.m. WABD, New York When Wendy Barrie and indie packager Lester Wolf decided to go their separate ways. Wolf and his sidekick Art Arnold whipped up “Showcase" as her afternoon re¬ placement on WABD. They hired novelist Fanny Hurst to front a roundtable, which was supposed to feature the stars of Broadway shows talking about Broadway shows, but what came gurgling off that tv screen was an abundance of such thin talk aboyt everything (and nothing) and such a super¬ abundance of plugeroos that it took plenty time to try to figure it all out. Though the station apparently intends for Miss Hurst to keep on one track for a reasonable length of time, the tv newcomer said on the air Friday (31), four days after she preemed, that it was her private intention to remain eman¬ cipated and talk, if she pleased, about “ivory, apes and peacocks'^ or “leap from crag to crag and not attempt to unify our topic/’ Her philosophy is that she was bring¬ ing meaning, into the life of house¬ wives everywhere: That’s all very well and'gbod; but this party thinks that however good Miss Hurst’s points of view may be to some peo^ pie, the station’s point of view— at least on matters relevant to tv —should prevail. Take- that Friday show, for in¬ stance. There’s Miss Hurst, in alb her garrulity; surrounded by actor- producer Carlos Montalban, a teacher of charm in the public school system (you heard right— “charm”- and the editor of House Beautiful. The subject, the au¬ thoress proclaimed, was “standard-j ization.” Now she apparently felt she. had something provocative to say about that and she probably did but she got onto something else (it’s hard to remember what) all by her lonesome. Her guests sat with hands in laps and hardly ven- lured even a polite word for at least 13 or 14 minutes. Then, somewhere in there, unexpected visitors—Mayor Robert* Wagner’s frau and Commissioner of Correc¬ tion Anna Kross stumbled On cam¬ era. Again it’s very wen and good that, a tv show, has enough freedom so that important visitors (who ex¬ pected to. observe. from offstage somewhere) are hustled on to make their contributions. Mrs. Kross, who' seems a strong-willed woman, too. did manage to give some com¬ petition vocally to Miss Hurst, but the topic? Think it had sflhie- thing to do with delinquency and the beauty parlor in the Women’s House of Correction in Manhattan. The plethora of plugs by Arnold, who wears a board and talks soft¬ ly, was not really tbo noticeable; he did them as if he were anxious to keep at least his contribution t.oi the volume of words at a consider¬ ate minimum. Tie Miss Hurst down and maybe WABD has the scintillating half- hour program Miss Hurst thinks it is now. Art. TEEN TIME DANCE PARTY With Jim Walton Producer-Director: Ed.Tnrner 45 Mins.; Wed., 5 p.m. BOB COLGLAZIER’S RANCH HOUSE & PEPSI COLA WHAS-TV, Louisville jMaking a pitch for the teenagers, this WHASrTV production lias come up with an idea which is going Over big with the kids; and judging from sponsor interest, is registering solidly. Format, is sim¬ ple—just a. group of teenagers in a club room act, dancing to recorded, music: Jiiri Walton, station an¬ nouncer, - m.e/ the shindig in a. fatherly fashion, in fact. his own daughter was chosen in a drawing to carry on one end of a phone conversation with Dale Wright, Fraternity record vocalist, who chatted from Cincinnati; Walton then played “She’s Neat/’ Wright’s first platter for the. Fraternity label; and the youngster was pres¬ ented a complimentary copy of the record. Bulk of the time is filled by the teeners, dancing. They go about it in dead seriousness. Very little, evi¬ dent of exhibitionists—although a Couple < now and then has learned the trick of staying on camera. TO break up the floor shuffling rou- ; tine, Walton had as guest a pair from “Holiday oh ice,” currently playing the Armory. The Mendozas Were on briefly for a q. and a. sesh, and must have registered with the kids. Tunes like “Lichtensteiner Polka” and others inspired tjfcf dancers to really do their stuff, i COMMENT With David Brink ey, Austin Kip¬ linger, Peter Hackes, Robert Mc¬ Cormick Producer: Julian Goodman Director: Ralph Peterson 25 Mins., Fri., 11:35 p.m. (varies) NBC-TV, from Wa shin gton Cancellation of the Red Barber post-fights segment on NBC-TV Friday nights and subsequent in¬ ability of the web to sell a similar sports format has enabled NBC News boss Bill Me Andrew to get one of his pet projects slotted into the time. “Comment” is what the title implies editorialized com¬ ment or analysis by top newsmen from the network and elsewhere, with the participants varying each week. Opening segment, which ran long due to an early KO in the fighftea- ure, had the web’s David Brinkley, Peter Hackes and Robert McCor¬ mick, along with Washington news¬ letter publisher Austin Kiplinger, analyzing the Washington scene from various phases, Brinkley cov¬ ered what he called a “banking hours as usual” attitude. in D C., Kiplinger the future tax situation, Hackes the armed forces, disunity and McCormick other problems in¬ cluding education. Show was in¬ terrupted with the announcement -of the Jupiter C satellite firing, ahd the final few minutes were de¬ voted to a discussion of that. As framed, the problem is tough to swallow in one sitting. Each commentator takes his turn in a a fulldress analysis, and the tech¬ nique is stiff and dry, with no in¬ terchange of opinion. Or ideas. Lack Of a central theme which would involv.e some difference of : Opinion makes it even tougher, listening. And the immobility Of the closeup camera doesn’t provide any relief either. It’s good to hear analysis on. television, particularly when it’s freewheeling and uninhibited In its editorial content. But in the “Comment” format, it lacks stimu¬ lation. arid animation, arid While the content isn’t perfiinctory, the technique' is. Chan. BARKIS BEAT With Alex Barris, Gloria Lambert, Jack Duffy, Don Franks, Maggie St. Clair, Brace Marsh, Phi! Nimmori’s Orch Producer: Norm Jewison Writers: Frank Peppiatt, Saul H- son, Allan Mannings 60 Mins.; Wed,, 11:30 p.m. CBL-TV, from Toronto in for 13 semi-monthly programs of 60 mi each, “The Barris Beat” has been..revived.by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. but, so far, has hot been sponsored and is taking spot announcements, plus "lowered budget. Last season, “The Barris Beat” had alternate weekly 30-min. sponsorship of Standard Brands and Frigidaire. but has been off the! air since June; Teeoff had Barriss back as em¬ cee, with'format unchanged and. using siich cast standbys of fthe previous series as Gloria Lambert; singer; Jack Duffy, comedian; and Phil Nimmon’s band. However, it’s still a Barris show what with his patter exchanges, the reading of gag -telegrams arid his “Passe News” in which he satirizes head¬ lined events; His greatest success was a takeoff on “Front Page Chal¬ lenge,” Canada’s rating leader for quiz shows. In this, he used Gloria Lambert, Sammy Sales, Maggie St; Clair arid Larry Mann as panel, with himself as moderator. Man¬ nerisms of “Challenge” panel Were down pat by their imitators and whole Was a coriiedy highlight Miss Lambert interpolated such songs as "I Wish I Were m Love Again” drid “Glad to be .Unhappy,” both over nicely; with: Maggie. St. Clair in for finale comedy-warbling of “Irving” and in good voice. Don: Frank was in for debut of a bari¬ tone attempting an audition to a flat piano and very funny but his serious “All the Way” fell flat; ditto Jack Duffy’s “I Got Plenty; of Nothin’.” Here are two comics who should cut out the straight stuff. Besides lending background to the warblers, Phil Nimmon’s orch played a jazz medley; With Walter Susskind, conductor of the Toronto Syrnphony, in for a guest-interview with Barris arid later at the grand for a Bach interlude. Whole, is an excellent late-hour Show/with em¬ phasis on relaxed and amusing comedy. McStdy. although the ratherirestrictScTstage space prevented their getting, too energetic: ■ ■ . . Teen Time Dance Party im¬ pressed as a 45-riiinute sttnza, at which the viewer is permitted to look-in and enjoy agroup of whole¬ some youngsters have a good tune, while dancing and keeping rhythmic steps to the latest pop records. Walton has a paternal attitude toward the doings, and apparently enjoys his assignment. Wied. DEAN MARTIN SHOW With Frank Sinatra, Danny Thom¬ as, Barbara Perry Producer-Director: Jack Donohue Writer: Herb Baker 60 Mins.; Sat. (1), 9 pjn. LIGGETT & MYERS NBC-TV, from Hollywood ( McCann-Erickson) Dean Martin’s second outing this season with his own show was a flip, breezy romp all the way. Backed up l>y Frank Sinatra and Danny Thomas (who have shows of their own on other networks), the Martin stanza was an instance of some savvy pros being let loose to do their stuff and everything neatly falling into place. Herb Baker’s sharply written script, some slick camera work and a flashy production dress supplied a solid framework for the talent. The opening, sequence, in which Martin corned up “When You’re Smiling’’ while Thomas and Sinatra were shqwn kibitzing in the back¬ ground via Use of a split screen, set the freewheeling tone for the whole session. The routines and song numbers were , smoothly and cleverly linked together via run¬ ning gags, as, for instance, Thomas cutting into, a Martin 'vocal of “All Alone” to do his Itald dialect tele¬ phone bit. Martin and Sinatra, had the best spot on the show together, with a bevy of Hollywood starlets, an 'All-American “look” team, in a hep sophisticated “I Love 1 . To Love” song routine. It was; fast, bright arid just slightly naughty In this, respect, Barbara Perry also contributed - a couple of sexy, hip- wiggling hoofing routines in addi¬ tion to a marathon kissing clinch with Martin. . .Final section of the show was a songfest with the *three principals doing a rundown of tunes in the Oscar sweepstakes, past and pre¬ sent. Martin arid Sinatra hoked up s.oirie plugs for their own songs while Thomas did creditable rendi¬ tions on such songs as “Sayonara" and “Tammy/’ Earlier, Thomas also registered with Las Vegas gambling monolog. Plugs for the two L&M' cig brands also made maximum use Of Sinatra,, to sell Chesterfield (his ABC-TV' sponsor),, and Martin, for the new L&M Oasis line. Heriii. MEET MR. With Carter B. Storr Producer: Marlon Dunn 30 Mins.; Tues., 5 p.m. CBC, from Ottawa This new weekly show on Cana¬ dian" Broadcasting Corp/s network is a highly promising slice of semi- disguised education. It’$ an in¬ triguing approach to the social sciences, with a “Mr. X” who each week, will be a man from a civiliza¬ tion, ancient, medieval, modern or contemporary. Aimed at teenagers, it should appeal strongly because of local teacher Carter B. Storr’s facility for drawing as he talks. Teeoff Mr. X was an Egyptian, intro’d by a cartoon drawn on blackboard—after first a cartoon of “ourselves,” holding out a hand of friendship which Mr. X viewed with suspicion because it wasn’t his custom and he feared it. “Where did he live, when, and what did he do?” were questions, an¬ nounced and answered, in £ skill¬ ful fusion of talk, drawing and Occasional photos of pyramids, temples, etc. . Contrast between Egyptian civilization’s record ran,; 4100 B.C. - 400 A.D., and our own brief one since Columbus, was sharply illustrated by scrolls of comparative lengths. Everything possible, was related to the present day; Storr also went into the why’s of things, but occasionally iriight have knit material a bit tighter. Wound with show of books. , on subject; then “Next week another and more ^mysterious Mr. X.” Certainly an. easy* yet attentioh- requiring way to give the kids some basic info and lure them to dig for more. Marion Dunn’s pro¬ duction was effective arid so/ gen¬ erally, was Robert Beaudin’s tech¬ nical job—though chalk and scroll sounds and breathing need to be better. toned down. Storr, no per¬ sonality kid, makes up for .it wijb good voice arid diction, what is already .a fairly easy manner and his excellent ability and speed as a cartoonist. Presumably, he wrote uricredited continuity too. Card, Merchandise ‘McCoys’ arrange food, clothing and game tieups for thie Walter Brenrian- stairer. “McCoy” producer Irving Pincus made the Saperstein deal. More TV Reviews One Page 36 “The . Real McCoys” Is also en¬ tering the lucrative merchandising lists. The ABC-TV Series has inked____ a deal with Henry . Saperstein to U^H^ men around me who won’t FROM PRECINCT TO PRESI¬ DENT (See It Now) With Harry S. Truman, Edward R. Murrow Producers Murrow, Fred W. Friendly 60 Mins., Sun. (2) 5 pari. CBS-TV (film) When a skillful interviewer, with the grace and know-how of an-Ed Murrow, comes face-to-face with an articulate subject, with the frank¬ ness and warmth of a Harry S. Truman, you get the kind of show that is likely to go down in tv his¬ tory. “From Precinct to Presi¬ dent” impressed as another mile¬ stone in electronic reporting, and the coming-of-age of the tv inter¬ view. Even more, the Munrow-Truman show dazzles the imagination with its historic possibilities. Sunday’s (2) episode turned back the pages of history for an audience which had lived the events so canpily re¬ constructed through the words and personality of one of its principal participants. Its significance to future generations was best ex¬ pressed by Murrow, as he specu¬ lated tm what it would have meant to have had such records of past presidents, and his question to Truirian* “What President would you choose to see on film? ” (Tru¬ man’s choice^-Andrew Johnson). ‘From Precinct to President” packed a dramatic and emotional wallop. any of the window dressing or gimmicks which have marked previous ‘‘See It. Now” shows. There were no filmed background. shots, flashbacks—^ nothing but straight q & a’s. The camera played its part by skill¬ fully catching the Truman person¬ ality as it swiftly changed moods, sometimes playful, often serious, always intense. The Murrow technique was never so well displayed as in this show, where it was completely back¬ grounded. to the answers of the guest. Mature* serious, and with striking deftness Murrow steered the; .former Chief' Executive back along the path of his career, almost visibly showing The man stirred by the results of his introspection to self-revelation: There were a minimum number of questions for the hour-long show, but each one Was so cheerfully constructed and welt planned that, it struck the jackpot, in frank, full, sometimes shockingly blunt answers; Essentially it was a serious show probing serious questions. It was best.. keynoted by Murrow himself, when he pointed out that “no man in history ever rode such a tidal wave in such : a. short time.” In three months, he pointed opt, Tru¬ man had become President, played his role in the end, of war in Eu¬ rope, in the end of war In Japan, helped launch the United States, and seen the beginning of the atomic age* Each of these momen¬ tous events was relived as Truman spoke. One of the few light moments came in response to Murriny’s statement that critics of HST have accused him of being ;o f t e n Iprdmpted by petulance.” Not denying that he was frequently “out of sorts,” Truman, added that he never. acted until he was calm. “The only time I ever acted when .1 was . out of sorts,” he wryly ad¬ mitted, “was when I told by a mu¬ sic critic where to get off when he; was unfavorable to my daughter. If . I’d have thought about it, I prob¬ ably wouldn’t have done it.” This was in reference to his famed let¬ ter to Washington Post Critic Paul Hume. The. show was marked by swift changes of mood and pace, a trib¬ ute again. to the skill of. Murrow, the consummate humanness of Tru¬ man. Never has the former Presi¬ dent been revealed more, clearly as the peculiar -combination of the average man and the talented leader than; in this show. He can say, with -a boyish. quality, “I de¬ cided, when I was 15, that it was a sissy thing to be a piano player.” Without rancor, he says, “I couldn’t find anybody to nominate me. Fi¬ nally, Bennett -Clark, my Missouri colleague is the Senate, agreed to da so/' And, firmly, “I don’t tell the truth as they see it/ Again, with moving sincerity, “The Presi¬ dent, is elected by the whole peo¬ ple. He must be a lobbyist for 150 million people.” Truman’s deep sense of the dig¬ nity and importance of the office of Presidency was shown through the entire show. But so, ^odk did his affection and. longing for his first love, the U.S. Senate, reveal 83 RUMPELSTILT5KIN (Shirley Temple’s’ Storybook) With Shai K. Ophir, John Raltt, Phyllis Love, Kurt Kasxnar, Jonathan Hards, Peraell Rob* erts, John Bleifer, Otto Waldes, Celia Lovsky, KaryL Ann Traum, Roy Dean, others Producer: Alvin Cppperman Director: Dan Petrie. Adaptation: Frank Gabfielson 60 Mins.; Sun. (2), 6:30 p.m. JOHN H. BRECK INC.; NATION¬ AL DAIRY PRODUCTS, HILLS BROS. COFFEE NBC-TV, from Hollywood (N. W. Ayer) Chalk up a second smash for “Shirley Temple’s Storybook.” Henry Jaffe Enterprises’ teletelling of “Rumplestiltskin” was superla- I tive, even worth a second viewing !—high praise today for any tv effort. Maturely dramatized, the old Brothers Grimm fairy tale about the sporting gnome yjho hires his magical services for the price of a child was as-diverting to the adult as it was delightful to the child. Fantasy was soberly woven into an earnest drama that was perfectly comprehensible to the towheads. yet never played down to them. It was a glossy production that sus¬ tained a fairy tale aura: the action moved swiftly, the scenes changed frequently, and the stagehands worked unobtrusively. Israeli pantomimist, "Shai K. Ophir* was a brilliant choice for the title role, giving it the proper fascination of the “wee people” besides., extra-curricular depth as the gamesome Herr Dwarf, who is only half a villian, and for sym¬ pathetic reasons. His desire for a baby to perpetuate his strange name Is touching and even under-' standable, on the adult level, and his. early kindness to Elsa (Phyllis Love) temper his later heaviness. The ending, in fact, is almost sad, when the lonely, dwarf who Can perpetuate miracles, like spinning gold out of straw, returns to the ■Black Forest to rock an empty cradle. Phyllis Love is noble and sweet as the miller’s daughter who is victimized by her father’s boasting and who turns a neat switch from the humble to the stately when she puts on the royal Crown. John Raitt, the musicomedy star who by the original script was supposed to sing but doesn’t after all, is a regu¬ lar Prince Charming, as the king, and Kurt Kasznar turns in an effec¬ tive performance as the pathetic braggart of a father who saves the day when he accidentally learns RUmplestiltskin’s name. Jonathan Harris is properly menacing as the gold-grubbing Lord Karscb, and the minor roles are bandied with equal credibility. As the hostess-narrator, Shirley Temple still has all the bedimpled charms of her curlylooks days, yet somehow it’s not inconsistent that she gives the theme song a mater¬ nal dimension. Leigh Harline’s background music is lyrical and apt, and Dan Petrie’s direction is incisive, - Singular blemish was the closing Hills Bros, commercial which seems , to be born of that irritate-them-into-remembering ad¬ vertising notion—a crown of bad taste: on what was otherwise 59 minutes of exceptionally good. Lei. itself. Asked if he would like to go back to the Senate, he pointed out that he was approached to do so in 1952, but felt it incompatible with his role as President to run for lower office. But, he longing¬ ly stated, “I would give anything in the world to be in the Senate,” adding, however, that he has no ambition to unseat the two incum¬ bents from his home state. Interview reached an impressive climax in a fast q & a exchange on world personalities. ' Here are some of Hie Truman appraisals: Churchill—“One of most agree¬ able men ; .'always keeps his word.” DeGaulld—“Hard to talk to . „ . Never sure he’d keep his word.” Nehru—“Honest but difficult to deal with.” Molotov—“Russians are a pecu¬ liar people . . , One of the most pig-headed m^p I've ever met.” Stalin—‘‘Made a good impres¬ sion . . . I didn’t know then he didn’t intend to kepp his promises ... I don’t think Stalin understood when I told him about the A bomb.” Editing several days of inter¬ views to this fast-moving one hour show rates kudos. Though there must have been much cutting and juggling of segments, entire show unreeled smoothly in perfect se¬ quence arid overall unity of pat¬ tern.. Flor .