Evening star., 1949-12-18

Unifcation may have its prob
lens in other quarters. but it
takes over with no trouble at all
this time of the year in radio
and television. This is the season
when unanimity of program
theme becomes more and more
apparent, aimed at the climax of
q number of special Christmas
shows next Saturday and Sunday.
AS in the past, the video cam
eras and the microphones (almost
everybody's) will be set up on the
south lawn of the White House
next Saturday afternoon for the
annual Christmas eve tree-light-
ing ceremony. President Truman
will be heard but not seen when
he makes his brief talk at the
festivities. since he will be speak
ing from independence, Mo-,
where he will push a button to
light the tree here.
A new addition to the on-the-
air celebration of Christmas this
year will be the visit by NBC-TV
to Bethlehem, Pa, to bring to
network viewers a glimpse Of the
annual Christmas eve ceremonies
there. Christmas eve also will see
a repeat of the NBC telecast OF
the midnight mass at st. Pat
rick's Cathedral in New York.
There will be host of other spe-
cial television programs.
Radio this year will have at
least two Scrooges in broadcasts
of Dickens "A Christmas Carol"
One will be Lionel Barrymore.
playing the role for the 18th time
In Mutual's annual Christmas
Day presentation of the story.
Edmund Gwenn will be the other,
reverting rather completely from
the memorable Santa Claus he
played in Miracle on Thirty
fourth Street" to do Scrooge on
CHS Saturday afternoon.
"voices and Events (NBC) will
turn to Christmas observance in
It's Saturday broadcast, including
recordings made by Pope Plus XII,
the Sistine Chapel Choir and
Nine. Schumann- Heink. The lat
ter's singing of Silent Night" was
an annual part of the Christmas
eve celebration up until her death
in 1886.
"Voices That Live" on ABC at
10 Saturday night. also will pre-
sent an opportunity to hear the
Schumann- -Heink record, along
with some other collectors items
among Christmas favorites. And
ABC's Hour of Faith" at 1870
Christmas morning, will present a
rebroadcast of the ceremonies OF
the opening of the Holy Year in
Rome.
This is only a sketchy sample
rather than a survey attempting
to list all of the special musical
and dramatic offerings to be on
the air at Christmas time. These
will be many and will cover a
range from a complete perform
ance of Richard Strauss "Elek-
ira" by the New York Philhar-
monic on Christmas Day to "The
Man Who Came to Dinner" with
Jack Benny in the leading role.
X
Unless something drastic has
happened in the last day or two,
you still should be able to get good
seats for tonight's broadcast from
Uline Arena of the finals in Hor-
ace Heidt's annual talent search.
In addition to the radio show,
there will be an extensive vaude-
vile revue, getting under way at
6:15 pm. The finalists, who have
won their chance on previous
Heidi broadcasts, will be Tommy
Check, 9-year old drummer;
Ralph Sigwald. baritone: Wayne
and Gilbert Shepard, bell ringers.
and AL Hurt. a trumpet player
from New Orleans.
The show here is sponsored by
the Junior Chamber of Com
merce in behalf of its youth well
fare fund.
X
Telenotes: More opera on tele-
vision is in the offing. CHS has
just acquired exclusive rights to
the Opera Television Theater,
which has been developed to pro-
vide a television operate work.
shop where leading operate crafts