Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-07
News of Video and Radio
Wendy Barrie, Kate Smith, Others
Await Only a TV Sponsor
By Harry Macarthur

Jack Benny still blows hot and
cold on televising via kinescope-
his latest thought being that he
would agree to do it-but a host
of other stars await only the drop
of sponsors dollar. Boris Kar-
loft, who recently signed an ex-
elusive video contract with ABC,
was only the first OF many for
whom the network has TV plans.
Wendy Barrie, Kate Smith,
Fannie Brice, Edward Everett
Horton. Joe E. Brown, Arthur
Shields, Cab Galloway and some
others also are almost certain to
turn up as TV personalities on
ABC in the fall. In fact, their
shows already are, or by Septem-
Der will be, in a sort of deep
freeze, as the result OF plan de-
vised by Charles Bud" Barry.
ABC vice president in charge OF
Tv.
What Mr.. Barry did was bor-
row from AM radio the idea Of
transcribing a sample show for in
spection by prospective sponsors.
BY the end of this month he hopes
to have made kinescope recordings
of approximately 20 shows built
around the people named above
and others. This is an economy
move, involving a cost of $4,000,
more or less, for each kinescoped
show instead of a probable $4,000
per show for a 13-week sustaining
series, which is the other way to
get a sponsor interested enough to
foot the bills.
1t does not necessarily mean that
the personalities involved would
be diluted by kinescope when they
eventually get to your living room.
It might mean that they'll get
there sooner. though.
The Sunday night air Is due
30 be q real radio battle-ground In
the fall. Sunday night is when
NBC and CHS will do a major
part Of the smuggling that started
last season with the CHS talent
raids. And ABC will do its best
to make it a three-way affair.
The first bludgeon swung by
NBC is the giveaway, Hollywood
Calling" in the $50 to 7:30 spot
where it will compete with Our
Miss Brooks" and Jack Benny on
CHS. At 1880, Phil Harris and
Alice Faye CNBC) will oppose
Amos n Andy (CBS). At 8 o'clock,
ABC moves the hour of Stop
the Music" into the fray, leaving
to those who don't want 100000
in prizes Sam Spade" and
"Theater Guild on the Air" ION
NBC) and Edgar Bergen and
Red Shelton (CBS). At 9 o'clock,
the continuing "Theater Guild
will be opposed by Helen Hayes
(CBS and Walter Winchell and
Louella Parsons (ABC). "Ameri-
can Album of Familiar Music"
NBC) and Horace Heidi (CBS)
will get giveaway competition at
$50 Sundays from ABC's Chance
of a Lifetime" The remainder of
the evenings battle strategy is
not yet certain. except at NBC,
which has Take it or Leave it,
scheduled for 10 pm. Sundays,
with who Said That" following
q half hour later.
Correction Department.: The
color tests to be made here this
month by WMAL-TV, by way OF
pick up from WMAR-TV in Balti-
more. involve the CHS sequential
system. Tests Of the RCA-de-
ve1oped electronic color video are
being made on RCA's expert
mental W3xEP in Camden. N. j.,
which has been granted tempo
rary permit to operate on Chan
mel 10 when WCAU-TV, Phila-
delphia. is not on the air.
Movie Department.: Milton
Berle, working at Warner Bros. on
Always Leave Them Laughing, "
which he hopes will break the
tinx that has touched his earlier
film efforts, is not the only radio
TV personality busy with movie
assignments. Edgar Bergen. minus
Charlie Mccarthy. is playing a
character role in Captain China. "
at Paramount. Phil Harris is at
Goth Century Fox in Betty Ora
ble's wabash Avenue" playing
q part written originally with Paul