Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-16
News of VideO and Radio
They Recognized Fran Right Away,
By Harry Macarthur

Ollie" is a television veteran at q
years of age, but the programs
creator is even more of a veteran
than that. He's been making pup
pets forever" and has been in
television for 10 years. first touring
with video demonstration shows
and later on with the present real
thing.
Kukla, his admirers might like
to know, is getting along, too.
Tillstrom made him in 1886. "just
for fun" while with Federal
theater marionette project. Ollie
came along two years later.
The success of Tillstrom's i'm
provised comedy also can be cred
tied in part to Miss Allison. The
easy-going puppet artist never had
met her when she was suggested
for the projected program a couple
of years ago. but he welcomed her
Her reputation as an actress with
charm. intelligence, quick wit and
an ability to ad lib was widespread
in Chicago radio circles.
A fair sample of Miss Allison's
quickness with the proper comedy
line turns up any night. One of
last weeks examples came when
she got involved with a mammoth
pageant thought up by Ollie. At
the moment Kukla, unconcerned
by being addressed as George
Washington. was impersonating
Christopher Columbus. In as neat
commercial as you ever saw.
Fran. as Queen Isabella, gave him
a Victor 45-r.p.m. record player to
sell to finance his voyage.
Il guess I better go buy Ship"
said Kukla, ducking below the
stage. Miss Allison looked down
after him. while you're about
it," she said drily. you'd better
buy three"
TelenoteS: A new series of tele-
vision programs with the overall
title, Armed Forces Hour" will
start on. NBC-TV on October 80,
to be seen regularly on Sundays
at 5 pm. A video counterpart of
the Army Hour" the new docu-
mentary series will be 80 per cent
live" according to advance in
formation. The programs will tell
the STORY Of unification of the
Nations armed forces from
the level of the Secretary of De-
tense down to the lowest-ranking
serviceman." Last weeks ITO
night on Broadway" (WOIc- Sun
day, Z p.m) having run into
transmission trouble that kept
its picture off the air for, 20 min
utes, the schedule has been re-
arranged by producer Martin
Gosch. Last Sundays scheduled
visit to Twelfth Night" at the
Empire Theater will be repeated
tonight. this time, it is hoped,
with picture. Authors turn
up everywhere on television, but
Patricia O'Malley, local writer, has
pulled a switch In her latest novel,
PARKWAY Fields" It's about pro-
ducing a television show and
WMAL-TV's Ruth Crane and
Jackson Weaver are characters In
it. Phil Harris and Alice
Faye are leaning nearer to tele-
vision. having formed a producing
company to handle their video
plans. -+-~,
Programs and People: "Ameri-
cas- Town Meeting of the Air" will
eminate from the Departmental
Auditorium here Tuesday night at
$3.50 and be sent to the ABC net
work by WMAL. The program will
be the summing up Of the round
the-world tour just completed,
with the topic, How Can Amer
lea Contribute to Free World?-I
A Report to the People" ). Jerry
Strong, WINK morning man. cele-
brated his birthday yesterday with
a party for patients at Children's
Hospital. AS gag. he suggested
that his listeners bake birthday
cakes for him. He got such
surprising response that he de-
cided all those cakes had best go
where they'd do the most good.
He had a "cake-tasting" yesterday
and the baker of the best cake
will receive a television receiver
on his show tomorrow morning.
6. u. The address Of Prime Minister
Pandit Nehru at Columbia Uni
versity tomorrow night will be
broadcast by MBS at 1920. i
Today's Farmer from Washing
ton" program will be No. 143 Of
the series and will conclude it as
WPIK feature. After few
weeks of vactioning, he will return
with new Farmer from Wash
ington" with stronger emphasis
on international affairs. Jack
Benny probably will do the Pal
ladium in London again next sum-
mer. incidentally, his announcer,
Don Wilson, is celebrating his 25th
year in radio, his Goth as an an
nounced. He's in his 18th year
with Benny. Felix Grant,
WWDC disc Jockey. has program
built around the theme songs of
dance bands and he is down to
the bottom of the barrel or
wherever theme songs are kept.
anyhow, If you have any theme
songs records lying around, get in
touch with him. He'd like to play
chem. Doesn't specify which ones,
though.
News Broudcusts Todoy