Evening star., 1950-07-16
T TeIevision-Rudio
Menosho Skulnik and Some Others
BRIGHTEN Summer TV Fare
By Harry Macarthur

Every summer the readers of
theatrical sections of the Sunday
papers are treated at least once
each to two stock columns. These
are freshly created each time and
are not pulled out Of any trunk,
but their content and general
tone are familiar enough to any
writer (not to mention to any
reader) that he can write them
anew quickly when the doldrums
strike, which is more than occa-
sionally in the summertime.
One of these columns has to do
with the difficulty of providing a
piece for the Sunday page when
the dog comes up and eats it after
it has been written. Any column
writer knows that this can hap
pen at any unforeseen moment,
even If the dog has to be bor-
rowed from some neighbor down
the block. The other piece has to
do with the prediction that all
movies will be in color any day
now. This is known as "The
Technicolor Column" in fair
tribute to the predominating
system. The fact that color has
been around for a long time and
still only Is per cent of the movies
made are in color makes this one
good every summer.
All Of this Is leading UP to an
other, brand-new, summer stand
by. With television achieving the
prominence it has achieved and
with it certain to remain a prom
inent factor in the entertainment
world, you are sure to be seeing
this column every summer, when
things are dull and the news is of
the distant fall if not completely
slack.
The picture tube failed last
week. Gave up its ghosts, you
might say.
Now, the television observer
whose picture tube returns him
nothing but o blank stare is in
no position to observe. He may
be forced to listen to the radio,
he may even be driven to book
reading. 1t is even possible that
he will. by default. find himself
taking part in conversation again
and discussing the Korean situa-
ton or who that woman down
the street is running around with.
The possibilities in the column
about the picture tube going out
are unlimited. They will be left,
however, to a future date when
they undoubtedly will be needed
to fill more than the space to
here. The picture tube is men
toned here today only to note
that its failure prevents q full
report on q number Of program
ming changes that have taken
place.
Summer has brought all sorts
OF things. some good. some of a
sort to make you think that an
elderly television set has devel-
oped q memory and is throwing
at you things it caught a couple
OF years ago. So. here are some
random notes on programs that
have turned up on the new picture
tube:
"Menasha the Magnificent"
(WNBW-Monday, 8 p.m.)-The
head man is a highly talented
Yiddish comedian named Menasha
Skulnik. His wonderfully woeful
countenance and his superb COM
edy timing and delivery are some
times better than his material.
but it is pleasure to have him
around.
That's My Baby" (WMAL..Tv
Friday, 1880 p.m0-This is,
frankly. indescribable. It consists
entirely Of babies doing the things
babies do when approached by
strange grownups and lollipops
and you'll have to like other peo-
pies babies not to be bored silly.
Lots Of people like babies, though.
Comedy Theater" (WOIC-
Sunday. 9:15 p.m0-Sentence will
be deferred to future date while
the court makes further study
OF the case. The show seen was an
awfully silly affair about a couple
who bought a country place and
the roof leaked and the mans
wife almost left him because it
showed in April.
Fame Forecasts" (WNBW-