Evening star., 1950-12-21
Ion the Air
When, Steve.
Is q Surprise
Surprise?
By Harry Macarthur

would become accustomed to the
loose language employed by the
press, agent trade. A man never
does, though. At least this one
doesn't. Today's stopper comes
from Steve flanagan, who oper-
ates a Hollywood tub-thumpery
when he is not taking Ann Sheri-
dan out to dinner. 1t begins like
this:
Suspense has a Christmas
surprise for it's fans Thursday
December 2D, when it will pre-
sent Dennis Day in a -tingler
with a Christmas carol built in for
the singing star. The chill
ler, titled Christmas for Carole," /"
will be heard at pm. EST on
CHS station WTOP."
This pronouncement goes on to
describe the plot of the play and
to list the producer director, the
musical conductor. the composer
of the score and the man who
reads the commercials. What Mr..
flanagan can do, if he has the
time, is explain just how long a
surprise remains a surprise after
you make a formal advance an
nouncement of it. Detailed, yet.
This present state of affairs, by
which the movie industry is in
Hollywood and Give" network
television is centered in New York,
is turning lot of people into
5,000-mile commuters. They are
the film stars who were so happy
with Radio Theater" that they
have leaped eagerly aboard the
television version of same. "Video
Theater" (WTOP-TV-Monday, 8
pmD.
Leaping aboard "Video Theater"
means for most of them a trip
East, rehearsal, the show, and a
trip back to Hollywood where they
are regularly employed. Joan
Caulfleld was the first Hollywood
New York commuter on the pro-
gram and the first one to be sud-
denly worried by the realization
that what goes into those video
cameras comes out the same way,
without editing or cutting.
Luise Rainer, Zachary Scott
Nina Foch. Angela Lansbury, Ruth
Hussey. Franchot Tone, Wanda
Hendrix. Melvyn Douglas and
Diana Lynn are others who have
followed Miss Caulf1eld on the
program. Miss Lansbury did her
committing somewhat in reverse
flying in from England to do the
show, then continuing to Holly
wood. ''Video Theater" is telecast
incidentally, from a studio in the
upper reaches of Grand Central
Station. It would be handy as well
as fitting except that most of this
long distance committing is done
by air.
Programs and People: Burr
Tillstrom (the genius of "Kukla,
Fran and Ollie") has a puppet
production of Wizard of or" in
the planning stage. WMAL-
TV has added five-minute news
cast to the afternoon televisiou
schedule It's done at 1925. Mon
day through Friday, by Baxter
Ward. :. The third Henry James
story to be televised by "Television
Playhouse" (WNBW-Sunday,
p.m.) is scheduled for Christmas
eve. This one will be THE Pupil" !"
with John Newland playing the
leading role and Judson Ross in
the title role. :. John Conte of
Little Show" (WNBW-Tuesday
Thursday, 7:30 p.m0 is reading
the book of new musical and
may be back on Broadway this
season. Albert Sharpe. the
original Finian of "Finian's Rain
bow" will be seen Sunday at
pm. on "Bigelow Theater, -
WTOP-TV in Kerry Fallon' S
Birthday" Din1itri Nitro
poulos. conductor of the New York
Philharmonic for CHS broadcasts.
has been named musical director
of the orchestra. The contract is
for two years. running through
the 1898 season. He has been
regular conductor of the Phil
harmonic since last spring.