Evening star., 1950-10-22

w
at any rate. is the rumor which
followed the networks announce
ment that his return to the podium
would be delayed and that Fritz
Reiner would conduct the first
three concerts of the new season.
Recurrence of a knee ailment
was blamed. 1t was noted by in
nocent bystanders. however, that
the orchestra, which was formed
for Toscanini and which he first
conducted on December 25. 1887,
has been getting what might be
called pushing around this year.
The first push was NBC's an
nouncement, while Toscanini was
in Italy. that his favorite Studio
8-H was being converted to tele-
vision use. Among other things,
the conductor liked the acoustics
there and the fact that his dress
ing room was on the same floor as
the stage. He seems to have ac-
cepted the move to Carnegie Hall
with calm, perhaps deceptive calm.
The network then decided to
move the orchestra to 10 pm.
Monday nights, where it now is
scheduled. Toscanini went along
with this apparently, but all sug-
gestions that the concerts be
broadcast from other auditoriums
met with refusal.
The possibility of tape record
ing was suggested about this time,
according to Variety, the show
business journal. this also meet
ing with Toscanini refusal.
The announcement that the old
knee ailment would keep Toscanini
from conducting the first three
concerts followed. His plans for
the new season will be announced
at later date" NBC hopes.
New Shows Aggrovote
An Old, Old Complaint
An old complaint Of this de-
partment-old as far as televi-
sion goes, that is-has been thor
oughly aggravated by the large
number of new variety shows this
season. There are some talented
performers on TV now, but in
number of cases sorry use Is
being made of their talents.
Television producers. with a
fine new medium of communica-
ton at their disposal to convey
entertainment or information to
an audience paying attention, re-
main tied to old traditions. All
of them don't, of course, but
too many of them still conflne
their cameras by using theater
or radio techniques.
The wonder among television
people which greets the successful
use of the theater- int -the-round
technique is widespread, if amaz-
ing. Yet. there is no reason in
the world why television pro-
gram-drama. revue or another
kind-should be confined to views
through the imaginary fourth wall
Of a theater stage. Or why it
should start with the opening
Of curtain.
There is no reason in the
world, either, why studio audi
ences should be inflicted on home
viewers. The sound of them is
not particularly edifying and the
sight of them certainly does not
enhance the entertainment value
of a television program.
The worst offenders along both
lines this season have been Fred
Allen. one of the rotating" stars
of Comedy Hour" ,(WNBW-
Sunday, 8 p.mD. and Frank
Sinatra (WTOP-TV-Saturday, 9
pmD. Perhaps they should be
called ill-advised rather than Of
Tending. since each knew imme-
diately that something was amiss.
Mr.. Allen rushed quickly to Chi
cago and Dave Garroway for
another briefing in pure tele-
vision" and some changes were
made quickly in Mr.. Sinatras S
production staff.
In Chicago, Allen appeared on
the Garroway show (WNBW-
Sunday. 10 p.mD and made the
impression he should have made
the week before on his debut. He