Evening star., 1950-04-23
TeIevision-Rodio
These 7eleviewers Cried for Mon7o'
And Got Mama Right Away
By Harry Macarthur

Something rather significant has
Just happened up in Pittsburgh
1t bears out theory this depart
ment long has held that you and
you and you can do something
about television and radio pro-
gramming. You don't need to
give the Federal Communications
Commission the job of determin-
ing what shall and shall not be
put on the air. All you have to
do is make loud enough noise
in the right place.
What happened out in Pitts
burgh was that Television Station
WDTV dropped Mama" on Fri
day night and inserted Hands of
Murder" in its place. Before the
substitute program was over, ap-
parently, tops started blowing all
over town. The clamor of pro-
test, by telephone and mail, not
only from hundreds of individuals
but from such groups as the par
ent-teacher councils of Western
Pennsylvania, reached vociferous
proportions.
The results were immediate.
The station management gracious
ly admitted that it had made an
error of judgment and Mama"
descended from the play and
movie, Il Remember Mama" and
Kathryn Forbes book, "Mama's
Bank Account") was back on
WDTV the following Friday, miss
ing only one performance in Pitts
burgh.
That is your air the broadcasterS
and telecasters use. Most of the
time they are we'll aware of it. but
it will be good thing if you keep
it in mind, too.
It is Hollywoo Columnist
Harold Heffernan who points out
that Louis B. Mayer made a state
ment the other day in Chicago
Irregular little travelogue, this col
umn) which ranks alongside one
made by Jesse L. Lasky when
sound loomed on the movie
horizon.
Said Mr.. Mayer: "Television has
long way to go before it can even
become a threat to the film in
dustry. If that time ever comes,
we will deal with it,"
Said Mr.. Lasky: Talking pic
lures are a novelty. There always
will be room in theaters for a
good silent picture"
A new dramatic program, "Hol-
lywood Star Playhouse" will make
it's bow tomorrow night at 8 on
CHS (WTOP). A half hour In
length, the weekly show will fea-
ture top screen actors and &C
tresseS in original stories by lead
ing Hollywood writer's. The first
of the former will be James Stew
art, with Broderick Crawford and
Joseph Cotton slated for appear
ances in coming weeks.
The format of Hollywood Star
Playhouse" according to the net
work. will be flexible enough that
any type of radio play, from COM
edy to mystery. melodrama and
tragedy, may be presented. The
new show is replacing Timer
Sanctum" for the same sponsor.
y X X X
That hold NBC has taken on the
television audience with its man.
moth Saturday Night Revue" is
not being accepted quietly by the
other networks. CHS now thinks
it sees a possible answer. come
next fall. CHS, during the week,
brought to conclusion a deal with
Madison Square Garden for tele-
vising of Saturday night events
there. The pact will go into ef-
feet on October 7 and continue for
26 weeks.
Events scheduled for CHS tele-
vising include the rodeo, profess
Sional and college basketball Gin
cluding the National Invitation
Tournament, Eastern NCAA finals
and the East West All Stars
game), the National Horse Show
and five top track meets. Boxing
bouts and hockey games are ex-
cluded from coverage by the
contract.