Evening star., 1950-06-11

CeUtiH IeNedieQ LIldt the COnNer- =
sion of Amos n Andy" TO tele-
vision is virtually complete. ex-
cept for one remaining obstacle
The TV version of the long -popu-
lar program. which is scheduled
to start on CHS in the fall, will
not be performed by Freeman
Gosden and Charles Corren. who
turned an old minstrel act into q
long and lucrative career. One
reason is that Mr.. Gosden hot
only plays Amas. but the Kingfish
and several other characters as
we'll, on the radio show, which he
obviously couldn't do. on tele-
vision.
Another reason is that the two
feel that the authenticity of the
radio program would be lost il
they tried to make up and play act
the roles in a visual medium. "A
not-too-successful movie, unless
the memory is failing. is among
their remembrances of things
paSt) So, an allNegro cast OF
players who fit the characters al.
lready created vocally is beinc
chosen for televisions Amos n
Andy"
That is where the one remaining
obstacle lies. The Kingfsh, a.
you might expect. is giving the
boys some trouble. 1t is difficult
role to cast. Mr.. Gosden was tell
ing Associated Press Columns
Wayne Oliver the other day.
The Kingfish is not a NEAR
man." he said. I'VE want to fine
an actor who by his looks as vel
as his acting will put across the
impression we're trying to create
He will be the type who. for in
stance. may film fam Amos ou
of his wallet or even his sus'
penders, but do it in such a wa,
the viewer will chuckle-and no
hate the Kingfish."
* v 4
There were several other de
velopments during the week in tn,
transfer of well-knoWn radio per
sonalities to the new medium COM
fall. Bob Hope, did sign that ex
elusive contract with NBC and hi
professional life suddenly wa
Strengthened out nicely. His ole
sponsor agreed to let lapse a con
tract with four years yet to run
something for which Mr.. Hop,
had been yearning. And he i'm
mediately was signed by the ciga'
rette firm which also sponsor.
Arthur Godfrey and Bing Crosby
and given the right to tape recoro
some of his shows, another thins
he has been yearning ever since he
saw how we'll it worked out fol
Crosby. This. of course, is ir
radio. but Mr. Hope is free to con.
tinue those holiday televisior
shows.
Edgar Bergen also let it be
known that his TV plans are
shaping up. Right now these in.
clude three shows next season
with Charlie Mccarthy, Mortimer
Snerd and new life-size dancing
dummy, Podine. which he has
been breaking into the Bergen act
in night club engagements. The
Bergen shows will be largely film
though when the time comes he
may do part of them live. Film
ing, obviously. with its possibilities
for voice clubbing, will allow
Charlie Mccarthy ct al to create
more of an, illusion. AS Rudy VAL
lee says as a prelude to his ven.
triloquial act in personal appear.
ances, Il promise you my lip.
won't move any more than Ber-
gems"
| NBC also has 1850 televisior
plans for Burns and Allen
Groucho Marx and Eddie Cantor
The latter two probably would bt
seen on TV simultaneously with
their radio shows You Bet Youl
Life" and Take 1t or Leave It"
AS for Bing Crosby. you'll prob
ably have to await his return from
Europe for any word on his tele-
vision future. CHS has high hopes
though he is known to be opposed
to anything more frequent thar
once a month. NBC probably has
hopes. too-that Crosby may be
persuaded to follow Grouchc
Marx in his switch from CHS.
1t is getting harder and harder
to give money away. 1t was mo-
too long ago that Bert Parks oi
Break the Bank" asked a man il
he were listening to the radio anc
was told. mo. I turned it off tc
answer the phone"
Now. just this past week. Ray
Morgan. who has conducted
''Tello-T Test" on WWDC for the
past five years. received a shock
that startled him into a full min
ute of silent air. 'Tello-Test" is
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