Evening star., 1951-08-22
On the Air
Ken Murruy
ToGet Real
Competition
By Harry Macarthur

By Harry Macarthur
Ken Murray, who frightened
Saturday evenings last season with
the closest thing to real variety
show on television, will find the
going tougher this year in the
battle for the audience. Mr.. Muir
ray, on CBS-TV, Saturdays at 8.
had his greatest competition last
year from Jack Carter, a young
comic with a great deal less expe-
lrience who, never set any TV
cameras on FIRE. This coming
season will find the Murray show
facing NBC-TV's "All-Star Re-
vue," with last seasons Wednes-
day night -Four Star Revue"
moving into the Saturday-at-8
hour.
NBC has some big things
planned for this frolic which viii
lead this year into your Show
of Shows" In addition to last
years four comics-Jimmy Du-
rante, Ed Wynn. Jack Carson and
Danny Thomas-there will be
Saturday night appearances this
year by Olsen and johnson, Fred
Allen, Martha Raye. Spike Jones
and maybe some others.
To launch "All Star Revue" with
the proper flourish. NBC has hired
no less a stellar performer than
Ezio PIMA to act as master Of
ceremonies for the first program
of the season on September 8. The
cast introduced by PIMA will in
iclude Durante, Thomas. Wynn,
Carson, Olsen and johnson. the
Andrew Sisters, Herb Shriner, Ben
Blue and maybe some others on
the NBC roster. Mr.. Murray will
know he's been in a battle. any
way.
History to -Order-The planned
historic opening date Of transcon-
tinental television service has
been advanced from September 80
to September 4. The change was
made at the request Of the State
Department, so that the nation
could see the Japanese Peace Con-
ference in session at San Fran
cisco.
The first direct telecast from
the West Coast to the entire
country will be President Tru-
mans address opening the peace
conference at 10:30 pm. on Sep
tember 4. This will be carried by
all television networks and NBC-
lTV, at least, has announced that
it also will cover treaty sessions by
ltelevision on September S, 6 and
Z.
The Third Allen-That new
television program which will
launch the third Allen, George, in
the same business with Fred and
Steve, will be called Man of the
Week" 1t will make its bow this
Sunday afternoon at $50 on
ICBS-TV (WTOP-TV.
AS is only fitting in the case of
a man who has written a book
titled presidents Who Have
known Me" Mr.. Aliens first Man
of the Week" will be Vice Presi-
dent Alben w. Barkley. The idea
lof the new show is to select q
Man of the Week" to be inter-
viewed by a panel of national fig
ures prominent in industry. gov
ernment, agriculture and labor.
| Mr.. Allen, as the most promi-
nent figure Of all. will be the
permanent panel member.
~
Big Man, What Now? This
coming fall season will bring its
problems to many in show busi-
ness, with Ezra Stone standing
near the head of the line. Mr..
Stone is being brought face-to-
face with the sad reality that
television is taking over. THE
Aldrich Family" long on radio,
last season on radio and televi-
sion, will turn up this year as a
television show only, with no
radio version.
Mr.. Stone may turn to direct
ing, which he has done before,
or he may find other acting roles,
but this switch must be something
Of a shock to him. For years,
since the original, he has been
radios He " Aldrich. but only his
voice matches the role any more.
He could play Henry's father all
right on televiSion-in real life
he is a proud father-but he'll
never play Henry any more. Being
"a casualty of progress doesn't
make you any less Of a casualty.
Mr.. Stones is a sad case.
i Programs and PeOpIe-"S "Somer-
set Vaughan TV Theater" will
revert to its one-hour format on
September :, and after that will
alternate at $50 Monday nights
on NBC-TV with the returning
Robert Montgomery Presents" !.
Sam LevenSon will be perma-
lnent panel member on This Is
Show Business" when it returns
to CBS-TV September Q. He also
will do his own Sam Levenson
Show" day and time not. yet
definite. Tony Bavarr, singer
on ABC-TV's Club Seven" has
departed the program to play the
juvenile lead opposite Olga San
Juan in Cheryl Crawford's new
musical. Paint Your Wagon"
Lawrence Tibbett will be a guest
| of the "Quiz Kids" Friday night
lat 8 on NBC-TV. Jane Nor
gan, the blond singer who had to
Ego to Paris to win attention back
here in her native lanL, will join
4 stop the Music" tWMAL-TV-
, Thursday, 8 p.m) on August 80
to become a regular member OF
the cast. ZSa ZSa Gabor, wife
of Movie Actor George Sanders
is being readied fol q network
, TV show, which prompts a pub.
licity agent to report that hel