Evening star., 1951-04-10
On the Air
Bergen Set
| For Another
Try at Tv
By Harry Macarthur

By Harry Macarthur
Edgar Bergen may have disap-
pointed some in his early tele-
vision appearances. but nobody
can say he isn't learning as he
goes along. He still. apparently,
/ is wed to both the studio au-
dience and to film, but he has
plans for using both to better
advantage.
The next Bergen Mccarthy TV
show for the ventriloquist's radio
sponsor is scheduled for April ~
on the CBS-TV network and. ac-
cording to report, some of the
lessons of his previous efforts are
being needed. The fi1fn has been.
or soon will be, completed at the
Jerry Fairbanks studios, by the
Multicam process. Shooting is
being done on a regular motion
picture stage. to take advantage
of better lighting facilities. An
audience of between 200 and 300
is being admitted so Bergen can
judge the reaction his comedy is
getting.
The most interesting note in
the advance word about the April
q program is that Bergen is
needing the suggestion, made
after his first network TV try,
that on film he doesn't have to
stand there moving his lips while
Charlie Mccarthy is talking" "
AS you could have noted when
he made his guest appearance
with James Melton's new show on
NBC-TV last Thursday, his radio
years have made him lax in that
department.
No one, with the possible excep-
ton of Paul Winchell, whose lips
don't move when his Jerry Ma
honey is supposed to be talking,
will object to a little open Cheat
ing" by Bergen for the fun of
an illusion. So, you can set down
as welcome news this paragraph
from the report on his forthcom-
ing show:
Charlie Mccarthy. Mortimer
Snerd and Effie Klinker Ca new
Iassociate) will be handled as
characters independent of their
creator working. on occasion,
without Bergen or at considerable
distance from him."
If that doesn't prove successful,
there is one ventriloquist who is
going to be awfully unhappy with
some of his past critics. including
this one.
The Winner: The Modern
Woman of the Year" for 1851 is
Mr.. j. William Thomas, 5000
Rhode Island avenue, College Park
Md, 1t was announced this
morning on Ruth Cranes Modern
Woman" radio show (WMAL-
1880 ann. Mrs. Thomas was
nominated by her husband in the
contest Miss Crane conducts an
nually. He is a research biochemist
In addition to visiting this
mornings radio show. DR.. and
Mrs. Thomas were scheduled for an
afternoon appearance on Miss
Cranes 3 pm. television show on
WMAL-TV. On Friday they will
leave for a week end in Chicago,
one of the prizes.
Ghosts Go to War: Ghosts are
the plague of televiewers. espe-
Icially IN heavily populated areas
where there are large buildings
| to bounce teleyision signals
around. They are, any viewer
soon learns, what happens when
the signal from a broadcasting
station is closely followed by the
reflection of the same signal after
! it has bounced off of the apart
ment house across the street. You
get two pictures for the price OF
one, but it is no bargain.
Television's ghosts have served
their purposes. however. That
'Shoran" device, which is permit
ting 5th Air Force airmen tc
bomb targets they can't see in
Korea, is direct outcome of the
study of ghosts made by Stuart w
Seeley, director of the industry
service laboratory of RCA.
Il X X y X
Habit Forming: John Randolph
who smoked a cigar all through
his role in Yours Truly on "Tele-
vision Theater" last Wednesday
reports that those are his favorite
parts. Started when he was in
Command Decision" on Broad
way and had to keep a cigar in
his mouth throughout the play
though he had never smoked be-
fore. Soon got so used to them
that I now smoke six day." he
says. so whenever a show calls
for me to smoke a cigar, I enjoy
my work"
Il y n x X
Programs and People: Cyril
Ritchard and Madge E.. (Mrs
Ritchard), one of Britain's most
famed acting teams, will be
teamed on TV for the first time
tomorrow night. They will play in
'Mrs. Danes Defense" on "Tele-
vision Theater" (WNBW-9 p.m.)
:. Bailey Goss yesterday added
a weekly Washington visit to the
sports show he does every after
noon on WMAL-TV and WMAR
Baltimore. He'll be here every
Monday afternoon at Ais to pre-.
sent the Gridiron Clubs Athlete
t<.G L