Evening star., 1951-03-09
On the Air
TV in Color
Still Is Far
| In Future
By Harry Macarthur ,

By Harry Macarthur.
You can stop dreaming about !
color television in what people
call the foreseeable future, even
though the Supreme Court did
this week decide it has jurisdic-
ton in the RCA, NBC-CBS, FEC
dispute. A decision by the court
in the near future, no matter who
is the winner, will not bring color
television much nearer your living
room.
Should CHS win the Supreme
Court case. it says it would start
some tinted telecasts Immediately
and have 20 hours of color on the
air week within three months:
NBC probably could do the same,
but it would have to originate in
Washington, where the equipment
used in color tests is available.
MICS color set-up in New York is
expected to be ready about
May l.
The catch to all of this is that
few people other than TV engi-
neers with hand-built sets will be
watching color television for some
time to come-"for the duration"
possibly.
Manufacturers queried by Wayne
Oliver of the Associated Press held
little hope for color soon by any
system. Those who opposed the
FEC decision and those who indi-
Gated willingness to make CHS
color sets were of the same mind
about the matter.
t. The manufacturers see produc-
ton of black -and-white sets cur
tailed before the end of the year
by the critical materials shortage.
And color receivers will require
more materials than the present
sets. CHS supporters are more
optimistic than many of the
manufacturers, but it still seems
unlikely that there will be many
color television sets under 1951's
Christmas trees.
RCA, of course, will not give up
in the event of an adverse Su-
preme Court decision. You can
expect it, in that case. to file
formally for a new FEC hearing
to demonstrate its system, vastly
improved since it's last showing to
the commission.
Nothing Overlooked: They play
all the angles in television. There
is, for instance, a program called
Gem Session" (WTOP-TV-Mon-
day, 7 pmD, which is sponsored
by local jeweler. Jewellers, you
know, thrive on matrimony
through the sale of engagement
and wedding rings, wedding pres
ents. silverware, anniversary gifts.
etc. Without matrimony, jewell
ers would have it very tough, in
deed.
So. next Monday night, Gem
Session" will have its guest Harry
M. Hull, Clerk of the District
Court, who has charge of the
marriage license bureau. The
sponsor doesn't want to take a
chance on losing a customer just
because somebody doesn't know
how to get a marriage license.
That's being thorough.
x n *
For the symphony: WMAL-TV
will conduct one of those tele-
phone marathons Sunday after
noon, starting at l o'clock, to
collect contributions for the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra's sus-
tanning fund campaign. A num-
ber of noted Washingtonians, plus
several notorious radio-TV ed
itors, will take turns during the
day at the telephones. accepting
pledges, and a number of guest
entertainers will be on hand.
Gifts donated by Washington
merchants will be awarded for
highest contributions.
* Xxx
Programs and People: Figuring
that every one wants to be on
television. Allan Jeffreys is will
ing to give every one the oppor-
tunity. All you have to do is go
to the WTOP-TV studios, Fortieth
and Brandywine streets NV,
Saturday and you can meet Mr..
Jeffreys ION camera" between 2
and 3 pm. Sid Caesar and
Imogene Coca will use this sum-
mer's vacation from Your Show
of Shows" (WNBW-Saturday, 9
PM to go to Hollywood and
make movie. Add to the up
coming series shows on TV one
title "A Woman's Privilege" star
ring Ruth Warrick, Don before
and John Howard, and another
about Frank Merriwell, as soon
as Frank Merriwell-type actor
is found. . Also, a television
version of Chamber Music So
ciety of Lower Basin Street" is in
the works. Both Jack Benny
and Jack Carson are to desert
comedy temporarily to play
straight roles on radios "Sus-
pense" (WTOP Thursday, 8
PM in the near future. :.
Singer Margaret Whiting will join
in salute to her late father,
Composer Richard Whiting, on
"The Paul Whiteman Show" Sum-
day at 7 pm. on WMAL-TV. :.
Zoo Parade" will conduct a quiz
for it's viewers which means
great many people, Sunday at
4:30 on WNBW.