davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-06-11

for the global rearmament pro.
gram.
Immediately after the steel ne
Igotiations collapsed Monday night
both the industry and the unio1
said:
1--WE have given assurance tt
our Government that we will CO.
operate in assuring production O.
military requirements essential tt
our forces engaged in combating
Communist aggressors."
Mr.. Lovett made his comment
to newsmen after making a hur.
ried survey of the steel supply
situation at a meeting with Act,
ing Defense Mobilizer John r
Steelman, Defense Production Ad
ministrator Henry r. Fowler ant
Chairman John Small of tht
Munitions Board.
Mr.. Steelman called the confer
ence on President Truman's in.
tstructions to find out how man.
mills could be kept running tt
Evening star., 1952-06-11
Panama Canal Society
Elects New Officers

Alvin Siegfried has been elected
president of the Washington
chapter of the Panama Canal
Society, it was announced today
The society is made up OF
former employees WHO built the
canal
Andrew w. Bowling was named
vice president: Martin A. Seller
was elected secretary-treasurer
and Harry c. Ragsdale, chairman
of the Executive Committee.
The new officers were elected at
a recent meeting of the Washing
ton chapter at the Kennedy
Warren Hotel.
Evening star., 1952-06-11

government and discuss proce-
dures for resuming certain types
of critical steel production.
Mr.. Steelman has asked the
steel companies to appoint a SIM
liar committee to meet with us
and the union committee at the
earliest possible time"
Evening star., 1952-06-11
lbsen Museum Planned

SKIEN, Norway.-The Ibsen
Society, established two years ago
at Skien, trying to raise funds
to buy the house near Skien where
the famed playwright. Henrik
Ibsen, spent his boyhood. The
society plans to turn it into an
IbSen museum.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
KarOn Sue Hahn
Presents Recital

Miss Karon Sue Hahn, nine-year-
old daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam w Hahn, was presented in a
piano and voice recital at her home
at 1924 South Sugar street, Lima,
last Saturday evening. Approx
mately so guests attended the recital
and reception which followed. i
Karon Sue, though a youngster,
plays with an easy, flowing style
and shows a keen feeling for her mu-
sic. Her songs were presented with
good diction complimented by clear
singing quality.
Under the supervision of Miss
Mardelle Smith, she has been study
ing for less than a year. Her recital
will be repeated this Wednesday for
teachers and the student body of
Jefferson school, where she attends.
Karon Sue is the granddaughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Hahn, 216 w.
Elm street, Bluffton.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Services Friday For
Viruinia Reichenbach

Funeral services will be held FRI
day at 2:30 p. m. from the First
Mennonite church for Mrs. Virginia
Basinger R~eichenbach, 81, who died
Tuesday morning at 9 a. m. in Bluff
ton Community hospital from compli-
cations of a two-year illness.
Born September g., 1918, in Put
nam county Mrs. R~eichenbach, was
the daughter of Gust and Elizabeth
Gard Basinger. She was married
March 80, 1941 to Ulysses Reichen-
bach. .
In addition to her husband, she is
survived by two children, Joyce Kay,
2, and Richard, 10; her mother,
who resides in Columbus Grove; two
sisters, Mrs. Elene Schumacher, OF
tawa, and Mrs. Daisy Toland, Lima;
FIVE brothers, Gust, Owantonna,
Mimi; Clark, Wyandot, Mich; Carl
and Shirl, Columbus Grove, and Err
nest, Bluffton.
Friends may call at the Paul Dill
Ter Funeral home after 7:30 p. m.
Wednesday. Burial will be in Maple
Grove cemetery.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Wenger-Althaus
BetrOthal Told

Mr.. and Mrs. Hiram Wenger, 116
E. Kibler street, the en-
.gagement of their only daughter,
Imogene, to John j. Althaus. Mr..
Althaus is the youngest son of Mr..
and Mrs. Levi Althaus, r. r. 2,
Bluftton. usts J9rTs g -assm H..
Miss Wenger was graduated from
Button high school, attended Bluff
ton college. and is a recent graduate
of the Lima Memorial Hospital school
of nursing. She is employed at
Bluffton Community hospital.
Her fiance, an alumnus of the
same high school, was graduated
from the College of Agriculture at
Ohio State university in March. AT
present he is with the Army station
ed at Camp Breckenridge, Ky.
No date has been set for the we'd
ding.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02

At least five of Buttons churches
will join with those throughout the
world who will observe the Sacrament
of Our Lords Supper on World
Wide Communion Sunday, October 5,
it was announced this week.
Congregations of the Church of
Christ, the First Mennonite, First
Methodist, First Presbyterian and
st. Johns Evangelical and Reformed
churches will participate in the event
which had its inception in 1886. The
date has grown in spiritual signif-
canoe, taking its place in many
churches alongside of Christmas
Sunday. Good Friday and Easter.
The observance began as the re-
sr,t of a discussion by a small group
of ministers in 1885, who nd met to
study the spiritual needs and posi-
bilities of the church in depression
days.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Car Crashes Into
Gas Station Pump

Two Michigan men sustained minor
injuries at 1905 p. m. Friday when
their car left the road at a turn at
the junction of Routes BON and rs
in Beaverdam. After striking a
guard rail, the automobile glanced
off a light pole and crashed into a
service station gasoline pump at the
intersection.
State Highway %patrolmen said the
car, driven by Douglas Swan, %,
Taylor Center, Mich, was south
bound on Route 25. Taylor suffered
a fractured hand and his companion,
Thomas Geesing, 35, Dtroit, had lac
erations about the head and eyes.
They were treated by a Beaverdam
physician, and Swan was fined $54.70
for reckless operation. He was held
in the Allen county Jail for non-pay-
ment of the fine. Geesing was ar
rested on a public intoxication
charge.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02

The Ladies Missionary meeting of
the Riley Greek Baptist church will
be held at the church on Wednesday
October 8 with Mrs. Emanuel Bout
we'll hostess.
Marilyn and Dennis Bame spent
Sunday afternoon with Elaine and
Dewayne Rossman.
Mrs. Lulu Wagner, Mrs. Laura
Wagner, Mrs. Ethel M. Boutwell, re-
Gently called on Mr.. and Mrs. John
Carts and Elva Bishop all of Find
lay.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ben Amstutz of
Bluffton We're Sunday dinner guests
of Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Amstutz.
Mrs. Ruth Heldman of Bucyrus,
Mrs. Mary Heldman, Mrs. Ruby
Boehm and son Danny, Mrs. Emma
Boutwell, spent last Wednesday with
Mrs. Dora Gallant of near Findlay.
Lonnie Sue Boutwell, was a Sun
day dinner guest of Sharon Gallant
Mr.. and Mrs. Emanuel Boutwell,
and daughters Barbara and Marcia
yer Sunday dinner guests of Mrs
Ethel M. Boutwell,.
Stephen Boehm spent Sunday
afternoon with Lewis Rossman.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rayon Boutwell, and
children Lynn, Tim, Lonnie Sue and
Ronda Kae spent Sunday evening
with Mr.. and Mrs. Kenneth Chidest-
er and children Ronnie, Tommy and
Jude.
Mrs. Emma Boutwell,, Mrs. Alice
Mae Amstutz and children called on
Mrs. Maggie Garman and Kay and
Ray Bennett, Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. o. w. Nonnamaker,
Mr.. and Mrs. John Nonnamaker and
sons spent Sunday at Piqua to see
their new grandson, born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Raymond Merritt, Saturday
night.
Mrs. Carrie Montgomery, Mrs.
Edith Stager spent Friday afternoon
with Mrs. Emma Boutwell,.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Judy BenrOth Edits
COry-RdUsOn Annual

Judy Benroth has been named edi-
tor of the 1928 Hornet, the year
book at Cory-Rawson High school.
Other staff members are Lois Reel,
assistant editor; JEANNE Beach, bust
ness manager; Dorothy Which, liter
airy editor; Helen Ruth Robinson, as
~sistant; Charles Barger, art editor;
Harold Bose and Kaye Nonnamaker,
snapshot editors; AL Williamson,
sports editor; Harold Roth, circula-
tion manager; Shirley Battles, calen-
dar editor; Larry Ream, Jim Frantz,
Emily Brown, Larry Creegr and
Ferall Frazier, advertising; and
John Gauss, joke editor.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Button Hospital
SEPTEMBER q


Admitted: Mrs. Charles Hankish
Jr., Bluffton; Miss Melvena Gerber
Bluffton.
SEPTEMBER 25
Discharged: Mrs. Ray Schumacher
and daughter, Findlay; Mrs. Rich.
ard Hawk and daughter, Col. Grove
SEPTEMBER 26
Discharged: Mrs. Robert Edwards
Arlington; Robert Orwick, McComb
SEPTEMBER 27
Discharged: Mrs. Ralph Stager and
son, Button; Mrs. Keith oMore and
daughter, Button .
SEPTEMBER %
Discharged: Richard Jordan, Bluff
ton; Mrs. Harold Diller and twins,
Bluffton. ~
SEPTEMBER 20
Admitted: Mrs. Ralph Schweitzer,
Findlay; Mrs. Ulysses Reichenbach,
Bluffton; William Wiebs, Button.
Discharged: Mrs. Chas. Hankish,
Jr., Bluffton.
OCTOBER l
Discharged: Mrs. Paul Harden and
son, Leipsic.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Mrs. MILFORD Steiner
Leads 4 Discussion

Bluffton was represented by three
delegates Monday evening at the Al
len County P. T. A. council meeting
attended by more than 100 officers
and committee chairmen from the
various groups. "a. @a
Mrs. MILFORD Steiner of the local
organization led a discussion on pro-
viding meeting programs. Others at
tending from Button were Superin-
tendent of schools A. B. Murray and
Mrs. Glenona Badertscher.
Mrs. Ralph Krouskap, president
of the P. T. A. council, was chosen
delegate to the State convention to
be held in Cleveland October $40.
Mrs. Steiner will represent the Bluff
ton unit.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Mrs. Hauenstein
Takes Photo TRAINING

Mrs. Helen T. Hauenstein of Sid
ney's Drug Store, is in Rochester,
N. Y, attending a retail photo
graphic salesmen's training confer
ence sponsored by the Eastman Ko-
dak company. Thirty men and women
comprise the group.
Conferees will tour the company's
Rochester plants and attend daily lee
lures designed to acquaint them with
the latest Kodak products and serv-
ices.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
GilbOa

Mrs. Edith Kisseberth and Harold
Kisseberth were Sunday guests of
the Louis Kisseberth family at Ben
ton Ridge.
Mrs. Lee Crawis and her sister,
Mrs. o. A. Fike of Lima are spend
ing this week with their mother,
Mrs. Sarah Frey at Newark. Mrs.
Frey has been very i'll.
Rev. and Mrs. Paul Fisher, Mr..
and Mrs. Don K~lopfenstine and Mr..
and Mrs. Caulkins of West Unity
spent Tuesday evening with Mr.. and
Mrs. Warden Morris. Mrs. Fisher
and Mrs. Klopfenstine were over
night guests and on Wednesday they
attended the Putnam county annual
meeting of the W. S. C. S. at the
Pandora Methodist church.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Buchanan of Wa
pakoneta and Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Miller of Lima were Sunday guests
of Mrs. Bessie Gierhart.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sanford Dye of
Columbus, Mrs. Alfred Rose and
family of Toledo and Mr.. and Mrs.
Hal McClelland of Oneca, Florida
spent Sunday with Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas Linger at the Crawfs Col
lege Campus.
Mr.. and Mrs. o.. v. Todd were
Sunday guests of Mrs. Levada
Gehrett and Mrs. Carolina Hixon at
Leipsic.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Nemire and
daughter Sharon of Findlay, MI.
and Mrs. Richard Nemire and fam
lily, Mrs. Maud Menthey and Mrs.
Lucy Nemire We're Sunday guests of
Mr.. and Mrs. Theo Nemire.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Morris and
Son Stevie of Hamilton were week
end guests of MI. and Mrs. Wardner
Morris.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ronald Kisseberth
and son David spent Sunday at
Sturgis, Mich, at the Clell Griffith
home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Roy Mitchell and
of Findlay spent Sunday at
the home of Mrs. Lena DeVore.
Mrs. Zoa Tobias was a guest Sun
day afternoon at the John Wineman
Mrs. Lena DeVore had as dinner
on Friday, Mr.. and Mrs. Ray
DeVore and son Paul, MI. and Mrs.
Harry Baker and Donna Steinman.
The dinner was in honor of the
birthday of Mrs. Ray DeVore.
The 58th wedding anniversaries
of MI. and Mrs. John Wineman and
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Dukes were
observed the past week. Mr..
and Mrs. L. d. MCGEE will observe
their 18th wedding anniversary on
Oct. a.
The Pandora-Gilboa P. T. A. will
meet on Wednesday evening Oct. 3
at the Gilboa school auditorium.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Girl Scouts HOnOred
Court of AUdrdS

Fifteen mmbers of Girl Scout
Troop 127 received proficiency badges
including one girl who qualified for
the coveted frst-class badge Tues
day evening at Buttons first Court
of Awards. At the same time second
class badges and the Hostess Pro
fciency badge presented to all mem
bers of the younger Troop 126.
Ann Stauffer received the Troops
only frst-class badge after complet-
ing work for IL proficiency awards
preparing her for special service in
the field of ~homemaking. Badges
were presented as follows: House
keeper, Sewing, Cook, My Commun-
ity, Junior Citizen, First Aid, West
ern Hemisphere, Handy Woman,
Child Care, Minstrel, Wood and
Foods.
Other badges were presented as
follows: Jane Badertscher, House
keeper, Hostess, Cook; Arlene Balm
err, Hostess, Cook; Edna Burkhold-
er, Sewing; Linda Lee Core, Host
ess, Cook; Mary 10 Diller, Home
Nursing; Judy Hilty, Sewing, Farm
ing; Christine Geiger, Music Appre-
citation, Sewing, My Community,
Stars, Clothing, Truck Gardener,
Home Gardener, L~andscaper.
Gloria Moser,, Housekeeper, Sew
ing, Minstrel; Sally Parrish, Home
Nursing; Judy Schiffke, Architect;
Nan Schmidt, Housekeeper, Hostess,
Cook; Nancy Steiner, Architect;
Judy T~schantz, Housekeeper, Hostess,
Cook; and Diane Walker, Architect,
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Bluffton Churches Join In Observance
Of World-W Wide Communion Day Sunday

In the Lords Supper they saw a
great oportunity to unite the mem
bership of their own churches in ded-
ication to the Lord Jesus Christ. AS
they discussed the matter, n of the
group suggested that the Presbyter-
ian church be asked to observe unit
eddy one eomuniop on the same day
in the fall of each year. This led
to the questions: Why not ask our
brethren in all parts of the world to
join in the communion service. Then
World Wide Communion Day was
born.
The National Council of the
Churches of Christ in America, e e
ing the possibilities of the day for
united Professionalism, recommended
it to its constituent communions in
the fall of 1910. The wider extension
of the day is now underway through
the World Council of Churches.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
PARENT GROUP REVIEWS
Continued from page one)

Continued from page one).
Since the founding of the loop,
originally the Midwest Athletic
league, two decades ago it has been
the nucleus around which Buttons
interscholastic sports activity has
been built.
Today the Western Buckeye cir
cult is one of the top high school
leagues in Ohio, and competition in
recent years has been increasingly
keen.
Proponents of the withdrawal point
out that the move simply would be
official recognition of an existing
situation which finds it impossible
for Button to compete year in and
year out on equal terms with other
league schools which have consider
ably larger student enrolment.
SEvEN-TEAM LEAGUE
Outside of Bluffton, the league
membership is made up of Class A
Van Vert, st. Marys, B~ellefontaj-e,
K%enton, Celina and Wapako1leta.
Next fall Lima Shawnee, another
Class A school, will become a full
f1edged member of the league.
So far this fall, the Pirates have
lost three straight decisions, two to
league schools, Kenton and Bellefon-
tame. In league play, Buttons last
victory over Bellefontaine was in
1949; wei Kenton in 1850; owe Van
Vert in 1916; over Celina in 1850;
over st. Marys in 1919; and over
Wapakoneta in 1850.
Once a power in the league, back
in the days when Bluffton had con-
siderably more students than now,
the Pirates won their last loop
championship in 1916 when they had
an undefeated team. In 1949, the
| Pirates finished second.
1949 RECALLED
In the 1949 controversy over
league status, the school first with
drew from the WBL in football, with
the understanding competition would
| continue in basketball.
After a month of heated discussion
| over the situation, the withdraw was
reversed by the high school athletic
committee in a split vote of three
to two.
In the decision which brought
about Buttons re-entry in the
league Supt. Aaron B. Murray, Prin-
cipal Gerhard BUTLER and School
Board Member Norman Triplett vot-
ed to remain in the league. Coach
Richard Lowry and Faculty Man
ager Robert Ewing cast votes for
withdrawal.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Auten, RaUsOn,
Dies In ~SDrinung1u-

Miss Agnes Auten, So, of Rawson,
librarian at Wittenberg college,
Springfield, died of heart disease at
her residence in that place Tuesday
of last week.
Before going to Wittenberg FIVE
years ago, Miss Auten had been Ii
brarian at Ohio Northern university.
Funeral rites were held last Thurs
day in Rawson ana burfalI was at
that place.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
Real Estate Deals

The following real estate transfers
were reported this week by the Al
len county rcorder's office:
Richland township: Jacob A. Foley
to Claud o. Foley, 10 acres, Sec. Is.
Louis and Anita Baker to Arthur G..
and Gloria A. Miller, Il acre, Sec.
81, tax 55c.
Button: Maynard L. Geiger,
guardian, to David w. and Magda-
lene E. Doty, lot FOG, Geiger's adj
dition, tax $3.50.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-02
NROLL AT WHEATO

Ruth Irene Diller, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Clarence D. Diller, 21S
South Jackson street, Button, has
enrolled at Wheaton college, Wheat
on, Ill, as q junior and is continu-
ing her courses preparatory to re-
ceiving . Bachelor of Arts degree.
Evening star., 1952-09-30


"
WakemsR
4,
the T. to o
to
A.; Of .
j.
hawkins
in
o
Evening star., 1952-09-30
HighIights
Radio Today.

n8UIO 1OU8ys
500, ,WRC-Cavalcade of America: /:
Gary Merrill stars in "The Gig of
the Saginaw"
500, WTOP-Gen. Eisenhower:
An address.
900, WNAL Americas Town
Meeting: India Edwards and Mrs.
Oswald B. Lord debate why
Changer"
$3.50, WWDC, WAsH-world
Series Preview: Baseball Commis-
sioner Ford Frick, American and
National League officials, team
managers and stars are heard.
1880, WRC - Clare Boothe
Luce: An address.
Te,evision Today.
7:15, WNBW Short, Short
Dramas: The first program of a
new drama series is presented.
7:45, WTOP-Heaven for Betsy:
Jack Lennon and Cynthia Stone
are featured On . new situation
comedy series.
500, WNBW-Star Theater: Ezio
PIMA, Faye Emerson and Skitch
Henderson visit.
$3.50, WTTG-Keep Posted: Rob-
Iert Nelson, president of the Young
Democrats Club, and State Senator
Donald Eastvold discuss Should
Youth Vote for Eisenhower"
800, WTOP-Crime Syndicated: !:
Senator Herbert r. O'Conor is guest
narrator.
800, WMAL-Old Songs Of the
Church: Margaret Barnhill Is guest
|soloiSt.
$500, WTTG-Where Was II: Ed
Lopat of the New York Yankees is
quest panelist.
900. WNBW-Fireside Theater:
John Agar stars in Next to
Crash" the first presentation Of
the returning series.
$3.50, WNBW - Circle Theater:
Peggy Conklin is featured in Red
Tape"
1890, WNBW - Two for the
Money: Herb Shriner stars on the
new comedy-quiz program.
1880, WNBW - Clare Boothe
Luce: An Address.
Evening star., 1952-09-30

is better qualified than a curtain
to perform these functions for a
television show. Things have not
changed. The only television pro-
gram on which a theatrical cur
tain has any right is one intended
to take you to theater and let
you see the show being performed
there.
When your TV screen reveals a
theater curtain hung in q pro-
scenium arch you can Immediately
be sure Of one thing, 80 times out
Of 100. What follows will not be
television show, but stage show
televised. It will not be an enter
tainment designed principally for
your diversion. It will be de-
signed to fill theater audience
with such enthusiasm that you
will be swept away by it and
think you have been entertained
that much, too. It Is a snare and
a delusion.
-
Oh. yes, Mr.. Gleason. Well, his
curtains parted to reveal Is chorus
girls. which appeared to be num-
ber of chorus girls up on any one
else in TV. Their precision was q
shade shy Of that of the Music
Hall Rockettes, but there were a
lot Of them. making this certainly
the leggiest show on television.
Soon the girls made way and the
familiar rotund figure of Mr..
Gleason hove cheerfully into view.
He went into his opening song
(for the theater audience), did a
bit Of dancing with one of the
girls. then came down to the front
of the stage to address some OPEN
ing remarks to that theater
audience.
Mr.. Gleason was interrupted by
an odd-looking party who pur-
ported to be something of a mimic.
but had some difficulty proving it.
Then the star of the affair was
back to make his first concession
to television.
This took him approximately
two seconds. He rushed over to a
camera. peered into it at close
range. said That's the new CHS
eye" and went back to address
to the theater audience.
4
The camera wise Miss Raye, at
this point. was mugging UP a
storm on MICS "All-Star Revue"
so we have nothing but gratitude
for Gleason. He's the fellow who
sent us to see Martha. She was
in fine form Saturday night. in
dulging in great deal of high
class rowdyism.
Miss Raye's costars in the enter
prise were Rise Stevens. Cesar
Romero and Rocky Graziano and
they managed some lively slap
stick in their climactic sequence.
This was a somewhat hackneyed
comic exercise, in which Miss
Raye and Graziano watched Miss
Stevens and Romero for behavior
cues at a high society function,
while the latter two tried to put
their guests at ease by following
their every move. 1t may have
been done before but it has never
been done funnier than when it
included Miss Raye contemplating
the possibilities of o tossed salad.
The condolences impersona- :
ton Of a sultry. Piaf-type French
chanteuse was one of the bright
moments of television's week, too.
Mr.. Gleason won't lure us away
from her again. even to look at
those is chorus girls. We gave
him another try at the finale and
you'd never guess what he was
burlesquing. He was burlesuuing
one Of those team wrestling
matches!
Evening star., 1952-09-30
On the Air
On the AR
This Isn't an Iron Curtain
But It's No Help to Jackie
By Harry Macarthur

Jackie Gleason is a talented
entertainer. He has a host Of
admirers. He also has a new show
on CBS-TV on Saturday nights,
on which a report must be sub
mitted here, sooner or later. This
is proving to be a difficult task,
however, or at least small prob
lem. When Mr.. Gleason made his
debut in the new spot. his NBC-
TV opposition was Jimmy Du-
rante. For his second appearance,
the competition was Martha Raye.
Well, Miss Raye notwithStand-
ing. an altruistic effort was made
Saturday evening to check up on
Mr.. Gleason. The channel Selector
was set, the volume at the proper
level and the TV editor sat back
relaxed. but alert for the finest
inuance of comedy. Pictures of
skyrockets in flight lighted up the
screen, followed by the legend,
'"The Jackie Gleason Show"
Came more skyrockets. then the
words, Starring Jackie Gleason, -
which seemed reasonable enough.
Then came the first i'll omen.
The camera revealed a theater
curtain.
This is as good a place as any
to pause and take up this matter
again. The curtain. a compara-
lively modern innovation in the
theater. was introduced as an aid
to illusion. 1t cuts off the view
of the audience while a scene is
being set and actors are taking
their places. Then, when the ac-
ton begins, the audience can feel
that it is looking into a room, not
at a platform on which some
stagehandS just put some furni-
ture. The curtain also is used as
punctuation, to separate scenes
and denote passage Of time.
It was set forth here several
years ago that television camera