The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-11-13
By DON BISHOP

New York. = Margaret Arlen,
pretty North Carolina-born tele-
vision star, has gained a position
as one of New York's top woman
commentators by convincing her
viewers that she has first hand
knowledge of what she's talking
about.
This has been faily easy for her
to do-because she really does have
that first hand knowledge. If she
has a program about the Parent
Teachers Association, her COM
ments have an authentic ring be-
cause, day or so before, she has
actually attended a PTA meeting
somewhere in the New York erea.
It's the same way in the fields
of fashion, home decorating, child
care, and other women's interest
areas.
Take, for example, her recent
participation in project sponsor
ed by an importer of Swiss fabrics
and manufacturer of loungewear.
The fashion coordinator for the
fabric company - another ex-
North Carolinian, incidentally,
Robbie, formerly of Charlotte
came to her with details of con-
test in which fashion editors were
being invited to design, make and
model television lounging robes.
Judges Contest
Miss Arlin was intrigued and
said that she would like to use a
feature about the contest and
fashion show on her daily televi-
sion program on WCBS-TV. But,
she said, she wanted to see the
fashion show in person; so she
accepted an invitation not only to
be present but also to be one of the
judges.
The following morning when
Dorothy Lewis Roe, woman's editor
of the Associated Press, who had
won the contest, and jeanne
Lewis, her daughter who did the
modling, were on hand at the stu
dio, Miss Arlin was able to dis
cuss the lounging robe with much
greater facility than if she had left
all preparation up to researcher.
Her first job in New York was
as a commentator in the women's
interest field at WABC, now
webs. Last year she dropped
radio in favor of television.
Notes Changes
The woman commentators field
has changed since her earlier days
in radio at WGBR in Goldsboro
and WPTF and WRAL in Raleigh
at used to be confined largely to
home economics" she said. "Now
it embraces a wider sphere, not
just economics and what books
people are reading, but what peo-
pie are thinking and doing, and the
effect on people in this country OF
events abroad.
"On the radio stations on which
l worked in the South they wanted
you to be an expert. Today the de-
mand is for neighborliness and
friendliness as well as knowledge
of the subject about which you are
interviewing somebody.
Even if her program isn't con-
fined to home economics, that's
still the most popular subject. She
gets more requests from viewers
about home sewing than anything
else, she said.
Decorates Flat.
At the moment she is involved
in a continuing feature on the pro-
gram which will strike a receptive
note with many viewers in crowd
ed New York. A basement apart
ment is being decorated by her
staff and each morning she is
showing the progress. AS evidence
that the advice she gives her view
ers is sound, one of the members
of her staff is going to occupy the
apartment when it is completely
decorated.
Being on the air throughout the
year, Miss Arlin has to take her
vacations in bits and pieces when
ever she can. When she does, it
usually consists of visits with re-
latives, in North Carolina and else
where. She is native of Edenton,
although her parents, Rev. and
Mrs. H. B. Hines, now reside in
Aurora. A brother, H. B. Hines, Jr.,
is city manager of Jacksonville,
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