Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-05
On the Air

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producers may look upon tele-
vision as a mortal enemy, but
they are not too proud to think
Of it as a source Of story ma
terial. If a story can be told
in SIS minutes on a 21-inch'
screen. it certainly can I'LL 90
minutes if blown up to Cinema
Scope size.
Those Theater Guild artisans
who labor over 1.-THE United
States Steel Hour" on ABC-TV
now take it for granted that they
will be hearing from some movie
producer or producers after any
show. About half of the shows
done since the topnotch hour
long drama series went on the
air have been screened for some
man from Hollywood.
The latest to win this sort of
attention was the Cyril Hume
Richard Maibaum play, Fear
full Decision" This drama Of a
mans fight against kidnapers
was telecast on June % with
Ralph Bellamys Meg Munig and
Sam L.eterie id. leading roles. e
-
Before the month was out
three major studios Paramount,
Warner Bros. and Allied Artists
had requested a kinescope to
examine. They were, closely fol-
lowed by Goth Century Fox. Mo-
body has waved any check book
yet, but Mr.. Hume and Mr.. Mai
baum can be assumed to be
hoping
Yes, If you're going to be un-
kind enough to bring 1t UP, this
is the same play shat was ex-
tolled here as Hateful Decision"
rather than Fearful Decision"
There is a very simple explana-
ton. The TV networks do their
best to help, but there are limits
beyond which they cannot reach.
They do send out information
sheets in advance of shows.
These list titles and the names
of all involved from executive
producer to the girl who goes
out for coffee and sandwiches
during rehearsal. The idea is that
TV reviewers will file these care
fully away SO they will have all
necessary information at hand
when attacking typewriters.
\ \
It's a great idea. The trouble
with it around here it that the
system has advanced beyond the
stage where the television in
dustry can cope with 1t. Around
here these cast sheets are not
filed; they are mislaid very care
fully so that no one can ever
find them again. This means
that the TV reviewer has to
write notes to himself as the
goes on.
Since the dog Is forever UNI
plugging the lamp-the light
keeps her sort of awake--these
notes usually are written in
semidarkness. This reduces them
to q form Of shorthand. A plays
title easily can come out looking !
like F / D -. n, which
is not much help the next day
under the Office lamp. Fateful?
Fearful? Schmeerfil? Who
knows? Who can find the cast
sheet?
You'll have to admit con-
sistency, though. That play title
came out Hateful Decision"
every time 1t was mentioned in
the review of Fearful Decision.
SPORTS DEPARTMENT - If
you were In tune with Jim Glib
bons the other night you know
that the Washington Redskins
games will be seen via television
in number Of places this fall.
The American Oil Co. win spon-
sor them again. this time on a
southeastern network Of some
dozen stations. The ABC-TV net
work has plans. too, TO make
them available to other stations,
for local or regional sponsorship.
For WMAL-TV viewers, this still
means out-of- town games only.
These win include San Francisco,
September 26: Pittsburgh. Oc-
tober 2; New York, October "a:
Cleveland, November 4; Chicago
(Cardinalsl, November 81 and
Philadelphia. November 20.
= Il ~
LETTERS DEPARTMENT
DR.. Franck c. Baxter is being
given q network show by CHS