Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-09
ON THE AIR
Whose CoIiber
Is Being Lifted?

thought. lifted the caliber Of
Hollywood teleyision, but that's
as far as this reporter win 60.
No Hints Of the Master
Alfred Hitchcock has his
own series on Sunday nights
and, again, the premiere was
marred by the telling Of 3
potboiler that offered no In
novations or hints Of the
masters touch that ! could
detect.
The portly Mr.. Hitchcock
was elegant as the host. ] en-
joyed him immensely. But the
play itself was far below the
average Of those long-ago TV
features, suspense" and
Danger"
Twentieth Century-Fox Of
fered Q slick adaptation Of
Noel Coward's "Cavalcadep
that was. from q technical
standpoint, quite handsome
and seriously done.
Several viewers have ex-
pressed the opinion that the
quality. of the film was the best
they've seen yet on TV.
That's only one kind Of
"knowhow.'
Caricature Of Original
But In trying to tell Mr..
Coward's historical "Caval-
cade" in SO minutes or less. the
studio sacrificed dramatic In
tegrity. The result was q clear.
galloping newsreel that COM.
pressed thirty years Of Eng
| lish history into q series Of TIRE
umphs and tragedies that was
little more than D caricature
Of the original.
Walt Disney, TO be sure. II
no TV newcomer.
His ''Disneyland' series last
year (ABC) truly lifted the
| caliber Of the medium. II also
gave the network the idea Of
afiiliating with various other
Hollywood organizations for
the production Of video shows.
Disney's Mickey Mouse"
club, his new offering this sea-
son, began fiashily but shakiiy
Monday. The hour was liter
ally begged down with COM
mercials.
Timing Was Fine
But by weeks end. with the
introduction Of new features.
notably Jimmy Cricket's SAT-
ETY. segment on bicycles. the
club was beginning to roll.
Warner Brothers Is available
on Tuesdays tABC-7) with q
trilogy that reflects the stu
dos careful approach to Tv
programming. While using
| studio properties for a frame
work. the studio had the good
sense to have new stories
written to at the characters.
Cheyenne" Is an action
packed Western N the old
| tradition: Kings Row" has
some appealing young players:
and "Casablanca" devotes it
self to intrigue and adventure.
OF the trio. Kings Row"
strikes me as the best so far.
"Casahlanca," with Anita Elk
berg rs q scientist. OF all
things, was almost ludicrous
| in its premiere. Cheyenne" Is
strictly for the faithful West
ern fans.
Benchley Coming Up
Production values-as In
20th's case--are excellent.
The other Hollywood entry
is the "MGM Parade" also
on ABC-7, and II the series
win only dip into the studios
vaults for properties that the
public really wants to see.
could be q winner. Next We'd
nesday's choice is q brilliant
one-the late Robert Bench
ley's How to Train q Dog"
/ If there was any caliber.
lifting last week, it was per-
formed on Pontiac's play
wright's Hour" with a splen-
did production Of Philip Wy
lies 1.-THE Answer. It origi-
mated from New York.
Color Complaint: Jack
Benny was simply wonderful
in thine Out For Ginger" on
the Shower Of Stars Thurs
day (CBS-9). but what hap
pened to the color? And why
no explanation to the audi
ence that the colorcast was
dropped?
What q letdown that must
have been for the owners Of
color sets who invited friends