Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-25


thing far more important tina
One thing is personal prestige.
Another could be difficulties
with the law.
AS a result, the forthcoming
quizzes may command the most
attention Of all yet.
Inquiry Renewed
First on the program is the
renewal Of an inquiry by a
congressional subcommittee. 1t
already has heard testimony OF
Observation-Disclosures rigging on
TV shows which captured the
fancy of millions Of viewers.
The subcommittee will re-
sumo its hearings November 2
and the spotlight obviously is
going to be turned full on
Charles Van Doren, the college
professor who received 1929, 900
for what seemed a vast knowl-
edge of everything on MICS
"Twenty-One."
Mr.. Van Doren will be ques-
toned here privately next week
as a prelude to the hearing
renewal. Representative Steven
Derounian, Republican Of New
York, a subcommittee member,
indicated the questioning would
be by a subcommittee staff
member as a preparatory step.
Others who gained even more
money on similar telecasts,
along with national reputa-
lions for brains, may be sum-
moned when the hearings are
resumed.
In addition. it is possible
that a New York grand jury
may also wish to pose a few
further queries. 1t already has
on record one set of answers
from many of the leading lights
Of the former quiz programs,
Only yesterday two top TV
quiz luminaries went to the
Office of Manhattan District
Attorney Frank s. Hogan to
make what was termed sub
stantial changes in earlier
statements concerning their
participation in Twenty One. a"
One was Mr.. Van Doren. The
other was Hank Bloomgarden,
who received $98,500 on the
same program.
On Second Thoughts
Mr.. Hogan said quite a few
other former contestants and
grand jury witnesses also have
notified him they have had Sec
ond thoughts about what they
said previously and wish to
clarity the record. Mr.. Hogan
named none.
Both Mr.. Van Doren and Mr.
Bloomgarden have denied that
they were involved in any rig
ging on TV. But when eXplana-
lions Of the new developments
were sought. everyone said 1t
would not be proper to COM
ment before the Washington
hearings.
Mr.. Hogan turned aside ques-
tons about further grand jury
appearances or the possibility
of perjury prosecutions. Such
things, he said, would have to
be decided later.
Mr.. Van Doren, a 33-year-old
English instructor at Columbia
University, got a $50, 000-a-year
consultant's job with NBC as
a result of his activities on
Twenty One"
But he got himself in hot
water with both the network
and the congressional subcom-
mittee several days ago.
After informing the probers
he'd like to testify, the sub
committee sent him an invita-
ton. But Mr.. Van Doren van
ished, and the subcommittee
issued a subpoena for him.
When Mr.. Van Doren re-
turned to his usual hauntS, he
said he'd gone to New England
for a few days and didn't know
everybody was looking for him.
He then accepted the sub
poena.
NBC suspended him from the
consultant's job pending out
come Of his testimony in Wash
ington.
Stant0n's Action
In the midst of all the Juror
CHS President Frank Stanton
ordered cancellation of all net
work quiz shows still on the
air and announced a policy OF
dropping such things as canned
laughter on filmed programs.
He also said he didn't want
the public to be led to believe
some shows were spontaneous
when, in fact, they had been
rehearsed beforehand.
This set OF a row with pro-
ducers Of the Person to Per-