Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-11-05
Moral Issues Put Aside
By Producers, Probe Told

10 oeterm n e contestants
futures, then it was because
he was too busy with other
functions.
Mr.. Abrams said the methods
used on the program were not
always apparent right away.
Recalls Opera Out.
ut wasn't until months after
Gino Prado appeared that I.
realized his questions had been
confined to Italian OPERA" Mr..
Abrams said. "He had been
billed as an expert on opera
generally"
Mr.. Prado Is the Italian
American cobbler who was one
Of the early big money winners.
Mr.. Abrams testified that at
the weekly sponsor-producer
meetings there was never any
open discussion Of having q
contestant continue or drop OF,
but such things were always
expressed as a hope or a de-
sire" by Revlon representa-
tives.
He said Charles Revson.
president Of Revlon, attended
meetings infrequently and II
would say he didn't know"
He said Revlon, when 1t had
proof of outright rigging, pulled
out as sponsor.
Mr.. Abrams testified that
that there was a conference
with representatives Of Column
bia Broadcasting System after
charges were made by the Rev.
Charles E. (Stoney) jackson,
Tullahoma (Tenn.) minister,
in September, 1858, that he
had been given advance infor-
nation on the $4,000 Question.
OF the CHS inquiry into the
charges at that time. Mr..
Abrams said:
81 had the impression that
sort of whitewash was occur
ring-that they were not ready
to show these shows of the
air."
officials to Testify
CHS President Frank STAN
ton and Robert E. Kintner.
president Of the National
Broadcasting Co.. were sched- $
uled to testify later today as :
the House investigators sought
to wind up the hearings. They Y
faced questioning on what /
steps were taken when they re- c
ceived reports that the shows
were being rugged.
AS the current series of hear
ings neared an end, Repre- +
sentative Bennett, Republican =
of Michigan, said, I'VE haven't u
completed our investigation" I
He said that he had received
information alleging "payoffs, n
fraud and deception on some
other types of program" and $
that these reports were being 4
investigated. He added that r
the Inflammation also involved
advertising y
Sponsors Accused G
In sworn testimony entered :
into the hearing record last r
night, Shirley Bernstein as 4
sociate producer Of the $64, 900
Challenge show and sister of =
Conductor Leonard Bernstein, \
said that the shows were fire. !,
quenty rugged on instructions /
from the sponsors. 49, 4
Other testimony included:
/. A denial by Charles Rev.
son of any knowledge that the a
shows were rugged.
2. Robert L. Foreman, eXecu-
tive vice president of the Bat k
ton, Barton, Durstine and Os- {
born advertising agency. that n
he sat in on some Of the Revlon v
conferences when his company g
had the account and that he v
assumed" the shows were con- r
trolled to an extent.
Charged to Business q
Mr.. Hess said he charged 1t 9
all as business expense. 5
The testimony of Miss Bern v
stein was in the form oil
a sworn Interrogation by
Richard N. Goodwin, subcom- r
mittee attorney. The producer. '
who has refused to talk publicly
about what she knew Of rigging,
said in the statement that
controls are virtually essential t
to good dramatic production" /,
Miss Bernstein was questioned v
before the subcommittee re- Il
ceived information that she Il
had coached Patty Duke, the v
Broadway child star who won a
$4,000 on the program, and a
she was not asked about that. q
Identical Questions Used
In her affidavit, Miss Bern '
stein said that in about 20 per S
cent of the cases a contestant r
was asked about almost the
identical question that would !.
be put to him later on the a
show. Asked the reason for h
this, she replied: S
Either the contestant was =
very nervous or the sponsor
had requested a particular out q
come Of a match"
@. Was this request made of
you?
A.. Not directly, but through I
Mr.. Carlin (Steven R. Carlin, I
producer of the $4,000 Chal- +
lenge). \
@. When would he transmit i
these requests to you? t
A. Anywhere from two to five I
days before the show which I
they concerned.