Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-01-20
Cu|tureCenter
TvDateShifted
Benefit Broadcast
Is Moved to Fall
By ROBERT ]. LEWIS
Star Staff Writer

funds to build the national Gull
tural center has been scheduled
for next fall, instead of this
spring.
At a White House meeting
yesterday, the center's board of
trustees authorized preSenta-
ton of closed-circuit program
next October or November,
rather than in May as orig
.nally planned.
At the same time, the trus-
tees authorized Chairman Roger
l.. Stevens to enter into con-
tracts for the tWo-hour pro-
duction and to go ahead with
arrangements for local sponsor
ship in cities throughout the
country.
President John F. Kennedy is
expected to head the entertain
ment bill-and Mrs. Kennedy
may also appear on the pro-
gram, Mr.. Stevens said after
yesterdays meeting.
The three-building cultural
center project will cost a total
of $50 million.
Pageant of Arts
The telecast presentation will
De called AN American Pag-
cant of the Arts" - name
suggested by Miss Dorothy
Ducas of New York, who once
wrote a home decoration COL
umn for The Star, in collab-
grafton with Elizabeth Gordon,
now editor of House Beautiful
magazine. Miss DucaS formerly
was associated with the Ameri-
can Red Gross and is now help
ing with the Embarrassing cam
paign.
Mr.. Stevens said the telecaSt
will cover variety of cultural
fields including the perform
ing arts, writing, music and
other compositions.
I'VE intend to put a program
together that will be attractive
to everyone and represent the
best of our culture" he said.
OF a Embarrassing goal of $40.
million, half will be left in
local communities for use in
cultural activity.
The country's LOO symphony
orchestras will be relied on as
the backbone of local sponsor
ship, but other cultural organ
izations will be invited to par
ticipate.
Grants More Time
Mr.. Stevens, a New York
theatrical producer and real
estate investor, said the fall
date was decided on to allow
more time for local organiza-
lions to be set up.
A total of $50 closed circuit
television outlets are available
across the country, he said, and
it is hoped most of them can
be brought into the cultural
pageant's network.
Some SITES he said, will have
a half dozen or more stimuli
taneouS showings, some at
hotel dinners at 500 a plate
and others, with small admis-
sion fees, in theaters, bathrooms
and auditoriums.
After the telecast receipts are
Tailed, Embarrassing will con-
tinue.
We're hoping individuals
who can afford it, as we'll as
philanthropic foundations, will
rally to this cause and help
make the Embarrassing COM
pletely successful for this truly
national symbol of American
culture" Mr.. Stevens said.
1864 Start Is Hope
He added he hoped actual
construction would begin early
in 1864 on the 11-acre Potomac
River site north of the Lincoln
Memorial.
A revised goal, replacing the
bogged-doWn earlier program,
calls for construction of a
1,200-seat theater, a 2,750-seat
music hall and another audi
forum for ballet, opera and
musical comedy to seat between
$3.50 and $500 persons.
Architect Edward urell
Stone is now working on de-
signs for the three separate
buildings, which eventually may
be joined together, he said here
Thursday, by a fourth central
structure.
Mr.. Stevens indicated that
a producer for the television
program will be named soon.
The response of the Nations
talent has been marvellous" he
added. We'll have the best