Week of December 1, 1959

President Eisenhower lands in Rome - the first stop on his 11-nation “mission of

peace and goodwill.” “I hope to make widely known America’s deepest desire - a

world in which all nations may prosper in freedom, justice and peace, unmolested

and unafraid.

In Rome, President Eisenhower assures President Gronchi that he will

sympathetically plead Italy’s case for inclusion to any western or East-West

summit meeting dealing European security and disarmament.

resigns that post and is replaced by Philadelphia banker

Thomas Soverign Gates Jr.

Dam break - A roaring mass of water breaks a dam in

Frejus, France, sending water through the Reyran Valley

on the French Riviera, claiming, so far, 198 lives.

Sen. Thomas Hennings Jr. (D-Mo.) said his Senate

subcommittee on juvenile delinquency found smuggled

Mexican marijuana a root factor in widespread youthful

gang violence.

rockets to raze all his foes, and declares world disarmament

must be solved along with the Berlin question.

In a Gallup Poll - an overwhelming majority of Americans would

like to see the temporary agreement with Russia to ban nuclear

weapons tests continued.

Sam the monkey survives a space flight by NASA to test escape equipment.

Sam was launched 55 miles into space atop an eight-engine Little Joe rocket

from Wallops Island, VA. His capsule successfully separated from the booster,

parachuting into the Atlantic - 200 miles from shore.

Teamsters union president James Hoffa is called before a grand jury in its

investigation of political contributions by St. Louis teamsters local 688.

The United States, Russia and 10 other nations complete an unprecedented

treaty opening the vast Antarctica continent to peaceful scientific exploration. The

treaty bans military activity and both military and peaceful explosions in the 5

Week of December 1, 1959

million square mile South Polar area. It also provides for a unique inspection

system under which each member nation may send observers at will to check

suspected treaty violations.

Medical - Dr Paul H. Keyes of the National Institute of Dental Research says

dental decay may be contagious. In his lab tests - dental decay was found to be

infectious and transmissible in hamsters and white rats.

Week of December 1, 1959

number one song on the charts this week, is quizzed

by payola investigators on appearances on “The Alan

Freed” television show in New York. Freed was

recently fired by WABC radio where he had an

evening shift, and was canned for his afternoon

dance show on WNEW-TV after refusing to sign an

oath on taking payola. Freed brought Rock and Roll

to New York and gained fame when he was hired by

WINS in 1954. WINS fired Freed last year and he

was hired by WABC almost immediately. Also

quizzed in the Freed case - Les Paul and Mary Ford

and singers Eileen Rodgers and Don Cherry.

The Federal Communications Commission demands

that the nation’s 5000 plus radio and television stations report under oath,

whether their employees have accepted secret payments to plug persons or

products. The FCC says the edict is to track down, what they call “sneaky

commercials” - plugs that are paid for, without the listener or viewer knowing it.

The order includes 3,525 commercial AM stations, 816 commercial FM stations,

166 educational FM stations, 669 commercial TV stations and 60 educational TV

stations.

CBS says it is banding mentions of products,

not directly related to the show’s sponsor -

shows that identifies its gift donors. Product

mentions are a lucrative income for networks.

Bob Hope does a sketch on payola on this

week’s NBC show. NBC didn’t like the sketch,

which mentioned various products - but the

show will air as it was produced. Hope said: “I

couldn’t delete the references without ruining

the sketch. I keep to timely and topical subjects and whenever I get on anything

provocative, they try to water it down.” The skit features Ernie Kovacs. Other

guests of the show this week - Rhonda Fleming, Janis Paige, Rod Lauren and

David Rose and his orchestra.

Week of December 1, 1959

For Christmas

in its TV code designed to prevent rigged quiz shows, deceptive advertising and

payola practices. The association said any TV station which fails to comply with

the TV code loses the right to display the association seal of good practice.

CBS president Louis Cowan quits in an angry protest under rumors of large-scale

rigging of quiz shows. Cowan originated the $64,000 question in 1955.

Sensitive - CBS says some of the crowd noises heard in television’s coverage of

President Eisenhower’s trip to Europe last August were “dubbed in” by

technicians in New York. The network says the “dubbed-in” sound was employed

on only a small fraction of their total coverage and had no editorial significance.

Week of December 1, 1959

NBC now requires all its employees who select music on the 11 owned NBC

radio and television stations to make sworn answers to a personal questionnaire.

The move is an outgrowth of the congressional payola investigation.

NBC announces the appointment of James Stabile as vice president in charge of

standards and practices fro the network. He’ll supervise activities begun some

time ago to eliminate questionable practices in programming and advertising.

being drunk. He told Rooney he was a “has-been” as he was

leaving the stage. Later, Rooney told reporters, he was going

over to Paar’s hotel room to belt him on the nose. Paar did

confirm that Rooney did indeed call him to let him know it.

Later this week, the two made-up and Rooney did agree to

appear on the show again.

The Crosby Brothers - Gary, Philip, Lindsay and Dennis - split their quartet up

and walk out of a 10-day, $12 thousand engagement in Montreal. . A year ago

when they formed the quartet, they vowed to stay eternally in show business

together. All are the sons of Bing Crosby. The breakup was due to internal strife.

Place” cuts her first record. It’s for the Decca label titled, “When

You’re Young.”

Passing - Mrs Anne Costello (47) widow of comedian Lou

Costello - suffered a heart condition for several years, but has

been under a doctor’s care since her husband’s passing in

March ... of a heart attack.

from London to New York with an armload of Christmas

presents for Lucy and the kids. “We will all spend Christmas

together in Palm Springs. I’m taking home a stack of

presents - perfume for Lucy and toys for the kids.”

Singer Johnny Ray is acquitted in Detroit by a jury of a

charge of accosting and soliciting a vice squad policeman for

immoral purposes. When the verdict was announced, the singer fainted. Revived

by his manager and police, Ray thanked the jury foreman. Ray was arrested on

Week of December 1, 1959

November 21 by policeman Eugene Caviston - who said the singer made an

indecent proposal to him.

Prima donna Maria Callas, in an outburst of temper denied she is pregnant and

threatens to sue “Anabella” after it ran an article with the headline “Is Maria

Callas Expecting a Baby.” Ms. Callas just legally separated from her husband

Giovanni Battista Meneghini. “The interference with my private life has now

reached an unprecedented point,” she announced through her maid.

New at the mart - Praise Soap - “New pink PRAISE - the totally new kind of soap

cleans ... clears ... babies your skin! ... From Lever Brothers

At the mart - Onions - 3lbs for .14 ... Chicken of the Sea tuna - (4) 6 1/2 cans -

$1.00 ... Frozen Orange Juice - (6) 6oz cans - .89

Bestsellers - “Advise and Consent” - Allen Drury, “Poor No

More” - Robert Ruark, “Exodus” - Leon Uris, “The War Lover”

- John Hershey, “Act One” - Moss Hart, “The Status Seekers”

- Vance Packard, “This Is My God” - Herman Wouk, “Folk

Medicine” - D.C. Jarvis

Show, The Garry Moore Show ... NBC - Laramie, Fiber

McGee and Molly, Startime, Mike Hammer ... ABC -

Sugarfoot, Wyatt Earp, The Rifleman, Philip Marlowe,

Alcoa Presents, Special-Dr Dooley

Dobie Gillis - In order to win over a girl, Dobie says that he

is the offspring of a sweet and generous father.

Wyatt Earp - Wyatt finds himself in the middle of a feud between to famous gun

fighters.

Red Skelton - Bobby Rydell guests.

Jack Paar - guests Meredith and Rini Willson.

Week of December 1, 1959

Wednesday night television -

CBS - Douglas Edwards with the news, The Lineup, Men Into Space, The

NBC - Huntley-Brinkley news, Wagon Train, Perry Como, This Is Your Life,

Wichita Town, Jack Paar

ABC - Court of Last Resort, Charley Weaver, Ozzie and Harriet, Hawaiian Eye,

Boxing

Week of December 1, 1959

Men Into Space - Stars William Lundigan. Tonight’s episode “Edge of Eternity.”

Perry Como (color) - Dolores Gray, Andy Griffith and Joe Bushkin.

Jack Paar - Guests include Red Skelton and Carl Reiner.

In Syndication

Week of December 1, 1959

Pop music this week in 1959 -

MACK THE KNIFE - Bobby Darin

Orchestra

OH! CAROL - Neil Sedaka

UH! OH! - The Nutty Squirrels

HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER -

Guy Mitchell

WE GOT LOVE - Bobby Rydell

WAY DOWN YONDER IN NEW

ORLEANS - Freddie Cannon

IT’S TIME TO CRY - Paul Anka

THE BIG HURT - Miss Toni Fisher

BELIEVE ME - The Royal Teens

WHY - Frankie Avalon

TEAR DROP - Santo & Johnny

AMONG MY SOUVENIRS - Connie

Francis

DANCE WITH ME - The Drifters

SO MANY WAYS - Brook Benton

DECK OF CARDS - Wink Martindale

DON’T YOU KNOW - Della Reese

At the movies -

Meriwether, James Congoon,

Robert Strauss, Edgar Stehli

Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd,

Suzy Parker

Ben Hur

Niven, Mitzi Gaynor

Egan, Dorothy McGuire,

Sandra Dee

Bardot

Week of December 1, 1959