Week of February 15, 1953

A National Airlines DC-6 with 41 onboard disappears on a flight over the Gulf of

Mexico from Miami to New Orleans. So far, 17 bodies are recovered.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules that the fighting in Korea, legally or

constitutionally, is not war. The ruling effects insurance policies with war risk

clauses which call for no payments in the event of war connected death during a

period of officially declared war.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a bill to cut personal income

taxes 10 on June 30.

Two Senators - Langer of North Dakota and

Magnuson of Washington, favor abandonment

of Alcatraz Prison, saying it would be cheaper

to board its prisoners at plush hotels in New

York and Washington. Langer said it probably

would cost about $7 million to build a new

federal prison to replace Alcatraz but opined it

would be worth it. “We could take prisoners

from Alcatraz and board them in the Waldorf

Astoria cheaper.”

their two children in the death house at Sing

Sing prison in Ossining, NY. The two are

Michael (9) and Robert (5).

A federal judge sets the execution date for the Rosenbergs for March 9.

Rosenberg (36) and his wife (36) were spared death on the original execution

date of January 14 so they could appeal to the White House for clemency.

President Eisenhower turned them down last week. They are the first American

civilians ever condemned to die for wartime espionage.

In Kansas City, Former President and Mrs. Truman were riding in a motorcade

which collided with a panel truck at an intersection, but no one was injured and

damage was minor.

Week of February 15, 1953

President Eisenhower warns that Russia is “steadily” building up its armed might,

including atomic weapons and that the United States consequently faces a

costly, five-year arms buildup.

A Midwest blizzard stretching from the Rockies to the Great Lakes kills 9.

Also, Harry Truman sells the rights to his memoirs to Life Magazine for $600,000.

Mrs. Marge Moretti of Maplewood, NJ says she’ll get back her cash of $1,500 -

cash and bonds that were accidentally baked in her oven. She was amazed to

watch Treasury experts get to work, slicing through the charred remnants with a

fine knife and noting burned numbers and portraits indicating denominations of

bills.

the industry calls “the seduction principle,” but men buy only

to replace worn-out garments, according to apparel

merchants. That’s why American women bought five-times as

much apparel as men last year.

Sports - The Brooklyn Dodgers get Pitcher Russ Meyer from

Philadelphia in a trade.

Hollywood news - Shelly Winters has a baby girl, born

prematurely weighing just 4 pounds and 10 ounces.

Week of February 15, 1953

Walt Disney promotes his latest movie “Peter Pan” Sunday night.

Television News -

Philip Morris signs a 2 ½ year deal to keep “I Love Lucy” going. About half will go

to Desilu Productions which produces the show and the other half will go to air

charges. All rights to the shows will revert back to Ms. Ball and her husband and

the end of the contract.

Week of February 15, 1953

Television in 3D? It’s being talked about… Many believe television is gearing

itself towards 3-D. Some network special effects departments are launching

experiments with the new process. At the present state, it’s considered easier to

televise stereo images (3D) in live form, rather than on reels or film. The reason -

two images taken form two image orthicons can be superimposed electronically

in the control room. To use film, a special complex type of projector is required.

Television 3D, nonetheless, will require special glasses.

John Cameron Swayze is into his fifth year on NBC-TV’s “Camel News Caravan.”

The program which began with 10 camera crews and four stations is now using

60 newsreel crews and is broadcast on some 54 stations. Stories can be shot

and are readied for airing in about an hour!

“Canteen U.S.A.” program each week. The singer

says she’s never worked so hard and that in

television, “you have to make use of everything

you’ve ever learned in the movies, radio or on the

stage.”

The FCC approves the merger of United

Paramount Theatres Inc and the American

Monday night television -

CBS - Perry Como, Lux Video Theatre, Godfrey

Talent Scouts, I Love Lucy, Red Buttons, Studio One

NBC - John Cameron Swayze News, Howard Barlow, Hollywood Opening Night,

Robert Montgomery Presents, Dangerous Assignment

Week of February 15, 1953

weeping crooner, is sued for $100,000. Herman

Prujansky, who said he and Ray made an oral agreement

last July 15 under which he became ray’s publicity man at

$200 a week. Prujansky said the agreement called for his

services so long as Ray remained in the entertainment

business, but that he was fired December 3 without

cause.

Trend in music - Record labels are backing off from

making “cover” songs. The major labels no longer believe

it economical to cover since there is little percentage in “second money” on any

hit song. The top version makes the most money and the rest are left with

crumbs. The music/recording industry is going gangbusters these days.

Jackie Gleason makes his debut as a maestro at the La Vie en Rose - a New

York nite spot. The booking is an evolution of the “Music For Lovers Only” album

he cut for Capitol Records.

Radio news - New York City is home to a plethora of Negro disk jockeys. All are

popular with their audiences:

Jack Walker - WOV

Joe Bostic - WBNX

Willie Bryant - WHOM-WOR

Hal Jackson - WMCA

Phil Gordon - WLIB

Howard Bowser and Sarah Lou - WLIB

Lucky Millinder - WNEW

Dock Wheeler - WWRL

Larry Fuller - WLIB

Bill Cook - WAAT

At the movies -

Walt Disney’s Peter Pan

Week of February 15, 1953

Week of February 15, 1953

TV Private Eye Show Jeffrey Jones