Week of February 23, 1959

An Atlas ICBM blows apart with a brilliant flash of white flame, three minutes after

launching at Cape Canaveral. It’s the seventh time an Atlas had broken apart for

one reason or another in 21 launchings conducted since June of 1957. The

malfunction occurred just before engine burnout.

Adm. Arleigh A. Burke , Chief of U.S. Naval

Operations says that the United States “has the ability

right now, in being, to destroy the Soviet Union ... in

several ways and several times over. He said the U.S.

did not need to race Russia in numbers of missiles any

more than it had raced the Soviets for submarines or

army divisions.

The FBI seizes 51 bags of heroin, worth an estimated

$500,000 from a Capital Airlines Viscount plane in New

York. Someone phoned and said a bomb was on

board. Passengers were then taken to the terminal building and asked to reclaim

their baggage. The airline operates on the theory that no bomber would reclaim a

piece of baggage, which later might be opened to expose an internal device. All

the baggage was reclaimed except one piece of luggage. An airline reservations

clerk thought he recalled that the suitcase had been checked in by one of the

passengers - but the passenger twice denied it was his.

British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan agrees with

Premier Khrushchev to begin work on an Anglo-Soviet

cultural treaty and appeals to the Russians to “combine

our peace” with the British. Recalling the alliance with

Russia during WWII, Macmillan said: “When I reflect

upon the present situation in the world, I wonder whether

we have not at least as great a common interest today.

That common interest is peace. Somehow, in spite of all

those difficulties and obstacles, let us combine for

peace.” Said Khrushchev - “Social conditions in each country depend on the will

of the peoples of each country. But we all live on the same planet and enjoy the

same sun and air.”

Philosopher Bertrand Russell (86) says he expects to

die on June 1, 1962. “Why June 1, 1962? Well, I will be

just past 90 then and it seems a suitable age to die. I must

confess, I am becoming a little nervous as the time

approaches. Lord Russell will be 87 on

Week of February 23, 1959

May 18 and says he will read is obituary on a television interview program next

month.

Bestsellers -

Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

From The Terrace - John O’Hara

Around The World With Auntie Mame - Patrick

Dennis

The Ugly American - W. Lederer and E. Burdick

Voctorine - Frances Parkinson Keys

Lady L - Roman Gary

Only In America - Harry Golden

Twixt Twelve and Twenty - Pat Boone

Aku-Aku - Thor Heyerdahl

The Coming of the New Deal - A.M. Schlesinger

Wedemeyer Reports - Gen A.C. Wedemeyer

Nautilus 90 North - Comdr. W.A. Anderson

What We Know About Communism - Harry And

Bonaro Overstreet

Baa Baa Black Sheep - Gregory (Pappy) Boyington

The Memoirs of Field Marshal Montgomery - Viscount Montgomery

An underwater break in the 2,000-mile transatlantic telephone cable piles-up

waiting phone-calls between Europe and the United States. The break is

believed to be off Newfoundland. An American cable ship is en route to make

repairs. You’ll have to wait to complete that phone call.

Hollywood News - It’s official -

Actress/singer Debbie

Reynolds divorces singer

Eddie Fisher. She’ll receive a

$1 million property settlement

agreement already approved

by the court. Ms Reynolds was

part of the Eddie Fisher-

Elizabeth Taylor love triangle

and lost. On the stand, she

referred to Ms Taylor only as

Fisher’s “new interest.” She’ll

get custody of their two

Week of February 23, 1959

children - Carrie Francis (2) and Todd Emanuel (11 months). Later, she

commented to reporters - “I’m not bitter about them - not the least bit. I wish them

every happiness together, just as I want my own life to be happy... In the first

place, I’ve got my children whom I adore. And I’ve got my work. My career is

doing fine right now and I love working. I’ve got five pictures lined up, one after

another and I think that’s good for me right now.”

Hollywood separation - Actress Arlene

Dahl declares she and her husband of

four years, actor Fernando Lamas are

separated because “we have lost all

contact with each other.” “My chief

concern now is for the welfare of our son,

Lorenzo, who is just a year old. I haven’t

wanted to go back to work because I did

not want to miss one minute with him.”

She plans to file for divorce immediately.

“New General Electric Clock Radio With Nite Light and Snooz Alarm ... Tap the

Nite-light control, clock face flows with soft light ... Snooz Alarm buzzer wakes

you, lets you catnap, then calls again ... as many as five times. Lulls you to sleep

... wakes you to music or news ... turns itself and appliances on and off

automatically. Phono-jack. Choice of colors. (Pulls in those AM stations loud and

clear).

Movie news - Singer Paul Anka , one of the hottest artists on

the top-40, is signed by MGM for his motion picture debut in

“Girls Town.” He’ll costar with Mamie Van Doren and sing four

songs. Anka will write two of his own songs. Although known

for his rock n roll hits, he’ll be singing “Ave Maria” in the film.

His current single “(All Of A Sudden), My Heart Sings” has sold

over 600,000 copies.

Television news - NBC says it will go

into production of yet another western -

“Bonanza,” beginning next month. Unlike

other westerns, this one will follow the

adventures of three half-brothers who

operate a ranch with their father. The

new series will be filmed in Virginia City,

Nev. The show, says NBC, was inspired

by the popularity of other hour-long

Week of February 23, 1959

westerns - “Wagon Train” and “Cimarron City.” The series will be shot in color.

Famed newsman Edward R. Murrow says he will take a

year’s leave of absence from CBS beginning July 1. CBS says

that Arthur Godfrey will be the new host of his “Person to

Person.” Murrow is said to be unhappy with the state of

television journalism... In Newsweek Magazine, Godfrey said,

“Certain guests who appeared on his (Morrow’s) show would

never be on mine. I don’t want any phonies or any social

climbers. Phooey.” The crack at Morrow stirs a bit of anger on the “Person to

Person” show. Co-producers Jess Zousmer and John Aaron said - “We have

complained to management. We never have even met Godfrey. We said this

does not make it any easier for us to finish this season.” Sources say two

sponsors are going to cancel - P Lorilard and Revlon Inc.

The FCC applies the Equal-Time rule to all television newscasts.

If an elected official appears on the local TV news, his opponent

now has to appear, even though the story may involve other

subject matter. The ruling resulted from a complaint filed by Lar

Daly in Chicago, a candidate for both the Republican and

Democratic nominations in an upcoming primary. He demanded

time equal to that given to Mayor Richard J. Daley after news

films showed sequences showing the mayor filing a petition as a

candidate in the next election

Dancing etiquette for teenagers... from a

teenage column, a girl writes in that her high

school puts on a lot of dances during the school

year. She asks that after dancing with a boy - is

it proper for the girl to thank the boy or, should

the boy thank the girl for the dance? Is it proper

for both to say thank you? ... Answer: After a

boy and girl dance, the boy should always escort

the girl back to her friends or to where she was

sitting and thank her for the dance. The girl

should say, “I enjoyed it too,”

“That was fun” or

“Thank you” with the accent on YOU.

John Newland - host of ABC-TV’s “One Step Beyond” says he spends more of

his time directing the serials, or says John - a “conductor would be better. I know

the actors. I watch them and simply select the best things from their bag of

Week of February 23, 1959

tricks.” The show is based on witnessed events of

supernatural occurrences - but says Newland - “We

prefer to present a series of events dramatically, to

let the viewer make up his own mind. Our purpose

is, of course, first to entertain, to air a few unusual

things and thus to provoke a little thoughtful

controversy. We try to make the stories credible.

That’s one of the reasons we don’t use big names in

leading roles. All of our actors are fine craftsman but

not necessarily well known. Many of them are from New York.” Newland works

closely with producer Collier Young “a man of superlative taste and ability” and

several researchers and creators. This week’s story is a tale of a young mother

who defies death to fight for her small son’s life. It stars Julie Adams and Charles

Aidman.

Could have had a hit record ... but - Singer Tommy Leonetti (28) is dropped from

making an appearance on Dick Clark’s Friday night ABC-TV show this week after

publication of testimony before the Senate rackets committee that his former

manager had tried for force jukebox suppliers to push his records. He was to

appear on Clark’s TV show to plug his new record “Moonlight Serenade.” Said

the singer - “This kind of publicity could be very bad for my career and I want to

be treated fairly.” ABC says he may be booked back on the show when the

situation cools down. (Leonetti never made it on the charts). He won wide

recognition when he was engaged to appear as one of the 1957 cast members of

“Your Hit Parade” on NBC-TV.

Doctors say French Singer Edith Piaf (43) will be able to

return to her nightclub appearance at the Waldorf-Astoria

Hotel in a few days. She had a bad reaction to arthritis

medication.

Radio news - Mutual Broadcasting System confirms that

negotiations for its sale to Max Factor & Co - the big

cosmetics concern, are under way. The radio network is

owned by Scranton Corp, whose president is Hal Roach Jr.

The network was bought last summer for $2 million from a syndicate headed by

Armand Hammer. Mutual holds contracts with 543 affiliated radio stations in 48

states, but owns none outright.

On ABC-TV late afternoons - don’t miss “Walt Disney’s Adventure time.”

Week of February 23, 1959

In New York City - It’s Alan Freed’s dance show, every weekday afternoon on

WNEW-TV (Channel 5), a Metropolitan Broadcasting station. Alan Freed (the

king of rock n roll) can be heard evenings on WABC radio (dial 770). _

Tuesday Night Television -

CBS - Burns and Allen, Mackenzie’s Raiders, To Tell The Truth, Arthur Godfrey

Show, Show of the Month

NBC - Dragnet, George Gobel Show, George Burns Show, Bob Cummings, The

Californians, Mike Hammer

ABC - Cheyenne, Wyatt Earp, The Rifleman, The Naked City, Movie play

Arthur Godfrey - Jonathan Winters guests

George Gobel - Nat King Cole, Carl Reiner and Anita Bryant

To Tell The Truth - Sonny Fox guest

hosts for Bud Collyer

George Burns Show - Jill Corey and the

Statler Brothers guest

Later on - The Tonight Show with Jack

Paar - Peggy Cass, Helen Traubel and

Jean Kerr .

Pop music this week in 1959 -

DONNA - Ritchie Valens

VENUS - Frankie Avalon

16 CANDLES - The Crests

STAGGER LEE - Lloyd Price

THE CHILDREN’S MARCHING SONG - Cyril

Stapleton

CHARLIE BROWN - The Coasters

PETER GUNN THEME - Henry Mancini

PETITE FLEUR (Little Flower) - Chris Barber’s

Jazz Band

THE HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG (Ke Kali Nei

Au) - Andy Williams

MY HAPPINESS - Connie Francis

LONELY TEARDROPS - Jackie Wilson

Week of February 23, 1959

I’VE HAD IT - The Bell Notes

TALL PAUL - Annette (Funicello)

THE ALL AMERICAN BOY - Bill Parsons who is actually Bobby Bare

16 CANDLES - The Crests

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES - The Platters

A LOVER’S QUESTION - Clyde McPhatter

HE SAY (Oom Dooby Doom) - The Diamonds

(All Of A Sudden) MY HEART SINGS - Paul Anka

THERE MUST BE A WAY - Joni James

WHOLE LOTTA LOVING - Fats Domino

IT’S LATE - Ricky Nelson

ALVIN’s HARMONICA - The Chipmunks

TRAGEDY - Thomas Wayne

LOVERS NEVER SAY GOODBYE - The

Flamingos

I CRIED A TEAR - LaVern Baker

O’ FALLING STAR - The Four Knights

I’M A MAN - Fabian

LONELY TEARDROPS - Jackie Wilson

MANHATTAN SPIRITUAL - Reg Owen Orch

RAW-HIDE - Ling Wray & The Wraymen

DON’T TAKE YOUR GUNS TO TOWN -

Johnny Cash

PLAIN JANE - Bobby Darin

Top Country -

Don’t Take Your Guns To Town - Johnny Cash

At the movies -

The Remarkable Mr. Pennymaker - Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Charles

Coburn, Jill St John, Ron Ely, Ray Stricklyn, David Nelson, Dorothy Stickney

Separate Tables - Deobrah Kerr, Rita Hayworth, David Niven, Burt Lancaster

Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty

The Hanging Tree - Gary Cooper,

Maria Schell , Karl Malden

Enchanted Island - Dana Andrews,

Jane Powell

The Journey - Deborah Kerr, Yul

Brynner

Auntie Mame - Rosalind Russell

Tunnel Of Love - Doris Day,

Richard Widmark

Perfect Furlough - Tony Curtis,