Week of June 15, 1955

The Senate Appropriations Committee votes extra funds to speed B-52 hydrogen

bomber production to counter Russia’s new air threat.

“ Operation Alert ” - a mock nuclear attack,

sounds in Washington. President Eisenhower and

his cabinet “flee” to safety. The President was

sped along a pre-arranged escape route into the

wooded mountains where his is at a secret

hideaway. He showed himself over television and

spoke calmly to the American people less than

three hours after his “escape.” The mock “blast” -

destroyed 53 American cities and left Washington

a radioactive ruin. It was the first time the

government fled the Capital since the British

burned it down in 1814.

President Juan Peron decrees a drastic crackdown on roaming mobs that sacked

and burned some of Buenos Aires’ best churches in the bloody naval air revolt.

He blamed Communists for the attacks on the churches during the revolt in which

360 died and nearly 1000 were wounded.

The United Nations celebrates its 10 th birthday. Only Molotov of the original

founding leaders will be on hand in San Francisco - where it all began.

Speaking of Russian Foreign Minister V.M. Molotov -

he’s been taking a tour of sorts - first New York, then

Chicago and then on to San Francisco. In Chicago, he

and a delegation of about 60 Russian and Polish

diplomats visited the U.S. Steel plant there, but could not

take pictures. Then Molotov strolled along Lake Michigan,

stopping traffic. The delegation then boarded the Chicago

& Northwestern train to San Francisco.

Some best-selling books -

Bonjour Tristesse - Francoise Sagan

Something of Value - Robert Ruak

Sincerely, Willis Wade - John P. Marquqnd

The Good Shepherd - C.S. Forester

Auntie Mame - Patrick Dennis

Run Silent, Run deep - Edward L. Beach

Gift From The Sea - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Week of June 15, 1955

Entertainment news - Jayne Mansfield (21) files

divorce suit against Paul J. Mansfield (25). They

married in 1950.

Back from five months of Italian movie making -

actress Rhonda Fleming tells

the Associated Press: “I play a

nude swimming scene myself. I

didn’t worry about it because it

was all shot just like we do in

Hollywood. Everybody was

barred from the set. The

cameras were hidden behind some trees - at too great a

distance to see anything. In fact everything was so far

removed and so proper that I didn’t even bother to wear the

usual flesh colored bathing suit.” The picture is “The

Courtesan of Babylon” and director Carlo Lodovico

Brageglia read the news and blew-up. “There was no such scene in the

screenplay nor was one ever filmed.”

Television news - Finally, ABC reveals

the new “Mickey Mouse Club” format.

Following the potpourri pattern utilized in

the “Disneyland” program - the Mickey

Mouse Club will consist of constantly

varying assortment of short features,

many of them combining information and

education with entertainment. 70% of

each day’s show will consist of new

material, a lot of it animated, shot

expressly for the show. Some of the

features include:

Mickey Mouse Newsreel - Human-interest films of how children live, work and

play in other parts of the world.

Mouseketeers - Live photography of a troupe of professional children

entertainers, emceed by adult Jimmy Dodd; singing, dancing and generally

having fun.

This is You - animated cartoons devoted to safety, showing how to ride a bike,

swim safely, how to be careful walking the streets etc.

Week of June 15, 1955

Marty Markham - a documentary story, continuing in serial form from day to

day, of a boy and what happens to him in camp, school etc.

Explorers Club - visits to interesting places and interesting activities such as a

shark hunt, a pony farm or a stallion round-up.

When I Grow Up - describes occupations that children may be interested in

such as policeman, fireman, stewardess etc.

Week of June 15, 1955

Most popular off-network shows with kids -

Abbott and Costello

Hopalong Cassidy

Annie Oakley

Dick Tracy

Cisco Kid

Gene Autry

Superman

Little Rascals

Ramar of the Jungle

Rocky Jones Space Ranger

Wild Bill Hickok

Range Rider

Laurel and Hardy

Kit Carson

Badge 714

Cowboy G-Men

Hans Christian Anderson

Victory at Sea

Death Valley Days

You All Star Theater

Meet Corliss Archer

Inspector Mark saber

I Led Three Lives

Amos ‘n’ Andy

My Hero

Your Star Showcase

Edward R. Morrow completes several

“See It Now” programs on the alleged

relationship between cigarette smoking

and lung cancer.

Wednesday night television -

CBS - Perry Como, Godrey’s Friends, The Millionaire, I’ve Got A Secret, Front

Row Center

NBC - Eddie Fisher, News Caravan, Request Performance, My Little Margie,

Sponsored Theatre, This is Your Life, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Tonight Show with

Steve Allen

Week of June 15, 1955

ABC - Disneyland, Mr. Citizen, Masquerade Party, Penny to a Million, Boxing,

Henny and Rocky

Disneyland - “Man in Space” - man’s efforts to conquer outer space.

My Little Margie - It’s Margie and the football team of Vern’s ala mater.

I’ve Got A Secret - Bill Cullen, Henry Morgan, Jayne Meadows. Garry Moore

hosts.

Tonight Show with Steve Allen - Errol Garner, Bob Mannin. With Skitch

Henderson and the orchestra.

Radio news - NBC debuts

“Monitor” on weekends. It’s full

of features, music and

interviews.

Al (Jazzbo) Collins will emcee

the first regularly scheduled all-

night network deejay show

from 11am Saturday to 7am

Sunday over NBC radio

beginning June 18. It’s part of

NBC’s new “Monitor” weekend

service.

Music news -

Webb Pierce - a top-selling

country & western artist,

tenders his “Grand Ole Opry”

resignation. In a letter, Webb

complained that he was not

given his own radio show and

that despite the fact that he had

been voted the top folk singer

for the last two years, WSM

had not shown him “any

consideration whatsoever.”

Week of June 15, 1955

Dramatic return engagement - Sammy Davis Jr. returns to resume his

engagement at the New Frontier, interrupted four months ago by a near tragic

accident that cost him the sight of an eye. Sammy peeled-off his eye patch to a

standing ovation.

Another Alan Freed rock ‘n’ roll show was staged May 28 - this time at Lowe’s

State Theater in Boston. Appearing were Dinah Washington, Dakota Station,

Nappy Brown, Ella Johnson, The Moonglows and the Five Keys.

Week of June 15, 1955

Top Rhythm and Blues -

Ain’t That Ashame - Fats Domino

Unchained Melody - Roy Hamilton

Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley

Bop Ting A Ling - Lavern Baker

As Long As I’m Moving - Ruth Brown

Don’t Be Angry - Nappy Brown

My Babe - Little Walter

Watcha Gonna Do? - Drifters

Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler

Story Untold - Nutmegs

Flip Flop and Fly - Joe Turner

Door is Still Open - Cardinals

Rolling Stone - Marigolds

If It’s The Last Thing I Do - Dinah Washington

Henry’s Got Flat Feet - Midnighters

At the movies -

Love Me Or Leave Me - Doris Day , James

Cagney, Cameron Mitchell

East of Eden (In CinemaScope ) - Julie Harris,

James Dean, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives

The Purple Plain - Gregory Peck

The Seven Year Itch - Marilyn Monroe - Tom

Ewell

Walt Disney’s Davy Crockett - Fess Parker,

Buddy Epsen

Not As A Stranger - Robert Mitchum, Olivia de

Havilland, Frank Sinatra

Summertime - Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazzi