Week of March 15, 1953

The Communist President-dictator of Czechoslovakia,

after returning from the Moscow funeral of Joseph Stalin.

Like Stalin, there is some question as to who will succeed

him. He was East Europe’s most powerful satellite leader.

The force of an atomic explosion in Nevada is seen for

hundreds of miles. A press release earlier said it was

from an untried type of atomic weapon, in the first of the

1953 series of nuclear tests.

President Eisenhower says that recent Red attacks on allied planes apparently

do not reflect any change in Russia’s attitude either for better or worse.

In Bonn, the lower house of the West German Parliament ratifies the European

army treaty and the allied peace pact by which West Germany will supply a

500,000-man army for the defense of West Europe. Thousands of Communist

demonstrators fought wild free-for-alls with police outside Parliament but where

prevented from getting near the building.

In a West Point speech - Gen. Douglas MacArthur told his audience - “In war

there can be no substitute for victory.” “Oblivious to the lessons of military history

and the American tradition, a new concept has arisen from outside our ranks

which tends to disavow victory as the combat objective and to advocate in its

stead a new kind of tactic on which to base the

battle. The result can be nothing but failure.”

In Paris, Pablo Picasso, intellectual darling of

the French Communist Party and painter of its

dove of peace, is firmly scolded by the party

12 issue of the Communist weekly Les Lettres

Francais. The portrait was an inoffensive

drawing of Stalin in about the same style as

Picasso’s dove. The secretariat’s front-page

communiqué in the Communist newspaper

L’Humanite indicated the party leaders did not

find enough photographic realism in the sketch.

Week of March 15, 1953

chieftain turned anti-Soviet dictator, lunches at

Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth II. From that

meeting, he went into a two-hour cold war strategy

session with Prime Minister Churchill.

In Princeton - Professor Albert Einstein says that his new

theory, designed to explain everything from single atoms

to the universe, is mathematically correct. But he added -

“I have not been able to find out if there are any physical

truths in it.” Einstein, who just turned 74, discussed his

new theory at a news conference in connection with the announcement that a

college, under Jewish auspices, has been named the Albert Einstein College of

Medicine. The new college will be built in New York.

N.S. Khrushchev, a fast-rising Ukrainian Soviet politician, appears to have

stepped into an old job of his boss, Prime Minister Georgi Malenkov - the

leadership of the Central committee of the Soviet Union Communist Party.

Sen. Joseph McCarthy says he will begin to hunt Reds in the overseas press.

He’s asked for a list of all newspapers and periodicals used in the State

Department’s overseas information program and any money paid to them.

Sports - The American League refuses to permit Bill Veeck to transfer his St

Louis Browns franchise to Baltimore.

Ralph Kiner says he will resign with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

rose to fame 12 years ago when she played

opposite Orson Welles in “Citizen Kane, is

jailed on a commercial vice charge.

In Italy - Ingrid Bergman announces she is

“through with films” and wants to go on the

stage, but only if her husband is there. She

says she’ll retire after completing her present

movie, “New Wine,’ being made in the Naples

vicinity under the direction of her husband,

Roberto Rossellini.

Week of March 15, 1953

Paramount’s “Elephant Walk” because of illness,

will be replaced by Elizabeth Taylor. Ms. Lee said

by physicians to be suffering from a nervous

breakdown.

and Paramount are operating on a curtailed

production schedule as they await public reception

to 3-D and wide-screen developments before

determining their future courses. Theater owner

concerns are mounting regarding the availability of

product during the waiting or possible changeover period. They need not worry;

the studios have a healthy backlog.

“CinemaScope is being demonstrated in Hollywood this week. “This week, a

momentous new era in motion pictures is being launched in our Hollywood

studios with the first demonstrations of CinemaScope, the most eagerly

anticipated development in the history of entertainment.” Exhibitors can see the

Academy Awards held this week -

Gary Cooper - Best Actor for “High Noon.”

Shirley Booth - Best Actress for “Come Back , Little Sheba.”

Anthony Quinn - Best Supporting Actor For “Viva Zapatal.”

Gloria Grahame - Best Supporting Actress For “The Band and the Beautiful.”

Best Picture - “Greatest Show On Earth.’

news. “I’m a hell of an actor. I get my inspiration from

the people who work with me. That was particularly true

about ‘High Noon.’ I feel doubly honored because I feel

I’m receiving the vote for so many people. I’m very

happy and very flattered.”

Television news - “Mr. Wizard” with Don Herbert, which

debuted two years ago on 12 NBC stations, is now seen

on 54 NBC-TV affiliates.

Week of March 15, 1953

Thursday night television -

CBS - Jane Froman’s Canteen, Burns and Allen, Amos and Andy, Biff Baker

USA, Big Town, My Little Margie, I’ve Got A Secret

NBC - Dinah Shore, News, Groucho Marx, Treasury Men In Action, Dragnet,

Martin Kane, Academy Awards

ABC - Lone Ranger, The Devil You Say, Chance of a Lifetime, Boxing From

Detroit, Dog Show of Champions, Personality Puzzle.

DuMont - Guide Right, Broadway to Hollywood, Trash or Treasure?, What’s The

Story?

Jackie Gleason’s cast of characters: The Poor Soul, Joe the Bartender,

Reggie Van Gleason III and the Loud Mouth. Catch Gleason Saturday

Nights on CBS-TV.

Week of March 15, 1953

Week of March 15, 1953

Music news - Mrs. Billie Williams (20),

testifies to a legislative committee

investigating narcotics traffic in

Oklahoma, that she believes H.R. (Toby)

Marshall, an Oklahoma convict paroled

from a forgery sentence, contributed to

her husband’s death. Toby, who had

admitted posing as a doctor, denied he

ever conspired with anyone to take the

life of the singer. Marshal testified that

Williams paid him $300 a week plus

expenses to accompany him on a Texas

singing tour and treat him for alcoholism. Marshall admitted his medical degrees

were false and he only got as far as high school. Mrs. Williams told the

committee - “I never will accept the report that my husband died of a heart

attack.”

Records for an initial period of two years. He’ll receive an

undisclosed guarantee against the usual 5% royalty fee.

Sinatra previously was with Columbia Records since 1943.

His pact expired a few months ago. Although that label

wanted to re-sign with him, Sinatra said he wanted a

change. RCA Victor was also talking to the singer

Another Hank Williams memorial record is out - Ernest Tubb’s “Hank, It Will

Never Be The Same Without You” on Decca Records.

Les Paul & Mary Ford aren’t too happy with their label - Capitol, after they

released Kay Starr’s “Side by Side.” Paul-Ford contends the Starr record was

made with the same multiple-dubbing process which they have used on their

string of hits on the Capitol label. Besides mastering the electric guitar, Paul is an

electronics expert and his sound is very unique.

Decca Records is opening a new record pressing plant - its fourth. This one is in

Gloversville, New York and will handle all speeds.

RCA Victor’s cast album of the Walt Disney movie “Peter Pan” is shaping up as

the best-selling kid’s item since “Cinderella.” “Peter Pan” with Kathy Beaumont

and Bobby Driscoll has already gone over 100,000 sales.

Week of March 15, 1953

Week of March 15, 1953

Capitol Records has lined up

Bunny Hop dance contests in a

flock of cities to help promote

Ray Anthony’s “Bunny Hop”

record. Capitol is working with

the Fred Astaire Dance studios

in about 15 key cities with local

TV personalities.

Chicago’s Mercury Records

says business is up a whopping

50% over last year’s January

and February with much of the

gain coming from relatively

unknown artists. Groups such

as the Gaylord’s and Rusty

Draper, who was hired to offset

loss of Frankie Laine. Also,

Mercury has been pushing

instrumental sides working with the National Ballroom Operators Assn and other

groups to push the dance tunes. One such - Ralph Marterie’s side of “Pretend”

just hit 250,000 in sales. Of course, the label’s Patti Page does tremendously

well. “Doggie In The Window” just hit 750,000 in sales.

WNEW is going to rival WABC radio. Deal includes

Block airing his “Make Believe Ballroom” over the

ABC radio network each afternoon. Block will receive

a guarantee of $200,000 per year, with a potential of

earning over $3 if he’s sold out for the five-year term.

Block had been with WNEW for 18 years.

Dr. Edwin H. Armstrong, the inventor of FM radio,

announces a new transmitting system of two or three

signals on the same FM radio channel. It would

permit FM stations to send out as much as three

different programs or permit stereophonic

broadcasting. The new term is called “multiplexing.”

Week of March 15, 1953

Top hits this week in 1953 -

TILL I WALTZ AGAIN WITH YOU - Teresa Brewer

THE DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW - Patti Page

DON’T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES - Perry Como

PRETEND - Nat “King” Cole or Ralph Marterie & Orchestra

TELL ME YOU’RE MINE - Gaylords

I BELIEVE - Frankie Laine

YOUR CHEATIN’ HEART - Joni James

ANYWHERE I WANDER - Julius LaRosa

WILD HORSES - Perry Como

HAVE YOU HEARD - Joni James

At the movies this week in 1953 -

Alfred Hitchcock’s “I

Brian Aherne

Thomas

Greer

Ladd, Deborah Kerr, Charles

Boyer

Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell

Peter Pan