Week of March 23, 1955

A spring blizzard hits the plains states with 47 dead as a result of the storm.

Soviet Russia in a surprise reversal puts forward new proposals similar to the

western program for reducing nuclear and other arms.

The government discloses plans to add atomic antiaircraft weapons to its already

extensive nuclear arsenal. Tests will include the firing of a nuclear blast miles

high in the air at an altitude where enemy bombers would fly. The explosion

could take out a number of enemy aircraft flying in formation.

Premier Ngo Dinh Diem’s nationalist forces and Binh Xuyen former river pirates

maintain an uneasy truce in South Vietnam’s “little civil war.”

President Eisenhower gives a verbal spanking to

predicting war over Matsu Island by mid-April and a

Chinese Communist attack on Quemoy a month

later. The President said sternly it doesn’t go the

United States much good, nor does it serve the

cause of world peace for anyone to talk too much

about such matters, including himself.

France completes parliamentary ratification of the

Paris agreements for the rearming of West Germany

and the accord on the saar. The return of guns to the hands of Germans 10

years after WWII was assured.

Russia and her satellites decide to set up a unified military command after

ratification of the Paris agreements rearming West Germany.

Eisenhower should spend less time with golf and should give

more attention to freeing Americans citizens held by the

Chinese Communists. He said the he was “shocked beyond

words at the attitude of persons in the White House” on the

sellout at Yalta.

Niagra falls area - A crushing onslaught of ice piles as high

as 30 feet in some places, sweeping cottages, boat-houses and docks before it

in the worst ice jam on the lower Niagara River in nearly two decades.

Week of March 23, 1955

Academy Awards - Some Winners:

Best actor - Marlon Brando - “On the

Waterfront.”

Country Girl.”

Best supporting actor - Edmond O’Brien

- “The Barefoot Contessa,”

Best supporting actress - Eva Marie

Saint - “On the Waterfront.”

Best picture - “On The Waterfront.”

Best song - “Three Coins In A Fountain.”

Music by Jule Styne; Lyrics by Sammy

Cahn

Best screenplay - “The Country Girl” -

George Seaton

learned from an “unimpeachable medical source” that the Salk polio vaccine has

been found 100% effective - that not a single child taking the vaccine had

developed polio. It said this was the gist of the report to be made officially April

12 by dr. Thomas Francis Jr. at the University of Michigan.

Entertainment news - Jimmy Stewart gets the role of Charles Lindberg in “The

Spirit of St. Louis.” Shooting begins in Paris on July 15. The actor says he’s

wanted the role ever since he knew the movie was going to be made.

performing. She was asked if she follows

the latest Paris fashions: “I buy the latest

fashions but I do not wear them. This is

my favorite costume (sweater and blue

slacks). I can’t get interested in

appearance I feel I am losing time when I

go shopping. But, I enjoy beautiful clothes

on other people.”

Week of March 23, 1955

Brand New: Swanson TV Dinners

Television news -

NBC officially dedicates its $3 million Color City television studio in Burbank at

3000 Alameda Street. The studio went on the air in a show that featured a cast of

New York. Before this, all color shows originated from New York.

“Science Fiction Theatre” is set to debut in syndication next month. A different

cast will be seen each week. Every story in the series will be based on scientific

facts.

Week of March 23, 1955

DuMont’s New York station - WADB-TV Channel 5, is cutting

back live programs and will rely more on film. The station is now

down to 30% live.

Jack Webb, who portrays Sgt. Friday of Dragnet, signs an

exclusive contract with NBC, covering his personal services in

radio and television for the next 10 years.

More DuMont as “Captain Video” appears to be at the end of its

run. The show has been airing consistently for five years.

The largest production schedule of any single television producer

is set for the 1955-1956 TV season by Walt Disney. The company

will provide 126 hours for his “Disneyland” and “Mickey Mouse”

ABC-TV programs. “Disneyland” will include two color films

similar to the Davy Crockett epic of this year. First one is “Powell

of the Colorado," story of the exploration of the river, to be done

in two parts. Second is the tale of John Coulter, first white man to

reach Yellowstone. Fess Parker will probably be featured in both.

Saturday night television -

CBS - Beat the Clock, Jackie Gleason, Two for the

Money, My Favorite Husband, Professional Father,

Willy

NBC - Show Wagon, Mickey Rooney, Imogene

Coca Show, Donald O’Connor, George Gobel, Your

Hit Parade

Boris Karloff Mystery, Foreign Intrigue

Music news -

Alan Freed signs with Coral Records. He’ll do a series of albums and singles.

Deejay George Woods will lead the “rock and Roll Show of ’55” due at the Met in

Philadelphia April 29. Talent already booked includes Varetta Dillard, Gene and

Eunice, Little Walter and the Buddy Johnson Orchestra.

Week of March 23, 1955

Week of March 23, 1955

Frank Sinatra Jumps On The Current R&B Trend

Week of March 23, 1955

On the left, the real artist called “Crazy Otto.”

More music news -

appeals to Rep. Charles Diggs Jr. (D-Mich.) to study the

possibility of revising the copyright act of 1909 in order to

protect singers from “modern-day pirates.” In a letter to

the congressman, Ms. Baker notes that she recorded

“Tweedle Dee” on Atlantic several months ago. Georgia

Gibbs and Vicki Young, she stated, “duplicated my

arrangement note for note on records….” Ms. Baker

estimated she lost $15,000 in royalties because purchasers bought the other

versions thinking it was hers. The expansion of the rhythm and blues market has

Week of March 23, 1955

brought into sharper focus the points made by Ms. Baker, owing to the fact that

so many pop artists and recording companies have been trying to ride the r&b

crest.

Radio news -

Deejays at five local Cleveland stations band

from getting record releases ahead of general

distribution to stations. They won’t play records first

played by Randle. The ban was sparked by Joe

Finan of WJW, which now works of a playlist of 60

records. The other DJ’s in the band are Tm Carson

Week of March 23, 1955

- WJW; Bill Gordon, WHK; Bill Mayer, WTAM; Hal Morgan, WGAR and Bob

Forster, WSRS

Top Rhythm and Blues -

Pledging My Love - Johnny Ace

My Babe - Little Walter

Earth Angle - Penguins

Tweedle Dee - LaVern Baker

Close Your Eyes - Five Keys

Come Back - Ray Charles

Johnny Has Gone - Varetta Dillard

Flip Flop and Fly - Joe Turner

You Don’t Have To Go - Jimmy Reed

Don’t You Know? - Fats Domino

Lonely Nights - Hearts

Top Country & Western

In The Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce

Are You Mine? - Ginny Write & Tom Tall

If You Ain’t Lovin’ - Faron Young

Hearts of Stone - Red Foley

I’ve Been Thinking - Eddy Arnold

Making Believe - Kitty Wells

That’s All Right - Marty Robbins

Let Me Go, Lover - Hank Snow

At the movies -

Winwood, Elsa Lanchester

Week of March 23, 1955

In Syndication From MCA-TV