NewtonFigg
Joined Mar 2005
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The Ben Hecht Show
The top of the TV dial in the NY City area was Channel 13. That may still be the top of the VHS dial, but I haven't looked recently. From 1948 to 1957, the station had the call letters WATV when it was sold to the National Television Alliance and the call letters were changed to WNTA. The new owners drastically changed the programming lineup. WATV TV had featured silent cartoons on "Junior Frolics", ancient cowboy movies, roller derby and professional wrestling. The first time I turned on WNTA one afternoon after school, there was Ben Hecht talking seriously about something. The next time I turned on WNTA, there was Alexander King talking seriously about something. No Hecht in sight. The next time Henry Morgan was the host. Again, no sign of Hecht. My recollection is that Morgan appeared as host more than once. I got the impression he had his own program but can find no other record of it, so this may have been the Ben Hecht guest shot (episode 1.45). Since we were Henry Morgan fans since his radio days, I remember his shows in detail.
On one episode, he had a guest who appeared on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Indecency To Naked Animals. The guest showed an example of his group's work which was a picture of a cow wearing an apron that covered her udders.
Another episode (same show same guest?) the guest covered a large sheet on the floor with paint, stripped down to his BVDs and rolled around in the paint as he explained the meaning of his efforts. I think this is called performance art now. When he'd finished, he put on a robe and explained he would be putting on a show the next week and Henry was invited to attend. Henry looked sad and said "I'd love to go, but I'm going to have a terrible headache that night.
The most famous at the time, but now completely forgotten episode: The band played the theme music of the Jack Paar Tonight Show, and the announcer announced "The Jack Starr Show!" A Jack Paar impersonator came out and razzed the bizness out of Jack. Henry sat on the sofa and razzed Hugh Downs, who was Paar's equivalent of Carson's Ed McMahon.
Jack: "I just got a wonderful letter, and I'd like to read it to you: ' Dear Jack, you're wonderful. Signed, everybody.' Isn't that a nice letter Hugh?"
Hugh: "That's right, Jack."
The real Jack Paar had a conniption fit that night and finished his harangue by bragging "My show has better ratings than his!"
A few years later, WNTA was sold to Educational Television (WETA) which became PBS and kept the channel 13 spot. I am not aware that any WNTA kinescopes were save.
On one episode, he had a guest who appeared on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Indecency To Naked Animals. The guest showed an example of his group's work which was a picture of a cow wearing an apron that covered her udders.
Another episode (same show same guest?) the guest covered a large sheet on the floor with paint, stripped down to his BVDs and rolled around in the paint as he explained the meaning of his efforts. I think this is called performance art now. When he'd finished, he put on a robe and explained he would be putting on a show the next week and Henry was invited to attend. Henry looked sad and said "I'd love to go, but I'm going to have a terrible headache that night.
The most famous at the time, but now completely forgotten episode: The band played the theme music of the Jack Paar Tonight Show, and the announcer announced "The Jack Starr Show!" A Jack Paar impersonator came out and razzed the bizness out of Jack. Henry sat on the sofa and razzed Hugh Downs, who was Paar's equivalent of Carson's Ed McMahon.
Jack: "I just got a wonderful letter, and I'd like to read it to you: ' Dear Jack, you're wonderful. Signed, everybody.' Isn't that a nice letter Hugh?"
Hugh: "That's right, Jack."
The real Jack Paar had a conniption fit that night and finished his harangue by bragging "My show has better ratings than his!"
A few years later, WNTA was sold to Educational Television (WETA) which became PBS and kept the channel 13 spot. I am not aware that any WNTA kinescopes were save.
