Vv i MARIA TSIEN Phone girl on Tom Duggans KCOP show is also a dramatic actress with many credits. But her most exciting role occurred in real life when she lied Shanghai one step ahead of the Communists. Arent you glad they didnt catch her? (Story in Listening Post today.) LISTENING POST AND TV REVIEW By ALLEN RICH, Radio and TV Editor Watching Miss Maria Tsien perform her chores as telephone girl on Tom Duggan's KCOP show I figured she was merely a bit of Chinese loveliness that Tom found in a teapot or something. ' But being a keen collector of oriental object d'art I decided to pursue the matter (Miss Tsien) further an,d, er, probe the inscrutable Oriental mind. During an interview at the Nickodel restaurant in Hollywood I was pleasantly surprised to find that Maria has quite a list of credits, both in motion pictures and TV. She and her dad engineered a hair-raising escape out of Shanghai just before the Chinese Reds took over everything, including her fathers prosperous cigarette factory. Like so many other Chinese the family lost everytihng. But you can't keep a good man down and Mr. Tsein soon was doing well as a Hong Kong businessman. So well that he was able to lend Maria to this country where she majored in theater arts at the University of California. Was Top Model After graduation she went to New York where she became a top high fashion, shoe, and hosiery model. Then she came to Hollywood In 1955 and landed roles in such motion pictures as The King and I," Kismet, Omar Khay-am and other good ones. She played TV leads in Hall jnark Hall of Fame, China Smith, Navy Log and has appeared in more than 20 television shows, including Studio One and NBCs "Matinee Theater. Quite a background for a girl I thought came out of a teapot. How do you like being on the Duggan show? I wanted to know. "Oh, it is quite an education. You learn about politics, world affairs, and sports, she an-iwered. "Also horse racing, Charley Foy, and drinking, 1 tossed in. "Your last name, Tsien, is very pretty. What does it mean In Chinese? Something beautiful and poetic, like maybe Lotus Flower? I queried. "No. Actually It means MONEY. She added: "Speaking of money reminds me I dont mind Mr. Duggan insulting me on the air. Hes only kidding, and be aides. Im paid to listen. I get 3337.50 a week, she concluded brightly. Miss Tsien has two ambitions o far as TV is concerned when her engagement on the Duggan show is over at the end of the month. Shed like to do lead on a big Western like Gunsmoke, "Maverick or Have Gun, Will Travel, and shed like a series of her own. Ambitious "How come a Gentle Flower ef The Orient like you wants to do a shoot-em-up Western? prompted. She said shed already done many other Westerns, so why not the best? Her credits eminently qualify her to do so. So far as the series is con earned, Maria envisions one in which she would play a lady bar owner in San Franciscos China town, Such a locale would al wavs piovide plenty of intrigue and action, she feels. Back on the subject of Duggan Miss TNien expressed herself as very grateful to Tom for her present oppoitunity. You say that, een although he made you cry on the program Friday night? Personally, I think hes a bum for that," I said, trying to bait her. He is NOT! And you aie wrong to say he is. It was my own fault. Too much sensitivity at times, explained Maria. A loyal lass with lots of class. A caiman looks like a crocodile, but isn't. You can see what it is on "Jungle, KCOP (13) at 6:30 . . A womans kiss hides the motives for two brutal mur-aouse'" ders, Afi lean Patrol. with, John Bentlev, KRCA (4) at 7 . . Serious illness of a tax expert's daughter requires that he have more money. He goes in for a bit of forgery, "Code 3, KTTV (11) at 7. Thomas Mitchell stars in the story of a hank teller who runs away from his wife, but is picked up at the airport and Grips Demur" Firmly, QmcUv! at your favorite drug counter S0(
