The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 112

Channel 14 i Courage Key To VVallendas By TOM MAYHEW T)Y NORMAL standards, the tragic accident on Jan. 30, 19C2, during an appearance of "The Great Wallendas" before a Shrine Circus in Detroit, would have brought an end to the Wallendas' human pyramid, according to most circus folks. llttf there was nothing normal about the dctermina-tion of Karl Wullenda who brought his troupe from Germany in 1928. i "A -v hm Outside his son hospital room after the accident, Wallenda's voice broke as he told reporters, "We will be back on the high wire soon very soon. It is the only thing we know how to do." The story of "The Great Wallendas" will be told on "Duront Show of the Week" (tonight, 9 p.m., Ch.

1.) thanks to the foresight of producer Al Was-serman. Wassertnan said, "Having met Kurl Wallenda, I was positive he would keep his promise to return. And I had a hunch that when he did, it would lead to a more dra Mayhew F6StiVG First: Metropolitan opera stars Regine Crespin and Franco Corelli will sing together for the first time anywhere on "Bell Telephone Hour" 9 p.m., Ch. 4) in color. Corelli will sing "Di Tu Se Fidele" from "A Masked Ball." Miss Crespin will sing "Ma dall'Arido Stelo Divulsa." Together they will sing "0 Qual Soave Brivido.

tuatic television story than any fiction writer could concoct." HE ORDERED a film crew to the camp where the Wallendas re-united with replacements from Europe and Brazil, and began the slow filming and compiling of the story of the Wallendas' return to the high wire. "I'd lived with these people and shared their feelings for so long, I was scared stiff the first time they tried the Human Pyramid," said Cameraman Robin Still, "I couldn't eat; my stomach was in a knot. But Wallenda was as cool and nerveless as if he was taking the 8:50 commuter train to his office." "After the Pyramid was formed," Still went on, "they started to move. The wire snapped, the seven perform-ers flew wildly through the air. I held my camera and let the film grind away, because that was my fob.

Then I became ill." The film Still took during the accident has been described as the most remarkable circus footage ever shot. It doesn't show the fatal accident in Detroit but shows the heartbreaking attempt at rebuilding the Human Pyramid act in Sarasota, Fla. week period ending with the last show which highlighted the mop-haired group from England. Incidentally, it was the first time in tiro seasons that "The Beverly Hillbillies" had not occupied the top rating. This occurred during the same rating period.

In case you enjoy checking your preferences against the rating charts, during the same period we mentioned above when Sullivan was first, "Bonanza" second, and "The Beverly Hillbillies" third, the 4th thru 15th positions were occupied in the following order: 4 "The Dick Van Dvke Show" 5 "My Favorite Martian" 6 "Petticoat Junction" 7 "The Andy Griffith Show" 8 The Bing Crosby Special 9 "The Lucy Show" 10 "Candid Camera" 11 "The Danny Thomas Show" 12 "Lassie" 13 "I've Cot a Secret" 14 "The Red Skelton Show" 15 "Gunsmoke" 15 "The Jackie Gleason Show" The latter two shows tied. next season, producer N'orman 1 explains that "U.N.C.L.E. is an organization responsible for the welfare of people and lritions anywhere in the world. It combats Thrush, an organization attempting world-wide subversion." In the planned storyline of "Solo" Kapoleon Solo is U.N.C.L.E.'s top agent, a dapper figure whose friends think he is employed by a non-profit foundation. His method of operation reflects polish and efficiency whether he performs at a party for the socially elite or is dealing with antagonistic hoodlums in a back street or alley.

One of the best indicators of the potential success of "Solo" is the fact that the producer, Norman Felton, is producer now of "Dr. Kildare," "The Eleventh Hour" and "The Lieutenant" all well respected on the rating charts. Sullivan Tops Charts Never underestimate the power of the Beatles. For the first time in seven years, "The Ed Sullivan Show" was in first place in Nielsen's national ratings for the two- The Wallendas, who had courted death i'or half a century, were still at it. Their story ia the "DuPout Show of the Week." Feeling Mutual A Screen Gems publication quote3 actor funny a Vaughn Meader, whose career appears to be soaring in an ever expanding orbit, in a gripe against a rising TV series.

"I did the audio tape 'That Was the Week That Was'," Meader said, "the tape that sold the show, and the producers acted like they'd rather be caught dead than use me on it. Now that I've seen several shows, I'd rather be caught dead than be on it." From the TWTWTW standpoint, their chatter these days is confined to raving about their success. Plans call for the show to begin its summer hiatus July 10 and return for the new season September 22. "The cast and production staff are just delighted." producer Leland Hayward said, "to have the chance to catch our breath during the summer." Leland said the show has Inspired favorable comment from many of the nation's leading editors, it has drawn enormous praise from TV editors and critics and resulted in some 10,000 letters and telegrams from viewers in commendation. New Offering Program plans on XBC call for a new show of interest.

"Solo" a new full-hour dramatic series starring Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo, a suave, sophisticated, iron-hard agent of an international organization called U.N.C.L.E. will begin on NBC (Ch. 4) next fall In the 7:30 p.m. timeslot on Tuesdays. About the "Solo" show for I Phil Sullivan Talks of Snow and Sunny Smiles 22 Paul Carden Reports on Music and a Big Boom 4 Movie Cuide 10-11 Sports on TV 20 TV-Flick Picks of the Week 17 Sunday Showcase, a Weekly Entertainment Cuide to Music City, U.S.A., ii produced and edited by the Sunday Department of THE NASHVILLE TfcN-NESSEAN.

Original materiiil Copridit, 14. THE NASHVILLE TENMSSSKAN SILLIMAN EVANS, Publisher (1937-1955) SILLIMAN EVANS, Publisher (1955-19611 AMON C. EVANS, Publisher JOHN SEICENTHALER, Editor EUCENE WYATT, Sunday Editor Jj IT I IS Ed Sullivan Beatles are Big Business Vaughn Meader "Wouldn't Be Caught Dead".