Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 8

REPUBLIC CITY Children 's TV pioneer recalls first programs 4 Mmmm mi: iimmm ing. The most important thing to remember is that you have to be believable. Ed Murrow once said to me, 'Frances, you and I are the only believable people in When we went network (after seven weeks) I had to remember that the weather in Chicago was not like the weather in Florida," Dr. Horwich said. "I can't tell you how important research is.

One day I was putting together a fire engine. That was in the days of black and white. I said, 'It's too bad you can't see this red fire I got 1,100 calls about white fire engines." Dr. Horwich said the mail always told her what was right or wrong. The first show's mail was 300 letters.

Later each show averaged 5,000. "I had a gold fish once that was obviously going to produce any moment. I said she was pregnant. I would say it again, but you should have heard the reaction from the Catholic Church. Things have changed a lot since those days," she said.

Twenty-five minutes of Ding Dong School was devoted to the children and five to the parents, the only show ever to give time to parents. "You cannot work with children unless you work with parents," Dr. Horwich said. "I have so much confidence in parents. I get alarmed with educators who don't believe in parents.

We haven't helped teachers work with parents. Parents and teachers are so competitive. Educators expect too much from parents. At the end of the show I would talk to the parents. I discussed things that were involved with everyday living, like eating problems." THERE WERE many emotional experiences during her 11 years with Ding Dong School.

(When Dr. Horwich decided to leave the show it was cancelled.) "I had learned that when I asked a question I had to wait for an answer. A mother wrote and said that her 4- year-old who had never talked had answered me. I learned the hard way that I belonged to the public. At the end of the first two weeks I was having a cup of coffee in a drug store.

I had the coffee half way to my mouth when this booming voice said 'Miss Frances, I never thought my child would see you The whole store went dead still. My hand froze. I couldn't get it up to my mouth and I couldn't get it down. Finally, all I could do was say hello to her children and leave," Dr. Horwich said.

"Once I said 'Hi' to a friend in a store. That's all I said, and a blind child said to his mother, "That's Miss I have two brothers who are pediatricians. One of them called me and told me the doctors couldn't make their round of the children's wards because the children wouldn't listen to them. They were watching Ding Dong School. He said for me to change my hours.

I said, 'You change Dr. Horwich's right wrist is larger than her left from ringing the bell for 2,878 programs. "I have never learned how to answer that question, 'How do you get out of that TV We discovered that children were trying to break the glass or take off the back of the TV. That's why we made so many personal appearances," she said. "I SHOOK 17,800 hands at my first personal appearance.

I learned in a hurry how to shake hands. No rings, and let the other person do the shaking, even children. I got gold fish and ice cream spilled in my lap. They'd want me to take a bite of their ice cream. Children are so untarnished, so honest.

They have no tact. They would remember something on the show and say 'You did it wrong, Miss The memorable day, Dr. Horwich said, was the one when Ding Dong School's rating passed Arthur Godfrey's. By JANE ESTES Peanuts cartoon on the wall shows Linus and Lucy at the window watching a frightening thunderstorm. Linus has that life is too big for -me to handle look as he says to Lucy, "I wonder if Miss Frances is safe?" "Miss Frances" is Dr.

Frances Hor-wich, creator and hostess of the pioneer television show for children, Ding Dong School. Dr. Horwich and her husband, Harvey, a retired State Department lawyer, are new Valley residents. Their Scottsdale apartment overflows with memorabilia of the show that -opened an entire new avenue for child-, ren's television entertainment to follow The apartment displays a collection of 1,600 bells of every description, sent by friends and admirers from around the world; framed cartoons featuring "Miss Frances" in Peanuts, Family Circus, The Ryatts, and others; many awards and scrapbooks. DR- HORVVICH'S manner was gracious as she offered morning coffee and a warm bun.

She speaks softly, gently but with the ease and authority of a highly educated and intelligent woman. She was a prolific author and speaker, immediate past president of the National Association for Nursery Education, and chairman of the Department of Education at the University of Chicago when she was asked by WGN-TV, the Chicago NBC affiliate, to organize the program. "Putting together the first children's show was frightening," she said. "They call me on Sept. 16 (1952) and we were on the air by Oct.

30. 1 had to learn how to draw, paint, put puzzles together upside down in two weeks. We had special dispensation from the unions because had never been done before. "TV has a heavy responsibility with eight and a half million children watch Republic photo by John Willard Dr. Frances Horwich Miss Frances of Ding Dong School they feel resourceful.

The child who doesn't get that depends on other people's creativity," she said. "The moppets are beautifully done on Sesame Street except thaU children learn too much from them. If a rnoppet eats styrofoam then a child is going to eat it. Oscar lives in a trash can. Children are turning over garbage cans looking for Oscar.

TV has no right to get children into trouble with anyone," Dr. Horwich said. Dr. Horwich said that if she had a children's show today she would stress the importance of ecology. "1 would also stress that children must learn responsibility, that you work for what you get.

There are too many kids with their hands out when they arc very young." "He didn't like it and he said so. He said, 'A kid show can do this to When we surpassed Garry Moore on the other network next, he said 'If you have kids you should be watching Miss He's that kind of man. There's nothing phony about him." After the school had been on the air a year Dr. Horwich was named by Associated Press as one of the 10 women of-the year, in such company as Queen Elizabeth II, Clare Boothe Luce, Babe Zaharias, Edna Ferber and Lucille Ball. DR.

HORWICH insisted on such home and family oriented sponsors as Scott paper, Sweetheart soap, peanut butter and Gcrber baby food. "I tasted 100 baby foods. I couldn't advertise anything I didn't believe in. I wouldn't advertise an aspirin when it came out with candy flavoring. Overdose was the third largest killer of infants the year candy flavored aspirin came out.

I would not take BB guns. They are a lethal weapon," she said. Although Sesame Street, the current leader in pre-schoolers' TV shows, has many good points, Dr. Horwich believes it has a few foibles. "TV can be a thief.

I don't want TV to rob children of their creativity. Sesame Street is guilty by omission. There is nothing creative. Arts and crafts are terribly important to little children. People who work with their hands arc much more able to solve their own problems.

People who knit or do needlepoint can unwind and think, and The Arizona Republic I I orn women Monday, Scpl. 21, (Section IJ) 1 Luncheon, mixer slated Valley activities today Alliance Business titled "A Likely and the Arts." Republic photos by John Younp Today, another busy week gets underway. For starters A luncheon and some important words regarding a possible sell-out season for our symphony and its status as a major symphony orchestra. Orrcl Thompson, Dayton Hudson Corp. executive from Minneapolis and first corporate director of cultural affairs in the country, Alvin Reiss of New York, author of "Culture and Company," and Mayor John Driggs will be keynote speakers.

The luncheon will be at Phoenix Country Club and Tonight, it will be cocktail-mixer time for the Who's Who Singles Ariznna, the group that planned the big bash last spring. They've organized into a club and this will be the first fall get-together at Scottsdale Country Club at 6:30 p.m. Louise Trecker is president of the group; Mrs. Knorpp Van Voorhis, vice president and John Rhuart is treasurer. Their first party was so successful, they've planned another for October, one for the holidays.

Membership closed at 200. Season opener of long-time friends together at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Colachis alop Regency House. From left Bill Fane of l'hoe- Football ASU's fii Saturday villi and a rash of season opened st home game olte Crowley, Beverly Hills, Boh Wallace, Scollsdale, and Mrs.

Norman Bingham, Casa Crande. opening home game parties. One of the Bathe i's a group nix, Mrs. James Colachis, hostess; Charli- most popular each year Mother of Twins Club strives for children's individuality businesswomen arc invited to attend a free "Operation of a Small Business" workshop in the Mid-town YWCA from 8:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday. Topics to be discussed include forms of business ownership, financial by the members, are sold during the Craft and Arts Bazar in Thomas Mall. The Bazaar will be held this Saturday. Regular meetings are held the third Thursday of each month. The October speaker will be Dr.

sent a symposium in Sexton Hall, Good Samaritan Hospital. 1125 E. McDowell, at 2 p.m. Saturday. Registration should be made with Mrs.

Alta Smith. Fee charged is $5 for members and students and $7 for public. sources, record keeping, taxes, insurance, advertising and promotion. No reservations are necessary. The American Association of Medical Assistant's Inc.

will pre in committing 1 to this group telephone the Big Sisters of Arizona office for a reservation. The Big Sister Auxiliary is not a club for fat women. It was organized last year to assist the Big Sisters, who provide friendship to motherless girls on a one-to-one By JOY COOLIDGE If you accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lovato to a family reunion you might think you were suffering from double vision.

You would have no need for an eye examination, the doubles you'd be seeing would be twins and twins and more twins. Mrs. Lovato's twins, Mark and Matthew, are 19 months old. Her liter 0pw(- basis. The cause is extremely worth while and absorbing.

By joining this group you'll be doing something really big, sister. The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary invites you to a "Luncheon with a Cause" at noon at the Scottsdale Hilton. The cause, to help purchase a stretcher for Camp O'Wood. The ticket price $4 Fall and Winter apparel by Marj Brignall will be shown. This is the last day you may make reservations.

Telephone Mrs. Joseph Krueger, if you wish to attend. THE AUTUMN Breeze style show luncheon, -sponsored by the Maricopa County Bar Auxiliary, will be held at Camelback Inn Saturday. Fashions will be presented by Saks Fifth Avenue. Cost of the Herbert L.

Collier, a clinical psychologist and the father of twins. The meeting will be held in the Tempe Cultural Center. Mrs. Lovato enjoys being the mother of twins. "We had been married eight years," she said, "and had given up hope of having children.

When I was expecting I felt very lucky, when I heard it was twins I felt twice blessed. We were surprised, even the doctor expected a single birth. "THE TWINS entertain each other, they are very different in temperament. One is easy going and the other really determined and well, I guess you could only call it stubborn. They are a constant source of amusement and pleasure." When asked about the dinner hour, her solution was simple: Two high-chairs, one' bowl and one 4a tea, m.

rm mmmmk, sister is the mother of triplets. Five first cousins each have a set of twins. One second cousin has a set of twins and another has two sets. That's a grand total of 21 multiple births. And so what does Mrs.

Lovato do to occupy those spare moments when she is not feeding two, washing two and doing all the other mother duties twice is president of the Valley of the Sun Mother of Twins Club. There are 25 members in the club, covering the area of Apache Junction, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale and Tempe. There are also Twins clubs in Phoenix and Tucson. If there is more than one set of twins in a family or a set of triplets the mother pays no dues. "OUR CLUB goals are to strive for individuality in our children," she said, "and to learn how to understand and cope with the difference in their personalities.

Although the club is small and members twice as busy as most mothers, they make time to contribute to the well being of fortunate children by raising money for the -Hacienda de los "Angels, a home for handicapped i children. Each year crafts, made I. lilt I 1 5 luncheon is $7. The hospitality hour begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. The event will benefit the auxiliary project, "Youth Education in Law." The National Lawyers Wives Meritorious Award will be presented during the 1 program.

The award was won by the Auxiliary for service to their community last year. Reservations must be made by Wednesday with Mrs. G. David Gage or Mrs. William F.

Hyder. spoon. There's a good deal of variety on the women's organization circuit this week with a pair of fund raising fashion show luncheons, a brunch, a training program for businesswomen and a medical symposium on the calendar. The Big Sisters of Arizona Auxiliary are wooing new members with a chrysanthemum brunch at 10: 30. a.m.

If you are interested Rwvblic photo by Porrttt Slroup From lefl, Mrs. Smart Siofor, Jeremy and Trd; Mrn. Arthur lloger, Kerrie and Kriten and Airs. Robert 1-ovato, Mark and Mutlliew. Business women and prospective 4.