The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page 27

SECTION 2herccmnllcNcu)s greenvilleonline.com Wednesday December 3 1,2003 Help yourself. Comics 4D, 5D READERS REVIEW OF TV OYEAR NBC affiliate WYFF celebrates golden anniversary CM A pioneer: Norvin Duncan joined WFBC Radio in Greenville in 1939 and the new WFBC-TV in 1953. He was the new station's programming director and its first news anchor. On New Year's Day 1954, Duncan said the first words broadcast over the air by WFBC-TV. Pi Films boost book sales Publishers tie in to adaptations By Paul D.

Colford Knight Ridder The phenomenal success of "Seabiscuit" proves you can't beat a dead horse. So says Random House editorial director Jonathan Karp. He signed Laura Hillenbrand's book about the fabled racehorse and has watched sales gallop since it made its debut in 2001. But you also can't beat a movie adaptation to spur new interest in the book on which it's based, as a wave of recent cases have shown. Ballantine, a unit of Random House, published two movie tie-in editions of "Seabiscuit" totaling more than 4 million copies.

The book was No. 2 Sunday on The New York Times paperback bestseller list. Package deal In a special promotion, a million of those paperbacks were packaged with Universal's DVD of "Seabiscuit," for sale in Wal-Mart and Best Buy stores. "That's the first time we've done that it's a -real breakthrough," Karp added. Film adaptations also have sent publishers back to press for thousands more copies of Charles Frazier's "Cold Mountain," Dennis Lehane's "Mystic River" and Frances Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun." In a "sampling," Variety listed 20 books turned into movies this year and noted that several adaptations are favored to receive multiple Oscar nominations.

"There's no question that this has been a bonanza year in the movie tie-in department," said Stuart Applebaum, chief spokesman of Random House. Its various divisions stand to benefit from much of this year's activity at a time of sluggish industrywide sales, with adult hardcovers down 5.8 percent this year through October. Old, and new Even the old is made new again. Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat," turned into a popular though critically hammered movie, tops The Times' best-seller list of children's titles.

With the release of "The Lord of Rings The Return of the King," See FILMS on page 3D mpmm GEORGE GARDNER Staff Pizza Party Pizza 3 Mama Mary's 7-inch gourmet pizza crusts, 1 package Olive oil to mist the crust 1 package frozen creamed spinach 6 chicken tenderloins 1-2 tablespoons olive oil Chicken, seasoned to taste Vi cup chopped white onions Vi cup fresh mushrooms, sliced IVi cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 1 Line a large baking sheet with parchment baking paper that has been trimmed so the edges will not hang over the pan or touch the oven wall. 2. Place the pizza crusts on the parchment-lined pan. Mist the crusts and the rims with olive oil. 3.

Cook the frozen spinach according to package directions, and set aside. 4. Add olive oil to medium non-stick skillet and heat. 5. Cook the chicken until no bnger pink and juices run clear.

Season to taste. When the chicken has cooled, cut into bite-sized pieces. 6. Divide the creamed spinach among the three crusts. Layer remaining ingredients on top of the spinach in the following order: chicken, onions and mushrooms.

Top with cheese. 7. Keeping pizzas on the pan, bake for 12 minutes. To crisp the crusts, remove from the parchment lined pan and place the crusts directly on the oven rack for 3 additional minutes. Yields 12 slices.

This week's recipe was provided by Liz Hatpin, sensory analyst, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Clemson University. Pizza or any food by any other name or deviation from its standard ingredients often leads to disappointment. So if you think of this recipe like you think of foccacia bread (pizza's sister), you won't be dissatisfied. I'd add multiple cheeses, not excluding soft ones such as ricotta, and definitely topped with parmigiano reggiano. Julie Obermeyer, Greenville Considering we do not eat spinach and mushrooms, it was quite good! It was easy to make, too.

The pizza could use a little more seasoning. April Cates, Taylors Quite a unique combination compared to other pizzas that I've had, but very good. I made one with Italian-seasoned chicken and one with Southwestern flavorings, and both were very good. Even the picky eaters that I served it to enjoyed the pizza very much. Charleah McCauley, Greenville I 1 For the kids: Monty DuPuy, right, was host of "Monty's Rascals," a long-running children's show that went on the air in 1960.

Stowe Hoyle, left, portrayed Mr. Doohickey, a popular character on the show. Although DuPuy left the show in 1978, it continued its run as "The Rascal's Playhouse" until 1982. By John C. Stevenson Staff Writer jstevens greenvillenews.com hen the lights went up at WFBC TV on Dec.

31, 1953, television was in its infancy. It was a black-and-white business, with much of the action taking place live in front of viewers who watched on sets that were, maybe, 19 inches. Families, many of whom had just purchased their first TVs, were seeing local and national news played out in their own living rooms for the first time. For those early viewers, the local NBC affiliate served as a link between Greenville and the world. Fast foward 50 years, to 50-inch TV screens and more than 200 cable channels, to Doppler weather satellites and news footage shot from helicopters.

As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Greenville station, now known as WYFF, finds itself in an evolving role in a growing and changing market. But one thing hasn't changed: The nature of television has allowed WYFF to turn that mass connection into a personal one, said Lee Brown, the station's assistant news director. "I feel strongly about the role we play in the community," said Brown, who began his career with WYFF in 1976 as a reporter. "TV is such a personal medium. Whether it was Dave (Partridge) or Kenn Sparks, whoever anchors or reporters we made a real connection.

People relied on us. It goes back to the fact that we were connecting every day." Today, Brown said, "The thing I'm really proud of is See VIonpageBD i mm One episode (of "Monty's stands out: We were sitting in the viewing stands awaiting our "interview" with Mr. Monty, as "Miss Mable" passed drinks and hamburgers up to us. In front of me was a little girl with big curly blond hair and a bright new dress. As Miss Mable passed the Coke up to me, I lost my balance and dropped the cup of Coke right on top of the little girl's head.

She immediately wailed and absolute pandemonium broke out as all the other kids erupted in laughter. Poor Monty had to cease interviews and quickly call for a station break. The challenges of live television! I always wondered who that curly haired girl was. If she is out there, I apologize. Knox White, now mayor of Greenville For some viewers, the memories are bittersweet.

Geraldine Greenway has fond memories of when her son Jeffrey was on the show. "When he was 5 or 6, he went with his school to the Greenway said. "When the program was over, he started hollering, 'Mr. Monty, Mr. Monty, where is the So Mr.

Monty carried him and took him on a tour of the newsroom, and it just tickled him to death." Years later, Jeffrey Greenway died in an automobile accident. His mother said she cherishes the fond memories of his life, among them that visit to "Monty's Rascals." Geraldine Greenway See MEMORIES on page 6D instead. Classical music or quiet jazz makes a nice background. Let the kids take turns playing disc jockey. Eat at home.

Dining in a restaurant may not allow for the same family focus that being at home does. Include the whole family in menu planning. It's unfair to put the burden on one person to plan, shop and prepare the meals. Even ill 13 Jl 4 IP 1 1 vr' rrr" 1 3 The WFBC-TV was originally housed at the Paris Mountain transmitter facility, but by 1955 construction was under way at the Rutherford Street offices. Shown here at the construction site are, from left, Bevo Whitmire, WFBC-AM-TV general manager; Wilson Wearn, WFBC-AM-TV assistant to the president; Robert A.

Jolley, WFBC-AM-TV president; and Sam Hooks, Daniel Co. project engineer. TT eats together for only a half-hour before jumping back into their normal busy routine, scheduled family mealtime should be sacrosanct. Family mealtime does not have to occur only during dinner. Opt for Sunday breakfast or Saturday lunch if these are times the whole family can be together.

Keep distractions to a minimum. Turn off the TV and turn on the CD player Family mealtime nourishes bodies, relationships Make it a New Year's resolution toddlers can help set the table. Meals do not have to be elaborate: food to go, sandwiches or a quick egg dish will work. Do an online search for "quick meals." Use recipes that take a half-hour or less to prepare. Also, keep food staples on hand so you are not spending precious family time scrambling for 2 table-spxns of olive oil.

gether means family members will eat a better diet and perform better in school. Most important, family meals are a top-notch way to deepen caring and support of each other. Practical guidelines Choose a minimum of two days per week where family mealtime is priority No. 1. Even if your family this coming year? Here's why Research indicates teens who eat meals with their families several times per week are less'likely to engage in drug or alcohol abuse.

According to a study earlier this year, eating to By Doreen Nagle Gannett News Service Ringing in the New Year brings a fresh opportunity to rethink your family's priorities. Barely one-quarter of us manages dinner as a family once a week. Doesn't it belong on your family's schedule more frequently.