The Logan County News from Crescent, Oklahoma • 16

Riley Wanted Baseball Telethon Sets State Record For Funds, Talent, And Length Mure than $10,030 was pledged to the March of Dimes through the KTVQ Telethon that began Saturday night at 10 oYUck. Jan. 3d, on Channel 25 in Oklahoma City. Scheduled to end Sunday at noon after 14 hours, and with a total of almut pledged, Jnhn Kau, station president ordered the Telethon to continue "until $10,000 was raised if it takes 'til Thursday!" Tlie goal was reached shortly before 3:30 p.m. Sunday, at which time Channel 25 resumed its "One Man in "tP? -v i I Vr i i I Million" Is Rural Humor The federal government by mis.

take sends a elieck for more than SI.OUil.000 to a struecliM r. mmit farmer, in the euniedv, "One Man in a Milium." on Television Theatre, at lo ft) p. Monday, Feb. over KUTV. James Barton, veteran actor of stage and screen, heads a notaMa cast, which includes Ed Itegley, Dora Mirande.

Clarence Nordstrom, Edgar Stehili, Raymond Brainley, and Leonard Dovle. The original teleplay is by Carl Al iens worth. Tlie farmer, believing the gov ernment know what it is doing, when it sent him the check fr a fortune instead of the $300 he expected, promptly deposit it in his account, iviits, ana problems which were never op narent now loom large and thn -a tening. Mot demanding i tlie office ot Internal-Revenue Iiur-. cnu which wants almost the whole million for taxes.

Maggie Kezer Lo4 a Opens Studio Tom Crane and Maeeie Kezer. I Oklahoma City's First Lady of Mr. Saturday Night Proves Versatile as Actor and Composer VERSATILITY IN A BIG WAY is the word fur Jackie Clcason, who proved last season his stature not only as a great comedian, but an actor of exceptional ability on "Studio One" and a brillant composer of music on his own Food, and host and hostess each Monday afternoon at the Cnnitnl Hill Studios of KLI'R-TV. Chan- net 19, when "lAdirs First, seen Monday through Friday at 4:10 p. becomes an audience -par ticinatiun telecast.

Everyone Is Invited to the stu dio party and to appear with Tom and Maggie on "Ladies During the past season the star of CBS Television's "Jackie Clcason Show" earned the title, "Mr. Saturday wignv in his role of one of the nation's top comedy stars. his work, and last Saturday he fell and injured his ankle First. Prizes are liven, and there is fun Air everybody. Larry doRan Exhibits T.nrrv duRan, art director at KM'R-TV, will have an exhibit of hi paint in In Oklahoma City in early April.

doRan, who comet regular schedule. The 17-hour duration of this March of Dimes endeavor on which such dignitaries as Governor Murray, Senators Kerr. Monroney. and the tinre congressional delegation appeared, marked the longest stint of its kind in Sooner state television history. The amount of money raised totalled more than that reached in any other similar undertaking in Oklahoma City prior to this time.

Over six-hundred people were estimated to have taken part in the KrVQ Tclctlion. according to llany Abbott, tfation manager, with almost 300 of this number pp urine before the cameras. epresmting a spectacular array if Oklahoma talent. A battery of 15 teleiilunies was in use. with volunteer from the Communications Workers of America chang- ng shifts every three hours.

Under the guidance of Jack Sherman. KTVl) News and Sportscasler, and overall emcee of the Tel'-lhon, the show ran smoothly. The brainchild of Pro-cram Director Bill Sadler, all an- pearing talent was solicited and scheduled by Tommy Allen and Eddie Lane, with KTVO staff an nouncers assisting an alternating emcees with Sherman. Beverly Osborne. Oklahoma City reslauranteer.

contributed fried chicken, rolls and coffee to participants, in addition to a $100 pledge. Most of the contributions were small, however, with much of the amount in coins from chil dren nn the way to and from church Sunday. From 7 JO a.m until afternoon, hundreds of younesters came to the station in a steady stream, and placed their aonatums tn a receptacle in iront of tne television cameras. In the closing minutes of the sleepless Telethon's lHth hour. Mrs.

W. C. Warren, Oklahoma county representative of the Na tionai foundation for Infantile Paralysis, thanked viewers for their donations, and cungratula ted the station, staff, and per formers "for such a masnifieent show," and promised a repeat of tho performance next January on Channel 25. Calls from 32 Oklahoma towns wire noted on pledge records. Among cash contributions- were 31 silver dollars, two two-dollar bills, and a numlx-r of picv hanks.

Ijjcai March of Dimi of ficials expressed surprise at th amount oi money pieo.ted in view of Saturday and Sunday being the final days of the drive Harper vs Un-and -coming middicweikht Maurice Harper of Oakland. California, runs into tough Al Wilson of New York City in a 10-round battle al Sacramento Auditorium tn lie telecast as the SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS special over KTVCi, Channel 23 on Saturday, Feb. 6, starting at I p. m. popular and aggressive.

Har per, whose sleep inducing sock and ring acumen have catapulted him to the top of his ring divis ion, win be meeting a whirlwind-type of battler in Wilson, ah East Coast favorite, in the Sacramento, Calif, scrap. In recent fights, Harper scored in impressive fashion over notchers Sammy Saunders and Jerome Richardson, while Wilson's best bouts this season have been with Johnny Rratton, Ray niond Fuentes and Ted Murray. ABC fichtcaster Jack will be on hand to describe the SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS feature which is nmduccd and directed by A. Burke Crotty for Havuk Cicars. Inc which spon sors the sports show in behalf of its Webster ana mimes ugars.

Quinlas Worked With Bob Hawk John Quinlan, panelist nn RX PR-TVs "Talent in Focus," which you see Thursday nights on Chan nel 19, is the former personal press representative of Oklaho ma's big-time radio star. Bob Hawk. Hawk, who hails from Un in World 'Var II, when the latter was a Special Service Of' fieer In charee of camo aonear- anccs of important radio and Broadway personalities, Television star William Bendix, who portrays the bumbling Chester A. Riley on the NBC-TV situation comedy series. THE LIFE OF RILEY, Monday, 7:30 p.

m. Channel 6. 9:30 p. m. Channel 9, could be termed a successful but disappointed man.

Despite the fame which has come to him in motion pictures and more recently in television, liendix it a thwarted baseball plaver. others dn-am of kleig lights and television cameras, alwavs dreams of beautiful preen hn-icball diamonds and tne roar ot the crowa. Like his television counterpart. "he dream great dreams but in real life ru-ndix Is ante to make lot more of his dreams rome true than he ever manages in the Kiley nicnugo. Bendix' love for baseball dates back to his teens when he had an opportunity to become bat my for the New York Giants.

Like many other youngsters in New City, his sole ambition in life was to become a professional liaseball player. What he failed to tukenUi account was the opposition of his parents, Mr, and Mrs. Oscar Bendix, who refused young William the right to accompany the team to its Spring training camp. His dreams quashed. Bill was relegated to dreaming about bascbsii ana following avidlv.

In later years he was an ideal choice for the leading role in one of his greatest nims, ne Babe Ruth story." In 1944 Bendix began his radio interpretation of the role of Chester A Riley, the blustering, good-natured riveter and devoted fam ily man ot "The Life of Riley: During the next five yean the family comedy series began a regular radio network feature an on Jan. 2. 1953. Bendix came to NBC-TV in the Riley character ization. Biii-k in the days when he was still in the grocery business (he was 30 years old before he became an actor) Bendix married his childhood sweetheart, Therese Stcfauoiity.

They have two children, Lorraine and Stephanie, and live now on a two-acre place in Encino. in the San Fer nando Valley. Bendix likes to putter around his garden and, as he puts it, up the gardeners good work," He is kept too busy with his work to have many other ac tivities. But whenever he na a free niiiht vou can usually find him in his favorite arm chair watching baseball on television ever the avid fan. OU Men to Sing Sunday The Oklahoma Uuivcrsity Men's Glee Club, under direction of Chester L.

Francis, makes the school's second major trip within a month as they leave rrway, February 5. to appear en Kd Sullivan "Toast of the Town. The show will be carried coast' to-coast and may been seen by Oklahoma viewers at 7 p. Sunday, February 7, Channels and 0. Mr.

Francis also announced the group of so male vocalists nas liecn invited to appear on the Fred Waring Show, immediately following Sullivan's show. He said he is not certain that the erouo will sine on Warine's show. but will be prepared it called uoon. The Waring show normal ly is produced without an audi ence and makes the invitation tn the large group unique in itself. On "Toast of the Town, the Glee Club will do "Oklahoma" by Rodgers and H.immcrstcin, and another number, the title not yet announced.

Mr. Francis said he is not sure where the group will stay, but they will return to Oklahoma Sunday night in order to make Monday morning classes at OU. They will rehearse with Sullivan all day Sunday prior to the telecast. The other major trip made by an OU oreunizalion was the flight of the band to the Orange Bowl Game in Miami New Year's Day. III 'KlilIlUIIH, IIJT tlj W.T Klii'l- ston, Toxa.

hn exhibited hii v1 work in Boston. New York, f.rd. Wa-hinctun. Baltimore, H-ni i slim and Dallas. TV Color -CufsliiiurJ fnun Pjm I black-and-white pictures simultaneously.

At present, no color can he re ceived in this area from network facilities since coaxial cablet from Chicago south will not pass color signals. A system of relays tn lie installed from Omaha to sta tions in Kansas and Oklahoma is now being blueprinted. "Once viewers observe color telecasts they will feel it is far more revolutionary than wat the beginning of regular televising in the first place." Sugg said. "Color will add a whole new per ceptiun and dimension to tclevU sion that will certainly justify immediate viewer acceptance." WHY-TV pioneered booner tel evision. It sought a permit in April, 1948, and was granted FCC approval in June.

One year later, after equipment delays and a fire that damaged much of tnai already installed, the station was making regular telecasts. Mountain Music Cuniimml fpm Pjgr I i staff entertainer of KFEQ in Clcason throws himself into night over his Channel 9 show, nenr the end of the hour. He appeal anccs. filiNitnn was iHiin in Brooklyn. February 20, HUB.

on Herkimer Street iml Roclinway Avenue, and wa rni-cj in orhcr neighborhood of tint borough. When he wri-s thiee, hi 11. diivl. Win was viishf. hi Herbert Gleason, on asu-tant auditor (if the Mutnul Life Insurance Company, mysteriously on his way home finm work and was never seen nr heard from auain.

And Jmkie was 18, he lout his mother, the only person who had cmi'isii-nily encouraged his youthful ambition fr show business. Before her death, while Jarkic went to rtiblic Sehrail 73 in Brooklyn, his Irish-born mother worked a cashier ft the sub-wav system. An early aptitude for dramatics enabled Gleason to win tnc leaa-in nils in the rammar school graduation play in 192ft. That's when he discovered he loved show business nnd wanted to Kit inln it. At 15.

Jarkie did an Amateur act at Unvjkiyns uaisey Thintre. Having taken the precaution of brinRinR alonK his own "admirer," he was given a routine ovation. As a result of this tumultuous succe. the man Bficr of the theatre hired him as master of seremonies at thn-e dulluri a week. The amuteui nithts were so successful that thov were increased to two a week, and Jaekics salary was raised to four dollar a night, which he turned over to his mo ther.

In tvnieal Gleu.son fashion, Jackie recalls "I was rolling in douuh. Ymi'rla thnucht I made more than Mom." Later, young CU-ason was souuht as emcee of the show at the Folly Thratrc. On the aft- noon before his first niiiht show there, his mother was buried, Jackie was tht only one of the family theatrical leaninex. When he is asked what eet him started in business, he replies. "Guess I was a riot in front the candy store." During the next few years he worked as a barker in a carnival, dare-devil driver in an auto circus and exhibition diver in the water follies.

When he tilaved the Miami wns unable to make final iuht-d'iHar fee. he never dream cd that he would be there for nciii'lv three vears. durine which tlii happy mnnaRemenl increased his weekly stipend to $75 a week. (m one occasion, a beinncrrni pa trun nt a tahle to hiH-kle Jackie. He finally uMi-ned tlie baiter to "put up or siwr no.

we went niu-'Uie. J.n Uie recalls, "and I never knew lut me. It was only limy Uiilvnto! Cleason w.i b'sii a disc J'K-key Stut'un WAAT in Newark un til he found the wee hours passed too slowly and invited his friends to the studio for daneine. The boss walked in. and that ended his career as a disc jockey.

Next he toured the country playing vaudeville and night clubs until 1040 when he was offered an engagement in New York at the then-famous Club IB. where movie mogul Jack Warner saw him and signed him for pictures. He did five movies in Hollywood. After two vears in the film capital, he returned to New York to iippcar in Uiscn ana jonnson lleiiapoppui and "Artists ana Models." Then came his first real bid to stardom. In 1943, he played the Sailor-on-thc-loosc' in the smah hit.

"Follow The Girls," opposite Ortrudc Niescn. Jackie's stage play also include "Keep Off The Grass." "Along Fifth Avenue." and in summer stock, "llosaiie, "Hi.) Rita" and "The Show OIL" He made his television bow in the lead rule of "The Life of Ri ley." The "Cavalcade of Stars" followed and Gleason went to the too in comedy. Last summer, he completed a vaudeville tour of six cities, prior to his CBS Tele vision Network opening. Gleason is married to the form er Genevieve Halford (1SWC). They have two daughters, Ger ald ine.

14, and Linda. 12. Jackie has a fondness for Ital inn cuisine, especially Lobster Diablo, and Chinese food. He owns some 350 books on the subject of ohvsie phenomena, hypno tism, telepathy, and other aspects of extrasensory perception, and is well read in these fields. His favorite serious music is Beethoven, his favorite popular tune is "Tenderly," the background for his 'Toor Soul" sketches.

St Joseph, Missouri when she met and married another staff entertainer, Tuty, iu 1S46. 1 from zL joe, iney went KMMG in Grand Island, Nctras ka. and in 1947 came to Okla- hums. THEY'VE ArrEARED with Gene Autry and Johnny Bond, not to mention appearing en Horace Heidt's show in Oklahoma City in 1950. One of the highlights of their career was when Ed Sullivan choose them to add the real hoedown to his show in Oklahoma City last summer.

In private life they are Raymond and Louise Sehelp, and have three children, Suzanne, 6, Raymond, 4, and Michael. It months. club in Newark in 193S for an.