Captain Video Book: The Du Mont Television Network Story

First definitive history of the Du Mont Television Network, 1946-1956. 100 rare photographs; interviews with management, talent, writers, staff. Early TV efforts of Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Ernie Kovacs, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (whose show had the largest network of stations--176--for any program at that time). Du Mont technological breakthroughs: first practical cathode ray tubes, first consumer television receivers, oscilloscopes, film recording systems. Script excerpts, budgets, ratings; explores Du Mont participation in "golden age of TV." Du Mont coverage of Army-McCarthy hearings (1954) for 34 days; notes on other Congressional hearings: Hiss-Chambers confrontation (1948); "Kefauver hearings" (1951); (McClellan) "labor rackets" hearings (1957), which brought John & Robert Kennedy national attention. Also covers long-standing parent complaints about "violence" in children's adventure programming: Captain Video star Al Hodge's testimony before Senate Committee on Juvenile Delinquency (Sen. Estes Kefauver--1954). Program & general indexes; photos & comments by Du Mont & other TV "pioneers" will make this book an invaluable addition to any library of U.S. media history. "Best 50s TV History"--might well be!