''Action Autographs'' is an American television talk show that was broadcast on ABC April 24, 1949 - January 8, 1950.

Overview

''Action Autographs'' used films "to drop in on many interesting people and watch their activities". Episodes included interviews and "human-interest films". Jack Brand was the initial host;

Ed Prentiss Paul Edward Prentiss (September 9, 1908 – March 19, 1992) was an actor in the era of old-time radio.DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, ...

succeeded him. Topics of episodes included: the Shark Men ("World War II's most incredible combat team"), a four-month hunt for gold, a water show, psychoanalysis of Richard Basehart's character in the film ''She Walks at Night,'' and

harness racing Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australia ...

. Guests on the program included lecturer

Burton Holmes Elias Burton Holmes (January 8, 1870 – July 22, 1958) was an American traveler, photographer and filmmaker credited with the invention of the " travelogue", though the term itself was apparently coined in 1898 by John Bowker. Travel stories, ...

, water-skiing champion Willa Worthington, actor

Eddie Albert Edward Albert Heimberger (April 22, 1906 – May 26, 2005) was an American actor. He is known for his roles on stage and screen and received nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Albert made his actin ...

, singer

Burl Ives Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995) was an American Folk music, folk singer and actor with a career that spanned more than six decades. Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his o ...

and automobile racer

Wilbur Shaw Warren Wilbur Shaw (October 31, 1902 – October 30, 1954) was an American racing driver. The second three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 (1937, 1939 and 1940), he is also remembered for serving as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedwa ...

Production

''Action Autographs'' was initially broadcast on Sundays from 10 to 10:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Its competition included '' Girl About Town'' on NBC and a newscast on CBS. When it returned in 1950, it was seen on Sundays from 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. E. T. Brand and Marge Bishop produced and directed the series, which was owned by Brand Productions.

Bell & Howell Bell and Howell is a United States brand of cameras, lenses, and motion picture machinery. It was originally founded as a company in 1907, and headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois. The company was acquired by Böwe Systec in 2003. Since 2010, the ...

was the sponsor in that company's first venture into advertising on TV. The program originated from WENR in Chicago.

Critical response

A review in the trade publication ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said that children and camera enthusiasts should like the program, which it equated to "a solid commercial" for the sponsor's cameras while acknowledging that the demonstrations of cameras integrated smoothly with the format of the show.

References

{{Authority control 1949 American television series debuts 1950 American television series endings 1940s American television talk shows 1950s American television talk shows American Broadcasting Company original programming American television talk shows Original programming by local channels in Chicago