Of Many Things Explained

Genre:Panel discussion
Starring:Bergen Evans
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:1/2
Runtime:30 mins.
Network:ABC

Of Many Things is a half-hour panel discussion television series that aired on ABC from October 5, 1953, to January 11, 1954. It was hosted by Dr. Bergen Evans.[1] The title was also used for an Evans radio program and recordings of selected episodes of that show.

Format

Using a set resembling Evans's study, episodes began with him meeting with someone who had a particular interest in the episode's topic. Then someone else came in and posed questions that might have been expected from viewers.

Topics discussed on the program included:

Production

Of Many Things originated from WBKB-TV in Chicago. Louis G. Cowan, Incorporated was the packager, with John Lewellen and Jay Sheridan as producers.[8] It was broadcast on Mondays from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time.[9] The program had no advertisers, and Evans once described its budget as "one frayed thread out of a shoestring." The staff dealt with a backlog of mail from viewers such that workers were two months behind in handling letters when the show ended.

Critical response

Bill Ladd wrote about the program in the (Louisville, Kentucky) Courier Journal the week after it ended: "I thought Evans did a mighty enjoyable show. The format showed some imagination."[10]

Radio and recordings

Of Many Things was the title of a 15-minute weekly program that Evans had on WNYC radio in New York City. Beginning on November 27, 1955, he presented essays on topics that included "Art of Being Nasty", "Byron and Hemingway", "The New Suburbia", "On Being Funny", "Phrase Origins", and "Some Aspects of Shakespeare".[11] Recordings of 16 of those essays were released on four LP records in 1957[12] (The Spoken Word, SW-A2). A review in the periodical EdScreen & AV Guide called the recordings "a rare find which will delight instructors in English and in speech in secondary schools and in colleges."[13]

Notes and References

  1. Book: McNeil. Alex. Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present . 1996. Penguin Books USA, Inc.. New York, New York. 0-14-02-4916-8. 613. 4th.
  2. News: Remenih . Anton . Jokes Give New Show Good Start . November 20, 2023 . Chicago Tribune . February 19, 1954 . 34. .
  3. News: Television Today . November 20, 2023 . The Evening Star . October 5, 1953 . District of Columbia, Washington . B-17. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Of Many Things topic on WBKB will be 'Africa' . November 20, 2023 . Chicago Tribune . June 27, 1954 . 34. .
  5. April 2, 1954 . A-35 . Of Many Things . TV Guide . November 20, 2023 .
  6. March 5, 1954 . A-35 . Of Many Things . TV Guide . November 20, 2023 .
  7. March 19, 1954 . A-33 . Of Many Things . TV Guide . November 20, 2023 .
  8. October 5, 1953 . 1 . This Week — Network Debuts, Highlights, Changes . Ross Reports . November 20, 2023 .
  9. Book: Brooks. Tim. Marsh. Earle. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. 1999. The Ballentine Publishing Group. New York. 0-345-42923-0. 751. 7th.
  10. News: Ladd . Bill . Bill Ladd's Almanac . November 20, 2023 . The Courier-Journal . January 20, 1954 . Kentucky, Louisville . 7. .
  11. News: Adams . Val . Trip to Spain Set for Steve Allen . November 20, 2023 . The New York Times . November 24, 1955 . 59. subscription .
  12. News: Lask . Thomas . An Angry Poet's Call to Arms . November 20, 2023 . The New York Times . September 29, 1957 . 131. subscription .
  13. Bildersee . Max U. . November 1957 . 552 . Sound Advice . EdScreen & AV Guide . November 20, 2023 .

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