This last episode of Our World begins on a high point with the assumption that Mt. Everest could be conquered. Eleven Brits, two New Zelanders, one Sherpa, and 36 native Sherpa guides began the climb with nine tons of supplies and one color film camera. It was assumed that it would take three days to carve an ice path to the south col and that the limited supply of oxygen wouldn't be needed until later. That three day trek turned into nine days. Edmund Hillary recounts his experience and his feelings as he and Tensing Norgay stood on the summit. It was the responsibility of Lord Hunt to make all the preparations for the trek. No one was lost on that climb.
The U.S. was three years into the Korean War. Lenin was dead, and the U.S. had a new President. The North Koreans and the Chinese agreed to a swap of prisoners at a neutral zone at the 38th parallel. On April 11, 5,800 North Korean and Chinese were swapped for 600 United Nations troops in Operation Little Switch. Adm. John Daniels, USN Ret, took part in the negotiations. Most of the prisoners were sent home shortly after their release, but 21 were flown to Valley Forge hospital for debriefing. The government wanted to be sure that what the prisoners wrote home or said for the cameras was a result of brainwashing and nothing else. Major Henry Segal said that their blank expressions made them look like zombies...the walking dead. The findings were that the men were not anti-American, but they took part because of the need to survive. They endured two four hour sessions a day The coronation of Queen Elizabeth took place that spring and was shown on television by the BBC. Fifteen cameras were placed along the parade route and five were in Wesminster Abbey. Both black and white footage and some awesome color footage highlighted this segment. It was arranged with Peter Denmock, BBC producer, to have Prince Charles brought in right before the coronation. Cost $4,600,000.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg had been convicted of treason in 1951 and were sentenced to die this spring. They had run out of appeals and there was no grant of clemency from the president. There were many demonstrations. Some people thought the Rosenbergs were innocent, and others objected because this would be the first time anyone will have been executed in peacetime for conspiracy to commit espionage. William O. Douglas delayed his vacation two days to hear new arguments, but the Supreme Court reconvened and overruled Douglas. In the end, the execution was moved earlier in the evening so as not to violate the Jewish Sabbath.
On television Dinah Shore sang the praises of the Chevrolet automobiles. Perry Como, Tony Bennett, and Patti Page were shown in clips also. I Love Lucy was a big hit starring Lucille Ball, and when Lucille Ball got pregnant, so did Lucy. Life Magazine had exclusive rights to the baby pictures, but Marty Lewis, the west coast editor of the new magazine TV Guide, managed to get a picture for the cover of its first issue and scooped Life.
Television and the movies were in tight competition. Max Youngstein, one of the head men at United Artists, said that Hollywood wanted to chase off television, and they tried to give the public what they couldn't get at home on TV. Cinemascope was bought from France, and David Zanuk promoted it. The first production, staring Richard Burton and Jean Simmons, was "The Robe." Cinerama also made its debut as did 3-D movies. The second 3-D movie was The House Of Wax with Vincent Price. One had to wear special glasses to get the 3-D effect. Films were previewed on Ed Sullivan's TV show The Toast Of The Town. One such film was "Titanic" with Clifton Webb and Barbara Stanwick. However, television wasn't dead. Hollywood was selling some old "B" movies to television. "Marty" was a made-for-television film. The Academy Awards were televised live with Bob Hopw as emcee. Ford Motors celebrated its 50th year with a television extravaganza starring Mary Martin and Ethel Merman. The show was done before a live audience and was aired on both ABC and CBS simultaneously.
Other happenings: ***L&M cigarettes developed the cellulose filter tip, "Just what the doctor ordered," a dangerous assumption. ***Robert Alplanalp invented the plastic spray can valve ***The Cincinnati Reds wanted to be known as the Cincinnati Redlegs so they wouldn't be taken for communists, but their official name was Cincinnati Red Stockings. ***Dizzy Dean was an announcer for Major League Baseball on television. ***A truce ended the Korean War. ***There were eleven above ground nuclear bomb tests at Yucca Flats, Nevads. ***The Structure of DNA was discovered. ***Hit song was Patti Page's How Much Is That Doggie In The Window. ***Arthur Miller's The Crucible won the Tony. ***Redbook and Look voted Marilyn Monroe the most promising newcomer.
Ray Gandolff: This is the last of the series that began last September. Our World has not been renewed for next Fall. You have been faithful and eloquent supporters of Our World and deserve better. I hope you get it.
Linda Ellerbee: Every great idea has a flaw equal to or exceeding the greatness of the idea, and nature always rides with the flaw. Take Our World ... a great idea. Our flaw was that we didn't have enough audience. But just because we won't be here next year, that doesn't mean we weren't here this year. We were, and we were proud of Our World. It was about history, and it is about to become history. Nothing is always. Thank you for watching. And by the way, if you are wondering if this thing gets easier with practice, it doesn't. And so it goes.
The U.S. was three years into the Korean War. Lenin was dead, and the U.S. had a new President. The North Koreans and the Chinese agreed to a swap of prisoners at a neutral zone at the 38th parallel. On April 11, 5,800 North Korean and Chinese were swapped for 600 United Nations troops in Operation Little Switch. Adm. John Daniels, USN Ret, took part in the negotiations. Most of the prisoners were sent home shortly after their release, but 21 were flown to Valley Forge hospital for debriefing. The government wanted to be sure that what the prisoners wrote home or said for the cameras was a result of brainwashing and nothing else. Major Henry Segal said that their blank expressions made them look like zombies...the walking dead. The findings were that the men were not anti-American, but they took part because of the need to survive. They endured two four hour sessions a day The coronation of Queen Elizabeth took place that spring and was shown on television by the BBC. Fifteen cameras were placed along the parade route and five were in Wesminster Abbey. Both black and white footage and some awesome color footage highlighted this segment. It was arranged with Peter Denmock, BBC producer, to have Prince Charles brought in right before the coronation. Cost $4,600,000.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg had been convicted of treason in 1951 and were sentenced to die this spring. They had run out of appeals and there was no grant of clemency from the president. There were many demonstrations. Some people thought the Rosenbergs were innocent, and others objected because this would be the first time anyone will have been executed in peacetime for conspiracy to commit espionage. William O. Douglas delayed his vacation two days to hear new arguments, but the Supreme Court reconvened and overruled Douglas. In the end, the execution was moved earlier in the evening so as not to violate the Jewish Sabbath.
On television Dinah Shore sang the praises of the Chevrolet automobiles. Perry Como, Tony Bennett, and Patti Page were shown in clips also. I Love Lucy was a big hit starring Lucille Ball, and when Lucille Ball got pregnant, so did Lucy. Life Magazine had exclusive rights to the baby pictures, but Marty Lewis, the west coast editor of the new magazine TV Guide, managed to get a picture for the cover of its first issue and scooped Life.
Television and the movies were in tight competition. Max Youngstein, one of the head men at United Artists, said that Hollywood wanted to chase off television, and they tried to give the public what they couldn't get at home on TV. Cinemascope was bought from France, and David Zanuk promoted it. The first production, staring Richard Burton and Jean Simmons, was "The Robe." Cinerama also made its debut as did 3-D movies. The second 3-D movie was The House Of Wax with Vincent Price. One had to wear special glasses to get the 3-D effect. Films were previewed on Ed Sullivan's TV show The Toast Of The Town. One such film was "Titanic" with Clifton Webb and Barbara Stanwick. However, television wasn't dead. Hollywood was selling some old "B" movies to television. "Marty" was a made-for-television film. The Academy Awards were televised live with Bob Hopw as emcee. Ford Motors celebrated its 50th year with a television extravaganza starring Mary Martin and Ethel Merman. The show was done before a live audience and was aired on both ABC and CBS simultaneously.
Other happenings: ***L&M cigarettes developed the cellulose filter tip, "Just what the doctor ordered," a dangerous assumption. ***Robert Alplanalp invented the plastic spray can valve ***The Cincinnati Reds wanted to be known as the Cincinnati Redlegs so they wouldn't be taken for communists, but their official name was Cincinnati Red Stockings. ***Dizzy Dean was an announcer for Major League Baseball on television. ***A truce ended the Korean War. ***There were eleven above ground nuclear bomb tests at Yucca Flats, Nevads. ***The Structure of DNA was discovered. ***Hit song was Patti Page's How Much Is That Doggie In The Window. ***Arthur Miller's The Crucible won the Tony. ***Redbook and Look voted Marilyn Monroe the most promising newcomer.
Ray Gandolff: This is the last of the series that began last September. Our World has not been renewed for next Fall. You have been faithful and eloquent supporters of Our World and deserve better. I hope you get it.
Linda Ellerbee: Every great idea has a flaw equal to or exceeding the greatness of the idea, and nature always rides with the flaw. Take Our World ... a great idea. Our flaw was that we didn't have enough audience. But just because we won't be here next year, that doesn't mean we weren't here this year. We were, and we were proud of Our World. It was about history, and it is about to become history. Nothing is always. Thank you for watching. And by the way, if you are wondering if this thing gets easier with practice, it doesn't. And so it goes.