Biggest Show

TVmen last week learned a surefire for mula for a first-rate show: a great deal of talent and half a million dollars. The money was supplied by Ford Motor Co. to celebrate its soth anniversary with a two-hour show carried by both CBS and NBC. The talent came largely from Broadway in the persons of Producer Leland Hayward. Choreographer Jerome Robbins and Songstresses Mary Martin and Ethel Merman.

Though overshadowed by Broadway's best, TV's own stars shone brightly enough. Wally Cox was authentic as an American bent on self-improvement; Burr Till-strom's Kukla and Ollie sounded just the right note in their comment on old Hollywood movies. Whenever the show edged up to something as grim as war, Ed Murrow and Oscar Hammerstein II were on hand to speak with suitable gravity and--for the most part--brevity.

But the high spots of the very satisfying two hours belonged to Martin and Merman. Mary Martin was never funnier than in her one-woman (and one-dress) fashion review that dealt with all the fads from 1903 to yesterday. And, perched on stools, both Mary and Ethel whipped through a rapid-fire medley of some of the best pop songs ever written. Televiewers hoped they would not have to wait another 50 years for so good a show. But if they do, it will be worth waiting for.

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