Beyond Our Control, the half-hour television revue produced by WJA-TV, The Junior Achievement Television Company, is in the final stages of preparation for its season premiere on Saturday, February 14. The weekly revue will be colorcast Saturdays at 6:00 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16, the Notre Dame Station, this season.
This will be the ninth year WJA-TV has presented a weekly program on Channel 16, and 1970 will mark the third year the company has produced Beyond Our Control. the ambitious weekly revue of satire, music, experimental film and largely irreverent commentary has proven to be a unique concept in local television and has drawn national attention on several occasions, including a story in a current issue of a nationally-circulated camera magazine. Last season, the program presented parodies of national and local TV shows and commercials, offered a showcase for local musical talent, addressed itself to commentary on national issues such as pollution, and presented numerous experimental films, including the parables of "Skid" and "The Electric Rag."
Minor revisions in format--including the quickening of the program's pace--and several new regular features will mark the season premiere of the program when it returns in February. A weekly review of rock "classics," parodies of television connercials presented as "Our Favorite Things," and a weekly continuing serial are among the features planned for the program this season.
Beyond Our Control is written and produced by a twenty-two member Junior Achievement Company which works with Joe Dundon, Greg Giczi, Bill Siminki and Dave Williams, advisers from the staff of WNDU Television. A complete model Television Corporation, WJA-TV begins operation in late autumn, this year drawing its personnel from Riley, Jackson, Marion, Mishawaka, Clay, Lasalle and St. Joseph's High Schools. The students sell stock to raise operating capital, develop an idea for the program and then sell commercial advertising time toarea businessmen. the production company leases facilities and buys time from WNDU-TV to produce and telecast its program. At the conclusion of the program's thirteen week run, the company liquidates and divides any profit among stockholders. Last year, WJA-TV was named Service Company of the Year in the South Bend JA program.
Junior Achievement is a national organization dedicated to giving teen-agers in all fifty states a practical look at how business operates. Wm. Thomas Hamilton, Executive Vice President and General Manager of WNDU-TV is a member of the board of directors of Junior Achievement and sponsors the company's JA program to offer students practical broadcasting experience and a firsthand look at the American free enterprise system.
