1970-’71 Press Releases
September 11, 1970
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" COMPANY RECRUITING MEMBERS
WJA-TV, the Junior Aehievement Television comanay whichproduces Beyond Our Control, will interview prospective members for the next season on Friday, September, 18. Michiana Area high school students who are interested in working on the production of the program are invited to visit the Junior Achievement Center, 967 Louise Street in South Bend, Friday at 3:30 PM EST to meet with the WNDU-TV's advisers to the company The production company is interested in meeting with students who are interested in acting, announcing, motion picture photography and broadcast business careeers. The Friday meeting will provide prospective members of the company with an outline of this year's plans for WJA-TV. The company is scheduled to resume production of Beyond Our Control in mid-October and the program will return to channel 16 early next year. This will mark the tenth anniversary season for the Junior Achievement Television Company sponsored by WNDU-TV. Since its inception, more than two hundred high school students have participated inthe unique educational program, the first of its kind in the national Junior Achievement organization. WJA-TV provides students with an opportunity to gain practical experience in television and film production, broadcast management, and television sales.
October 30, 1970
STUDENT FILMAKERS OFFERED TV SHOWCASE
Student filmmakers in the greater Michina area will be offered television exposure for their films begining early next year, according to an announcement from the producers of Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical review productd by WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company.
Noting the growing number of high school and college students creating their own films, and the relatively few opportunities for the general public to view these works, the producers of Beyond Our Control will actively seek out creative films by amateur filmmakers to be presented in a special segment of each week's program. Most area college and many high schools, now have filmaking courses or teach a filmmaking unit in English, Drama or other departments, and many young people are working on their own films purely as a hobby. althogh Beyond Our Control is basically satirical in nature, films of all types will be considered for presentation. The producers will provide a complete set of their evaluation guidelines, together with technical specifications, upon request to any interested high school or college student. Inquiries on the project may be directed to the producres of Beyond Our Control at WNDU-TV, Post Office Box 16, South Bend, Indiana, 46624.
Beyond Our Control is now int he early stages of production and is scheduled for its fourth season premiere on Saturday, January 30 at 5:30 PM EST on Channel 16. the half-hour program, a blend of parody, music and irreverent commentary, is produced by twenty-three area high schoolstudents in association with advisers from thestaff of WNDU-tv. The students are members of WJA-TV, a Junior Achievement Company which is in its tenth anniversary season of operation. The company is sponsored by WNDU-TV as an educational project to offer practical broadcasting experience to high school students.
January 5, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" PREMIERE SCHEDULED
Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical review for television is now scheduled to have its fourth season premiere Saturday, January 30, at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company which produces the program, is now in the final stages of production as the group prepares to open its tenth anniversary season of television programming on WNDU-TV.
Twenty-three students of area high schools and four advisers fro the staff of Channel 16 have joined under the auspices of Junior Achievement, a national program of economic education, to produce Beyond Our Control. The company, functioning as a model corporation, sells stock to raise operating capital, creates a program concept, leases studio facilities from WNDU-TV, and then engages in producing the thirteen-week series. The project is financed by the sales of commercial advertising within the show to area businesses.
Wm. Thomas Hamilton, Executive Vice President and Genera Manager of Wndu-TV, and a member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement, inaugurated the project in 1960 with the cooperation of the late Robert Riedel, then Executive Director of JA in South Bend. The program, probably the first of its kind in the United States, was designed to attract talented young people to broadcasting careers by giving them practical experience in television production, sales and business administration. Since its inception, more than two-hundred fifty area teen-agers have participated in the unique educational project.
Since 1968, WJA-TV has presented Beyond Our Control, modestly claimed to be one of local television's most ambitious weekly programs. As the title suggests, the show is television-oriented, exploiting the medium to reflect humorously upon all aspects of American culture-including television itself.
Experimental animated film, on-location actuality-style reports, skits parodying television programs and commercials, frequent musical interludes and a diverse assortment of other features-all characterized by generally irreverent tone-are presented each week in what the producers somewhat hopefully describe as a fast-paced and humorous framework. The weekly "Rock of Ages" reprise of vintage popular music will return this season according top the producers, as will frequent interruptions for commercials--both real and otherwise.
New to the program this season will be the presentation of student-produced films. High school and college filmmakers will be showcased on the program whenever available films present themselves, and the producers have invited interested filmmakers to contact them for the full information on the project.
Eight area high schools are represented in the cast of Beyond Our Control this season, and the company membership is as follows:
Jackson: Marcia Blodgett, WJA-TV President; Sue Denning, Production Manager; Bob Gilroy, Kim Hitchcock, Tom Keayes, Chris McVay and Rich Muessel
Mishawaka: Kim Guidi, Jim Jordan, Brian McLaughlin and Becky Semenak.
LaSalle: Karen Janowiak, Bob Morton, Julie Ratkiewicz, Nancy Ross and Sherry Shane.
Adams: Jim McDonald and Kevin Wright.
Marian: Tom Hojnacki, WJA-TV Art Director; and Marty Horvath
Washington: Sandra Joseph
Clay: George Papp, WJA-TV Sales Manager.
Riley: Jim Skwarcan.
This year's advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV are once again Joe Dundon, Greg Giczi, Bill Siminski, and Dave Williams.
January 18, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" OPENS FOURTH SEASON
Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical review for television, will open its fourth season Saturday, January 30, at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. The half-hour electronic conglomeration of parody, music, tasteful humor and commercials, all in garish color, is produced by twenty-three students of area high schools and four advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV successfully masquerading as WJA-TV, the original Junior Achievement Television Company.
For its season premiere, Beyond Our Control will introduce itself with the help of the Bonzo Dog Band as the cast is welcomed into Michiana living rooms for another season. The plight of an average American Teenager, assigned to a classroom peoples with super-teens, will be explored in a chapter of "The Adventures of Normal Boy," featuring Kevin Wright as the average adolescent.
Turning to music, the show will present "Be True to Your School" in the first weekly "Rock of Ages" reprise of vintage popular music. Chris McVay does the lip-sync and Kim Guidi is featured as President of the Class.
An educational feature on the raising of "Chilchinnas* for Profit" will offer a dramatic explanation of the potential for fun and profit in the ranching of these fur-bearing insects from "down-under."
Viewers will also be treated to a preview of "The Young Plumbers," latest in a long line of relevant television series. Tom Keayes, Bob Morton and Julie Ratkiewicz are the young plumbers who struggle to remain relevant, hip and dry while operating a free Neighborhood Plumbing Clinic with the fatherly advice of their mentor-"Marcus," played by Jim Jordan.
Punctuating the program will be the usual commercial parodies, including plugs for depilatories, wine and a new freeze-dried Toast-R-Soup.
Beyond Our Control is reluctantly directed by Bill Siminski for WNDU-TV.
*Note Spelling: not chinchillas! (We're not ready for a lawsuit this early.)
SUGGESTED TV PROGRAM GUIDE LISTING FOR THE EDITOR'S CONVENIENCE:
BEYOND OUR CONTROL ("Humor") 5:30 PM EST Channel 16
One of the world's greatest TV shows, called "a living legend" by several astute critics, returns to the air for a fourth flabbergasting season. Even if Barbara Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Timothy Leary, the Rolling Stones, and the Tooth Fairy do not appear as originally scheduled, the program is still entertaining, well thought-out and very sincere.
January 26, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" LOOKS AT HORROR MOVIES
A somewhat formless--but nonetheless terrifying--beast which stalks the peaceful campus of State U. is the featured player of "The Rancid hunk in the Girl's Dormitory," a parody of vintage horror movies is to be featured on the second edition of Beyond Our Control. The weekly satirical review, produced by the Junior Achievement Television Company, will present the parody Saturday, February 6 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. Featured in the parody are Chris McVay as the burgermeister, Nancy Ross as his daughter Conchita, and Rich Muessel as the Justice of the Peace.
Beyond Our Control will open its second edition by seizing control of the set and switching channels from station to station, s it briefly explores the world of television. In another segment of the program, Kim Guidi stars as Rich Clark in the premiere of "Puberty: The Teen-Age Magazine for Television;" included are the latest Hollywood gossip, new records, beauty hints and other hip happenings. In the weekly "Rock of Ages" segment of the show, Marcia Blodgettt, disguised as Mama Mass Elliot, will perform "Words of Love." Rounding out the program are salutes to late lamented cigarette commercials--including dancing cigarette packs and the Marbleboro cowboy, and an educational feature on the human body: "I'm Joe's Nose."
Beyond Our Control's Productions Manager is Sue Denning; the show is directed by Bill Siminski for WNDU-TV.
February 2, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" TO PRESENT HOLIDAY SPECIAL
With Abraham Lincoln's birthday being observed Friday, February 12, and George Washington's birthday now being observed Monday, February 15, Beyond Our Control has been swept up in the holiday spirit and will present its annual Christmas Special, Saturday, February 13 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. The weekly satirical review for television is produced by the WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company.
The Yuletide special features Chris McVay as "Father," Karen Janowiak as "Mother," Sandra Joseph s "Grandmother" and Kevin Wright as "Grandfather" in a series of vignettes parodying typical network television specials.
Also featured on the program are a special Christmas edition of the soap opera "Days of Our Weeks," a visit to "Santa's Workhouse" featuring Jim McDonald as Santa Claus, and a "Christmas Love Story" featuring Bob Morton and Sherry Shane. Punctuating this holiday edition of Beyond Our Control will be toy and game commercials for the Christmas season.
The production is created by the twenty-three high school students and four advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV to comprise the membership of WJA-TV.
February 12, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" LOOKS AT SUBMARINE MOVIES
Vintage World War Two submarine movies will be parodied when Beyond Our Control presents "Above the Bottom of the Sea," a feature of the program's fourth edition, Saturday, February 20 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. The film, which chronicles the adventures of the S.S.S. Flounder, features Kim Guidi as Captain Ishmael Brine, Sherry Shane as First Mate Gloria, Marty Horvath as the youthful harpooner Cubby McPupp, Rich Muessel as the galley steward Cookie Baker, and Kim Hitchcock as Rear Admiral Hiroshima Honda.
Also featured in the program will be an informative and profitable session with "The Money Meter," featuring Chris McVay; a cozy visit to "Homewrecker's Time," featuring Julie Ratkiewicz, Kim Guidi and Bobo Morton; a parody of the television network sign-off for the "People's Electrically Operated Television Communications Network" of the Republic of Grossitania.
Beyond Our Control is produced by the WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television composed of twenty-three area high school students and four advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV. The project is currently in its tenth year at Channel 16.
February 26, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" LOOKS AT SOAP OPERAS
Long running satirical soap opera, "Days of Our Weeks," will be put through yet another series of variations on the sixth edition of Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical review, Saturday, March 6 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
"Days of Our Weeks" will be presented in contemporary form as it might have been presented in ancient Rome, and as it might have been presented in prehistoric times. The cast--and the plot--for all three episodes is identical: Becky Semenak as the woman, Tom Hojnacki as the man, Julie Ratkiewicz as the daughter, Norm Crider as the boyfriend and Marty Horvath as the father.
Also featured on the program will be a futuristic television commercial for "Food;" a parody of a television commercial for a station wagon commenting on the condition of South Bend streets; and n encore performance of last season's marathon rendition of "MacArthur Park," featuring Jim Skwarcan and Karen Krizman.
Beyond Our Control is produced by area high school students and advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV, and is directed this week by Mark Heller.
March 23, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL"RETURNS FOR "SECOND SEASON"
Beyond Our Control, absent form theairwaves for three weeks wihie NCAA basketball telecasts fromNBC occupied its usual time preiod, willl return Saturday, April 3 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16 for its "second season" premiere. the weekly satirical revue, which is currently the subject of an article in the April issue of TV/Radio Mirror magazine, is produced by twenty-two area high school students and three advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV, all members of WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company.
For its return to the air, Beyond Our Control will feature a session in "The Rowdy Room School," an educational television program for oversized pre-schoolers. Nancy Ross is featured as the teacher, Miss Lydia, and her students are Bob Morton, Marcia Blodgett, Kevin Wright, Julie Ratkiewicz, Norm Crider and Jim McDonald.
Also featured on the program will be a heart-rendering performance of "Laurie,"as performed by Jim Skwarcan in the program's weekly "Rock of Ages" reprise of vintage rock music; a few tips on "Adequate Ediquette" from a leading authority on social graces and room fresheners, Amy Heavybuilt, played by Becky Semenak; a special guest appearance by members of the cast of "Miscellanei," Richard Fogarty's original comedy revue originally produced at Indiana University South Bend.
Beyond Our Control is directed by Bill Siminski for WNDU-TV, with Suzanne Denning and Kim Guidi in charge of production for WJA-TV.
April 1, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" PRESENTS EIGHTH EDITION
Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical revue for television, will present its eighth edition of the season Saturday, April 10 at :30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. Dubbed "the TV show about TV," the program will again take a satirical look at television programs, commercials and music.
A parody of local television newscasts highlights the ninth edition f the show. Kim Guidi portrays harried TV newscaster, beset with more than the usual share of technical difficulties. "The Local News" also features Jim Skwarcan, Jim McDonald, Bob Morton, Marcia Blodgett and Brian McLaughlin.
In other features, Beyond Our Control will bring back "The original Amateurish Hour," with Jim Skwarcan as emcee Ted hack; reprise "From Bobby Socks to Stockings," featuring Jim McDonald in the show's weekly Rock of Ages segment; present a return visit from members of the cast of "Miscellanei," Richard Fogarty's original comedy revue; parody television commercials for hamburger drive-ins, candy bars, soft drinks and laxatives; and recall another segment from the Beyond Our Control archives from past season.
The show is produced by area high school students and advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV, members of WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company.
April 12, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" EXAMINES RESTAURANTS
Problems encountered in eating at a chic restaurant are explored in the ninth edition of Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical revue produced by the Junior Achievement Television Company. The ninth edition of the program will be presented Saturday, April 17 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
Bob Morton and Sherry Shane are the helpless couple who brave the jungle of reservations, head-waiters, bus-boys and a foreign menu in "Dining Out." Also featured are Jim Jordan as the Head waiter and Bob Gilroy as the Salad Chef.
Two musical numbers will be featured this week. In the weekly Rock of Ages reprise of vintage popular music, Jim McDonald will render "Bobby Socks to Stockings," with the assistance of Marcia Blodgett and Kim Guidi. And, in a salute to the 30's, Jim Jordan and Tom Keays will perform an antique version of "MacArthur's Park;" Tom Hojnacki and Marcia Blodgett are featured in a film embellishment.
Beyond Our Control is produced by twenty-two high school students and three advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV. The program is the subject of the cover story in the April issue of Educational Television magazine, a nationally circulated publication.
April 20, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" PRESENTS TENTH EDITION
Beyond Our Control, dubbed "the TV show about TV" by its producers, will present its tenth edition of the current season Saturday, April 24 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. The half-hour satirical revue is written and produced by area high school students and advisers from the staff of Channel 16, members of WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company.
The foibles of television are again in the focus of a rapid-fire channel-switching session this week as the program takes a look at how television comforts the elderly Included in the sequence are parodies of game shows, children's shows and commercials.
In the weekly Rock of Ages reprise of vintage popular music, Kim Guidi is joined by Kevin Wright and Janet Ripsco for an illustrated rendering of "Tell Laura I Love Her." Jim Skwarcan and Jim McDonald are featured in a public service announcement for a campaign to conquer "BG" (Beer Gut).
Highlights of last season's programs will also be presented this week via the magic of videotape.
April 26, 1971
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" TURNS TO POLITICS
Political campaigning in general and political advertising on television in particular are the targets of Beyond Our Control's satirists this week. The eleventh edition of the weekly satirical revue will be presented Saturday, May 1 at 4:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
In a series of parodies of political commercials on TV, viewers will meet William Jennings Mare, Whig candidate for mayor of an unspecified city. Jim McDonald portrays the hopeful, with Marcia Blodgett playing his outspoken wife martha, and Kim Guidi and Jim Skwarcan playing the campaign managers who mastermind the Mare for Mayer campaign.
In other segments of the program, Beyond Our Control will look at used car commercials, campaign night coverage on television, and--in the weekly Rock of Ages segment-- present the story of "Miller's Cave," featuring Jim McDonald, Julie Ratkiewicz and Jim Jordan.
Beyond Our Control is produced by area high school students and advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV, members of WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company, and is directed for television by Bill Siminski.
May 4, 1971
JA TV COMPANY CONCLUDES SEASON
WJA-TV, the junior Achievement Television Company, will conclude its tenth anniversary season this weekend when it presents the year's final edition of Beyond Our Control. As is the program's custom, highlights of the past season will be featured in the year-end reprise, to be presented Saturday, (May 8) at 4:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
Among the skits scheduled to receive encore presentations are excerpts from "Puberty: The Teen Magazine for Television," featuring Kim Guidi as host Rich Clark; the special Christmas edition of the program's long-running soap opera "Days of Our Weeks," featuring Marcia Blodgett, Julie Ratkiewicz, Kim Guidi, Karen Janowiak and Sherry Shane; highlights of "Homewrecker's Time," with Julie Ratkiewicz, Bob Morton, Nancy Ross and Kim Guidi; and a local holiday show "Santa's Workhouse," with Jim McDonald, Nancy Ross and Becky Sememak.
A number of commercial parodies presented during the season will also be presented, including TV plugs for depilatories, drive-in restaurants, toys and other products. Jim McDonald, Jim Skwarcan and Kim Guidi will be recalling several of the Rock of Ages presentations of vintage popular music.
This is the fourth season the Junior Achievement Television Company has presented Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical revue dubbed "the TV show about TV." The programs are produced by twenty-two area high school students and three advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV. Originated in 1961 by Wm. Thomas Hamilton, Executive Vice President and General Manager of WNDU-TV, as an educational project designed to interest students in pursuing broadcasting careers, WJA-TV is now the oldest Junior Achievement television project in the nation and has given more than 250 high school students practical experience in broadcasting in its ten-year history. This year's advisory staff from WNDU-TV included Joe Dundon, Bill Siminski, and Dave Williams.
