1971-’72 Press Releases
January 5, 1972
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" READIES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical revue for television is now scheduled for its fifth anniversary season premier Saturday, January 29 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV Channel 16 in South Bend, Indiana. WJA-TV, the high school student television production company which creates the program is now in the final stages of production as the group prepares to open its eleventh season of telecasting on WNDU-TV.
Twenty-four students of six area high schools and three advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV, the University of Notre Dame's NBC affiliate in South Bend, have joined under the auspices of Junior Achievement to produce the program. "JA," a 2-year-old national business education and training organization, permits the group to function as a complete model corporation, selling stock to raise operating capital, creating an original program concept, leasing studio facilities and ait-time from WNDU-TV, and then engaging in the production of the 13-week series of programs. The project is financed solely through the sale of commercial advertising within the show to area businesses.
Wm. Thomas Hamilton, Executive Vice President and General Manager of WNDU-TV, and now a member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of South Bend, inaugurated the project in 1960. The program, one of the first of its kind in the United States, was devised to attract talented young people to broadcasting careers by offering practical experience in television production, sales and business administration. Since its inception, more than 250 area teenagers 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 program. 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 film, on-location actuality-style reports, parodies of television programs and commercials, frequent musical interludes and a diverse assortment of other features--all characterized by a generally irreverent tone--are presented each week in what the producers (somewhat optimistically) describe as a fast-paced and humorous framework. The weekly "Rock of Ages" reprise of vintage popular music will return this season, as will frequent interruptions for commercials--real and otherwise.
With the exception of a few technical responsibilities, the production of the complex weekly program is almost entirely in the hands of the high school sophomore, juniors and seniors who comprise, the membership of the company. Students work with advisers in writing each week's original script and in the preparation of 16mm film segments. At Saturday morning videotaping sessions, the students operate the television cameras, do the audio engineering and operate videotape recorders. Naturally, acting and announcing chores are completely in the hands of the students.
Kim Guidi, a Senior at Mishawaka High School, is the program's Production Manager this season, assisted by Kathy Kimbriel, a sophomore at John Adams High School. Jim Skwarcan, a Senior at Riley High School ,is the President of WJA-TV this year. Advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV will again be Joe Dundon and Dave Williams. New to the program this year is Mark Heller, a member of the WNDU-TV staff who will direct the program. Beyond Our Control is probably the longest running Junior Achievement television operation in the nation, having been repeatedly singled out to win national acclaim for its outstanding educational properties.
(First Add:)
Six area high schools are represented in the membership of WJA-TV this season:
From Jackson High School - Art Directors Tom Keays and Kevin O'Brien, Secretary Dave Bashover, Treasurer Marty Katz, Robin Hill, Joe Kocy, Mary Kocy, Geoffrey Roth and Carl Thompson.
From Riley High School- President Jim Skwarcan and Phil Banks.
From Mishawaka High School - Production Manager Kim Guidi, Penny Cole, Toni Bilancio and Janet Johnson.
From John Adams High School - Assistant Production Manager Kathy Kimbriel, Assistant to the Director Art Binhack, Jan Morse and Kevin Wright.
From St. Joseph's High School - Mark McQueen, Diane Werts and Rick Xaver.
From LaSalle High School - Sales Manager Bob Morton and Property Manager Julie Ratkiewicz.
January 19, 1972
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" OPENS FIFTH SEASON
Tasteful humor and subtle comedy will soon return to local television as Beyond Our Control, the weekly satirical revue, opens its gala fifth anniversary season. The program's lawyers are standing by for the season premiere Saturday, January 29 at 5:3O PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel l6. Twenty-four area high school students and three advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV, more or less organized under the banner of WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company, produce the weekly electronic conglomeration of parody, music, experimental film and commercials.
A sampling of the public's enthusiastic reaction to Beyond Our Control's return to the air will open the first program of the new season. The sequence was filmed at a local shopping center with Kim Guidi interviewing various local denizens.
TV sports shows will be parodied as the cast moves into the Coach's Corral, featuring sportscaster Butch Manly and his special guest. In the Rock of Ages segment, an irregularly-scheduled reprise of vintage pop music, a lonely soldier pours out the tragic story of "Ebony Eyes" and the ill-fated Flight 1203 to a sympathetic bartender. Kim Guidi is the soldier and Kevin O'Brien is the bartender in the rendition of the song originally recorded by Dickey Lee
A local television station's presentation of horror movies is the target for parody when Beyond Our Control unveils "The Cretin Feature." This week's featured cretin film--"The Running Pile"--pauses for numerous commercial interruptions, with Jim Skwarcan portraying Will Darwin and Carl Thompson playing used car dealer Rudy Mazuma.
Commercial parodies for polka records, a Kitchen Perforator appliance, Virile Beer and others round out the first show.
Beyond Our Control is directed for Channel 16 by Mark Heller, who is frankly delighted with the assignment.
February 25, 1972
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" LOOKS AT PEP ASSEMBLIES
As part Of its continuing coverage of the American adolescent culture, Beyond Our Control will cast its jaundiced eye on high school pep assemblies this week. The fifth edition of the weekly satirical revue will be presented Saturday, March 4 at 5:30 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
The Eisenhower High School pep assembly features Bob Morton as Principal Roosevelt; Kevin 0'Brien as Coach Winkle; Phil Banks as Athletic Director Woodrow Sanchez; and Art Binhack as a visitor from the opposing school.
In another skit, television game shows are the target as the company presents "Beat the Stars," with Jim Skwarcan, Geoff Roth, Julie Ratkiewicz, Phil Banks and Jan Morse A commercial parody for a popular knife sharpener, and a Rock of Ages-style reprise of "Let Me Go, Lover"--featuring Mary Kocy in a quaint Spanish setting--round out the program.
The program marks the conclusion of the program's "first season;" during the next three weeks, the time period will be occupied by NCAA basketball tournament coverage from NBC. Beyond Our Control will return to begin its "second season" on Saturday, April 1. The show is produced by 24 students from area high schools, members of the Junior Achievement Television Company Mark Heller directs the program for Channel 16.
April 14, 1972
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" TO PARODY KID'S TV SHOWS
"Kiddies Korner," a children's television show as produced by the mythical Channel One, will be featured on the next edition of Beyond Our Control, Saturday (April 22) at 5:00 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel l6. Puppets, a birthday book, cartoons and plenty of commercials are featured on the show, which stars Julie Ratkiewicz as the hostess, Aunty Climax, with Joe Kocy as her chum, Mr. Mold, and Marty Katz as Captain Cookie, spokesmen for the show's sponsor.
In other skits, WJA-TV President Jim Skwarcan is a quizmeister as BOC explores cliche-ridden movie and television situations including: the Prison Movie, with Mark McQueen as the prisoner and Penny Cole as his wife; the Murder Mystery, with Phil Banks as the Inspector; and the TV Soap Opera, with Joe Kocy as the doctor, Phil Banks as his patient and Julie Ratkiewicz as the patient's wife. Also scheduled this week is a visit to Dr. M. D. Sade, Dentist, with Ano Damani as the good doctor and Kathi Kimbriel as his nurse.
Beyond Our Control is produced by WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company, staffed by 25 area high school students and advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV. Mark Heller directs the show for Channel l6.
