1972-'73 Press Releases
January 3, 1973
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" PREPARES SIXTH SEASON
One of the nation's oldest and most widely-acclaimed educational television projects for high school students will begin its 1973 season on WNDU-TV, Channel 16, Saturdays January 27 at 6:00 PM EST.
Twenty-seven high school students representing 11 Michiana area high schools, have formed a television production company under the guidance of advisers from the staff of WNDU-TV, the University of Notre Dame's NBC affiliate station in South Bend, Indiana. Meeting since mid-September, the members of the company have been learning and putting into practice the numerous operations necessary to the production of a weekly half-hour television program--from learning to operate television cameras, audio consoles and videotape recorders, to selling television commercials within the show to area businessmen.
Their organization functions administratively as part of Junior Achievement, a nationwide program of learn-by-doing economic education for high school students. The South Bend television company, founded in 1960 by Wm. Thomas Hamilton, Executive Vice-president and General Manager of the WNDU Stations, is actually a working model of a complete corporation, with stockholders, corporate officers, a Board of Directors, sales goals, and a unique product: a television show called Beyond Our Control.
Created in 1968, Beyond Our Control uses the television medium as a springboard for parodies on a variety of facets of American culture. Vintage pop music underground movies, high school social life, TV commercials, soap operas, politics and more are subjects which might be "Beyond our Control" in a given week. With its title derived from the familiar broadcasting phrase which announces technical problems, Beyond Our Control is literally a TV show about TV. Furthering its television orientation, many of the shows parodies involve WIMP-TV, Channel One, a mythical small-market TV station created as an archetype of all low-budget/big-idea broadcast operations.
Already slated for appearance on the program this season are a beach party movie, a silent movie serial based on the life of St. Mohab, a drive-in theater intermission, music by the likes of Jim Nabors and Walter Brennan, an ethnic-appeal Television show, a Japanese science-fiction movie and more things which will be announced as soon as they are thought up.
Produced on film and color videotape Saturday mornings at the campus studios of WNDU-TV, Beyond Our Control is probably the most complex and ambitious program produced in the market. It has been the subject of national attention on numerous occasions and has inspired a number of imitators among similar student projects around the country.
WNDU-TV Director Mark Heller will direct the program again this season. With the exception of Heller and a few technical engineers, the production is entirely in the hands of the students, who do the writing filming, acting and videotape production. Dave Bashover, a Senior at Jackson High School, is the program's production Manager this season, and is assisted by Keith Kepler, a Junior at Penn High School.
Advisers to the project this year have been Joe Dundon, Kim Guidi and Dave Williams.
The company membership is:
ADAMS HIGH SCHOOL - Tim Hanlon, Kathi Kimbriel and Eric Tweedell
BUCHANAN (MICHIGAN) HIGH SCHOOL - Rich Frantz and Liza Moon
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL - Debbie Hoblik
CLAY HIGH SCHOOL - Teri Jacobs
ELKHART MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL - Paul Gassera
JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL - Dave Bashover, Poduction Manager; Kevin Garbacz, Secretary; Sheila Gramenz, President; Mary Kocy; Kevin O'Brien, Art Director; Pat O'Brien; Geoff Roth, Sales Manager and Kurt Stevens
LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL - Maryalice Janowiak; Julie Ratkiewicz, Property Manager
MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL - Pat Pritchett
MISHAWAKA HIGH SCHOOL - Attea Guidi and Kevin Zimmerman
PENN HIGH SCHOOL - Keith Kepler, Assistant Production Manager
RILEY HIGH SCHOOL - Karen Woodfork
ST. JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL - Mark Cybulski; Lynn Patrick; Zip Rowe;and Diane Werts, Personnel Director
February 12, 1973
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL," THE THIRD
Inscrutable Oriental science-fiction movies, behavior in foreign restaurants and adolescent anxieties are among the topics under humorous consideration this week on Beyond Our Control. Pre-empted last week for a network sports special, the student-produced "TV show about TV" returns Saturday (February 17) at 6:00 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel l6.
Maryalice Janowiak and Lindell Egyed star in a preview of "Gonsuelo: Japanese Atomic Refuse Beast," as the show opens with a parody of low-budget science- fiction movies; Sue Denning has a cameo role as The Beast.
The perils of dining in a Serbo-Croatian restaurant are explored in a skit featuring Kathi Kimbriel and Steve Hawks as American tourists and Geoff Roth as a more-or-less helpful waiter.
"The Perils of Puberty" come under the scrutiny of "The Ann Philanders Institute" as typical teen Teri Jacobs consults Dr. Baxter (Rich Frantz) and Pastor Knack (Kurt Stevens), learning about the three basic teen temptations.
Beyond Our Control is directed for Channel 16 by Mark Heller; Dave Bashover and Keith Kepler are in charge of production for WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company which produces the weekly satirical revue.
February 17, 1973
FOR RELEASE AFTER 6:30 PM, FEBRUARY 17
FREEDOMS FOUNDATION AWARDS WJA-TV
WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company in South Bend, Indiana, has received the George Washington Honor Medal Award in the 1972 Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge awards competition. The company, sponsored by WNDU-TV, the University of Notre Dame's NBC affiliate station, was competing in the Economic Education category, which includes programs or projects relating to the American free enterprise, risk-capital, profit and loss system.
Recipients for this year's awards were chosen in December, 1972, by a National Awards Jury of state supreme court jurists and representatives of national veterans, service, civic and patriotic organizations.
WJA-TV is currently in its twelfth season of telecasting on WNDU-TV, Channel 16, producing the weekly satirical revue, Beyond Our Control, which is directed by Mark Heller.
The project was created in 1960 by Wm. Thomas Hamilton, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the WNDU stations, and the late Robert Riedel, Executive Director of Junior Achievement of South Bend-Mishawaka. More than 250 area high school students have participated in WJA-TV, which is designed to offer practical commercial broadcasting experience to high school students as part of the WNDU Stations' involvement in broadcasting education.
Currently, 31 high school students from 11 Indiana and Michigan high schools are participating in WJA-TV, operating as a complete model television corporation. The students administer the corporation, sold stock to raise operating capital, write original scripts for Beyond Our Control, participate in on-location filming, and produce the weekly half- hour program in the campus studios of WNDU-TV.
The project is sustained as public service programming by WNDU-TV, and financed through the support of area businesses which purchase commercial advertising in the program. This year's sponsors include the Ridge Company, Gilbert's Men's Clothing, Jefferson Manor Lanes, Indiana & Michigan Electric Company, Anderson-Hickey Realty, the Associates Corporation, AM General Corporation, South Bend Federal Savings and Loan Association, Beaudway Hardware, Mr. Quick Drive-In, Honda of Michiana, The First Bank and Trust Company, Indiana Bell Telephone, Coca-Cola, Inwoods, Alexanian Brothers Carpeting, Burger Chef, Lion's Den Clothing, Hook's Drug, and Frick's Driver Education SchooL,
Advisers to the project this year have been Joe Dundon, Kim Guidi (the individual nominee for the award) and Dave Williams.
February 19, 1973
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" KIDS "HAPPY" NEWSCASTS
Informal local newscasts--with the emphasis on good news--will be the object of parody on the next edition of Beyond Our Control, Saturday evening (February 24) at 6:00 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
BOC's mythical local TV station, WIMP-TV, Channel One, will re-format its newscast and create a new revolving set this week. "The Happy Smiley News" debuts with Steve Hawks as anchorman Hap Wilson, Geoff Roth as weatherman Donny Dingle, and sportscaster Roscoe Walters played by Keith Kepler.
Also scheduled for the fourth edition of the student-produced satirical revue is "Opera Showcase," featuring highlights of the very grand opera "Il Spumoni del Parmesano" by Linguini. Mike Manier hosts the performance, which features Mark Cybulski, tenor (Ragu); Kathi Kimbriel, soprano (Lucia); Rich Frantz, baritone (Prestoni); and Teri Jacobs, stripper (Naoni). Mary Kocy is featured as the witch Rappatinsel.
Rounding out the program are commercial plugs for Tijuana Mutual Hospital Insurance and a local hubcap service center.
In charge of production for Beyond Our Control is Dave Bashover. The program is produced by WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company and directed for Channel 16 by Mark Heller.
February 26, 1973
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" STAGES "KNOWLEDGE BOWL"
A team of varsity scholars front M.I.T.T. is challenged by the "Weasels" of Indiana Diesel Technical College and Grill in the "Generous Electric Knowledge Bowl," a television show parody highlighting the fifth edition of Beyond Our Control. The show will be seen Saturday (March 3) at 6:00 PM on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. Steve Hawks plays host to the raucous contestants and Tim Hanlon, as the Captain of the Indiana team, narrates films of the Hoosier campus.
Also scheduled for this edition of the student-produced series is a presentation of "The Channel One Cinema Movie," featuring Mary Kocy as the hostess "Iota." In the Music/Ideology Corner, Julie Ratkiewicz offers a sprightly rendition of "Commie Lies" to a roomful of student activists. Pat Pritchett and Randy Rhinehart play members of the Junior Youth group in a public service announcement promoting the sate of the group's record album "Call o' The Wild." CommerciaL parodies--including plugs for cosmetics, dance schools, electric pillows and wormers--round out the show.
Thirty area high school students, members of WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company, produce the weekly comedy series. Dave Bashover and Keith Kepler are in charge of the production, and Mark Heller directs for Channel 16.
March 5, 1973
"BOC" STAGES ITS OWN SCHOOL PLAY
The Drama Class of Eisenhower High will present its spring play this weekend and Beyond Our Control cameras will be on hand for the drama. The parody of a typical high school play is scheduled for the sixth edition of the weekly satirical revue, Saturday (March 10) at 6:00 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
"The Merchant of Much Ado" (Shakespeer) will star Mary Kocy as Rosalind, Mike Manier as Perogee, Tim Hanlon as the Friar, Kevin Zimmerman as Mischievous Putz, Kieth Kepler as Lord Duncle and Bruce Lash as the King.
Erecting a trophy display shelf is the project this week on "Waldo's Workshop" another featured parody. Kurt Stevens is Waldo Burner and Maryalice Janowiak is his wife Natalie in the skit.
Rounding out this week's show is a commercial parody for Banal Aspirin and a look at this weekend's bargains from your nearby Big Squid Supermarket.
Dave Bashover of Jackson High School is Production Manager for Beyond Our Control; the program is a production of WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company. Mark Heller directs for Channel 16.
March 12, 1973
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" PRESENTS UNDERGROUND MOVIE
Viewers will be invited to interpret the "tortured symbolism" of an underground movie on the next edition of Beyond Our Control, Saturday evening (March 17) at 6:00 PM EST on WNDU-TV, Channel 16. "Look Me In the I," a somewhat nonobjective film dealing with cosmic import and other stuff, stars Rich Frantz as the Dreamer. Also appearing in the study of a full-blown identity crisis are Dave Bashover as a marionette surgeon, Keith Kepler as a Nameless Official (representing man's inhumanity to man), and Geoff Roth as the Faceless Adversary.
On the lighter side, Beyond Our Control's Channel One will present "The Sheila Mole Show," starring Liza Moon as Sheila. The parody of a typical lady's television show also features Steve Hawks as co-host Lannie Franklin, Mike Manier as local poet Sergei Virgil, Howard Roth as the cellist Raoul, and Keith Kepler as Dr. Pedro Gaylord.
In other sequences, Debbie Hoblik peddles useless gewgaws to housewives from "Dowdy House," and Geoff Roth and Tim Hanlon play Siamese twins Jan & Dean in a rendition of "New Girl in School”.
Mark Heller directs the show, which is produced by WJA-TV, the Junior Achievement Television Company, Dave Bashover is the student Production Manager.
April 16, 1973
"BEYOND OUR CONTROL" PRESENTS AWARDS
Hollywood's Academy Awards are the target for Beyond Our Control this week as the student-produced satirical revue presents its own "Oscoe Awards." The skit is a highlight of the eleventh season of the program scheduled for Saturday (April 21) at 6:00 PM on WNDU-TV, Channel 16.
Steve Hawks plays "Carleton Wesson," host of the ceremonies whose highlights include presentations of the nominated songs, costume awards and a special effects award with scenes from "The Pontiac Adventure." Featured are Tim Hanlon as Donny-May St. Peters Kathi Kimbriel as Vonda Nova and Mark Cybulski as Eddie Fatcozal.
In other skits, Debbie Hoblik plays etiquette authority "Emily Compost" With advice on how to attract the attention of a waitress, and Keith Kepler offers springtime gardening hints.
Beyond Our Control is produced by area high school students, members of the Junior Achievement Television Company. Dave Bashover is the Production Manager and Mark Heller directs for Channel 16.
