The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Broadcast Pioneers member John Zacherle
Action in the Afternoon
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia
1953

We, of course, all know Broadcast Pioneers member John Zacherle as "Roland," the WCAU-TV host of "Shock Theater." Most of us also know that John played an undertaker on "Action in the Afternoon." The show was produced live on the backlot of WCAU-TV and broadcast live over the CBS-TV Television Network. However, before he got the role as the undertaker, John played bit parts on the show. Sometimes he even played two or three different roles in one episode. The photo above looks like it was not winter. So it would have to be 1953 (sometime between spring and fall).

(Left to right) unidentified male and John Zacherle
Action in the Afternoon
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia
1953

The above photo is from very early in the series. You can see that there was snow on the set. Of course, if it snowed in Philadelphia, it would snow on the show. This would probably date from the first two months of the series. It couldn't be January of 1954 because by then Zacherle was cast in the role as the undertaker.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com