WPTZ, Channel 3 in Philadelphia started broadcasting as W3XE in June of 1932. In 1941, the station went commercial and adapted the WPTZ call letters. Everything was live (or film). There was no videotape in those days. In 1947, WPTZ did a presentation of "Cinderella."

Eleanore Chapin had the starring role in this performance. She told the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia that she did dance shows in Philly from 1945 to 1950. Eleanore said:

Our first shows had stage settings around the frame of the camera. Cinderella had sets so I know it was a later show. ... We were the Chapin Dance Players. ... I always did dance/drama, so there usually was a story involved, such as in Cinderella.

They were all choreographed in dance form which always told the story. They were half hour shows. I was responsible for all aspects of the shows, besides choreography. We were on every week, so there was much work and rehearsing of the shows. Plus we were doing shows at WFIL (which came on the air in September of 1947) for New Era Steel Tile, I had to produce a separate half hour show.

...This was also the time when white performers could not be on camera with blacks. I had asked Katherine Dunham and some of her dancers to be in a show with me, but when they came to the studio I was told we could not appear together. I had worked with Katherine in New York and had no idea this would happen. A sorry day, but fortunately things have changed for the better.

(Left to right) TV Director Paul Nickell, Bill Inglis, Jean Williams,
Dan Perna, Edna Hyde, Eleanore Chapin (center)
Ray Gaintner, Andrea Ruth Price and Beau Cunningham
The Dance Presentation of "Cinderella"
WPTZ
1947

WPTZ did much original programming during the forties. One such presentation was called "Cinderella." It was a dance presentation and starred Eleanore Chapin and her dance company. The sets were done by William Craig Smith and lighting by Carl Weger.

(Left to right) Bill Inglis, Jean Williams, Dan Perna
Edna Hyde, Eleanore Chapin (center), TV Director Paul Nickell
Ray Gaintner, Andrea Ruth Price and Beau Cunningham
The Dance Presentation of "Cinderella"
WPTZ
1947

Also in the dance company was Dan Perna, a professor at Cabrini College for many years. Dan Perna, one of the dancers, said that the show had a recorded (not live) music soundtrack from commercially available recordings.

(Left to right) In foreground, Ray Gaintner, Bill Inglis, Eleanore Chapin, Dan Perna in front
with Beau Cunningham in back, Jean Williams, Edna Hyde and Andrea Ruth Price
The Dance Presentation of "Cinderella"
WPTZ
1947

These photos were taken by Broadcast Pioneers member Preston Stover. Preston was on staff at WPTZ but moonlighted taking pictures of Channel 3 shows and selling them. Mrs. Stover told us that Preston would take the snapshot and then develop it that night in their bathtub. They were saving up to purchase a home and his photography work gave them the money for a down payment. Stover started at WPTZ as a cameraman and quickly rose through the ranks to become a Director/Producer. He stayed with the station until it was traded to NBC. At that time, his family moved to Cleveland and the newly acquired Westinghouse properties there.

(Left to right) Beau Cunningham holding Eleanore Chapin, Jean Williams, Ray Gaintner
Bill Inglis, Edna Hyde, Andrea Ruth Price and Dan Perna
The Dance Presentation of "Cinderella"
WPTZ
1947

Eleanore Chapin once wrote: "Upon marriage to Edwin, his job took us to Philadelphia. There I choreographed, formed a company, and danced on the local television.... I was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, attended school there, then went to Boston Conservatory to study all forms of dance, drama, and related subjects. ...My last performance before leaving Boston was with the Boston Pops. My next step was going to New York City, where I studied and performed with modern dancers of the time. ...Life changed and I was on my own raising our three children in New York. I became a stage mother, as my sons were busy appearing in soaps and Broadway Theater. ...I ran an off-off Broadway theater for two years and a dinner theater in the Berkshires, choreographed, directed, acted, and danced whenever the occasion arose. (In California) I've directed, had my own cable access show for three years, and am co-chair for the Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative. I volunteer for the Kentucky Symphony, visit retirement homes as a clown, play tennis, (and) swim...."

 

(Left to right) Eleanore Chapin, Andrea Ruth Price and Beau Cunningham
The Dance Presentation of "Cinderella"
WPTZ
1947

Eleanore Chapin e-mailed us: " The carriage was just a front for the effect." In reality, the carriage door didn't open and the actors just walked behind the carriage set so that their heads would appear in the set opening.