Court of Current Issues

*Court of Current Issues*
Court of Current Issues
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	30 minutes (1948-1949); 60 minutes (1949-1951)
Original release
Network	DuMont
Release	February 9, 1948 –; June 26, 1951

Court of Current Issues (initially known as Court of Public Opinion)^[1] is a nontraditional court show featuring public-affairs debates. The program aired on the DuMont Television Network from February 9, 1948, through June 26, 1951.^[2] Originally a half-hour in length, it expanded to 60 minutes in 1949.

Overview

The program featured oral arguments on topical issues using the format of a courtroom. A judge presided, with people from both sides of the episode's topic taking the roles of attorneys and witnesses.^[3] People from "representative national groups" formed the jury,^[4] and viewers could call to vote for one of the sides.^[5]

Topics discussed on episodes included "Should Radio and Television Editorialize?",^[6] "Shall Federal Rent Controls Be Continued?",^[7] and "Does the Supreme Court Free Speech Decision Srengthen Our Democracy?".^[8]

People who appeared on the program included Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Shad Polier,^[9] Al Capp, Lev Gleason,^[10] Gerald Dickler, George Hamilton Combs, James Lawrence Fly,^[6] Arthur Garfield Hays and O. John Rogge,^[8]

Irvin Paul Sulds was the producer,^[4] and David Lowe was the director.^[11] The program was sustaining.^[12]

In its last two seasons,^[3] the series was scheduled opposite Milton Berle's popular Texaco Star Theater on NBC, hence it did not receive a wide audience.^[1]

Following its network demise, the program ran on local TV in New York "for some time".^[1]

Schedule

Time Slots for *Court of Current Issues*
Months	Day of Week	Time Slot
February 1948 - June 1948	Tuesdays	8 - 8:30 p.m.^[3]
July 1948 - November 1948	Mondays	9:30 - 10 p.m.^[3]
November 1948 - January 1949	Mondays	8 - 9 p.m.^[3]
January 1949 - February 1949	Mondays	10 - 11 p.m.^[3]
March 1949 - April 1949	Mondays	9 - 10 p.m.^[3]
May 1949 - June 1949	Wednesdays	9 - 10 p.m.^[3]
January 1949 - June 1951	Tuesdays	8 - 9 p.m.^[3]

Note: All times Eastern; all broadcasts on Dumont

Episode status

A 14-minute fragment from the March 3, 1949 episode survives at the Paley Center for Media.^{[citation needed]}

Critical response

In 1948 the Radio-Television Critics Circle of New York cited Court of Current Issues as one of several programs, networks, and individuals deserving of kudos for excellence in broadcasting.^[13]

United States Congressman Frederic Coudert Jr. recognized Sulds and Court of Current Issues in the Congressional Record in February 1950. His comments there praised the program's originator and stated his wishes that other programs like it might be developed. If so, he said, "We can look forward to a period in our immediate future when we will have the best informed public of any nation in the world."^[14]

Bibliography

David Weinstein, The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2004) ISBN 1-59213-245-6

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Erickson, Hal (October 21, 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008. McFarland. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7864-5452-5. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 183. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. pp. 212–213. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
^ ^a ^b "Service personnel to be on TV program". The New York Times. July 9, 1951. p. 36. ProQuest 111786854. Retrieved November 29, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ Campbell, Mary Schmidt (August 6, 2018). An American Odyssey: The Life and Work of Romare Bearden. Oxford University Press. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-19-972364-5. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Radio and Television: Navy to Launch Training Programs by Video for Air Reservists at 3 Bases in East". The New York Times. July 18, 1949. p. 32. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ "Plan Rent Curb Debate: Realtors to Take Part Tuesday on Television Program". The New York Times. May 14, 1950. p. 250. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Radio and Television: WABD Adding 'Program Playhouse' and Fight Shows to Video List Next Week". The New York Times. June 18, 1949. p. 28. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ Sokolsky, George (November 22, 1949). "These Days". The Telegraph-Herald. Iowa, Dubuque. p. 6. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ Hirsch, Paul S. (July 12, 2021). Pulp Empire: The Secret History of Comic Book Imperialism. University of Chicago Press. p. 306. ISBN 978-0-226-35069-1. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ "Dumont". Ross Reports. February 26, 1950. p. 25. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ "No Half-Way Break Keeps Hour-Show Viewers Tuned". Billboard. May 28, 1949. p. 12. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ "Radio-TV Critics Offer Kudos for Industry Activities" (PDF). Billboard. May 22, 1948. p. 10. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^ "'Court' Praised". Broadcasting. February 20, 1950. p. 59. Retrieved January 1, 2024.