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Show Sttle Creek V - J . v. , :lj I have never made a survey, but would like to wager that currently more sermons are preached and more editorials and features written about the deterioration of American social soc-ial life than any other one subject. sub-ject. For one, this column has also called attention to this backsliding on several occasions. occas-ions. Such things as imorality, dishonesty, dis-honesty, disrespect for law, drug abuse, malfeasance in public office, corruption of the courts and pornography are now so commonplace as to be almost acceptable. Perhaps one of the most striking examples is the present deterioration of programs on the "boob tube" popularly known as the TV set. Such programs as Kraft Music Mu-sic Hall, Hollywood Palace, the Dean Martin Show and even Andy Williams, have been on the immorality skids, particularly particul-arly since the fall season opened. open-ed. Time was when these shows were artistically presented and featured at least semi-classical numbers performed by metropolitan metro-politan stars. But not any more Singing has given way to screaming, which makes the understanding of the lyrics almost al-most impossible. Perhaps that's just as well because most of the words ares balderbash and gutterlush anyway. Even if the screaming voices twanging ,?uitars, and clanging cymbals didn't send the viewers view-ers entirely nuts, the staging completes the job. Grotesque settings, psychedelic colors and on-an-off flashing lights all add to the confusion and nervous tension of the watchers. We were considerably shaken up last Saturday night when we watched the popular Osmond Brothers engage in the apparently appar-ently required screaming songs and suggestive physical body contortions. It's a shame, when young artists have to debase their God-given talents, just to remain popular. As one television producer remarked when accused of debasing de-basing the entertainment field. "If suggestive slush is what the viewing public wants, that's what the public will get." And brothers and sisters, the public is getting it, period. Last Saturday night "Hollywood "Holly-wood Palace" had on display a group of Go-Go Girls, who rivaled riv-aled even the most riblad dancers dan-cers in any of the "liberal" taverns in Utah or any other state. Their suggestive contortions contor-tions were only exceed by their lack of clothing. Even the sweet-singing and adorable Lennon Sisters of former for-mer Lawrence Welk fame are presently singing louder, gyrating gyrat-ing more and wearing less. During their last week's appearance ap-pearance with Jimmy Durante. I hoped their husbands would have given them a spanking backstage. It would have been an easy task. Well' thank the Lord, we still have Channel Seven and Eleven when the mire becomes too deep. "Laugh In" is now on our black list and others may follow fol-low unless some improvement is shown. And again, there's always the "black-out" switch. So long 'til Thursday. |