Today's chuckle: A VARIETY page one story from 11/30/56:

<< NBC-TV Puts on ‘Dracula' 'Matinee' to Chagrin of UI

There are some red faces at UI, redder than the ears of Albert McCleery from a telephonic scorching he got from the studio last week.

When the news seeped into UI that McCleery would televise "Dracula" on NBC's Matinee Theatre Dec. 13, studio frowned at McCleery for not asking UI for permission.

More than two decades ago UI filmed “Dracula,” plus several sequels.

While the angry words poured into one ear and then another, Mc­Cleery took it all in good grace without impolite interruption. But when he did have his say, UI anger turned to embarrassment. Didn't UI know that "Dracula" had passed into public domain two months previously?

McCleery knew because he has made it his business to know, "Matinee" eating up so much literary material at five hours a week. He has his own operative in NY watching for plays and novels that have expired the 56­-year protection of their copyright. Best place to find them? The NY Public Library, says McCleery, and for every one turned up he pays $50.

Many of George Bernard Shaw's early classics will soon be passing into public domain, so there will be a rash of them on tv. <