Other Local Shows--’Jewish Hour,’ Israeli TV News

In addition to Jewish Television Network, there are two producers of Jewish-oriented television programs distributed to Westside and Valley cable systems.

David Paul Kane is the founder, producer, owner and host of “The American Jewish Hour,” a schmaltzy weekly show that showcases local talent and presents interviews with show business personalities. A recent episode included Joyce Amee, who sang “Danny Boy” while accompanying herself on the accordion. Also on the show were an interview with Vidal Sassoon, a poetry reading, some jokes and a short sermon by Rabbi David Baron, who promised that in return for a contribution to “The American Jewish Hour,” donors would have prayers said for them at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

It’s the kind of show that might have resulted if Lawrence Welk and Tammy Faye Bakker had joined forces to do a Jewish program.

“We try to keep it entertaining while we spread the gospel of Judaism and brotherhood,” said Kane, who started the show nearly 18 years ago. “And it has been great for business.”

The “business” is a Beverly Hills discount stock brokerage--Kennedy, Cabot & Co.--that Kane founded in 1960. Several commercials for the firm, starring Kane, appear during the program. “They have really helped us corner a large part of the Jewish market,” Kane said.

He said the fees the brokerage pays for commercials are almost the sole support of the program, which has a yearly budget of about $400,000, including the cost of leasing time on the Century and Continental cable outlets.

The upstart in the Jewish programs field is the Israeli Television Network, also known as Ulpanay Israel TV. Since the company was founded three months ago, it has been distributing a weekly hourlong program that is mostly in Hebrew with English subtitles. The show, which is aimed at viewers who have an interest in what is going on in Israel, is shown on the leased access channels of the Cablevision, Century, Continental and United cable systems.

“We do the show right in our office,” said Sean Yavetz, president of Ulpanay, speaking from the office in North Hollywood. “We have singers, sometimes comedians, news from Israel and interview, and we do it all ourselves. Then, cable gives us a chance to get the program to our audience.”

Yavetz listed one of Ulpanay’s biggest coups as taping a backstage interview with Pia Zadora.

The program is supported by commercials. Yavetz said that Ulpanay has seven regular sponsors.