Career As Planned

When Kitty Fischman had her first baby she wired her old city editor on the Chicago Times: "Can you use a good newspaperman?" He wired back: "I sure can." Kitty has kept the lad working toward the job ever since.

First she nicknamed him "Scoop"; then she named him Harve Bennett--because it sounded like a byline. Before he started school mother Kitty had taught him to recite by heart the names of all the U.S. presidents. When he was ten, she marched him down to Chicago's station WLS. For the next five years, Harve was a Quiz Kid, one of the best. He made more money (about $20,000) than any Kid except Dick Williams.

This week, Harve Fischman turns 16. Last Sunday, standing 5 ft. 10 in. and weighing 170 Ibs., he was "graduated" from the program. Most graduates fall back into obscurity, now & then emerge with a fugitive piece in the Ex-QK Resume, the Quiz Kids alumni bulletin. But not Harve. His pieces were already appearing in the Times; he had claimed his birthright.

All last month Harve had prowled around Hollywood (with mother) interviewing cinemoppets for the Times at $50 a week. Come fall, after classes (eleventh grade) at Chicago's South Shore High School, he will write a daily column for the Times, salary not yet discussed. On the air he will pick up $50 per as M.C. of a copycat Quiz Kid show, Quiz Down.

"There are several other deals cooking," said Harve last week, "but I'm not at liberty to reveal them." As for Hollywood: "I don't want to go to them, but if they come knocking, I'll open the door." Before week's end a representative of an independent Hollywood producer came knocking. Mother opened the door. When the representative left, Harve had a movie contract.

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