Television: Aug. 15, 1969

Thursday, August 14 NET PLAYHOUSE (NET, 8-9:30 p.m.).* "The National Theater of the Deaf, Encore" presents talented actors who perform entirely in sign language a Kabuki drama and Anton Chekhov's monologue "On the Harmfulness of Tobacco."

Friday, August 15

SUMMER FOCUS (ABC, 8-9 p.m.). Crime in the streets of Washington, D.C., Mafia activities in Buffalo and campus disturbances at Harvard are the focal point for this report on "The Violent Americans."

P.G.A. CHAMPIONSHIP (ABC, 10:30-11 p.m.). Last of golfs four major championships (others: the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open). Highlights of the first two rounds of play from the National Cash Register Country Club in Dayton. Coverage continues with the third round live Saturday from 5-6:30 p.m. and the final round Sunday from 5-7 p.m.

Sunday, August 17

SINGER PRESENTS ELVIS (NBC, 9-10 p.m.). Old idols never die. They just repeat their high-rated television specials.

Monday, August 18

NET JOURNAL (NET, 9-10 p.m.). A study of "The Battered Child" shows children recovering from parental abuse at the Colorado Medical Center. Repeat.

THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW (CBS, 11:30 p.m.1 a.m.). Host Merv Griffin, long popular in a syndicated talk show, goes network five nights a week, as CBS tries to buck the competition of NBC's Johnny Carson and ABC's Joey Bishop.

Tuesday, August 19

NET FESTIVAL (NET, 9-10 p.m.). The story of "The Talgai Skull" tells of a fossilized skull that could be the missing link between prehistoric and modern man.

THE DICK CAVETT SHOW (ABC, 10-11 p.m.). The sesquipedalian savant of the talk shows takes on Jimi Hendrix and The Jefferson Airplane.

CBS NEWS SPECIAL (CBS, 10-11 p.m.). Last week's show probing the generation gap between fathers and sons is followed here with an exploration of the chasm between "Mothers and Daughters."

STRAW HAT

Summer theaters around the country al ways see a scattering of new works — many of them destined for oblivion, but some perhaps heading for Broadway. Among this month's tryouts:

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE, by Leonard Gershe, is a love story of a blind boy and the girl next door. Keir Dullea, Blythe Danner and Maureen O'Sullivan star. Falmouth, Mass., Aug. 18-23.

CHRISTABEL AND THE RUBICON is a whacky comedy by H. J. Moorman about a young girl beset by all the problems of young womanhood today — including the older man, the boy next door, and a bewildered father at the other end of the generation gap. Olney, Md., Aug. 26-Sept. 14.

ENCOUNTERS is a musical that explores the emotions and fantasies of Romeo and Juliet through song and dance. It was conceived by Paul Zakrzewski, who also put the lyrics to Wally Harper's rock-to-romantic score. Aileen Passloff choreographs and directs. Berkshire Theater Festival, Aug. 13-30.

A PLACE FOR POLLY, a new production of Lonnie Coleman's comedy formerly known as She Didn't Say Yes, concerns a girl who has to compete with her older sister for everything—even her own publisher husband. Starring Joan Hackett, Darryl Hickman and Betsy von Furstenberg, the play will open in New Fairfield, Conn., on Aug. 11; in Westport, Conn., Aug. 18; in Ivoryton, Conn., Aug. 25.