Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

Monday. February 15, 1937 RADIO DAILY 5 WITH THE * WCMEN — By ADELE ALLERHAND PARADOX of the week . . . . Wednes' day's "But Women Have Brains" proved the presence of feminine gray matter by producing a new radio personality. .. .male. .. .He's Eugen Boissevain .... spouse of favored-by-themuse Edna St. Vincent Millay .... Believes the gals should stand on their own pedal extremities .... not lean on masculine shoulders .... and is scheduled for a big build-up by NBC .... on account of he has charm of the mike variety .... Songbird Niela Goodelle takes wing soon for Hollywood to do a few feature flickers .... probably for Grand National .... Cornelia Otis Skinner, thespian daughter of thespian Otis Skinner, cancelled her New Mexico broadcast to entrain for the big town to do a flood benefit .... Ginger Rogers plays a new role as song composer .... when Fred Astaire introduces "I Can't Understand" .... Words and music of ditty by Ginger .... in his broadcast with Charles Butterworth, Feb. 16 Charlotte Buch wald, the "Playgoer," is playgoing again .... she's over her grippe .... T T Princess Charming of the courts Helen Wills Moody goes radio and screenie pronto. .. .She's been signed by Rockwell O'Keefe. . . .Phil Spitalny's "Hour of Charm" — ers are couturiere-bound ....object: a collective costume ... .It must become all the gals, from cello to sax. . . . They'll soon do several short subjects for the movie trade. . . .Rita Johnson of "March of Time" has been "girl interning" since Agnes Moorehead deserted. .. .Ida Bailey Allen, at home on the radio and in the kitchen, has just published her 2\st cookbook.... There's food for thought! ... ."The O'Neills", Ivory commercial, will soon go screenie with four features a year Producing Company plan a home and family series. .. .Swing in the Muscovite manner. . . .served hot by Polish Manya Roberti of the "Sweet and Hot" Robertis. . . .on Yankee Fred Allen's "Town Hall Tonight" program... Just an Entente — we hope — Cordiale . . . .The Clan Wells is radioing. . . .with Kay, Billy K's little gal debuting tomorrow in the P.M. on Jay Flippen's broadcast over WHN . . . .and son authoring for Lux. . . . T ▼ "It's a Woman's World" over at NBC ....A 15-minute spot program of that name premieres tomorrow over WEAF .... and every Tuesday and Thursday thereafter. .. .with Celia Caroline Cole, Delineator ex-columnist telling the f e m m e s about charm .... Elizabeth Churchill, society columnist, doing a Boswell to society's and moviedom's Johnson .... and Grace Corson of King Features pouring forth pointers on how to deck the female form .... According to Claudine Macdonald .... of NBC women's activities .... she planned and will supervise it. . . .it's to be gossipy in the cocktails and canapes .... not fishcakes and frying pan .... manner. I Ai 11 PERSONALITIES • • • Who's Who in the Industry • • • EUGENE P. O'FALLON, President of Denver's KFEL and the oldest consistent broadcaster in Colorado. Though his executive duties confine him somewhat, he still is considered the most energetic man in the field. Launched his business career in St. Louis — trading mules. Graduated to a wild west show, then on to the St. Louis world's fair as a stunt rider. Suddenly tamed down to selling plumbing supplies. No glamour in the plumbing business so switched to the fire business. First heard of crystal sets in 1923. Started selling commercial time for KFEL. Before he knew what had happened, he found himself the sole owner of a liability — KFEL. Rolled up his sleeves and started turning his liability into an asset. Was one of the first members of the National Association of Broadcasters. Elected director of that organization for a three-year term in 1930. Polled highest vote recorded when re-elected to same office in 1936 at the NAB convention. Known as a prolific thinker, he scooped the west by inaugurating daily news services on the air. Thirteen years ago began radio auction for filling Christmas baskets for the poor. Likes plenty of action at all times. Turned into an Air Liability Asset Television Channels Up to the President (Continued from Paye 1 ) Government departments have made requests for all the ultra high frequencies suitable for television. Commercial interests have also made application for assignment of various wave lengths. The Army and Navy are not under control of the Federal Communications Commission, which has jurisdiction over commercial radio and television. Therefore, it is expected the President as commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy will be called upon to decide the controversy as between government and private requests for television wave lengths. Jas. M. Skinner, chairman of the Radio Manufacturers Ass'n, said last week in Philadelphia that if the government agencies are successful in acquiring the frequencies they seek, television progress will be impeded. Philco officials said last week that the chief obstacle in the way of commencement of television service is government requests for television frequencies. Benny Leads in Poll Jack Benny leads the radio division in the poll being conducted by Chamberlain Brown over WINS to determine the public's favorites in radio, stage, opera and films. Robert Taylor tops the film list. Burgess Meredith heads the stage vote, and Maria Jeritza is the opera lead. Brown's program is heard every Friday at 330 P.M. Victor Disking Cooper Jerry Cooper, soloist on the Krueger Beer Musical Toast programs heard over NBC Monday nights, has been signed by Victor to make records exclusively for that firm. "Prof. Quiz" Is Signed For Kelvinator Program (Continued from Page 1) Huston, and Fredric March, screen stars, were also auditioned on this program. "Prof. Quiz," as a sustaining program, has been bucking the Jack Benny program on the NBC-Blue for weeks and has had a very large response from the radio audience. Program had its original start at WJSV, Washington, under the sponsorship of G. Washington Coffee. Geyer, Cornell & Newell, Inc., New York, has the Kelvinator account. Studebaker Champions Change Broadcast Time Studebaker Corp., South Bend, on March 8 will take the 10-10:30 p. m. spot on the NBC-Blue for its Studebaker Champions broadcast featuring Richard Himber's orchestra. In the new time period no repeat broadcast for West Coast listeners is necessary, thereby saving additional talent costs. Into the repeat period now held by Studebaker on NBC-Red, Monday nights, 12:30-1 a. m., Cummer Products Co., Bedford (Molle shaving cream), will shift its "Vox Pop" program with Wallace Butterworth and Parks Johnson. Molle has only been able to clear a quarter-hour spot for its repeat broadcast and wants a half-hour the same as the Eastern program. StackGoble Advertising Agency, Chicago, has the Molle account, with Roche, Williams & Cunnyngham, Inc., Chicago, handling Studebaker. Income Tax Series On First of a series of seven broadcasts on the income tax subject was given Friday evening over WNEW by Joseph D. Higgins, collector of internal revenue in New York. Programs go on at 8: 15 P.M. COMMENTS ON OOEEENT SHOWS HENNY YOUNGMAN, who recently joined the Kate Smith A. & P. program (CBS) as comedian, is keeping up the terrific laugh pace that he set at the start. His gags are mostly new, or handled in a good original style, and he delivers a generous portion. The comic is a big asset to the show. CHAMBERLAIN BROWN presents a very entertaining half-hour theater-opera-film-radio program over WINS on Fridays at 3:30 p. m. The chatter, news and vocal material offered are knitted into a story by Brown, whose rich background in the show world enables him to inject wide interest. Program has excellent possibilities for commercial inserts and would entertain an evening audience very nicely. Last bill included Ted Hammerstein, Virginia Pemberton, Diana Croye, Mona Segal and others, with Louis Katzman's orchestra. Brown each week gives five pairs of seats for the five best reviews of current plays and films. HOLLYWOOD HOTEL hasn't sounded quite the same since Dick Powell left it. With the exception of the memorable Friday before last, when Irving Berlin and his tunes featured the program, the program has not kept in the upper brackets very much. Perhaps Fred MacMurray, who replaced Powell as leader of the troupe, is too exhausted from film work to be very scintillating in his air stint. Anyway, he registers far less impressively to the ear than when he is seen as well as heard. Frances Langford continues to be a bright spot of the bill, and Igor Gorin always satisfies. BUDDY ROGERS, who leaves for England shortly after conducting his orchestra as supplemental background for the Victor Moore-Helen Broderick comedy program over the CBS network on Friday nights at 9:30, has done a swell job. An agreeable chap, whether over the radio, on the screen or in person, dispensing the youth and enthusiasm that appeals to the world at large, Rogers is an ideal radio personality. Listeners could stand plenty more of him. And that isn't casting any reflection on the laugh-provoking efforts of the Moore-Broderick combination. Bob King Joins Blaine Bob King, vocalist from the West Coast, is the newest addition to Jerry Blaine's orchestra broadcasting over WEAF and WJZ from the Park Centra Hotel. He joins Blaine's entertainment staff which includes Phyllis Kenny, Eddie Ross and the Men of Manhatan.