Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

Tuesday, March 23, 1937 RADIO DAILY 7 commenTs On Current Programs Band Wagon Kate Smith and Ted Collins hardI y ever fail to put on a superior hour of entertainment. Listeners to the A. & P. show last Thursday night were regaled with a very fine excerpt from "Mary of Scotland" per , formed by Margalo Gillmore and ' Helen Menken. There was also the usual quota of enjoyable vocalizing by Miss Smith. And Henny Young ' man with his jokes. Youngman has been getting himself talked about quite a bit lately. Whether he is just a joke-teller or a genuine comedian, however, is not yet certain. The laughter and applause of studio audiences often is misleading, and an increasing number of dialers are getting wise to it. Youngman has a style, but not enough. Anybody can rattle off a string of old and new jokes with the assurance of getting a certain percentage of laughs. The real comedian, however, is the one who gets his results by the artistry of style, ingenuity and resourceful . ness. Vide Benny, Allen, Cantor, Berle, and just a few others. Show Boat ^ Lanny Ross, who has been developing into a continually better showman in the presentation of his Maxwell House Show Boat programs . on Thursday nights at 9 over the NBC-Red network, gave his listeners a treat on his last broadcast in the form of Lillian Gish, one of the " stage's (and formerly the screen's > better dramatic actresses. Mary Small also sang herself to a batch of applause on the same program, while the Molasses and January comedy and Ross' own vocal contributions to the show were pleasurable as always. Chamberlain Brown A most enjoyable half-hour program of wide diversity closed its 26-week run at 4 p.m. Friday when Chamberlain Brown gave his final show over WINS. With a wealth of material available through the medium of his Broadway theatrical office, Brown has packed an unusual amount of interesting items into his programs. Glamor of the show world in all its branches, drama in modern as well as classic vein, highlights about personalities of the past and present, singing, orchestra numbers by Louis Katzman's aggregation, and no end of prominent guest stars, made each program a highly entertaining grab bag that could interest a goodly class of dialers. Roger Pryor Roger Pryor, whose orchestra is remoted via CBS out of Chicago at late hours, has been making steady progress in developing individuality in his musical aggregation. His music is tuneful and soothing, a pleas " ST ARK ON OBSERVATORY HILL" [Charlie Stark) Sustaining WMCA Monday to Saturday, 77:45 a.m. FAIRLY BRIGHT POTPOURRI FOR THE BEFORE-BREAKFAST LISTENERS. Considering that it is put on at the still sleepy hour of 7 a.m., this alarm clock revue stirs up a fair amount of liveliness. The 45 minutes are packed with odds and ends including music, poetry, a light vein of philosophy, weather information, tomfoolery for young and old intermittent announcement of the time and even the day and date. The music, partly transcribed, is appropriately selected, yesterday morning's program running all the way from "Wake Up and Sing" to "Twilight on the Trail" — the latter number being the only dubious one. Vocal as well as instrumental selections are offered. Stark sounds like the kind of a chap who could do well in an m.c. spot at a later hour. "DRUMS OF CONSCIENCE" Sustaining WGN-Mutual, March 21, 1:30-2 p.m. CST. EFFECTIVELY STAGED NEGRO DRAMA WITH GOOD SCRIPT AND CAST. Emanating from Chicago, this experimental drama broadcast by the University Broadcasting Council was a very satisfying success. The script evidenced careful preparation, while the performance reflected equal care in rehearsal. Story based on an old Negro legend dealt with a colored man who had killed a white and was trying to keep up a bluff of innocence despite a barrage of insinuation and warning carried on by his suspecting friends as they are making merry at a fish fry. The continual beating of drums, as part of the musical background of Negro folk songs, eventually fill him with such a fear of consequences that he surrenders and confesses. Arthur K. Akers and James Whipple are credited with the script. ure to the ear as well as to the dancing feet. We, the People With the return of Phillips Lord on Sunday, "We, the People" deviated a little from its predominantly serious vein and struck a greater number of humorous notes. The first was provided by the president of the Dunkers' association who gave hints on dunking. Then came a 300-pound woman elected by northwest lumbermen as the sweetheart of their legendary hero, the 700-pound Paul Bunyan. An elevator operator with a deep-sea voice told of his ups and downs, mostly downs. A North Carolina schoolboy had an amusing tale about how he capitalized on his measles, by charging other boys a dime to come in and catch them so they wouldn't have to go to school. There were some serious notes too, but they were far in the minority. Magic Key A vocalist of unusual merit highlighted Sunday's Magic Key of RCA program over the NBC-Blue network at 2-3 p.m. He was Joseph Schmidt, Rumanian concert tenor, who has a marvelous ringing voice. Schmidt delivered numbers in Italian and German with equal facility and clarity. Bruna Castagna, the popular Metropolitan contralto, offered an Italian and a Spanish selection. Another outstanding performer on the bill was Andres Segovia, the Spaniard who has made guitar playing an art. His two numbers, accompanied by the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Frank Black, were genuine treats. Fray and Braggiotti of fered two selections from "Show Boat" as their piano contribution, and from WTCN, Minneapolis, came an interview with 4-H Club winners. "Special Edition" A very helpful talk by Dr. Payne, titled "Lesson in Relaxation," highlighted Friday's Borden show over the NBC-Red network. Dr. Payne gave some excellent advice, from both a health and a philosophical viewpoint, for persons who live too strenuously. The other usual features of this tip-top 1:30-2 p.m. program, including Gabriel Heatter, gossip from Hollywood, musical interpolations and other items also were up to their usual standard. Music Hall As evidence of the present topsyturvy trend of radio programs, Basil Rathbone, who acts with sterling dignity on stage or screen, turned stooge with Bing Crosby on last Thursday's Kraft Music Hall program ever the NBC-Red network at 10-11 p.m. What's more, Rathbone made a good job of it. Proving he is a true actor. Harriet Hilliard and pianist Rudolph Ganz were other enjoyable guest items on the bill, with Bob Burns and the Dorsey orchestra also doing their stints. Jack Pearl Inaugurating his new Friday night spot on the NBC-Blue network, 1010:30 p.m., the Baron Munchausen's program had a most auspicious sendoff. Adventuring in China, the Baron and Cliff Hall knocked out a high score of laughs. If any additions to the large host of Pearl lis SELLING THE STATIC N Spring Campaign Bulletin The merchandising department of WMT, Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, under the direction of Leo F. Cole, has completed a Spring merchandising bulletin to be sent to 500 grocers and druggists in the territory of WMT. Bulletin points out the reasons why radio is such a powerful advertising medium. Listings of the various advertisers, titles of their programs, and the time each program is heard, is given in the bulletin. Object of the mailing pice is to acquaint retailers with WMT by telling their customers just when their favorite radio programs will be on the air. Bulletin also lists separately all accounts on WMT sponsored by grocery items and drug items. Lists 26 grocer accounts and 18 drug accounts. Newspaper Ads WHIO, the Dayton (O.) News station, uses prominently displayed three-column ads in the News to plug the station. A recent display, headed "Tomorrow on WHIO", gave the next day's complete list of programs on that station, attractively set up in large type, with a footnote: "See the radio page for complete daily program schedule." Another display ad contained merely the legends, in decorative layout, "Turn Your Radio Dial to 1260", "There's Always a Good Show on WHIO", and "See radio pages for complete daily program schedules." Texas Expo Auditions on Air Dallas — WFAA and the Greater Texas-Pan American Exposition are auditioning talent to appear in the "Cavalcade of the Americas" featured pageant of the Exposition. Broadcasts of auditions from the Melba Theater stage began Saturday. Dixie Trailways and Sunshine Bus Lines are sponsors for the program. Master Records Registers Washington Bureau of THE RADIO DAILY Washington — Consolidated Film Industries, Inc., yesterday reported to Securities & Exchange Commission acquisition of Master Records, Inc., through its subsidiary, American Record Corp. Entire authorized capital stock was acquired. teners are obtainable at the new hour, the initial broadcast must have started the ball rolling at top speed. At the Rainbow Grill Emery Deutsch and His Orchestra Unusual, Romantic Music Management Rockwell-O'Keefe Radio City, New York and Hollywood ;