Variety (May 1949)

n RAMO RBVn^WS PTBSiffFf M»y 4, I94f JOHNNY OLSEN’S GET TO- GETHER Froducer: Jack Cleary €• Mins;; Sat., 10 a.m. Sostaininr ABC, from New Yort For its type, ABC’s new a.m. aui dience participationer has a good j 'deal to commend It. Johnny Qlscn Is a tested emcee and the hour has a number of departments that should attract Saturday morning dialers. Opening stanza Saturday (30) began with a community sing and Olsen then took his mike through the theatre, getting seat-1 holders to warble a tune, best in' the house getting prizes, "Another segment was ^ “How I Met My Spouse,” with participants relating some unusual coUrtshipsi Biggest laugh-getter \,as an elderly woman who told how she met Hubby No, 2 while waitihg Oh line at a quizzer, went on a date with him to another broadcast and accepted his pro- posal on the subway going honie. Three regular quiz-goers, includ- ing ; the , ubiquitous Badie - Herte^ provided some laughs as' a panel advising a. man whose wife neg- lected household chores in order to attend broadcasts. (He got little sympathy), There Was some good niaterial in the, "Public Eye” se- quence which required a couple from the audience to act but a scene between:a garigster and his moll. Program; also works in a Ma,ior BOwes routine, with three parents explaining “Why My Kid Has •Talent” and bringing in the youngster to perform, oisen himself Sang well anu should use mOre than, the one yo- cal he did On the preem. “Get To- gether” moved quickly, but full advantage wasn't taken of fact that ■the show is taped in advance. For Instance, one contestant’s slip, say- ing if was night, cOuld have been cut. And other draggy moments, as in Olsen’s recorded telephone Interview with a lOl-year-old woman, should, have been edited out. Bril. National HEALTH tnsur ANCB PROGRAM With Gunnar Back, Charles ColUng- wood Producer-Writer: Rack 30 Mins., Fri. (29), 10:30 p.m. Snstaining CBS, from Washington In a good bit of .iourhalistic en- terprise, CBS scheduled a special half-hour airer Friday (29) night, to discuss President Truman’s re- cent message to Congre.ss for a compulsory national health insur- ance program. CBS’ Teport was a timely disciissioH of a serious sub- ject, debated .simply, earnestly and effectively. The net let the people involved—the doctors and the av- erage American'—discuss the mat- ter, via a series of tape-recorded interviews with the man or woman in the Street and small and big town medico. Gunnar Back, of CBS’ Washihg- toh news Maff, did the reporting, weaving the taped remarks into a logical continuity. Charles Col- lihgwood assisted him. • Although the Usual stock.arguments, pro and con, Were expressed—the costs in- volved, danger of socialism, gov- ernment interference,: violation of free enterprise, the need by the poor or impoverished—there were also some fresh arguments, all of it adding up to an important half- hour. President Truman’s plan Was contrasted: with others that were not compulsory, that passed the burden from federal to state care and control, etc. Discussion must have helped the air, as well as enlighten the .citizeniy,'and was excellent public .Service proeram- ming, Bron. THE RAU.ROAB HOUR With Gordon MacRae, host; Lucille Norman, the Spertsmen, John Raflf orch, Billie Burke, others; Marvin Miller, announcer Writer: Jean Holloway Producer-director: Keh Burton 34 Mins.; Mon., 8 p.m. ASSN. OF AMERICAN BAIL- ■""■RQ,ADS ABC, from Hollywbod (‘The Bailrqad Hour” switched to a Warm weather format Monday (21 \vith a new series that’s buHt around bits Of backstage memo- rabilia of noted composers) initial show of the summer edition was woven around the 1£)27 Broadway preem bf the Jeroibe Kern-Oscar Hammerstcin, II,’’Shb'iV Boat.” Dramatic pOrtiojl of the program Was handled ;well while warblers Gordon MacRae and Lucille Nor- man, the Sportsmen, _ harmony group, and John . Rafig’a band capably interpreted, . the classic Kern score--'--', While .the dramatized reaction of Kern) and ttammersteih : to the opening of the musical at ihe Ziegfeld may, have seemed some- what apochryphal to some-listen- ers, its historical accuracy was as- sured, for this section Of the script was based upon material provided by the composer’s widow. Brief, but touching, vvas Billie Burke’s ac- ceptance of a scvoll from the Assn; of American Bail roads In honor of the writer on behalf of Mrs. Kern. Institutional message Of the associa- tion rapped the governmeht's pol- icy; of developing tax-free water- ways in competition to its 132 mem- ber roads. Oh the whole the show is palatable summer fare. Gilh. the WORLD IS OUR BEAT With Bill Downs, Eric Sevareld, Howard K. Smith, David Shpen- kriih, Edward R. Murrow. Rich- ard C. Hottelet, Larry Lesueur Prodiucer. Lee Bland 30 Mins,; wed. (27). 11 a.m. Sustaining CBS, from New York Sneak-previewed over CBS last Week, “The World Is Oiir Beat” is a show that will rack up plenty of news-hungry listeners if it’s aired as a regular stanza- Idea is a con- ference call or party-line session With seven top "web reporters kick- ing around some Of the hot issues of the day . Taking part in the gab- fest were Bill Downs (Berlin), David Shoenbrun (Paris), Howard K. Smith (London). Eric Sevareid (Washington) and Edward R. Mur- row, Richard C. Hottelet and Larry Lesueur, the latter three in New York. The show was taped, allowing for editing and reshuffling of the news- casters’ reports, views and ques- tions. in editing, a Voice Was added to make clear the transition from capital to capital and to help the listener follow the thread of ideas. The ideas came aplenty, but they were simply and succinctly put and the hodge-podge, helter-skelter ef- fect that dooms many round-table airings was avoided. Though they were scattered around the globe, the CBS correspondents were able to come to a meeting of minds. Subjects covered ranged from the civil war in China to Unifica- tion of Germany, but the Welter of facts was neatly integrated. Dif- ferences In American, British and French policies were brought into sharp relief and the dialer Was given a rounded, authoritative pic- ture. If any airer can point up the tight inter-relation of foreign and domestic affairs, of events on the Yangtze and on the Rhine, ‘(The World Is Our Beat,” is it. Bril. HARity SAI/CER MUSICAL biRECTOB Stop ;the Music—ABC .It, Pays tb;; ps Ignorant—CBS ;, t*aa*t4ffta*»4'f^'f4****f»^'*'^#*>***** * * »* t • * | Fran tiK Prodnetion Cinitres MR. AND Mrs. music With Ted aiid Doris Steele 160 Mins,, Mon.-thru-Fri., 9:15 a.m. PARTICIPATING WMCA, N.Y, With Bea Wain : and Andre Baruch withdrawing from their roles as“Mr. and Mrs. Music” on WMCA’s Monday - through - Friday morning turntable chore, Ted Steele; and his wife, Doris, have replaced. On,; the basis of several sessions caught, the Steeles evi- dently beileVe firmly that listen- ers prefer a diet of platteDS seWom interrupted by jockeys’ patter. Sfeeles frequently played three or four recordings before breaking in with identifying comment. (Couple upon; one occasion ob- served they hadn’t Caught one bandleader at a local hotel since pressure' of their farm duties kept them from going. At this point Mrs. Steele noted that she got a big hang out of Henry McLemore’s column on how grocers improperly pack bags. Whereupon Ted led into his commercial for Fairmount frozen strawberries, feeling this was an ideal springboard. Homey small-talk such as this apparently is gpOd fodder to keep housewives contented. However, more of this patter would repre- sent a refreshing change of pace in contrast to the flOod of spOt announcements that literally pepper this morning show with messages in behalf of everything from orange drinks to a kidney cure. Glib. " JAY STEWART’S FUN FAIR With .lay Stewart, eiiicee: audience participants; Lou Cook, an- houheer Writer-ProdUcer-DirectOr: Harfield '■-"Weedin-''- Si) Mina.; Sat,, ILSO a.m. ABC, from Holly'Wood Tran.scnhed in Hollywood. (‘Jay Stewart’s Fun ra(r”;is ah audience , participatibn show built around people and thgir pets; Format calls for cbnte.stants (of all ages) to ex- hibit their birds; and hea.sts (for- tunately no reptiles on airer caught), submit to capsule, inter- views and join in varied quiz htUnts. It adds up to good human. Interest stuff. ; Under ' Stewart’s emceeing, the half-dozen odd contestants on the Initial show, who were chiefly mothers and their ciiildren, proved an interbstihg cross-section of pet lovers. In ffeeping with approved procedures Oh participatioher.s, the show's guestees Were rewarded With umpteen gifts ranging from club aluminum to cocker spaniels. “Fuh Fair” is a fine family type program which should have more, than average appeal to the mop- pets. ' • ■ ' Gilb. THROVGH MANY THINGS With Suzanne Hoieton Producer-Writer: Miss Holetun 15 Mins,; Fri.,; 7:l,> p,Ui, .Sustaining..;' WGHF-FM, from N. Y, “Through vMahy Things,” which has 'as its weekly theme the psychological effect incidents and people have on an individual, had an interesting :yarh Friday (28). i j its presentation bf ah original sCript,“Body Without Soul.” Show teed off With three recordings and then segued into.a narration based on a connotation the different records had. Typical of the inter-. mingling of platters and story was j the spinning of the three tunes,' “Laura,” ‘'Margie” and ‘’And Mimi,” and ; the relative import- ance a trio of girls with those names had in influencing the nar- rative. . Plot dealt with conditiohs and in- cidents responsible for. a yoiing man latching on to a neighborhood gang, which evehtuaily led to his arrest after getting involved in a gang war. Suzanne Holeion created i a certairi amount eCrieness and ■ the proper .suspense in her han-' dling of the narration and prbduc-1 tibn.' INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (“Flight From Fear”) With Mason Adams, Everett Sloane, Gilbert Mack, Mothers Writer: John Roehert Producer-Director: Hi Brown 25 Mins., Thurs., 8:39 p, m. Sustaining . WOR. New York Mutual teed off a new mystC)^ series, "Internationai Airport,” in the 8:30 p.m. slot Thui'sday night (29) over WOR, N. X. Initialer, “Flight from Fear,” scripted by John RoCbert, took a backhanded swing at Hollywood- It discussed the, avariciousneSs of a pix produ- cer, who, having lost his star in an accident, picks up an ex-GI exti-a at; the airport and has a plastic Surgeon make him over to resem- ble the deceased, to protect his $400,000 investment in an unfin- ished production. He thbn plans to kill the GI upon completion bf pix to safeguard the hoax. Plan is frustrated and the dastard gets his just deserts.: Despite prepqsterbusness of ba- sic-plot, it was tightly; Scripted and aptly directed by Hi Brown, to arrest and sustain interest. It Was also played well by a competent cast. Despite its Vagiie similarity to the .Iphn Gaifield legit starrer, "The Big Knife,” which touches on a somewhat similar theme, it was interestingly pizjjected and above par as:» sustamcr. Edba. I Followup (jomment: Dr, "David Bradley, author of "No Place to Hide,” said that the motion picture Which he will make with Pare Loi'entz "largely on Bikini.” will be “semi-documen- tary,” in an interview on ‘‘Hi, Jinx” over WNBq, N. Y, (29). Film will he longer than an ordinary docu- mentary. physician-writer stated, and W'iil have some questions posed “for answer later.” “It is going, to be terrific,” he commented. Dr. Bradley, was an Army physi- cian assigned to the Navy tb bb- serve results at Bikini. He gave a calm thbugh graphic descriptibn ef What might happen if an atem bbrib were drepped in the Hudsbh River at New Ybrk. 44 ♦ 4 ♦♦♦♦ » (> ♦ 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ e ec♦♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦ > ♦♦♦♦ ♦ » t « M Rnitert E. Klniner, ABC exec v.p., and Earl MulUn, web flack, left Friday (29) fer Friseb Svhere KGO-TV will be idaugurated tbmbfroW (ThuVs,).. ) RbbeH Hinckley, ABC’s 'Washington y.p,, is alsb making the, trek.). Larry Hobver, Young & Rubicam publicity; manager, leav- ing the agency, with Henry M'oodS taking bver;, . . ABC’s Betty Clark to be featured sbloist at annual Skate Queen Cbnt(est in Brooklyn May 7 .. . Phil. Alampi, WJZ farm ed, attending Farm Directors’ annual meet in d; C., . . .Carol Richards and Bob ;CaiTolI joining ABC’s ‘‘IPs 'Time ' For Music," with Hene Woods leaving the stanza,... Andrew McCnl- Iwiigh, formerly with Compton’s radio department, is; now with the CBS production' staff as an assistant director ., . . Tom MoDerniott has been named assistant to Walter Craig, BehtOh; & Bowles v.p., in charge of AM-TV, directing aii radiq ;activitieS for the agency. Ralph S, Butler, Jr,,; has jbihed the department as a director, taking oyer the “Perry ' Mason”;.asMfi.hment.',.; .■ CBS newscaster Edward i|l.. MMrrow ahd;puhlic affairs veepee David- son Taylor fly to ;Eglin Fieid, Fla., May 12, for a brushup Cqurse at'the Army Air; Uhiv, ; there. MurroW wiil air, his -May 13 br^^^ from neighboring Mobile; Ala) . . .-Marty Glicfcman, lyMGM sportseasler, lo receive ;citation today (4) at- Syracuse: Univ, for meritoflOus radio ser- vice. ; He’s a Syracuse graduate . . . .Ed Downes is directing the hew "Against the, Storm’’ series bn Mutual for Philip Morris ., Legit actress Edith Atwater joined the cast of ‘‘Wendy Warren; and the News” on CBS for General: FbodS; , . - Alaii .MacAtwr hew to the cjtst ‘ of ‘‘Ybung Widder BroWn” . .;Mahrice TarpIin, Lamoht Johnson and Joshua Shelley added , to "Front Page Farrell” players... Lilly Lipton back on“Backstage Wife,” across-the-board, NBC, in a running part . ^ ;; John Derr, CBS assistant sports director, to Louisville for. Web’s, cover- ; age of Kentucky; Derby Saturday (7) .. VEHnor Inusan, CBS director of religious broadcasts, appointed member of newly-created executive Conimittec of Assn, of Women Broadcasters.,. .James Seward, CBS veepee in charge of operations, trekked to Coast on business Thursday <28).';;.:. , Fortune Pope, WHOM chief, appointed chairman of foreign language station section of Greater New York Fund; . . . Stan: Freeman, pianist- ' singer-composer of NBC-TV’s“Candlelight' Bevue,”; coliabbing with Nat Hiken on a series Of Broadway sketches, Ron Dunn, a native hf Canada, who came to New York by way of Texas, has joined WOR annbuncihg staff... Albert F, Schneider, head instructor at the Cam- bridge School of. Broadcasting in New York, added as a summer relief announcer tO WOR.,.. Robert Meeker Associates, appointed national sales representatives for WGKV, Charleston, W, Va. Robert A. Boriesv g'eneral manager of American Institute of. Bood , Products, sponsors of the Johnny Olsen “Prince Charming” series bn WOR; N. Y., to Chi Saturday (7) for the Super-Market convention, then . to make radio survey in the midwest. . ..Les Griffith, WJZ announcer, . picked as vice-chairman of; Press, Advertising, Radio chapter of the Amierican Veterans Committee, Robert A, Low, Saturday Review of Literature ad manager, elected chairman; Walter Pick, raMo attorney, is new .secretary, and Victor Sack, director of the “Grand Slam” give- away show, is treasurer.... Martin Bush and Lincoln Adair have started a new WGHF stanza, “Great Short Stories of the World,” reading the , tales on Thursday and Saturday evenings. . . ..Young & Rubicam taking v net, press and sponsor reps on tours through the agency’s HQ.. .. Ed Kpbak, ex-MBS prexy, to Speak at Ohio State Confab banquet. IIS HOLLYWOOD . . , Radio Directors Guild took in 14 new members, 11 of them from television-. .George; Eilsworth Mellon, onetime financier, has turned a hobby into a full time operation to transcribe kid show's for radio and animate them fOr television. For years he has been telling tail tales to the youngsters and now he is putting them on platters. First of the series, "Castle Land bf the Sky,” is being adapted from Melion's flights of fancy by Virginia Cooke and directed by, O. J. Neuvverth, both from the daytime. serial field . . . Knox Manning, veteran KNX news- caster, has been named director of Housewives Protective League of CBS He’ll appear on the strip and also continue With his sponsored programs . . .Paul Warwick around with Erv Staudinger of Warwick & Legler to talk over radio and tele Ccntract with Eddie Canlor., < Raymond R. Morgan back from Paris where he set up the Maurice Chevalier show for broadcast in this country ., , .Sid Sirotz’s 5ist birth- day party was the social event Of the radio season.... Cornwell Jackson assigned Billy Wilgus to direct and Ed Helwick to script the May 15 Treasury Dept, bond; show, on which President Truman wiil appear, making most Of the show a must for all four networks. Harry Von Zell replaced Ed East at emcee of Columbia’s "Meet the Missus”. .. .There’ll be nO ad libbing Or breakups when Bob Hope does "Death Has a Shadow’’ on Suspense May 5. Director Tony Leader is a . stickler for timing and strict adherence to the script.. ..Art Llnklelter and John Guedel off On another trek through the south and easi with their two shows, “House Party” and “People Are Funny”... .Edna Best (Mrs. Nat Wolff) is now a regular with Lum and Abner playing a titled English lady. . . Don Searle and Andy Haley are cooking up a deal but their lips are sealed to outsiders.... Ed Gardner Ampexed two shows in advance so he and the missus can loil on the sands of Waikiki for two Weeks.; . NBC Bud Berend took off for Chicago to be with his mother on her 90th birthday .Berne Wilkini, late of KFWB, has ^joined up with Dick Fishell in promoting shows for giveaways. • • Jimmy Duraiite and producer Phil Cohan are so happy over the results of their first taping that they'U Ampex rest of the way . “Corny” Jackson has; been spending the w'eekend digging his mountain chalet • qut.of'the'snpw.. ; iN mWACd WMAQ newscaster Jim Hurlbut made his operatic debut in “Rigo- letto” at the; Civic Opera House, in two walk-on roles;.. .WBBM'ers Sherry Spring; and Barbara Mabirud directing a cOmedy; at Pieiades Playhouse in Oak park, 111,,., iCarl Greyson joined WGN as staff an- nouncer after yegr of freeianCing.:, Lind Bros, trio guested on WBBM’s “Melody Lane” Don McNeili Of "Breakfast Club" made guest appearance qn Spike Jpnes’ broadcast Saturday (30) ., Dick Banbery appointed public relations director of Admiral Radio Ce'iP- ... Milton Wo|ken has resigned as. Chi manager of Stoi’adiO Advertis- ing., . .Lqii Cpwaii’s "RF.D. America’,’ Show aired frpm Cullman, Ala;, as feature of county strawberry festival.. . .Betty Rospichel new aide of WGN ;assistant station manager Paul Brines.. NBC agrieulture director; Willtim Drips and assistant Paul VIsser in Washinglon lor Farm Radio conference. Chi Bar Association .'saluted yesterday (3) for diamond .jubilee. Spe- cial WGN program features singer June Brown, interviewer John Weigel and flutist Ernest Liegl. WBBM announcer Dick Slade inter- viewed medics at opening of Chi cancer exhibit . . . Composer Jehn , Alden Carpenter guested by WMAQ’s Elisabeth H*W,... NBC 1 Bob Wambbldt in New York for talent auditions. . . Author Vinecjnt I Starrett hosted by WJjp's Emmett Dedmon.,. . Ralph Edwards in Cm for “This . Is Your Life” stunt.... WGN farm director Hal Totten ,in Washington for farm conference.. .. WBBM staffer Stelle Kina I to wed B. Trella in September ... . Singer Patsy Lee guested on , down”.. . .Newscaster Lowell 'fhomas broadcast from WBBM fOr\CBh I pet last week . . Geiry Meyers new WbBM sales Staffer ; NBC V>s- j itors front N. Y. include veepee Harry Kopf, sales promotion manager i Jacob Evans and salesman Chuck Phillips,,