Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

Tuesday, February 16. 1937 RADIO DAILY 5 LESLIE HOWARD brightened up the Eddie Cantor-Texaco program Sunday night. There was no Shakespearian flavor about the show, but merely an exchange of quips between the comedian and the dramatic actor, who proved himself quite adept at comedy too. Cantor's new stooge, Harry Savoy, who made a sensational debut two Sundays ago, wasn't given much time on the last program, probably due to the Howard appearance. GEORGE JESSEL did his familiar stuff with pleasing results on the Woodbury bill, with Frank Parker, Judy Canova, Annie and Zeke. Material was just moderately good, but Jessel has the style for radio audiences. JOSEPHINE ANTOINE, new Metropolitan Opera singer, who made her debut on Ed Wynn's program, showed a good deal of versatility. Besides some very nice chirping, she engaged a bit of amusing comedy with Wynn. JACK MAJOR, who is the Colonel Major of an afternoon WABC program of his own, was one of the story-tellers on the "We, the People" bill. He told a human interest yarn about his mother. Major has an ingratiating personality and style of narration. His entertainment is of the soothing variety. NADINE CONNER had to shoulder the main burden on the Vicks program Sunday night, due to Nelson Eddy being out on doctor's orders. It was quite a burden for Miss Conner and she reflected the excitement. LUX splurged in last night's Radio Theater production broadcast from Hollywood over the CBS network at 9 p. m. Besides the headliners, Jack Benny and Mary Livingston, the cast of the offering, "Brewster's Millions," included Lionel Bellmore, Crauford Kent, Hal K. Dawson, Ynez Seabury, William Royle and a dozen other screen and radio featured players. It was one of the most pretentious casts lined up by J. Walter Thompson agency for a radio drama. The play was a freely adapted version of "Brewster's Millions", with plenty of modern quips that were more Benny than Brewster. But on the whole it was about the liveliest and funniest offering of the Lux program to date. Rich Series Continues New sustaining series begun last Saturday over CBS featuring Freddie Rich and orchestra, and called "Americana", will continue indefinitely. Show, aired from 10.45 to 11 P.M. will feature symphonic compositions of American composers. AR fftME N WW 'JOHNNIE PRESENTS" PliillilJ Morris WABC (CBS network), Saturday, 8: 30-9 p. m. Blow Co., Inc. DRAMA-MUSIC PROGRAM OKAY IN MUSICAL DIVISION BUT DRAMATIC FEATURE MISSES. The featured portion of this program, Charles Martin's "It Might Have Happened to You" series of drama skits, fell down in the initial broadcast of this new series which succeeded the Leo Reisman show. Assertedly based on actual cases of victims of circumstantial evidence, with the principal in the case being brought to New York to tell his story, the skits are somewhat in "We, the People" vein. Initial number, telling of a chap who was wrongly convicted of a murder and just missed being put to death, lacked clarity and effective continuity in its dramatization, with the result that it failed to click for all its worth. Other portions of the program, Russ Morgan's orchestra, vocal specialties by Phil Duey and the Six Diminuettes, was enjoyable. The show bows in to the familiar Grofe "On the Trail" theme, with an introductory talk by Johnnie. Opening bill also had brief remarks by Don Bestor and Walter O'Keefe, who came to give Morgan a send-off. Kenneth Roberts is the announcer. "THE ROMANCERS" Weston Biscuit Co. WOR, Sundays 9:45-10 p.m., EST. Adelaide French PROGRAM BOWS WITH A FEW SONGS. ORGAN PUMPING AND TOO MUCH TALK. "The Romancers," a 15-minute weekly spot via WOR, locally only, tried pleasing Sunday night listeners with the finer type of entertainment such as classical tunes and poetry, feeling that at this hour the fans were tired of the comedy antics. To this end, the first shot did not succeed. Though Willard Amison's rendition of Herbert's "I'm Falling in Love with Someone" and Adelaide Norton's "With a Heart That's Free" were pleasant to gagtired ears, the mood was killed with too lengthy product announcements and too much talk from Erik Rolf, narrator attempting a David Ross. Sponsor apparently tried to get his money's worth from the 15-minute airing and succeeded in losing a steady following for this spot. Due mention was made of Adelaide French, who handles the account for the biscuit company and produces the show. Ad Women Tour NBC Group of over 100 members of the advertising course sponsored by the Advertising Women of New York, Inc., made their annual tour of the NBC studios last night as part of their program of study. A talk, tour and radio performance was included in the evening's schedule. John H. Bachem, NBC eastern division sales manager, addressed the women on "Radio as an Advertising Medium." Most of the members are employed in advertising agencies and continue their actual study work in order to specialize in radio. Tastyeast to Renew Tastyeast, Inc., Trenton (yeast candy), will renew its present NBCBlue network program on 20 stations effective March 2. Renewal is signed for 39 weeks, but is merely a formality inasmuch as the original 52week contract was signed by an agency which no longer handles the Tastyeast account. Program features "The Original Tastyeast Jesters" and is heard Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 7:15-7:30 p. m. Peck Advertising Agency, Inc., New York, has the account. Cardinet to Renew Cardinet Candy Co., Oakland, on March 7 will renew its West Coast program, "The Night Editor," on five NBC-Red Pacific stations, Sundays, 9:15-9:30 p. m. PST. Program features dramatizations by Harold Burdick. Tomaschke-Elliott, Inc., Oakland, has the account. Heads WMCA Announcers Bertram Lebhar, Jr., sales director of WMCA, announced the appointment of Bob Carter, station announcer and commentator, as chief of the announcing staff. Carter came to the station from WIP, Philadelphia in May, 1935. Countess Albani Back Countess Olga Albani, last heard over the air 18 months ago on the Real Silk series, has been signed to appear on the Ford program Friday. It is believed that her contract has an optional clause which calls for additional appearances. 12 Shows Out of KYW Philadelphia — KYW books reveal an even dozen shows weekly for the NBC Red emanating here. Marks the largest number of sustaining shows fed to the net by any managed and operated station of the NBC. * * * * II EVERYBODY WHO IS ANYBODY IN RADIO IS READING EVERY DAY II * * * *