Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

Tuesday. February 23. 1937 RADIO DAILY 3 "HERSHFIELD'S LAUGH PARADE" Sustaining WMCA (Inter-City Group), Fridays, 7:30-8 p. m. AMATEUR PROGRAM FOR HUMORISTS BOWS WITH "JOE MILLER" AS CHIEF GAGWRITER BUT NOVEL IDEA WITH POSSIBILITIES. Harry Hershfield as m. c. brought a new form of amateur program to the airwaves, one which shows promise of achieving a place in the radio firmament. However, the first offering was slip-shod with ancient material. Premiere had Donald Flamm, prez of the web, inform public what they intend accomplishing. What followed proved conclusively that Flamm, Hershfield, et al, have a very good idea, but did not have sufficient good material for the initial bill. Aside from one or maybe two "humorists," the program could not be called a "laugh-provoker." Hershfield realized the futility of his contestants and didn't attempt to add a few of his resourceful gags to the airing, thereby showing up the talent. Novel idea introduced on show, when balanced properly, should become as famous as the Major's gong. Here they used a "hen" imitator, whose cackle and plop signified that the one before the mike had just "YOUR HOME AND MINE' Sustaining WABC (CBS Network), Saturdays, 10: 15 a. m. INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL TALKS ON HOUSING HOLDS INTEREST FOR HOME OWNERS AND PLANNERS. Originating from the studios of WJSV, Columbia station in Washington, D. C, this program presented with the cooperation of the Federal Housing Administration should prove both interesting and helpful to persons who either plan to build a home or desire to improve their present dwellings. The weekly series is part of an educational campaign to make the general public and industry acquainted with principles of design, construction and financing of small homes. A different phase of industrial or financial participation will be analyzed on each program, together with an explanation of the purpose of the demonstration homes now being built in various communities. Commentator on the series, Bryson Rash, the radio actor and announcer, has a likeable delivery. laid an "egg." Very apropos for a program of this sort, in which every angle must be utilized to create laughs. Jim Madison, author of "Madison's Budget," famous vaude joke book, also appeared with a gag. * THE WEEK IN I Al l< * Connery to Press Investigation (Continued from Page 1) commenTS On Current Programs THE TWIN STARS program, National Biscuit Company's Friday night show from Hollywood, was a little bit down in the dumps with Buddy Rogers missing from it last week. Lou Kosloff, the guest conductor, finally put some pep into the orchestra lads after a rather dispirited start. Victor Moore and Helen Broderick, the comedy stars of the program, succeeded only fitfully in Deing funny. They are the type of laugh-makers who must be seen to be fully appreciated. On top of that; they were again handicapped by difficult material. FORD MOTORS show on WJZ last Friday night had a slightly discordant note. Professor Figsbottle, who has long been a very funny individual on the bill with Senator Fishface, seemed a bit suppressed in this Ford program. Some of his jokes also were pretty stale. Al and Lee Reiser, the piano duo, did themselves credit, and it was a joy to hear Countess Olga Albani again. Not forgetting the Chandler ork. HORACE HEIDT broadcasted a pleasing batch of musical entertainment over WOR from the ballroom of the Hotel Biltmore on Friday. It was a sort of college night, with a gay informality about the proceedings, and sounded quite refreshing at the receiving end. GEORGE RECTOR'S recently inaugurated WABC series for Phillips Soups makes very agreeable listening for the housewives and the menfolk too. Rector has chummed around with the big names of the town and the world, so he brings colorful reminiscence as well as menu advice to his programs. He has a chatty style and a good radio voice with sales persuasion in it. "SPECIAL EDITION," the Borden program for women, is another of the better daytime attractions. A newstalk by Gabriel Heatter, a little lecture by Dr. Payne, some Hollywood gossip, a chat on new styles in feminine apparel, and a few other good items were mixed in with occasional remarks on food, chiefly milk, when this program was re-visited the other day. It made a highly interesting half-hour. THE JAMBOREE REVUE on Thursday nights over WJZ from Chicago, with Don McNeil as m.c. maintains its rating as a bright spot. Between Harry Kogen's orchestra, Tony Romano, Maury Amsterdam, Sylvia Clark, the guest stars, and the m.c. himself, there is always a lively time. The last program had a very amusing comedy duet on marriage between Amsterdam and one of the Morin Sisters, Margie, who is about to become a bride. daytime biz increased during the month 94 per cent compared to the same period a year ago . . . Music Publishers Protective Association, thru John G. Paine, chairman of the board, sought to clarify its stand on seeking small license fees for "offthe-air" recordings . . . position being mostly to establish the copyright owner's rights to cover any possible future contingency that may arise . . . President Roosevelt may be called upon to decide the number of television channels to be allotted to commercial purposes, inasmuch as the Army and Navy as well as other government departments want a few of the high frequencies. Tax on radio shows proposed in Ohio would sock commercials 10 per cent in a bill introduced by Rep. Joseph Duffey in the state legislature . . . in the State of Washington, measure introduced in legislature calling for a state board of censors and a 2 per cent tax on local business of stations . . . Idaho came thru to make it the third legislative proposition with Senate Bill No. 72, sponsored by Senator R. E. Whitten, which seeks to ban automobile radios. Various interests throughout the country hastened to be heard in the matter. Group of radio actors who wanted the American Federation of Actors to do some organizing for them were referred to Actors Equity Association by Ralph Whitehead, head of the former org. . . . Women's National Radio Committee announced plans for its annual awards to be made March 31 . . . WNRC completed a tie-up with a research organization — Wadsworth & Wood Sales, Inc., headed by Mason Wadsworth. Research bureau is given the right to poll the millions of members of the affiliated clubs and sell the service, with WNRC getting a cut. . . . Arbitration was seen as a possible out of the ban placed on recordings by the AFM in Chicago . . . President's court proposals brought an unprecedented number of speakers to the mike for and against the Supreme Court changes . . . nearly all on the cuff, of course . . . Important point came up in the suit for temporary injunction which was filed by Ramona Davies against Paul Whiteman, et al . . . application was denied Ramona by Supreme Court Jus RADIO EVENTS, INC. AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCING GROUP SERVING ADVERTISING AGENCIES 535 Fifth Avenue, New York, N . Y. MOST USED GAG OF THE WEEK Bloke: So you fought in the World War? Poke: Yes. I fought and fought and fought — but they made me go just the same. tice Callahan, who saw nothing wrong with the contract legally, despite the option clauses. Ramona sought to break her agreement with Whiteman. . . . Federal Trade Commission called a conference for March 3, with the committee representing the popular music industry for the purpose of getting set on the fair trade practices code. Among other things, the code will seek to definitely stamp out bribery of radio and other talent by music men, and by the same token the music men want to get away from the grasping singer or baton swinger. . . . John (Jap) Gude, for several years director of publicity for Columbia Broadcasting System, was appointed manager of the CBS station relations department, taking over his new duties Feb. 24 and reporting to Herbert V. Akerberg, CBS vice-president in charge of station relations. Foreign British Broadcasting Corp. began transmitting television programs exclusively E.M.I, system since discarding Baird altogether . . . which does not mean that the B.B.C. has permanently adopted a single system . . . Increase in weekly time was promised Canadian listeners by Major Gladstone Murray . . . CKAC started an ether Bingo series.