Radio daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

Friday, January 21, 1938 S RADIO DAILY WOW’s Unusual Program Entry Omaha — WOW's special events department has put over a novel broadcast which it submits as its first candidate for 1938 unusual idea awards. Fifty years ago this month, in 1888, the worst blizzard the middle west has ever known descended, killing hundreds, and trapping a class of sixteen children in the Fairview School, sixteen miles from Clay Center, Nebr., which is almost nowhere. Foster May, WOW news editor, conceived the idea of broadcasting a reunion of the "blizzard class of 1888." The "pupils" came from Pennsylvania, Oregon and many midwest points. The original teacher rang the same school bell. Blizzard-survivor pupils sat in the same seats and sang "Good Morning Dear Teacher." The teacher then required each pupil to give an "excuse" for his absence during the past fifty years. The twentyminute broadcast ended with a fervent and dramatic prayer in which the teacher called for the next reunion in Heaven 50 years hence. The entire countryside gathered and the farm women prepared a scrumptuous meal. The broadcast pulled about 300 letters, 100 per cent commendatory. PHILADELPHIA PROGRiim Reviews “ ANGELS IN BLUE” Sustaining WHB, Kansas City, Sunday 4-4:30 p.m. EXPERTLY WRITTEN AND PRODUCED DRAMATIC TRANSCRIPTION SERIAL REVOLVING AROUND AN AIR LINE HOSTESS. Apart from the fact that the aviation setting of this serial is a novelty in itself the continuity and action of the first show alone should sell it to most any sponsor and most certainly hold the continued interest of the audience that heard it. Opening with a bit of narration and musical background, the action moves swiftly as it unfolds the story of Joyce Adams, a hospital nurse attending an airline executive. He fires her imagination when he tells her about the adventure and color of aviators and hostesses, with the result that she is in the service in short order. Hospital atmosphere is worked in nicely and in businesslike style. Close of the first 15-minute episode reveals the new hostess at work, gives an intimation of the type of aviator that is to figure in the romance and considerable local color on flying through the continuity including the sending and receiving of messages to ground radio stations. Finale of the first disk has the central aviator testing new instruments for blind flying, and he comes in with ceiling zero, bringing in his plane for a minor crack-up, and of course the excitement and suspense of the friends and ground crew went into a terrific climax. Second quarter-hour disk finds Joyce promoting a special light plane for her aviator who is perfecting and experimenting with an “equalizer flap.” This gets her into a mess of trouble. The playboy owner of the plane which is being donated for experimental purposes is murdered by a jealous woman and suspicion falls on the innocent Joyce. Production of the disks was under the direction of Capt. Wilfred G. Moore, former army flyer and author of the “Jimmie Allen” and “Howie Wing” serials. Audrey McGrath plays the part of Joyce Adams, and like the supporting cast does an excellent job. “ CHEER UP, AMERICA” Mennen Co. ( Shaving Cream) WEAF — NBC-Red Network Wednesdays, 7:45-8 p.m. H. M. Kiesewetter, Adv. Agency EX-VAUDE COMEDIANS USE WRONG TECHNIQUE AND GIVE RAGGED BROADCAST. The new Mennen show featuring Henry Burbig, dialect comedian, Ray Murray, the Funnyboners trio and Frank Novak’s orchestra, had something amiss on its initial airing. The program lacked form and finesse. "Funnyboners” and the orchestra each played a number just to give the comedians a chance to catch their breath. Toward the close, Burbig started to laugh while reading his script. Background noise for some few minutes before Burbig’s laughing indicated something was amiss in the studio. "Grand Street Hotel” billed for the program will be heard next week, according to the announcer. HARRIET PARSONS Bromo-Seltzer WJZ — NBC-Blue, Wednesdays, 8:30-8:45 p.m. J. Walter Thompson Co. HOLLYWOOD GOSSIPER OFFERING "CLEAN" CHATTER MAKES OKAY START. Harriet Parsons, who has had radio experience pinch-hitting for her mother, Louella, took over the Bromo stint as successor to “Manhattan After Dark,” which folded after one airing. Miss Parsons wisely deviates as much as possible from the usual Hollywood chatter formula by admittedly avoiding scandal and sensationalism, and giving instead “the news behind the news” in a calm and dispassionate style. She spieled off a number of social items on parties and told of other events and doings of personalities, all interesting in a more or less disarming way. Occasional remarks by announcer punctuated the comments. Though Miss Parsons needs to practice up on her mike delivery, she shows promise. “ Your Hollywood Parade” A slight change of musical color took place in “Your Hollywood Parade last Wednesday night over NBC-Red with the entrance of A1 Goodman as conductor. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with the music as dispensed by Leo Forbstein of the Warner film studios on the first several weeks of this program, but Goodman is fortified with longer experience and more cultivated proficiency from a radio standpoint. His periods of service for Lucky Strike’s “Hit Parade,” as well as on “Show Boat,” etc., have fitted him nicely for a one-hour program of this type. Forbstein had to give up the post because of pressure of film work. Rest of the last Wednesday night’s program was in the usual vein, with Dick Powell doing his usual good job as singing emcee, aided by Rosemary Lane, Dudley Chambers chorus in a Walton Newton, formerly of KNOW, Austin, Tex., replaced Sanford Guyer, resigned, as announcer at WIP. Samuel R. Rosenbaum, WFIL president, has been named Chairman of the Radio Committee for the annual Community Chest Drive, while Margaret Schaefer has been appointed dramatic supervisor in the same unit. Tommy Phelan, WIP singer, is a reporter on the Philly Record. Jonny Fortis of KYW’s Three Naturals is now doing the arrangements for Gene Kardos and his recording outfit. Dave Mann of the WFIL piano duo of Mann and Irwin is in Miami playing with a southern band. Benedict Gimbel Jr., WIP president, gives a dinner party for entire staff at Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Feb. 5. It is the second year Gimbel has done this. Frank Pfaff, WIP engineer, is the father of a boy. Mary Latell is a new member of the WIP singing corps. She is heard with Clarence Fuhrman’s ork on Thursdays at noon. The Imperial Hawaiians will inaugurate a new musical series over WFIL. Bob Elmer, assistant sports director of WCAU, is trying out his vocal chords o* a daytime program over another local station. Dave Tyson, WFIL night supervisor, will take over the “Let’s Pop the Question” program. Dixie Lee, heard over KYW with her counselling advice for parents and children, will now be heard twice weekly. Jean MacLatchie is the newest addition to the staff of WIP. fine rendition of “Night and Day”; another return engagement by Bob Hope, who was in his best form yet, and others. Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor’s new talent tryouts on his Texaco program over CBS brought forth some very clever kids last Wednesday night. Drama, comedy and harmony singing were represented among the talent, and if future newcomers hold to the' caliber of the youngsters heard on this program, the new Cantor policy will be a generous success. PCCMCTICN Rate Card In Leather Folder A neat way of assuring attention to Iowa Broadcasting System’s rate card was devised by Craig Lawrence, commercial manager. In sending the card around to the trade, he enclosed it in a leatherette pocket folder with recipient’s name in gold letters on the front. Along with the rate card went a little sales talk, also mention that the general idea of the folder was to make it easier to reach for an Iowa Network rate card. Network’s increase in business last year also was among points brought out. Snapshot Contest A snapshot contest for amateurs will be sponsored by Lehn & Fink Products Corp., on behalf of Lysol, beginning Jan. 31st on the thrice weekly broadcasts of Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe over CBS. Contest will run six weeks, it was announced by Lennen & Mitchell, agency handling the account. Photos submitted must be of children under 10 years old. They will be judged on basis of health and personality of the child pictured, beauty or originality of the pose or setting, and photographic excellence and human interest. Prizes will be a $100 U. S. Saving Bond, awarded weekly, a valuable Eastman-Kodak camera, also awarded weekly, and a grand prize at the end of the 6-week period of a $500 U. S. Saving Bond, to be awarded for best of the six weekly winners. Angle is that famed Dr. Dafoe, knowing that his famous charges are most photographed kids in the world, would like to know what some others look like. Judges of the contest will be Dr. Dafoe, Wilson Hicks, picture editor of Life, and Norris W. Harkness, director of instruction for the Camera Club. WOAI Free Offers WOAI, San Antonio, has launched a campaign of free offers to its listeners consisting of various premiums, such as personality pictures, flower seeds, a book on Texas facts, livestock guide, and for 10 cents a book of 80 old time hymns. Another gratis gift of Chinese coins is contemplated. THE SONGBIRD OF THE SOUTH KATE SMITH THE KATE SMITH HOUR THURSDAYS CBS NETWORK 8-9 P.M., E.S.T. EXCL. MANAGEMENT TED COLLINS i*