Radio daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

6 Tuesday, February 1, 1938 PROGRflOl REVIEWS RUSH HUGHES Borden’s XVEAF — NBC-Red, Mon. through Fri., 4:30-4:45 p.m. Young & Rubicam FAST "NEWSREEL" TYPE SHOW WITH COMMERCIALS IN ALTERNATE SPOTS. Rush Hughes, who isn’t far behind Floyd Gibbons in fast-talking, does a ‘’Hughes-reel” in this new series. Items of current human interest are alternated with food hints, all done in lively topical style calculated to hold interest. Such items as birth of the new girl heir in Holland, Canadian-U. S. amity and other bits were included in his first broadcast, using an effective technique wherein “Picture!” is announced at the start of each new item. Program is coming from San Francisco for next 13 weeks. “ Busy Line 4142 ” The premiere performance of WHN’s new dramatic serial, “Busy Line 4142,” Sunday at 5:30-6 p.m., lived up to advance ballyhoo and definitely shapes up as one of the better dramatic shows aired on the 1010 dial. Although the idea is not an original one, Irving Reis having made good use of it on his Columbia Workshops, it is still fresh enough to attract plenty of attention. Technique is to confine all action to a central setting, and in this instance it took place in a telephone booth, with story told through the medium of different phone calls. First airing was rather smooth, but a few actors, in an earnest effort to fill the bill, overacted and almost ruined some of the best scenes. “The White Slaver,” and the girl speaking to her fiance, were extreme in their overdoing. The has-been movie star, and the revenging brother were the bright spots in the cast. Writer of the program could do a better job on the lines, but does an excellent job in building his stories. With a few more shots under its belt, program should be one of the Did you know that many of out student* aftei completing, courses in Zhe, School of Radio technique have been accepted oh tommewial oadcasts? , g GEORGE MARSHALL DURANTE. OIR. I1 V R. K. 0. Bids Radio City. New York RADIO DAILY: NEW PCCGCAMS-IDEA/ WCOA's "Meet the Artists" WCOA, the CBS outlet in Pensacola, Florida, is inviting its listeners to meet the station’s staff artists and announcers in person. A series of weekly programs called “Meet the Artist Studio Parties” is broadcast each Saturday at 4:30-5 p.m. Listeners are invited to visit the studios in the San Carlos Hotel during this program and witness their favorite artists perform. They have the opportunity of talking with the artists and discussing their programs. The station feels a closer relationship will develop between performers and listeners, and will place the broadcasts on a more personal basis. Different artists are featured on each broadcast. Those heard on the first program were: “The Lonesome Sing er,” Jeannette Ferraro, Anita Walder, Rose June McGinnis, and “The Ramblers.” Ross Gerald serves as master-ofceremonies of “Meet the Artist Studio Parties.” Popular Radio Forum On the premise that most types of radio forum are too “deep” or “dry” for the general public, WJW in Akron is opening a series of programs, using the forum style of presentation, but offering material which should appeal more generally. Prepared and presented by the Adult Education division of Central High School, program will concern generally unknown facts or incidents about famous people; 15 minutes weekly. highspots on the Sunday broadcast fare. Michael Wardell writes and produces the series. Initial cast had a number of leading Broadway actors, including Hiram Sherman, Lawrence Paquin, Franklin Davis, Laura Windsor, Charles Powers, Ann Thomas, and others. “ Second Overture ” Maxwell Anderson’s second play written especially for radio, “Second Overture,” heard Saturday at 9:3010 p.m. over NBC-Red Network, was another excellent piece of writing, albeit a bit to the class taste. Subject of the play was the Russian revolt of 1918, with scene near Moscow where a group of the condemned awaited their fate. There wasn’t much action, but rather a good deal of social and religious declamation, pleading for sanity and general bemoaning. Large cast also proved a bit of handicap from the listener end. The script undoubtedly read a lot better than it sounded over the air, and on the whole this is the sort of thing that deserves encouragement. James Church directed the production, with cast including such firstrate thespians as Earl Larrimore, George Gaul, Burford Hampden, Charles Webster, Eduard Trevor, John Brewster, Stanley Waxman, Neil O’Malley, Edward Jerome, Helen Walpole, Adele Harrison and others. Bamberger Symphony When speaking of the better class musical presentations, the Bamberger Symphony Orchestra, heard Fridays at 9:30-10 p.m. over WOR-Mutual, must be included. Last week’s program, with Paulina Ruvinska, pianist, and Laird Waller conducting, was a typical instance of how good music can be made palatable to a wide audience. Sammy Kaye The “swing and sway” program dispensed by Sammy Kaye over WOR-Mutual from the Hotel Statler in Cleveland on Saturdays at 5-6 p.m. is unusual not only because it’s a whole hour of dance music, but also because it’s an hour that never gets tiresome or irritating. Kaye dispenses a smooth-flowing brand of rhythm that entertains and soothes at the same time. It’s restful for folks who want to listen and relax, while at the same time it satisfies the dancing element. Vocals are judiciously interpolated, all of them being of pleasing quality. Sclimeling-Foord Fight One of the remarkable things about the Schmeling-Foord boxing match shortwaved from Hamburg, Germany, on Sunday noon and heard in this country exclusively over Mutual was the performance of the British commentator, Eduard Roderick Dietze, who not only carried on throughout the entire main bout, both during and between rounds, but also handled the preliminary bout. He showed unusual resourcefulness in talking incessantly, always interestingly, and in language that neatly combined the erudite and the popular. He got over the color and action of the fight very nicely, while his sidelights were well-chosen. Reception of the broadcast was excellent. “Bright Lights of 1938” There is a good bit of talent in this new WHN review, Sunday at 5-5:30 p.m., but the setup needs better comedy material — not puns — and whipping into effective shape. Herman Timberg Jr. emcees the show and he sounds like the makings of another Milton Berle. Popikoff, the “temperamental Russian,” who is always funny, and some good vocalizing by Michael Loring and Buddy Manners, also Sally Hughes and musical background by Don Albert’s orchestra, complete the cast. “M il kmen ’s Matinee ” Far and away one of the best shows of its type on the air, Stan Shaw’s “Milkmen’s Matinee” on WNEW seems to be growing in dialing importance with each additional performance. With a listening audience mustered from the ranks of the city’s employes who serve on the Lobster trick, program is entirely recorded and is heard at 2-7 a.m. daily except Sunday. Shaw, to this reviewer, is tops as ad lib emcee, and manages PCCHCTICN Furniture Store Idea Grant Sandison, WTMJ (Milwaukee) salesman, found a way for a furniture store to effectively merchandise its housewives’ reception hall which resulted in two quarterhour programs a week. For some time the American Furniture Store has thrown its reception hall open to clubs and societies for bridge parties and social get-togethers. Sandison suggested broadcasting interview programs from the store, using these groups. The program, “Homemaker’s Studio,” brings many women to the microphone to be interviewed briefly by WTMJ’s Bill Evans. The questions dealing with everyday problems in semi-humorous fashion, are furnished by the participants just before the broadcast. The hundred or more women who participate are given favors. It was found that the ladies present were more prone to shop the store after hearing the “selling” on the broadcast than when they came merely to play cards. So successful has the feature become that the sponsor contemplates increasing the schedule to five times a week. Handwriting Series Promotion Star Radio Programs has released its largest promotion job on any special feature, a sales brochure for “Your Writing Reveals” series. The script organization engaged Dorothy Sara, handwriting expert, in preparing the 13 scripts, 15 minutes each. Only one man is required for production. Arrangements also have been made with Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., music publishers, for a special theme song. Advertising Drama Good note in newspaper advertising was recent piece in Dayton Daily News listing weekly dramatic offerings over WHIO, Dayton, O. Action photo was effective eye-catcher with an ultra-Bodoni “DRAMA” and “Listen” making up the caption. Network dramatic fare coming over the local airwaves was listed by day and hour. Valentine Song Number Out “Make Your ‘Mum’ Your Valentine,” with words and music by Harold Moon and Sherley Marson, has been published by Whitney Blake Music Pub. Co. The number, specially intended for the Valentine season, was off the press in the record time of 24 hours after Moon brought the manuscript to New York from Canada. In addition to his songwriting, Moon also has produced radio shows for Canadian network schedules. He returns to his Montreal headquarters this week. to make even his commercials sound interesting. Proof of his versatility lies in the fact that nightly he receives 300 to 400 wires requesting dance numbers and bearing personal messages to Shaw. Program is loaded at present with 27 sponsors, and there is a waiting list.