Radio daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

Monday, February 14, 1938 9 RADIO DAILY CRITICS’ FORUM — ( Continued from Page 1) ■ Radio Business in South On Upturn, Kiggin Finds ( Continued from Page 1) dren and more cultural, stable and pro-American programs would greatly enhance that prestige of radio which is deplorably falling off.” — JOHN L. SPRINGER, Newsdom. * * * “The Hollywood stampede is downright sinful. Half of our variety shows are nothing more than 60minute theater commercials. If we must have ‘previews’, give radio listeners the entire story. The current preview is a first cousin to the theater trailer. Let’s have more of the lighter classics — don’t sandwich them in on a ‘heavy’ symphonic show or a jazz program. It just won’t work. Let more artists follow Benny and Bernie in their trick chocolatecoated commercials and none of that coaxing, juvenile touch if the commercial must be straight.” — LEE ROY MANUEL, Fort Worth Press. * * * “In my estimation a vocal chorus is the greatest program on the air — and there are not enough of them. There are too many ‘lousy’ dance orchestras on late evening sustaining shows. There are plenty of ‘name’ orchestras available, why put up with second raters on the networks? All these ‘swing’ shows are driving me nuts. Why bastardize music?”— H. B. HOOK, Mason City (la.) GlobeGazette. * * * “Major Bowes and Benny Goodman have run novel ideas into the ground. When lasting melody, subtle comedy, distinctive drama, faithful reproduction of classics, development of sound American music and artistic arrangement of programs become goals for radio, we’ll be getting some place. As long as slapstick comedy, ‘swing’ music, risque-worded novelty songs, sensational drama (‘Gang Busters,’ ‘True Story Court’) and lavish over-dressed variety programs continue to find a following, radio is threatened with stagnation.” — GEORGE HILLYER, Topeka State Journal. * * * “Too many shows are built with an attempt to please all of the people some of the time in course of every show, instead of picking a definite group to cater to; shifting shows and hence markets, occasionally — but holding to some definite audience and entertainment formula in each show. Give billing to radio writers in program listings and at the microphone — in order to give radio listeners a chance to follow their favorites just as they can in magazines and on stage WOPI "The Voice of the Appalachians ” BRISTOL TENNESSEE J I VL VIRGINIA and screen.” — DOROTHY MATTISON, Worcester Telegram and Gazette. * * * “Too much studio applause. Too great exploitation of Miller joke book. Too great use of movie stars who have no entertainment value before microphone. Too few original radio productions. Too lax rules by nets in allowing local stations to cut in on worthy sustaining shows for com mercial announcements. Radio presumes too low I.Q. of average listener. Programs are produced generally on too simple basis, commercial repeated too often during same broadcast.” — ROBERT M. GRAY, Memphis Commercial Appeal. * * * “Commercials are getting worse. Many of the programs are slowing up by sticking too close to the script. That is, it is becoming more obvious that the material is being read. A few ad-lib remarks can remedy this easily. Too many ‘guest stars’. And the grid announcers with ‘up, tail and wing’ backs. Especially detailed descriptions of formations and defenses are irritating.” — DAVE LEWIS, Long Beach (Cal.) Sun. * * * “Poorly timed pauses to permit synthetic laughter and continued use of poor satire in the name of comedy. Of course, excess commercial injection and the stereotyped formula of orchestras ‘open the program with’ announcement — they all do it. Great need for originality.” — NEWCOMB F. THOMPSON, Boston Evening American and Sunday Advertiser. * * * “Too many crime programs on the air. Not suitable for younger generation. Children’s programs are nothing more than ‘thrill’ stories.” — KENT OWEN, Racine (Wis.) Journal-Times. * * * “Entirely too much back-slapping — at $500 a slap. The ‘guest stars’ who ‘happen into’ the studio and are prevailed upon to perform — oh, so spontaneously — before the microphone, are particularly annoying. After their performance, the guests are thanked profusely and treated like higher beings although everyone knows they contracted to make the wearing away. Kiggins was also reported to have looked into the WSMB and WDSU musicians’ union tangle here over closed shop, but apparently nothing definite resulted at present. Junior Reporter Club Youngsters from six to sixteen, having journalistic inclinations, get an opportunity to test their prowess in a new program over WFIL, Philadelphia. Dubbed the “Junior Reporter Club of the Air,” show invites local boys and girls to write up some occurrence they witnessed during week preceding broadcast. Five best stories are selected, and their headline-hunting juvenile authors brought before the mike to relate them. Big shots of the journalistic fraternity will serve as guests from time to time, answering questions about stories they covered, but cash prizes go only to the youngsters. Every story submitted gets membership certificate for the writer. appearance three weeks to a month before, and, in addition, spent the whole afternoon rehearsing the ‘surprise’ performance.” — DAVE DRYDEN, Spokane Press. * * * “Too many stations devoting too much time to religious racketeers and religious programs. Too many stations improperly regulate their programs, so they have to break in the midst of a good program for some commercial blurb or to switch to a commercial program. Either of these means curtains for that station as far as I’m concerned, as a listener.” — KYLE C. MOORE, Knoxville Journal. * * * “Same old jokes, aged in the wood, same old situations and same old ‘arguments’ a la Jack Benny, who is making last year’s ideas this year’s tiresome hour. Hats off to Fibber McGee, and Rudy Vallee who knows the value of variety in his programs, the topnotcher A. 1 showman of radio.” — HAL CRAM, Portland (Me.) Sunday Telegram. INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE N.A.B. CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS WILLARD HOTEL