Radio daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

Wednesday, March 30, 1938 RADIO DAILY 5 PCCGC4Mf-REVIEW/ CCCHESTCAS MUSIC By TED LLOYD Because two picture music firms decided to take it upon themselves to alter the system of tabulating song performances without consulting the smaller fellows in the industry, Lou Diamond, head of Paramount Pictures’ music firms, Famous and Paramount, did an about-face on Jack Robbins and Buddy Morris, who heads the Warner music interests. .. .Originally one of the instigators of the revampment reported here last week, Diamond learned that there was opposition to the proposed plan and wanted to give the squawkers a chance to voice their opinions before railroading a measure so important .... After a series of off-again, on-again discussions, it was decided to wait a few days. However, Robbins and Morris, feeling that Diamond was with them, decided to go into the proposed change over the week-end. .. .Reading here Monday morning that the plan went through, Diamond notified the two other publishers that he wouldn’t enter into any such agreement now, because he wasn’t consulted .... As it stands now, music firms tied up with flicker companies (except Paramount) use one system for tabulation of performances, while others use the 5 p.m. till 1 a.m. on WABC, WEAF and WJZ count! Eddie Holly, vocalist with Barney Rapp’s band, has been signed for a year by Abe Lyman ... With Jimmy Dorsey’s crew at the New Yorker, old time movies will be shown at the supper shows on Sunday nites. . . Joe Rines will be the featured musical attraction at the St. Regis roof when it opens to the public May 5th and will be billed as “Mr. Joseph Rines” and his Music. Frank Parrish is leaving Abe Lyman to go with Ramona’s new band .... Orrin Tucker is being screentested by Warner Brothers this week. . . Kay Kyser opens at the Penn sylvania Roof June 1st with a Mutual wire . . . Ozzie Nelson has been renewed for another 13 weeks on the Feg Murray show.... Mark Warnow will revive his famous Blue Velvet orchestra this summer. Smith on Atlantic Sports Pittsburgh — Chet Smith, sports editor of the Pittsburgh Press has been signed by the Atlantic Refining Co. to handle the sportscasting over WJAS during the spring and summer. N. W. Ayer & Son has the account. UNIVERSAL RIBBON MICROPHONES An all-purpose microphone. Plug in and use. Unconditionally guaranteed. MICROPHONE DIVISION UNIVERSAL MICROPHONE CO., LTD. 424 Warren Lane Inglewood, Calif. “ SPY AT LARGE ” Sustaining on WJZ-NBC network, Sun. 8-8:30 p.m. UNUSUALLY ENGROSSING DRAMATIC SERIAL MAKING THE LISTENER PLAN TO TUNE IN FOR MORE NEXT WEEK. “Spy at Large” is one of those international yarns that have every stamp of authenticity and gives the listener the impression that it is true and everything is official. The very daring material is in itself surprising inasmuch as the delicate situation now existing between nations would seem to make it a touchy proposition. For this reason alone it appears to the average dial twister that Washington itself is backing the series. First program started the story of the stolen plans exchanged between Great Britain and the United States. The former turning over the Singapore harbor defense plan such as location of mines, while the latter handed over that of Pearl Harbor, to be used in case of emergency and in the event of a war with an Eastern power, Japan. At any rate both the American and British safes holding the exchanged plans are rifled and a famed but erratic “scientist” is induced to pick up the chase. His specialty is counterspying if anything. Opening of the program mentions the absolute and unexplained disappearance from the world of an ocean-going ship from the harbor of San Francisco and then seeks to work out the possible solution. Next installment, however will continue the intrigue of foreign powers, which it seems is like propaganda, but supposedly necessary. The production and continuity is second to none, on “Spy at Large.” Zenith Foundation Farewell performance of the Zenith Foundation program on CBS Sun. 10-10:30 p.m., further revealed excellent showmanship in presenting items that are not at all new, but safe in that well-known authors and other authorities are used from the records. Six definite conclusions have been drawn, it was said and these were: People receive telepathic impulses in moments of danger; vary in individuals; distant or space no factor; occur frequently in matters concerning blood relations or loved ones; time is no factor, and age is no material factor. Listeners were asked to continue to write to the Zenith Foundation despite the program being off the air since it would return in the fall and the Foundation would continue its findings. Complete further research would be necessary before final reports could be made. Answers to the chime impulses were mostly correct notwithstanding the fact that the chances for the correct answers were “1 to 10 plus 18 ciphers”. Commander Eugene MacDonald offered a few words himself as well as Dr. Harlan P. Stetson being switched in from New York. PHIL COOK’S ALMANAC” Sustaining on WABC-CBS network. Sun. 6:30-7 p.m. SOMEWHAT HOKEY BUT CHEERFUL. NONSENSICAL ENTERTAINMENT WELL SPOTTED. Adding a Sunday night spot, but with a production suitable for the occasion, Phil Cook’s Almanac busted out in all its glory and revealed itself a contender for the evening’s comedy inclined audience. Little of everything Cook has done in the past is included as well as some newer ideas, with all of the ingredients well balanced and mixed to make a half-hour pass very quickly. The main theme seems to be the selection of an item as might appear in an almanac and give a modern version or present day translation in dramatized form. The cast is fully adequate and nothing is handled too seriously nor too long. Ray Block’s orchestra is a valuable addition to the show, also John Reed King on the announcing or straight man end. Excellent voices are also used to advantage. In fact it looks like a cinch for a sponsor who wants Sunday night fare. Goodman’s Swing School Benny Goodman and his orchestra moved down a half-hour last night, Tues., into the spot formerly occupied by Jack Oakie for the same sponsor. The absence of the Hollywood portion of the show was welcome after having presented a series of secondrate performances in the past, and the fast moving Goodman more than filled the bill in taking over the Tues. night portion. Orchestra, aided by the Goodman trio and quartet, presented its usual quota of swing tunes, and was unhampered by any interferences other than an occasional commercial. Eddie Cantor, who holds down the Camel fort on Mondays, was not present as advertised, but will appear at a future date. Goodman is tops in his particular form of renditions, and the show should accomplish its purpose of reaching the college students and younger element. Entire program, while it may prove boresome to older folks, is one of the best for the listeners it is aimed at, and lack of lengthy commercials does much to speed along the performance. Program is heard Tuesdays, 9:3010 p.m. over the CBS network. JOSEF CHERNIAVSKY ft* / WLW the NATION’S f-Ajm STATION CINCINNATI "The Musical Cameraman” / Every Sunday 6 P.M. EST. Uj NBC Blue Network GLC/T-ING FELIX KNIGHT, tenor, on Schaefer Beer program, tomorrow (WEAF, only 7:30 p.m.). JOAN BLONDELL will appear opposite Tyrone Power in “Calling Dr. Kildare” on Hollywood Playhouse April 3 (NBC, Blue, 9 p.m.) C H A RL E S YALE HARRISON, author, interviewed by Johannes Steel, April 1 (WMCA, 8:45 p.m.) GEORGES ENESCO, violinist-conductor, on Ford Sunday Evening Hour, April 10 (CBS, 9:00 p.m.) DOROTHY HOLDEN, interviewed by Doris Smith on “Encores and Epitaphs,” April 1 (WNEW, 4:30 p.m.) J. BERNARD WELLS, attorney, interviewed by Samuel G. Kling on the “Crime Clinic” program, today (WBAL, 7:45 p.m.) JOSEPH B. BOYLE, general manager of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Association (Bowie Race Track), on Baltimore Radio Forum program, April 1 (WBAL, 4:45 p.m.) LOUIS B. MAYER, movie exec, JACK CONWAY, film director, and GILBERT RUSSELL, vocalist, on “Good News of 1938” program, tomorrow (NBC-Red, 9:00 p.m.) BOB HOPE, comedian, on Elza Sshallert’s program, March 31 (NBCBlue, 8:15 p.m. PST) OLGA IRWIN, soprano, on Studio Strings program, today and April 1, (CKY, 11:30 a.m.) ANDRIAN ROLLINI, vibraphonist, on Kate Smith program, March 31 (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) “Here Y’Are, Tony! — The Mail Orders from Your WHB Program” til II n • • Kansas City’s Dominant Daytime WW r| IS Station affiliated with Mutual, has the ■ ■11 1^ Audience, but no national representatives. — For time clearance, schedules, information, data, telephone Harrison 1161, collect, or wire collect to — DON DAVIS, President, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI