Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1937)

RADIO DAILY= Thursday, October 21, 1937 "LADY OF MILLIONS" with May Robson (Electrical Transcription) Bauer & Black KNX, Monday through Friday, 15 mins. Blackett-Sample-Hummert MAY ROBSON SCORES IN EFFICIENTLY PRODUCED TRANSCRIPTION SERIES. May Robson, grand old lady of stage and screen, added still another medium for the display of her apparently ageless art when the transcribed series, "Lady of Millions," conceived and produced by Associated Cinema Studios for Bauer & Black, made its debut Monday night. In the opening sequence of a vehicle especially written for her by Hector Chevigny, Miss Robson was her own inimitable self and projected both her vibrant voice and her lovable personality over the air like the veteran trouper that she is. The recording was flawless, and while the initial episode was devoted solely to establishing the principal character, Aunt May Webster, played by Miss Robson, it gave evidence of showmanship and painstaking production on the part of Frank Purkett, vice-president and general manager of Associated Cinema, who is credited with producing, and George Godfrey, dialogue director. Jackson Wheeler is the announcer, and he was given a tag-end commercial which was short, sensible and salesmanlike. By the time this is in print Norman Field will have entered the story in the leading male role opposite Miss Robson, and the adventures of the two characters in the operation of their one-ring circus is apt to prove as enjoyable as any three-ring circus to those who follow their trials and tribulations five days a week. "Dere Teecher" A bright little program, well conceived and executed, is this quarterhour over CBS at 5:45-6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Though the title, "Dere Teecher," would indicate a comedy skit, the show in reality is a sort of quiz program, prefaced by some brief readings on the subject that forms the basis of the quiz that follows. The last program dealt with cotton. Fourth grade students supplied the questions and answers, and the kids participating in the program were placed in a sort of "race" for prizes, thus giving the program a competitive angle that kept the youngsters enthusiastically on their toes. It's one of the liveliest and best of the juvenile programs. "Hollywood Mardi Gras" Despite announced program corrections of the previous day that had Amos 'n' Andy cancelled from making their repeat appearance with Lanny Ross on Tuesday night, the blackface comedians were on hand and added much to the enjoyment of the occasion. Program as a whole has maintained a good standard since it started. Charlie Butterworth has come through fine as a screen comedian, Florence George is doing a swell job vocally, and the rest of the troupe also has kept in step. "Ray Block Varieties" This new Wednesday 3-3:30 p.m. musical variety show presented by Ray Block over WABC-CBS employs various designs of new orchestral treatments that provide an interesting and entertaining half-hour. Fanciful combinations of song numbers, played in intriguing individual style, along with interspersed vocals and the soft and sweet revival of fondly remembered numbers of past years, give the program a delightful flavor. Block appears to be engaged in experimentation, and his first two programs indicate that he will develop something off the beaten track and altogether pleasurable. Alistair Cook Commentator Alistair Cook, who a short time ago started a late night quarter-hour of dissertation, returned Wednesday night on WEAF-NBC Red network with a new program titled "A Critic on Broadway", in which he will devote his attention to the stage and screen. In contrast to the general run of theatrical chatterers, Cook announced in his opening broadcast that he would deal "constructively" with his topics. Instead of digging up scandal or throwing brickbats, he plans to offer helpful comment. It is not only a noble aim, but one which will place Cook pretty much in a class by himself. A better pace was noted in Cook's style Wednesday night than in his previous broadcasts, probably due in part to change of subject matter. Among points which he made in the opening broadcast was that the socalled highbrows, instead of holding aloof from the films, should realize the importance of the medium and lend their cooperation toward making it better and more socially useful. Reviews of plays and films will be included on Cook's program starting next week. "Your Hit Parade" With Leo Reisman as guest batonwielder, Wednesday night's "Your Hit Parade" on WEAF-NBC Red network was an exceptionally tuneful and smooth-flowing hour of musical entertainment. From "That Old Feeling" of current popularity, down through a rhumba and all the way back to the perennial "St. Louis Blues", Reisman led the parade in expert musicianly fashion. His arrangements, while distinctive enough, hewed close to the basic melody in each respective case. Vocalists of the evening were Lois Bennett, Stuart Allen, Freddie Gibson and the Songsmith Quartet, with Basil Ruysdael as the announcer. "BIG CITY" with Edward G. Robinson and Claire Trevor Lever Bros. (Rinso) WABC-CBS, Monday, 8-8:30 p.m. Ruthrauff & Ryan Inc. NEWSPAPER SERIAL DRAMA WITH FAMILIAR PLOT AND FIRST-RATE CAST. Title of this new Lever-Rinso show, which occupies the half-hour just preceding the same sponsor's Al Jolson show on behalf of Lifebuoy, does not apply to New York, but to a mythical big city located anywhere. It's a newspaper serial drama, with Edward G. Robinson as the tough managing editor who sets out to expose the past of a woman who has reformed and is determined to protect her daughter from scandal, even if she has to shoot the editor. Claire Trevor is the society reporter who is opposed to Robinson's news policies but is unable to convince him. She also furnishes a slimly suggested love interest. Then there is the publisher who doesn't care what kind of news his editor prints, so long as it promotes circulation. Ingredients are the familiar pattern made famous by "Five-Star Final" and frequently duplicated since. The exceptionally able cast, however, gives it fresh interest and makes it good listening on the acting score in particular. The scripting also sounded like an exceptionally good job — and should be, seeing that Arthur Caesar, Arch Obeler, Courtney Ryley Cooper and Art Holden were announced as the authors of the series. IRNA-AFM Both Hope Agreement Is Definite (Continued from Page 1) by the time the final draft of the agreement is set. According to AFM spokesmen, the agreement is virtually the "same in substance," but the phraseology has been changed to avoid ambiguity and too hard and fast rules in some cases. Proposition is said by the AFM to be the toughest in its 41 years of existence and the same seems to go for the experience of the broadcasters. All day and night sessions has all of the participants on edge, with nearly all of them taking turns at pacing the halls to keep from keeling over. Although the broadcasters are driving the best bargain possible not all of the points involved are being worked out exactly to their liking. Attorneys, however, are leaving no stone unturned to give the radio industry all possible protection. Network representatives also present are contributing their help wherever it may be needed. Allocation of the $2,100,000 annually in additional musician payrolls will be the next step, to be taken up the middle of next week. As agreed upon, the network affiliates will hire $1,500,000 worth of additional musicians and the key stations will expend the $600,000. Allocation has been fully worked out by the IRNA on the basis of 5V2 per cent of each station's gross revenue (less commissions). Each station's allocation, however, will have to meet with the approval of the AFM and the needs of the local in whose jurisdiction the station exists. Should the 5V2 per cent formula not be to the liking of the AFM, a new one will have to be devised. Electrical transcription angles proved one of the greatest drawbacks to an earlier settlement on the terms of the trade agreement. Ramifications from the broadcasters angle developed more importantly than realized and this and several other points caused hours of heated discussion. While both sides appear to understand the other's position one impasse followed upon another, clause by clause. Meeting of the AFM Executive Committee with transcription and phonograph record men, is definitely set for 10:30 a.m. this morning at ASCAP offices in the RCA building. The demands to be made upon the disk men is what the broadcasters seek to counteract in their trade agreement with the musician union. ET control by the AFM is about the strongest threat in its hands. "Tish" Second episode of the "Tish" series being presented by the radio division of the WPA Federal Theater over CBS, switched to a different spot at 9:30-10 p.m. Wednesdays, was somewhat of an improvement over the initial performance last week. The character of the unpredictable Tish is beginning to take form and, given a little chance, should catch on okay. QUOTES DR. P. C. GOLDMARK, CBS Chief Television Engineer: "Of greatest importance to the future of television programs is the progress of engineers in stepping up the light sensitivity of the television camera. Developments now under way in England and Germany as well as in America promise a television camera ten times more sensitive to light than any now in use, thus rendering it even more useful for reproduction than the ordinary photographic camera using modern emulsions." D. H. MUNRO: "Unless something co-operative can be done in the way of determining what the standard size of screen shall be for all receiving sets, at least for the present until television technic is better understood, I'm afraid everything we've established so far will be badly upset."