Radio daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

4 RADIO DAILY Tuesday, December 20, 1949 CHICAGO By HAL TATE WALTER S. HOLDEN joined the Chicago sales offices of Seventeen Magazine after four years as an account executive with the Mutual Broadcasting System's Central Division. Previously, Mr. Holden spent three years in the United States Navy during World War II, and before that was an account executive with George P. Hollingbery Co., and MacFarland, Aveyard & Company, Chicago. Dolph Hewitt and the team of Karl and Harty, WLS stars, spent a big evening entertaining underprivileged boys and girls at the annual Hollowe'en program of Chicago's Off-The-Street Club. Ray Berry, the harmonica-guitar player, whose repeated success as a guest on the WLS National Barn Dance, has been added to the regular WLS talent staff. "Mule Train" by Tennessee Ernie (Capitol Records) is headed for the hillbilly hit parade, according to Erv Victor, WGN's all-night disc jockey. Erv judges this by the overwhelming number of requests he's received since he first presented it on his 1 to 6 a.m. show. Lulu Belle and Scotty, Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers and the Virginia Hams (Otto, Jimmie James and Tilford) of WLS spreading the cheer at the "1949 Christmas Jamboree," the Phillips Petroleum Company's annual Christmas party for the youngsters in Bartelsville, Oklahoma, December 19, 20 and 21. WOR Stages Xmas Party For City's Hospitalized • Continued from Page 1) to mark the occasion started yesterday at 10 a.m. and reached a climax with a special broadcast from the auditorium of the Psychiatric Pavilion from 5 to 5:30 p.m. More than $30,000 was contributed during the fifth annual appeal by WOR. The fund, directed by Edythe J. Meserand, assistant director of news and special features at WOR, began five years ago to buy gifts for children at Bellevue and has grown to the point where it is now providing toys and clothing for youngsters in the wards of 19 Metropolitan hospitals, three in New Jersey and Grasslands in Westchester. Mayor William O'Dwyer, in a special recorded message, Dr. Marcus Kogel, commissioner of hospitals Acting Mayor Vincent Impelliteri and Theodore C. Streibert WOR president, were among those who took part in the broadcast. WANTED Combination man with car wanted by western network station. Disc required. Send pi ltd and make first letter complete Write Bo/ 295, RADIO DAILY, 1501 Broadway, N. Y. C. Man About Manhattan. . . • • • BIGTOWN SMALL TALK: Encouraged by sponsor and press reaction to his six WJZ hall-hours a week, ABC is prepping an additional network chore for Joe Franklin and his 25,000 nostalgic waxings. . . . CBS huddling with Celeste (sweet) Holm for a tv session of her own. ... If Milton Berle has his way, his show will emanate from the gold coast next fall. . . . Harold Stein, the frenzied lens-man, wires that he has to keep away from his gal every Friday. Sez she makes his mouth water. And Hank Sylvern claims that Herb Shriner is doing his bit for the cause by sticking strictly to dry humor. . . . Jeff Donnell. Grace Gilhern and Eloise McElhone set as the leads in "The Women," which Hal Keith will direct. (None of the male faces will appear on the screen). . . . Harold Huber's "I Cover Times Sq." will be shown on the Chrevolet program — first of a series based on the adventures of a hard-boiled Times Sq. columnist. Vic McLeod is producing. . . . Joe Field new publicity director at Compton's. . , . Robert Merrill, the handsome baritone star, being romanced by most of the tv stations since his click on guest shots around town. . . . Jimmy Blair has taken a temporary leave of absence from his vocal chores to explore television programming where he's production manager and assistant program director of WOIC in Washington, D. C. ft ft ft ft • • • A five-hour television Christmas Party will be featured on WABD Sunday, Christmas Day, for the purpose of raising a quarter of a million dollars for the Eastern Area Sister Kenny Institute. Morey Amsterdam will play Santa Claus for the show which will run from 6 to 11 p.m. ft ft ft ft • • • If you click in television these days in a 'hot' spot, you're made practically right away. Take Hank Ladd, lor instance. Hank stepped into Milton Berle's shoes last week and scored so well, he was immediately signed for a repeat shot. And that's not all. Since that nite, he's been snowed under an avalanche of offers including: (1): His own TV show — (2): The Hartmans want him to direct their coming musical tentatively called "In The Summer Theater" — (3): He's wanted by Ken England to star in the musical comedy, "He and She" — (4): He's being sought for a musical which Gordon Jenkins is readying — (5): A half-hour comedy radio show now being put in preparation would like him — and, finally, a major film outfit is huddling with him as this is going through the typewriter. Ladd credits all the action to his click on the Berle show. ft ft ft ft • • • WCOP's Mildred Bailey, who conducts a woman's program in the morning, is capitalizing on her piano fingering ability by MC'ing a socko disc jockey show in the afternoon, combining the spinning of 78's with the playing of the 88's. The combo has caught on in Boston as welcome departure from the usual femme gab-fest that the housewives expect at 2 p.m. ft ft ft ft • • • THEY SAID IT: Color television hasn't got the TV sponsors half as worried as off-color video. — Nick Kenny. . . . Frank Sinatra, who has a cigaret sponsor, got a bad throat and was just ordered to give up smoking. — Earl Wilson. ... In New York City, we now have a law allowing your landlord to raise the rent if he permits you to install a tv aerial. Hmmm. Teevee sure HAD a great future. — Walter Winchell. ft ft ft ft • • • MAIN STREET SEEN-ery: Bobby Clark chatting with an old-time trouper in front of the Palace — a scene that looks like an old snapshot. . . . Well-dressed Boris KarlofT, the boo brummel, sipping a demi-tasse at the Fireside Inn. sun fRAncisco By NOEL CORBETT MILT SAMUEL, Young & Rubicam publicity head in Hollywood, in town to give press previews of "The Halls of Ivy" and the Skippy Hollywood Theater Christmas program. Here 'N' There . . . Arthur Hull Hayes back from Sacramento where he acted as consultant to the Trade, Finance and Service section of the California Governor's Conference on Employment. . . . Lever Brothers has signed for a participation schedule on KCBS for Spry. Ruthrauff and Ryan is the agency. . . . Milt Tranchel of the Hollywood office of Steve Hannagan in town to beat the drum on Coca Cola and other radio accounts. . . . Ann Holden celebrating her 27th year in radio. . . . Del Courtney, erstwhile bandleader is KPIX's new disc jockey. Courtney also runs an electrical business. Bay Area radio and advertising people were shocked at the untimely passing of Arnold Maguire. Maguire started here in early radio as a comic, gag-man and producer. Lever's Pepsodent Div. Reveals Agency Changes (Continued from Page 1) to facilitate the servicing of accounts from New York. The Rayve shampoo account will be handled by J. Walter Thompson Company and Pepsodent Tooth Powder by Foote, Cone & Belding. J. Walter Thompson will continue to service the Rayve Home Permanent account. Tatham & Laird of Chicago have resigned the Jelke "Good Luck" products account, but no new agency has been named. The resignation was also because of the difficulty of handling the account from Chicago when all Lever Bros, operations are centered in New York. WEVO 117-119 W. 46 St HENRY GREENFIELD, Mg director M Y 19