Radio fan-fare, combining radio digest (June-Oct 1933)

AM22W33 V l-lfo?*'* 1^1 SLIPPING and GRIPPING j. WE HATE TO SAY IT— Ed Wynn, Texaco's Fire Chief on National stations, is on the slide — an opinion that is handed down with keen regret. No one has enjoyed Ed on stage and radio more than we have, and occasionally he still seems to have some of the old sparkle. But most of his jokes are getting older and older, and it is obvious that he and Graham McNamee are having to work harder than ever for the laughs. In fact, far too often during the last few programs we heard, Ed and Graham did all the laughing at some of the gags, the studio audience apparently being stone cold. Many listeners seem to enjoy it, but we have never cared for Ed kidding the advertising, nor for Graham doing the quick switch from feeder to commercial announcer. Ed's automotive jokes always seem dragged in by the ears, and rarely funny. The whole program would be better if Ed's part of it were shorter and not so mixed up with the other parts. The pattern of the show should be varied, although admittedly this is difficult to do on a half hour program. Any change would, to be sure, require a better orchestra. Don Voorhees is now waving the wand over a brass band which would pall a bit in large doses. (Perhaps there isn't much left in the sponsor's budget after the star is paid.) We understand Ed plans to stay on the air right through the summer, which takes courage. Our guess is that now is nearly the right time for him to take the holiday from radio that he has certainly earned many times over. But we should want the good old Fire Chief back after his vacation, by all means . . . with fresher material, better music, and a new program routine. His program has had a truly phenomenal run, but it should not continue so long at a stretch that the public will not thrill to the announcement of any new programs by Mr. Wynn. t d GRAND BAND WORK— The first few Old Gold programs over Columbia, with "Waring's Pennsylvanians" and John Medbury, got off to a bad start. The trouble seemed to be that Mr. Medbury was not the right kind of funny-man for radio. His material, which he wrote, was a little too subtle. It needed one of the definitely accepted humorous types to put it over. Now the program has not one, but two of these types, both tolerably amusing. One is a Negro mammy, Mandy Lou; the other is George Givot, well-known dialectician of Broadway shows, .. known as "The Greek Ambassador Of Good Will." Mr. Medbury still writes the gags and his humor sounds newer than most of the stuff on the air. The points of many of the jokes are apparent before they are sprung, but even if you won't get any belly laughs out of the Old Gold program, you are fairly sure to chuckle frequently, unless you're a nonchuckler. The sponsors may be deliberately avoiding hilarity, for they keep telling you how smooth their show and their product is. Fred Waring, whose "Pennsylvanians" are our favorite stage band, does a grand job with the music. He not only keeps it as smooth as an O — G — , but he also works in some comedy stuff that is even funnier than most c-g-r-t-e advertising. Some of Mr. Waring's vocal arrangements are a bit confusing for radio work, especially when he uses counter melodies. On the stage, the trickier his arrangements the more interesting they are, because your eyes follow the changes with ease. On second thought, however, with the howling need for something "different" in radio, perhaps Mr. Waring should be allowed to be as novel as he pleases. At any rate, his part of the show is excellent and the whole program is now definitely on the upgrade. H Radio Fan-Fare, combining Eadio Digest. Volume XXX, No. 3. June 1933. Subscription rates yearly, Sl.oO in D. S. A.; Foreign. $3.00; Canada. 5.2.25 : Single copies. 15c. Entered as seabnd-class matter October 19. 1932. at the post office 'at Mt. Morris, Illinois, under the art of March 3, ls>79. 'Copyrighted, 1932. by Radio Digest Publishing Corporation, /ill rights reserved. Radio Fan-Fare, combining Radio Digest, is published monthly by Radio Digest Publishing Corporation. Publication Office: 404 North Wesley Avenue. Mount Morris. 111. Editorial and Advertising office: 420 Lexington Avenue. New York City. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or art received by mail.