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

July-August have no trouble retaining the popularity he gained while he was on this program, with Eddie Cantor. Lee Sims, pianist, and Ilomay Bailey, vocal soloist, are also capable entertainers. Therefore, the two things the program has lost by the departure of Mr. Cantor are a definite idea, and a consistent humorous pace. The Plug — Pretty reasonable, considering the amount of money the sponsors are spending to give you this hour show. Opinion — Uncertainty in the humor and lack of showmanship in the guest-star feature are handicaps to the fine musical entertainment. • • • POND'S VANITY FAIR (NBC-WEAF, Friday at 9:30 PMEST) Cast — Pond's Players (orchestra) under Victor Young, Ilka Chase, Hugh O'Connell, Lee Wiley, and Paul Small Comment — The title of this program is the tip-off that the sponsors want the show to have a class atmosphere. In an effort to provide this air of good manners and tasteful elegance, Mr. Young uses a musical combination in which the strings predominate, with the brass keeping" modestly in the background. The effect is a sort of virile chamber music, with a jazz threat — the kind of orchestra you might hear if a Harlem society matron was entertaining the Liberian ambassador. The first few programs 13 JACQUES FRAY and MARIO BRAGGIOTTI their repertoire covers everything from lah-de-dah to hi-de-ho ILOMAY BAILEY she and Lee Sims survived shakeups in their show probably left the average radio ear a bit confused. This was particularly true in the song accompaniments, when Vic soft-pedalled the band until it almost sounded as if they were walking out. As criticism, this cannot be seriously considered, however, as Mr. Young is too smart a conductor to let details stand uncorrected. Nor is it quite fair for me to judge the vocalists, Paul Small and Lee Wiley. They are both pleasant performers and seem to satisfy the customers, but neither is a favorite of the writer. And if Miss Wiley (or anybody else on the air) is going to sing "Stormy Weather," she should hear Ethel Waters at the Cotton Club. (And, Lee, don't leave out the line, "Just can't pull my poor self together." You might also try singing two notes on the word "time" instead of one.) The Plug — Another of those little dramas of "real life," intended to mix a bit of fun and innocent amusement with the advertising. Reversing the usual radio routine of the smart husband and the dumb wife, in this set-up Ilka Chase is the smart wife, and Hugh O'Connell is the dumb mate. At home, the theatre, or anywhere at all, the talk between them drifts to Pond's Cold Cream and the "outer and under skin." Hugh, being a naive creature, has to have the details explained, and Ilka gives him the lowdown on how she preserves her physical allure after years of the wear and tear of married life. If this were the only plug, it would be fine, but the announcer also has plenty to say, which runs the advertising into the usual error of overstatement. Opinion — Good musical show. And the commercial angle introduces, in Miss Chase, a personality who deserves serious consideration as an air comedienne. With proper material she should be as successful on the air as she has been on the stag^e. COUNTESS OLGA ALBANI Comment — One of the few sopranos on the air who doesn't make me grit my teeth when she clamps down on a top note. Apparently the radio technicians find it almost impossible to transmit the ordinary trained soprano voice without getting noises like the scratching of a pin on a (Continued on page 43) USE FAN-FARES PROGRAM FINDER You will find it the most complete listing of artists, programs, and stations in any magazine or newspaper.