Radio mirror (Nov 1936-Apr 1937)

RADIO MIRROR THE CRITIC ON THE HEARTH Brief Reviews of the New Programs by Weldon Melick THE WORM TURNS. Whenever a critic gets a chance to do what he has been telling others how to do, he is never quite so critical again, for some reason or other. Before you read this, your critic will be writing the comedy skits for Pinky-Dinky Mitchell and his pals on The American Pageant of Youth. It's all about how to make a million dollars. (Are you interested?) You will be the Critic on the Hearth from now on — let me know what you think of the show. NBC Sun., 12:00 P. M., 30 min. ED WYNN. This seems to be a month for renovated comedy technique, and a general S. O. S. to the public for program ideas. The show mentioned above isn't the only one to order a new set of blueprints for its humor. Ed Wynn, Jack Pearl and Walter O'Keefe are also displaying laughs in new and improved 1937 screamline models. Wynn has Graham McNamee again and Don Vorhees' orchestra, as well as a guest star each week who does some specialty he is renowned for, supported by Wynn. Teaming a serious celebrity with a comic stooge such as Wynn has riotous possibilities. And just so Ed won't run out of ideas for subjects to wisecrack about, tempting prizes are offered for suggestions. NBC Blue, Sat., 8:00 P. M., 30 min. JACK PEARL has a characterization that is only "new and different" from the last thing he did on the air. In other words, he's the same old Baron Munchausen he was at the top of his fame, with his whoppers, Cliff Hall and his mush-mouthed "Vas you dere Sharlie?" This familiar set-up is augmented by sev eral new stooges and tenor Morton Bowe. Tommy Dorsey swings the baton. It looks like a bona fide comeback for Pearl. NBC Red, Mon., 9:30 P. M., 30 min. LISTEN TO THIS. Jack Pearl is going to have plenty of competition in the way of tall stories from the classics of the Burlington Liars' Club dramatized here. With the smoothly matched voict of Johnny and Dotty, Lew Diamond's Orchestra and a new "Deserver" each week (professionals unknown to the networks), this is a happy, snappy half hour. MBS Tues., 8:30 P. M., 30 min. JOE RINES. A nutty show but not a side-splitter. Called Dress Rehearsal, it's supposed to give you a picture of radio behind the scenes, if you call a cartoon a picture. Highlight is Rines interviewing the Countess Kleptomania, who has a fetching Southern accent with a dash of Northern, Western and Eastern Asia and Europe. Rines leads the orchestra, acts as master of ceremonies, and cuts up. In fact it's nearly a one-man show except for the other people, including Morton Bowe, Mabel Albertson and Pinky Lee. NBC Blue, Sun., 1 1 :30 A. M„ 30 min. 1847 MUSICAL CAMERA A wellproduced hodge-podge which doesn't go anywhere except everywhere and leaves you wondering what it's all about, since it definitely isn't about 1847. Willie Morris, the "1847 Girl" with the whatta voice, and Josef Cherniavsky's plentygood orchestra, keep the time from dragging and the pubic gets prizes for suggested themes. NBC Red, Sun., 4:30 P. ML, 30 min. HOMEMAKER'S EXCHANGE. More prizes for suggestions — have all the program producers thunk their brain cells dry? This time the call is for hints on time and temper saving schemes for housewives. Judging from the items offered, Mrs. John Q. Public isn't so bad at writing radio programs. Eleanor Howe takes charge. CBS Tues., Thurs., 11:45 A. M., 15 min. STYLE SHOW. Gowns are really modeled before the microphone and Charles LeMaire does a neat job of describing them, but not neat enough to compensate for the lack of television. It's fine for the studio audience, but on the other end of the radio set, milady will feel left out on the back porch. Even from there, though, she can hear Eddie Duchin's music, and there are guest designers to relay the latest fashion dope hot off the cables from Paris. Altogether, a better program of its type than has been produced before. NBC Red, Thurs., 4:00 P. M., 30 min. PERSONAL COLUMN OF THE AIR —Already popular on discs, the idea of finding missing relatives and performing other such parlor tricks with radio's magic should prove a smash hit with full network facilities at its disposal — unless it gets monotonous to those who aren't missing. Octavus Roy Cohen stole this march on the Voice of Experience. NBC Blue, Mon.-Fri. 11:15 A. M., 15 min. Red, Mon.-Fri. 2:45 P. M., 15 min. My lest of a powder . Must must not r show up in strong hght • to the bright midday sun-what's Coming out into the w ^g the worst way a V"^^] the answer a By showing too mucn. , &*» r%£££& *for not giving that p r ernharrass y & -Glare-proof „Cf°"of " Blended to catch Pond's colors are gUrc-P ' ^ give your only the softer ~T» * ^ gU« **»** ™' gradients gxve Pond ^^ 5 "Glare-Proof Shades (This offer expires April 1. 1937) POND'S, Dept.8RM.PB, Clinton, Conn. Please rush, free. 5 different shades of Pond's "Glare-Proof" Powder, enough of each for a thorough 5-day test.