Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1951)

'Heard? Every Rosie, Jane and Mable enjoys a march around the breakfast JOAN LANSING table when DON McNEILL, the happy housewife's delight, issues the famous call to ABC's BREAKFAST CLUB every Monday through Friday at 9 to 10 AM (EST). Listeners from coast-to-coast have told me about the wonderful feeling they get when this happy-go-lucky lad sets them to starting the day with plenty of bounce. There's never a dull moment with DON! The whole BREAKFAST CLUB gang sort of "gang up" to bring brightness into each day, too. Would you like to know a little about the personal life of the gay group that "comes to breakfast"? Well, let's begin with the "top man" DONALD THOMAS McNEILL, the country's favorite breakfast-boss. Did you know that DON is one of radio's pioneers? Yes, ma'am, no less an individual than Fred Allen has said that DON brought a new era into being when he created the first BREAKFAST CLUB programs over 17 years ago. If you've watched DON on the weekly DON McNEILL TV CLUB (check your local newspaper for day, time and station) you know that he's 6' 2" tall, weighs about 200 pounds and is one of the handsomest he-men ever to face a camera (or a "mike") ! As for the BREAKFAST CLUB gang, fast-and-funny SAM COWLING has just presented his 10,000th item from the Fiction-and-Factfrom-Sam's-Almanac feature that highlights each show. (You may remember one of SAM's own favorites: "Living with your mother-inlaw is like taking a bath. After a while is isn't so hot.") Sam said it. We didn't! Pert PATSY LEE has received more than 5,000 marriage proposals since she's been on the show . . . ohJOHNNY DESMOND, who croons a tune and makes you swoon, received this year's "Sorority Sweetheart" award . . . "Aunt Fanny" FRAN ALLISON started her career as a school-teacher . . . and young 'un, BERNIE CHRISTIANSON, recently turned 12, has been named the "singing star of tomorrow." Catch up on THE BREAKFAST CLUB, marvelous DON McNEILL and the whole gang 9 AM (EST) every Monday through Friday on your local ABC station. Sponsored by Swift, Philco and General Mills. Tuning Tip : no matter how low you feel, you'll perk right up with DON McNEILL. cfooo Lansing AUNT JENNY. Heard M-F, 12:15 P.M. EST, CBS In one of Aunt Jenny's recent dramatizations, she took a sidelong look at Louis Kemp, successful in business and as head of his family despite his comparative youth. He had married Helen Barrett and prepared to run his new home as he had his old one, with the absolute conviction that he could do no wrong and that all management and decision should be left to him. When, as a result, Helen's baby is prematurely born and almost dies, Louis makes a readjustment to life — just in time to save his marriage. BACKSTAGE WIFE Advertisement Heard M-F, 4 P.M. EST, NBC Larry Noble, jailed for the murder of Oliver Wilson, has rid himself of the crooked lawyer provided by Rupert Barlow and hired Herbert Savage, who believes he may get Larry acquitted. Barlow, however, has not given up hope of breaking up the Nobles' marriage, and is delighted when newspapers print a picture of him at a night club with Mary, knowing that Larry has forbidden her to have anything more to do with him. Will Barlow's plan succeed in spite of Mary's love for and belief in Larry? BIG SISTER Heard M-F, 1 P.M. EST, CBS Ruth Wayne finds new hope that she will win her dangerous battle with millionaire Millard Parker when psychiatrist Dr. Blanding comes to town. Even if Dr. Blanding does not become Parker's analyst, Ruth feels that this eminent man has some information about Parker's past that will help to discredit him as thoroughly as she knows he deserves to be discredited. But in this difficult situation, will Ruth emerge triumphant in time to save her marriage from ruin at Parker's hands? BRIGHTER DAY. Heard M-F, 2:45 P.M. EST, CBS Perturbed over Liz's unhappiness after her break with producer Nathan Eldridge, Reverend Dennis considers moving from Three Rivers. Grayling, Patsy and Babby welcome the idea, but the return of Althea from Hollywood adds a complication. Though Althea still plans to divorce Bruce Bigby. both the divorce and her screen career.will have to wait, for she is going to have a baby. And housekeeper Frances Kennedy has some ideas of her own about this unhappy situation. FRONT PAGE FARRELL. Heard M-F, 5:45 P.M. EST, NBC David Farrell, star reporter on the New York Daily Eagle, becomes involved in a mystery with old-world overtones when his paper sends him out to get "The Haunted Castle Murder Mystery." Weird and ancient, the castle has been brought over from Europe stone by stone and erected near New York as a showplace, but when tragedy strikes it begins to look as if ghostly legends of murder came with the stones. Who — or what — is the "haunt" that makes the castle a place of terrible danger? GUIDING LIGHT Heard M-F, 1:45 P.M. EST, CBS As Meta Bauer White stands trial for the murder of her husband, Ted White, everyone who knows her tragic story wonders what verdict the jury will report. Reporter Joe Roberts, finding himself unexpectedly concerned in the fate of the woman who only a short time ago was a stranger to him, waits uneasily as the trial progresses. So does Meta's friend Charlotte, wife of her attorney Ray Brandon. And the marriage of Meta's brother Bill begins to disintegrate as an indirect result of Meta's trouble. HILLTOP HOUSE Heard M-F, 3:00 P.M. EST, CBS Teen-age Pixie, one of the parentless children of Hilltop House, is involved in an auto accident in which young Mildred Barnes, a schoolmate, is killed. Julie Paterno, Hilltop's superintendent, watches anxiously as Pixie struggles back to health and normalcy, wondering how she can help the youngster to get back on an even keel. But gradually, out of tragedy, some happiness emerges as Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, parents of the dead girl, become interested in adopting Pixie. JUST PLAIN BILL Heard M-F, 5 :30 P.M. EST, NBC Many years ago, a Hartville girl named Barbara Woods left her widowed father to marry a wealthy man much older than herself. Now, Barbara has come to ask Bill Davidson's advice in a perplexing problem which has grown up out of the way of life she chose for herself. In Barbara's situation Bill sees a parallel for the problem faced by his own daughter Nancy when she fled from the influence of a rich aunt to live a simpler life with Bill. How will he advise Barbara? DAYTIME DIARY— RADIO TELEVISION MIRROR