Radio varieties (Sept 1940-June 1941)

for fourth. Lomax, a WOR sportscaster, was the only non-network star to take a place in the poll. Following Robinson as the Most Effective Film Player on the Air were Don Ameche, Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby, in that order. Bette Davis and Miss Hayes tied for fifth place. The popularity among editors and the people who buy the sponsors' goods has changed little with respect to announcers. Wilson, who has won this poll since 1936, was followed in the top ranking by Harry von Zell, Milton Cross, Ken Carpenter and Bob Trout. Another repeated favorite is the "Lux Radio Theatre" which was followed in the Best Dramatic Show classification by the new "Helen Hayes Theatre," Arch Oboler's "Everyman's Theater," "First Nighter" and "Columbia Workshop." Criticize Daytime Serials Following "One Man's Family" as Best Dramatic Series were "Big Town" and the "Aldrich Family," in that order. "Cavalcade of America," "Second Husband" and "Those We Love" were tied for fourth place. In second place among quiz programs was "Dr. I. Q." followed by "Take It or Leave It" and "College of Musical Knowledge." "Prof. Quiz" and the "Quiz Kids" were tied for fifth place. Editors who frequently criticize the daytime program material, marked their ballots with a number of asides concerning the daytime serials. "Big Sister," "The Story of Mary Marlin" and "The Goldbergs" were in a triple tie for second place behind "Vic and Sade." Also in a triple tie, but for fifth place, were "Bachelor's Children," "Life Can Be Beautiful" and "The O'Neill's." "University of Chicago Roundtable" was voted second in the Best Educational Program series. Apparently of the opinion that education can be absorded in a number of ways, the editors gave "Information, Please" third place, while "American Town Meeting of the Air" were tied for fourth. Following Miss Wicker's "The Singing Lady" as Best Children's Program were "Coast-to-Coast on a Bus" (Milton Cross), "Let's Pretend" (Nila Mack), and "Quiz RADIO VARIETIES — JANUARY Kids," all in a triple tie for second place, and "Tom Mix's Straight Shooters" in fifth place. Popular dance bands rated in this order behind Guy Lombctrdo: Wayne King and Fred Waring, tied for second, Kay Kyser, third, and Tommy Dorse y and Glenn Miller, tied for fourth. Miller, who topped the swing bands, was followed by Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Jimmie Lunceford. Richard Himber just missed the first five. Triple Musical Show Tie The Fred Waring show, "Kraft Music Hall" and 'Your Hit Parade' were in a triple tie for second place behind "College of Musical Knowledge" as the Best Musical Show (Popular). "Musical Americana" came fifth. The NBC Symphony Orchestra was rated second among the classical radio orchestras. Frank Black's "Cities Service" orchestra was fourth while Andre Kostelanetz's orchestra, Raymond Paige's "Musical Americana" orchestra and Alfred Wallenstein's "Voice of Firestone" orchestra were tied for fifth place. The "Ford Sunday Evening Hour," which was selectea as the Best Musical Show (Classical), was followed by the N. Y. Philharmonic-Symphony Sunday afternoon broadcasts in second place, the NBC Symphony ana "Voice of Firestone," tied for third, and "Cities Service," the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts and the "Telephone Hour," tied for fifth. War coverage, politicial conventions and election returns were almost exclusively the items cited by the editors voting on special events. Although the ballots requested designation by network, the second greatest group of votes was for convention and election coverage with "all networks" noted on the ballots. The CBS "European Roundup" was in first place. Among others items cited as outstanding were the NBC spot description of the scuttling of the Graf Spee, general NBC war coverage, and NBC broadcasts of refugee children speaking to their parents in England. Outside of the war and politics, the only other event to get special citation was the NBC coverage of the draft drawings. KOSTELANETZ PREDICTS _^NDRE KOSTELANETZ, famous musical conductor of stage and radio, predicts a greater concentration than ever upon LatinAmerican music this season. It will be the natural result, he says, of the close relations between the United States and the republics to the South, growing cut of the hemisphere defense policy. The movement toward great cultural interdependence between the two continents has already begun, he points out, with the decision cf the leading motion picture studios on the West Coast to broadcast programs by their stars to Latin America. Music figures prominently in these plans — all styles and classes cf American melody from the folKsongs ol the mountains and the plains and the old South to the latest Tin Pan Alley his. These programs will supplement the regular short-wave programs of music-and-story which go out regularly from New York, In return, says Kostelanetz, we can expect a steady cargo of Latin-American music — tangos, rhumbas, fandangos, serenades; "all the music, in fact, that is identified with the peoples south of the Rio Grande." "The more infectious of these tunes wlil find their way, you may be sure, into the catalogues and music racks of our dance and concert orchestras. I look for the Latin American vogue to be greater than ever this winter." The people of the United States, he declares, have long been enthusiastic about the music south of the border. "Its zip and rhythm have influenced our musical fashions deeply for many years. Indeed, for the last few seasons it would seem we can't get enough of Latin American music, just as I understand Latin America cannot get enough of our jazz, our cowboy songs and Negro 'spirituals.' " Kostelanetz is convinced that this musical exchange is proving one of the most important factors — if it is not the most important — in cementing good will between the two continents. "We've become good neighbors because we have a common meeting-ground in music. Page 7