Variety (June 1933)

40 VARIETY ■ AH to Tuesdart June.27, 1933 Radio Reports ARTHUR BRISBANE With Walter C. Kelly, Revelers Quartet, At Goodman News Comment, Comedy; Songs, Band COMMERCIAL WJJ;, New Vor|< ^Substitution pC Arthur risbane _fo C Will Rogers on th is Gulf Re fliiins Sunday evening "stanza ■ Isn't such a wide swing of the pendulum. Their stylies may be different but When It conies to rating columnar foUpwlngs pretty well derive from, the same niald. BrIsba;ne's .placement Is lor the remalhing five weeks of a 13-week contract for tihie signatured; with NBC. M; H. Aylesworth was per .sonally responsible for bringing —Brlsbane-iand-ltheL-Oil distrilx to- gether. Sunday, evening was Brls- bane's first 'broadcast under a com- mercial banner and the connection should assure the session of maxi- mum listening percentage. Brisbane's mike contributions on this occasion hewed closely to his writings in style and content. Out- side of maklng .mejtKtion of a couple of spot news events the column he read merely served to revolce the Hearst viewpoint on current mat- ters of national and international import. Brisbane prefaced his paiu- grajphs with an explanation ttUit he had been asked to . make his air appear:a:nces a review of the news of the week. His delivery is low- pitched, rambles along in monotone but withal registers succinctly. Reshuffling of the progrfim's cast -haffr-WaK«r^'--Keliy-_spottfii_Jgr comedy^ His two innings at the liiike last Sunday allowed him time for three stories. Impression he left was a considerable Improve- ment over, that when on the Chase -& Sanborn coffee-Show.—- QjteCi, 'LET'S LISTEN TO HARRIS' Phil Harris, Leah Ray COMMERCIAL WJZ, New York Maker of the Cutex products hasn't gone astray in picking ^hll Harris to inveigle fenfme attention. The fellow is anything t)ut an ar- resting artist and his per9onality ^udes—anythi ng but flne8se^_and charm, but there are certain "quail- ties both in his singing and talking that have the elements of appeal for the class of . g^l listeners that make potential consumers. In these quar- ters that froggy undertone of Har- ris' will be accepted as a token of romantic masculinity ahd that'oUy, corner drug-store skelkish way of tellin' 'em. something easily agso- ciable wltli. the home^tpwn flap ideal. With him in this stanza Harris hqg Inin r egUlM_j?"^ ''PP Iieah Ray, who chatters ana warblBB" pleasantly enough but showis noth- ing in the wa;y of distinction or promise. But together they seem pretty well matched. It's a smboth, insinuatingly melodious line of dan- sapation that the Harris band dishes out The arrangements have a quality of their own that can't help taking big and there's a key thumper In the comba that rates better than special mention.. Debut show <2.3) originated from Galveston where Harris and his unit are playing a two-week en<- jeagement. The pickup was a fault- less one. ' Balance of the broadcasts on this comtnerclal contact will comiQ from Chicago where the outfit is contracted to settle down for the summer at Ben Bernle's alma mater, the-€ollege-Inn,' Musically Cutez was GOLJD RUSH ^ -JIVith Horace Sihctair, Jack- Me- ^'Bride^ Richard Gordon, Joseph Grant . Dramatic Sketch Sustaining WJZ, New York Serle^ %Xikt N&C Is preBentinie un- der the 'Gold Rush' title on its blue network IViday evehlhgs smacks hiamy of th« old 10-20-30 melor dramasr: No att^inpt here Is made -a:<^-<teffe-4trtwilnff- of f.h ttracter and background. Each of thes6 yams has a bang-'em-up story to tdll of the wldeVbpen spaces, and, in keep- ing with this theme, the narrative is unwound with a volume of Oral rthunder that allows for no possible \8hbozing off in the easy chair. Each program Is a complete tale in itself, with the episodes purport- ' ed to have been taken from actual experlenceig, All have their gold rush backgrounds, with the latter spread all over the globe, ^hlle the two qualities of human, nature that the yarns bring into graphic play invariably are those of physical .sacrifice for a pal and the art of practicing the double-cross. For the male listener who likes his drama rough and . isalty the series lliias its elements of appeal Episode unreeled Friday (23) was laid in the Ontario gold fields, built ■ :up to a fairly exciting climax and expertly cast witli a varifety of four dlalects^Cockney, Scotch, Tank and French-Canadian. At least the dialects made it easy to distinguish one character from another, pirec- tlon for this sort of thing easily passed muster, but there was <much room for improvement left when it came to the musical cueing; Atmos- pheric bits were maladroitly select ed.- liong «xcerpts between scenes made, the thing too draggy. — - — OdeCi TOMMY MANAHAN'S MARINERS Band, Songs COMMERCIAL WMCA-WPCHp New York . Novel twist to this nightly iptanza I is the fact that its first broadcast I by short wave from a pleasure steamship sailing up and down the Hudson rlvfer and then picked up and -rebroadcast Over WMCA- WPCH's regular channel. Program caiight (23) came through the loud- speaker smoothly and with a ihinl mum of distortion as a result of the rebroadcast manipulations. . Short wave band used is WIEH., .jp.OrIgin of the programs Is the *S. S. American,' plying between . Exchange Place, N, J.; the Battery, New York, and the Playland amuse: mcnt park ih Rye, "N. Y., with the Tommy Manahan unit, the, ship's standby, furnishing the entertain ^jgient.^ It's melodious, easily dance able "musFcTw'hileTPsral-HlgglnsTdoes ian acceptable job with the vocal interludes. Copy describing the vessel, trips and the entertainment it offers is iniserted twice during the 15-mInute run. It merely states the facts and passes up any attempts to embel- lish the plug with raves about the moonlight, the silvery waters, ro mance, etc. . Manahan's style of daniee rhythm should suffice to at tract the younger element. ^ Odec the Initial affair for neatly balanced and welded together. Harris and Miss Ray did: a couple of duets, with one of them a scene from tha RKO musical,, "Melody. Cruise,* in-which ■larrls Is featured. Three lads in 1 he band, billed as the Ambassadors, also had a warbling inning-ahd car^. ried it off acceptably. There's no pulling of punches, about the copy nsed in this session. For the first six of this Harris ether affair Cutex plans using it tp plug^ its Odprono brand of deodorant, and ^hen It comes to laying down the reasons why the gala should' use the stuff the finger is pointed not only with Overemphasis but With a ven geance. T he gals are told that. even if they personally "are~notrsu8=~ ceptible to It they shouldn't be so 'downright Inconsiderate as to make': It uncpmfortable for others.' On the second insertion of the plug In this debut whirl the fore- going, point was not only repeated }ut dramatized with an appended moral retailing how,the gflrl suffered the loss of her boy friend's aifectlon n addition'to ruining her dress; It's what they call In advertising * the shame method of approach, and it's a shame that the girls have to sub- ject their sensibilities to this ruf- fling in return for these few ttilnutes of the Harris style of entertainment, Odec. Anzac Ikatre lllonopoly Takes Comm. Radio ' Associated' Broadcastlnflr -Co., - in. Australia, subsidiary of General Theatres, has bought outright the five station network controlled by Paling's, music publishers. Now it has commercial broadceusting in Australia, tied up. (Senerai Theatres also controls all picture houses in the country. ,It is going In for production and; dls- trlbutloiiL of films pretty het^vily, makln^p it to alLJnte riis and pu r- poses an amusement monopoly. '~ Five stations to be operated by A.B.C. on a commercial basis are distinct from the governmental sta- tions, which cannbt. carry publicity or advertising. Main outlet Is 2UW In Sydney. One of-the chief di- rectors of the outfit is Albert, Syd- ney music publisher. Negotiations for the deal have been pending for some time, and were completed Tuesday (20). Stuart Doyle, managlncf director of Gtenerat' ThOatretf, signlns for As- sociated Broadcasting. National BAutdcastlng Corp., In New Tork; was Inunedlately notified of the move, with letters forwarded to New Tork to the effect the Aus tralians will be glad to play ball in any war they oain on international hook-ups or otherwise. CHEWY HAS BENNY, BUT €H (HnEF OVER FU1URE Although no. return .date to the ialr haa been set, Chevrolet has placed Ja^ Benny under contract for the fUl. Agreement given the comic just prior to Chevrolet's last madcast tor the summer Friday 2S> guarantees him a minimum of l»-^weeks with optUms-for similar lierlods. Ctoneral Motors as yet has made no plans for Its other subslds and doesn't expect to do cmy thing in-^he way of radio for them until the fall, when advertising appropriations are usually figured out. Stoopnagle and Bud closed their iserles for Pontlae on CBS Wednes- day (21), but OM has made no com- mitment about using them again in the fait MADISON SQ. CtARDEN Gl Songs COMMERCIAL WMCA-WPCH, New York Free talent for- this.Friday eve nihg spot being promoted by the sports aren& through a warbling contest. On each broadcast two girls with mike aspirations are given a chanpe and are voted upon by listeners. There will be a tlnal runoff and the winner dubbed with the program title. ' Program caught (23) had 'Miss No. 17' and 'Miss No. 18' on for their .innings. Neither contestant raled^bettet thanj^ari gave' way :to coloratura. fHgfits; bungled, the - high hotes and made it' easier for her rival.. Difficult to imagine any appreciable number of listeners taking ;the time and ex pense to mail in thelr vote On this pair. C>ccaslon had Jack. Flllman. sports annouhceif, doing the' plug stint His iS'a whirlwind style of delivery and he took less than three of the 15 minutes to tell aibout thfr forth- cbnilnis Sharkey- Camera battle and how to get there.,^ Odec. THE HARMONIANS Vocal and.instrumental Sustaining , WGY, Schenectady A hot trio consistingr of Helen Bernard, Marty Dfakei. and Shirley Jay, with Bill Armant accompaning on the guitar. A 15-^minute progrram ^three mornings a week over NBC's red network. Miss Bernard not- only sings but also arranges and plays l)ian»r"A=M'is3-Gershwln -was-=men tioned as pianist on earlier broad casts. • Nlne'^.m. rather early for 'a. high note, a low note and a blue note.'^ Howevier, singing of the Harmonians should pep up housewives on early rounds of the day. Trio get plenty torrid in their Interpretation of pops, For those who remain cool to hot vocalizing, the ballading of Marty Drake will be welcome^ It's well done, Drake having a high tenor, warm in tone. Miss Bernard is an NBC Coast Changes San Francisco, June 26. iBxee nhanges In NBCTs Coast headquarters have liloydi Toder, press chief; also In charge of special broadcastm while Jennings Pierce moves ..from head announcer to di rector of agricultural. actlTitleii in the Pacific division. With Pierce moving out of an- nouncing William Andrews becomes supervisor of spielers. Toder wUi oversee, football and other special broadoasts. Changes take effect July L Renewals Carnation Co. extends for an- other IS weeks its Monday nifrht stanzas oh NBC with re- newal limited to 12 Stations. Previous hookup embraced 26 stations. Effective July 3. Barbara Gould, Inc., renewed for its Thursddy a. m. spot on CBS. Another 13 weeks as of June 22 on 13 stiaitions in the -baslc-UnkT- -. ^— Richfield Oil Corp. Continues Monday evening shows with Orantland Rice, Mary McCoy and Hetty Barthelt on CBS for another 13 weeks, Effective July 3. Diarnohd Salt. Bxtendis for 13 weeks from. July 6 its 'Capit. Diamond -Light' sketches on NBC. Posi Toasties. Prolongs its Paul wing the Story Man serial on NBC for anotlier 13 weeks, as of June 26.. Antkapate Some Freworks with Mexico Meeting Washington, June 26. Altho {He~"pirface'~^eenpr^ T)r6tty~~ bfoontj FRC Ai^ Fill Toor Coast to Qnery Air Sqiiawks IjOS Angeles, June 26. Harold A. Ii.afount....commissioner of the fifth radio district, which comprises the Rocky Moantain and Pacific Coast states, will visit all sta- tions In this territory between July 6 and August 5, to InVflgtlBU te com- -|^«lsts-between-the U. S. a nd CS i n- plaints from broadcasters that have been Aled by the FRC during the last few monthst It win be tAfount's first trip to. thia zone in two years. Starting his itinerary at Salt Lake City, July 6, the commissioner will be here July 23-to 26. Chief local beef' for reviewing will be com- plaints that were laid before the Bet- ter.. Business Huteau of one lung stations that are alleged to be prbin-' islng coverage to advertisers beyond the power of their transmitters.. CBS BUREAU FEELS FIRST REAL NIBBLES Commercial end of the CBS Ar- tists Bureau experienced its first real sPurt of business activity last week since early last winter. Al- though there were only a couple of minor contracts actually dosed network's bookers derived encour- agement from the number of re- cLuests made by advertisers for air talent ^quotations .on the basis .of fall starting dates. Most of the accounts making the approach indicated that they were Interested In the variety type of show. Important contributor to the hot-end of i^rogram. Armant's gultaring counts, too, and Miss Jay also^ steams up. Good act of its kind, but better suited to a p.m; period. Jaco. 'LAUOH DOCTOR' With Gen* Lockhart Comedy, Songs, Miisie COMMERCIAL WOR, Newark This is the first Instaince of a manufacturer, of radio program re- cordings taking Unie on a local sta- tion to exploit its own product. Be-, hind 'this , series on the Bamberger outlet is the World Broadcasting System with listeneris urged, before and following the record's runoff, to note the tonal quality and bal- ance and. to write In their reactions to these technical features. Technically tKe 'liaagh—Doctor' series is a crack Job of recording. It's totally void of-any blurring, .8iu^ac©^..npJjes jo^c other/ handlcapa that the^radio end of the st^hclUIrig business has generally had to over-, come, But as a comedy and musi- cal .program it' merits no special acclaim. Gene Lockhart is doing did vaude laughing gag while toss- ing off Joe. Miller's. In between Jack Sexton puts a .dance combo through some tuneful arrangements and ain unbilled girl with fetching pipes fills in the vocal refrains. It's pretty mechanlcalized, uninspired stuff, Odec. Tom Neelf Replaced NBC's latest shift in its program department has Toni Neely out and Joseph Hill .coming in from the Lord &t Thomas agency to replace him. Nealey had been on the depart- ment's musical production staff since 1928. Peabody May Renew Hollywood, June 26. Safeway Stores Is talking renewal with Eddie I*eabody. Latter has six more broadcasts to go oii his Coast NiBC contract. If new deal ei>6a through, effective Aug. 16, one-half of the broadcasts will go out from here and half from the. San Francisco, studio. Plan to divide the . pi-ograms i between the two towns is to cash Iii on a local Safeway campaign to procure studio audiences in Los Angeles, as well as 'Frlisco. Omaha, June 26. Opening today (Monday) KICK jniarks^a jysw^ outlet .for the Omaha area. StatTpn is queezed down to 100 watts but considered sufficient to reach city and' sur- rounding trade area. Time Is un- limited, and owners expect to be on the air 16 to 18 hours dally. Owner Elrod sold a thh-d interest to Omaha 'Journal,' local weekly sheet. This paper handles all pub- licity for station as city's two dallies are practically ignoring the station. quiet, plenty of undercurrents are stirring the U. S. delegation to the North.. American Radio ence July 10. In general the bat- tlefield hiets already shifted from Washington to Mexico City. With the three delegates, Sykes., Davis and Bland,' nlaklng no state- ments on their stand on the all Im- portant ' question of widening, the broadcast—band,'- it—is-^understood ^ that James S. Baldwin, who will, represent the National Association Of Broadcasters at the parley, and others' are planning to go in tor- lobbylhg at the meet. If efforts are successful to give each nation, regardless of size or Importance, an equal vote In the parley. It may be possible to swing:' a policy by lining up small South and Central American nations even though they have no present' practical interest In radio service. Other angle is that the Mexican invitation stated that the meeting was not called to evolve a formal treaty^ but merely to create ah un- - derstanding similar to th|tt which. ada. In such case agreement would not have to be ratified by Congress and more or less puts the weight of final decision on the delegates at. Mexico City. Trade is still worried over what will happen even .though it is sue* cessful- In -overcoming marine and., government opposition to widening the broadcast band so as to allow more frequencies for other nations without deleting U. S. outlets. If is fairly certain, even, though ad- ditional waye-lengths .are created* that Mexico will ask for channels midway In the band which will di- rectly confilct wlth'those now used by the U. S. and Canada. SEE PRESS BATTLE IN WIBA'S APPLICATION Washington, Jiine 26. A battle between radio-minded newspapers is seen In the applica- tion of WIBA, Madison, Wis.,, to move to Burke, Wis. changing from 1280 Icllocycles to 720, kc. and Jump- ing from 600 watts to 1,000. Station seeks facllltles-of WON, Chicago, WHA, Madison, and WLBL, Stevens Point, Wis. WIBA is controlled by LaFolletto papers. Philip LaFoUette Is coun- sel for appUoftnt WON is the Chi- cago - .•Tribune* .outlet. Arguments will hinge li^gely on quota system since Wisconsin is under and Illinois is over. BBB Starts Air Figbt On Mrarepresentation —^ — :Los^ngeles, June 26. -: . Better Business Bureau, in its. campaign against false advertising and., misleading trade practices, went on the air today (Monday) for Its Inaugural program of 15 minutes on each of the two NBC outlets here, tCGCA and KFI. BBB will be on every day except Sundays, with the Initial w^^'^ layout Including talks on 'Sharp Practices of Certain Grocers,* 'Benefits to. the Consumer' Through Elimination of Unfair "Practices In the Bread Industry,' 'Tipster Sheets and How They Operate/ 'Tricks o£ the Wlldcast Bus Operator,'. Typi- cal Bureau Investigation of Grocery Advertising' and 'How to Read Food Labels.' KECA .isialso etherlng spot warn- ings during the course of each dttyr -pEIiETIEE PATGHED-UE--^ Chicago, June 26. Vincent Itilletier, former NBC an- nouncer wrto suffered a skull-frac- ture in an autontioblle accident, is out of the hospital, He Is working on the Ted Weems broadcasts from Lincoln Tavern and aliso has a commercial announcing job with Household Melodies. Both use NBC wires.