Variety (Dec 1933)

VAnitTY RAD E 1^ O R T S Ti^edda^, Pecelmber 12, 1933 CAMEL CARAVAN «tfith Glen Gray Casi Orehestrar ' Irene Taylor, Kenny Sargeartt, John 8, Martin Revue* 30 Mine COMMERCIAL WABC, New York A couple of weeks after Chester NORMAN HAPGOOD Lon^a I Employment Talks 15 Min WQY, Schenectady Norman Hajpsood, former maga- zine editor and Wllsonlan diplomat and his brother, William P. Hap- good, president of the Columbia Conserve Company of Indianapolis, field gave Leopold StokowsTd. and alternate ori this series of 15-minUte thie Philadelphia Symphony a re- talks, heard once weekly at the putfed $114,000 for 13 weeks of phil- slipper hour. Program is designied harmonic music, IB minutes nightly, to explain the employe-ownership Camels comeis^ through with their plan under which the concern oper- Caaa Loma. program, a halfrhour ates and to advertise; its products, once weekly shoiv; While comparl-] Norman Hapgood deals with, the sons are invidious the ordinary subject against the backjrrouhd of guesis would be that Gasa Lom?i is a the New Deal in Washington. His ihore ieffectlVe way to relich cigar- talks are a mixture of news ette-buyers Ih the bulk than Sym- analysis, philosophy, economics, and phonic. However, there may be dif- sermonizing on social Justice. Wil- ferent objectives In view as between, f. Hapgood discusses partlcu- the two programs; lap features of the company's Casa Loma has been attracting unique plan of operation (in effect much attention around Manhattan, since 1917), and also preaches what with the culmination of the orches- he calls 'industrial democracy, tra's popularity-—this ether baptism. program, off the beaten track, under lmi)orttint auspices* Their probably has the strongest appeal music Is hailed as 'different,* a de- to the higher mentality brackets, eci'iptlve adjective well warranted. Loverd of jazz and of light enter- Orchestra belonjgs In the hl>*de-ho talhmettt may find it dull. Actu- grdup Identified more with colored any, the broadcasts should be of bands like Ellington and Calloway timely interest to everybody who than White aggregations.. It is not v^orks or is looking for a Job. precisely the same, thing of course Hapgoodd obviously are IntfeUec-. but of that general type. tual llbersils, but there is nothing Collegians and the younger set | dogmatic about their talks. They who. specialize on bizarre. darisapa- I admit that mlaitakes have.. .been; tl6h iprblidbly be enthusiastic made iir carrying out the program about this siow.; Older people of of turning the family's, business morfe. conservative and . standard I over to. employees!, and ^ant* that tastes may be less so. ^eany^hile j gpn^e of their, views may not meet Irene Tiaylbr ..sings pleasantly and Uy-itii popular favor. Listeners who Kenny Sargeant feelingly. disagree with their theories or who Questioiii 'Ofvcom'metclal copy on wish to know more about thei com- ,cigarette prpgrams is always moot, pany'a experiment, are invited to All weeds have essentially the same write to them, story. They word it differently. Talks have a personal touch Camels concentrates on the. words which, should appeal to 'listeners, •costlier tobaccos'' and- 'they neVer [ The Hapgoods emerge frpna the jahgfie your nerves.' One line of K^oadcasts as substantial likeable gab is probably. as ^iffectlve as the. K„^n^. although neither has an ini- other. All are equally monotonous. pj.gggjye personality. Cigarette techntdtie seems to drum I Announcer's remarks, especially the" niittieacross by.constiant repeti- jin the Introduction, ttre much too tion. And ho hetter sales slant 1 lorik. . Plienty of advertising at the seems to have been discovered. John flnl^j, Jaeo. S. Martin, the announcer, Is easy' to hear and bear. Dramiatlzatlon of '•'Wiley Post's .drcumnavlgatlnff stunt I HAL ROACH aOTH CENTURY and his B™<>J^°f P«^Cam*ls Louis B. Maytfr, Will Roaers, sedative was. typical endorsement j^^^ Harlow, Lauril and Hardy, to Impress, Charley Chase, Patsy Kelly, Camel Caravan doesn't Impress asj Thelitta Todd, Chioo Marx, Eddie sensational, but it^s a good substan- Jenkins Oreh. tial entertainment and may build I^q to some faVor on the strength of 1 " ^ / Casa Loma'fl uniqueness. There] Sustaining were spme prnductlon Ideas, on tbely/EAF,. New York Inaugural sample notably a remlnl- • What was In conception a nice scent-'Decade of Dancing/ but in. gaiute to a business man celebratr general the program lacked produc- ^S) years at the same stand was tlon distinction xelyihg wholly upon Ug^ther marred by the Ihfei-Ior qual- the appeal of Glen Gray's musician- bf the comedy offered by dn ar- .'LONE RANGER* Western 9teriM COMMERCIAL WGNr Chicago This show had been on the Mich- igan network out of WXTZ, Detroit, as key station; Recently the pro gram has been adopted by the Gor' WEI9BR0O HAPPY PAY9 - With Edward Nell, Jr^ «l*n*„*5hiOr Seymoiir Brownr Lou .Hollister, Anthony Cand«ilorl> COMMERCIAL 30 MinutM WCAU. Phlladolphia An exceedingly Interesting, well Sor^IiTcompany o? Chl^k^o construc^^^^^^^ hour, presented for ti^cornmerSSl good of Its Sll- Thursday, on the stage of th^ new v/rcup brS" OrSlnal plan of the WCAU, Studio Auditorium, before balSry WM to reproduce, the show audience and aired Simultaneously, in Chicane and New Tork with lp> First-half is dIaWgue, music, cos- cal casts. It wa» audlUoned aS tumes and beer garden of the Gay Biich in Chicago by WON, but the Nineties. Second fifteen minutes finale saw AT&T stringing Wires In handled i* la l933-HD0Stum$8 and from Detroit, the bakery figuring scenic change made during, middle that line charges are cheaper than commercial and douQ. In. less than another bunch of salaries.. Show one minute.. This jgot big hand froin thus comes into Chicago with the visible audience. Two male leads final tag of 'this Is the Michigan handle dialogue and gags nicely. Network.' Nothing yet set about Orchestra (Anthony Candelorl's), the New York show. Will probably Male Quartet, Girl Trio' and e3?tras be local cast, again figuring the completed cast of 32 Which madei relative costs Of cast as against J colorful picture, particularly in gbod wire Charges. ^ 1 days portion. Cpmmierclal Idea 'Ranger' is a sort of low-grade had good twist ftjr the product with Zane Grey materlaL Commercial jljist as good today as thirty years copy- is alihed at the adult audienCje ago anglei. and even at the better brackets, the Use of scenery, props, and cos- copy plugging the fact that the ttimes Is -similar to the special. Gordon Bakery's Sllvercup bread Is scenic effects which Blackstone more expensive than ordinary Cigar is currently employing for bread. Show Is ruiinlng^ rather late Crumit and Sanderson In Boston, to be considered a kid show, hitting .To strengthen the show after the at 7:30 p.m;, though the story and first Installment Walter Craig In treatment Is fine children fodder. It charge of program brought in a new Is on three times weekly for 30 min- 6ast from New York Including utes per program. And all counts Edward Nell, Jr., Jane KiQg, Sey- doeisn't figure as particularly sjilt- mbur Brown, ind Len Hollister, In able foT its potential bustomers. addjitibn 10 eixtras are used. These Plug is iaiming at the femmes as ejctras quaft Weisbrod beer during the buying -portion of/ the public, the prpgranik When the program Women won't even be nfsax this] is over audience goes iipstalrs to station for ^this program and will) another par^t of studio and drinks rarely be' ia,foilnd to hiear the plug. | beer gratis.. Waters. They'll be listening to something without Silver, the wonder horse, Indians and down Cimmaron way. Prom ail appearances the Gor- don Baking company is., approach ship. LanA. COLUMBIA NEWS FLASHES IS Mine; Sustaining WABC, New York HELEN LEE Talk, Band 15 Mips. ; ing its. sales. probleni backwards; Itl^Joy York won't get the wonaten with this pro- Program Introduces Helen Lee as ir,5^JiV ,^"'^*^*Y*iV^®* ^}® l^i^'*Ifo"'l^ psychdloglst and graphologist. WON is admittedly a. big kid sta- ^^^finl^n-^ coffee , is respon- tion ln this^territory. Probably kids ^j^^'J^ for the Act she puts on here buy more bread than their, moth- Tuesday mornings. Like the other d^^^iJ? w Ji"?"J^mnSf^ wLsd Aiember^ the sisterhood given to merchandize, not «e™™e^^7^>^f,^ practi<;lng the pseudo-scienes which ^11 S.St„?^**Jhisf Sr«^ thevMI i^iclude palmistry, phrenology and ifti^ ^^nk who wiU^^^ ^e^'s lavishly In Sa col? fS2ilfeIr"Zmr?o buy' flTyiSfeTtS;? riKe'at^e;- Silvercup bread If the bakery Puts » J^^^^f Jhat h^^^^^^^ Sr^^^r^ -IS^^^he' SfiaUon^^th^^^^^ program.. had been saidbiit nothing told. Typical story concerns the west- jjelen Lee informs her listeners w jd trek to new lands in the early the Outset that she can do her days of the 1880's. the battle with ^^^j^g ^^e subject of hand- Indians, the separation of man writing without having the specl- wife, and the birth of a:ChIld. The ^^^^^^ ^er. All they have to passing of 20 years and. the reunion ^ , ^ sentence dictated by of the long-lost son^and father. Ita * ^ ^ the welter of analyses Si'.tnSnS^«''^^V^^ the loudspeaker cus^ i?,?/ m«^ 2i^^^^^ tomer may pick the ohe she thinks * characterises her handwriting, older cliildren. Seance caught (B) faded out be- ^„ „^ „ . Plugs are Inserted between epl- fore the graphologist had'a chancie Charley Chase In particular was sodes, clean-cut but distinctly to extend her analysis before the guilty of disrespect for the radio, the adult buyer. Program and plug fl^gt letter of the sentence she dlc- Hls introduction as the m.c. of the ^Lash. They aim at different slices ^^ted. That sentence, which. In Its program was followed by one line, of the population. (#o<a. subtle way proved the tipoff to the ray of comedians and the general lack of sufficient preparation. LIVES.OF- The GREAT* Bibgraphlcal Sketches Disc ' COMMERCTAL WMAQ, Chicago Hopeless from all counts and & blot on thd standing of such an or- ganlzatloii iu the Encyclopedia Brltannlca, .the.ispbnsor. ..Oh platters Which come over the loudspeaker in wheezy, creaky style bf the 190.8 phonograph; tinny, grlndy, with a surface noise that spoils any chances, for an-audience.. On this NBC station, for a local shot once weekly ort Monday even- ings; this ehow exhibits bad produc- tion, execrable writing and worse performance. Only a sense of duty ^puid hold anyone to this loud- speaker. There Is no entertainment, no Chlightenrhent. Each platter attemipts to' scurry through the hljgh Spots, or little known; spots, of the lives <)f the great men. EacH platter takes a life, of a Disraeli, Robert E, Lee, Charles iDlckens, and: others of nice- character. A typical program con- cerned P. T. Barnum, billed as the 'Prince of Hiimbug'. The episodes described In this saucer were point- less. They gave no. clue to the cimr- acter of Barnum and drew no laugh or smile. It was thoroughly dull. Of •. poorest Judfirment was; the wording of the announcements. Stilted language that attempted to be .. very professorial, very:' ^ultra. Arid came , out of the loudspeaker very utsnaiy. It was the language of a hig^h school freshman address- irig the school's oratorical society. The Encyclopedia kills Itself when, at the finish. It tells the listener , -that with the help of .the Volumes, anyone could .have written the pre- ceding script. That announcement is a wawing, not art. inducement. Tied In with the ishow is a letter writing .contest ^Ith the questfori: 'What I would like to know, about Barnum and why', to-be scribbled in 60 Words. Awards Include fac- similes of Barnum. letter and even the original letter Itself. This- riianu- script tle-In Is being used on all the platters in the series. Show was placed through the Charles Donlel Frey agency.. I've been working for Hal Roach Pending negotiations Ibetween 14 years. I knew It wouldn't be broadcasters and publishers with a permanent.' view to an amicable adjustment of J will Rogers wasn't very funny, the feud between the two advertls- either. But then that's happened -ingrm€ditt--throw^thlS"program^nto-j-trefore=^^^ sharp notice, again. More than any ad libber like Rogers. Some times one single provocation, the CBS the brain doesn't give off sparks, news bureau stirred animosity and At least, Rogers tried. Toward the BLACI< RHAPSODY Choral singing 30 m ins. Sustaining KHJ, Los Angeles After three broadcasts, this pro- gram threatens to become a coast | motive behind these proceedings, read: 'Martinson costs no. more at the end of the pound.' Ample time is allowed for the slogan to sink in by having her retire after its dicta-: tion in favor^f-an interlude by- the studio combo. ■ A more, personal analysis is avail- able to anybody that sends in the key and strip from a Martinson's reprisals against radio. Actually 1 end he was self-admittedly, stalling I outstander. Chorus of 90 negro the bureau which is set up and run until relief arrived. He referred to voices, directed by Earl Dancer, has I ^an wrapped aroUnd a piece of like a wire service and obliged to Louis B. Mayer as 'that Republican mastered the Intricate technique of paper containing the subject's name be careful of where and how they] rascal.' .( mass singing for radio so that^the] birthday. FOr the. clientele to obtain news Is :doIng a gqod.biisl- -- -- - ..... ... . —ness-llke-rstoryr Flashes were handled in the fol- lowing sequence: Washington—The Ball at the Mayer hlmself_delivered the^real effect is not unlike an organ, .^ro-MsbJcb JWOV _c.aters_.the act should tribute'to iRbach. 'He'dpesri*t tfme 'gr'aih,'THoweye^^ sisems to "be^Tjased R^a^e the sort of "appealVthat iriduc'es his gags, too . well, but he's quite on Roark • Bradford's 'Southern Ujox-top reaction, fluent otherwise. " 'I Sketches' despite .the credit..given • Odect Jean Harlow turned In a nice I by the announcer to. William Van I, dcdpai aamrol little speech. Patsy Kelly and | Nordstrom as writer of the script. I ^'^'^^*» KtKt/\i. umwibvu ^iSj: Thelma Todd'cross-flfing as a team Dramatic Interludes between the Sustaining until Congress passes special legis lation.. Halifax—Ruin runners take Cana- dian coast., guardsmen hostage in re- capturlrig their ship. ' New Tork—Gen. Johnson ad- dresses manufacturers club. Los Arigeiies-^Giri will" sue Princess Mary McCprmlc Mdivaril for slappins herw Washinjgtph—Bond issue oversub - scrlbedr London—^Irish bonds to peddle; • Detrolt-^Fprd out for NRA. A Ford spokesman cximmented to Cb- luiribia news bureau reporter..;. Paris—^Atlantic ships .new rates. New York—Loyer whiskey p rices pulled the program's best gag when chorUs numbers have a familiarity WWIOm, totk _„or,t referring to Roach's good old 'pie- that goes beyond the script. Blbli- I ^^^^^1"^.*^ «ithl m irnt and-ear' days.' Laurel and Hardy cal passages are Interpolated by last Thursday night (7) got a t^^^^ used musical Introduction and negro villagers of a small Louisiana of what to expect from banquM signbff which suggested a little ad- ftowri In the same ihahrier as used Pickups^nd- the like now that the Vance thought But essentially the by Marc Connelly in' his 'Green lid is off and its all agam .legai. orchestra saved the radio birthday Pastures'. Broadcasting came up .through the pai-ty. It set the tempo, provided Arrangement?,. prisutoably made years during...which prphib.ltIon w^^ rDancer are excellent Outstand- at least accepted M a theoiTT ^^^^^^^ ig is his blending of 'Nobody in recognition of the situation the , - v..>,, xvhows the Trouble I See' combined hnedlum made It a practice of pedal- party from dying a half dozen J with 'St. Louis Blues'; later used as 11nff easy when It came to nudging times. Incidentally very good music. I counter ihelody giving a weird in the loudspeakers on gatherines .promised. .. dhlcago-^Methodlsts will continue dryflglit. Spriniglield, O.—No more unem- *-ployed In city of 70,000 as NBA puts 5,000 to work on emergency jobs. , ■ EI Paso—Liquor smugglers am- bushed, two killed. ^==^'Ne w^-^=^Yprk-T'Peoplei===-hpardI n g= silver. Racine, Wls.--Thl6f stole $28,000, gets 28. years. Berlin—Nazi Christnias amnesty. Omaha—Stockyards' 10% wage boost. Washington—Johnson sore as sec- retary's $5,780 salary criticized. Says Miss Robinson formerly exec for RKO. Chicago—Can't have cplds in aeroplane above clouds, says scien- tist. Sign off—For complete news read your dally paper. haild. ° better effect to the number; Arrange than this when going ^ on the air. ments are all modern; Dancer evl ^ ^ ,i° l<*e'^".^ed with com- dently Using the same method of ar ffc ■ ^? lot ^funnier in rangements he uses for his band; i% Roach him- Program is strong enough to a.t- ^trfniT^f ^i^w^*^^*' and siniple tract a commercial sponsor, provid dignity when resnondlng. Lond. moist and . .boisterously, convivial Lots unlnt,<!nded seeped; into the WmCA miice from the sidelines at this celebration and credit for some quick thinking and covering up is due the station's chief, announcer, Ing the article . plugged Is ilass A, L. Alexander. With reiieal a ne>y enough to blend In with a program problem has developed for the busl- FRUd¥NCE PeWYW "N7Vr Cookery 15 Mins, Sustaining WOR, Newark Prudence Penny Is an office Ttbat—>y lll att r act.' the-^eame—^ype turie'r^lnners as a symphony broad- cast. ' (7oIi. MORNING ALARM CLOCK With Connie Desmond WSPd, Tolbdo i='ull Hour ... . . _ I Sustaining thprities on haw to make delicious WSPD, Toledo mystertes^f roni="last—week^a=l(rftorv(n" "==?r"^^ pseudonym in the Hearst paper.s There are probably a dozon Pru derice Pennys. All of them are au- f^bFbadcas.tingi Prom what filtered through the i-eCelver". it was obvious that the speaking phase of the Lambs' revel wasn't running according to sched- ule. The p. a. system in the Astor hotel's ballroom went awry and the celebrants inconveniently located pullcd.no vocal, punches In letting the m. c. Gene Buck, know how they folt-«about it .L_ Sit nilar :i nt.err-UD.tIo.n s mutton. The tle-'lns with (rrocers <"onnle Desmond at 7:30 a.m. were accorcled the flr.st -orator on butchers, package goods and other r^lly I.s the morning alarnt clock the revel's propram Dudl^^^ Field manufacturers is obvious. ^^"'1 biRpest draw at the station, Malone. P.uok then decrded to pass Prudence Penny of New Tork Tolophone Is ringing constantly to up the apcorh parade altogether and (American) is a iiartioulariy bright '^''1 <'r P^n Desmond for his woi-k. Instead put the cdebs assembled on and vivacious soul'who at'9:45 In Announcer has a peculiar kn.-ick the dais throURh a bow .each. Tip- the morning rambles on gailv about ^^^'^ Imitating people. Hi.s IJIng off on how sorhie of these must have plum pudding and onion soup. Her M'i'"'<^*y Is the best o£ the lol, Fu | folt about the spiel shutdown oame charm' Is; unabated throughout an Mfi"f-lni, Is good. Alexander Wooll- extended dialog with a Fl-ench icf 'ott even docs King Kong, named Monsieur Scotto. LatoHt gag Is for De-imond to It sounds like it would pi-obuMy }in.-:\vi-'r the telephone and hold ihc be very intorestlng to woinfMi. Tru- inoull-.plccf.. to the mike allov/lnj; dcncc is extremely pprpua;:lve. tall.-' r to h^ar his own voifc rcr Land. 1 produced on the air. a few minutes later whefi Kthel T',arrymore, Invited to the mike by Alexander, remarked that' .she hari prepared a nice little .speerh about repeal and the fact she eouldn't do liver it beTore Lamb.s' gatlui lii ". V!i disappointing.' MAHDI MAGIC CIRCLE With Jean Paul King Kid Shew [ ^ Radio Di 15 Mins; COMMERCIAL WHAS, Louisville This wax program was picked up. on WHAS, Louisville, by a receiv- ing set in New York. Reception was good, so It may be assumed that the recording is of good , qual- ity. Understood these platterS were cut by RCA Victor In Chicago, Pro- gram has been out some time on' regional stations., its age may be partly established by thei fact that the program is currently appealing'• for mall from listeners asking them if they want the Mahdi Magic Cir- cle to .continue.' Threat .made is. that if thfe postihan Isn't loaded with,, letters of endorsement^ El Mahdi will fold.his tent and do iah Arabian sneak. Program is part of a merchandis- ing stunt worked but by a Chicago promoter who has used the same technique for various Industries. This particular series Is designed for tie-ups with milk dealers. Pa- per- bottle-capsT-on-mllk provide- the Inforniation on Tuesday necessary for kids to participate.in the pro- gram on Thursday. The forestall' a temporary switch of milk dealer full niembershlp In the Magic Cir- cle is achieved only after the milk has beeh cpming regularly a couple of weeks. Letter-writing and tests to establish, listener appeal are the essence of the merchandizing. Se- ries is obviously designed to pieir- form. a business-lilce and specific Job and gets its renewals on a ba- sis pf public irespbnse. Iii Louisville the spbhsor is the Fennelly Model Dairy. Program Itself runs In and but of what may be dfeScribed as the web;- of illusion. "Thus Mahdi', a sonorous. mystifier, participates both as the;, presiding .officer of the magic clr-j' cle, or club, and" as the chief char- acter In the story -which he tells to. fhe magic circle^ ' This story-wlth-- inra-story and the additional mix- ing in of the exploitation angles prod^uce: a i^ro gram of c ons iderable. confusion. "~T,here Is too mucn of. a lot of things and hot enough of , the narra.tive. Just as the. story reaches some-, thing com irable to a dramatic cli- max Mahdi breaks the thread and. steps out of chai'Scter to do some-' thing else. When the small child to whom he is telling the. story pro- tests, 'Don't stop- now just whten 'lt'§^^?tTIlTr^"-"irTtWest-inr;'"=^MTtlrti=^ gives a firm 'no.* Seemingly that dialog might well apply In reality to the emotions oE the juvenile lis- teners. And with a week's lapse until the. next installment the wis- dom of th6 abrupt cessation is de- batable. It l?n't quite cricket. Jean Paul King is the spieler. .Mahdi is hot kno.wn. Couple of magic trli'ks arc explained whic-h brings another reascjin for writing the station to pet the printed In- .stnii'tion.s in c.se the hroadc-st in- rinr-Mons aren't clear. And tiVe arcn'U -t-^w