Variety (Oct 1935)

R A VARIETY 37 'PLYMOUTH SALES CONFER. ENCE' With- Lowell Thomas, Bo»k« Car- ter, Harry Von Zell, Amos V Andy, Tom Howard and George Shelton, Baeii Ruyedael, Grand Duchess Marie, Lou Hbltz, How- ard Barlow's orchestra. 60 Mins. PLYMOUTH AUTOMOBILE CORP. WOR, New York (J. ^ttrllnff aetchall) A single-shot broadcast, this was prlmartly aimed at 34 Plymouth dealer sales conventions scattered from Coast to Coast. It was the thli'd such airing: Plymouth has undertaken in that many years . Just before the unveiliner of a new auto model, with this one .goine over the "Mutual Broadcasting System, Including WOR, Y.; WGN, Chl- cagOr ."WXiW^., CiJicifiha,tl;:; CKLWi Detroit, and about 26 other sta-. lions that, carried the airing as far west as Denver. Including though it did a strong lineup of commentator and actor- names, the value of this show was questionable. It oversold the prod- uct, and after the flrst 15 minutes It no longer became a question of sales-resistance, but listener-re- sistance. The commentators, Boake Carter, Lowell Thomas and Hairy Von Zell over and over again eulogized the various virtues of the 1930 Plymouth car, dramatizing the various points of the, car's manu- facture, safety and economy in •March of Time' style. Even the threo acts In the broadcast, Lou Holtz. Tom Howard and George Shelton, and Amos 'n' Andy were stricken by the bug that Plymouth cars and only Plymouth cars were the sole concern of the outside listeners invited via large dally, newspaper advertisements to tune Iri on the program. Amos Andy were the least guilty of over-stressing the Plym- outh plug, though not altogether in- nocent in their material, while Howard and Shelton laid it on ex- tremely thick. Lou Holtz, relayed from Washington, told but two gags, the first about a couple of dialectic Plymouth dealers, the sec- ond untainted by commercialism^ .Boake C&rter was brought in to- wards the close of the program from Detroit, going over the same ground Thomas and Von Zell cov- ered previously from N, T., and then switched the mike into Plym- outh's Detroit blaht for a short talk on. the car^s manufacture by one of the v.p.'s. At the hour's finale, the mike was switched to Mecca Temple in N. Y., the scene of one of the dealer confabs, and the hew Plymouth car was unveiled by an- other V t». with a lot of fanfare that was quite tepid to outside listen- ers.. ' ,, Program had an early and awk- ward time (12:15 p.m. EST),, an hour when most mothers are con- cerned with luncheons for their chil- dren and most men are either TVorklng or lunching themselves. Event unwound moistly las an ex- pensive pep-talk to dealers. ScJio. 'TEXAS IN REVIEW 30 Mins. Sustaining KTSA, San Antonio Once weekly this station makes a hurried survey of Texas happen- ings, gathers up all its production facilities and turns out a credible presentation of news re-enactments, some hot, others JVist folksy. Steve Wllhelni, production chief, writes and. produces show which is fed "the Southwestern web as a sus-r italhing contribution. Carries a llt- lle non-paid commercial as good win for station's advertisers which are sometimes mentioned in dia- logue without distracting from In- terest. Station draws on little the- atre talent for roles. Employs platters for the musical end and wisely since the transcriptions ex- ceed in quality the output of live talent combo that could be whipped together hereabouts. fltlnt caught dramatized Rio Grande flood, meeting ■ Of Au.stln city council that nixed reformers efforts to ban bathers wearing swim suits from home, to pools, how Texas Rangers have given up mounts and six-shooters for motors and sub- machine guns, meetln.T of Confed- erate vets to decide iapoh Joint re- union with G. A. R. and at windup BL home scene on opening, day of school. Skits steer clear of melo- drama usually with main emphasis given to the humor of the situation and to individual charactorl^ations. Keys. GRIDIRON SMOKER Monroe Hellinger .30 Mins. Sustaininfl WHN, New York General production ct this foot- ball .show distinguishes it from the numerou.s other.<? of same kind which are no^y flooding the airways. This one runs 30 minutes and uses, a trick MGM newsreel flash-back idea, for its dramatizations. Monroe Hellinger has been han- dling sport a.sslgrtments over the station .since last sutnmeri Smoker aura is conveyed with chairman calling the session to order, short break-In for day's scores and then a command to the cameraman to unroll the fil Studio noise for this portion re- sembles any standard newsrecl and is a good move away from the usual clatter. ED SULLIVAN With Bertrand Hirtch's Orchestra, Harold Richards 15 Mins. I. J. FOX, FURRIER WEAF, New York (Peck) Ed Sullivan; N. Y. Daily News col- umnist. Is the new iaddltlph to this variety presentation, taking his notes to the microphone for repeat chat- ter and gossip. Hollywood rated most attention when reviewed with Broadway sort of ".hetlecffcd" in tlie- gleanings. In addition, Sullivan gives a short blog sketch of some fllhi star, Claudette Colbert getting mention at: this premiere. 'The Night, of January 16'plugged casually, with the press man re- lating; his adventures in the Jury box VrKh Ricardo Cortez. Also he tied .up some chinchilla* patter in his opening sentences, which . referried to Pox's anniversary sale now ciirr rent. Hlrsch's music supplies some breathing spells, and Harold Rich- ards is spotted thrice In the quarter hour for chanting duties. Program holds interest okay. Broadcast twice weekly, Tuesday arid Friday, at 7:45 p.m. EST. 'BROADWAY VARIETIES' With Oscar Shaw,. Carmela Port- aelle, Elizabeth Lennox and Victor Arden's orchestra Musicial Variety 30 Mi Kb. BISODOL WABC, New York (John F, Murray) New cast now appearing on this stanza (25), and doing nicely. Aid- ing the newcomers Is the lack of plot which marks this musical variety, offering as one of the sanest on the air. Too often a plot has to be dragged in by the tall and results In nothing niore than idiotic gibberish between numbers. 'Broad- way Varieties' simply swings from scene to scene without transition which may, in the end, be the best solution. Shaw, an old musical comedy hand, carries the burden of the work with his singing and m.c.'lng, doing his turn with flnesse. Eliza- beth Lennox helps with , her con- tralto warbling. High spot is Car- mela Ponselle. Although she picked nothing more hoity-toity than the 'Last Rose of Summer' for her flrst appearance, she went through that splendidly. Ponselle is a mezzo- soprano, and a good one. Too bad she got only one assignment on this program. Warrants at least a: sec- ond. Rest of the program composed of excerpts from 'Poppytlme,' 'Sing and Pray* (musical sketch), and 'Top Hat.'" Shaw garbled the Negro dialect In "Sing and Pray' but the number went off all right anyhow. 'Top Hat' proved a click finish. Shaw and Lennox duetted 'Plc- colino,' -'Isn't It a Lovely Day,' and 'Cheek to Cheek.': Between num- bers actual continuity from the film was used, lending a well-balanced coherence to the offering. Arden's orch did soihe apt . fiddling and trumpeting. Program, however, would be even better if Bisodol could be per- suaded to leave off its touring of the hurnan stomach In quest of the cause of bad breath. Although this tour makes an attempt at deftness (a bit feeble), the punchlness of the blurbing should be throttled. Com- mercial at the finish is passable. FLYING RED HORSE TAVERN Jim Harkins, Freddie Rich's Or- chestra, Willie Morris, Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews 30 Mins. SOCONY WABC, New York (J. Sterling Getchell) Socony's new fall program, 'Fly- ing Red Horse Tavern,' successor to its former sketchbook spread, is heavy on the rhythmic end, with Freddie Rich's musical batoning dominating most of the 30-mInute run. At least the leader's men car- rying 20 minutes of the show, with tthe remaining portions alloted solo- ists and guesters. Sponsor Impresses the size of the half-hour, with a chorus of male voices (16); the orchestra (25 pieces) and a supplementing cast of 52 persons on hand to lend good- fellowship aura. Jim Harkins pre- sides at the swinging door for Jo- vial greetings, etc. Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews, ex- plorer of Gobi desert district, lent a certain contrast to the musical outlay, relating an adventure tKlc concerning Chinese bandits, in. the midst of clinking glasses, table noise and elbow-chatter. Story was delivered with a smile, and struck a novel note in the presentation. Wil- lie Morris on for solo warbling, though her song samples were out- dated at this hearing, and .should be given wiser, selections. The chorus, fast, becoming a vital part of all major musical hours, handled It.? assignments well, working both with the oi'chestra and -featured singer. ' Rlch'ij music, which is given so •much attention, presented Cotton Clu.b tunes, and a corking version of '■Blow Gabriel Blow," a difficult number either- with band or chorus, but blended well together here. Rich Is one of radio's crack orchestratorss. Socony copy took its 'tip from baseball and football activities, making It toplckl and interesting. 'WITCH'S TALE' With Alonzo Deen Cole, Marie O'Flynn, Mark Smith and Alan Devitt Drama 30 Mins. JOS. MARTINSON WOR, New York (Atbert Frank—Chienther, Inc.) This series was old enough to vote before Martinson (coffee) finally came' along as first sponsor. In fact, it was already up to chapter 230. No fault of the programs, though, that they were neglected so long. Oh discs tire series sold many a drug product in the South. And in New York the live talent got 277 laudatory newspaper wrlteups and 83 morning-after reviews up to first of this year. Sponsors probably shied off because the series ap- peared too harrowing, or too high class, or. tod high, priced, For Martinson, however, the Ayorks should be a natural. The company's coffee is a class product, and so is the 'Witch's 'Tale.' As radio writing and acting goes, it is about as good as anything on the ether. WOR would never have bankrolled it oh sustaining as long as it did unless the series had a wide and enthusiastic fbllawing. First program under /the hew sponsorship (24) told the- tale of a young couple who unwittingly move Into a cheap, country house where a kidnapper once had hacked a child to bits after collecting the ransorh. Oh the night they move in the murderer Is to die in the chair. Coupfe eventuailly finds out the house's history from the moving mien, and that night they expect the worst. A storm comes up, and at the exact hour the. murderer is dying in the. pen they hear his ghost tam- pering with a wall .downstairs. Frantically call police who peel, off wiallpaper and find the hidden ran- som swag under it. Young couple gets $20,000 reward. Dialog, and sound effects through the tale 'are superb. Likewise the action to the smallest detail. ^ And the listener never gets the impres- sion that the yarn is naive in a be- lief In ghosts. Rather the emphasis is on the disturbed mentality of the young couple which leads them to hear.fictitious ghosts and accident- ally uncover the swag. Just enough leewa:y in this straddling interpreta- tion to make listeners think (but also shudder). 'FIRESIDE HOUR' Music and talk 30 mins. DR. J. L. MALLAS WFIL, Philadelphia (Feigenhaum Agency) Spotted at 7:30 Sunday night. Im- mediately following Jack Benny, program of 'restful music and philo- sophical musings' offers combination of semi-classic sentimental ballads and seml-poetlc spiel of the homely verities. Commercial copy Is limited to about 16 seconds of Identifying routine at start, and approximately 30 seconds at middle arid close. Cast Includes Henry Patrick, baritone; Anna Triacy, soprano; Leonard Mc- Lean, organist; Charles Newton, vibra-harplst, and staff announcer Hubert James doing philosophising. Script Is work of Margaret ('Mike') SchaefCer, handling account for agency. Program opens with 'Just a Song at Twilight' them'er by Patrick. With organ and vibra-harp accom- paniment running through entire show. Including commercial chatter, half-hour then settles down to sleepytlme music, punctuated by periodic spiels along 'restful,' 'peace- ful,' 'contented' line, /Half-way commercial copy Is shrewdly worked In with suggestion that health (through care of teeth) Is real path- way to contentment and happiness. Both singers have two solos apiece with organist getting same in addi- tion to his steady musical back- ground. Program closes with 'Twi- light' theme and commercial copy, this time more direct. Entire show is well designed to carry out home and hearth idea. It's also likely to appeal to Just class-listener spon- sor waters to. Single drawback from showmanship angle is singers mak- ing common error of getting songs drag too much trying to carry out restful Jdea. James' reading of script Is nicely handled. ' Jlohe. LOOKING THRU THE Wl SHIELD With Bill Washburn, Julie Hayes, Wally Reif Safety Chatter and Musi 10 Mins. Sustaining WICC, Bridgeport John Shepard's southern Connec- ticut outlet coropetates with state motor vehicle department's safety campaign by putting on an enter- tainment Interpolated with drive- carefully propaganda. Series pretty well Indicates fu- tility of radio medium for effective campaign of this kind. Bill W.^-sh- burn, cast as Old Road Philosopher, has ;a brogue and a friendly tityle, but chances of his making a dent with the haoltually bad driver are. practically nil. Only way to get rid of that kind of driver is to shoot him. Washburn's chatter is supple- mented by Julie Ha,yes' low-range songs and Wally Relf's plK^noIogucs. making the 10 minutes worth the Investment. iHllcr. TOM POWERS Reconteur 15 Mins. JOHNSON'S WAX WEAF, New York (ffeedham, Louii d Brorhy) Quarter hour is a cleverly con- trived talking period, depending tin a single ihdivldual. Tom Powera, familiar to New . York leglt audi- ences, handles the Job with marked command. He relates brief squibs, all light in texture, and. In general keeps things moving zipplly. Main anecdote at this hearing concerned an English actor who specializes in playing animal char- acters, and his trying to land .a new engagenient.. It called for' a "thick English acceht, and ability to stay In character. Best item is. the casual note injected into the. repartee. ' Powers is a smooth •stocy-splnner. On Thursdays at 7:45 p. m, ES'T, ROYAL MARINE BAND OF H.M.S. YORK With 'Leatherneck' Program Music, talk 30 mins. Sustaining WFIL, Philadeiphi Planned as stunt program to col- lect on public Interest! in arrival of British warship here, this one did arouse attention as station hoped, but performance of band was com- plete fiop, 'Leatherneck' program Is regular F^'iday afternoon period with tall tales of Marine spouted by William Carmel Sparks, of U.S.M.C. division of public relations. He ar- ranged with his friends in . crew of York to have band at studio. Ship is at present ;making wprldT''*godd will' cruise. Prbgram was annouriced as being carried over complete blue network, also Alaska, Hawaii and Cuba. (Sranted that band music is hardly tops as high class musical fare, these British tars .nevertheless offered some very sour'tooting. Frankly a program of pom-pah stuff,. It fre- quently sounded like the old pre- War-days German bands that radio helpfully put out of existence. It's doubtful If any local program in present memory wasted' so.. much shrewd build-up and production oh such hick talent. Band, led by Bandmaster W. WilUam Turner, played seven selections, one of which, 'Colonel Bogey on Parade," written by Captain Gordon Rlck- etts, musical director of Royal Ma- rines, of Plymouth, England, seemed like it -would never end. Best part of program was talk by regular speaker, Sparks. Keeping to 'hands across the sea* formula, he compared Marines, of U.S. and England and recounted glowing ex- ploits In history of British corps. His remarks were forceful, vivid and to the point. For the rest, to revive an old chestnut, Britannia failed to rule the ether waves. It was a tough break for the sta- tion after displaying such smart showmanship. Hole, JOHNNY MURRAY'S VARIETIES With Bob Shafer, Mrs. Pasquali, Smoky Joe, Red Corcoran, Carol Lee, Oscar and Elmer, Ken Browne and Ginger, Ruth Durell, 45 Mins. GAFFLER-SATTLER KFWB, Hollywood Station shot the works on this talent lineup. Only Warner station topper missed in the listing is Kay Van Riper. Runs for a year. If the sponsor ordered a revue that's MThat he got. He also got an- other edition of the High Jinks, which last Spring rounded out four years on a brace of stations. All the old Jinkera are back In stride, with ."Vlurray stooging for comicsi and the bankrollcr, emceelng the show and piping a number or two. For It's type It's as good as will be found hereabouts. Bob Shafer, Carol Lee, Ruth Durell and Jinimy Jolson handle the numbers ais of yore and undoubtedly to the liking of their old following, which in tho old days ran into many thousands and who must still be at the dials. On for comedy turns are Mrs. Pas- quali, Red Corcoran, Oscar and El- mer, Ken Browne and Ginger. They haven't changed a bit. Chap with the tag of Smoky Joe doe.<» a, fast number .on a harihonica, ther; goes into imitations of trains and things. He's a natural for Com- rade Mlhevitch.; Musical background with Jack Joy batoning crew of 18 Is the one, big. noticeable improvement over the old order of knitting together this va- riety show. Orchestrations are fresh and cleancut, do not depend on trick interpolations for smash tffect. Joy knows his music and vocalists, keeps the tunes in keeping with the requirements of each. His portion of the' program is show- manly, always in the right gear. Murray knows his way around such setups without a script. He'.s been through so many of them they're second nature to him. He'.s a consiammate stooge, a great .gag bulkier for a laugh. Hl.s slnglng has '.mprovod. If anything, Chet Mlttcndorf sold the show, how sta.ge.s it. Ho has taken most of the .sure-fire routines from the old Jinks .setup, refurbished them and made Ihcm stand on thoir own. Show Is fast, noisy and meaty along the middle road. It won't lack for lis- .teners ,and should build as It gooH. along. There's always an audience for this kind of program along these sunny .slopes.* Ilelin. COUNTESS OLGA ALBANI With Charles Previp Orchestra« Singing Knights, Charles Lyons 'Life Is A Song' 30 Mins. REAL SILK WJZ, N«W York (Leo Burnett) /Formerly this program, with very little noticeable difference, was called 'Silken Strings.' Spanish singer resumes and the program be- comes 'Life Is A Song' with the number of that title adopted as a theme. Meanwhile, Leu Burnett agency has account formerly with Erwin Wasey. It's an agreeable half hour of melodic' music. Previn^'s musician- ship Is first rate. Progra.m Is sewed together nicely with the announc- ing a help. It's of the dulcet, rb- "matUlc. iembi-oldery type. Commer- cials-are tactful in hoping for, btit not- sbUcIting - a,, welcome from, householders for the traveling sales representatives who' house-to-house- canvas on behalf of Real Silk. . Emphasis is made that, unlike the average silk stocking which is fitted only to the foot,, Real Silk is designed to fit tne leg as well. That's a sales thought Which prob- ably sticks well enough in the mem- pry, although the claim Is more rhetorical than proven by the copy. Countess (now Mrs. Wallace Caldwell) was in nice voice Sun- day (C). Land. MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM With Jack Warner, Max Reinhardt, Hal Wallis, William Dieterle, Gaynis Whitman, Jimmy Cagney, Dick Powell, Joe E. Brown, Hugh Herbert, Olivia deHaviland, Mickey ^ Rooney, Leo Forbstein orchestra. Music tand Talk 60 Mins. Sustaining KFI, Los Angeles Purpose of this mutual get-to- gether of Warner Brothers and NBp undoubtedly was to provide the .air fans with a Hollywood, co- lossal and have a ready-made audi- ence for the picture when it breaks. As a ballylioo for one ,man—Max Reinhardt—It transcended anything ever heard in radio's short .Yirtfl checkered career. Most of the time the. picture was entirely forgotten, made secondary to the professor, whom the air fans must, bv now. hold in aw« and reverence. Such a build-up was never given anyone connected with the siirocket operas. Piped in from New York, Rein- hardt tossed posies to the cast in the professional manner and then sat back to listen to the radio recreation of the nocturnal ballet; and what other encomiums that might have been left unsaid. It was a night of nights for the prof. Program - was given a chrono- logical buildup with Warner and Hal Wallls, his production chief, talking It over while watching the Shakespcaro creations flutter on the greensward. Once decided that it should be made into a picture, War- ner put in long distance calls to all corners of the globe to sign up E^ric Wolfgang Korngold, to handle the Mendelssohn score: NlJInska for the ballet and Nina Thellade. Orchestra.1 interludes were top- notch and etched a classic profile for the picture. Cast names were given too little to do which may have been disappointing to the masses. Reactions will be watched by those who dabble In such things. Gayno Whitman had a full eve- ning oh the narrating end. Helm. IGOR GORIN Baritone 60 Mins. CAMPBELL SOUP WABC, New York (F. Wallis Armslrqno) Igor Gorin, youthful singer with foreign operatic background, has been built up as an outstanding voice on this hour. Chose popular number from 'Paglaiccl' to demon- strate wide range of his voice. Pos- sessed with ability to. sing with a tremendous amount of feeling, Gorln puts a great deal oMlght and shad-' Irtg Into his work. Remarkably enough,, he has drojipcd all trace of accent, which was so noticeable when flrst heard in N. Y. His handling of the operatic aria was made more appealing because of his decisive delivery and case be- fore the mike. Only 26 years old, Gorin Is up in more than a dozen operas.; Metro has him for forth- coming fllm. Wear. LOUIS KAtZMAN ORCHESTRA With Joseph Mendelsohn, Hanrta Delmore, Myrtle Leonard Music, Vocal CO Mins. Sustaining WINS, Now York 'Louis Katzman started off on his Job as musical dlreoLor of WINS with a broadcast Sunday evening (G) that had as Its Highlight a group of arrangement,') which he m.ade and aired while working on various net- worlf commercials. Supporting him as soloists were Jo.soph Mendelsohn, l^arltonc; Hiinita Delmore. sopi-nno- Myrtle Leonard, contralto, and Howard Price, tenor. It was a program rlcl) in deftly contrived melody, with a Victor Herbert medley, especlallv, proving * Katzman'H keen touch with both the pen and the baton. The wairbllng wa.s uniformly of high grade. Odcc.4'