Variety (Sep 1936)

32 VAkiETY BAD I O R EF TS WedbicB^ay) September 2, 1936: GEOBGE BAFT, JUNE LANG . TVltl^ Jostliw Waybe, W»IIy Moher, Loa Merrill, Frank Nelson, Ross .Forrester, Blobjira Le Grand, Cecil B, De Mllle, Gloria Swanson. 'Cheatinff Clieaiers' Mins. LUX SQAF Monday, 9 p. m. EDST WABC, New York (J. Walter Thompson) 'Cheating Cheaters,' dating circa 1016 (Al Woods), sounds a little anemic after , a score of years have elapsed.' Crook plays subsequently have become vastly more clever, and the average dialer probably could detect at once that of the two society lovers one was a jewel thief and the other a detective: On the other hand, by way of virtue, th^ plot is reason- ably clear. George Raft, partaking in a cus- tomary gangster part, acquitted him- self creditably, though his voice is a bit stiff, fitted neatly into this particular play, hpwever, which is all action and no personalities; ^une Xiang sized up about ditto. Fortu- riately for the starring diio the play was what it was. A more agile yarn would have given the supporting cast, thoroughly trained in radio, a chance to steal the works. Justina Wayne, with nimble pipes'and a good knowled^ie of ■ how to use them, got th^ last drop out of her role as Raft's crooked partner. Wally Maher ?aired off jj). similar fashion vis-a-vld une Lang. Rest of the support was good. ■ . • . Closing 10 ihinutes liad Gloria Swansbil conjointly crack up the virtues of Lux and render a song (Lonely Heart). It came off per schedule, but :Miss Swanson's lines cannot be appraised as of the best. Nov. oflt..the screen for isome time, $he naturally Was assigned a remi- niscing, bit.-Ue.Mille, during intro- ductions, used some superlatives in \ chara'cterizing - her .work. But the • Swanson rejoinders had a tendency to chime too whole-heartedly in this praise.: . Seeming lack of modesty cUdn't click with the gusto that this brand of showmanship should. Miss Swanson's sieging, was passable. , In between acts, Loomi?-v-trainef tn MOM'S lot^jvas brought on, and gave a ^locfko sjieech 'on how to keep the biceps in trim. Voice had all the eannark^ of the-athletic rugged in- dividualist' itthd :i^eatly glossed over Lux's desire to fee an integral part of tvery f^mme training camp. Sponsor appears to "h^ harping pretty hard on tnos6 'Commercials.' A few snlDs of the Scissors wouldiit hurt. Edga. -. SMIliNG ED MteCONNELL WitiL Irma Glenn, Falmek- Clark Or- eheatra • • ' • . ^bitosopby, Songs, Mii9io • SO Mlniii.-'' ' ■■ ■> . ACM£ WHITE LEAIt Son.,. 9:30 p, nii. iSDST ' HFEAF, New York ' iHenH-'Hwst-MacDoaaUL) . " Acnip iarm has a product called Lin-X, wbiOlx it is plugging on its NBC series with Smiling Ed McCOn- nell. With the 'Singing Philosopher' there's Irma Glenn, organist and .Palmer Clark's orchestra. A chorUs is also s^iotted for the more hymnal stanzas/ . Program ke^ps- the Main Street Sunday imeetink motif paramount, McConnplL i$ casual and down-to- ^arth in hl6 delivery. That goes for . his vocalizations, so-called philo- sophic squibs and homespun chatter. With this itt.mind' and for a certain : stratum of the populace it lands . safely, , Tltiri also injects interior decora- tion hiews. Charg.cter of Irene Lee Taylor is introduced to discuss, colors, I'his time she -Waxed enthusiastic Over grey and yeUow combination for the Iritchen. McConneill as an m. c. here makes It very informal, managing to brin«( all participants inta the copy. He •. kidded himself about ^e new title, which' was all right for his air fol- loTwing; Whieh is of the loyal kind that also likes to\smile now and th4n^ 'Sabbath listening groove is favf»r?ble • to the. broadcast . Bral MABTBOLAND ■ 'The Aii of Converpstlon* Comedy 5 Mins. FLEISCHMANN TEAST Thnrs., 8 p.ni. (Once) W£AE, New York (J. WoKer Thompson) Even though theme smacks of any- thing but originality, 'The Art of Conversation' uncorks a goodly as- sortment of chuckles and could eas- Uy serve as a repeater for Mary Boland in the near future. Script is ah original'by Keith Fowler; who obviously has the nimble, touch for dovetailing character sketching with hoke patter. J 'Conversation* fits in neatly with La Roland's comedy style. It deals with a chatter-box frau with a sinfv- lar knack for saying the wrong thmg who undertakes to entertain a pros- pective ■ client of her husband, the. latter being -detained at. his office. Script's ' plot takes the obvious course; the wife talks out of turn about her husband's business and the prospective client blows in a huff, vowing that his is one account that the husbaUd won't get All the traditonal mechanics that go with this iiype of femme cl^arac- terization are there, including the device of having the woman con- stantly addressing the stranger :.by every moniker but his .own. Odec. HARVET HAMMOND Commonity Sing 15 lUTins. Sastaining WBAL, Bulttmore . Hearst:«wned WBAL is apparent- ly-trying earnestly to peddle com- mercial, rights to this, one, -w^hich is fixkt Balto broadcast to slip, in on the newest ether crazer-conimunity chanting,* Have a* pretty good setup, using singing-organist Harvey. Haiti- mond. direct from Loeyr's vaudfilm Century, and u&ihg the customers in house opl supper show Monday eve- ning as the talent. Hammond is strikingly popular here, and since this to-wn is', about' totally devoid of programs which public may vistiaUy attend, mob probably, in the Century each Mon- day to get'Chance to stretch their tonsils anonymously over the ether. Catch in selling conunercial rights may lie in fact no sponsor woUld want time given to the theatre to plug its stage and screen featuresi and by Same token theatre wouldn't offer facilities, Oustomers and or- ganist, if. couldn't have plugs. 'When caught Monday. (24) large house in theatre chorused out lustily for. repertoire . of" those -apparently deathless sentimental pop songs per- sons are Wont to yodel when on straw rides, at hock-beer-bunds, etc. Group .-of the old faithfuls were ex- humed by Hammond and were in right vein.. Hammond's leading and exhortaili6ns to the mob to let loose were nicely intoned» and program^is as good as the chain onesi save that pickup from the" theatre is not so smooth as from a N. Y. studio. WBAL announcer Rex Reynolds opened and shut the'period-caught, and also injected the one (3entury plug midwav; was far off form when heard. "When opening program^ after announcine .what and why it was, he jsaid; 'Which you -will enjoy —I hope'; and the inflection on the •hope' implied directly that listeners -wouldn't. 'When plugging th« Cenfurv show on stage and screen, Reynolds men^ tioned that house was air-cooled and apparently he thought he was -tout- ing fact when at length he solnt- tered: "Everything is tool down Here but the audience.'' Perhans Reynolds tbinks.theatres soend shekels tfl keiep just the pit musicians cool. Bert. <BAND PLAYS ON' With' Art tCTOok- Orchestra, Jimmy Agjie. Mnslc, Songii SO »|ins. Sustaining Sat; S p. m. EDST WOB, New York ' ■ ^ ■ Title tells the truth. Little or no announcements in the half-hour with music- on practically solid. It's a slow and oasy tempo. . Program originates from Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland, whiere it is said to have dra-wn nicely during the summer. Maybe they -don't" dattte very'fast in Ohio, but Cook's-music seemsi light in urge for. any spirited foot-tapping on a shiny floor. ■ Medleys run from five to six num- bers in a stretch. Idea of 'the band plays .qn' is impressed, so much so, that announcer's brief appearances are generally snowed under toward the eiid, -with the band already un- der way. Last few numbers are lost Completely as to Identification. Jimmy Ague bandies sineing spots regulalrly. with guesters filling in in- termittently. A girl was spotlighted for extra hartnonizing this time. Expo visitors probably find it pleas- ant to listen to, but. punch is dis- solved on the ether,-due to ^''-a^gy tendency. JBraL LOVES OF SOUTHEBN SEAS With Florence Golden, J«an Jostyn and Don Morrison Synchronized Musical Drama 30 Mins. iSustalning Toes. 8:30 p.m. EST WLW, Cincinnati Listeners to this show were given much:to exoect opening anhounce- ment heralding it as something new in presentation- ef radia drama, by reason of what was claimed as 'radio's., first synchronized musical drama,-* 'In. the sign-off, auditors were invited to contribute opinions, Result was a flood of telephoned, telegraphed and -written comment. Offering originally done on the Crosley super some months since. Don Becker authored the story. Vir- ginio Marucci, conductor-composer On the 500„000 watter's • staff, con^ tributed the musical score. A musical theme was developed for each principal character and musical themes also were evolved for the separate emotions. Their com'- binatlon for a lavish mUsical score produced unusual results. Whole thing moved fast and thie accurate synchronization allowed for uncanny realism. Splendid orchestral performance was bolstered at proper intervals by the station's mixed chorus. Dran^atic chores also were done in zingy style, v/ith Miss Golden's role of Kana, native love target, particularly out- Standing. It was the second WLW show fed , to NBC in eight nights. EolL TOPEYE THE SAILOB' With Floyd Buckley, Charles Law- rence, Jimmy Donnelly, Olive Lsmby, Vic Irwin Oreh IS Mins. WBEATENA, M-W-F: 7:15 p. m. EDST WABC, New York . (Rohrabauoh & Gibson) A switch of networks an4 agencies for Topeye* this year, but otherwise it's very similar.' W^teif Ciraig, who .directed—but did not inaugurate the program last yieaf—continues to run the show. It takes plenty of run- ning. The problem is'to translate an 'action* character of pronounced eccentricities into a plausible figure on the radia It's far from simple even though the program's audience .—predominately kids—are so smitten with Popeye' that on almost any -terms hels acceptable. - • , Craig has Worked out the ideal and intelligent formula. The mood is set much of the action is underlined, and the continuity.'.a vague and sketchy affair, is sewed'together at the seams by music. Different strains of ;music. fit the several characters. It mecms that Popeye, Olive Oyle, Wimpy, etc., each has a theme song; • Play that strain and the kids know who's In the - spotlight or, coming into it. Moreover, certain music means going upstairs, coming do-wnstairs^ skipping, etc. Program is a mass of sound effects and "split-^second cues; Vic; Irwin has to be posed constantly for quickpick-ups. When Popeye eats the Wneatena—^four bowls—to gain •strength the gulping is conveyed by musical- effect .' . Floyd Buckley is Popeye. He renders the basso profoundo of the mighty bicep. character to what should be' the eminent gratification' of the kids. 'I Am What I Am' dltly is sung in the characteristic and Ex- pected vernacular of this fabulous hero of childhood. 'Plot' of Popeye is hard tp conceive with the naked ear. It's always the same-^a simple problem, a quick solution. Indeed the sponsor in a statement to parents read at .the con- clusion of the first installment made it an clear. .Never, never, positively never, will Popeye -use his strength other than for the cause, of virtue. ;^ever, never, positively never, need mom or pop worry for. fear little Junior will hear other thto, 'whole* some' entertainment and. sound ethics. Just feed Junior "Wtteatena to take care of his physical* well- being and this program will guide him safely through the mazes of of What's right and what's -wrong. There .is every reason to suppose Popeye as now paced, directed, musi- cally backgrounded and put together by Irwin will -Wrai> itself up a large and. devoted following. Land. GIVE ^EM THE HEAT*^ Mnslcomedy 39 Mlm. Sustaining - Tnes., 8:30 CST WLW, CincinnatL . A new show by Don Becker, vet Crosley sciripter and producer, fed to NBC Red Web.. General order, except for connecting story and spe cial tunes, similar to that of 'Crosley Follies,* one Of the station's long- time, weekly stanzas. High class or Chestral support under baton of Bill Stoess, who supplied the music, with lyrics by Tom Richley, CS:osl*y re- liables. Cast, also capable, from the station's large dramatic staff. . - A far-f($tched satire, the plot con cerning a millionaire's son who pays a.gangster mob to toughen him ub to win the hand of the gal of his heart. Principal parts filled by Harry Lang,, faorence Golden, Jean Joyston and Luise Sc|uire all o,k. A hoke swing, dovetailing with speedy tempo of the entire period. Vocal solos, okeh, by Adrian O'Brien, Ellis Frakes and Vicri Chase, Tlie Smoothies, two boys .and a girl,, contributed a brightlight of the pro- ceedings with their big league close harmonizing of the title theme num- ber. - Should please light entertainment •devotees. KoU. BEBNABB MACFADDfiN Talk 15 Mins. LIBEBTir Tnesday, 10 p.m. EDST WOB, New York (Lennen «Sr Mtchell) This is not the first time that Mac- fadden's nickel mag has etherize .speeches on the economic and po- litical situation, but the current twist is that the,proprietor himsejf ^does the broadcasting. Average dialers won't find the gabbing much to their interest but the big biz crowd, at least, that faction which carries a stiletto up its. sleeve for the New Deial, will be apt to echo ameiv That's apparently the pur- pose of the program anyhow-^—to in- terest the big boys. Macfadden rag, with its couple million circulation, isn't after readers, ^It's after adver- tising appropriations. .. Macfaddon's voice and .deliyery. are of poor air calibre, but he at- tempts to make up for it Broad- casts come close to verbal mayhem, Opener, .(25) was on the topic, 'The Property Class; •'Who Are They?' Macfadden used this oratorical- springboard for a dive into Roose-. velt policies, Russian form of gov- ernment, taxes and a couple of other favorite targets. From the viewpoint of program- ming, all appraisal of this stan2a Is useless because no programming is involved. „ Edflo. MULLEN SISTEBS Sinffaig 16 Mins.. Sustaining Thursday,.8:45 p.m. ED$T WOB, New York A harmony trio whose tricky rhythmic disposition of popular numbers listens .well and has suffi- cient air audience force to suggest commercial possibilities. Girls are iKathleen^ Mary and Hilda. They work with a piano accompanist ahd are of the school that produced the Boswell Sisters. Forte is singing in swing tempo. : Mullens open with their own verr sion, rather unique, of 'My Blue Heaven,' a number which not only lends itself to harmopic display, but to the odd style this trio' practices, A inedley of songs from recent fea- ture film releases, followed, when eared on the air, in turn to be fol- lowed by a symphonic arrangement of 'Dinah.' In doing 'Dinah' the girls give it vefy odd. but fairly effective treatment 'Way Down ■yonder in New Orleans," their closer Thursday night (27), also received somewhat different Vocal handling, Mullen voices' listen as young voices. Diction excellent at all times. Char. BETTY AND BEB NEIGHBOB BOYS MUaioal > 15^ Mins. PETEB FOX BREWING CO. Thurs., 9:15 p.m. ET WBBAI, Ohlieago iSchwirnmer & Scott) Here's a nice snappy 15-minute musical program. Betty Hari-ington tickles the ivories and harmonizes with a trio tagged 'The Neighbor Boys." All four have nice pipes ahd blend together smoothly. Solos by Miss Harrington and the trio break it .up a bit and add spice to the pro- gram. There's a clever handling of com- mercials during program. 'Betty and her Neighbor Boys' precede 'March of Time', and about 9:28 render their theme song giving impression they're going off air. After a 20- second period of silence blare of trumpets is heard and average listener thinks 'Time' is on the air. Instead, a brief comic sketch, goes oh., In this case, it's a scene bfetween Cleopatra and Anthony with latter • bringing the queen a present of a precious amber fluid from Rome, Of course, it turns out to be 'Peter Fox De-Luxe Beer.* It's oke idea and- gets attention of those who may tune in on station'a minute or' two before 9;30 to catch "'March of,Time,* Brain-child is -work of C^eoil Widdefield of Schwimmer & Scott agency. 'FOXES OF FLATBUSH^ With MIgnon Schiclber, Murray Forbes, Betty Lou Gerson, Margaret Shanna ] Dramatic Skit Sustaining Mon.-Fri, 3:00 p.m. ET. WENB, Chicago; Here's another skit that depicts the life-of a Jewish family in New York; In 'Foxes of Flatbush' the main char- acter is a Jewish widow and the ac- tion centers about her and her' chil- dren. At shows caught, Benny Fox, just beginning, a professional career, is ^tting ready for-another fight, Celia Fox is making plans-foT her forth-.' coming marjiage, and gister Eva is secretive and tight-lipped over a split-up with-her boy-friend. Plenty of action here--to hold the attention of the femmes and youngsters. Show, is well acted and Jnoves along at a . lively clip, Mignoh Schreiber. Chicago radio actress, authors the script. and enacts' the Mama Fox role. Loop. STEAMBOAT CALLIOPE 15 Mins. Monday, 0:15-6:30 p.m. Sustaining WCCO," Minneapoiis-St Paul Probably the- only, regularly-sche- duled series of calliope concerts ever carried by a - radio station is 4hls weekly stanza b'roadcast directly' frqm the top . deck. of the riyer steamer Capitol, dockiSd on the Mis- sissippi ait St Paul. . Played by'the pianist of the boat's ork, the shrlli off-key. harmonies are a decided change of diet and a bright interlude ih the usual fare of swing stuff and classic. Of interest is the fact that when playing the steam-fed contraption, the musicker keeps his ears stuffed with cotton, to prevent eardrum abuse from the vol- uminous tones which 200 pounds of steam pressure produces. Program, which ties in with WCCO Artist Bureau players who perform oh board during the boat's excur- sions, comes on early enough so that the announcer appeals to listeners in the hamlets; 'There is still plenty of time to drive in to St, Paul, park your car and come abroad; thO boat leaves at 9 o'clock.' Also uses the line; " 'Hurry .up your chores and drive in .tonight; there's plenty of time.* Rash. •FEPPEB YOUNC^ With Cortia Arnall, Betty Wrarce, Marlon Bafney* Jaek Bosleigh Serial 15 Mins. PBOCTEB « GAMBLE Men; io-Frl., 10:30 EDST WJTZ;, New York ' (Pedlor & Ryan) Built for milady's peachbloom complexion. What Camay soap does is make her beautiful, toss away the ■wallflower guise, forget her widow's garb .and become a dashing figure -with the boulevardiers. Series uses a homespim family serial to get this glamour across. Copy begins with a barrage of beauty hints at the start Much is made over dull and rough skin, and strong suggestions not to pass up the daily Camaying of one's face. < Character of Pepper Young is a likable chap; not too bright and alert but with a certain gracious quality which does not bore on a mid-morn- ing'groove. This time he was work- ing at a garage, with a strange, beautiful Camay-washed lady driv- ing up and asking^ for .gas. Noise in filling-up the tank was novel, with bell sounding off the six gallons. Suspended action is conveyed in standard maimer, by the newcomer leasing a report'Od haunted - house down the shady street and the entire garage staff puzzled why she should do this. Program carries as much juvenile interest as adult . Cast i. uniform in delivery. There's a slight semblance of young romance in the talfe, nice irt its impact for' prospective women buyers and okay for the younger ones who are quiet enough in the -morning to dial in. Americana * pleasantries are best brought home in Pepper Young's steady exclamations. Brat. FoDow-Up Comment In losing a best friend, in Minne- sota, radio came nobly to ,the fore Wednesday (26) afternoon at the last rites for Gov. Floyd Olson. WCCO piped its coverage to 'WEBC, Duluth, and "WMFG, Hibbing, while KSTP's handling of the obsequies was picked up by KROC, Rochester, where, at the' Mayo cliilic, the governor' died Saturday (22) night. KABE. KSTP's traveling transmittei:, followed 'the funeral procession a short distance after the other stations had signed off. Staunch ally of radio, the governor attributed election to his last (third) term directly and unequivocally to his campaign on the ether. News- papers throughout the state had op- posed him. bitterly. Announcers pointed out that rep- resentatives of three faiths: Lutheran (Rev, Stub), Jewish (Hibbi Aron- son) and (Catholic (Father Dunphy) would dieliver respectively the ser- inoh, and psalm and invocation. In reading the 23td psalm. Rabbi Aronson paused to pay tribute to 'Governor Olson's lack of prejudice against' any creed or race' declaring particularly that 'the Jews of Min- nesota knew Floyd Olson as a sincerO and understanding friend.' (Born and raised in a poor neighborhood, Floyd could both understand -and speak Yiddish fluently, a fact little known outside his intimates.). . United Norwegian Singers, a group of 100 male voices, accompanied on the organ by EHoise Rowan, sang hymns. Between announcements throughout the services sobs could be heard, but 'the surge of emotion which encompassed Rev. Stub's re- marks , to the .governor's widow, -daughter and parents (present at .the rites), ended with the speaker him- self • *'etcome and speaking in a choked voice. ' Gov. LaFoUette delivered the ora- tion. Closing his remarks on a ris- ing inflection with the words: 'And when he fell, he went down as when a lordly cedar, green with boughs, goes down, with a great shout upon the hills, and leaves a lonesome place -attainst the sky,' so" great a hush came upon hiis listeners that^one could hear the proverbial pin drop. And when the audience was in- vited by Rev. Stub, Lutheran (Ol- son's faith) pastor, to join in the singiiig of the closing hymn, 'Nearer My God to Thee,' the emotional climax was reached, .as the. thou- sands of throats closed and tears rolled down cheek-s of inen and women alike. The Norwegian Sing- ers finished the last chorus almost in a huni, and practically .unaided. National Farm and Home Hour blew the opening network whistle of the 1936 season when, as a build-up for the charity game, at Soldiers Field, Chicago, Sept 1, between a newspaper-reader-chosen all star college eleven and the world tham- pionshiD professional Detroit Lions, it airfed an interview which Helen Pisher, a member of the Hour staffj carried on with Bernie Bierman, coRch of the rah-rahs and of the U. of Minnesota squad, and several of his All Americans, including Jay Berwanger of Chicago University, and Riley Little of U. of Alabama, Norman Cloutier's Merry Mad- caps and Joseph Blume's Blue Room Echoes, both long fed to the NBC Red by WTIC, Hartford, have been advised by the latter station that their terms are up on Sept 22.