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34 VARIETY RADIO REVIEWS Wednesilaj, November^ ^, 1937 A)ec Woolcott Has Talent Shuddering As He Plows Into Adman-Polhidatt By EDGAR A. GRUNWALD Alexander Wbollcott was on Sta- tioh won, New York, last week on purchased time of the Citizens Non- partisan Committee. He came to praise George Backer, Labor can- didate in New York's 17th'silk stock- ing' congressional district, but his talk was a lambast at Bruce Barton, of Batten. Barton, Durstine & Os- borne, . who was running against Backer. WooUcott, a fornier sponsored broadcaster (J. Walter Thompson, ^Newell-Emmett) rushed right in to "the shuddeiring gasps of radio talent gewerally around New York. He ac- cused newspapers of opening their columns-generously to Barton's cam- paign publicity because of his ad- vertising agency connection. Not so long ago the American Civil Liberties "Union claimed that Cream o' Wheat, WooUcott's one- time sponsor, was putting the damper on him because he insisted on mak- ing uncomplimentary remarks about Hitler and Mussolini. WooUcott's testimonial for Backer was sans remuneration. As a piece of radio oratory it had .certain ad- vantages over the Crier's usual spon- sored technique. For one thing, his topic was so handled that-it sounded red hot; For another, WooUcott, in dispensing, with his esoteric vocab- ■ulary, can fumigate, the pseudo-hoity- toity airs and gets Mown to bedrock with wallop. Had ^Backer himself delivered this same address, it would probably have sounded lilce amateur ni?ht. Which a^ain accentuates the vast advantage a mike-trained speaker has over the garden variety. PATRICIA ANN MANNERS lyitk Jack Breoks, Howard Nen- . miller Variety IS-Minsj—Local gatthib FmoCKs Sunday, M:39. mjm. WBBDK/ Chica«» (Cwge H. HurttMtn) Show presents' nice idea in'mer- chandising, women's wear,, and some- thing: outstasding. in the way ot a Hollywooil eos^ptr. Paitricia AAn. Manners, fUIing »- .^ot announced as 'Pertinent Peaks Peekr»-Boo; gives the network chatters. sfKnething in. the ivay of lessoiuc Here is .a fine voice etpecialljr notaMc in this.sort of role, and delivery is timed to pre- vent either tension or boredom. Materia) is as. late, it not later than the Coast )k>7S are using, and is clean as m whistle; yet more enter- taining because ft adds news aoad human interest to get big entertain- ment. Miss Manners'abo smartly includes commercial . suggestion in the way of style descriptions of cloth,es worn by stars.' Nice sense of humor throughout, and minus any- thing gushy or supcriorness. Too bad she isn't filling a 15-minute spot by herself. No disparagement without com- ment to the singing of Jack Brooks or the pianoing of Howard Neu- miller; nor about the way the show is put together. Brooks and Neu- miller are standard around here, and can be. counted on to do credit- able work. But there is too much commercial —way too much. With the type songs used, and the suggestions in the gossip, it could be cut to a min- imum and still do a selling iob. In fact, unless the commercial is cut down it's going to be., difficult to make it hold an audience,, despite the worth oifi the', ntat&ial surrounded by those long and tiresome an- nouncements. Loop, BASIL JMAINE With Lisa Sergfo Talk 15 Mins. Sustainlntr WJZ-NBC, New York Basil Maine, critic of the London ounday Times, in a guest date on NBC's 'Let's Talk It Over," diq;ilayed a voice and a delivery notches ahoive what many English literati and Brit- ishers generally have shown on sal- vos heard in America. His comments, on the English language, English speech and music appreciation might' be considered too highbrow for mass reception, although not for the club- woman, presumably an important se^'ment of the listeners to this; pro- gram, but there could be little crit- icism of his microphonic technique. Instead of the usual English broadcaster's high-pitched tone, light volume and Oxfordiftn accent, with the annoyin»t syllaWe slurring, Maine's voice was low and firm, his articulation was clear, and his ac- cent fby our standards) was at a minimum. He discussed this subject, as well as nuitie appreciation; with Italian- reared Lisa Sergio, whcHn Maine characterized as the best woman radio spt-'aker he had heard. Miss Sergio, iormerly a commentator, in Engliih. fjt-om 2Ra, Home. The slight att'cclAiion sometimes noticed when she announees^ musical programs by 'the masters' was absent on this broadcast. ''flco. MARY JANE WALSH With Nat BrusllaJTs Oreh., Ross Graham 15 IVIins. BARBASOL Friday, 8 pja. WOR-MutasI-WLW-Une, New York {ErvAn, Wasey} As an Idea, good. But when caught on its iriitialer, the program Friday (29) put itself over, the barrel by inserting too mueh ^attempt at sexing up the show* Mary Jane Walsh, who- won out after a series of auditions, is getting h^r actual broadcasting baptism as a soloist of billing; heretofore she has worked as a vocalist with Seymour Simons and Shep Fields. She has a role in the new musical, 'I'd Rather Be Right' Producer Sam H. Harris has o.k.'d her skipping the finale of the show on ozoning evenings when her repeat broadcast at 11 p.m. con- flicts with the legit's windup. Her earlier airing is right. Miss Walsh is obviously under in- structions to literally drip sex over the air. She has also apparently precluded her selections to blues, which she bawls in a slow languor- ous style which should be varied by at least one snappy song in bright, patter manner per program. Her voice is good; her enunciation not so. The votal buildup given - the singer on the show is too glowing. She's immediately under a handicap. ' Brusiloff, an able musician,, is batoning a rather light-manned band; but stoutly good in agtion, and is right on the ball in accompanying .Miss Walsh. ' ■ '■ ■ Program is ushered on and off the air by baritone Ross Graham, un- billed, b^ssb profundo'ing the old Barbasol theme piece. That Graham may eventually get his billing and be doing a solo per program is not improbable. Plugs when tuned in were direct and carved out in bright copy. 'Once a low level was plumbed when the orch leader was csdled *Mr. Bristte- off.' Laughs at that were derisive, even in the studioi. This program, incidentally, is actu- ally dovetailing, itself *in- what is an unusual arrangement in rafdio. At 7:45 the show goes out to a half doz. Mutual stations, then directly after at 8 a repeat is made for WOR and a. flock of others, including .two •WLtW-Line broadcasters. At the con- clusion of the first slice, the . per- formers immediately take their places again for another whirl. And there remains,.. of course, the late evening second repeat. Bert. MAN IN TOUR NEIGBBOBHO.OD With Ked'JIarber, Sannay FnUer Interview 16 Mins.—^Local STRIETMANN BISCUIT CO. Mon.-Fri,, 1 p.m. WSAI, Cincinnati (Harry M. Miller) This is one of numerous novelty programs started of late on Crosley's smallie. For a burg the size of pincy it's great stuff, creating inter- est and gossip among.housewives and families. Red Barber, best known as a sports spieler handles the job three days a week and Sammy Fuller does it the other days. During the past baseball season Barber conducted ii man-on-the-street series for the same sponsor. On program caught. Barber visited four homes, fetching along a hand mike attached to Crosley's mobile unit, which rolls along with him. Smooth of voice and a swell ad libber, he never allows a tulL Tells }iow many steps he's climbing,, gives street number and description of residence approached. Women in- terviewed are told that their conver- saticMi is intended for broadcasting. In each, instance it evoked surprise. In signing off, Barber named the "neighborhood he would visit the fol- lowing day, and cautioned listeners to 'look for the big white WSAI mobile unit.' Koft, FoUow-Up Comment Paul Dumond emceeing Varsity Shows for Henry SoUvaine's Pontiac program (caught Oct. 22) is still doing an A^l job, considering next- to-tyro talent he plays with weekly. Use of stude spieler for commer- cial remains a clever stunt 'cause everybody feels for a not too sure performer with a strictly non-com- mercial voice and delivery. School songs, historical' background, glee club and state songs and community sing finis undoubtedly makes for listeners sentimentally partisan to collegiate stuff. Football season must help that. Comedy is tough, no doubt, and very little gets by or in. THE VARSnrV HOUR With Al Wold. Dick GullUBa, Herb Joesting:, Pus Lund and Ed L. Sltave Football €hattcr One Hour—Looat HAMM BREWING CO. Saturdays, 5 P.M. KSTP, St Paul-Minneapolis Wold and Cullum, from the Min- neapolis Journal sports staff, head- line this hour, with WpId chanting final scores on grid games from coast to coast, and readmg Cullum'is telegraphed comments when the Minnesota game is away from home. Ed Shave, sports ed of St. Paul Daily News, is pretty wordy. Herb Joesting. ex-fullback, is about the best of this group of so-called inside dope spielers (actually, they simply rehash the sport pages). Joesting harks back to some of the games he played, in, and points parallels. . Pug Lund, while his pipes are oke, sounds palpably like he's reading his copy; at times he limps. Hasn't nearly the zip before the mike that he had on the gridiron. He sounds sorta niatter of fact for a guy who-*^ suppo.sed .to be relating exicting events. Rash, Hollywood Hotel program on Fri- day (22) with episoaic selections from Paramount's new Northwoods trading-post picture, 'The Barrier,' left a pretty muddled impression of the forthcoming film. Broadcast won't just spur most folks on to catch the picture. Suspense angle intended to be provided by Louella Parsons tipped off only that complications ensued before the final clinch, and promised lots more excitement (!). Harry (Pop) Sherman, director, who niade- the picture from Rex Beach's story, was on the program, revealing that his acquiring the picture rights 'was a dream come true.' Parts were played by Gene Parker, Jimmy El- lison and Leo Carrillo. Miss Parsons remarked in intro- ducing CarriUo that he may run for Governor of California,- /assuring listeiiers that if he were eledted there would be nary a dull moment in the old home state, Ann' Jamison also sang an aria from Madame Butter- fly to mark the 54th anniversary of the Metropolitan Opera Co. Gags of the pun variety swapped- by Ken Murray and Oswald went a long wiay toward supporting the old contention re- that form of humor being the lowest form of wit. BCA's 'Magic Key' program last Sunday (31) included the third of the series of international inter- views by Linton Wells, who was in N. T. with Edgar Ansel. Mowrer, who talked from Brussels re the- forth- coming international ednfsib. It was ill very intiniate in terms of 'Hello Edgar' and 'Hi Lint.' Mowrer's dis- cussion 'clarified the situation for those listening in.' He was pretty pessimistic re results .of confab. Senorita Laura. Suarez of the Brazil concert and legit stage made her first American air try on the nrogram with a couple of songs, one Forhiguese and one Spanish, with guitar accompaniment. Did her own announcing and got by okay. She substituted at last minitte for Jan Kiepura* who was to have sung from Poland. Excerpts from "Lady Has>a Heart' with Vincent Price and Eiissa Landi, playing in their own roles." Weren't well suited for broadcasting. MIRIAM HOPKINS 'P. S.—She Got the Job' 30 Mins. INTERNATIONAL SILVER Sunday, 5 ptm. WABC-CBS, New York (Young & Ruhicam) More nice going by the 'Silver Theatre' that got away to a glisten- ing start with a four-part serial, 'First Love.' Program how reverts to a policy of playlets complete in one broadcast. First by Faith Bald- win (adaption credited to Paul Franklin). . Comparison of opposites is dif- ferent and perhaps not fair. . In the fuller time and characterization op- E>rtunities of 'First Love' Rosalind ussell and James Stewart were able to sink their molars down. Acting, in consequence, had exceptional sock. Miss Hopkhis, in contrast, had to use vaudeville sketch tempo. Short, quick strokes,, with little chance to weave the tight mesh that Rosalind Russell spun. , ' 'She Got the Job* moved snappily however (with perhaps a trace too much of the lap,dissolve technique. One bit by Miss Hopkins was whis- pered so low as to be practically in- audible.) In the main the narrative pulled enough tautness after the first few minutes to. rate as okay listener bait. In a verbal exchange epiloging the story, the star revealed to Conrad Nagel, the emcee, that she was Thea- tre Guild-headed for the new S. N. Behrman play. Supporting cast was able. Their names not available at Young & Rubicam New York office Monday. It is presumed GlenhalUTaylor con- tinues to direct, although , Nagel plays the producer' for the peasants. Land. Bill Robinsm's guester on *HoIly- wood in Person,' General Mills noon- time shot from the Coast, was per- haps the most natural and stimulat- ing one turned in by any picture 'name' recently close-upped here.. Colored tapster sounded like himself every second, dancing with a joyous abandon that registered via the loudspeaker 100%. Bob Baker, program pilot, had Boj angles talk about his philanthro- pies in Harlem, in Richmond, and in Los Angeles for his - early days in Richmond, and his unique diet (five quarts of ice cream daily is" one item). Robinson naturally three- sheeted for Shirley Temple, talked about her and her work not only in 'Heidi'' but in the forthcoming 'Re- becca of Sunnybrook Farm.' Bill seemed remarkably young for one who- w.Ul be 60,-May 25 next,-his own date tabbing. Robinson is the second Negro pro- gram has recently presented—Clar- ence Hume, song writer-warbler, was the first. •We, the People,* over CBS Thurs- day nights for Sanlca Coffee con- tinues to unleeish vivid and pene- trating scripting. Last week's guestee's on the stanza ran a 'wide variety of characterizations and mot^ Included were an urchin -who unloaded the impedimenta of his pockets, lady with a southern drawl to dish out an appeal for adoption of babies as the pathos of the show, a champ liar, a legally authorized. yodeler» a housefrau. who doesn't think her clown husband is funny CI scMmetimes think he married me just for it laugh'), a vet rider of the old pony express days—and several others. It's a sock session, with almost every guest scripted for at least one laugh and with Gabriel Heatter handling the m.c. post in strong fiishion. Clarence Francis, president of General Foods, sold himself and his company in a convincing manner on a recent 12-minute evening guester for General Electric's Farm Forum over .WGY. Script and . delivery combined to put across the idea that food manufacturers and farmers are 'in the same boat.' Francis did not STUMFVS CLUB Witii Harry Lnken?, CUH Shaw/ RMemary Hughes • < Novelty, Music, Siaging 15 Mins.—Local HURRY-UP BROADWAY Thursday,. 10 p.m. WAVE, Louisville • Local version of the 'send us. the .title, and we'll play or sing it' nov- elty program, with Harry Lukens handling the- chatter^ Cliff Shaw doing the ivory tickling, and Rose- mary Hughes chiming, in with, ah oc- casional vocal chorus; It^s spon-^ sored by a local tire store, zmd has already set q[uite a pace as a mail guller. Mail response is stimulated y an offer to giv^ two free theatre ducats to any person submitting a title, which cannot be played, sung, whistled, or what have- you. At program caught, performers were stumped about three times, but succeeded in recalling, many tunes which were unknown to or forgotten by this listener. Cliff Shaw ha^ an easy rippling style at the piano, and has an able vocal teammate in the person of Rosemary Hughes, warbler who is a vet on local air waves. Harry Lukens handles the chatter in an easy, informal style, and car- ries the program along at a snappy pace, -without straining for laughs. Program gives impression of un- forced spontaneity, and gives every indication of being a hit with local listeners. - Hold, 'FASHIONS IN LOVELINESS' With Charles Irving, Arleth Hacber- le, Myndall Cain Drama 10 Minsw-rLMal POWDER PUFF BEAUTY SHOP M-W-F; 10:45 A.M. WTCN, St. Paul-Minneapolis ' iGerald S. Beskin) tliumb nail drama on great love stories of history, these 10-minute spots are so punchy that they listen twice their length. Idea is a natural for the beauty biz. Myndall Cain spiels the commersh, which could stand pruning for the sake of a bit more length on the dramatic side. Sam Kaufman's scripts indicate beaucoup research— and with ske.d calling for some 90 airings, it looks like midnight oil for Kaufy, who has planned his historic love legends to ^n the period from psyche to la 5iropson. . .Rash. . KEN RAPIEFF 'Football Round-Up' 15 Mins.—Local Sustaining Saturday, 6:30 p.m. WICC, Bridgeport-New Haven Capitalizing known interest in scholastic grid stuff through southern Connecticut area, WICC has smartly assembled a tidy 15-minuter to sand- wich among the several college post- game sessions Saturday evenings. Ken Rapieff, staff spieler at Bridgeport studio, does all the read- ing. Program opens with dramatic continuity, Rapieff rapid-firing as on gridiron with crowd noises in back- ground; slicing this in half, at least, would help. After that scores of school contests, with highlights of major tilts. Dope's prepared by Rob- ert Maguire, WICC news ed, with school correspondents filing. No doubt at all about need for such an autumn service. Elem. talk like a business tycoon, stuff- shirted or cocksure, but like an ap- proachable, can-see-the-other-fel- low*s-viewpoint individual. Voice clear, personality pleasing. , Veered around to the ctfbperatlon existing between GenertkrFoods and theNtarmers, to the new maricets company had helped to create for them in quick-frozen foodstuffs, and to the big expansion planned alorfg this line for 1938. MET. pPERA AUDITIONS With Josepha Chekova, Frank Horn- aday, Leonard Warren, Lee Pat« ter$on, .^Ufred Pelleti'er Orch. 30 Mins. '» SHERWIKi^-WILLlAMS Sunday, 5 p.m. WJZ-NBC, New York . (Cecil, Warwick & Legler) Setup is similar to last year, with a few carefully selected singers placed before the mike. Plenty of intangible Mfetropolitan Opera 'at- mosphere' to hypo ' the glamor of the occasion and much Is made of the possible. audition angle of the show. A good angle to plug and results in a forte radio show. On the showv caught (31) soloists were Josepha Chekova, soprano; Frank Hornaday, tenor, and Leonard Warren, baritone. AU ^yere bke, at least for radio. (What they would be in the Met is naturally another matter!) In case further doubt nifght be necessary for the 'audition' angle, it was noticeable, as usual, that the three singers were entirely different in type. So comparison was dis- couraged. If choice is possible be- tween a soprano, tenor and. baritone^ let this one favor the lady—^at least, for more tone color and mike per- sonality. . Lee Patterson, director of the Met's spring series, was m.c. Com- mercials were within, bounds. Hobe. EVERGREEN EMPIRE ON PARADE Salute Pregr»ni 3t Mins.r-Kegienal KOL, SeaUle If KOL's sialutation Sunday cele- brating this station's tiie|rin to '. Mu- tual-I>on!Lee.is a sample Of what the boys can produce out this way, this network is in for some good, shows originating in these studios. Seattle halt hour w^s preceded by good will blasts from WGN, Chicago,' through Ted Weems and his band and back slapping, with mu^ic aroni KHJ/ Con Lee's Los Angeles outlets . Evergreen Empire oh'Parade was. written by Grant' Merrill, who helped Doug. Williamson .in |»^oduc- tion. . Don Isham's band' playing in- tro and background was a standout.. First stanza of the show. was dra- inatized with four chaitacters han- dling dialogue scene'aroimd. the 1898 gold rush and sti<impede, the dnrival of the first Igold ship aind. other his- torical data. Yarn about bui):ding the first t;. S. battleship on .the Pacific Coast by Robert Moran in Seattle and how $100,000 was raised by popular sub lent color to the narration which Wilson Edwards delivered in big time order. Half hour was peppy, original and fast. This show Was originally set for ■ coast to. coast but was held at the last minute to Coast MUtual-Don Lee on account of clearances, but talent, did. not know it .until after. Smith. BEN DAVIS, JR. PoIHlcal Talk 15 Miu.r-Lo«!al COMMUNIST PARTY Friday, 7 p. m. ^JZ, New York Negro leader, staff writer for the Daily Worker and defense attorney at the Hemdon trial, Ben Davis, Jr., was the Communist party advocate last Friday (22) over WJZ. While it was hardly in the established order of things to expect a Negro Com- munist to be spieling over the Na- tional Broadcasting (To.'s..very best kilocycles, Davis' remarks were, any-, thing but rabble-rousing, • • •' His arguments for the-re-election. LaGuardia and his ticlcet were mild. All progressive Negroes, said Davis, should vote against 'I'ammany, which has stood for discrimination and persecution against colored peo- ple in schools, on jobs, wages and has consistently violated their legal rights. As a speaker, Davis is capable, if not brilliant. Seems probable that his speech would sway few votes, since those who might have stuck otit the session were already con- vinced, while Tammany^ adherents would quickly twist the dial. Hobe. COLLEGE NIGHTS . With Gov. James Allred, Dana Bible, Jittmy Watson's Orch . 30 Mias^-ScKitnal TEXAS COCA-COLA BOTTLERS Thnrs.. 8:30-7 p.im4 Sat., 6:39 pan. WFAA, Dallas Governor of the state, James V. Allred, interviewed head football mentor, Coach Dana X. Bible of University of Texas, on the Coca- Cola College Nights broadcast over WFAA, Dallas, and the Texas Qualr ity Network. Which is something. Spicy and decidedly collegiate program included Texas imiversity Longhom Band, directed by Col. George E. Hurt; a co-ed trio ccnn- posed of Kathryn Spence, Vivian Dahlberg and Louise Sels; a violin- trombone duo composed of Dave Bartlett and Colonel Hurt, and Jimmy Watson's jazz orchestra. Originating in Hogg Memorial auditorium in Austin, the broadcast was highlighted by the unusual in- terview between Gov. Allred and Coach Bible, as a forerunner of the Texas-Rice football clash on Satur- day (2a). As usual, Benn Lee Boynton. southwest football official, predicted outcomes'of the weeds' games. 'Col- lege Night' broadcasts are clicking big hereabouts.