Variety (Apr 1939)

26 VARIETY RADIO REVIEWS Wednesday, April 26, I939 Lux Theatre Duplicated in Australia; M the Trinnmngs as iu United States By EBIC GOBBICK Sydney, March 27, Lever Brothers' Lux brand soap has launched a pretentious hour's entertainment here over the Mac- Quarrie network.(program reviewed on 2 GB, Sydney) which follows, as closely as Atistralian conditions per- mit, the orleinal Monday night Hour on the Columbia network in the states. For the Inaugur^ broadcast (Sundays, S-9 p.m.) a transoceanic telephone greeting came over the equator from Cecil B. DeMille, the curtain raiser of the Yank program. In his remarks he staggered Austral- ian imaginations by stating the Lux Tlieatre out-of Hollywood plays to an audience of 15,000,000 listeners. Premiere also was marked by cabled greetings from Errol Flynn and Merle Oberon, both with Australian ties. Hugh J. Ward, dean emeritus of the Australian legitimate stage, was a guest,. suggesting that the hour will include, oesides the narrative portion, personalities and lobby talk similar to the American formula. Included, too, is the 'Doug- las- Garrick' character as the direc- tor. (Not known at time of writing who he really Is.) Irene Purcell, from ' America, played-the lead in 'Interference' as the first on the Ltix series. She is here with -The Women' and is avail- able through the MacQuarrle cousin- ship with the dramatic stage over here, without which link vbci Lux shows could scarcdy be cast In a manner befitting the pretentiousness of the whole project It is generally felt here that Lux has established new highs for Australian radio and the program can't fail to dick. New producer for MacQuarrle did Tourists wi« spend extra millions in SALtUKECini KDYL a zippy job with such ah old-time dramatic show as Interference,' and Sslished the whole thing to a brll- E^nt lustre. Waste wordage was thrown out, and the tempo was main- tained at a pace entirely unknown on the' air before. Miss Purcell fitted the role of Lady Marley ideally, dicking without dif- ficulty in her first air performance in Australia. Harvey Adams, a legit trouper of many Williamson-Tait past stage successes, was well cast as Sir John Marley. Thelma Scott and Peter Finch also turned in bright performances. The musical inter- ludes and effects were expertly timed, and the commercial plugs were cut and executed crispl^ by the studio announcer between acts. 'Interference' is to be followed with 'Hands Across the Table.' with Mary Dees and The Bishop Misbe- haves,' with Lou Vernon. JIHHT WALKEB CoBunentator 15 HlDs.-I.oeaI CBAWFOBD CLOTHBS H-W-F; 8:15 pjn. WJZ, New York (Al Paul Le/ton) The ex-mayor of New York is do- ing a thrlce-weeklv commentary' which gives him appropriate scope. Just' now, as he lUscusses interna- tional affairs and with the latter on the double-quick marche milltaire. Walker may be at a disadvantage If contrasted with such commentators as Hans von Kaltembom or Ray- mond Gram Swing. As regards the public these men have a distinct head start and greater familiarity with the subject But perhaps as and whei. and If tLj European tempo slows down the advantage of Walker's wider range and light touch will emerge as an asset There is reason to believe that in the fullness of time radio lis- teners are. going to tire of too great solmeni^ or dramatics. Such pyro- technical displavs as those put on by some disciples of the soenery- chewing school are particularly due for a itoint of saturation according to all omens. Walker's abiUty as a speaker, his sense of humor, his personalis should build an audience. As a news commentator he is on solid ground and Is not limited to the foreign sit- uation or nation's politics; Wisely there is no reference to his former political eminence. He's James J. Walker and listriers are invited to suggest themes for discus- sion by addressing faim thus, or. If you prefer, Jimmy Walker.'. He recently concluded a once- weeUy charity program series over WMCA Short shots: Composer Arthur Schwartz guested on the Major Bowes-Capitol Family CBS hour Simday and, of course, got in a plug for his current 'Stars in Tour Z^es.' When it came to quipping cdMUt Jimmy Durante's sdmoale. Bowes refused to lead with his own pro- boscis, smartly kidding that sloiia- tlon. Tunesmith Sdliwartz medleyed past tunes and a current excerpt from the 'Stars' score ... . F0LL0W4IP COMMENT Bowea* Cook and Ralph Bowman, who got a set of screen roles out of Wrlgley's 'Gateway to Hollywood' stunt were slipped into last Wednes- day's (19) installment of the Texaco program for a romantic tet-a-tete based on the Abe Lincoln-Ann Rut- ledge saga. While the writing strained hard on the listener's cre- dulity the two youngsters imparted a keen sense of mood and dramatic nuances to their' lines. . Bowman showed a tendency to drop his. drawl in moments of tension but this didn't detract anjr from the skill of his per- formance. Jesse Lasky, impresario of the 'Gateway' series, came on la- ter for a bow and to say how proud he was of the job that they had done. Rest of the program reflected, as usual, a condition of being top heavy with comics but feather-lIght in sparkling comedy. It's strictly from the files and away back to the Gus Sun time. Billy Gilbert's dialect contributed much to the fanfare but hardly any solution to the underly- ing problem of this department BOA Magic Key is putting new emphasis on RCA's television, along with radio communications, now that David Samofl has officially heralded the company's visio plans. This past Sunday (23) the program highlighted excerpts from the 'Hot Milcado (re- viewed in detail elsewhere), plus Sheilb Barrett and Bnma Castagna. Latter, Metopera contralto. Is a new Victor artist and her vocal stint significantly heralded her waxings. Miss Barrett's "Without Honor* monolog was up to her usual high standard It dealt with a HoUy- wood-retumed satellite who meets grave disappointment in the manner in which her hometown folks wel- come her back to the fold. Impres- sionistic monolog was fertile, with sound and shrewd values, yet broad enough for general appeal. Dr. Ftank Black was impressively preluded by annoimcer Ben Grauers mtroductories, and the maestro sus- tained his usually high batting aver- age with classics and a syipphonized arrangement of 'Star Dust' whidi elevated that pop almost into the. classicist circle. Another good InstltuUonal buildup for the TtBC commercial facilities was announcer Grauer's emphasis on the fact that all advertisers, spon- sors and ad agencies are pre- scrutinized before theirproducts are baHyhooed over the NBC air. thus further insuring the high quality, ethical standards and integri^ of the merchandise so advertised Because RCA "values your -confidence and good will,' it is inteipreted in favor of the articles exploited on the air, was the essence of the spleL Then followed another top-off plug for RC^ television, whidt. of course, is in line with the company's new vislo sets just going on the market IiMal-boy-makes-good highli^ted an unusually good Horn & Hardart children's hour Simday (23) morn- ing, under Paul Douglas' usually capable m.c.'ing. when Ezra Stone, alumnus of the Automat show, did an excerpt from 'What a Life.' His 'Henry Aldrich' is, of course, now a radio standard, as well as a stage classic, and Douglas took occasion to mention that among the talented young Stone's many achievements, will be the summer, groove to suc- ceed Jack Benny during the hot weather layoff. With Mort Howard a ladle and versatile plmologst^e undoubtedly is responsible for much of the pains- taking rehearsing, as well as the musical accomp—announcer Douglas pages his juvenile charges wisely and welL As a kid show there's mudi adult shrewdness evidenced throughout Each week, the show takes a new tack. , so that it's not a haphazard aflalc—^instead It becomes possessed of a central theme' with each successive Sunday, This past Sabbath it was basebau. WedE be- fore it. was the World's Fair, etc, There are excellent mainstays to punctuate the proceedings, such as Percy Twerp, the Fred Allen-Port' land Hbffa team, a' Baby Snooks taker-offer, Al Richking, a dialectic comedian, plus a basic stock com- pany of adolescent harmonic vocal- ists, accordion sollst trap-drum spe- cialist etc. OklBhoma radio stations competed last week in observance of the .50th anniversary of the land rush of 1889, the natal day of the state. Most of the stations put together one or more special events, some studio-produced, others remotes of civic whoopdedo. Among the programs covered were these: KOCT, Oklahoma City—a half hour dramatic effort that got a lot of talk because' this small unaffiliated unit was not counted upon for much. Wayne Davenport prepared the script and Marvin Krause carried the lead. With a bunch of amateurs the stanza hit the ozone after only two rdiearsals "and pulled a surprising audience response. KTOK. Oklahoma City—Parade and cdebration at Guthrie. Okla., 30 miles north of Oklahoma City, was pumped to Mutual as a 30-iiunute package. It also went to the Oikla- homa web. Waymond Ramsey han- dled the microphone, grabbing inter- views with marching biggies and managing to confine the politico spiels to one-minute capsules. Dick Johnson stayed in the vantage booth. Besides the gab, there was plenty of on-the-scene atmosphere and color. KOBIA, Oklahoma City-^KTUL, Tulsa—Complete coverage of the fesQvltles was co<^ed up by KOMA, whidi fed it to its sister station, KTUL. Most of the events were cov- ered in the hour and a half program, plus 30 minutes description of the parade at nearby Guthrie. Only bet- ter knowledge of cowpoke stuff might have improved the' annc^mc- ing. WKT. Oklahoma City—This NBC outlet ethered a SO-minute program from the municipal auditorium, where its parent the Oklahoma Publishing Co., staged a two-hour show. Admish of 7Sc. top was charged. . Script written several years ago by Paul Kennedy for a similar presentation was adapted, with Allen Clark's orchestra supply- ing the badtsround and Earl HuUs handling sound. Naiph Abadaher producer. Irene Castle was Eddie Cantor's guest Monday (24) for Camels. It was brief and vague, not clearly bringing out the human interest story of the dancer, and not giving her much, to say that every other guest star isn't handed. She was given a flip remark or two about Cantor's comedy. There was an un- capped reference to his yen to be a dancer. She handled herself wdl and voice comes across the air nice- ly. It all seemed to take too much for granted, the recent experience of the film indicating the moderh generation needs telling as to who and what Irene Castle and the fabled Vernon were. Rest of the performance had a good spattering of p i^gl^ THE HOT MIKADO' With Hassard Short, Bob Parrhh. Eddie Green, Bose Brown. Sui Bobluon, WUllam Parson 1* suns. BCA Sunday, 2-S pjn., EST WJZ-NBC, New York RCA liked swhigopated GUbert and Sullivan so much tliat it did an encore this past Sunday (23) ^th Michael Todd's The Hot Mikado* follo'wing by several weeks its prel vioiis broadcast of the 'WPA produc- tion, 'Swing Mikado,' Possessed of more name value In the presence of stager Hassard Short, who also did the commentation skilfully and welL plus Bill Robinson and others the Todd excerpt was a bright interlude. jangles Robinson in the title role. The G&S words and music were faithful in the main, save for the syncopated renditions, but Robin- son's 'Make the Punishment Fit the 'Crime' was more topical with phraseology about numbers, sweep- stakes. Father Divhie, Jos Louis, etc. Short's Intro was bright and he salvoed Nat Karson's riot of color in the decor. The NBC announcer mentioned that the cops around the Broadhurst on Broadway, tell traffic to 'jive on down,' and withal it was a good trailer for the legit produc- tion. Abel. 'DOGGY DAKT GOES ON It's Harold Betfa Alias The Bo- mantle Bachelor* Chicago, April 25. Harold Betts and his Doggy Dan* show has been renewed for an ad- ditlonal 13-week stretch by tha Henri. Hurst & McDonald agency for Red Heart dog food. New period on NBC here rides from May 8 to Aug. 6. Betts has also established himself on the ether imder fiie gther alias of 'The Roman-- tic Bachdor.' A Jamuiy, 1939, listener interest sorvey revealed that WWJ led the other tibree network stations in Detroit by Soch leadership merits the most careful consid- eratim of advertisers in. the Detroit market UIUIJ Ommtt mi Ofmwtul <y ntOMrrilMnM Gee. P. HoRlagbcry Co. Nm YmIi CUuflci MraBi Kmwi COyi St* handle*: AHMto WHY GAMBLE---USE AN ESTABLISHED PROGRAM WITH TESTED SELLING POWER THE WSAI WONDER KITCHEN CINCINNATI'S ONLY LIVE AUDIENCE COOKING SCHOOL OF THE AIR CONDUCTED BY PEHSONABIE MABSHA WHEELEB. FAMED HOME ECONOMIST AND CDUNAHY EXPEHT * Attendance averaging over ISd honaewives daily, augmented - i>y heavy mail responae. WEABEVEB ALDMINIIM KNOX GELATIN * Gnest appearances include nation< ally-known diefs, food speeialiBts, decorators and celebrities in other fields. PRODUCTS FEATURED OLD ENGLISH WAX KELLOGG'S matK i*^ C«n or B^rile WSAI or Any Intematiotud Radio SeOeM Office —ChfCINNATrS OWN STATION—' * Scheduled visits and consnltationB with all women's clubs and social groups. DIXIE CBYSTAL SUGAB IDEAL MEAT raODUCTS And Memy Othem