Variety (May 1939)

so VARIETY RADIO REVIEWS Wednesday, May 17, 1939 Transeriptimi Made by CcWHa For Enghod Glorifies WPA s Story London, May 2, . BBC's New York oSlce 6nli$ted aid of Columbia Workshop's William N. Rol>son for a dramatization ot the story of WPA, prepared and record- ed tiiere and shipped for reproduc- tion over the XJ. K. network. It hds now been heard here (1) under the title 'No Help Wanted.' While It was unashamed glorification of the ad- ministration, it made a vivid docu- ment . . Narrative began before 1929's 'Black Thursday* and contrasted.the superabundantly wealthy condition of U. S. before the slump with the deadly- rot that afterwards set in. Swelling of unemployment figures from 2,000,000 to an all-time high of 12,000,000 was the cue for playing on notes of poverty, despair and fear that assailed the American people during the last Hoover period, as prelude to suggesting how the' ear- liest duty of the Roosevelt adminis- tration was to . tackle the problem nationally. The speakers reeled 6fi tacts and figures implying how WPA grew, and incidentally explained for many British listeners for the first time the meaning of such cabalastic symbols as FERA, CWA, CCC and some others. It it was propaganda for Roose- velt it still remained a program ot gripping interest, with the docU' mentaiy technique of the Columbia school excellentiy drilled to use con- trasted voices to effect, together with music, sketches re-emphasis of key points and all the rest of the tricks. They're keenly interested in the U. K. on America's social problems, and to a country with its own con- stant unemployment bogey this was a good one to choose. It was calcu- lated to make Britishers feel the V; S. was at grips with its subject, though probably few listeners to the BBC broadcast would stop to pon- der other aspects of the public wor^ theory. HIT THAT BALL With Stan Lomax Qnls 3* Hlns. Friday, 10 p.m. WOB-Mntnal, New York' This one is strictiy for the rabid tans. It tests them on the biographt cal details of baU players and on freak plays, incidents, etc., of the game. Stan Lomax conducts. He had players pitted against sports writers, most ot them Well up on the subject, as expected. For the addicts, it's a good show. Will clear the wavelength of all others. Land. ANN HABDING Dramatic Sketch VS Mlns. STANDARD BRANDS Thurs., 8 D. m. WEAF-NBC,. New Tork. (/. Walter Thompson) Brought out of retirement to lend her talents to a piece of murky would-be religiosity, Ann Harding acquitted herself in fine trouper fashion last Thursday night (11). Rudy Vallee, whom the program seeks to build, as a dramatic actor, read' the Imes opposite her. Miss Harding set the mood, the tempo and everything else and Vallee proved hin.ble enough in keeping up with her. Meaning or intent of the script, authored by Milton ■ Geiger, must have been obscure to the average listener. It had something to do with faith and human will. The lo- cale was a church. As read by Miss Harding the lines at times sounded as; though she were juggling with a theme of imponderable consequence. Vallee played the part of a tor- mented soul with a face disfigured by war, while Miss Harding dis- pensed the calming unction of faith and hope. - Odec. JAN KUBINI YfiOi Regent Theatre Orohestra, Gladys Evans, Thelma Graeme 86 mi]is« * ( INDEPENDENT OIL INDUSTRIES Sonday, 9:3* pjn. 2 VW, Sydney With heavy advances ballyhoo Jan Rublnl, by arrangement wlm Eoyts, bowed to Australia for a series ol' broadcasts over the Albert-Doyle loop. Premiere show disappointed badly, and probably a new line, changed ^script, and tighter produc- tion will follow. They are urgentiy necessary. Rublnl titled, or the sponsors did, the first opus 'Intimate Snapshots of Hollywood,' Title was misleading and useless. Fiddler mentioned cer- tain stars of the screen who were personal friends of his, and then had two local warblers' render songs as done 1^ Jeannette MacDonald and Irene Dunne. There was certainly nothing 'intimate' in this section of the presentation. Tlie Regent orchestra, one of the finest here, seemed to lose something over the air. Rublnl started musicians off slowly with ^aust, but after littie while began to awing the opera The closing bit was undoubtedly e liuzzle to everybody .and dropped the entire presentation down' insofar as entertainment for ' the commercial masses. Commentator recited a piece definitely smelling of the story 'Of Human Bondage' whilst the orchestra played 'suitable' music. The whole thing was a poor production idea. Jan Rublnl is too good an artist to waste on junk like this. Rick. KEN W. F. COOPER 'Camera Clnb' . U Mins.—Local Tuesday, 9:15 - OFCF, Montreal Ken Cooper is a photog expert with a rep in Canadian advertising circles who does an excellent job ot mtUdng photography easy to va- derstand. Program is aimed at the mob who want to learn how to make better pictures' and talk is couched in simple, language with technical terms avoided as much as possible. Shapes up as first rate air fodder for the inlaorKy tUit cares. Mon. DON'T FCMtOET* Qnis 30 Mlns. Snstolnlng Friday, 8:Se pja.' WJZ, New York 'Don't Forget', is a poor addition to the list of quiz programs on the air. The usual formula is employed: cash prizes for mailed questions accepted, similar awards for correct answers by participants, etc. Five con- testants are selected at random from the audience and paid $5 each plus— and here's the most nebulous part of it—esvic. if .they answer a question correctly. The purpose of the program osten- sibly is educational. The method in answering the questions is suggested by a key. For instance,'m.c. Allen Prescott asked this question: 'Who was president of the u. S. when tiie Lone Eagle fiew the Atlantic?' Since Lindbergh's first initial is 'C, that was supposed to Indicate the answer —Coohdke. Whew! On Friday night there was scarce- ly one intelligent question. Pres- cott, too, had his difficulties since his attempt to achieve informality by cutting up personal touches with his contestants sliidded considerably since they weren't very responsive. THE PREAKNESS With Clem McCarthy, Edwin C. Hill, George Van Doren and orcb. El Gary 8 Hts. and 30 Mlns. AMERICAN OIL CO. Saturday (13), 2 P.M. WFBB, NBC, Baltimore (Joseph Kotz) Historic race emanating from Plmlico and rated one of turfdom's classics, has been sewed up for some years by WFBR, which arranges to feed to the NBC Red. its regular af- filiate. American Oil, traditional sponsor buys available time preced- ing the actual running at 5:15 for a 'studio party' giving human interest highlights, personalities, stable talk, odds, etc., mixed in with music and entertainment by staff set-up. 'Party this year was given a Maryland state hook-np; NBC Red taking only t^e actual running of the race. Utilizing dh'ect wires to press box, paddock and various other stragetic spots around the Plmlico track and a studio set up featuring George Van Doren and his orchestra (house combo), studio party effectively heated up the doings with nicely contrasted Interludes ot music and comment Other races on the days program preceding the big event had Clem McCarthy and Edwin C. Hill, on hand for the featured doings, £itching in for strong support Van loren's music nicely aided by socko vocalizing by El Gary, supplied en- tertaining background throughout entire build-up. Preakness Itself, an upset of the dope previously handed out by all and sundry 'experts,' had McCarthy spilling wordage in his usual excited fashion which got a bit out of bounds when Chalendon made his bid to overtake the favored Johns- town. Managed to grab hold nicely though, with final result okay and a reasonable word picture of what actually happened. Edwin C. Hill handled the local color and high- lights, not overlooking a plug for the Stevens Brothers, track food and drink concessionaires. Plugging of sponsor by both McCarthy and Hill, rather overdone on repetition, but broadcast on the whole, packed con- siderable wallop and tlirill. Burnt. Frank E. Mullen, RCA's new v,p. in charge of advertising and pub- licity, led the plugging lor television on Vox Pop's broadcast from World's Fair. Mullen, slightiy twangy ot voice but easy-going of manner, ex- jressed the hope- television would be used in exploitation of the Vox Pop JCentucky Klub tobacco: Another guest, before whom Parks Johnson made so many salaams for democratic American ears, was Count Rossi, vermouth-wine manu- facturer, 'richest bach&lor in the world,' and grand slam winner in speed-boat competition last year. Even though the Count-be a good j;uy, Johnson overdid the obsequious l>u$iness. 'BACK NUMBER UP* Radio Gnlld Drama Sustaining 30 Mlns. ' Sunday, 7:30 pjn, WJZ-NBC, New York Authored by Merritt P. AUen, this ;>iece concerning the political activl- ;ies of a small Vermont town was nicely acted but rather polntiessly written. Allen has scribbled many dramatic pieces and series tor radio, including several built around the characters in this story. In homely philosophy and-back- woods humor, the telling of the fight for the position as town 'Overseer of the Poor' had much. But it all hinged on the tricks of an old codger to beat out two younger men for the spot and that's where it tailed. Lis- teners probably expected a Judge Hardy miracle to eliminate the two who were ganging him; instead, the final result was flat Tltte came in when 'Noah,' the cenetral character, was informed he had been labeled a 'Back Number' by Ms younger op position. He wasn't going to run originally, but that got up his dander enoiigh to teach the young whipper- snappers an old dog has many teicks. Didn't work out in the telling. LOUISE and CCBT HASSET ■TWILIGHT TRAIL' With The Westerners Discs IS Mlns. BROWN « WILLIAMSON TOBACCO wed.; 1:45 pan. WGT, Sehenectady (Russell M. Seeds) Twilight' Trail' is the themer of vocal and instrumental "Western' tiirp heard on platters plugging Bug- ler roll-your-own-cigarets tobacco. Economy angle is pushed hard. Em- phasized is fact "you can roll 20' or more clarets with a five-cent pack- age of Bugler; and 40 with a ten- center of the long leaf. Presumably, sales talk is intended mainly for small town and rural dialers—which explains spotting on 50,000-wBtf WGY. For market envisaged, type of en- tertainment is well selected. Sing, ing is fairly good and the instru- mental work is perhaps a bit more than' passable. Soloists are Louise Massey and Curt Massey. a baritone. A femme twosome warble once; a mixed group harmonizes often and better. Players include violin, guitar and piano accordion. Jimmy Leon- ard blows for Bugler. Jaco. 'MELODY RIDDLES' With the Welntraubs 30 BUna. BINSO Thursday, 9:30 pan. 2 GB, Sydney . New commercial idea premiered here and liked. Somewhat similar to a show presented by the BBC and picked up in this si>ot on DX. As now set 'Riddles* should find plenty of fans over winter months, espe^ daily as prizes are presented to the winners. Different angle to this one lies in the fact that short sketches are acted by a small cast of locals and invited audience attempts to pick a song titte suggested by each sketch. If title is picked prize amounts to $4. Weln- traubs, musical combo, then plays the number with backing of a quar- tette. Pop songs are used to make the guessing easier. There are five sketches running about two minutes each presented every session. Listeners are also Invited to sub- mit sketches suitable for use in the session, with a prize of $4 for every one accepted. Commercial is short and snappy, the presentation is high-grade, and the entire show moves with sparkle. Rick. Maury Paul, chronicler for the Hearst papers of the 400's activities, did not give any real lowdown in a Tor Men Only' guester on NBC. With the assistance of emcee George. Jessel, Paul did emphasize, one might say ballyhoo, that he was first to print .that King Edward would marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson, even if it meant abdication. Paul said he stuck to the prophesy, -despite scof- fers, and thereby scored his biggest beat 'CtioUy Knickerbocker' re- marked that he had seen so many weddings . he 'hated the sight of white satin.' Comedy exchanges be- tween him and Jessel were mild. The society by-liner pitched his voice a bit high—and ft is not a large one. Harry Harllck is back. on the ozone. Heard Fridays at 9:30 p.m. over the NBC blue ribbon the vet- eran broadcasting giver-outer has some sturdy qualities of musician- ship. His stuff is consistently pleas- ant and attractive. Large numbers of old timers will welcome him back and he should please the casual tuners who run across him. Uses single rather than f lambouy- ant arrangements and plays music the way the boys and girls without theories on the subject like it HAL CULVER Songs and Talk 16 Mlns.—Local SKUDLAND PHOTO SERVICE H-W-F; 9:30 pjn. WLS, Chicago (Newhv, Peron & Flxtcraft) Little Mr. Pollyanna with a 'smile for today and a word of good cheer for the merry, merry world.' That's Hal Culver and his approach to the big rural audience that listens to this station. For the audience and tor the product Culver and his 'smile market' may do all right.. He handles the cheery talk and songs and also the commercials. It's a low-cost set-up but the agency in- dicates that it Imows what it is do- ing in order to sell photoglraphic en- largement service; Culver's work is good enough. He sings his songs in the 'home folks' fashion which is standard on this transmitter and he talks across the back fence with ok« camaraderie. Gold. •MELODY AND MIRTH' With Maurice Spltalny's orch, Ber- nie Armstrong, Kinder Sisters, Chnzzy Ross, Stephanie Diamond, Pat Haley, Johnny Shillano and Sngarfoot & Rnfns. 60 Mlns. Local Sustaining Thursday, 7:30 p. m. KDKA, Pittsburgh 'Melody and Mirth,' with em- phasis on the former, is a pretty fair show-case for flock of KDkA's regu- lar talent. For a variety show, it needs more comedy. Too much vocal stuff now, with three Kinder .sisters, Chuzzy Ross and Pat Haley each spotted twice to make it more or less of a singing marathon. As it stands, progrom seems t:ssed together too loosely and needs con- siderable tightening. Bernie Arm- strong, is an amiable, casual m.c. and manages to give the-whole thing a honey touch without bending back- ward. Cohen. Follow-Up Comment for his talk and that the quick shift to London was unexpected. Hence the mysterious voices heard, The conference writers laughed at Van Loon's 'covering up.' Incidentally, the addresses broad- cast for several afternoons on NBC by noted American and foreign authors, journalists, etc., might vary, ingly be considered by listeners as profound, over heavy* stimulating, repetitious or shop talky. Evident they had been prepared with an eye to appearance in print and to recep- tion by fellow scribes. Some, if- not much of the ground had been cov- ered in the tremendous radio and press output ot the past year. Fred . Allen extracted plenty ot laughs from exchanges with Norman Dine, of New York's 'Sleep Shop.' This despite the tact Dine had pre- viously guested on Ralston's 'Inside Story' program. "The person you did not expect to meet' played for bellys and clicked. Allen's joshing, the previous week, with Robert Porterfield ot Barter Theatre fame, was also amusing. Porterfleld's infectious giggle, which rippled unexpectedly (Allen seemed to be ad libbing at times), helped to make the interview humorously in- formal. Lux show on Monday (15) from Hollywood over WABC starred Wil- liam Powell and Miriam Hopkins in condensed version of Robert E. Sherwood's 'Tovarich', but the real hit of the hour's-program was the Grand Duchess Marie of Russia. Scheduled only for a brief talk be- tween act 2 and 3, former Russian noblewoirian won all with a recital of her past and present life. Talk was straight from the heart Draw- ing a parallel between Miss Hopkin's role of the Grand 'Duchess Tatiana in the play and Powell's impersona- tion of Prince Michael, Marie ex- pressed in simple English, slightly accented, her delight that fate had taught her new lessons on how to meet life; no matter how humble. Radio playlet cast In support of the two stars consisted of C. Henry Gordon, Lawrence Grossmith and Heather Thatcher, with several others in minor parts. Despite prom- inence ot acting names, adaptation of .'Tovarich* to ether requirements was not an altogether happy occa- .lion. Primarily, beoause so much of it was eliminated to meet require- ments of this medium and also be cause the two film headllners were overly dramatic. Many lines were delivered by Miss Hopkins in "the grand manner' where they should have been read with quiet firmness. Mtiny of the bits ot business and qualities of John Halliday and Marta Abba in the N, Y. legit presentation are completely lost via the ether and make the principal difference in Powell and Miss Hopkins' attempt to carry the parts unseen. On the whole, though, the thin gossamer of this tale of Russian re- fugees' plight and penury in Paris exile has been worn thin and is pretty familiar by now to most audiences. Cecil B. DeMille was his usual smooth self as entrepeneur and cas- ually tied UD his introduction of the evening with allusions to his 7,000 mile "Union Pacific' tour. His tatro- ductory talk, however, was inter- rupted by a half-minute of silence du- to mechanical failure somewhere along the line. This has happened freqitenUy of late on a number of prominent programs on major net- works. Hendrlk Willem Van Loon unwit- tingly opened the ears of NBC lis- teners to some cryptic behind-the- scenes remarks when he finished, be- fore schedule, his address opening a discussion of "The Writer's Respon- sibility for the Crisis of Today and the World of Tomorrow', at the P.E.N. conference in a World's Fair boildine and shifted the program to England for a speech by P. B. Priestly. After Van Loon had weight ily hurled a verbal challenge at to talitarianisra, in came a voice, with the Americanese 'okey doke.' A second or two elapsed and then an- other ejaculating in a husky whis per, 'Good God, he is too early.' The announcer ended the embarassing situation by cutting off the broadcast until Priestly was ready to speak. At the conclusion of the English author- pjaywright's address. Van Loon ex- Dlained jokingly that he expected three and a half minutes' applause Kate Smith's S^vansdown-Calu- met hour Thursday (11) offered a sock trailer tor Michael Todd's 'Hot Mikado' now on Broadway with Bill Robinson in the lead. Bit' was a re- peat; it was originally done on the program several weeks ago, the second shot aired via 'popular de- mand,' A couple of Sundays before it was also on RCA Magic Key, . With Robinson interpolating taps into his vocal handling of 'Innocent Merriment' and Eddie Green and the Harmoneers excellently assisting, the appeal that warranted the return shot was apparent. Through the en- tire curtailed bit ran a buoyant im- pression that conveyed to listehers Bojangles and his cohorts were en- joying themselves as well as making it enjoyable. Especially was this so in the handling of the Gilbert arid Sullivan lyrics. "Tit-willow' was in- cluded. Executioner resignation scene was well acted. Robinson made a short but effec- tive curtain speech labelling the re- ception of the bit a tribute to the colored race. Jane Cowl guested Sunday (14) on the Magic Key program over NBC blue, doing the lead in a sentimental sketch, 'Who'll Buy My t<avender,' for which Hilda Lawrence was cred- ited as scripter. Piece was some- what overt>oard on the hoke tear- yanking stuff, but provided the ac- tress with expansive range. Miss Cowl reasserted her impressive tal- ent ot forceful eloquence, deft nu- ances of expression and timing but occasionally lapsed in tiie contrast- ing voices of tired age and tremulous girlishness. Supporting perform- ances were satisfactory and the production was tiptop. Also guesting on the show was James Meltori, offering several op- eratic selections and one pop. He showed vitality and vocal coloring, particularly on the operatic pieces. Paul Wlilteman reached into the Gilbert & Sullivan library again last Wednesday (10) for- extracts in swing from 'Pinafore.' They con- sisted of l)riefle bits of 'I'm the Ruler ot the Queen's Nave-e-e,' by the Modernaires; 'Poor Littie But- tercup,' by Joan Edwards; 'Sixes or Sevens,' by Cl^rk Dennis, and 'Give Three Cheers,' by the whole com- gany. Pieces were well handled, ut proved to be not too well suited to radio, particularly in such short- ened form- and out of their context Otherwise, the program was thor- oughly big-time music. Whiteman's InstrunientaUonal skill was mani- fest in the orchestra numbers, while Miss Edwards again demonstrated her singing punch. Musical back- ground for the first commercial was a bright touch. Edward Arnold played another guest shot Sunday nighl (14) on the Chase fit Canbom show over NBC red, teaming again with Don Ameche in the same 'Red Carnation' comedy playlet they did on the series some months ago. It was a trivial piece, but offered a beguiling bit of fool- ing with an amusing tag. Arnold's infectious laugh added to the effec- tiveness of the piece, while Ameche also had a part suited to his style. Small part of the girl was well played. . Roy Atwell also' guested on the session, repeating his familiar tan- gle talk, and Charley McCarthy was at his best with a round of far- fetched quips about his new race- horse. New York World's Fair, and WMCA New York, have gotten together for a May 26 'WMCA Day'. Many ot station's programs of that day will emanate from the Fair including Five Star Final, a variety show headed by Billy Glason, and a quiz show conducted by Allie Low Miles.