Variety (May 1941)

BO RADIO REVIEWS Wednesday, May 21, 1941 Follow-Up Comment I cee, also did some dialoging policeman) with Thompson (as a (ma' Tulip Festival: Pat O'Brien, Ger- trade Niesen Bill Thompson CHo- , .^^.^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^-^ ^.^^^.^^ ratio Boomer ot Fibber McGee and | mg^gyjjjy g^^j jjiss Lee, chosen Molly program), Simone Simon in | queens of the festival. He and they music can boost a show. Playing be- fore a mobbed house, Kaye's orches- tra offered several ASCAP favorites of past years and, apparently with- out any suggestion from the band- stand, virtually the entire audience at the spot could be heard siqging the lyrics. It gave# curiously in- fectious quality to the broadcast. fsketch, 'Divorce for Two,' with an Keith and Michael Romano; Patti McCarthy, Sheldron I.ee, Chet Woods, radio commentator, and Ben Carpenter's orchestra broadcast Sat- urday afternoon half-hour, over NBC blue, from annual Tulip Festi- val In Holland, Mich. The Holland Furnace Co. sponsored the program, which always has a number of 'names.' Although the talent list was considerably heavier than usual (and on Saturday matinees), the en- tertainment hardly reached sock ;'ating. It was more a parade of performers and pleasant howchados, although salvo had some entertain- ing moments. O'Brien, a breezy me- 50,000 WAHS CHARLOTTE dipped into Irish brogue during a kidding session. Miss Niesen war- bled 'Dark Eyes' and 'Frenesi' in okay fashion. Sponsor did quite a bit of plugging. (Same night, the Alka Seltzer show, cleverly framed for rural-small town areas and non- sophisticates among city dialers also aired from Holland Festival.) Parker Wheatley (of Northwestern University) conducts over Mutual on Surtday mornings a round-table on current issues under the title of 'The Reviewing Stand.' Nazis vs. Democ- racy was the general theme last Sun- day (18) and four local savants, operating from WGN's radio theatre in Chicago, handled various aspects briskly and informatively. Wheatley. with a background of commercial experience as program director of the old KYW in Chicago, is always mike-conscious. Among his best thoughts in discussion management is promptly demanding of any speak- er what he means by any term even slightly out of the ordinary for the average citizen. By such watchful- ness he excludes that accumulation of intellectual shorthand and symbol- stringing which is the bane of such radio discussion by the big worders. Miltpn Berle drew chuckles Satur- day (17) night.on 'Duffy's Tavern* with a'Variation of his familiar fast- gagging brand of spooflhg. Using an ultra-snooty, manner that meshed neatly with the rowdy atmosphere of the 'Tavern,' he set up a funny char- acterization, was gradually per- suaded to be himself for a brief wise-guy sequence and then closed with a flnger-tips-on-chest bow-off. It was imaginative, different and re- freshing. Lonlle Jean, with Will Bradley apd a quartet from his band, guested dl\^ertingly Monday (19) night on th* Camber Music Society of Low- er <Baftl|i Street' series over NBC EHue (WJZ). As the show is likely to do when it's In fettle, the session provided a combination of conta- gious chuckles and pulsating tunes Outstanding on this chapter was a new composition by Bradley, 'March of the Goons.' Another number was notable for a striking arrangement of soft, yet compelling, counter- rhythms. Welboum Kelley's goofy continuity continues to be a choice element, particularly as dCad-panned by announcer Gene Hamilton. Di- rection was deftly handled by Jack Meackin, Dorothy Thompson, in the midst of her finest eloquence (which is something), was cut off in mid-sen- tence by WMCA, New York, last week. One of those deplorable breaks that madden listeners, and do neither the station nor the indus- try any good (but not easily pre- vented, it's admitted), the incident occurred during the P.E.N, (literary Internationale) rally from the Bilt- more hotel, N.Y., with Hank Canby presiding. What the listeners got in- stead of Thompson: An Old Gold one-minute announcement. Somerset Maugham (also on the P.E.N, program over WMCA) has made several appearances on the American radio this winter. They have been uniformly successful, a fact that remains true of this occa- sion, when, during the course of smooth, beautifully delivered re- marks,' the Englishman banged up against three words. It is hardly a secret that Maugham, like all stut-' terers, dreads this tongue-tripping. It is therefore probably a spiritual struggle for him. Listeners are in his debt for overcoming his dis- taste for speaking because he has a manner of exceptional attractiveness on the air. LAUBENCE OLIVIEB With Vivien Lel(ta, Salon Orchestra 30 MInf. Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. BBC, London This piece served as a farewell from Olivier to his fans on this side, now that actor is set for the fighting services. Vivien Leigh held down the other side of the original Spikes Hughes radio-play to provide a sat- isfying 30 minutes of ultra smart performing. Knit with traditional Yankee airs, script served as propaganda version of the 1775 fracas, with Olivier as the English army captain sent on 'a special mission by his commander. Gage. Lost around the naborhood of Boston, he seeks aid from the family of Vivien. Leigh, staunch New Englander, and overnight learns he loves the girl. Action switched to Lexington and Concord, with the subsequent retreat of the British forces, and Olivier and his band of stragglers hit the road past the house, there to be shot by the girl's brother for stepping on Yankee property. Hughes script was tight enough, but with very hasty swap-overs in dialog from romance to propaganda, as though anxious to make' every use of its two smart interpreters for both attention-getting and something smooth in the way of radio histri- onics. Without them the piece would not have been so impressive on the drama end. When play was curtained, an- nouncer called Olivier in for'an ex- cerpt from the Gettysburg address. Douglas Moodie's production blended adequately the two predom- inant elements of the day. 'HOLLYWOOD SOUNDSTAGE' With Louise Benet Film Gossip , 15 Mlns. Sustaining WABY, Albany Miss Benet, introduced as a 'new WABY personality,' is doing a quar- ter-hour of film gossip, reviews, etc, sent from Hollywood. Although broadcast over a purely local sta- tion, material is prepared as though it w€re to be wired coast to coast. Thus, one hears of 'Memos' to per- sons, companies and institutions in the picture capital, as well as to cities throughout the United States and Canada. Format makes the reading so obvious that no local miker could give program a per- sonal, distinctive touch. Last min- ute news is announced as received via Postal Telegraph from Sam Tay- lor in Hollywood. He is credited with the reviews, too. As film stuff goes on local stations, 'Hollywood" Soundstage' is a little above average. Not startling good, but it has less of that unmistakable press agent tinge of the incredible which pours from Hollywood. Miss Benet possesses a slightly husky, fairly pleasant voice. Diction, delivery and, particularly, use of pause, could be somewhat improved. Carl Mattison announces. Jaco. Charles Ruggles and a gang of stooges is heard over various local stations (WOR in New York) via transcriptions bearing the series title 'Barrel of Fun' and adapted for local brewery sponsorship. The program , last week was pretty corny fun, not ______ able to compete with-the master JICTOE -EECOBD DEALERS comic of radio, but probably satis- | P."^ ";?• factory diversion for the less sophis- ticated levels. 'SYMPHONIC SERENADE' I With Tom CaSerty Stanley High should be numbered in that company of quick-thlnklng, aggressive platform personalities de- veloped in recent years by radio, and more particularly by the Town Hall on NBC's blue. High's flavored sentences and salt^id replies .were especially numerous and piquant last week in his tilt with a theo- logian - turned - congressman, Dewey Short. A classmate of High's when KDYL, Salt Lake City This is a disc show with one-man comment, going Into its 16th month of dishing out the classics to Inter- mountain listeners. First nine months it was a sustainer. It Is a well- balanced hour, opening with an over- ture and ending on a much lighter note. In between come symphony, concerto, sonata, symphonic suite, or something similarly classical. Blending of music, comment and commercials Is nicely done, with commercials funding a sincere both learned .their pulpiteering in enough Invitation for a listener and seminaiT, Short delivered a Mis- sponsor get-together. There is plenty souri Republican stump speech of interpretive comment by Tom against Roosevelt, missing none of Cafferty interlarded throughout the the points so often used last Octo- ber. Many listeners must have re- gretted Short's decision to' use his old act and not work up some new patter to counter High. 'Cavalcade of America' had a clos- ing commercial aimouncement Mon- day (ID) night that was as interest- ing as anything on the show itself. Blurb was an easily-understandable. Illuminating explanation of how ceramic colors are put on glass ware and lidttery at the duPont factories. It was unusually long, but so ab- sorbhxg that it seemed, brief. Winifred Heldt, guesting Monday (19) night, on the Bell Telephone show, teamed with James Melton to Qnale the stanza with an incandes cent performance :In English of the 'Home to Our Mountains' duet from '11 'Trovatore.' Whole program was musically agreeable and artfully produced, .Clande Brenner, one of the regu- lars oh the 'Quiz Kids'' series, subbed as m.c^for the ailing Joe Kelly on •last Wednesday (14) night's .pro- gram. It was the second we^ in succession he'd filled th; assignment, Kelly having. a cold. .but. due.back for last night's (Tuesday) show. Thirteen-year-old youngster from Johannesburg, South Africa,' was a trifle nervous at first, fumbling his lines a bit, but he quickly settled do'wn and thereafter handled the job like a vet. Had an amusing boyish appeal. Dorothy Maynor, guesting on the Coca-Cola program Sunday (18) afternoon, sang four rtumbers . im- pressively. Negro soprano has a rich, pliant and appealing voice. However her nrcjentatlnn nn tVio I ''" ""^"-'"^ nrniies ana aaaiuonai rhow*was.i?co'nSs.*t*i°^ ^OT ^ ffiutiSn''to p^ch^er Of sym- Si* n'„? .S?/"?,""^","!*.?"'!!^!' *fphonic albums, it times the fivf c". BaneU Bennett conducted the first performance of his 'Symphony in D for the Dodgers' last Friday (16) night on his 'Russell Bennett's Note book' series over WOR-Mutual. Ob vlously an exercise for publicity gurposes, the piece was merely an iteresting stunt, but negligible from a serious musical standpoint 'California Melodies,' as heard late Saturday (17) night over WOR-Mu- tual from Hollywood, via the Don I>ee network, is superior to the dance band remotes on the networks at that hour. David Rose's orchestra, with a sizable and eloquent string section, uses semi-symphonic, arrangements and gets genuinely .'expressive ef- febts. One hot number on the show caught was Inferior, but at least s^ed as seasoning. Maxine Gray's vocals are svelte. Incidentally, the return of ASCAP music to Mutual's menu Is'an enormous hypo for shows of this kind. Samtny Kaye, remotlng via Mutual from Meadowbrook Inn, Montclalr, N. J., immediately after the 'Cali- fornia Melodies' program Saturday (17)'night; gave an'even more posi<- ttvt demonstration of how AScAP hour-long stanza. Cafferty's voice and interpretations have proved popular with Salt Lake's listening audience which is exceptionally well versed in music values. Show has been the means of upping him from announcing to stations music com- mentator. A good job of merchandising is be- ing done with this show. Programs a month in advaiice are mailed gratis to 500 selected names and additional was not introduced until some time later. Fact that Andre Kostelanetz's arrangement was distinct and imag- inative at least partially' redeemed the strange programming, but it couldn't alter Hie fact that 'Just a Song at Twilight' is rather an old chestnut for a show of this kind. Kostelanetz's conducting is' smooth and. sensuous, particularly' with the shimmering quality he evokes from the strings. Dorothy Klirallen's mike address Is improving as is her chitchat about bright personalities in the chi-chi nite spots. The 'best dressed woman' stuff ( a bit of an adaptation from Variety's The Skirt) and kindred in- time closeups of femme fads and foibles, plus anecdota about the stags, Is good listening.- The Johnson & Johnson Band-Aid copy Is likewise good if a bit verbose. Artie Shaw, operating sponsors have allowed the program to be used as a public serv- ice program, and during recent drive it did much to help establish a Utah State Symphony Orchestra by inter- viewing visiting concert artists, as well as providing the regular pro- motional propaganda for fund- raising. Show is written and produced by Cafferty. All In all, it's a well balanced, nicely-presented late eve- ning hour. 'LET'S GO SHOPPING' With Mel Venter, Mary Roeder 15 Mlns.—Local WHITE HOUSE DEPARTMENT STORE Dally 9:45 ajn. KFRC, San Francisco (Morion Kayle) 'OPERA LETS ITS HAIR DOWN' With Frank Marcos 3* Mlns^Local Sustain Inc Friday, S pjn. WNYC, New York •Opera Lets Its Hair Down' is.the apt title for this new Friday afte^ Mary „ — news about bargains and services offered by the firm. Show caught was built around a behlnd-theiscenes visit to the mail- order department, with Venter inter- viewing three members of the de- partment on how orders are han- dled. Straight sales stuff lightened with sidelights on folks who appeal to the helpful clerks for advice on marriage, infant rearing, etc. Also brought out was fact that the girls LIMA GAFF Might be good For a laugh; But it's no help To the business graph. But take the chaff Out of gaff. Give 'em The whole grain; Then -vtrotch business Gain. That's radio's Province: Gaff< no chafff Some laugh. Notes and ^ews. (Saith the sponsor, "Goodbye, blues") Play a Trump on the Summer Slump noon series aimed at popiUarlziAg .{T^^ P'^ grand opera. On the Uwry that £^^* .*"^„°*Sej " ^Mkly quiz to the only ones who don't like good .SM,?,iIlf^K*L*'H?'"^'^*; 5"^^ music are those who never heard u?°?„,L"'='?r^ d^cripUon of dress any.' Frank Marcus plays recorded ? ^"'"'^ mail-order clients are selections from standard operas, in- ISO^ne.for/s well as local customers. tion and comment Keynote of the Interesting If 100% commer show is that he refers to Giuseppe 2"''' ™^J°' wealmess may be tend Verdi as Joe Green and calls ?"<=y ^^'^ hiformatlve facts in Amneris in 'Aida' a 'jealous dame.'- I kittenish wordage. Wcm. Apparent idea Is to devote each stanza to a different opera. Also to Inltlal'inning Friday (9), Marcus had get across the idea thai there's noth- Maurice Frank, who told about his ing esoteric about opera or classical plans for pop-priced 'opera under music. He notes that many popu- the stars' at RaindaU's Island, N. Y., lar songs are adapted from arias this simimer. 'Sounds like a prom- ahd remarks, 'Opera isn't so hard islng lineup,' observed '' Marcus, to take — at least not to those 'Whereupon, his guest enthused, who know how.' As guest on the I "Hell, wait till you see it.' Hob*. WLDK For 20 years smack in the middle of the rich Piedmont P lateau As!; any nu:::.. . oV::-: for more infoi'-rTi o" cbou! V'.'iil', onr o! ih.? - ens 50 000 '■ v'C