Variety (Jul 1941)

' Wedne«lay, July 23, 1941 RADIO REVIEWS 47 mnLLAND HO0SEWABMING' 2St Merle Oberon. Dj. M«NjlI, Benny GoodmM 0^cIlertn^ The fSiothiM. Bobby JdlUon, Ed prentlM, Cnrt Eoberia, ShMon Lee Smitb, HUdwa GndiuB, Verne jlfsfe" G»n, FUylet Sot^AND FDENACE ^AF-NB'', New^ York (RuthTOuff & Kvatv) ^ ^ , Aoropos the reported trend back to Uve Ulent: here Is a rather pre- tentious newcomer. And from Chi- MEO. The producUon lormula was ^vised by Ross Metzger, radio head of he Chicago office of Huthraufl & Ryan, and It represents clear-cut Yflith of agency and sponsor in en- tertainment by entertainers, not en- tertainment with a quesUon mark (double entendre on that) and use if parlor tricks. The first br«>ad- MSt Thursday (17) proved fairly tight and diverting. There wiU be room for improvement In the weeks to come, but as a job of organizing and starting a series from scratch ■ the getaway was okay. Programs originate from the Goodman theatre. ChiMgo. This is the Grant park rathskeUer of the arts which the sponsor has equipped with scenery especially designed to simulate a home. Benny Goodman s orchestra functions in an alcove, two steps up with fancy lighting. One side of the set opens on a garden behind whose canvas hedges and grass matting is hidden the control foom. Orchestra and cast are work- ing in summer formal. It's all pretty dressed up for tending fur- naces. . , Each week some personality has a •housewarming,' by which produc- tion-advertising' device the Holland product" is tied in with the pro- gram's setting and the rotation of stars. First week's personality was Merle Oberon. Joan Bennett fol- lows. This program presumably will make Chicago more than a change- trains stop for L-A. to N.Y. and vice versa. Wallace Gould provided a rather skimpy script in which Miss Oberon struggled with a husband who seemed to suffer from the manic- depressive kind of insanity. He was alternately a Jealous Ivmatic and a lovey-aovey let's-not-answer-the- phone swain. In the process of not answering the phone the husband's factory apparently was taken over by the man of-whom he was jealous. That brought (m a revival of brain fever and a wild pistol shot 'What a fool I have been!' Said hubby a moment or two later. Ed Prentiss did what he could with the fool role. Curt Roberts, as the lover-that- wasn't, put feeling Into 'don't shoot, man, don't shoot' Sharon Lee Smith was a plot-explaining sister. Hildwa Graham, as a maid who had brought up the jealous husband from a child, revealed a distinctive radioi voice, one that would always Iden- V(y itseU. Which must be a busi- ness asset in radio. The inaugural program had bet- ter script luek wHIi the quips of Fred Kress, several of wbidi were quite amusing. This light comedy vein will presumably win friends as it can stand developing. The pro- gram can also probably extract more from Chicago-devel(q)ed Don Mc- Neil, who has hints of the dynamic in "his delivery and' his microphone authority. Be discharged with big- time eclat a spoofing, nervous rou- tine In close propinquity to Merle Oberon. '. Literary talent may well be the program's numb^ one week-to-week probleno. Otherwise it seems to have a plausible basis as blueprinted by aMetzger and directed and produced by Fritz Blocki. It aims at urbanity and smart professionalism. Benny Goodman's music presum- ably is a concession to younger lis- teners. Most programs selling things to the homes—paint electric bulbs, radiators, plate glass and whatnot—have traditionally chosen more orthodox music. The theory of yore was that people with homes to spruce up and coin to spend for that 'purpose were middle-aged. Holland Takes a departure ftom that notion In buying the fame and special appeal of Goodman, who Is given several chances to wham over some hot ones. Orchestra also gave a musical background (a trifle too prominent) for the playlet Bobby Jellison did a kidding bit as a Western Union singing messenger who broke down from stagefrl^t and In mock humiliation feared he would be drummed out of the serv- ice. But he would remain, come What might, loyal to the khaki and would not shift to the cwnpeUUve blue of Postal Telegraph. Verne Sqilth is the Holland Fur- lace man. The advertising an- nouncements .on this first show were •traightaway attention-callers with stress on'how to locate a dealer and the wisdom of making arrangements •wly. They were clear and not •hrlU; Lond. iesse H. Briftua, WEEI, Boston, mm director, , will break in for five minutes during the Saturday noon CBS network Country Journal pro- Brams, so that farmers In other parts the country can keep itosted on the New England market 'BRINGING VP FATHEB' WItii Mark Smith, Agnea Mevrehcmd, Helen Shields, Craig HeDonoell, Walter Klnaella, NeU O'MaUey, Charles "Slsttery, Morgan Farley, Ann Thomas, Ernest Chappell, ' Merle Kendrick orch ' 3* Hlns. LEVEB BBOS. Tnesday, 9 p.m. WJZ-NBC, New Tork (Ruthrauf <t Ryan) During the summer lav-oft of 'Big Town,' Lever Bros, has moved 'Grand Central Station' from Tues- day night on NBC-Blue to fill the Wednesday night spot on CBS and, in replacement, is offering this radio version of the George McManus car- toon strip. It's an artfully produced piece of hokum with similar broad comedy appeal (and with the same audience limitations) of .its newspa- 'per original. Fair enough by sum- mer standards. Episode dealt with the crisis in the Jiggs household when daughter Nora decided to get a job at Baxter's de- partment store, tnerebjr threatening Maggie's social ambitions. When Maggie put the flx-in with Baxter for the gal to get fired, Jiggs and the boys in the backroom at Dinty Moore's outmaneuvered her by buy- ing $200 worth of toothbrushes at Nora's counter. Piece was a trifle attenuated, despite (or possibly be- cause of) a succession of capsule scenes, and the double-surprise tag was not too surprising. However, its persistent clowning tended to wear down listener resistance, finally creating a reasonably pervading mood of fun.. That despite pretty obviously contrived situations and ultra-broad characterizations. Production, direction and per- formance are skillful and,clean, and the illustrative musical cues also helpful. Mark Smith is plausible as Jiggs and Agnes Moorehead as Mag- gie, particularly in her shrewish mo- ments. Helen Shields is satisfactory as Nora, Ann Thomas' timing of laugh-lines is uncannily right while Craig McDonnell, Walter Kinsella, Neil O'MaUey and Charles Slattery give accurate portrayals of Jiggs' lowbrow pals. Morgan Farley is properly prissy as a store section manager. Show is produced by the Henry Souvaine office. David Shaw, Frank Tarlofif and Ijeo Rifkin are the au- thors. Carlo DeAngelo directs. Merle Kendrick arranges the score and ba- tons the orchestra. There are three major plugs for Rinso. All stress its 'anti-sneeze' quality as helping the housefrau avoid 'dishoan hay-fever.' Product is also claimed to be quick-acting, able to get clothes '10 shades whiter^, and to be amazingly economical Middle blurb, a dramtized fit ,of sneezing by an AFRA actress, Is silly. Hobe. 'BED BIVEB DAVE' McENEBT With Johnny Anderson, John Stead- l5 Mins.—Local LIBEBTT MILLS Tnesday, Friday, pJB. WOAI, San AntonU (Coulter-Mueller-Crinstead; Down here the theory is they never tire of cowboy ballads. Positively never. Hence one more. This show uses a new combo, guitar and organ, with songs by 'Red River Dave' (Dave McEnery), and is tailored for the Texas, mornings rather than the nights. McEnery sang songs of the range mixed with a few oldies and one hymn. He handled all patter him- self. Pleasant speaking and singing voice but awfully heavy on that southern drawl. Also gives the com- mercials. Johnny Anderson is heard ilwough- out the program at the keyboard of the Hammond organ. Does a fine job and should be given a bit of a solo job to break up the monotony of the patter and songs by McEnery. Commercials are slightly indigest- ible for Hearts DeU^t Flour, 'the choice of the Texas housewife for over half a century.' John Stead- man is program announcer and does what he can. Andy. BERKSHIRE BROADWAT Scrtol 1$ Mlns.—Local BABBT P. OBLSBN. INSDBANCE Thursday, 7:46 p.m. WOEO, Albany William Miles' troupers, who for seven years have come from Stock- bridge, .Mass., to Albany in singles, pairs, larger groups, to be inter- viewed and do scenes from plays, in promotion for the strawnat are broadcasting this summer .from the theatre itself, via a line to WOKO. A serial on the experiences and ad- ventures of a young actress striving to make Broadway from small as- signments in Playhouse productions, Is really a loose framework in which to encompass the mike appearances of guest stars and permanent mem- bers. Most of the performers play themselves, the 'names' offering ad- vice to the fledgling. Miles himself is written into the script, as are al- lusions of. Stockbrldge ■ spots. Although it plugs the company, current and coming guests and at- tractions, the serial does not perhaps could not under the formula, tell much of an engrossing story or have an attention-holding plot Illusion of drama is hardly there. It's mildly episodic at best. Continuity and scene shifting are jerky at times. Jaeo. 'HAP HAZARD> With Ransom Sherman, Edna Odell, ClUr Saobler, Elmlia. Boenler, Hary Fatton, Ray Grant, Dnrward KIrby, BUIy Mills orch 30 Mlns. JOHNSON'S WAX Taeaday, 9:30 pjn. WEAF-NBC, New York (Needham. Louis & Brorbv) This slapstick outburst probably isn't as bad as it sounds. Intended to hold the 0:30 Tuesday night spot on NBC-Red (WEAF) during the summer layoff of 'Fibber McGee and Molly,' it can only l>e called a stand- in—by no means a replacement or even a substitute. It's strictly ersatz. Fact that 'the Chicago studio audi- ence was so hilarious at the Tues- day (15) night's stanza merely proved Chicago studio audiences will lau^ at anything. But then, studio audiences everywhere are notorious. Principal comedy formula for the show is lots and lots of puns, heavy- handed and ranging from infantile to odorous. All are presented amid frantic uproar and ponderous coy' ness: Whole business is supposed to be localed at a summer resort called Crestfallen Manor, with m.c. Ran- som Sherman playing the proprietor. Hap Hazard. CliS Soubier is his as- sistant and stooge, Mr. Pittaway, while Elmlra Roessler and Mary Patton are diinwit gals. Ray Grant does a Stepinfechit characterization called Cyclone. All of this is broken up into short bits, separated by mu- sical numbers, commercials; etc. Edna Odell, with two-vocal spots, is the redeeming item on the show. She's a forte rhythm singer, with good enunciation and infectious style. Her arrangements are per- haps over-elaborate. Billy Mills' or- chestra is merely passable. Dur- ward Kirby reads the commercials with aggressive breeziness. . There ar4 numerous plugs for Johnson's Camu polish, liquid wax, paste wax and, in a hitch-hike blurb at the close, also cream wax. Show is scripted' by Ransom Sherman, Len Levinson and Jack McKnight. CecU Underwood directs.' Autumn seems far away. Hobe. THE CBVSTENE RANCH PAKTT With Jim Sanders, John FanI Good- win, Barfleld Weedin, Floyd Till- man, Saddle Pals (6) 25 Mlns.—Regional SOVTH TEXAS COTTON OIL CO. Friday, 8:35 pjB. WOAI-mN, San Antonio (5eoaIl & Weedin) From tho mythical Flying C Ranch (in the studios of KPRC, Houston) comes this bit of horse opersT. Prob- ably okay for Texas after a few kinks are taken out Main burden of the program falls on the shoulders of Jim Sanders, the boss of the ranch. Not only does he m.c. the proceedings but he plays four distinct comedy characters and, also gives out with a bit of a song. Music is furnished by Floyd Till- man and the Six Saddle Pals. On airing caught two tunes from the pen of Tillman were aired, 'Don't Be Blue' and 'Daisy Mae.' Commercial announcements are handled by Harfield Weedin and John Paul Goodwin, producer of the show. If program clicks it's expected to tour Texas theatres as a unit. Andy. 'AUCTION QUIZ* WIUi Bob Brown, Chnok Aercc, Dais DonaldsoB Qnlc 30 Mlns. STANDARD OIL Friday, 7 pjn. WLS-NBC. Chicago (JIfcConn-EricfcJon) Having had a successful four-week trial as a sustainer, this show moves Into the commercial brackets. It offers another variation of the popu- lar radio game 'give away the spon- sor's money,' and in doing so gives the listener more of a break than many of its predecessors. Show is dependent upon questions sent in by listeners, written on blanks obtained from Standard Oil dealers. Then the studio audience is divided into seven sections, each sec- tion represented by a different sub- ject matter, such as 'Past Presidents,' 'Land,' etc. Each group is confined, to its particular subject matter, and can only answer the quesUon per- taining to that subject Questions are auctioned off to the highest bidder in each group, with each question having a maximum value, which is never reached due to a time limit on the bidding, and the bid- ders being confined to $1 raises, "niis leaves a balance from which $5 is sent to the dealer, on whose blank the question was written, and $5 to the Ustener who sent in the ques- tion. Balance is put into a jackpot Then the highest bidder attempts to answer the question, and if suc- cessful, receives the amount he bid. If unsuccessful, the money goes to the party who submitted the ques- tion. Questions. are sufficiently dif- ficult to insure that the major part of the money will revert to the lis- tener. In addition, once during the evening the jackpot question is auc- tioned off, with the sponsor adding -an additional $100, and all partici- pants throughout/ the program are awarded a $5 gift coupon. Bob Brown as the auctioneer and Chuck Acree as quizmaster turn in good performances, and commercials by Dan Donaldson are brief and to the point" This is. a strong merr chandising set-up, and In view of the fact that in excess of $500 is glv^n away every week, all quiz contest devotees are sure to go for it: Gold. PAUL FRY Gossip 5 Mlns.—-Local EAGLE VINEYARD PRODDCTS Tnes., FrL, 5:55 pjn. KSFO, Sam Fnneisc* f<3or/infc«l> This is an Imitation of an imita- tion, a five-minute copy o* Herb Caen (Regal Amber Beer), the town's spiUer. Main difference Is that Pry has a fair voice as contrasted to Caen's often incomprehensible tongue-stumbling. Both, however, dabble in the same lame word-dis- tortions in strained attempts at clev- erness, althou^ Pry seemingly doeant stretch facts quite as far yet In an effort to score a scoop. References to local radio and en- tertainment talent dealt largely with people affiliated with NBC, odd for a CBS outlet although not surprising In view of fact that NBC has most of the talent in these parts (including Caen). Wem. Television Reviews 'OPEN HOUSE' With Helen Morgan, Frank Barto^ Helen Kleeb, Charles Oemr^ Sam Moore, Gladys Simpson, Men^ Mohn, Blesrdo's Orehestm Variety 30 Mlns. Sustaining Saturday, C:30i|^,B. KPO, San Fraiiebco It's finally happened, a' variety show with a change of pace. Origi* nating in the de luxe War Depart- ment theatre at the. Presidio, pro- gram goes transcontinental on the Red starting Aug. 2, bringing it into New, York at lS:30 p.m. Skits, music and gags were the basic ingredients of any variety bill, but there was something about the way they wera grouped which took them out of the familiar pattern and gave the show a freshness. Gene Grant credited with the script job and Bob Seal pro> duced. Ingredients included phony com- mercials, two m.c.s, a Topsy-Tuivey .<;kit, 'Horace and Hattie' comedy team, a gag using two unsuspecting draftees, plus legitimate vocals by Gladys Simpson, and interludes by Ricardo and his violin. First surprise was the blank com- mercial. Grant putting a twist on the bogus blurbs .which pulled beUy laughs from the soldier audience. (After it was over a femme in the guest section was heard to remark 'I never did find out who the sponsor was.') Copy was delivered straight by Frank Barton,..one of the twin m.c.s, other being Helen Morgan, who was so far ahead of any femme m.c. yet miked locally that she may not be staying here long after Xhia show gets out of town. 'Topsy Turvey' slice was written bv Sam Moore who enacted It with Monty Mohn—in this case it was the st^'ry of a draftee pleading with his sergeant to let him drill some more Instead of going - out to a dance, which had the army audience howl- ing. Horace and Hattie sesh (Charles Gerrard and Helen Kleeb) was also in c^p vein, Horace appearing in fatigue uniform while Hattie told him to tell the general how to run the army. Grant has scripted bis intros so that although theatre audi- ence can't hear them, they explain the laughs on appearance of the comics,, overcoming the listener- irritation on variety shows which leave dialers in the dark although guffaws are audible. Highlight of the preshow Is selection of two soldiers to appear in a subsequent skit The. ways It's done here almost caused a riot; femme member of the cast doffed her garters and tossed 'em to the mob. The two who grabbed the hose holders got the nod. On the air, Helen Morgan does a masterful job of handling the boys- She doesn't know their names or what they'll say. The soldiers, like- wise, doij't know what they're sup- posed to do until they go on, when scripts are shoved into their hands. With La Morgan's adlibbing and the soldiers, though nervous, afraid' to show it before their buddies, a laugh- fest ensues which Is good both for sight and sound audiences. Skits of course are simple. . Aside from, the fact that 'Open House' is a good show, it's important to Frisco as proof this town can originate networthy entertainment Wem. COLOR EXPEBIMENT With Country Dance Society 20 Mlns. Thursday, 9:30 p.m. WCBW (CBS) New York Mark the dater July 17, 1941. It proliably is a television 'first' At the conclusion of its regular black- and-white transmissions Thursday night there was a 2C>-minute over- the-air telecast by Columbia's me- chanical disc-type color television. It was the first viewing by outsiders not in a laboratory by coaxial cable relay. This incident was seen in the board room of CBS at 485 Madison avenue, and came from the Chrysler tower. As just what it was called—an ex- periment—the offering was provoca- tive and arresting. Color definition was quite clear and the camera re- vealed detail surprisingly weU. It was helpful to have seen the same Country Dance Society and Ukra- nian costume dancers in black and white just ahead of the demonstra- tion. Many problems remain, of course. Whole clusters of problems, in fact, have not even been considered. But as of July 17, 1941, it is something remarkable to see and report this CBS color television developed by Peter Goldniark. Land DANCING LESSONS Rath Hopktu, Frank Ueblcr, PhylHa Gray, Billy Upton 30 Mlns. Afternoon. >:45 WCBW (CBS) New York Not yet commercially licensed, Co- lumbia's WCBW nevertheless went to a full 15-hour weekly television schedule as of July 1. It is using the opportunity to continue program experimentation shooting with high- ly mobile iconoscopes. The produc- tion interest of these dancing les- sons, in which quite literally two Arthur Murray instructors will teach two beginners, lies in the wide spaces, the lack of camera lines, the informality of the whole proceed- ings.* Dick Coogan, as a sort of rov- ing emcee, wiU walk across the floor every now and then and make some comment on (he lessons. All easy- going, unhurried, unstiff.- Similarly, a cameraman with a h?nd film set does his shooting in full view of the tele, . , The informality loosens up and makes interesting a routine filler that could so easily be as rigid as a German train dispatcher. Land. •BOTTLENECKS OF 1941' Soldier Show WNBT (NBC), New York This may have been funny to the soldiers, and it may have had some 'punch and zip in an auditorium. But before the NBC -television cameras it was unbearably dull. Every item was dragged out nearly evei^thing was in slow tempo. The humor was too local, too special for more than an occasional half-smUe's-worth' via st^-picturcs. Fort Monmouth Signal Corps Re- placement Training Centre wrote, directed and performed the various skits, songs, etc. Although billed as 'excerpt' the suspicion was inevit- ably aroused that nobody at NBC exercised any of the ruthless cutting that might have made this a pass- able filler on the novelty value. One-third its rambling nmning length would have been more suit- able. But then, of course, every- body couldn't have been seen or heard or gotten an of those pointless 'credits' which ermy morale or free show courtesy seems to demand. •HIDDEN HISTORY' With LoaU Van Baoten, Alfrci Blnknoff, Henry Gnrvey, Crrella Dorn, Sidney Castle, WIBIain Podmore, Vema Bacbnrn" 15 Mlns. Sastalnlng Snnday, 2 pjn. WJZ-NBC, New York In cooperation with the Library of Congress, from whose files material for the scripts is..taken, NBC Is of- fering this I5-mlnute sustainer Sun- day afternoons on the Blue (WJZ). As explained on the Sunday (13> chapter, the material isn't complete, but listeners are asked to send to the Library of Congress any documents, papers or letters in thdr possc^on which , bear on the same subjects. Scripts for the series are written in Washington and sent to New York, to be produced by Charles Warbur- ton, of the NBC staff. Show caught was a confused piece, written by Osca:^ Saul, about Immi- grants, where they came from, why they came, what they found and what they gave. It told three un- connected and little-related stories— of a Pole who came to the Virginia colony, a Scandinavian pioneer in Minnesota, and a Portuguese fisher- man settler in New England. There was also a brief and somewhat in- comprehensible bit about a Bohemian woman who migrated to Chicago and finally returned to her home- land. Production was obviously handi- capped by the muddled nature of the script but did provide a certain con- tiniuty of mood and atmoshere via organ music and sound effects. I^pe of program didn't allow scope for any notable individual performances. In general, then. If the programs have no more definite idea and story line than the one caught the whole series seems so-whatish. Hobe.