Variety (Dec 1941)

S2 RADIO REVIEWS Wednesday, De<reniber 10, 19-11 Truman Brad- 6HIRLEY TEMPLE Wllh Warner Baxter, ley 80 Mins. ELGIN WATCH Friday, 10 p.m. WABC-CBS, New York (Es(i/) Shirley Temple, now a 'lecn age 'comeback star' (for Mcuo). is ap- pearing in roiir Friday ni;!ht .'sicci.nis for ElKin walch. They run Unoush December to stimulate Chrislmas purchases of watches. The formula is plausible and the appeal of the youngster must remain widespread. A slifiht increase in maturity has not subtracted much from her familiar charm so far as the ear can judge. Playing opoosite Warner Baxter, she was the i2-ycar-old daushter of a widower who has set aside the tenth of each month as 'memory day' for his wife who died on that date while becoming a mother. On this subject the father is a tyrant, although otherwise kind. The narrative provides an incident to awaken the parent to live in the present, not the past. The daughter is restored to vigor and health for a happy face. It was all very straight and simple, signalling ahead its situations. Yet withal rather be- lievable and touching. Shirlev Temple participated fore and aft with announcer Bradley in the Elgin commercials and. before the fadeout. ceremonially presented Warner Baxter with a ticker. LfCnd. 'MUTUAL GOES CALLING" With Marv Arnold, Lillian Sherman, Helen West, Pinky Hunter, Wil- lard's orch M MIns. Sustaining Mon., Thnr., 3 p.m. WOR-Mutual, New York New sustainer is an afternoon filler for Mutual. » -ich picks up. programs and inserts fi lm its various affiliates. Show heard"Thursday (4) originated at WHK, Cleveland, and, unlike most of such stanzas, included no pickup spot from another affiliate. Without this addition, each program is bound to be limited by the available talent and the production facilities and brains at the originating station. With, it, the show's entertainment content is nerely expanded by the quality of the cut-in act. Show caught was just passable. Willard's orchestra played com- petently, but without much style or distinction. 'Vocals by Helen West, Lillian Sherman and Mairv Arnold were acceptable. Pinky Hunter .was m.c. It was alrighr afternoon sus- tainer stuff. And as long as Mutual can't sell it's -mid-afternoon time be- cause of the numerous sponsored basebaU broadcasts in the summer, •Goes Calling' will have to d.o. Hobe. •l/KMOCRACy AT WORK' With Etldle Dowllne, Admiral RUh- ard !•;. Byrd, Edward RIatthcws, IV''.''.".'U Chorus 30 Mins. S:isl3in.ii|; Saturday, 2 p.m. WF.AF-NBC, New York Another of the programs by which the Government is altcmptmg to in- foim the public of what's bong done for n.nlional defense, what has to be done and why, 'Democracy At Work started Saturday afternoon (6) over NBC-Red (WEAF) with Albert N. William.-;, formerly a director for NBC, now of the Council for Democ- racy, producing. It had Eddie Dowl- ing as m.c. Admiral Richard E. Byrd as principal guest and, despite the inevitable production roughness for a show of this kind, was occa- sionally informative and even mov- Opening the program. Dowling made an intense, dramatic .statement of why the democracies arc fighting, what they're fighting for, what free- dom is and what it means to us. It was overlong for a straightaway spiel, but was read with manifest sincerity and emotion. Then Edward Matthews, negro baritone, teamed with the International Ladies Gar- ment Workers' Union radio choras on the propaganda song, 'Quit Rockin' the Boat.' Dowling intro- duced and interviewed four workers from the Brewster aircraft factory. Long Island City, N. Y. Carl Sand- burg's poem, 'Bomber,' was pre- sented with a choral background and a national defense proclamation by Gov. Herbert Lehman, of New York, was read. Byrd's talk in behalf of national unity was interminable and tedius, as much because of his expression- less delivery as the over-written script itself. After a choral presen- tation of the ballad, Tis of Thee,' Dowling closed the show with a terse, fervent- patriotic plea. Hobe. 20 Winks The astounding news from the Pacific, ot course, .smothered everything on the air when it hit. And the radio kettle is still boil- ing to the point where the rcg-. ular rommerclfll programs seem ju.st fillers. But a wry thought is that this Axis outfit is rough on comics. For instance, these Sun- day attacks. How can Bergen stand off a declaration of war?... Among Dolly Dawn's resolutions for the new year should be one to never again sing 'Embrace.nble You.' She snng it last week at the benefit for 802 and made a dM-ge of It. Yet, Helen O'Connell, of Jimmy Dorsey's troupe, sings it in the same slow tempo. It sounds just as bad, too. So who got the original hunch to take a pert little tune and drag it down by the heels?.. .That four-day 'smog' which New Tfork experi- enced last week brought on a g.ng by the Times which read, 'The weather's so bad that even the birds are walking.' Well, there it was, right on page one of the second news section, and not' a radio comedian lifted it. But whoever saw a radio comic reading the Times? Indeed, who- ever saw a gag in the Times? Shudders of the week: It took the Japs to take Wheeler, Lind- bergh and 'Nye off the air. Pepper Younff's Family' is cur- rently all mixed up in a 'cause on NBC-Red (WEAF). Seems the good citizens of the town have been gath- ering funds to care for English war orphans and arc now awaiting ar- rival of their charges. Friday morn- ng (5) chapter was clear enough in the customary Elaine Sterne Cnr- rington manner. There now appears to be a comedy character, a neigh- bor named Edie, who's gent-crazy and particularly on the trail o(. Pop- per. Mr. Brewster seems to be the man in charge of the orphan plan ind, as always, Mrs. Young out- knows what every \yoman knows. Myrt and Msrce' is back again in its theatrical atmosphere, tliis time with Rood old Myrt staging a show for a group of amateurs. Emotional angle appears to involve Marge and a sinisterly pleasant gay named Jim Barnett. with Myrt seemingly not yet able to grease the skids under the menace. Standard daytime ho- kum, except for the endless com- mercial copy aiming to scare the listener with threats about 'un- pleasant breath' and cajole him with nromises how Colgate's toothpaste cures and prevents it. Show is on CBS. •DEFENSE AND YOUR DOLLAR' ) With Slu»rt Chase 15 Mins. ' Sustaining Saturday, 3 pjB. 'WEAF-NBO, New York First of a series of six public in- formation programs, aired co-oper- atively by NBC and the 20th. Century Fund, 'Defense and Your Dollar' ^~ started Saturday afternoon (6) with author-ecoiibmist Stuart Chase guest- ing. Subject of th«' broadcast was 'Consumer Buying' and Chase's theme was careful buying rather than less or more'buying. Urging shoppers to curb wasteful purchases, excessive use of charge accounts, needless deliveries, need- less returns of articles bought and, ■when possible, buying in bulk to take advantage of the consequent ' price reduction and save packaging cost, the spiel was patterned as running dramatization, with actors portraying bankers, grocers, dellv- fry men, housewives and even a Congressman. As an outright educational show, It was unusually enlightening and, to ■om* extent, entertaining. Succeed bg ctaaptera wlU bring other 20th Century Fund olflclals as guesta, Hob*. 'SECRET CITY' With Billy Eidelson, Jerry Spellman, Eugene Gelsler, Sidney Ellstrom, Jane Green, Clarence Hartzell, Fred Barron, Lonls Turkel, Rene Gekiere 15 Mlns. Sustaining Dally, 5:15 p.m. WJZ-NBC, New York Mystery adventut-e yarn for Juve listeners is offered In this Chicago- produced sustainer serial, 'Secret City,' on NBC-Blue (WJZ). late afternoons Monday-through-Friday. Episode caught Thursday (4), dealt with the efforts by the young hero, Ben Clark, and his super-mechanic friend. Jeff Wilson, to solve the puzzling doings of The Stranger in the long-vacant Mallory mansion. Chapter was atmospheric and built suspense to a punchy climax, capped by a cliff-hanger come-on for the next day's stanza. Jack Bcntkover's scripting is com- pact and moving, while Martin Mag- ner's direction is craftsmanlike. Billy Eidelson, whose voice is familiar through his perforances as Rush on through his performances as Rush on Ben. while the supporting roles are all plausibly played. Hobe. ■TREASURE TRAILS OF SONG' With Kinder Sisters, Pioneer Qnartel. Mary Martha Briney, Dick Folton, Paul Shasnon, Peggy Nelson, Aneorln Bodycombe orch 25 Mlns. SusttUnIng Thur.sday, I2:0r Midnight WEAF-NBO, New York One of the studio-produced pick- ups which has replaced the late-eve- ning dance band remotes on NBC- Red (WEAF), this Treasure Trails of Song' is a passably agreeable mu- sical interlude originating at KDKA, Pittsburgh. It lacks sock talent or the programming vitality of com- mercial offerings, but with nearly every network putlet carrying dance music at that hour, 'Treasure Trails' offers a soothing listener oasis. Thursday night (4) edition had thread . of boy-and-girl continuity running through the latter portion of the show. It was Innocuous, but gave a certain flavor and immcdi tely raised the question why the same thing isn't extended through the entire 25 minutes. Ancurin Body- combe's house orchcsti-a plays the stanza acceptably, though with un distinguished arrangements. Mary Martha Briney is a pleasing lyric soprano and Dick Fulton Is an okay tenor. They blend well for duets. Kinder Sisters are a harmony trio and the Pioneer Quartet does barber-shoppish stuff. Paul Shan- non and Peggy Nelson read the ro mantic continuity. Hobe. Bright Horlxon,' the Lever Bros, serial derived from the Michael West character in the same sponsor's Big Sister' show, is floundering these days in a curious attempt to combine variety entertainment with daytime drama. Result is an un- believable hedge - podge. Friday morning (5) episode contained a cburtroDOm scene, with Michael tak- ing a public pasting which will ap- parently require him to go back to his old horhetown to 'live down his disgrace.' Hero, theii piled into his auto with the ingenuish-sounding heroine and, while driving her home, broke into the song number thot's part of each stanza, in this case a pdnderous version of 'Londonderry Air.' Accordian accompaniment wasn't explained, so probably the heroine is more accomplished than the author bothered to mention in the dialog. It's all pretty incredible, including the straggling ' writing, haphazard production and heavy playing. 'MUSIC IN THE MOONEIGHT' With Jane Qront, Moonlighters, Lionel Bleger, Beasley Smith orch 25. Mlns. Sustaining Thursday, 12:30 midnight WEAF-NBC, New York ,As Indicated by the tills, "Music In the Moonlight' Is a late-evening series of romantic semi-pop music. It originated at WSM, Nashville, and is one of the local studio-produced pickups which NBC-Bed (WEAF) has substituted for dance bands. It Isn't bad and at least offers a plea- sant diversion from midnight dialers who would shun the blare of hot trumpets. Jane Grant doai slow, throbbing vocals, the Moonlighters offer choral selections and backgrounds and Beasley Smith'i studio group sup- plies the capaol* orchestral ingredi- ent. Lionel Rleger reads the atmos- pheric between-numbera oontlnuity. Hobe. THE ON El US' .A\E WES' T NOW RADIOS ViOST POPULAR FAMILY BRINGS YOU MORE jAUGi-iTEi? Tears -.'.o |-|eart-ti-iro3s ■JCmJ TWICE DAILY NBC Rtd Network, 12:16 to 12|30 P.M, EST IN - WA^C—0:30-8:49 EST—CBt ' ' • COAST TO COAST Dir. CO UPTON ADVBKTiaiMa AGKMOT . MOT. ED WOLF-^RKO BLDG.; NEW YORK OITY NBC RECITAL PROGRAM With Earl Wrlghtson, Leo Rnssott« 15 Mlns. Sustaining Friday, 12:30 a.m. WEAF-NBC, New York Earl Wrightson, young baritone (and a pupil ot Robert Weede of the Met) opened this series of recitals with a group of four songs. Singer displayed a powerful, rich, lyric bari- tone ot even quality through its more than two octaves range, and interpretative gifts of high order. Wrightson sang Franck's 'La Pro- cession' in excellent French and ex- hibited a long flowing line with ringing top' 'F*. His clear German enunciation was shown in 'Uber- nacht* of Hugo Wolf, which was sung with deep ?eeling, while "Earl oi! Moray' and the spiritual 'Land ot Degradation' were the English se- lections. How much popularity the program will have is dubious, since it Is un- relieved 'classical' with no conces- sions to the untrained listener. But It shouldj>rovide a promising group of young artists a chance to display theu: wares. If the balance ot the weekly shows come up to the stand- ard set by Wrightson, they will be hard to beat TED STRAETER TO REGENT Haa to Sign MCA Contract to Get Job—Jerry Wayne Also Set Ted Straeter's orchestra, which has played four straight seasons at Fefe's Monte Carlo nitery, flew York, and has never l>een on the air, has been signed for the Regent Clgaret pro- gram, . debuting on Mutual net Jan 5, Straeter, a non-exclusive property on the William Morris agency book- ing sheets, had to sign a contract witth Muslo Corp. of America before he was given The job. Show airs 10:30-10:45. J^rry Wayne, singer, is also set for the program. Straeter continues at Monte Carlo, and also stays on as director ot the vocal chorus on the Kate Smith com- mercial. Follow-Up Comment which was supposed to be scheduling his composition. He and hi^ wife, apparently in .shaky flnancial condi- tion, were fearful of what the com- munication might contain, so dreaded opening it. When they finally did, they found a check for $500 advance royalty. Ensuing scene, of the two expressing their relief in almost hysterical glee, was natural and touching. Following scene, of the confused sounds of preparations for a celebration party, with a sugges- tion of impending drama involving a subordinate character, was expertly ■written, produced and played. Myron McCormick, who has succeeded to the. composer-lead part, projected a neat blend of vigorousness and sym- pathy, while Arlene Francis scored as the wife. However, a line about the hero sitting down to recover hi» composure when he looked at the $500 check, should have been in the directions, not in the dialog. If tha character had been that much shaken, he Wouldn't have had the presence of mind to explain it. Use ot piano music in and out of the story Ls a helpful addition to the show. 'Story of Bess Johnson,' on NBC- Red (WEAF) for Supersuds, left its Hilltop House' derivation behind quite a few months ago, but still refers to it occasionally. With Bess gallantly keeping her chin aloft while looking for a job to support a helpless waif, she was interviewed on Friday morning's" (5) show by a Scandinavian-American, who wanted to know, among other' things, about her experience. 'Hilltop House' roy- alties being now comfortably in the past, the heroine didn't mention the institution by name, but merely said she's superintending an orphanage. Besides being all that's nobly fem- inine, Bess is no chump, it seems. Of course, she got the job. All played by Miss Johnson in pre cisely the same manner in which she reads commercials. 'Help Mate' put together a genu inely well-written and expressively- played chapter Friday morning tS) on NBC-Red (WEAF) Ipr Old Dutch Cleanser. Episode contained a solid dramatic situation and an unusually plausible party scene. Steve, the composer-hero,'received an envelope from the N. Y. Symphony Societi', /Mandle's Diary' uncorked an amusing chapter last Thursday night (4) on CBS, with a script that skill- fully blended poignancy and laugh- ter. There was a catch at the outset, as older sister Sylvia gave Maudie a letter to mall without first sealing It. Scripts still stress folksy stuff, such as the mother reprimanding her husband for resting his arms on the dinner table, as is hardly typical of a smart Bryn Mawr (Pa.) family. Program also overlooks a natural bet In not developing the rivalry and sisterly jealousy- between Maudie and Sylvia. Both parts are played expertly and with effective contrast by Mary Mason and Marjorie Davies. with the former now getting air billing. Commercials on the show are excellent, particularly the musical jingle at the midway point, as handled by Loulie Jean. Horn A Hardart's Antomat dedi- cated Its full morning hour Sunday (7) kid program over WEAF to George M. Cohan—his life, plays and songs. It proved to be pleasant di- version, going back to the days ot the Four Cohans in vaudeville and pointing up the highlights of Cohan's career via vocals as well as talk. Nafrator told of Cohan's partnership with Sam Harris, following which voungsters sang 'Give My Regards to 'iroadway.' First number written by Cohan In 1896, called 'Venus, My Shining Star.' was also among those vocnlled while number entitled 'I Wa? Born in Virginia.' written In 1906. was said to hRve l)cen sung by Cohan's wife before they were married. Reference was made to 'Over There' as the number written In 1915 for which Cohan received the Congressional Medal some 20 years later. Other Cohan oldies, such as 'Harrlgan,' 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' and 'Little Nellie Kelly' were among those warbled with telling effect. Program was designed as a salute to Cohan, an expression of sympathy in his illness from his many admirers, and -wound up with hope for his speedy recovery. FLYING PATROL' With - Hugh Rowlands, Sharon Grainger, Norma Jean Ross, Sid ney Ellstrom, Bob Gallbert, ClUI Sonbler, Mary Fral^ces Desmond Carl Kroenke, Kay Campbell, Pat Murphy, WUIard Famnm 16 Mini Sustaining Dally, 5:3* p.m. WJZ-NBC, New York Newcomer to the NBC-Blue (WJZ) serial lineup, 'Flying Patrol' Is an out-and-out thriller for excitement- craving moppets. As outlined In the opening spiel, the show alms to dramatize the activity of the Coast Guard air corps, winging 'through storm, fog and hurricane over 40,- 000 miles of coastline to 'smash those'" who break our laws.' There's little effort at plausibility, but author Jack LaFrandre flings the whole typewriter keyboard Into the rush of roaring plane sound effects and hectic sciiffles between Coast Guards- men, fair heroines apd dire villains. Characters and situations are strictly comic-strip and apparently all sorts ot pseudo-sclentiflc devices and contraptions are to be used by minions of. the law and the evil- doers. That's obviously okay for the urchins, provided it's fantastic and red-blooded enough. Production, a varylngly important item on kid shows. Is rather sketchy for 'Plying Patrol,' being conflned chiefly to the droning motor sound effects at the beginning and close. Performances are in bold strokes. Program Is neither as incredible nor melodramatically-exciting as some. It may get a' moderate audience. Alan Flshbiirn directs and there's a long cast list, only part of which is used on any single episode. Hobe. Fred Warlng's soothing quarter- hour stanza for Chesterfield, last Thursday (4) at 7 p.m.. pursued the typicall.v even tenor of its way for the most part. .Timmv Atkins sang nleasantly. The Glee Club accounted for a couple of tuneful Interludes, and the band played several zingy arrangements. The finale was dis- tinguished by a tribute to the late Joyce Kilmer, composer of 'Trees,' who was born 55 years ago. And It was announced that twins had been born to son, KejQton Kilmer, that very day. . Leads all other BALTIMORE radio stations In NATIONAL SPOT ADVERTISING! balti'moreI INSTITUTION WFBR / MUTUAL Network