Variety (Sep 1942)

40 RADIO REVIEWS Wednesdif, September 2, 1942 BOND NIGHT ON THE BLUE With Orsoa Welles, Edward O. Bob> Inson, Juie Froman, Bob Bnma, Nelson Eddy, Fanny Brlee, Mere- dith IViUMn, Jane Cowl, Marfo, Lanny Bon, Jack Pearl, Amoi It' Andy, Dinah Shore, Conrad Thl- banlt, Carl Sandbnrg Variety 120 Mins. Sustaining Sat., 9 p.m. (one time) WJZ-Blne, New York This was a cleverly composed pageant of ballyhoo. The variety phase of the event ran from 9 to 11 p.m. and a quarter hour later the network started picking up name bands from all sections of the coun- try and that lusty procedure was maintained until 4 a.m. This massive concentration of tom-tomming ac- counted for an accumulation of over $11,000,000 in bond orders. It was an impressive demonstration of radio's selling power. Most of the entertainment was cued to the one theme, the reason why every American ;.hould buy the utmost in war bonds and stamps. Facts and appeals were adroitly pro- pounded without taking the per- sonalities out of character. Edward G. Robinson was particularly effect- ive with his monolog dealing with an imaginative call by 'Joe Doakes, of Brooklyn' to Premier Tojo in Tokyo. Another exhibit of earthy needling, but in a more humorous vein, was the ditty with which Jack Pearl closed his routine. The title was 'We'll Heil into Hitler's Face.' The two hours had dull stretches also. There were times when the heavy rhetoric of Orson Welles be- came somewhat wearying, but withal he- did a crack, rousing as- signment of m.c.ing. Another high point in the welter of entertainment w?5 Jane Froman. Jane Cowl and Margo joined in the playing of a sketch, 'Thanksgiving' '64,^ and. while the sentiments contained therein were noble and commend- able, the general result of the recita- tion was not far removed from a stage wait. Carl Sandburg read his poem, The Man With the Broken Fingers.' At frequent intervals listeners were utged to wire, phone or write th? network their orders for bonds, and as the night progressed the breaks revealing the cumulative totals of sales became progressively exciting. Bill Bacher was credited with the direction of the two-hour program. The idea itisU had been submitted by Bud Barry, the Blue's assistant Eastern production man- ager. Odec. MOLASSES V JANVABT Comedy News Comment 5 Mini. Sustaining Mon. through Fri., 9:56 pja. WJZ-Blae, New York Molasses 'n' January had been out of network radio for some time be- fore th^ had themselves elected to do this nightly marathon. The boys most likely aren't to blame as much as their writer and producer. The blackface team has always been show-wise, in its own, if limited, fashion, and the chances are they have no choice but to accept what s handed 'em and to reel off the stuff at the rate dictated by the producer. In any event, the pair chin at such a fast tempo that it's difficult to catch better than one out of every four gags. A pretty good example of the calibre of material (s the crack about the mother who feeds her baby garlic. The switch Is from 'so she can find it in the dark' to 'so that she can find it In a black- out.' On this particular assignment Molasses 'n' January are billed as 'America's advisors on the home front.' The original intent of the series was to help brighten the dark domestic corners of the war with timely and appropriate humorous slants on such things as restrictions, priorities, dimouts and meatless, etc., days. Before the team can achieve this it will first have to come out of its own dark corner. Odec. Trooping to Colors Springfield, Mass., Sept 1 WMAS, Columbia ouUet, lost two key men last week, with scripter George A. Yarrlngton enlisting in the army and music director Paul Peltier heading for the navy. Chief Engineer, Ralph J. Robinson, is also due into service as soon as he re' covers from a minor operation. Station has already sent 10 men to the colors. • WRITER • DIRECTOR • PRODUCER TIMEKEEPEB' With Freddie MlUer Participating M. io S.. 7-8:5S ajn. WTBT, Troy 'Big Freddie' Miller, veteran of vaudeville and other branches of show business, .' a new air per- sonality hereabouts. He handles WTRY's Timekeeper' for some two hours weekday mornings, with periods out for local newscasts and one network show, Morgan Beatty's War Journal. Miller plays the piano for his own solos, sings to the ac- companiment of records, laughs, kids and plugs various products and services. He more or less ad libs the advertising. Miller, who has quite a bit on the entertainment ball, works in a style a hit different from anyone miklne in this section. He possesses a reso- nant baritone, used in songs old and new—the former perhaps predomi- nating. He employs a deep chuckle, a bit too often on some bi;oadcasts. Miller exudes good nature. He owns a rather pleasant speaking voice, although at times his pattern of emphasis tends to slurring ' and cloudy diction. The advertising sp'els are quite long, the ad Ubbing accentuates this in certain cases, while it makes the blurbs more effective in others. Tossed' is one word overworked. The news helps to hold the audi- ence. Jaeo. AN AMEBICAN IN ENGLAND' With Joseph Julian 3* Mins. Snstainlnr Monday, 19 pjn. WABC-CBS, New York Fifth and next-to-last In Norman Corwin's shortwave series Monday night (31) from I,ondon was sub- titled "The Yanks Are Here' and It dealt with the reaction of American troops to Britain and the British, and vice-versa. One notable limita- tion of the program, characteristic of the series as a whole, was that it was on a comparatively passive sub- ject—that is, it suffered from the lack of a positive message or ap- >eal. Having a rather Intangible heme, its effect was somewhat in- conclusive. As in the other 'An American In England' chapters, however, the show was written with imagination, perception and skill. Although the central narrative thread was in- direct, it built to a potent punch finish Illustrating the basic uni- formity of Interest and sympathy between the U. S. and England. A quote by Gen. Clarke in a British paper, used earlier in the script, was repeated, to the effect, 'We're not here to sit on our back ends and do nothing. We're here to fight, to carry the attack . ''ainst the enemy.' Then the narrator, Joseph Julian, Eroceeded on his stroll through ondon. 'You see the statue of George Washington in front of the National Gallery,' he said. 'It's been there for some years.' Edward R. Murrow, CBS cor- respondent in London and producer of the series, spoke on the broad- cast. The musical score, largely an arrangement of 'Yankee Doodle' and 'Arkansas Traveler,' was ar- ranged by Benjamin Britton and the Royal Air Force Orchestra was conducted by Wing Commander R. P. O'Donnell. The trans-Atlantic reception was extraordinarily clear. Next Monday night's (7) concluding stanza will be an hour earlier, at 0 o'clock. Hobe. NEW YORK QTY •COLUMBIA WOBKSHOF* With Alan Beed, Carl Eastman, Eddie O'Shea, Art Carney, Jim Baekns, Minerva PIobs, Lee Brody, Mad- eleine Pierce, Peggy Zincke, Slate Brothers, Waiter Gross orch 30 Mins. Swtalning Monday, 10:30 pja. WABC-CBS, New York As the third in a series of four 'all out for comedy' programs, 'Co lumbia Workshop' presented Monday night (31) a little something which is called 'Columbia Sketchbook.' Without dwelling unnecessarily on the subject, it may simply be noted for the record that the succession of skits and blackouts was ponderous and dull to the point ef agony. Such accomplished microphone troupers as Alan Reed, Minerva Pious and Carl Eastman did the best they could. And a studio audience apparently composed of howling Idiots roared at every threacH>are gag. For the rest, what's past is done. Hobe, 15000 WAHSl Mv im man In Salt Lake City most people just naturally turn to their only NBC outlet... KDYL SALT LAKE CITY UTAH'S' KBO BtatlpB Petrillo Probe ^Continued from page 36; called canned music,' (2) the kt- tie stations which already are be- ginning to feel the pinch of war as advertising falls off,' (3) 'all the lit- tle restaurants throughout the land which use mechanical music as a device for making the surroundings pleasant for their customers while they are eating,' (4) 'the boys in the Army camps of our country,' (5) 'the tens of millions of radios in the homes throughout the coun- try,' (8) 'phonographs on which the children of the family, as well as the adults, depend for their musical entertainment.' The senator charged that the Pe- trillo order 'is causing and will cause great disunity in our war effort and actually impede the effort itself.' He suggested that Petrillo's "middle name is strongly Ironic and was un- questionably given him by those who foresaw his future.' Asks Full Probe The Idaho senator's resolution calls for a 'thorough and complete investigation of acts, practices, meth- ods, and omissions to act, by per sons, partnershlifs, associations, cor poratlons and other entities in in- terstate and foreign commerce, which may or do interfere with, or obstruct the national welfare, the puhlic morale, or affect the public good originating from or resulting from the actions of the American Federation of Musicians and its presJdent, James C. Petrillo, in de- nying members the right to per- form music for recordings and transcriptions destined to be played for reproductions by radio stations and coin-operated phonographs.' The investigation would seek to root out any restraints of trade af- fecting the manufacture and pro- duction of, or playing for, musical records and transcriptions, and the control of music and music produc- tions In the country. It would pry Into financial ar- ragements and demands with re- spect to profits, salaries, bonuses, a', other honorariums, which may have heen arranged for, accepted or demanded by individuals or or- ganizations affecting the manufac- ture and production of, or playing for, musical records and transcrip- tions and the control of music and music production. Senator Clark's reference on the floor to 'a little amateur band in a small town in Michigan which was put off the air by virtue of the tactics of James Caesar Petrillo.' led Senator Vandenberg to rise and say In a friendly manner to his Idaho colleague that the Interlochen Na- tional High School orchestra 'is rec- ognized as the greatest single mu- sical cultural chrysalis in the whole land.' •THE WEAKNESS OFFBAUBOBK. HABDT' Play V 29 Mins. BBC, Londo. Brisk, clever little playlet made forceful propaganda against care- less talk. Unfolded through various telephone conversations. It disclosed the indiscreet confidences of a young wife who chats with a strange woman after seeing her husband off to sea. His ship goes down with ell hands and the unknown,-a German agent posing as a I'etugee, cannot help ringing up the girl and gloat- ing over her folly. She lost her own man at sea in the last war and this is her revenge. Anxious friends unable to get the wife on the wire to give her the news of her husband's safety, re- port prolonged engaged signal to the supervisor who, in checking up, overhears conversation. Scotland Yard is notified and the equally in- discreet Frau Borkhardt is arrested as she leaves the public call box. The conscience-stricken victim of the spiteful telephonic harangue, ap- palled at the disaster for which she is responsible, attempts suicide be- fore learning of her husband'is rescue, but is caved by the friends who have been trying to contact her. Joan Carol and Curlgwen Lewis shared honors as the spy and peni- tent chatterer, with supporting cast good in scanty roles. Story was by James Parish and production by Howard Rose. HOP HABBIGAN' Drama 15 Mins. Sustaining Hon. (hronch FrI., S:15 pjB. WJZ-Blne, N. Y. This one is strictly for the juve trade and figures to be a natural. Character has been a hot item in the comic mags, is now being syndicated, and, off the opening program, should do as well on the air. Hop Harrigan (Chester Stratton) is 18 years young and bugs about planes. With Tank Tinker (Jackson Beck), his pal and mechanic, he builds an all-plastic-plane that the Army wants: Thanks to the plane they manage to join the Air Corps and have the plane ready for its first test flight just as the guttural-voiced menace enters with plans to sabotage the plane in midair. Will Hop Harri- gan be killed? Will the spies be caught? Listen tomorrow at the same time. Chester Stratton and Jackson Beck were on the beam all the way, as was Lindsay MacHarrie, who did the directing. Some sponsor is sup- posedly taking over in four weeks. Currently, the Air Training Corps of America, a non-profit org de- signed to school youngsters in avia- tion theory and groundwork and so aid the aviation program, gets the plugs. Scripts are by Jerry Stagg. Air Training Corps is outgrowth of similar groups in Britain and Canada and operates on the theory that the teen-age kids of today are the fighter pilots we'll need in the near future. It has units in public and high schools. Fran. 'BAKflB'S DOZE i' With Bernie Braden, AUeen Caik- lew, Cathy Graham Drama 30 Mins. Sustaining Wed., 19:13 p.m. CBC, Vancouver 'Baker's Dozen,' 13-week drama show, is the brightest bit of pro- ducing the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. wires have carried for years. Written by Fletcher Markle, 21- year-old actor-author, the second of the series was 'He and She,' a crisp boy-meets-girl play with boy and girl telling listeners their own story from meeting to wedding. Andrew Allan is producing the entire series and can share with Markle the credit for this pleasant cycle. His timing is brilliant and the characters fairly crackle out the smooth script. Toronto studios, talent bank for CBC. can afford to watch this Vancouver-originating show, and CBC can afford to keep the rest of their drama time up to the level of 'Baker's Dozen.' Initial half-hour, 'One to Get Ready,' used studio and control room crews in their regular duties, taking listeners on a tour of a drama show being broadcast. Markle's ability for variety is evident in the plays to come: 'Journey to Eternity,' centered around Insane asylum in- mates; 'There Was a Young Man,' ,?r"*y, ^"""^ ""<^ 'That's the Way It Is.' Gorm. 'CLABSBOOM FOB OEMOCBACT' With. Vloeent Price, George Davis, Bert.SheMer, Cheru 39 HIBS. Sutalnlng Saturday, 11:39 ajn. WJZ-Blue, New York Leonardo Bercovici, writer-direct- or of the 'Help Mate' serial on WEAF-NBC, has taken the 'Songs for a New World' from that show as the hasls of this propaganda-edu- cational program for kids, called 'Classroom for Democracy.' He's writing and producing it himself, with the premiere edition tried out last Saturday morning (29) on the Blue network's juve series, 'Little Blue Playhouse.' Spotting of the program as a 'Little Blue Playhouse' presentation was to showcas4 it, with the idea of giving it another place on the schedule if it clicked. If imagination, an urgently timely theme, creative skill and artistic courage mean anything, the show should certainly be continued, at least for a reasonable time to see if the standard of the debut edition can be maintained. For this first sample was not only bright topical entertainment, but aLso palatable and valuable education for the kids. Theme of the Initial broadcast was the lesson in democracy expressed in the Harold J. Rome song, The World Has Become a Very Small Place,' That, as well as the suc- ceeding George Davis 'Songs for a New World,' including 'Go Easy on the Sugar,' Tin,' 'We'll Make 'Em Holler Uncle, Uncle Sam' and' 'We're the Kids of America' were beguillng- ly sung by Vincent Price, as the schoolteacher, and a juvenile chorus. In between the songs were teacher questions and scholar answers on practical democracy. Two-piano ac- companiment for the show was by Davis and Bert Shelter. Hobe. 'CANTEEN GIBL!- With Phyllis Jean Creore 15 Mins. SustalnlBff .. Friday, 6:39 pjn. WEAF-NBC, New York Phyllis Jean Creore, young actress- singer who performs at the N. Y. Stage Door Canteen, supplied the idea for this 'Canteen Girl' weekly series built around her. She also composed the show's theme song. This Is My Wish.' While the appeal is manifestly to service men, the In- tention is obviously to use that as a bid for a general audience. Debut broadcast last Friday eve- ninf; (28) was a combination of Miss Creore singing sentimental ballads and reading dramatic monologs. Former were pleasant, but the latter were uneven. One about a Ferry Command pilot was effective, but the second, about an emotional triangle situation, was daytime serial hokum. Miss Creore's performance was ex- cellent, oarttcularly her singing. Eddie Dunham directs the show for NBC and Neal Hookins scriots it. Hobe. Nobody Would Rent This Space So I Guess m Have To Use It Myself. Wish I Could Find The Fella That Sold Me This Idea HERB SHRINER (CAMEL CARAVAN) WILLIAM HORKIB AOBN'CT Allrouid Showmaii at liberty Am a youns man In the forllea, (ilnKlc. wideawake and sood appear- ing. Put In 20 years In big-tlme vaudeville auceeaarully managlnir, pro- daclns and wrlttais. So what? Am plenty veriied in all phases of aliow biz and am an excellent Judge of all types of talent. Have keen eenea- yuma and don't ooze with larceny. Address Box 750, Variety, 154 W. 46th Sti^et, New York WHEN DRINKING- IF I CHEW SPEABMINT AND IT TASTES I.IKE I>Oi;BI.EMn4T I KNOW I'VE HAD BXOVCH. Jamea MadUea trae-lance gas writer. Al«e pohllalier of JAURH MADIBO>' UA<1 SHBRT. (I—P.O. BOX IM Ormnd Ceatnl Auwa. New Tofk LISTEN FOLKS: The Fitch Bandwagon i§ travel- ing again. This time to Detroit to bring you Michigan's favorite, RAY GORRELL and Hu Orchestra. Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 P. M., EWT, Red Network, Coaet-to-Coast. Thanks to F, W, FITCH CO, and MUSIC CORP. of AMERICA