Variety (Sep 1942)

Wednesday, September 28, 1942 RADIO ^ MM » M »» > M » 4 es »4 ♦♦ ♦♦♦♦>«<>««♦«»' IN mW YORK CITY . . . The Radio Thade Is Discussing; Whether (here is room for more rhnti one genius at that advertising agency—The number of prominent radio men fated to be privates and the tnuidious comparisons—The title of the new war song, 'Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition' —Paul Hollister's joining CBS—All the redtape and viystery about that Treasury program. Cailton Alsop, director of 'Abie's Irish Rose,' commuting to the Coast by plane weekly to supervise the Hollywood blood bank for the Red Cross and to visit his wife, actress Martha Scott.. .Harry Ackerman, Young & Rubicam production supervisor, wants short dramatic sketches for guest names on the Kate Smith show...Actor Chester Stratton into the Army .soon... Benton tc Bowles sending a special newspaper about doings around the agency to its former employees in the service.. .Sol Leon, formerly of the William Morris legal department, training with the Army Signal Corps in Arizona.. .Singer Jack Arthur doing musical commercials on the •Mary Marlin' serial. Don Hancock replaces George A. Putman as an- nouncer on the same program next Monday (28). Bill Ramsey, Proter Se Gamble radio director, vacationing on Cape Cod for three weeks.. .Albert G. Miller, scripter of 'Maudie's Diary," which goes off the air this week, going into the Navy with a'commission... Douglas Lounds transferred from radio department to media department of Benton & Bowles.. .Peter Michael, author of 'Lone Joufney' serial for Procter & Gamble, to Wyoming for several weeks on ranch to gather background color.. .Writers War Board has set up sub-committee to gather material for soldiers to use In their own shows at Army camps. Seymour Robbie, formerly assistant, becomes CBS shortwave produc- tion manager, succeeding Clarence Schimmel who goes into the Navy... Bill Zuckert on 'The Triumphant Egg' on NBC and 'Columbia Workshop' on CBS this week.. .George Hicks, Blue network news and special features announcer, on .special assignment as correspondent with Navy...Nila Mack, CBS director who writes-produces 'Let's Pretend' kid show, authored-'Animal Allies,' juve volume being published this week by Julian Messner. Richard Hubbell, of CBS television staff, has written '4,000 Years of Television,' to be published next week by Putman.. .Mary O'Meara, formerly with Thompson agency, joined Compton copy depart- ment. Oscar Levant clicked Sunday (20) as piano soloist on Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue" on the Andre Kostelanetz-Albcrt Spalding show for Coca-Cola.. .Roger Kent clothes sponsoring three chapters a week of the 'Musical Personalities' recorded series on WQXR.. .Pending Alma Det- tinger's recovery from an appendectomy. Alice Pentlarge conducts .her 'Other People's Business' program on WQXR.'..Red Barber took time on his Dodger-Phils baseball broadcast Sunday (20) to caution kid listeners that his Old Gold commercials are aimed strictly for adults.. .Donna Keath was featured lead Saturday tl9) opposite Ray Milland on Arm- strong 'Theatre of Today'.. .Joel Hammill's script about Pastor Niemoller for Sunday night's (20) 'This Is Our Enemy' provided a sock show. 'Pasquale, C. O. D.,' six-evenings-a-week serial resumed on WHOM this week for Chicago Macaroni.. .'Vox Pop' next Monday night (28) will be from Columbia University, with the awarding of medals to correspondents who covered the Dieppe raid. The show will have a London pickup with Bob Trout.. .Following week's (Oct 5) 'Vox Pop' will be from Lakehurst (N. J.) naval air station.. .Annual meeting of the Ne\y York local of AFRA will be Nov. 10 at the Astor hotel... Harry Ackerman has written the adaptation of 'The War Against Mrs. Hadley,' which Edward Arnold and Fay Bainter will do as the dramatic spot Friday night (25) on the Kate Smith show. Incidentally, Ackerman, Young Sc Rubicam production supervisor, has been named chairman of the agency's war committee, which will attempt to put war. material into its programs. Orson Welles, who proved to be just as much at home on 'Information Please* as he has on many other radio programs, argued with and dis- puted Clifton Fadiman so often that the emcee finally quipped, 'Welles, this is the last time you will appear on 'Information Please.' I thought I had enough trouble with Kieran for four years' 'The Army and Navy Game' will be shifted from 5:30 to 8 p.m., starting next Sunday (27) on the Blue network. Fred Uttal is emcee. Benay Venuta served as chair- man of the board of judges and announced the awards on this week's program. IN CHICAGO . . . The Radio Trade Is Discussing: The inaccessibility of Jimmy Petrillo u-hen in touin—The cut-off handed Bill Paley's CBS speech from London by CBS-owned WBBM—All in favor of a spot announcement- Just the boss. TURNS IN HER JUMPERS Bttbcr Huff Leaves Bell Aircraft for WEBB Air Buffalo, Sept. 22. Esther Huff has doffed overalls and goggles as a paint inspector at Bell Aircraft here to come back to radio, this time as pilot of WEBR's 'Time to Chat' afternoon program for women. She replaces Helen King, now Evening News radio columnist. Jack Brickhouse will conduct WGN's sports session for remainder of season, replacing Bob Elson, who is in the Navy AFRA holds a Corona- tion Ball Sept. 28 at the Hotel Sherman to crown Neva Patterson and Bob Sabin Queen and King of Chicago radio artists WBBM's House- wives Protective League distributed 100 packages of food to listener- members for opinions as to their merit—80% of testers must okay products to make them eligible for program approval Mac and Bob, old-time song vocalists, renewed for fourth year on WLS for Foley's Honey and Tar, through Laueson and Solomon. The 'WLS Mountain Theatre' returns to the air Sept. 28, sponsored by Dr. W. B. Caldwell, Inc., through Sherman-Marquette agency Bess McCammon is two-star mother with son Tom, 21, enlisted in Army Ordinance, and Bill, 23, selected for Officer's Training at Ft. Belvoir, Va Harlan Eugene Reed, news commenUtor, to air over WBBM Mon. through Sat. from 10:30 to 10:45 p.m. CWT... .Jeanne Juvelier returns to Chi from N. Y. to join cast of 'Helen Trent'... .Clara Lu 'n' Em return to the air over WBBM after a seven-year absence. Their program goes over 40 stations, WBBM-CBS, Mon., Wed., Fri., 10 to 10:15 a.m. CWT. 'I Only Know,' by Aviation Cadet Bill Demond, USNR, Bill Bruns, USNR, and Russ Morgan, debuted over CBS with Jimmy Melton smging and Andre KostelaneU providing orchestral background 'The Man on the Farm* returns to WLS, Sat. from 12 to 12:30 p.m. CST for its sixth consecutive year, under sponsorship of Ful-O-Pep Poultry Feeds.... Todd Hunter takes over the news spot on WBBM, 3:55 to 4 p.m. Mon., Wed. and FrI. for Vick Chemical of N. Y. CommenUtor also has 7:15 to 7:25 a.m. 'Morning Reporter' news time on these same days sustaining.... 'Romance of Helen Trent,' network serial from Chicago, begins its 10th year on the air Sept. 23....Harlan Eugene Read, Donald McGibncy and Dr. Gerhard Schacher are now WBBM's trio of ace news analysts ... Tommy Tucker, currently at the Chicago, and Eddie Oliver, at the May- fair Room, guesting on 'Victory Matinee'... .Happy Jack Turner, singer- pianist, starts Oct. 5 in a new program over WMAQ, Mon., Wed and »ri. at 5 p.m....WMAQ announcers, competing with each other, have sold nearly $50,000 in bonds over the counter at this station... .Harry C. Kopi, NBC vice-prexy, to Hot Springs, Va., for company management meet- ing... .Emmons C. Carlson, sales promotion manager, and Jules Hcr- buveaux, program manager, to N. Y. on business. Three WBBM staff members leave for armed forces: sound effecls man Lee Randon joins Signal Corps Enlisted Reserve as radio electrician, Jim Conway goes into training as ensign, U. S. N. (Aviation) at Northwestern U., and announcer Jack McCormick goes to Jacksonville, Fla., i""" "^^'"'"e as a lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps Aviation Unit.. Bob Mc^ec takes over announcing duties on 'Profiles and Previews ... .Everett Ha s- lon, pianist-arranger of the Great Lakes Naval Training Stations all- ailor Rhythm orchestra, formerly served in the same capacity with Orrin (Continued on page 34) Schloss Quits McC-E To Join Blue Network Pete Schloss last week quit as time buyer for the McCann-Erick- son agency to become a member of the Blue Network's station relations staff. His place at McC-E is being taken by Willard Butler. Butler comes from the Erwin- Wasey agency. Lisa Sergio Shifting Lisa Sergio moves her daily news comment series, effective Oct. I, from its present 10-10:15 a. m. spot to 7- 7:15 p.m. on WQXR, New York. Whether or not she will carry over her co-sponsors. Botany Mills and Tomorrow mag, will be decided this week. Higher evening rate, plus the fact that Botany is now chiefly en- gaged in war output, may affect its decision. Before taking her summer vacation Miss Sergio conducted two daily comment stanzas, one at the 10 a.m. time and the other at 9-9:15 p.m. Latter spot is now filled by the Time mag news series. JIM LITTLE INTO U.S. ARMY Worcester, Sept. 22. Jim Little, WTAGjiewscaster and news editoflor past several years, was inducted into Army at Fort Devens last week. Bob Marvin currently doing Lit- tle's stint. Aimouncer and-Wife^riianK^ Cleveland Stage Door Canteen Louis-Conn DX Sked SchenecUdy, N. Y.. Sept. 22. WGEO and WGEA will have the exclusive shortwave rights for the Columbus Day heavyweight cham- pionship bout between Sgt. Joe Louis and Private Billy Conn. Inasmuch as the fracas is scheduled for the afternoon, the General Electric sta- tions will relay the 'all army' fight overseas by delayed broadcasts. The first one will be teamed to Central and South America at 10 p.m., Oct. 12. At 6:15 a.m. the fol- lowing day^ the broadcast will be sent to Australia and New Zealand for the entertainment of servicemen there. Three hours later, the sta- tions will fire at Newfoundland, Ice- land, Ireland, England and Europe. WGEA and WGEO will also have a DX exclusive on the World Series to American servicemen throughout the world. Stephens Gets Sponsor Jack Stephens will be sponsored starting Oct. 5 on eight stations of the new Atlantic Coast network keyed out of WNEW, New York. He will give sports, interviews and musical recordings six nights weekly at 11 p.m. Its for St. Joseph's Aspirin and Pentero via the Lake-S(tiro-Shurman agency of Memphis. Mumble's Football Series Houston, Sept. 22. Humble Oil & Refining will spon- sor broadcasts of Southwest Confer- ence football games for the eighth consecutive <;eason. Kern Tips and Ves Box will head the announcing staff. Opening broadcast was between the University of Texas and the Naval Air Base team of Corpus Christi, at Austin, Sept. 19. Cleveland, Sept. 22. Nicki Burnett, WHK announcer, and wife, Helen, plan to open City's branch of Stage Door Canteen dur- ing first part of October. Continuous entertainment will be furnished by professional perform- ers of local and national promin- ence, according to Burnett. Musi- cians' union has given all local dance bands permission to play and vir- tually everybody in town who has anything to offer in entertainment field has offered to help. Game room will be outfitted by the Phonograph Merchants Associa^ tion. GUEST SINGERS PLUS GUEST STARS FOR ALLEN The Fred A Hen-Texaco show, which resumes on CBS Oct. 4, will go along for a while with a policy of guest singers as well as guest stars. Arthur Godfrey will have James Wallington's spot as announcer and the format will include the newsreel routine in some form. The time is Sunday, 9:30-10 p.m. Albert G. Miller To New Orleans for Navy Albert G. Miller, scripter of 'Maudie's Diary,' which Wonder Bread is dropping from CBS after tomorrow night's (Thursday) broad- cast, was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Navy, and left yesterday (Tuesday) for service in the public relations branch of the Eighth Naval District, New Orleans. He also wrote 'Blondie' last season for Camel cigaret, and has scripted various other shows. Lesson No. 3 in ^..up to date Ask your time buyer—even if that means talking to your* self—how close he can come to matching these typical costs It all adds up to the Biggest Bargains in Broadcasting THE MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM