Variety (December 1943)

so RADIO Wednesday, December 8, 19(13 Radio Reviews Continued from page with a funny looking house on it.' Letter clinches Mom's argument, and the Thompson iamily • will ri.- mair. at the old homestead during ensuing . chapters. Sponsor's mes- sages, touted in pre-debut announce- ments as 'connectives' rather than commercials, were introduced suave- ly . during sequence, interims by Henry Neale. Plugs stressed Alcoa'.* 'family' of 95.000 employees and the part they arc playing in America's war effort. Ruth Matteson arid Eric Dressier were.convincing and natural in their roles as the parents. Dickie Van . Patten was properly enthusiastic as the 12-year-old. Andrea Wallace and Clifford. Carpenter had little to do, but that little they did well. 'MR. KEEN. PERSONS' Cast: Bennett Kllpack, Florence Ma- lone, James Kelly, Ethel Wilson, Larry Elliott, Al Rickey Writer: David Davidson Director: Richard Leonard 30 Mill's.; Thur., 7:30 p.m. KOLYNOS WABC-CBS, New York (Biackett-Saiuple-HuminerO After several years as a thrice- weekly lanninute series. 'Mr. Keen' was changed to a weekly 30-minute stanza last week.- However, it's still a moderately effective commercial whodunit in the 'Crime Doctor,' 'Mr. District Attorney' manner. Except for the inevitable matter of script quality, the. essential ingredient of a show of tiiis type is a compelling and likeable lead. As the title player of ;Mr. Keen,' Bennett Kilpack is a sc-vt- of bouncy", 'character.' which seems suitable if-not overdone. Thursday night's (2) premiere of the new series altered the 'Tracer of Lost Persons.' angle a bit to go in for straight sleuthing. It was stand- ard mystery hokum, predictable and somewhat weakened by obvious treatment.. Florence Malone and Jim KeHy are regular supporting actors, the commercial copy, con- fined to opening-and closing plugs, is read by Larry. Elliott. Hobe. 'TOWN TATTLER OK THE AIR' With Nat Gross, Guy Wallace 15 Mins.;:Sat., 5 p.m. ILL. COMMERCIAL MEN'S ASSN. WBBM. Chicago Opening with three national scoops, one of which was confirmed an hour after the program was aired, Nat Cross. Chi: Herald-American col- umnist, proved .in his initial- 15-min- ute program that'a sponsored column of the air could be a success in Chi- cago. Opening weak because of mike nervousness, Gross managed to main- tain a good' pace throughout. Mate- DO YOUR PROGRAM- Post coupon* immediately for full details on these splendid, sales-producing WOR showst WOR, 1440 Broadway, New York IS (Rm. 23SS) Gentlemen: Please send me all the facts on why MARTHA DEANE is such an excellent radio buy at this lime. Also the cost to me of having her push and sell my prod- uct in WOR's 16 cities of more than 100,000 people each. ACENCYOR BUSINESS CONNECTION- ADDRESS. CITY MARTHA DEANB The Woman who' make*: Women Lit. led — end Buy I Participating atalla* bility. ACT NOWt WOR, 1440 Broadway, New York 18 (Rm. 2355) Gentlemeni Please send me all the facts on why THE MrCANN PURE-FOOD HOUR is such an excellent radio buy at this time. Also the cost to me of having it push and sell my product in WOR's 16 cities of more than 100,000 people each. NAME a<;kncy or . bushvess connection. ALFRED MeCANN One of Radio't Bait- Known Namet in the Food Field. ADDRESS— CITY WOR, 1440 Broadway, New York 18 (Rm. 2355) Gentlemen: Please send me all the farts on why UNCLE DON is such an excellent radio buy at this time. Also, the cost to me of having him push and sell my product in WOR's 16 cities of more limn 100,000 people each. AGENCY. OR . BUSINESS CONNECTION. ADDRESS- CITV___ -STATE- Participating availa- bility for reputable food product. ACT NOW! UNCLE DON He Reaches Paren t? Parses with Proven Skill. m New, low-priced type of availability. ACT NOW1 WOR i That power-full station, rial, which was dished up in an in- teresting manner, dealt mainly with the doings of the town, celebrities, human interest yarns and war per- sonalities with a local background. Commercials on the show were too long but taken by and large the show- should become a fixture in Chicago radio if the pace of the first show is maintained. . ■ . Hunt. 'SERENADE TO AMERICA' Cast: Winifred. Heldt, Nora Stirling, Dr. Frank Black, orchestra, chorus Director: Ira Avery 25 Alins.: Mon.-Fri., :15 p.m. Sustaining WEAF-NBC, New York What strange programming twist prompted the inclusion. of Nora Stirling on this early evening musi- cal concert lms not been explained but. while there may be room iii radio for . her nostalgic, first person reminiscing, it seemed more than slightly out of place on the opening broadcast (6). The high musical tal- ents present seemed well able to hold their.own on a 'serenade', basis without the between-tunc interludes by Miss Stirling and her tabloid au- tobiog at the halfway point. Winifred Heidt sopranped 'Candle- light and' Wine' for her solo and topped this creditable performance in the finale. 'Falling in Love With Love,' which found Dr. Black's. in- strumental and vocal charges also in good form. Opening tune by orch and the chorus, Oklahoma's 'Surrey,' didn't quite come off and seemed to be ; over-arranged for the singers. A Viennese number featuring strings and woodwinds was well performed under the Black baton as was ah Eric Coates' march tunc, despite an unscheduled news bulletin interrup- tion announcing the. attack on. the Marshall Islands by. Naval units. - 'In the. Blue of Evening' was open- ing and closing themer with Jack Costello handling gab at these points. 'SINGING HOST—SID GARY' 15 Mlna.; Sunday, 1:13 p.m. SIERRA MADRE WINERY WMCA, -N. Y. Sid Gary, who has . been around radio and show biz for a number of years, came back on the. air Sun- day (5) with a generally pleasant mid-day musical offering of pop and semi-classical tunes. He opened his quarter-hour show with an 'Oklahoma' medley consist- ing of 'Oh What a Beautiful Morn- ing' and 'People Will Say.' He took unnecessary liberties with the songs which detracted from an otherwise melodic delivery. Gary first sang one chorus of 'Morning' and then a chorus of 'People' improvising with the line .'People will say oh what a beautiful morning,' followed by the regular lyrics. If Gary was trying to create a special effect, he did. but it was the opposite of what he wanted. However, he redeemed himself with the old time ballad, 'Dear Little Boy of Mine,'; and registered solidly with Jerome Kern's 'Russia Is Her Name.' 'White Christmas' wound up the session in appropriate seasonal style. The commercials were well spotted and kept in check. In addition to plugging the product, they included a statement about the liquor short- age and. a plea to be patient with the liquor store distributor. The ac- count is handled direct. one time or act Tor special ballyhoo w ith the result that the entire ahow held to a steady, satisfying pace. In its present form the musical should have little trouble building and hold- ing a substantial audience. Com- mercials were ably. projected by Warren Sweeney and Cotsworth proved a capable master Of cere- monies, No little credit for the results ob- tained should go to the unobstrusive but .slan-loul orchestral backgrounds and interludes by. the 30-piece Jacques Renard unit. 'THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER' Cast: Maurice Tarplln, Philip Clarke, Gilbert Mack,' Carl Emory, Lew White Writers: Bob Arthur, David Kofan Director: Jock MacGregpr :!0 Mlhs.; Sun., 7 p.m. - Sustaining WOR, New York As opposition to Jack Benny and William L. Shiror-Frank Sinatra, station WOR. New York, is offering a' new psychological chiller, 'The Mysterious Traveler,'; by scripters Bob Arthur and David Kogan. The show purports to be a 'trip into the realm of the strange'and terrifying' as .toI'd'by a smokingcar companion. The latter,, the title character of the shpw. offers the yarns us first-person -narratives. Shifting in and out of dramatizations, with himself par- ticipating ii\ the cases. Sunday's (5) opener w'as a pass- able, though slightly foolish concoc- tion called 'The Hands' That Killed' and dealing with a crazed human monster with a pair of deformed mitts that, of ..their own accord, throttle- people. Maurice Tarplin plays the 'Traveler' with a sugges- tion, of sinister quiet, and Lew While's organ clues are in the ac- cepted melodrama, style. Hobe. Follow-Up Comment Continued from page 26 film to radio over the Lux Radio Theatre Monday (6), losing little of the story's spirit and quality in the process. Miss Carson filled the dual role of narrator and actress, while Pidgeon stuck exclusively to the act- ing chores; On the CBS show, as in the film, they emerged as the well- bred, dauntless Britishers. The high- lights of the film were retained in the screen adaptation; these included the declaration of war, the Dun- kerque evacuation," Mrs. Miniver's capture of the Nazi airman, the death of her daughter-in-law and the rea- sons for fighting as expounded by the village vicar. 'FRIDAY ON BROADWAY' Cast: Brad Reynolds. Kay Penlon, Fred, Waldner, Larry Andrews, Mary Ann Malbee, Jacques Renard orch, Chorus, Staats Cotsworth Producer: Frank Hummert SO Mlns.; Fri:, 7:30 p.m. ANACIN WABC-CBS, New York (Blackett-Saniple-HiimiiierO Holding strictly to network stand ards, this musical potpourri blended smooth vocalism and line orchestral background to produce a pleasing half hbur modeled along 'hit parade' lines. Producers of the show were in a generous mood when building- the premiere (3), which was liberally sprinkled with boosts for song writers, night clubs, theatres, films and performers from tKose fields. Program continuity is dictated by the title, as ah imaginary trip up and Hlown Broadway is described. Themer is 'Give My Regards' with slrcel noises in background. Brief plug for the headache remedy was followed by Staats Cots.worth's intro of Kay Pentoh and Fred Waldner doing 'Don't ' Believe Everything You Dream' with mixed chorus. for a sprightly opener, followed by 'Shin- ing Hour,' sung by Larry Andrews and a femme choral group. Other combos spotted on the preem were Betty. Jane and Janet, for 'Either Too Young,' and the Herald Square male trio for a 1918 version of 'Paper Doll.' Brad Reynolds soloed 'For the First Time' and shared 'My Heart Tells Me. with Mary Ann Maibee. Two inevitables also popped up, 'People Will Say' by the Broadway Sextette, and 'Pistol Packin' Mamma" for a repeater by the Penton-.Wald- ner team, Larry Andrews was back for 'How Sweet You Are' and shqw closed with 'Don't Sweetheart Me,' 'Friday on Broadway' remained strictly in the entertainment, slot throughout the half-hour period ex- cept for a mjdway plug for the spon- sor's vitamin preparation and a clos- ing mention of Anacin just before the fadeout'. Producer Hummert shrewdly refused to single out any Edward B. Murrow, CBS news cor* respondent in London, was beamed in from there Friday afternoon (3) for a special network program on which he described vividly his re- action as he flew over Berlin the night. befOrc in one of the big Lan- caster bombers that plastered the Nazi - capital with blockbusters and incendiaries. Murrow also paid tribute to three reporters who ac- companied the. RAF and were re- ported missing, after, the,raid. ' The CBS correspondent's 15 min- ute broadcast covered all the excite- ment of the flight from the pre- takeoff period to the return trip across the channel. He reported heavy antiaircraft attacks and fighter skirmishes but said, the plane m which he flew, 'D for Dog,' reached the' objective despite con- centrated defense tactics by the Luftwaffe, and dumped its bomb load square in the target area, Murrow's special broadcast was aired at 5:30 p:m. and he returned to the network at 6:45 p.m. to re- peat highlights of the bombing story. Kate Smith did a fine job Friday (3) with Irving Berlin's latest song, 'My British Buddy.' which was writ- ten in London and added to the "This Is the Army' repertoire. IU perform- ance on the 'Kate Smith Hour' was thai American preem of ,'Buddv' a typical Berlin product, combm'mu the proper blend of catchy melody and sentimental lyrics. Miss :Sm'ith had introduced Berlin's 'God Bless America' several years ago and she's lost none of her knack in interpret- ing such offerings. Friday's session also featured Mar- ga'ret Lindsay in. one of those-'in- tense dramas written especially for radio.' Contrived to display Miss Lindsay's histrionic powers, the sketch was little more than a poifii-: less succession of cliches with a pat trick ending. Nevertheless Miss Lind- ' say played ball with the scripter. Ginny Slmms bowed in at the Stage Door Canteen Friday night Q) to. sing and take part in the general festivities with Eric Blore, Dame May' Whitty and Tommy Dorsey, who sprung a surprise aiid bounced up as a comedian with a fast line of chatter. The songstress clicked with her openers, 'In My Arms' and 'Put Your Arms Around Me' and then topped these ; at the 'finish with 'I Didn't Sleep a Wink' featured by a groovy Dorsey trombone obligato. The maestro also contributed '1 Cot Rhythm' as a tricky solo: ; Playlet with Dame May, Blore and Dorsey swapping jive . talk • was spotty but contained several chuckles. The program "ended on a serious note willi a pica by Dame May for peace but only after complete vic- tory. Rehearsals of the National Orches- tra Assn"s. youth orchestra, under the direction of Leon Barzin, broad- cast weekly by WNYC, Now York City's municipal station, are an in- teresting and enlightening novelty. As heard 5-5:30."p.m. Thursday (2> the group, was readying : for. a-con- cert several days later at Carnegie Hall. N- Y.. and was' smoothing out its performance of the second move- ment of Beethoven's First Symphony, With Barzin interrupting frequently to correct, admonish, explain .and occasionally praise, they, gradually worked through the selection, then played it . straight through without pause. A brief talk by Franklin Rob- inson, founder of the NOA, opened the program. . • W. W. Chapin pinch hitter for John W. Vandercook on a 'News ot the World' broadcast for Alka- Seltzer over NBC. M«t.: 1,0U CLAYTON Not CA.MKI, l'KOCKAM, IV p.m., F.tVX Friday M-G-M'n Slutllmi, Hollywood. Cat. FRITZ BLOCK! 655 Fifth Avenue New York Cily PLaza 9-6180