Variety (Apr 1945)

16 RADIO REVIEWS fARIEfr Wednesday, April 11. 1945 Tolerance 'Between Musk Quite a guy. that Alan Courtney. Radio could use more like him. Not so long ago the WOV (N. Y.) disc jockey, whose thoughts areat necessarily restricted to crooners or jivesters, built up a considerable rep"via his "Tolerance Through Music" sessions. Now. in his.nightly '•1280 Club" programs, Courtney is inserting a capsule thought in a manner that is no less articulate though completely different than that used by commentators or spielers. _ Speaking in a quiet, conversational tone with verbiage cued to platter audiences, Courtney each night slates simply, almost like a guy who can't believe it's so, a glaring flaw that accents intolerance and preju- dice. Sandwiched in between two Frank Sinatra recordings last Thursday (5). for example. Courtney chatted informally and supposedly naively on the seven answers received by the N. Y. Daily News Inquiring Photographer the day previous. He-was kinda shocked at the implica- tions that were apparent in a 5-to-2 ratio for a soft and considerate treatment for a defeated Germany. He couldn't believe it but it fright- ened him Still, in very few words, he must have made many people think of the horrors that resulted from the last soft peace administered by a people who wanted to do the Christian thing. He didn t hammer away at the thought. He Just has a way of throwing it out. It's plain; you don't have to think twice of what he means. That's different from the politicos, the economists or the guy who gives statistics. . Yes, quite a guy this Courtney, certainly something new. He should be able to enter a lot of living rooms where the multi-syllabled, highly- polished spielers couldn't catch ail ear, ■ Rose. "THE FRESH-UP SHOW" With Barney Grant; Annette War- ren, Waltei Klnsella, Artie Elawr, Hildegarde Halliday, Jerry Law- rence, Lee Brody, Jim Backus, David Terry oreh and chorus Director: BUI Harding Writer: Ed Blrnbryer 30 Mlns.; Wed., 8:3ft pjn, SEVEN-UP BOTTLING CO. WOR-Mutual, N. Y. (J. Walter Thompson) Situation comedy requires experi- enced treatment lrom the person around whom the situations are en- acted. Barney Grant, the star of the new Seven-Up show, has neither the timing nor the air ken to hold up 30 minutes of . spontaneity that is ex- pected to draw laughter from audi- ences, and succeed In sustaining in- terest for that length of time. As a result, this program, which had a fairl good script on its initial show last Wednesday night (4), will have tough sledding. Surrounded by several of the best stooges in the business, including Walter Kinsella, iii the role of an Irish policeman; Hildegarde Halli- day, Artie Elmer, as the boss, and others, Grant flounders at the most inopportune times—when he should be playing his lines for all they are worth. Maybe his performance was due to nervousness, but whatever the reason, dialers at home do not realize, or care to know, of such things. They'll listen if the program is good; if not, a turn of the dial and they go somewhere else for enjoy- ment. Stanza revolved around Grant's efforts to play up to his boss, despite his meek nature. He goes to dinner with tlie boss, but gets Into trouble when stuck with the check. While this basic pattern is- evolving, the stooge? are intertwined in the script for some , good laughs. Especially worthy of mention- is the boff musi cal aggregation of David Terry, plus the chorus of blended voices which he has choralled for this show. An r nette. Warren, singer, has a fair voice and" with- experience should score strongly. Her delivery of "Candy' and "Beginning. to See the Light was pleasant. Best part ot the stanza was the . briefness of the commercials, which totaled one minute and 45 seconds in all. Following an intro that show was sponsored by soft-drink concern, nothing was heard about the product until more than 20 minutes had passed, when announcer Jerry Law- rence delivered a brief plug. Clos- ing announcement likewise just mentioned sponsor's name. Sten. "THE FORD SHOW" With Lawrence BfMks, Robert Rus- sell Bennett oreh and chorus, Dor- othy Xlraten (guest) Producer: Maulce Holland Writer: Ed Rice 30 Mlns.; Sun., 2 p.m. FORD MOTOR CO. WEAF-NBC. N. T. (J. Walter thompsan) Topnotch music, and production on this Ford stanza Which shifted this week (8) from the Blue to NBC make it a welcome addition to the Sabbath afternoon program roster. Lawrence Brooks and Bobert Bus- sell Bennett's oreh and choristers are direct carryovers with Brooks handling introductory stints in addi- tion to bacitoning throughout. The "Stars of the Future" approach used on the Blue with up and coming guesters spotted has been dropped, however, in favor of a name- guest policy. Soprano Frances Greer is out. Jane Froman, skedded to guest on the teeoff, was forced to cancel be- cause of illness and Dorothy. Kirsten, who'll also appear next week (15) was rushed into the breach. She was a hit and seems made to order for a permanent member of the Ford troupe if it's decided to add a song- Stress to team with Brooks, a la the Blue format. Miss Kissten's brilliant rendition of Fritz Krelsrert "Stars In Your Eyes" rated top honors on Sunday's preem. ' Brooks, the "Song of Norway", iter,.also scored although faint signs of huskiness could be: detected dur- ing "Laura" and in the "Band Played On" grand finale, a full-cast produc- tion that sparkled. Brooks' best effort was the opening "Pesert Song." His emceeihg was light, bright and assured. The Bennett instrumentalists and voices hit the mark consistently,, both on support- ing contribs for the soloists and with their own specialties, "Scarf Dance," "Same Sort of Girl", and a fantasy on Sousa's "Washington Post March." Bennett's arrangements . pleased throughout. Commercial approach is gentle and brief being confined to quickies to'open and close and a half-way plug that, on teeoff show, was gaited to scientific progress in industry (especially Ford plants) which is speeding victory and will provide added safety when the: assembly lines resume automotive, production for civilian needs. This: first Ford show on. NBC should have provided pleasant lis- tening for all with the exception of Blue networkers mourning its loss. Donn. "CIMMARON TAVERN" With Stephen Courtlelgh, Ronnie Lias, Ethel Everett, Tony Burger, ..Nell O'Malley, Carl Emery; Bob Hlte, announcer Producer John Diets Writer: Felix Holt 15 Mlns.; Mon.rThur.-Frl., 8:39 p. m. Sustaining WABC-CBS, N. T. CBS' obvious crusade to dress up its daytime programming sked is ap- parent in. the new serial "Cimarron Tavern." Serial, trying to recreate color, and drama of old southwest, has earmarks of careful attention "ARCH OBOLER'S PLAYS" ("Strange Morning") With Charlotte Holland, Mason Adams, Joseph Julian, Paul Mann, Maurice Ellis, Louis Van Reolen, Larry Ilanes, Lamont Johnson, Sylvan Levin oreh Writer-Producer: Arch Oboler Musical Score: Gordon Jenkins 30 Mins.; Thurs., 1ft p.m. Sustaining WOR-MutuaL N. T. Arch Oboler's returned to radio and he's back bearing the standard of those that have faith in radio. His original play, "Strange Morning," which marked the premiere last Thursday (5) of his new 28-week series for Mutual once more proves conclusively that good- and. inspired writing can emerge from the pen of the . artist who is creating for. air production, not only because he has something to say, but because he says it in a fluent and dramatic man-. ner that in no way suffers by tlie compactness . that radio time de- mands of the script Oboler's script points uo the advantages of writing, directly for radio, with a full appre- ciation of its. techniques, over the handicaps inherent in adaptations from either stage, screen or books. Certainly the Obolers and the Corwlns are fully aware that it Isn't necessary for them to ape the three- dimensional drama as presented in pix and legit, nor must they limit themselves to the single dimensions of the novel. For in this new realm in which they're pioneers they know full well the values they can project through the two-dimensional kilo- cycle presentation. Limited only by their own creative abilities, writers scripting for radio, and having the advantage of directing their produc- tions, can. interpret their ideas and words through the performers, whereas the novelist must depend upon the individual reader's limita- tions to give full value to his ideas. Too long absent from radio (he's just completed a Metro film based on his "Alter Ego" air play), Oboler's new Mutual series, at least on the basis of that getaway production, is concrete evidence of Phil Carlin's programming hypo for the web. From a standpoint of production, di- rection and acting, it benefited from Oboler at his best. The casting was uniformly tops and the direction of such a quality as to drive home the drama without letting it become melodramatic. From a scripting standpoint, chalk this up as one of the jobs Oboler can be proud of. In "Strange Morn- ing" he's chosen a subject first in-the minds of everyone—V-E Day—and uses the personal and dramatic to emphasize the important subject matter that emerges from his play. On the day of Germany's collapse. Public Service? Tho Blue network's exclusive roundtable broadcast (9) from Akron by a group of topflight Washington correspondents, on the coming United Nations con- ference in San Francisco, was marked or marred by a series of. personal attacks which John O'Donnell. of the N. Y. Daily News, leveled at President Roosevelt. Seldom, if ever, at least since the Haps attacked Pearl Harbor, has the Chief Executive been subjected, on the air, to such bitter criticism and charges of bad faith. None of his. press colleagues agreed with him, in fact, Mal- colm Bingay, Detroit Free-Press editor, who acted as moderator, repeatedly observed; in a most friendly tone, that O'Donnell was talking about past history and was making no constructive contributions to the discussion. Daily News man charged the President with responsibility for the Pearl Harbor sneak attack by the Japs; said there might not have, been a war, except for FDR, and declared that the vot- ers had never been given an op- portunity to decide whether they wanted to have this country enter the conflict. and study. Opening program Mon- day (9) was a little topheavy, too much going on, too many characters . . . being introduced, in a too-elaborate Oboler brings home forcefully the attempt to get airer successfully on need to remember the-nature of the its way. But it had flavor and pacS enemy. Through his protagonists, who to hold one's interest. are body-scajred, hospitalized .sol- Program should prove an attrac- [ diers .. he proves why we can't become tive addition, to the daytime sched- ule, with its wealth of material to fall , hack on, in frontier days, In- dians, scouts, traders and soldiers. Setting is a Grand-Hotelish frontier tavern, a crossroads of Oklahoma- Missouri- territory, where travelers, ■traders and fighters stop to relax, swap yarns and scrap. Bron. "KLA-HOW-YA, TILLICTJM!" With Fet« MeDeaaM, Juliette, CBC Vancouver Playhouse Players, Ray Norrls Quintet, John Avison oreh and chorus Writer-Producer: John Wickham Barnes Announcers Dick Hallett ' 30 Mlns.; Toes., 10:30 p.m. SastaJntaf CBR-CBC, Vancouver . Originating in the studios from where Alan Young, Fletcher Markle and Andrew Allan springboarded, "Kla-How-Ya, Tillicum!" is eyed by Canadian radio for promising mate rial, principally comics. The preem (3). however, fell far short of ex- pectations and a lot of rebuilding will have to be done before airing is clicko. "Kla-How-Ya, Tillicum!" (title Is British Columbia Indian for "Wel- come. Friend!") is 80% musical with lop honors-.going to Avison 3S>piece band and the warbling Juliette, ca- nary who debuted with the old Alan Young -. Buckingham CBCer, who also gets in on the lines. Ray Norris' five-piece git-crew was stilt- ed, hugging the score all the way.. Airer teed off with Indian atmos- phere in lines for Ballet, McDonald, Avison ■ and Juliette, using "Ugh" dialect. Comedy .script okay but voicers left it unmilkcd and flat. Unbilled Playhouse characters in- cluded Hi Holler' man and femme who merged Uppington, Vera Vague and Bllhe Burke types. Nothing original. Avison opener was "Saludos, Aml- gos." followed later ftv show by "Swanee River", arrangement and .straight presentation of "Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night." Juli- ette used pop tunes as well as her teeoff, Gershinw's "But Not for Me" from "Girl Crazy." . General impression was that'en- tire cast knocked themselves' out to make the preem show count, and it showed. Program carried on CBC's Trans-Canada web. ■ Gorm. . sentimental and soft. In conclusion the reactions of these men who could fight no more, convinces the sympathetic and understanding nurse to cry out that we at home must re- member our responsibilities to com- pletely destroy the enemy and also those flaws in our civilization that would make a man hate to return to a world of unequal opportunities. In mature treatment. Oboler has assumed, that in the victory to fol- low World War II the tumult and the shouting will restrain itself to a more fruitful rejoicing. Rose. "SIB THOMAS BEECHAM CON- DUCTS" With Bloe Network Symphony Oreh Producer: W. Lerey Marshall Announcer: Mlltea Cross M MIihk Sat, 4 p.m. , Sustaining WJZ-Btae, N. The Blue Network Symphony Or- chestra, which teed off under baton of Sir ; Thomas Beecham' Saturday (7), is obviously the Blue's attempt to build up a home. Oreh comparable to NBC's and Columbia's symphonic aggregations. The Blue has taken its staff ensemble, augmented it with Philharmonic and Metopera musicians, for: a 80-piecc ensemble of respectable proportions, artistic- ally as well as numerically. A little haste, and indecision seems to have accompanied the procedure, since the orch's name was only hit on day or so before the initial concert, and the program aired as "Sir Thomas Beecham Conducts'' instead of the symph's name. Sir Thomas will only conduct the four April concerts, to be followed by guest leaders, al- though the goateed batonist will doubtless, take over again, the series supposed to be a regular summer feature for the Blue. The volatile Englishman is one of the few topnotch conductors, like Leopold Stokowski. who has the knack of whipping a raw ensemble into shape quickly, of making a sec- ond-rate ensemble play well over its head, and of making a first-rate group sound like something out- of this world. Saturday's initial airer showed a good ensemble playing very well and promising to do even better. Program, consisting of short works by Nicolai. Elgar. Handel, Delius and J. Strauss, was' well up to concert standard. Milton Cross 1 sing-song manner of delivery and his florid introduction of Sir Thomas has its distractions. It was a little undignified and con- descending, as well as naive. Beecham, as conductor, needs neither buildup nor phu;. Bron "BUILDERS OF VICTORY" Director: Max Loeb Writer; Arnold Perl Music: Miguel Sandoval Announcer-narrator: John Thomas IS Mlns.; Sal, 3:45 p. m. Sustaining WABC-CBS, N. Y. Feeling that certain branches of the armed services are being neglect ed while other branches are grab blng off publicity and public atten Uon, must be behind such programs as "Bunders of Victory," the salute to the Seabees which CBS ihaugu rated Saturday (7). Whatever the case, the feeling is a natural one, and the followup commendable. Saturday's opener was a straight- forward presentation of the work the Navy s construction battalions— unsung heroes using tools instead-of guns—are doing. It was also a thrill- ing dramatic account of an air strip being built on Guadalcanal under the fire of Jap planes. Told in a good mix of narration and dramatization, airer was an eloquent though down to-earth tribute to the men behind the fighters, to their bravery under fire, and to their ingenuity in meet- ing all emergencies. Program goes a long way to dispel the poison that worker and soldier are worlds apart in this war. Aired by CBS in collaboration with the American Federation'Of. Labor, pro gram pointed out the share that or- ganized labor has in our fighting forces. Organized labor's assistance to Navy personnel was also stressed by Vlce-Admlral Morrell, guest speaker on the program.. Thirteen-week scries will empha- size labor's role in paving the road to victory and to Tokyo,, by dramatiz- ing events or holding interviews from all corners of the globe. Bron. FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY'' Cnalnwwn, Samuel L. M. Barlow- Mary Berg, Herbert C. Pell, Con- gressman Cecil R. King, I. F. Stone 30 Mlns.; Fri. (April •). 10 p.m. Sustaining WOV, N. Y. This forum staged entirely by "Fo- rum for Democracy," an organization devoted to discussion' of war and peace problems vital to America, is given airtime once a month by the New York indie, WOV. For picking this program as a public service, the station- Is fo be congratulated. Rest of the credit, however, goes to the organization itself, which conducts the forum from a New York hall, station only stringing a line into the place. Subject this time (6) was "War Criminals, Crime and Punishment." Participants were people who really know the subject and pulled no punches in talking about it. Mary Berg, who escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto, and saw Nazi atrocities at first hand, read a powerful short ap- peal calling for punishment of those responsible for massacres which she witnessed. Others included the for- mer U. S. representative on the Al- lied War Crimes Commission in Lon- don; a Congressman who has intro- duced a bill calling for trial and pun- ishment of the war oriminals: a spokesman for lawyers, who touched on the legal aspects, and a journalist who has written competently on the subject. The diplomat. Herbert C. Pell, took more time than the others, but he also had more. to say and packed more punch. For a few minutes; near the end, the argument became a bit warm, with a disagreement between the lawyer and the newspaperman, but that dispute only helped to en- liven the session. Samuel L. M. Bar- low, the composer, proved a smooth emcee, who not only knew (lis sub- ject and how to handle the partic- ipants, but also has an excellent voice and real radio personality. Car*. "THIS IS TOUR FBI" With Karl Swenson, Geoffrey Bry. ant, James Vaa Dyke, Helen Lewis.' Frances Chaaey, Will Hare, Chet Webster. Frank Love joy, Carl Frank,. Brad Barker, Jack Mc- Brlde Producer; Jerry Devlne Writer: Lawrence McArlhur 3ft Mins,; Frl., 8:3ft p.m. EQUITABLE LIFE WJZ-Blue, N. T. (Warwick li LegUr) Jerry Devine has delivered again if the first broadcast in this new Blue network series is any criterion Geared to drive home the efficiency and thoroughness with which the Federal. Bureau of Investigation guards the lives/ properties of US citizens, "This Is Your FBI" got off to a racing start as it dramatized its activities leading to the downfall of "Willie Sebring, Spy." Although all events being portrayed oit the series are based oh actual FBI case his- tories, names of the principals, natur- ally, are being nomme-de-networked. Eschewing a violent cops-and- robbers approach or a Superman theme, Devine and scripter Law- rence McArthur banked On- restraint and non-heroics to hit the Jackpot Spy Sebring was shown to be an ordinary, matter Of fact citizen of German birth who sought to cover up his espionage activities by volun- teering as an air-raid warden and posing as a patriotic American. However, after FBI suspicion was aroused following information leaks cued to waterfront movements in the vicinity of Sebririg's home, the G- men went to work. Result—good- bye Willie. How clues were tracked down, de- pendency on laboratory and hand- writing experts, - close cooperation between FBI agents and headquar- ters and other hallmarks of. J. Edgar Hoover's department were nicely pointed up in a tight script aug- mented by Devine's deft direction. Casting was tops with Karl Swenson and Geoffrey Bryant, as the G-men, and James Van Dyke, the spy, carry- ing the heftiest burdens. Sound effects also helped the over- all result ranging from lifelike waterfront backgrounds to Brad: Barket's canine kick-in as the spy's ' faithful dog.who turned out to be a tipoff guy as far as the forces of law and order were concerned. Thomas I. Parkinson, prexy of Equitable Life, was on for one plug and J. Edgar Hoover, himself, de- livered another sponsor message at the^ close, probably the first time such an important public official has been drafted to read a commercial. Commercials linked protection, as supplied by the FBI, with similar protection in the life insurance field—peace of mind, security, safety, etc. Chalk "FBI" up as something worth while inasmuch as there ■ seems to be no reason why Devine and Co. can't keep oh delivering consistently. Donn. EVERETT HOLLES News .Commentary i* i*!?*-jj" 0n - thro Frl., 8*5 p.m. STANDARD OIL OF INDIANA WBBM, Chicago (McCann-Erickson) Holies, recently transferred from the post of assistant to Paul While CBS news head in New York, to WBBM-CBS news editor in Chicago. Joins the ever-increasing number of newscasters in the Windy City with these broadcasts. Holies' appraisals are done in a restrained, free and easy delivery with no overemphasis on certain segments of news and without the stark predictions overly used by some of his colleagues. Commercials are used at the be- ginning and end of the broadcasts, with no middle plug, giving the lis- tener eight minutes of uninterrupted news. Holies is a distinct asset to the list of radio news disseminators from the Chicago area. Af org. "THE NAVY REPORTS" With Brooklyn Navy Yard Band, eemductod hy Chief Muslelaa Gor- don Gladsen; Johnny Thompson, Irene Walsh, Nick Kcnuy, emcee, others Writer: Yeoman Hal Davit Produoer: Tod Williams 30 Mlns.; Thurs., 8 p.m. Sustaining WHN, N. Y. • The Navy has been'slower getting into domestic radio, by comparison with the Army. But it is doing an excellent job now, if this program Is a criterion. When heard (5), the show was a distinct credit to every- one connected with it. The Brooklyn Navy Yard Band un- der Gordon Gladsen can swing some very good Jazz and, occasionally, beat a powerful boogie. It did both' on this stanza. Johnny Thompson and Irene Walsh, guesting vocalists, sang as if they had been working with the band for weeks, instead of merely for a one-shot appearance. Nick Kenny had just the right voice for his emceeing job (which is also a guest spot), and handled himself like a professional. The fact that he is also an old sailor from World War I days was emphasized just sufficiently to make the listener feel that he really belonged oh the show. Guest naval personnel this_time were Lieut. George M. Cohan « cousin of the late George M.) ana Capt. George Currier, director. Navy advance bases, Atlantic. Both hai interesting stories to tell—Cohan a; (Continued on page 34)