Variety (Apr 1947)

y^ednoe^r Aprg 80, 1947 rahio reviews 3t mu, GOODWIN SHOW Wtth Peffgy Kniidsen, Shirley Mitch- ^M. Sim Backus, EJvia Allpan, jforene Gamll, Mary imt Cwftj ieff Alexander or«ii . Writers: Fred S, Fox, Ohet ftartellaw troducer-Direet*''!'>'»*'fy »««■"• Jo Wllrs.; Sat., 9 p."*. Snstaitilnsr „ WABC-CBS, N. ir. Bill Goodwin, the announcer, has turned Ml-fledged comic with his own show, which CBS is spotting In the Saturday evening period just vacated by Lucky. Strike '-Hit Pa- rade " Goodwm, in fact, has been ■thrown in as opposition to "Parade," ■which now occupies the same time segment on NBC, That's a tough assignment for anyoiie still feeling his oats on hist own in the big league comedy field, and if the premiere broadcast last Saturday (26) didn't ouite come off, blame it less on Goodwin than on a script that was something less thaii inspiring. The Goodwin style of delivery and mannerism has for years been one of the great gifts to sponsors' com- mercial copy; it has been ideally suited for the integrated kidding commercial and its accompanying byplay with many of the top come- dians in radio. As such Goodwin/s voice is probably as famiUar to the nation's households as radio's ace comics. He's established a pattern for himselfj which carries over well enough Into the comedy field. It's obvious, too, that the CBS program- ming boys on the Coast have poured considerably more than the usual Sustaining coin and effort into this one, for Goodwin is surroundled by (jome of the top supporting players and stooges iri the busirtees. More's the pity, then, that a little more emphasis wasn't directed at the writing of this situation comedy in which Goodwin. f» < cast as A civic- minded insurance salesman with a penchant for complicating his love life, his business life and his com- munity enterprise, it wasn't alone that the script got over-complicated, but principally the humor didn't flow naturally; the gags became too Obvious and yet were tossed off as though they were pearls of sparkling wit. And so much was written into the first script that it was calculated to leave the listener breathless—^but not sufficiently entertained. , Jeff Alexander conducts the musi- cal interludes, with an. assist from the Four Girl Friends. Rose. lEtAND STOWE IS nSing.; Wed., 9i30 p.m. UNITED ELECtElOAIi WORKERS WMCA, N. ir, (Moss-Arnold) Tliis news commentating stint by Leland Stowe, newspaper man, au- thor and Pulitzer prizewinner, is being «)on5ored by uE on about 55 stations of the Mutual- network Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. (EDT), but has been turned down by WOR, Mu- tual's N. Y. flagship, and conse- quently is being transcribed for air- ing two hours later on WMCA, Nathan Straus' indie. On his teeoff last Wednesday (23), Stowe appropriately highlighted la- bor news; the phone strike, the CIO steel pact, UAW-General Motors ne- gotiations. Citing Truman's appeal for lower prices, he said: > "prices mean us—anyone ... must see the wisdom of the President's appeal." Citing the Newburyport, Mass., com- munity experiment in cutting prices, he said: "If this action spreads across our country it might produce star- tling results . . . let's try it out and see." Then he turned briefly to the Moscow conference, to the death of Peru's fabulously wealthy tin king 'I'who could have lifted three millioa people out of poverty, ignorance and hunger," and to "loose talk" of World War III. "l don't believe another war is inevitable," he closed. "Let's work to live." His delivery was clear, calm and thoughtful, somewhat in the Shirer manner. Needless to add, his expres- sions were of such a liberal shade as to provide a much-needed counter- balance, in his Mutual airing, to the conservative viewpoints of Fulton Lewis, Jr., and the Gabriel Heatter commentary. Doan, BETTY REILLY SHOW With Joel Hefron and orchj an- nouncer, Bob Bryar Writer: Bill Mogle .. Director: Millon B. Kaye Producer: Raymond Katz 15 Mins.; HOn., 9 p.m. Sustaining WHN, N.y. WHN seems to have a versatile, slick chirping chick in this Irish lass. She opened up the preem air- ing of her new show Monday (28) piping the title line of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," shouted "Jack!" and jumped it Sp from-there in. She follows up by stirring -just about every pop mode of chirping into everything she served up. Part of the Scottish "Land of the Kerry Dancers," for example, came out in Latin-American tempo with Spanish lyrics. In "Poppa Don't Preach to Me," "You Gotta Have a Little Mahzel" and "Sebastian," she ranged in - her mood from jumpy jiving to sepia hi-de-ho to throaty torching to Latin sauciness, mixing them up a little, too. The orch gave her slightly too much backing at a lew points and Miss Reilly's piping came through somewhat slimly at several moments. But she carried off the stanza with zest, including her betwe^n-numbers banter. She ought to btiild a nice following. Show was aired at 9 p.m. because Of a special broadcast and will be slotted at 9:30 p. m. hereafter, on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday s c h e d- ule. Doan. CURTAIN TIME With Patrick Allen, Nanette Sar- gent, Harry Elders, George Cisar, Sidney Ellstrom; John Welgel, an- nouncer Director: Harry Holcontbe Writer: Roger Vornbolt 30 min.. Sat., 6:30 p.U., OST UA'^s candy. ■ ■ ■ WMAQ, NBC, Chicago (Grant Advertising) This is an example of a low bud- get show with a tried and true formula that is pulling down a rela- tively high Hooper. Show has all the tricks of the late "First Nighter" with ticket-taking, chitchat, and seat finding. There is no attempt to change the pattern in any respect away from "^'Nighter," and for the first shows of "Time," scripts of the "Nighter" show were used. Freelance writers are used with a payment for scripts ranging from $100 to $200. Cast features Nanette Sargent and Harry Elders as perma- nent leads, both doing an excellent job with the trite formula stuff they have to read. Direction is good and the musical backing under Bert Farber is a cut above usual drama fillin. If part of the story creating the mood were revised, whole half hour would benefit. In story, "Reluctant Hero" plot weaves around return of town founder's granddaughter and her de- sire to erect a statue for city's Con- gressionar Medal of Honor wjnner. It doesn't take more than one guess to figure out what happens. An- nounced story for the next week was that of a film star returning to her home town to see her childhood boy friend, which seems to be much of the same pattern. JOHNNY MADERO, PIER 23 With Jack Webb, Francis X. Bushman, Betty Lou Oeraon, Harry JSlmmerman orch , Producer: Ken Dolan Director: Nat WoW Writers: Herb Margolis, Loiiis Mor- helm 30 MIns.; Wed., 8:80 p.m. Sustaining WOR-MBS, N. lr. As the number of chillers and whodunits increase, it's evident that mystery ■ shows will be forced into more bloodshed and gorier detail in order to exceed existing competition. In this ressfect "Johnny Madero, Pier 23," is well able to take care,of itself. Show is a hard-hitting, fast-mov- ing item that carries a good deal of punch in its dialog andishould he able to bully its Way into the good graces of a sponsor. Story centers about Johnny Ma- dero, waterfront character along the San Francisco Embarcadero, who does odd detective jobs, which usu- ally make for a mess of trouble, and which require brute stirength and fast thinlcing to get himself extricat- ed. Initial show had Madero en- gaged on an apparently innocent er- rand, but which- led into an ex- citing half-hour. Format used on "Madero" has by now become standard in the mys- tery items in which the central char- acter does the commentary as well as the enactment Jack. Webb does well In both departmeJitSj_with good support coming from Francis X. Bushman and others In si generally capable cast. Layout is regularly aired over Mutual Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m., but N. Y. flagship is carrying the show by transoription Thursdays at 8 p.m. because of previous commitments for that time. Jose. JOHNNY ANDREWS With Clarke Morgan orch 25 MIns., Mon.-Fri., 9:35 ».in. S.ustalning WNEW, N. Y. Early morning programming, aimed generally at the housewife, could easily perform a worthy serv- ice in introducing new talent such as is being done over WNEW with the across-the-board singing of Johnny Andrews. He is apparently enticing a following and a good mail return on his daily stint, inasmuch as he does a considerable amount of requests and notes bjrthdays, ill nesses, anniversaries, etc. Andrews impresses as a _ likable baritone who eschews pash in favor of personality. It seems to be a wise move in light of the early hour he's on. He has an engaging line of talk about his tunes, and between numbers does a few public-service spiels. He registers especially well on the ballads, His line of gab is fetching and informal and shapes up as okay a.m. fodder for the housewife. Musical background is sufficiently filling with Clarke Morgan at the organ, combined With piano^ bass and guitar. Jose. JACK TEAGARDEN ORCH Ed Stokes, announcer Wriier: Bill Mogle Producer; Raymond K«t« Director: Helen Ward Sustaining IS MIns.; Mon., 9:15 p.mv ' WHN, N. Y. A quarter-hour of Jack Teaearden playing the kind of music he s best suited for is hardly enough to whet the appetites of the true jazzophiles. Coming tn the midst of an hour de- voted to name jazz personalities, Tea- gdrden makes a vivid impression be- hind a free-wheeling sextet that de- votes itself to the by-now Classic Dixieland style that has about every- thing the aficionados go for. Teagarden's trornbone is about as expressive as they come. He shows an infectious brand of music that contains a high degree of melody, a surefire beat and a top interpretation. It's the kind of stuff that never wears out its welcomti. HiS singing is similarly in the low down manner of his tronnbone and he can tonsil a chorus with the 'Same infectious style. Formerly, one of the ace trombon- ists with Paul Whiteman and later heading a large unit of his own, Tea- garden isn't the type that can be har- nessed by elaborate arrangements, He's at home with the work lie's do-, ing over WHN. ' Ed Stokes supMies a colorful com- mentary to the Teagarden readings * Jo$e. MEET ME AT THE COPA With Jack Elgen AU-Nfight Show; Tues.-thrtt-Sun., Participation WINS, N. 'Y. This late entry into the disk jockey sweepstakes won't cop any derbies for adding anything new to the platter-spinning art. Despite fact that this three-and-a-half-hour session has the glamorous feature of originating from the lounge of the Copacabana nitery on Broad- way, it only adds up to some more pedestrian chatter interspersed among the usual run of pop tunes. Jack Eigen, who's been around the indie circuit for many years as a Broadway gossip columnist, han- dles the emcee chore with a curious combination of vocal dynamism and verbal blankness. His manner is brash and peppery, in the Walter Winchell pattern, but his matter is flat and unwitty and where he's- Witty, he's unoriginal. His inter- views with the local celebrities and nitery hotshots have that chitchat quality of distilled triviality. Eigen also employs a telephone-answering routine, akin to that of a half-dozen other jocks, with nothing gained ex- cept that less music is played to make room for these one-sided con- versational bouts. If anything is going to keep all-night dialers lis- tening to this show, it'll be the music. Herm. MAGIC IN THE AIR With Jock MacGregor, Ted Brown, Richard Du Bois, John Kilgore, Emerson Buckley orch Writers: Robert Arthur, David Kogan Producer: MacGregor Director: Roger Bauer 30 Mins.; Sat., 5 p.m. Sustaining WOR, N. Y. As the 21st edition of "For Your Approval," Mutual's showcase pro- gram, producer Jock MacGregor presented a novel half-hour last Saturday (26) titled "Magic in the Air." It was a worthy attempt to bring some originality to the air but unfortunat-ely the artistry of sleight-of-hand and other legerde- main is essentially a visual- art. Program's first half teed off with magico Richard Du Bois demon- strating a few tricks with the aid of several audience members. With a fast delivery, he spiels like a Carney barker. His card tricks may have been fascinating to the studio audi- ence but it's doubtful whether the average dialer would have been able to picture the situation. On the show in co-operation with the Magician's Guild of America, Du Bois climaxed his portion of the program with a neat example of mental telepathy. He conveyed audience song requests to conductor Emerson Buckley with 100% suc- cess. Demonstration of the power of suggestion was cleverly done, in such a way that the listener was in on the technique at all times. He also outlined a few simple tricks which could be done by stay-at-homes. Chief punch of "Magic in the Air was the appearance of John Kilgore, head investigator for the Magician s Guild, who exposed "fake spirit mediums." He said the public wa.^ anmially victimized to the tune of $300,000,000 by such phonies, who purportedly could communicate with '.the dead. Discussing- cases in the Guild's file, one in particular was dramatized. Then it was revealed exactly how the medium achieved his "realistic" effects by artificial means. Kilgore's revelations were in the nature of a public service. CAREER QUIZ With Paul Brentsen, emcee « Producer-Director: Bob Labour 30 Mins.; Tues., 9 p.m. Sustaining WNEW, N. Y. Another aud participation show, "Career QuS" has got a novel twist in basing its questions On civil serv- ice examinations for specific jobs. Widespread public desire for Gov- ernment berths will provide an am- ple reservoir of dialers for whom the program should prove helpful in gaining their end. Beyond that, show runs along standard lines without much sparkle. Preem session (22) was also the WNEW debut of Paul Brentsen, who handled the emcee chore. Brentsen displayed a pleasant personality, good voice and nice sense of timing in running through the quiz. He occasionally indulged, however, in spasms of over-excitement like, when, upon being informed that a contestant lived in the Bronx, he jumped for joy, saying, "that's won- derful," Such passion on the airlanes is usually reserved only for natives of Brooklyn. Herm. RACKETBUSTER ROUNDTABLE With Burton Turkus, Anthony Marsloe, Weegee, George Foster, Bill Slater; Phil Tonken, an- nouncer Director: Dan Ehrenrelch Producer: Bob Jennings 30 Mins., Wed. (23), 8:30 p.m. Sustaining WOR, N.Y This "Can You Top This" sort of crime program has excellent possi- bilities. A series of experts sit around a table, swapping yarns about actual criminal cases, with a moderator to guide them in various classifications and a jury of 12 to pick the best yarn. Experts here are Burton Turkus, Murder Inc. prose- cutor; Anthony Marsloe, former Gov. Dewey investigator; George Foster, police detective, and Weegee, self sty led "world's greatest crime photographer" and PM's former ace crime lenser. Under Bill Slater's smooth guid- ance, quartet Wednesday (23) told stories, under three categories—hom- icide, confidence games and weird, unusual crimes. The authority be- hind each expert, their backgrounds and experience, lent weight to their recitals. Crowding so many yarns into a half-hour as they did, kept the listener tuned in, where other- wise one who might be fed up with another whole half-hour given over to a dramatization of one crime happening would have dialed out. There were no fancy dramatics, no .sharp sound effects, just four ex- perts on crime sitting around, swapping true stories about their most interesting cases. The stories told Were absorbing. Some of the experts didn't speak clearly, and one or two yarns seemed a little over- long, while one or two might have been dramatized a little more in the telling. With a little experience, these flaws could be ironed out. The program's gaudy "come-on" title doesn't exactly fit an informal get- together of four practical crime ex- perts swapping reminiscences, and the prize angle for the best story cheapens the show a bit, bringing it down to the givea.way level. But these are minor details in an over- all good program idea, well pro- duced. Brow. EDDIE NEWMAN SHOW AU-Nlght Shows Mon.-Hini-Sntt, Sustaining WOR, N. Y. This is a disk jockey show with ft novel twist---it's all jockey without any disks. Or hardly any. Eddi0 Newman, who's on the all-night spot formerly occupied by Bill Berns and Barry Gray, doesn't quite fill his predecessors' boots. In order to carry off the assignment as cut out by himself, he must have a super* lative gift of gab and a terrific wind to hold him until the finish line. Newman has the endurance but hl4 chatter is niarked only by Occa-" sional flashes of humor and an ob- vious brand Of whimsy, It woulct serve okay in an ordinary disk jockey role that leaned heavily on the music, but as an all-through- the-night drone, the impact Is soporofic. The session runs along on a note of backroom informality, with New- man having tete-a-tetes with a stream of visitors popping in ana out of the studio. Some of the char- acters are mildly Interesting but most of them are flat and colorless During one show, Newman teed oft with a long adlib story of his mis- adventures with a broken-down wire recorder that he spun out for nearly 15 minutes. iheii came an overlong plug via an i I'terview for a charitable cause. This interview was also marked by an inane discussion on who was the world's best sax player. Then came the musical theme followed by art interminable interview with some unknown Hoboken crooner. Then came a superb blues number which Newman Interrupted midway for more talk. And so on through the night. During the first hour, ther^ was not even five minutes of music. Here's a novel, surefire idea for an all-night broadcast—a show in which the disk jockey did nothing except announce the titles of the musical nurhbers. Hem. MOODS AND MUSIC With Ed Phelan^ Bill Watson, By Grossman Producer: Clifford Evans 15 Mins.; Mon. throiigti Frl., 9:1$ a.M/ -Sustaining WLIB, N. Y. : ■ ■ This brief interlude of music and poetry, backgrounded by adept or- gan accomp by Hy Grossman, makes , for a soothing stanza that's bound tO evoke listener interest from mothers who have just packed their children off to school, and other femmes. The croon-swoon tenoring of Ed Phelan, with Bill Watson's poetry readings spacing vocals, is neatly ^one and should build up attention. Program caught Friday (25) had Phelan giving out nicely on "To Each His Oiwn," "Always" and "Girl That I Marry." Watson's reading of "Drop a Pebble" and "Heaven Is Older Than You" blended okay into the scheme of things. Edija. MIDNIGHT AT THE GAGHANS With Mr. and Mrs, Jerry Gaghan Producer: Milt Shapiro 15 Mins., Mon.-tlu'u-Fri., midnlgbt AL BERMAN CLOTHES WIBG, Philadelphia (Zibman) This is the latest entry in the "Mr., and Mrs." sweepstakes and shows definite possibilities. It features Jerry Gaghan, Philly Daily News gossip columnist .and round-the- towner, and his wife, Deena. Initial broadcast had a few bugs, but has real local listener interest, Gaghan gives some choice items from his next-day's column plus other gos- sip he and his wife pick up around town. Then they interview a guest. Gaghan ilso gives thumbnail reviews of .shows arOund town which differs from run-of-the-mill air reviews in- asmuch as he calls the shots as he sees them. A little smoothing out of Gaghan's voice will help. Commercials should be changed to fit into informal format simu- lating discussion at the home of Gaghans, instead of formal boom- type of plug. Should be LARRY MARVIN SHOW With Joel Herron and orch; nouncer, Phil Goulding WJiter: Bill Mogic Director: Helen Ward 15 MIns.; Mon., 8:45 p.m. Sustaining WHN, N. Y. Larry Marvin, newcomer who sings so much like Al Jolson that ,a- casual listener- might be easily fooled, has come along just in time to ride handsomely abob the mammy singer's comeback popularity wave. With people who go for the Jolson style of songplugging, Marvin should gather raves. He could have done Larry Parks' "Jolson Story" piping to a mammy, so close is his tech- nique and tone to a younger, smoother Jolson. Capitalizing on this talent, Marvin delved into Jolson's repertoire of old faves for three of his four num- bers on the preem of his new WHN .stanza Monday (28). They were "California, Here 1 Come," "Who Cares'?" and "Mammy Come on Along." Hi.s theme, too, is the old- timer "April Showers." With these numbers he was sure, selling them with punch. With his fourth number, "Guilty," piped ih slow sentimental tempo, he was just another par soloist, solid but not slick. Herrin and his Men of Music put in a tuneful edition of "At Sundown" and ably backed Marvin. Preem show was set up an hour because of a special broadcast and hereafter the BOB DYER'S DUDE RANCH With Bob Dyer, Fifi Bantaird, Jim Gussey's Orch 30 Mins.; Fridays, 7:15 p.m.' Sustaining ABC, Sydney, Australia This is outmoded fare that will draw few listeners for the Austra- lian Broadcasting Corp., non-com- mercial operators. Short ether life would appear to be a cinch for this so-so setup. Bob Dyer, who originally came to Aussie with the A. B. Marcus show years ago, has been in vaude and commercial radio for quite a span. This hook with the ABC is ap- parently just so much extra playing time dough. Dyer does a lot of hillbilly stuff with a couple of stooges. It's been seen in vaude and heard on the air many times. Present routine is fast but too noisy. Fifi Banvard, also from vaude, legit and commercial air loops, hasn't much to do in this one. Jim Gussey's band provides the music. Rick. Carl boom .. . _ brought in with announcer taking i stanza will be aired at 9:45 p.m.. part in conversational tone of^Show. ] Monday, Wednesday and Friday... Shah i Doaii. THE CHILDREN'S HOUR Produce r-Wrlter-Narrator: Green 30 Mins., Sun., 9, 9:30 a.m. Sustaining , . WQQW, Washington This is a story-telling stint for tiny tots and is definitely something new in kid shows, on the local ether. Most of the' other stations here are heavy on juve' fare for the bobbysoxers and teenagers of both sexes but light on programs for the pre-school and elementary- grade . listeners. "The Children'* Hour" attempts to fill the gap. Carl Green himself is Story-teller, disk-spinner, producer and writer. Judging by the enthusiasm which he exudes over the air he obviously loves the kiddies and knows all the techniques to win and hold their attention. For one thing, he uses the techn-ique of repetition in both his opening and closing speeches, e.g. "This is not Carl White, this is not Carl Brown, this is not Carl Black—this is Carl Green," etc. It is simple stuff but never fails to get delighted squeals from the moppets in his studio audience. Green's stories are his Own but he borrows characters—-animals (lik* Sinbad the Cat, Bre'r Rabbit) an4 people—from fairy and current kids' booklore to give his listeners (Continued on page 40)