Variety (Feb 1948)

We(Tne«t{lay, Febmary1948 »AD10 REVIEWS 31 Writer: Fdwwd Week* producer; Henry W. Lun^quht 15 Mtns.; sun,, laS pjn. ABC, fr«m BosWn v , It's about time a network gave time to a gaWier of thiis Intellectual and cultural stripe. He may not set the Hoppers aflre, but his adult, literate observations on life and let- ters will warnu the hearts of many a citizen who has all but given up hope of ever again hearing this type of fare on Anierican radio. It was said in 1940, when Edward Weeks for a time had a half-hour weekly on the Blue Network,' that he was-"Alex- ander Woollcott without the meow." That still holds , . „ from the library of his Beacon Hill home in Boston, Weeks, who is editor of the Atlantic Monthly, teed off the initialer of this new series last Sunday (1) by acquainting lis- teners with his surroundings—his book-lined walls, autographed por- traits of famous authors, etc. From this. Weeks went on a leisurely, rambling discourse touching on Win- ston Churchill's writing habits, the joy of Sundays^ bathtubs and how to clean them, sex in current best-gell- ■ ers, sandwiches, the mounting fear of the future that seems to grip America today. He was informative, as when he re- vealed that Churbhill will get $2,000,- 000 for world rights to his memoirs of World War H. He revealed a sense of humor, as when he re counted that as a school boy he was called "Rabbit";Weeks because of his big ears: He revealed the aptness of a veteran literary critic when he de- scribed current novels as taking "the door of the boudoir .clean off the hinges."' > ' * Weeks broke his phraser a little inexpertly, but his .delivery was clear, crisp, and lucid. He said he would talk next . Sunday about "young peoplie vs. old people:" It's high-level, one-way cossip. Doan. > OJ*ERA HOVB WHh BMcawrl* Branmt*,: Qaldo BuMineili^ Il(»rt« FlmelUi, I>*r»thy Sh»wn, G*Uu>tit* Deltves.. Oreh; Mtehael Bonflorho, asrr»tor JProduoer: B»lph Coatantlne M'Mins.; Sn»., 9 p.ni. : Sintalntaif WHOM, New X«rk This small foreign language indie has been performihg a major'pi-o- gramming feat since July, 1947, when it launched this airer. "Opera Hour" brings live adaptations f>t operatic works in full-bodied productions that enly highly-trained ears could distinguish from topranking com- panies. This show is not only lauda- ble for the openings it provides for young professional singingL talent, but also for its willingness to show- case new m)]sical works by budding composers. ' . T On Sunday (I), , a favorite from the standard repertory, "Rigoletto." was dished up ia-« neat one-hoiir adaptation that captured all the drama and lyric power of Verdi's masterpiece. Group of four singers, including baritone Mario Fiorella, soprano Rosemane Branicato, tenor Guide Bussihelli and contralto Dor- othy Shawn, handled their roles with assurance and artistry. Sta- tion's : orch under the' direction of Guiseppe OeLuca, performed excel- lently in the pit assignment. Station could well make a pitch for a wider listening audience on the basis of this program if it. modified the straight Itamn-language narra- tion between the acts. For non- Italian speaking dialers, the total absence of English makes following the opera story impossible without prior familiarity with'the plot. Herm. MABOH OF DIMES WiMl Bslpli Edwards, Tony Martin, Elta H»yworth, Beryl Davis, Bob Hope, Charlie Cantor; Victor Younr, eonduoting) Harry , Von Zell,. m.c. Writer: Len LeVinson 45 Mins.; FrI., 11:15 p.M. (Jan. SO) ABC, CBS, NBC, frOitt Hollywood Without the puckishly clever script of Len Levinson this annual teeoif of the Dimes' drive by radio's own handymen and women could have been just another one of those pat little things. Levinson's two sketches, sandwiched around Bob. Hope's monolog, not only gave the show spark, but suggested that here was a style and quality that the adult segment of listeners might readily fancy as a steady diet. The first of the sketches was spotted after the overture by a snazzily melodic Victor Young-led orchestra and featured Ralph Ed- wards in an imaginative conceit dealing with the home life of a give- away show's m.c. As funny .gs this piece played it still rated as just an appetizer to the second Levinson item, tagged, "If Men Bought Hats the Way Women Do." Even though the thing was reminiscent of the old, "If Men Played Cards, etc.'' routine of George S. Kaufman's, it was writ- ing of rare quality for radio. And: |t was performed to the hilt by a cast composed of Harry Von Zell, Tony Martin, Charlie Cantor and Edwards. Th* trouping honors were rather even. The . . vocal sequence also had a pleasureable tang, with Martin, Beryl Davis and the J^ffi Alexander chorus sharing the assignmi^nts. . , Hope grooved his four-minute output along the themes of presidential candi- dates, Palm Springs and Frank Si- natra, and it all seemed to jell with the studio audience. After delivering a plea of her own for the fund, Rita Hay worth intro- duced Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation tor Infantile Paralysis, who, following a brief talk of his own, introduced Presi' dent Harry S. Truman, the latter two speaking: from Washington. Entertainment runoff had .the stamp of tiptop production^ Odec. HOLLYWOOD HEADLINES With Cal ITork, Adele Fletcher, Les Tremayne; Cy Harrice, announcer Producer: Theo Gannon Director: Wiley Adams 15 Ming.; Sat,, 10:30 a.m. AIRWICK- (SEEMAN BROS.) ABC, from New Vork (Weintraul)) Evidently a family affair of Photo- play Mag, "Hollywood Headlines" offers Saturday morning dialers the usual chit-chat and eye wash about the stars of fllmdom. Photoplay staffer Cal York pointed out the in- side; on June Allyaon's new. short hair-do,, why Joan Crawford adopted four children and the latest on Ty- rone Power's amatory situation. Adele Fletcher, Photoplay's editor, who "knows Hollywood backwards and forwards," waxed nostalgic re^ calling that come Feb. 8 Lana Tur- ner will be 28. . She harked back a fast decade to touch upon some of the actress' marriages-and romances. Her delivery wasn't too convincing. Third a.spect of this show is an alleged "true story" of little known facts about the lives of the stars, On the opener in this series (30) Les Tremayne contributed a briet dra- matic sketch on an incident in Mark: Steven's career where the actor was supposed to have been picked up by police' on Los Angeles' skidrow.: Actually he was in that sordid dis- trict .while on location for a film. Despite all this trivia, it's the kind of stuff that the young housewife will dwell upon vicariously. And obviously that's the market Seeman Bros., makers of AirWick," a gadget designed to "kill unpleasant cooking odors," are shooting at. Commercials delivered by Cy Har- rice are comparatively unobtrusive. Gilb. POINT SUBLIME . With Cliff Arqneite, Mel Blanc, Jane Morgan, Sarle Boss, Verna Felton; Charles Dant and orch; Art Gil- more, announcer producer-Writer: Robert. L. Redd 30 Mins.; Mon., 8 p.m. JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL ABC, from Hollywood (AfcGaiMi-Ertcfcson) This new comedy show, actually a revival, hasn't much distinction. What is supposed to be a humorovis delineation of life in a typical Ameri- can small town, is instead a carica- ture of such life, with the characters stock figures in the cast. There iii, for instance, the general storekeeper and his stuttering; high-pitched- voice clerk, and the gyp.sy junk peddler with his curse. For situa- tions, there ,is a romance and a rivalry, and a horse race between the rivals to decide who shall win the maid. Humor is mild and situa- tion trite. Judged by the first epi- sode Monday (2), show is limited in appeal. . The mid-commercial is integrated into the script rather well, but the opening one is too lengthy, taking the edge off one's curiosity as to what the program will be like. Mel Blanc's mannerisms as the store clerk draw .some laughs, and Cliff Arquette has some flavorsome ap- peal as fhe storekeeper.' - But show doesn't come off with any individu- ality or sparkle. Show previously had been on Pacific Coast network. Bron. Norraaa ZCMI-UTAH SYMPHONY HOUR 'With Allen Jensen,' announcer rreducer: Ted Kiinball W Mins.; Than., ft J,tt. ZCMl DEPT. STORE KSL> Salt Lake aty Tills is undoubtedly the most pre- tentious series of programs ever at- tempted here with local sponsorship. And ZCMI (local department store) rates a soUd hand for handling the preem more as a public service lea- tvire than an opportunity to lay on with tlie commercials. As a matter of fast, the only announcements tliat could be considered commercial came at the open, middle, and close, and they were simply statement.'! of sponsor.ship by "ZCMI, America's first department store." Alien Jen- sen did a nice straightforward an- nouncing job. Program was well balanced, fea- Uiring examples of classics from Bach to LeRoy Robertson, recent Utah winner of the $25,000 Henry H. Reiohhold prize for his "Trilogy." Conductor Maiirioe Abravanel opened with Robertson's "Punch and Judy Suitp." followed by "The Mol dau" by Smetana,."Air for G String by Bach, and Schumann's "A Minor Piano Concerto." Reid Niblcy. Brig'- , hum Young Univ. faculty member. Was the soloist In the concerto. . Abravanel has done an outstand- ing job with the Utah symphony, a lid while his orchesH;ra cannot be ranked with sucli organizations as Uif Boston, Philadelphia, or New Vork. it is a well rehearsed group . that plays with sensitivity and un- nerstanding, ' '■ '"'Several prbdlietl'ejh flaVs ShoWed (Continued on pa^ei380''' ■') SPORTS ON PARADE With Tom Manninf 3« Mins.; Thurs,, 7:3f p.ni. Sustalnlnc WTAM, Cleveland WTAM's move to capture the Northern Ohio sports scene is this half-hour unrehearsed'give-and-take, question-and-answer, program with sportscaster Tom Manning bringing to the milte leading figures in the Greater Cleveland sports arena. Slowly building up in listener in- terest, the show had its smoothest stanza (28) when Manning devoted the entire 30 minutes to the Cleve- land baseball club by having as guests president Bill Veeck, travel- ling secretary Harold "Spud" Gold- stein,'.publicity manager Marshall Samuels, coach Mel Harder and busi- ness manager Rudy Schaeffer. Previous two shows, were spotty, lacking continuity and polish, but this half-hour went with a slick smootlnifiss that madfe for entertain- ing appeal. This perhaps because there was not a division of .sports involved as in previous programs. Manning's knowledge of baseball did much to keep the chatter going. As a special guest. .Manning in- troduced Dick Hooper. NBG director of television exploitation, in town for a series of TV shows. , Hooper and Veeck exchanged their views relative to telecasting of sports evcflts with Hooper maintsiining TV Will aid the gate with Veeck adding, "I'd rather reserve my opinion at this time." What with Cleveland the center of tremendous sports interest, as evi- dence by attendance to games of the Football Browns. Hockey Barons, and Baseball Indian.s—the show shows much possibility. One ol the means of improving the 30 minutes would be to give it an appropriate musical introduction and leaving the present opening, the Ohio State foot- ball marcliing song, to a broadcast of a State fdotball game. Marc. ". . . IN THE PVBUC INTEBEST" With Fred .CencMv Undley Vine* Pr«da«er-wrlter: Center : U 'Mlns.; Sun. (25), 3p.Bl. Sastalnbif "WBBN,'Topeka'.'.: WREN, in moving from Lawrence, Kans., to Topeka, began its bid for: extra recognition in its new home with a daylong dedication on Jan. 25, date its new transmitter went to work. ". . , In the Public Interest," a documentary revue of radio- high- lights of the past decade, came in at 3 p.m. to top the day's efforts. Fred Conger, program director, stepped in to script' tlus one; an-: nounc<> it along witii Lindley Hines, news editor, and capable support -from'most of the announcing staff, and generally guided it from begin- ning to end.' The hour is one of the more ambitious undertakings -at WREN, and came off as flrstrate Usteriing. Special interest for the listener was generated 'with clips from the station's historical library, bringing back some of the great public figures and their famous radio talks. Con- ger picked up 'the trend of world events back about IflSS .in his script, and l>egan the historical harkbacks with Hitler's garble at the invasion of Poland in 1939.' Show then went on to Neville Chamberlain's voicing England's declaration of war against Germany; Franklin* Roosevelt's ad- dress to Congress and the nation Deci 8, 1941, and his radio prayer; Win- ston Churchill's much quoted speech; George Hicks' D-Day on-the-spot broadcasts; and others including Eisenhower and Baukhage. Idea carried out was to recap oft what radio in general, and WREN in particular, has contributed to the public benefit and interest. Impact of this audio trek down history's memory lane was almost frighten- ing to the thoughtful listener, and, though unsaid in tliis case, program readily pointed up import of our present crisis in international af- fairs. This one was an excellent example of what can be done with those his- torical tran.scriptions—in this case as the material came from ABC net- work. Quin, PLAY IT STRAIGHT , With Milton Berle, Vivian Smolen; Paul Brenson, announcer Producer: Ted CoU Director: Jack Grocan 20 Mins., Sun., 1- p. ra. Susialnine WNEW, N. Y. \ . WNEW's programming braintrust- ers (the boys at the N. Y. indie come up with enough ideas to match bands in the spectrum) probably thought they had a cutie in this newest one,"Play It Straight." Why not, went their reasoning, line up a fiock of topflight comics witli a yen to do dramatics and showcase one a week with their top bit of frustrated histrionics? For :the preem broadcast Sunday (1) Milton Berle did the Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet" (Ez- ra Stone will do ''Shylock" next week). Aside from the purely stunt aspect of Sunday's show,: chalk it off as a dud. Berle might have been a hundred other guys emoting with the Shakespeare and probably only the flitting thought that "maybe all this is a nightmare" and Berle would suddenly let go with a yok could have kept the dialers interested. For the closing few minutes, the announcer, Paul Brenson, subjected Berle to a q.&a. routine which, un- der ordinary circumstances, should have lent it.self to some' funny chit- chat. But it was as though Berle: couldn't come out of- the traiice. The "comic, tragedian" of the w^ek asks the listener to support his fa- vorite charity, ; in . this instance Berle's Crippled Children's Fund. Rose. HENRY MORGAN SHOW With AJnIiold Stone; Charle« Irvlny, Bernie Green and vreh : Producer: Charlie Powers. writers: . Carroll Moore, Barasch, Joe Stein . . .<tO Mins,; Thurs., Ti30 p.ln. RAYVE SHAMPOO ABC, from New York (Roche, WiUiams &' Clmry) The return last week of Henry Morgan to the nighttime network kilocycles under commercial auspices IRayve Shampoo), after a five-week enforced layoff (Bversharp dropped him) undoubtedly provoked some hat tossing by a fair-sized segment of tlia nation's listening audience. And in a day when innovations and refresh- ing interludes are a rarity in radio, the perpetuation of a Morgan In the big-league comedy commercial:, sweep.'stakes rates encouragement. Wlien it comes to loyalty, a Mor- gan fan will defend him down to his last cutie commercial. To them The Morgan can do no wrong. But his re-emergence last Thursday (29), this time in the 7:80 Thursday eve- ning bracket on ABC, served to point up anew those distinctive qualities that, paradoxically, can spiral the program into moments of sheer brilliance.and with equal sud- denness plunge it into trite and ama'^ teurLsh entertainment. That Morgan possesses a certain bra.shness that serves him in. good stead (particularly in the kiddlng- the-commercial routines), was again demonstrated in last week's premiere broadcast. But equally apparent was the fact that the Morgan brashness lacks the necessary discipline to keep the show on a 30-minute pro- fessional level. One can root for bis courage, but at th6 same time de- plore the fact that the Morgan satire' too often lacks the polish of a trouper saturated in professional know-how who's at all times sure of himself. The uncertainty too often creeps Into the mike. It's the answer to the theory many hold that Morgan in a 15-minute showcase can- hurdle the weaknesses and stand; out more solidly. The new show is in the same pat- tern as the old one, with Arnold Stang again giving a hefty comedy stooge\ assist (he's probably headed for his own show one of the.se dagrs), and the Carroll Moore-Norman^ Barasch-Joe Stein scripting contrih just as groovey as before. Regardless of Morgan's attitude to- ward sponsors, Rayve comes out oii top: There's plenty of.the straight stuff to supplement the barbs. BADI-O-PINION ...... With Alun Jenkins imd Buss Wil- liams 'V. 30 Mins. Wed.; 8:30 p.nl. Sustaining WHK, Cleveland , ■ Patterned after a Mutual network show, "Radi-O-Pinion" tests local reaction to key questions of the day through telephone calls into the sta- tion. Two leaders on a particular controversial subject are asked to deli\'or short talks, for an against, the Lssue. , j. ^ Then, two persons from the street are asked to give their opinions. A free-for-all discussion is carried on in Older to bring forth more opin-t ion. During this time, the radio . „ . _. , audience is asked to call in and give followed by "The Mol- j their stand; yes or no for the issue, 3metan!t.."Air ffti-R iRtrin'B" Re.sults of the telephone calls are analyzed during the following seven days bv Dr. Arthur L. Rayhawk, re- search-specialist of the Pete Wasser Co;, and his findings are given on the following program, The show is well han.(lled by Alun Jenkins and Russ Williams, two crack announcers who make tneir interviewees feel at home before tne mike. . Show stems from the. THE PASSING PARADE With Jobn Nesbitt 15 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri., .9:15: ft^m. CO-OP WOB, N. Y. Returning t<i the airlanes after more than a year. John Nesbitt hasn't lo-st any of . his yarn-spinning power in this new across-the-board transcribed stint. (Flattered in Hol- lywood, show is being carried on a cooperative bankrolling basis on the Mutual net at 11 a.m. each morn- ini;). Nesbitt's golden voice eases across tlwse human interest .stories With a fascinating smoothness and solid flair for the dramatic values. His stock-in-trade is sentiment and nostalgia, but he never goes over- board into mawkishness. On the kickofE stanza. Nesbitt pegged his stories around a rich man who knew how to .spend his money and a derelict woman who was found With $40,000 it) cash at the time of her doatii. The lirst person was Andrew Carnegie and the second was somebody .nameless whose case was cuUed from yester- day's newspaper columns, but both yarns were bound together by Nes- bitt's once-lightly-ovcr moralizing. Platter has three open spots for spot THE JUMOB REPORTER With Ed Herlihy, eincce; Jay Jacob- . *eni Jndy tiippe, Linda Nison, Ar« . nold Feldh'um, cuests Producer: Ronald Gilbert . Director: Seett Buckley 15 Mins.;'.FlrL,' 8:3(t. p>U. Susiatnlnr ' WNBG, N. Y. WNBC's new program designed for young people is an interesting, sensible dinnertime' airer, Judged- by 'the alert, intelligent and unusuC ally well-informed kids it picked -for its premiere program (80)^ it rate* respectful attention. . With Ed Herlihy as emcee or "managing editor," four 11 to. 13-year olds hold a press-conference to dis- cuss what news of the day to use in making up a phantom newspaper front page. Friday'-s (30) main news, of course, was the death of Mahatma Gandhi, and the kids discussed de- tails of It as if Madying their paper- reporting the story as it happened; the background, and tlien the signifi- cance of the event. The kids got a little involved' in deciding what to do about the event, such as caUing on the UN to do something about : India, but their hearts—and inirids—- were in the right placfi. And so was radio. Kids also discussed the high cost of living, bringing it down to the practical level of hilced film admis- sion prices; price control, the black market, etc. Four students from Joan of Arc Junior High School, Brookl.yn, acquitted themselves ad- mirably. Brow. ..^ tjf TRYOUT THEATRE OF AIR 30 mins.; 6 p.m. Mon, Sustaining KOMO, SeaUle The "Tryout Theatre." local play- wright's laboratory house, is now on the air, with policy of trying new scripts along with use o£ thespians who want to be heard carried out also. Idea 'is highly commendable. MOVIE MATINEE With Johnny Olaen ' 30 Mins.; Mon.-Fri,, 3 |i.m. ParticipatiUK WOB, New York . This audience participation quiz for film fans started again Monday (2) on WOR, New York, but as a flve-a-week half-hour with Johnny Olsen as m.c. and originating from the stage of the RKO Palace theatre, on Times Square, N. Y. It has. a multitude of sponsor^ (there were three on the preem broadcast), with commercials cut in from the studio. All this is a drastic change from the show's previous setup as a once-a- woek half-hour with Bill Slater as m.c. The format of "Movie Matinee" is ba.sed on the simple premise that al- most everybody is a picture fan and a self-delegated expert oh the sub- ject. There are a number of sets of questions (six on the initialer) which are presented in "reels." The show is done with the regular Palace theatre audience, from whom the contestants are selected. There are the expected queries about who played what role in which picture, or what actor born in Osh- ko.sh, graduated from Wliocsis Col-i, - . , i,-.-. x« i. tr^ lege and once a bellhop at the Squee- I but -script, "No Stipulation.' by. Ken " - ^ . - ^ ■ . .x-„,.„ ,. „ tired, formula-ridden good a&tors didn't help it an.v. Idija of having three from audience, Who have heard, but not seen the, play chime in on the end for criticism is a good already confused sponsor-idcntiflca- ^^^^t.^/^ ^.^.^ garet Baker, teacher, and the author. cent picture, then guess its title. There are the customary pri-^e gifts, presumably donated, by varicius Ilrms and, as usual, tending to muddle the nrminal i phiRs- Nesbitt ought to find a better ---^ ' ntro to these .spots than "now hcres ■ 'ir my lo- tion. On the basis of the opening broad- cast, the program is rough and mixed up. But the film-question setup, the theatre origination {and RKO's ap- parent intention to help promote the series), plus Johnny Olsen's enthusi- asm and drive, should give it an excellent chance for commercial success. Provided, of course, that the station (and Mutual network, if the latter decides to pi'ck it up) handle it properly. Program is a package owned by Wilbur Stark and Jerry. Laitpg. MobBt. bringing out some good points. Michael Hogan introduces the play for "Tryout," but no production or direction credit is given. This de- partment,it would seem, is the weakest, and should have more at- tention on future broadcasts. Show makes no pretensions of being fin- ished, as chief aim is to allow a hearing for both new plays and more or,, less experienced actors—/ an'idea that deserves much credit and which may revfeal young talbnt that-imeeded by radio. ' '