Variety (Jul 1948)

84 RAmO RKVIRWS Wcdnesflajr, July 2», IW8 SUMMER jrOUItNAIi . I MR, CHAMELEON With Ariene Eranbis, Ben Graiicr, With Karl Swenspn, Dave Arnold, guests; Hush James, announcer 15 Mlns.i Sun., 9 p.m. (EDT) JERGENS ^ ABC, from New York (Robert W. Orr) This is strictly filler stuff, with Jergen» retaining its franchise on the valuable Sunday night at 9 slot ;on ABC while Walter Winchell va- cations (although Kalser-Frazer takes possession of WW and the time Starting Jan. 2). Ben Grauer (long identified with the WW program as the announcer) takes over the first five-minute stretch for a capsule roundup of . the news (major emphasis last Sun- day (25) was on the windup of the Progressive Party convention in Philiy) and Ariene Francis devot- ing the remainder to celeb inter- views and show biz chit-chat. Her broadcasts will Originate from the Stork Club in New York. The Grauer treatment is a re- mote cry from the bangbang edi- torializing that's projected Win^ chell as radio's major phenomenon. Grauer ■ does it straight, with re- straint: if he has a gripe, the lis- tener would never know it. But aj a straight gabber, he's good. Miss Francis is natural and likc'- able.. Her three-way chatter With playwright Ferenc Motaar and Louis Calhern, currently starring in a revival of Molnar's "The Play's the Thing" oh Broadway, offered some diverting ofl:-the-cuft banter although thie magyar drama- tist was rather difficult to under- ' stand betimes. HughJames has taken over Grauer's usual announcing chore and handles the commercials ef- fectiyelj^ . Eo—. JEWISH LIFE Pr«»ducer:''IrvhiK Lichtenstein 30 Mins.; Sun., 2 i>.m. (EDT) . JOSEPH WILNER CLOTHING WQQW, Washington ' , Foi'htat and fast pace of this newcomer to the local air' makes; .; it click. as a top drawer program ' frankly exploiting the current in- terest in Jewish affairs. In a town which normally gives such strictly racial airers the cold shoulder, this one, the .brain child of Irving Lichtenstein, local freelance radio producer and writer, debuted with ' a sponsor a few months ago and has beeii steadily building in ap- peal. Half-hour show is a dignified presentatiton of . current Jewish news and'tradltional as well as con- temporary Hebrew music and folk tales. Highlight is an interview ■ .with a prominent person, gener- ally, but not necessarily.. Jewish, and consistently a national figure. Accent'is on racial understanding, 'though pitch along these lines is tactfully implied, rather than open- ly touted. .Show is along documentary lines, carefully, avoiding the. pit- falls of the borscht circuit jokes or routines. The dramatic portions, handled by station staffer Reuben Brown (though Lichtenstein, rather than WQQW, owns the show) dis- plaS", on'the whole, restrain, with a minimum of corn and sob stuff. Format is standard, opening with a short blurb, then, in keeping with this "Blue Book" station policy, a .brtef commercial. Three, musical « numbers are used, though not in succcission. These, all recorded, cons' "' of'cantorial-music, Hebrew or ■ "Ish folk tune, and current Isr -olk melody. Harry Breger* a national officer in B'nai B'ritU and new to radio, does a short roundup of Jewish news of the week and also handles the interview chore, which is un- scripted and normally recorded. Breger has a good voice, thorough knowledge of his subject, and a , deft way with an interview, though at times he reveals his amateur status. This is not too noticeable. . however, and is being ironed out by experience.. Interview, which takes five to seven minutes, has featured such names as Golda My- er.son, newly-appointed Israel Min- ister to the' Soviet, who was drafted en route to .her ne^ post, Harold ("Best Years") Russel, and Her- man Edelsberg, Civil Rights Divi- . sion head of B'nal B'rith's Anti- Defamation League. Interest in in- terview varies with subject, but op- • portunity for wide selection keeps level high. Limit of l,V6-minute Commercial time helps sustain eon^ , ■ tinuity and temjjo. ■ V Show, which is currently shop- ping for outlets in other cities, could foe easily adapted almost any place that has enough Jewish popu- lation to support it. It would be a - natural as a public service for a . sponsor or a station. Commercial nsed here is pitched from that ■ point of view, with name of spon- > sor and his product mentioned, but .- not elaborated on. National angle . makes it particularly adaptable for : U$e elsewhere. Interesting side- light is large proportion of non- Jewish maU response to program, •ltd hypoing of sale of cantorial *nd Jewish ttSk plattfers locally. Lowe. Richard Keith, Mary Jane Hiffby, Audrey Egan, Ethel WHson, Alex Scourby, Charles Webster, Grace Valentine; Howard Claney, an- nouncer; Victor Arden, musi0 Writer: Marie Baumer Director: Richard Leonard Producers: Frank and Anne Hum- ,, mert'- 30 Mins.; Wed., 8 p.m. BAYER ASPIRIN CBS, from New York iDdncer-FitzgeraXd-Smnple) The chameleon, as everyone knows, is a lizard-like creature which can cliange its color to dis- guise itself; Mr. Chameleon is a crook-chasing character who em- ploys all sorts of disguises (even that of a charwoman) to fool evil- doers and bring them to brook. It's another variation on the private- eye formula, Mr. Chameleon being a first cousin of such w.k. opera- tors as The Whistler, The Shadow and The Green Hornet. .This new . Hummert-created series, which took over the '-'Amer- ican Melody Hour" billing on CBS last Wednesday (21), ought to do all right In Hooper's stakes. It embodies all the Hummert know- how, which means it has all the tested, svirefire ingredients of slick mystery fare. (Including the standard' crime-doesn't-pay dis- claimer, inserted to salve that segment of dialers inclined to squawk about crime stuff on the air. In this case, the line is: "the innocent must be protected; the guilty must be punished.") The accent is on suspense; the culprits seem to know in advance that Mr. C. is going to get them, but they figure this time they'll outsmart him. But of course'they don't They jiever recognize him until too lute. In the initialer, ''The Case of the Dead Woman's Eyes," he Carl- COUNTY FAIR With Win Elliot, emcee; Bill Gals Orch, Bordenaires Producer-Director; Leonard ton Writer: Robert Quigley 30 Min.s.; Wed., 9 p.m. BORDEN CBS, from New York (Kenyon & Bcfchordt) i After three years as a Satui'r day matinee attraction, Borden's "County Fair'' moved into the Wednesday'-night at 9 segment on CBS as the summer replacement for the company's "Your Song and. Mine" musical. It has a quality of lightness and breeziness that merits the nighttime showcasing and, since its basic format is along the lines of the q & a giveaway shows (but with a frequent public service-consciousness as an added come-on), it naturally fits into the established pattern of program- ming today. To the nighttime-only listener, "County Fair" will shape up as a johnny-come-lately in the giveaway sweepstakes. Actually, it established a lot of the features currently riding the kilocycles. For the initial nighttime presen- tation (21), emcee Win Elliot turned, the show Into a satirical playground on the multiple "you- refrigerator- me-and-I'U-automatic- washing-machine-you" shows that are now the vogue. His "Start the Music" byplay for a miniature jackpot payoff and the reverse technique requiring wrong answers was Strictly fun-slanted, although those visual antics aimed strictly for studio audiences and too fre^ quently distracting to the home lis- tener should be put on ice for tele- vision. Ro^e. From the Prodnction Centres m NEW YORK CITY ... Speculation i.s that, if Dewey's elected, his radio adviser will be his Pawlinx neighbor. Ford Bond. (Of course, Lowell Ihonias and M Mun ow also are neighbors).... Blow agency has the Demo campaign account again, but the Repubs haven't handed out their billing . . ABC so cramped for studio space, with WJZ-TV commg on the a.r in a few days that the web Is leasing a studio from mdie WMCA so Studio 3-F in Bidio Citv can be cleared for TV programming. AM sian/as o.ig- inaUrvg in S^F are being shifted to 3-C....W0R toying with a Hi Stranger" stanza tape-recorded Dy Bill Berns on the Empire State building observation towers. Interviewees would spin a welcome wheel" giving them 30 choices of a free LrTV aSlu^^^ WSEE, St. Peteisburg-Tampa,.signed as ABC's l4th IV ainiiaie. caught xip with' a couple of swin- dlers who'd done in a dozen trust- ing femmes. Production is Grade A through- out, and the cast, with Karl Swen- son in the title part, turns 'in graphic characterizations.' Bayer (Sterling Drug) plugs are the lisual, stressing the claim- which seems a little dubious—^that this brand of aspirin tablet, but presumably no other; dissolves in the stomach as speedily as when dropped in a glass of water. Stanza has so little network com- petition at the moment that, it ought'. to get away to at flaring Hooper. Doom, SERENADE IN RHYTIDI " With Ray Norris Quintet, Eleanor and Fernie Quinn Announcer: Pet^r MacDonald 30 Mins.; Sat., 6:30 p.m. Sustaining CBC, from Vancouver True jump rhythm is hard to find lately, but giving, out with.it these days on CBC Trans-Canada net is a little combo which keeps the listener's foot a-tapping and ear glued to the radio. Combo under Ray Norris' direc- tfbn has ^been beating out for about two years in. a 15-minute slot, but audience reaction was such that it was extended to half- hour. The theme, "I Got Rhythm" gives program a good se'ndoff, as does continuity delivered in a sparkling manner by announcer Ray MacNess. Despite fact that boys deliver a particular type 'of music they are lable to put' enough variety in show to keep listener interest high. Foi instance, they slipped with great facility from the strict- ly jazzy "Beanstalking" to a sym- phonic in jazz of Duke Ellington's "Caravan" with Femie: Quinn do- ing .a class-A job on the oboe. Number was- 'arranged -by Phil Nimmons, Juillia'rd man who likes to get wet in jazz "with topnotch results. In vocal spot.is Eleanor Quinn, whose voice far surpasses anything offered by name bands in the way ,o£ thrushes. Putting a dash of sex; a dash of rhythm and then mix- ing all with the tuneful quality of her' voice-, a sound results which is well coated with sugar. The combo stays within its own limitations. They don't try for large band efl'ects. They take the music, add a few of their own licks and what happens with the aid of smart ivorjr-tinkling by Doug Parker,, who is the pivot around which group works, is some down-to-earth music which is bound to be picked up by the large Yank nets'in the near future. Alien. Shenandoah, la. — The ' new owners of KFNF, Shenandoah, took over management of the station on July 15. Earl Williams, formerly of Lincoln, Neb. and .station KFAB, is local manager. Little change is be- ing niad^^ b{ personnel at the Station at this time. PARTY LflsiE ~ With Lockbourne Air Force Band ' and Glee Club, Party Liners, Etta Wilson, Sgt. Joe Stonghton; Tom Gleba, announcer. Producer: Ed' Sprague - 30 Mills., Mon., 9:30 p.m... ARMY. AIR FORCES WCOL, Columbus,^0. This folksy show with a strictly personal appi'oach aimed at luring boys to the khaki and the wild blue yonder is the brainchild of Etta Wilson, of the public relations staff at the Army's Fort Hayes and formerly on the Cleveland Press staff for 14 years. Starting as' a Saturday a.m. airer last Oct. 11, the program switched to its present nighttime spot on' March 29. So far as is known it is the only regu- lai' weekly recruiting show on a regional basis in the nation. In Winter the string of stations has gone as high as 22, but time sched ule shifts have reduced the Ohio statewide network for the summer, Army pays no' tolls for its half hour—only line charges 'and small local production costs. Main idea of the show is to pre- sent an "Army Wife of the Week'' or "Army"Mother of the Week,' who, when ' interviewed by the Party Liners, relates how happy her'husband or son is in the serv- ice. On show caught (19) Mrs. Ralph Currx, as Mother of the Week, told how her four son^ were getting along in the service, where each one was and what he was do- ing. This had a direct appeal in- asmuch as hundred of local draftees remember. taking- basic training under one. of the Currys at Camp Shelby in 1-941. , The program-was a remote from the Strand theatre in nearby Dela- ware. The town turned out and even the mayor was on hand. The interviewing and News Notes section (veterans'' organiza- tion election results, lawn fete dates, etc.) are handled by Mis.s Wilson, Sgt. Joe Stoughton and Tom Gleba, but the going gets con- fused as the'ball is passed back and -forth. More rehearsal is needed to tighten up script de- livery, cut out awkward pauses and halt stuttering. The idea is to toss the lines airily back and forth to relieve the monotony of ■solo speech, but often what is tossed is seldom caught very ex- pertly or speedily. Most penetratihg comment on the show is "Throw out everything but the band and it'll be a good program." This is so nearly right. The band, composed of colored soldiers from the air base, is big, brassy and expert. Its dance orchestra, which fills in on occa- sion, is another story. It-is., a "per- fecrexample of a combo trying to get hep when they havent'got the stuff it takes. Quartet heard on the show was unblended and flatted in the extreme. Despite this weight of evidence that the, production is amateurish and ungainly, the idea is still good and packs considerable appeal. By mentioning local names, persistent- ly sticking to provincial items and letting, the band have a generous portion of the show it is aa effec- tive audience puller. manager and continuity director of WMPS, Memphis og ing .Gotham before heading lor the Coast by motor... .David Allen (David Ross Jr) and Shelly Stuart added to WNYC's news editor-announcer staff John Garrison exiting Radio Best mag to freelance. Larry and Ginger Grey, who have confined most ot their activities the past year to commercial jingles, auditioning a Mr. and Mrs. break- fast show for a local indie this week, doing time, weather, simulated plugs all in 1 ingle form.... Robert A. White, ex-WOR account exec, narked sales manager of American Institute of Food Products, which produces "Ladies Man" (WOR), Ted Husing's "Grocery Lour '.vi..v; and the Ella Mason show (WHN)....WOR's "Answer Man may be expanded to a half-hour cross-the-boarder, annexing an Answer Lady" Russel Walker, Jr., checked out of WHN as account exec to join the John E. Pearson station rep outfit... .Helen Coule a newconjer in the "Second Mrs. Burton" cast. . John W. Hundley, acting director of CBS Shortwave, back at his desk after attending funeral of his mother at Granville, O. u - u j i - George Petrie, lead in Lever Bros.' "Call the Police, has had his option picked up for remainder of summer run and sponsor is report- edly prepping a show for him for the fall... .Miles Shoe Co. audition-, ing a Red Benson-Arty Malvin half-hour quiz show prepped for WOR airing. . . Lou Hazam, scripter of NBC's "Living 1948" series, planed to Ann Arbor last week to guest-lecture on documentary radio writing before the Univ. of Michigan speech department's annual conference and'.reunion. • . ■ Ed Kobak back from Pine Orchard with a ruddy vacation glow Burt Hilber, "Tele Fashions on Parade" leading man, calling commu- nity square dances at Lynbrook, L. I., Saturday nights.... Gabbers in a parade to Europe: ted Malone, H. V. Kaltenborn, Arthur Gaeth. Al Sohacht oft on a clowning tour Of midwest ball parks., . .Mary Caparelli of CBS Pre-ss became the bride of William Emmett BoUz of Buffalo Sunday (25) .. . Next Lssue of Frontpage, N. Y. Newspaper Guild's sheet, will cany a piece by Post radio ed Paul Denis razzing ra'- dio's stereotyped portrayal of newsmen... Bill CuUen, returning a sim- ilar favor^ to sub for John Re^d King on nine shows during latter'3 vacation .starting Sunday (1). . Ace Ochs' switch to Coast from CBS-TV to Ward Wheelock delayed by illness. Patti Clayton (Mrs. Ochs), who joins him, replaced on "Sing It Again" By Fran Warren, ex-vocalist with Claude Thoi-nhill orch. Friends and listeners extending sympathy to Alfred and Dora McCann, whose five-year-old adopted son was found drowned*tn the family pool at Yonkers last Thursday night (22).... Symphony Sid moves his WMCA mike into the Royal Roost on B'way for Sunday mid- night jazz ses.sions starting Aug. 8. ...Frank Pulaski, ex-WN,YC an- nouncer, now narrating the daily "United Nations Today" program for the UN's radio division. tlS HOLLYWOOD ... Andy Haley got his hew AM station in Pasadena on the air last week to supplement his year-old- FM operation. Wendell Williams, onetime NBC 'censor and' later producer, is his program director, and Pete Watts, former manager of KYRO, San Diego, iiins the station.. . .Tied up at Metro on a picture, Frank Sinatra decided to postpone his six- week layoff' from Hit Parade to a later date when he can get away. Beryl Davis and Maestro Axel Stordahl, however, are taking their sabbatical Aug. 7 — Ted Bates shutters Aug. 1 so all hands can take their vacation at the sahie time... .John Guedel in Louisville to chat With cigaret sponsor of "People Are Punny"^. i .Singer Kay Starr is getting an ABC buildup with her own show... .Joe Bigelow building a half-hour comedy show around Dick and Gene Wesson, nitery zanies. ., He'll write, direct,-produce and have package rights for a fall sale. It's his first I'adio venture since he departed J. Walter Thompson, where he was v.p. in charge of production. . John Hamm here from New York to work over the replacement list with .Tack Runyon in case arbitration hearing decides against Phil Baker on the morality charge. Decision is expected within two weeks .... Wade agency has made no decision yet on Alka Seltzer's strip in the Lum and Abner time, although Bob Dwyer, local manager, has sampled nearly all availables . . Alan Young's manager, Prank Cooper, has tulned down "Breakfast in Hollywood" because of other hopeful commitments. He recently recorded his own half-hour show, has pic- ture work coming up and is a possibility, along with Vera Vague. f6r the Jimmy Durante show . . Johnny Murray, who has been "talking it over" on KNX for the past three years, moves over to KFI undef sponsorship of independent distributors of 13 natibnal magazines and the mags .themselves. His commentary will be confined to contents of the mags with occasional guests from the pages of the periodicals Walter Bunker passing his vacation at Tahoe and the Bohemian Grove, where the annual' hijinks are now in progress, m CHICAGO ... Bill Joyce shifting from WHPC to the production staff of WLS . .. "Report Uncensored" set for a reprise on WBBM early next year.... Jim Hanlon, now vacationing in the east, replaces Bruce DennLs as .flack chief of WGN Aug. 2, when Dennis ups to assistant program director Baseball game between the Chi Cards gridmen and Radio AU Stars brought in $5,500 for the Spastic Children's Center ... Harry Elders reelected prez of Chicago AFRA; ditto Ray Jones as exec sec* retary. Cliff Norton, D^iap Reed, and John Gannon Were elected veepees along with Eleanor Engle as recording sec and dare BSum; treas,.;.. Commentator Lowell Thomas originates his Aug. 3 newscast from local studios Marge Fiedler of NBC communications weds Richard Crema Oct. 16 John Harper, chief of Mutual's midwest co-op sales, away on a two-week, hike with the Marine Corps NBC tosses its annual picnic for the help July 29 at Medinah Country dub,.. .Morris Thomp- son, formerly with the Food and Drug Administration, is the newest recruit on WBBM's sales staff. "Ladies Be Seated" originates at the state fair, Springfield, 111., week of Aug. 1« Bill Anson, onetime local jock who went west to Los Angeles, would like-to switch back to Chi. Anson offered ii> work out a. transfer with Ernie Simon» WJJD'S topflight spinner, but Simon negated . . . Ed Borroff, former ABC veepee in charge of midwest oper- ations, has a hefty bid from one of the bigger station reps Jack Owens, "Breakfast Club" crooner, will intro his 13-year-old daughter, Mary Ann, to the spotlight when he plays fhe ona Park^eatre, Grand Rapids, Mich., July 30-Aug. 1.