Variety (Oct 1948)

24 RADIO IIEVIEWS Wednesday, October ^, 1948 KRAFT MUSIC HALL VrUh AI Jolson, Oscar Levant, Lou Brin? orch; Judy Garland, guest; Ken Carpenter, announcer Writers: Manny Manheim, Charles Isaacs Producer: Cal Kuhl SO Mins.; Thurs., 9 p.m. (EST) KRAFT FOODS NBC, from Hollywood (./. Walipr TliompsoJi) k\ Jolson and the Kraft Music Hall are again solidly entrenched lb the Thursdaj^ night at 9 Slot on NBC. Which means that bigtime radio is back in harness. "KMH" has takt^n up precisely where it left off last season—Jolson, Oscar Levant, Lou Brihg's orch, guestars with the accent on talent, and the proper production accoutrements in the Manny Manheim-Charles JtJDY CANOVA SHOW i With Mel Blanc, Rudy Dandridce, Hans Conrcid, Ruth Perrott, The Sportsmen; Howard Petrie and Frank Graham, announcers Producer: Joe Rines Writers; Henry Hoople, Fred Foxj Artie Pbillip!( 30 Mins., Sat., 10:30 p.m. (EST) COLGATE - . NBC, from Hollywood ; (Sherman & Morqueffp) It must'vc happened during the layoff that Joe Rines said to Judy Canova, or vice versa, "let's try something new next season." Not that there was; anything too wrong w^h the old format (always 1-2-3 in the Saturday seti but why be different; wasn't everyone talking about an overhaul job on their vehicles'? Suiting action to the thought they called ih their writers 1 and the results of their orabined I I labors and energies were projected Isaacs stripting and Gal Kuhl's j jg^j Saturday (2). knowing direction (Except that j model ever burned up the boys forgot to bring the show tlie track but for an easy ride with home on time, leaving Jolie dang-1 fill parts nieshing it had that Cad- ling on the last bars oi "When I ------ Lost You" at the 9:30 signoff.) . This is Jolson's second full sea- son for Kraft and it looks like the vet trouper's comeback is due for a permanent ride. As the Thurs- day night companion piece to the preceding half-hour of Burns & Alen, it's the , oM show biz flavor patterned to the New Taste in the best tradition of present-day kilocycling. As it should be;\the Kraft Music Hall emphasis is on tlie Jolson vocalizing, and his ducting with guestar .ludy Garland-.and soloing of "Red, Red Robin," "All Alone," "Poor Butterfly," "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?," etc., served to refrain la.st: year's clincher that Jolie, '48, is as sock illae feel. No longer are characters dragged in by the heels to parry a pun with Ganova and l)e gone. The partitions have been knocked down and now it's just one big happy ■ family living in one big house: Situation has replaced slap- stick and the thread of continuity not snapped just for the sake of a big joke. Judy; has come out of mountains and is now resident of Beverly Hills. That's the premise for as long as it holds out and the ground Is fertile. All manner and type of chi-racters will wander in and out of the manse to broaden the poten- tial of hilarious situation, which HARRY SALTER MUSICAL DIRECTOR Stop the Music^ABC It Pays to B« Ignorant^CBS ;„'";'.,^'''';-'"'.' KAV KYSER'S KOLLEGE OF FUN AND KNOWLEDGE With Kyscr, emcee; Jack . McCoy, '..-announcer' Producer: Jack Cleary ' 30 Mins.; Mon. thru Fri.i 11 ajn. (EST) PILLSSURY MILLS ABC, from Hollywood (JVrcConji-Ericfc.son) PRUDENTIAL SHOW With Gregory Peck, Betty Lou Gerson, Alan Reed, Jeanettn Nolan, Eloise Rawttzer, Stapy Harris, Truman Bradley, an- nouncer; Carmen Dragon arch Producer: Jack Johnstone Writers: Frank and Doris Hursley 30 Mins., Sun., 6 p.m. (EST) PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE CBS, From Hollywood (Bmton & Bowles) The Prudential Co., which dur- ing previous seasons built up a size- able following with the Prudential family hour featuring singers from the upper strata, has abandoned this format in favor of a dramatic series highlighted by a sextet of top Hollywood names. The formula appears to be ex- tremely sound inasmuch as many of the class sponsors on the spec- trum have found that type of •program strong enough to attract sufficient dialers to make it worthr while; At the same times the show has an aura of dignity coupled witli popular appeal. However, the initial Prudential program revealed s o m e kinks which need considerable ironing. Preem show, a playlet, "John E. Jones, VicerPresident" was hardly an ideal vehicle despite the ingrat- iating performance by headliner Gregory Peck. "Jones, V.P." is a tairly obvious piece of writing that telegraphs its happy ending almost from the beginning of the show. With the element' of-.surprise writ- est to feel the impact of the net- ^ , , , works' current weight-shifting of punctuated the opener. For a first | top personalities. Kyser, however, ;Shuffled from his prominent . . nighttime spot of last season to an i ten out, program had to rely on an across-the-board mornin'g airer this 1 essential degree of charm in vfrit- fall, Kay Kyser is one of the earli- mg which failed to come off. There go at a new blueprint it must havf .should make capital out of this deal been heartening to all hands. The, by quicky establishing his program was one facet that would intrigue a top actor. There are long stretches of monolog which call for a high degree of affability in exec- ution. Peck gets in tiie necessary the old N. Y.'Winter Garden i'""^hs were plentiful and the songs |as the bright segment on the late i commodity within the limits of the regime. That his Kraft colleague, Oscar Levant,- lacks the perfected tech- niques in mike delivery doesn't particularly matter. What does is that they continue to complement one another neatly in the casual crossfire ^and barbs—^with the Le- vant pianistic pyrotechnics always surefire. (One basic lack on last year's-show apparently still holds; that's in (he failure to achieve the ■ same naturalness and ease, as does Bing Crosby for example, in: segu- of Canova still pleasantly inter-, morning airlanes. One of the most luded. This country cousin with ' adroit emcees before a mike, Ky- the pigtails can do more tricks with ; ser is sparking this non-musical her voice than a ventriloquist and quiz show into first class enter- yet give out with a straight rendi tion that is'warming and melodic tainment. Without Kyser, the ''Kollege of Few shows have the production Fun and Knowledge" would shape finesse of a Canova stanza, the I up as a modest aud participation handiwork of Joe Rines who pre- program with minor production tests each script a week in advance. I background and minute giveaways After the broadcast the ushers shoo the audience for a fresh intake of auditors. Half hour later Canova and the cast are previewing next ing into the song intro, rather than | ^^J^jJ^^' '^^'^i, 8>vcs scripters dragging it in.) ° As the guest on the premiere, Miss Garland made a pleasing foil for the Jolson-Levant jibes and she really socked over the Rodgers- Hart "Johnny One Note" as her solo vocal contrib. Ken Carpenter, as usual, knows how to .sell. Kraft Cheese convinc- ingly without overdong it; Rose. I Hoople, Fox. & Phillips a week to Work over the rough spots and. flit the bugs. The results of this careful, measured treatment are amply evident in the smooth and even runoff. Golgatg commercials go to Halo shampoo an d Ralmolive shave cream, "the bestest in the land," with Howard Petrie screaming and" Frank Graham purring. Helm. LUM 'N' ABNER With Chet Lauck, Norris GofT, Clarence Hartzell, others; Wen- dell Niles, announcer Producer: William Gay Music: Elsie Mae Emerson ^ 30 Mins.; Sun., 10 p.m. (EST) FRIGID AIRE CBS, from Hollywood iFoote, Cone & Gcidi'ia) "Lum 'n' Abner," who have been feeding listeners with a unique brand of Arkansas corn for some 17 years, have switched over: from GROUCHO MARX SHOW (Transcribed) With studio participants^ George!pole? Fcnneman, announcer; Stan My ersand, music Writersr Bemie Smith, Hy Freed man, Ed Tyler Director: Bob Swan Producer: John Guedel 30 Mins.; Wed., 9:30 p.m. (EST) ELGIN-AMERICAN ABC, from HoUywood (Weiss & Geller) They said Elgin-American, which makes compacts, yanked Groucho ALDRICH FAMILY with, which to whip up excitement The bandleader, however, is mak- ing a silk ijurse 'out of a sow's ear through his- wit and infectious I good nature. At the rate with which: he drops his ad libbed gags, thiS: series ought to build up a solid rep .as a comedy program in; an incidental quiz setting, Simple format involves the par- ticipants, having to pass four sets of questions in order to graduate into the prize-winning cla.ss. On the preem (4), Kyser conducted the quiz in,a serai-farcical takeoff on I the shows where the customer can't lose. Hinting to a housewife who Ididn't know the term for a baby I frog, Kyser said: "Is it a tadpole or a froglet or a tadpole or a tad- The woman got the point and Kyser scored -'a big : laugh : among others that spiced the half-hour. :: Plugs for Pillsbury flour, which is bankrolling only the last, half of the daily series, were king-sized with both Kyser and announcer Jack McCoy taking turns at boost- ing the product: Herm. writing, but unfortunately the: script's charm is too limited. "Jones/ V.P." casts Peck as' an insignifigant shipping clerk wtth a hankering for the boss' secretary and a better job. He ultimately gets.both. Supporting cast is excellent with Betty Lou Genson showing up nicely as the boss' amanuensis; Alan Reed does well as the firm's head, while Jeannette Nolan makes; a hit in a bit. Debut also brought out the Pru- dential president to welcome the audience with hellos from Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Taylor arid Ginger Rogers who shilled for sub- sequent shows on which they'll appear. Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis are the others lined up for this series. Jose. EDDIE CANTOR SHOW With Dinah Shore, Williani Pdwell, Billie Burke, Bert Gordttn, Harry Yon Zcll, The Sportsmen; Vbh Zell, announcer ' Writers: Irving Elinson, Joe 6uli- - .-Ian';'.', Producer: Manning OStrofr continually I 30 Mins., Fri.,:9 p.m. (EST) PABST NBC, from Uollywdiod (WartoicJc &■ Legler) a 15-minute across-the-board anei y^^.^^ e,,i.jy jg^^ ^^^^^^ because he With Ezra Stone, Jackie Kelk, to a full half-liour Sunday night j sold out their stock. If he doesn't Katherine Raht, House Jameson, Show. Time change has thrown the I watch out, he'll do it again this i Norman Tokar, Jed ■ Prouty, James Monk, Patricia Hoscly, Leona Powe)fs; Dan Seymour, announcer; Meredith Willson prch & choir (transcribed) - program up against some -ther;--n.^even qu^^^^^^^^ developed into one, of the snap CHARLIE McCarthy show With Edgar Bergen, Ray Noble oreh, Don Ameohe, Marsha Hunt, Pat Patrick; Ken Carpenter, an- nouncer Writers: Bergen, Zeno Klinker, Phil Rapp Producer: Earl Ebl 30 Mins.; Sun., 8 p.m. (EST) STANDARD BRANDS NBC From Hollywood (J. Wolter Thompson) In line with many of the top comedy shows on the air, Edgar Bergen has revamped the format of his Sunday night airer, and it's all to the good, if last Sunday's (3) premiere of the new season can be used as a barometer. There's now a 10-minute insert of llie re- vived "Bickersons," the Phil Rapp- created family squabble vignette with Don Ameche back at his old stand and. Marsha Hunt stepping into the ex-Frances Langford spot. Thanks to the Rapp scripting, . it's still sock comedy, and with the assorted Bergen show components on tap 'Charlie McCarthy, Morti- mer Snerd, Ercil Twing, the usual. Bergen-Ray Noble byplay, etc.), Sunday night at 8 on NBC Is still' good listening. That Standard Brands' anxiety to get off the $2,000,000 annual tiine-and-talent: Bergen hook (with Bergen's continuance in his cur- rent Sunday slot a matter of spec- ulation) is predicated strictly on an economic cutback problem, rath or than a lack of appreciation of the inherent show values of the stanza, was forcefully demonstrated last Sunday. As one of the few $25,000 < weekly budgeted shows in radio, Bergen and his McGarthy-Snerd alter-egos continue to pack max-: imum entertainment values geared to all-family listening. The Earl Ebl/top-shelf produc- tion, the tight scripting, the Noble musical background assist (al- though Bergen is passing up the femme vocalist slot this season) combine to make a surefire pack- age that again looks headed for the top Hooper: brackets, even in the face of the "Stop the Music" com- petition froin ABC. Ken Carpenter does his usual slick job on the Chase & Sanborn coffee commercials. flose. CHESTERFIELD SUPPER CLUB With Jo Stafford. Rita Hayworth. Paul Weston's Orch, Peggy Lee, King Cole Trio, Dave Barbour's Orch., Tom Rcddy Prod.-Dir.: Robert Packham J«es -Thurs., 7 p.n^ (EST) LIGGET & MEYERS NBC. from N. Y. and Hollywood (JVewelLEnMnctt) Jo Stafford and Peggy Lee round out Chesterfield's week. Miss Staf- ford holding down the Tuesday slot and Miss Lee Thursday, from Hollywood, with Perry Como fill- ing the remaining thi-ee alternate nights from New York. Miss Lee is a newcomer to the Chesterfield lineup. Last year Miss Stafford handled both nights While Como did the other three. This year she has a non-exclusive pact with the ciggie-maker and fills only one slot. Both debut performances by the ■ femme singers, who rank at the top Not even a master craftsman I , - - „j, like Eddie Cantor, with 18 years of ?fil,j^„ i'JP,'.„^'fu™"Sh^ but enter- radio and 40 years of show busi- " ness behind him, can surmount the impost of a script that lacks the taming nevertheless. Getting ex- cellent assistance from Paul Wes- ton's instrumentalists. Miss Staf- ford covered the pop and standard ncandescence so vital to his tvoe ' ^^l^ lH "j,**" J^^^^ show, getting off of jesting. Try as he would, and ' - ^ ^^•'^ » Song Comin' On." a Song Comin' On,' stiff competition, what with "The atre Guild," "Take It or Leave It"^ and "Hobby Lobby" all bucking it' directly now. Cracker-barrel gab- bers should carry their old fans over to the new time, so the rating Will probably hold at a steady pace particularly smart fs in soft-pedal-j ^ - roimo & Kuoicam, New series follows directly the > ii„„ giveawav-nni/ asnppt nf radio's fixtures was back , „i..„c. . the format^'in ?aZ of a more han ' Thursday (30) in the reappearance equal play on Marx's impish in-«f.v#>«?iAJ<«n<* .■'Wf';b«-.'.|a«»l«.< terviewing of contestants. As eivo. '^^^ : \^^^'^^J°t'^^^^ aways go" these days, the E-A TurT* Raft 'w.^f fhP^^^^^^^^^^^ stanza would be in the peanut i*^*' • the -Aldndi^.-i^.u.- r>i,n« ctnrH.,« ,c i+ ""k , from their own vacation, and tak no one tries harder to make every J ^ Moment," and "Begin line count, NBC's new "man Fri- R'^"-""" day" couldn't give his season piest. quizmasters on the ether and his producers have put together a Director: Edwin Ducrr show which, for entertainment Writers: Ed Jurist,: Tokar values, well rates its back-to-back- 30 Mins.; Thurs.. 8 p.m. ing with Bing Crosby. GENERAL FOODS Where the producers have been , '^,1]^ ^S^^ opener the :high comedic content which has so consistently been his measure. the Beguine.' On this show Chesterfield uses an audience gimmick for the first time. It pipes in the voice of a i well-known film name and people format pattern established almost two decades ago. Chet Lauck and Norris Goff, originators and .stars of the show, are still a couple oi general store entrepreneurs in Pine Ridge, Ark. Duo, besides plaving the title roles, also play class, starting as. it does' at $20 • ^ i, - ^ and working up to a possible $1-''"6. up once more the per_ennial °l1^':Pl^lM"iJ"?.^^000, grand prize (with $600 added l^Slrien! Ho^t^he U^^^^^ out well on the series preem (3) i^espite a couple of opening night fluffs. Clarence Hartzell, back ' again as the town constable, is the only other regular cast member. Show had an ear-glueing fac- ulty, despite its leisurely pace and obvious humor, due largely to the amount of sentimentality injected intO' the script. Last Sunday, the show dealt with Lum 'n' Abner's attempts to buy an adjoining lot to expand their store and the troubles they ran into with neighbors and other townfolk. Some of the cracks would have dojie credit to the writ- ing stables of higher-rated comics. Plugs for Frigidaire were con- fined to the standard opening, middle and closing announcements and were listenably read by an- nouncer Wendell Niles. , Stal. each week it isn't woni. But the between Henrv and Homer- "i'H"- '"""er naa one song and premium in this case s on comedy thf exasperation of pareSls at theii^' delivered it handsomely but it was rather^than cow, and it pays off , ,l!nH ™" d nff.n?^^^ jlisappointing that she had no lines to read. Pew femmes in radio can Away to a flying, start with 1^'''"".^^e studio audience who have special lyrics and a permissible ' P^'^viously qualified as contestants, title change to "There's No Coun-1 P^'Ilp fiends or relatives anywhere try Like Our Country," it sounded I ?" ^- ^- to Whom a phone call like Cantor was off to the races but, "jaae. First one of these peo- the wordage began to sag and identify the star's voice draw creak and there was little for the ? ^^ 9 they cannot the studio audience to cheer about „ " turned over to charity. Rita When they don't spark it's an 1 Hayworth was the initial name and The inauspicious i ^"^ delivered a pitch for Chesties Start might be charged off to the heavy load of talent. Augmenting the regulars were Dinah Shore and William Powell, a credit and a debit. Former had one song and beautifully. Show is smart* combo: ; feSs'loundef l?kellllow*m^ , ng of original gimmicks, imag-' ^?"™s^t;era" stil being aZ^^ ^" '^'^'-''^'^ "''^^ the spoken mative selection of contestants as radio Dattcr amusing , ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ her sihg- foils for Marx's quipstering, and ■ ' xhursdav's ooener concerned it- '"P register. Powell was plenty hep scripting for comedic l self lareelv with Henrv's attemots ^iVen a few laugh lines in a cross- effect. Marx's unique brand of im- to keep llomer away from fn^^^^^ ^*.th Cantor th.it feU short of as well as lending her voice to the "mystery star" idea. Mi.ss Lee's broadcast did not sit as well as Miss Stafford's. It brought to light something that was not as noticeable on the lat- ter s show—the selection of tunes. Both were composed of standards and pops. Miss Stafford is not quite so stylized a singer and her work on tunes of that type is not out of the ordinary. But Miss Lee is a stylized warbler and should not pertinent banter is, of course, the f^nd girl-friend and the comoli- i intended mark. His timing ^e fittt-tl to a rigid song pattern, actor that really gives zing to the SsTha ensued It wa^^^^^ the punch was pulled** ^d 'Dandv^'''^"'rr.'°'^' ^'""^'"1 whole affair. r-othv. familiar—but fun. i Billie Burke was on for a brief. "21 "'^1?.^'Magic" and frothy, familiar—but fun. i . Ki'iie Burke was on for a brief, For the getaway last Wednesday The opening Jello commercial | SiSSjy bit and Bert Gordon made '29>i contestants chosen were a was unusual enough to warrant i •^apital^of his spot. As with nearly spinster and a bachelor, the par-' separate merit, with Meredith Will- ' ents of a new baby, a man with son's transcribed commercial with 13 childreni and a femme Gallup' (ihoral. group praising jello in a poll taker.- Commercials vi'ere easy combo of patter, gag and song. ; to take, in one instance employirtfi Business was clever and ap-I one of the femme participants, ju.st pealing, but like most commercials i tavern tradition and whetted the gifted with an E-A compact, to tell too long, too much of a good thing. ' thirst for a glance toward the re- how attractive it was. Doan, i Bron. I frlgerator. Helrru all NBC shows there wa.s a gag on giveaways and Harry Von Zcll. as capable as they come, broke into song on the. commercial.. Pabst serving was in the best Stormy Weather" were okay they left something to be desired, since she s so much more at home in her own vocal vein. King Cole worked with Miss Lee, doing "Little Girl" in fine fashion. fom Reddy handles the commer- cial pitches on both shows As on the Como broadcast, part of these are in song, Miss Stafford's show using "Put 'Em in a Bqx." Wood.