Variety (Oct 1948)

WedneadajTf Oetobcr IS, 1948 RADIO REVIBWS 27 MEREDITH WILLSON SHOW WitU Josef . Marais & Miranda, Pauleiia Carter^ Betty Allen, Norma Zimmer, Maxwell Smitlt, 3ob Hanlon, John Rarisr Prodiicer: Sam Fuller Pirector: Mike Dutton Writer: Meredith Willson 30 Mins., Wcd.^ 10:30 p. m. (EST) GENERAL FOODS ABC, from Hollywood [Young Sc Rubicam) Meredith Willson, one of radio's more gifted maestri, has spread himself too thin with this new air series. Musical direction of the show, emceeing, and writing of this layout, apparently should be the work of a trio. Willson is domg these tbings by himself, and it isn't working out'as it should. Although WiUson has become a writer of note wtth publication of his autobiographical "And There I Stood With My Piccolo," his expert- ness-in this field doesn't yet ex- tend to radio. However, he's in line > for top grade in eifort in attempts ing to intmducer some fresh notes with some-equally cute gimmicks. Among'them aie his talking people, witit ormnary conversation taken up hy a Greek chorus of five. His Integration of commercials is equal- ly charming, along the lineof cute- ness. His homespun type of humor also has some ment, but needs a delivery.that's more than casual. . Di<!k Pow«ll made a brief appear- ance with a satire on the type of role be's essaying on the screen, in ' which,Willson puts the heat on him in order to divulge a prize Jello recipe. It's a fairly expensive way of getting the commercial across, but effective. The musical items are of top cut. Willson is excellent in that departs tnent. His nrangements are imagi- native , charming and fresh, and give the impression that, with all that talent In this direction, he's not using his best Judgment in ruin- ing the good impression in this field by attempting to crash in on others in which he's not totally ■ equipped.; ' Josef Marais and Miranr da clicked with renditions of South Afflcan folks tunes, and Paulena . Carter. conq>leted the musical items with ivory aoloi; - Jose, OUR MISS BROOKS WiUi. Eve Arden, Jeff Chandler, .-Ctel^^ Dick Crenna, others; mibnr Hatch oreh ' Wrifa»rs: AI tjewis, Iiee lioeb ' Prodaeer'Hlirector: Larry Herns 30 Mfais.: Sum., 9:30 p.m. (EST) COIiGATE-TALMOtlVE-PEET CBS, from Hallywoed - {Bates) GBS' house-built Eve Arden stBErer, "Our Miss Brooks," which made its ether bow in : July, was clicking beautifully last Sunday . (10) when it came out in Colgate's colors for ihe first time. Miss Ar- den,. zestfully enacting her title role as. :a smartrcracking .school mam who melts at the sight'of a : certain bi6Iagy teacher, has found a characterization that gives happy range to her talents as a come- ' dienne. Smart scripting by the Al Le wis- Lee Ijoeb teun and swift pacing by Larry BeriiS,- together with able cast support for Miss ArdeUi tab this stanza is one which should have a long ride in the upper Hooper brackets. It has the same family appeal which has made such shows as "Aldrich Family" peren- Dial mustis in V. S. listening. Colgate, in tune with tlie times, announced a big jingle writing con- test with everything but the Em- pire State Building on the prize list. (Actually included: $100 a 'month for life.) Products plugged ' are Palmolive soap and Lustre Creme shampoo. Doan. MARRIAGE FOR THE MILLIONS With Matt Crowley," Abby Lewis; Atfred Drake, narrator 15 Mins.; Wei., 9:4S p.m. Sust«ini»c. WMCA. N. T. ' Aired under the auspices of the Family Service Association of New Vork, this* series of programs is .aiming to give a picture of the work performed by. various family counseling agencies in the metro- ' politan area. Within its 15-min- ute boundaries, it is doing a iirst- ' rate job of penetrating into the : Sore spots in the marriage relations ship. There's no attempt, wisely, to tackle the vast and complex prob' : lem of marriage at one gulp. In- stead it is showing how psyciiiatric social workers can ' help families make adjustments ■ to specific sit- uations which crop up generally. . On the preem stanza (6», the program dramatized the mother-in- law impediment. A new insight wa& thrown upon the problem by the suggestion that a wife's ove^- : depend^jiy upon her mother was the tnlS^eause'of the difficulties. Tiie point was delivered sharply via a competent cast and a sensible script. Herm. FIBBER McGEE gc MOLLT With Jim and Alarian Jordan, Bill Thompson, Arthur 0. Bryan, Gale Gordon, King's Men; Har- low Wilcox, annonncer Producer: Frank Pittman Writers: Don Quinn, Phil Leslie Musical director: Billy Mills 30 MIns.; Tnes., 9:30 p.m. (EST) JOHNSON'S WAX NBC, from Hollywood (NeedUclm, Louis & Brorby) Fibber - and Molly, after their usual summer^ hiatus, are - back on the air ovev the same network "as, last year, with the same cast, at the same time, for the same spon- sor and with the . same format. Which means they'll undoubtedly pull dowh the same high ratings of past seasons, the only . difference being that they now follow Bob Hope, instead of preceding him. Unlike Hope, however« Fibber and spouse are apparently in no mood for experimentation. Preem show last Tuesday (5) night varied not a whit from last season's productions. Format was based on the same l^rpe of situation comedy. Missing was Fibber's famed overstuffed Closet, but that' represented : the show's, only con- cession to change.: This time Fib- ber, bored with his idle life, was on the make for some excitement and so took; a stroll downtown to the dry cleaners': with Molly. As was to be expected^ he was having hi.<! pants pressed when all the so- called.' excitement took places so missed it all. Format presented an opportunity to introduce all the characters on the .program,- who kept parading in and- out. of the cleaner's establishment; for no ap- parent reason. Cast, topped by Jim and Marian' Jordan, who've been playing the title roles.in radio since 1£35, was up to Its usual top professional standards. It appeared, however, as though writersDon Quinn and: Phil Leslie; were reaching too far for gag lines. Several jokes about the Russian situation fell flat. Fib' her and Molly: also expressed their utter disdain (and i>erhaps, fear?) of television with : a trumped-up gag about « doctor recommending that an acti^ess, who was suffering from a "wriggling^' condition and a "strange herringbone pattern" on her sMn, should switch from tele back to radio. King's Men handled their single novelty tune in the accepted style for ms^e quartets and Harlow Wilcox rang: in some ebullient, albeit listenable, plugs for the .sponsor. In all, the preem. show Was a good teeoff session for the new season with Fibber and Molly standing pat on a tried-and-tested comedy formula. . Stal, FIRST NIGHTER With Barbara Lnddy, Olan Soule, Verna Fetor, Lurene Tuttle, Wll- liard Waterman, and William Conrad; Frank Worth orch; Larry Keatlntr, announcer Producer-director: Joe Ainley. Writer: VIreinia Safford Lynn 30 Mlns.; Thnrs., 10:30 p.m. (EST) CAMPANA SALES CO. CBS, from Hollywood (WoIlrtc«-Ferri/-HanIe3y) If the mythical *litUe theatre off Times Square" had to attract play- goers to an actual b.o., it would have shuttered in its first season. In the realm df radio, however, it's a hardy perennial now entering season 18. . ShOw is dated by its heavy use of sound..,effects at the outset. 'The cab honking, door; slams and whistle shrieks . should be junked in favor of a straight- away start. "First Nighter" alms at the day- time serial listener who's; still open-eyed and eager at bedtime. Most of the dramas are comedy ro- mances in which any similarity to the facts of life is strictly coinci- dei)tal. Plots follow the bdy-gets- girl-loses-girl formula. Characters are bom out of a mating of L. C, Smith with white paper rather than the accepted mom and pop routine.. Season opener (7), titled , "A Turn for the Nurse," had the fa- miliar tiffing couple, and guess what?, they're really : in love all along. Their romance was both furthered and frustrated by the gal's mom, a you-all honey chile nurse, and a doctor under the . in- fluence of the Great CJjldersleeve; Studio aud'responded with enthus- iasm. In fact, the staging of .''Mr. ■Roberts" or some other sock piece probably would have led to out- right rioting. Good sell of Italian Balm came via an offer of a plastic home dis* penser with the Imperial bottle: i Dispenser paid off handsomely up to the war years, when it was wash- ed out by production restrictions. "Magic Touch" commercials were deft, except for cubersome quotes and unquotes in one following Act 11. "First Nighter," often credited as the vehicle that ,brought Doh Ameche to national attention, is owned by Gampana, its original net !bankroller.' Scripting I is freelance I at $300 per. Baxt. JACK CARSON SHOW With Marion Hutton, Dave WiUock, Jane Morgan, Howard Petrle, announcer; Frank Devoir music Writers: Jack Douelas, Leo' Solo- mon, Howard Harris, David Swift Producer: Sam Fuller 30 Mins.; Fri.. 8 v.m. (EST) GENERAL FOODS CBS, from HoUywood (YouTiflf & Rubicam) Jack Carson was, it turned out, only kidding when l)e .opened his new show last Friday (8) with a resolution' that there was going to be "no more of that'cheap hokum comedy . . . a few chuckles, per- haps ... but this is going to be an intelligent show.'' The comic worked: hard at his routine, but couldn't climb far above the level of his material, which was just cheap hokum comedy. Sample lines, in case some evi^ dence is needed: "I was an only child. The rest were puppies." And; "You really got money?" "Yeah, they just discovered oil in my new JIMMY IIURANTE SHOW With .AIaii Younri Florence Halop, Candy Candido, Roy Bargy orch; Producer: Phil Cohan Writers: Stanley Davis, Elon Packr ard; Floyd Caton, Onie Whir : zcm, Jud Pearson, Les White, Karl Gruencr, Harry Crine, '.. George Foster...' .:'."■::.. ■•; 30 Mins.. Fri.. S:30' p.m. (EST) CAMELS NBC, from Dallas • (Eaty) ' . Several seasons back Tom Luck-' ehbill, of the William Esty agency, conceived the idea .of parlaying :the: talents of Jimmy Durante and' Garry Mhore on behalf of Esty's top client, R. J. Reynolds (Camel), with a resultant payoff that's now. radio and show biz history. After a couple^of seasons of broadcasting undeI^~-the Rexall Drug banner. Durante Is now back in the Camel fold and this time Li^ckenbill has teamed the Schnoz with Alan Young; with the show i«SS-ljTnH^*^f ?vifh*?^mU"**'ise'-vl^ as the curtain raiser for Pasadena and one with smog— Utt>^>i ■ ii . j i ii.. j great stuff for the localites. In fact, NBC's new Friday night comedy the studio audience got a huge bang out of show, including the mugging, or whatever -it was . they saw. that had them in stitches a number of times. Perhaps the most remarkable thing, however, was the. show's gratuitous plugging of other stanzas on every network ex- cept CBSl One gag Was that '"ma ran; away to do a guestshot on 'Peo- ple Are Funny' and was never seen again" (NBC). Another had to do with: somebody's. five.r:year«old sis- ter; guessing the mystery melody on "Stop the Music" (ABO. A femme intruded: on the show and asked: "Is this 'Breakfast in Holly- wood'?" (also ABC). And at still another point: "And now a word: from Bill Corum and Gillette Blades" (Mutual). Initialer's big act was a parody of the film "Key Largo," which came off as the broadest, most obvious sort of slapstick, .The stanza's best moments were thosci near the opening, when Carson was, playing straight man to an- nouncer Howard Petrle. Latter has nice comedic abilities. Cast in gen- eral,; including Marion' Hutton, who turns in an okay vocal contrib, plunges through the zany proceed- ings with gusto. What they need most to make the show really pay off iS: some fresh material. lineup The Durante-Young combo, how- ever, doesn't add. up ; as did the Schnoz-Moore: "Junior";; routine. Whereas the brashness and the; impudence of Moore so ably com- plemented the. particular brand of DuratC; zanyism, so that . both emerged as ■ Ideal foils for one another. Young's stylized comedies aren't patterned, to the Schnoz formula. In his own right Young has dis- tinctive qualities as a comedian; let him piay around with a five or 10-minute comedy Insert and he can be an; asset on anybody's pro- gram . As for the Schnozzola, let him go at it strictly along his own line, without being harnessed by some thankless scripting, and you've got one of radio's most solid properties. But taking two extreme "oppo- sites;" as in: the case of the Schnoz and Young, and hewing them to a sort of musicomedy format based on a Durante Poll of Public Opin- ion, with which they preemed their new teamup last Friday (8), and the results, from a laugh payoff, left something to be desired. . There wei'e moments, particu- larly in the-early p^rt of the show, as, for example, when a bewildered Durante found himself trying to Truest statement uttered in the I pry loose from a "C-m-l-e^s-a" 30 minutes was Carson's opening remark, ;"Well, here we go again." He wasn't kidding. Sponsor's; plugs are for, Sanka coffee: and Instant Sanka, which are ."real coffee with thel worry taken out." No Sanka, please, for Carson's scripters. • Doom. EVERYMAN'S^TORT ("The Invisible Pill") With Martin Wolfson, Ivor Francis, others; Bernard Lenrow, nar- rator; Roy Shield orchestra- 30 Mins.; Sundays, 2 p.m. (EST) Writer: Joseph Mindel Director: Clay Daniel Producers: Milton Krents, D. L. Provost Snstainins ' WNBC, New York "Everyman's Story'' is a" new dramatic series offered by NBC's N.Y. flagship in association with the Federation of Jewish Philan- thropies, pointing up the accom- plishments of the work of welfare agencies collectively and individ- ually. There is a slight reminder of the Federation's drive for $16,800,- 000 for such work and lets it go at that without any direct pitch for contributions: twister, that were strictly in the Schnoz idiom, and hilarious. But that was before the story line. Phil Cohan, as could be ex- pected,: contributed his sock pro- ductional assist with what there was on hand, and. Roy Bargy and his orch are back for the musical accomp. Initial show had a Dallas origi- nation. Rose. BLONDIE With Penny Sinsleton^ Arthur Lake, Norma Jean NUason, Bobby Ellis, Hanley Stafford, Bhda All- man; announcer, Howard Petrie Writer: John L. Green Produeer-dircetor: Glen Hall Tay- .'.v.'lor' 30 Min*.; Wed., « p.ni. (EST) COLGATE-PALMOLIVE-PEET NBC, from HoUywood (Esty) Fact that "Blondie" has been on the air since 1939 is sufficient proof that the masses evidently relish this absurd, domestic claptrap. In its fall bow for Colgate Wed. (6) oh NBC the show differed little from the insipience of its preceding in- stallments. Penny vSingleton as . Blondie is still the patient house Opening stanza which teed- ofTl wife and mother, a trifle hi^er in- Sunday (10) in the 2 p.m. «lot was i tellectually than her dim-witted scripted by ' Joseph Mindel and: spouse, Dagwood Bumstead, played titled "The Invisible Pill.'; It dealt, by Arthur Lake, with coordination of psychiatric | While radio: prides itself upon treatment for : patients in tlie city . being a cultural uplifter, it's incon- hospitals, when regular medical i gruous to find a program with abso- probes of ailments fail to; turn, up | lutely nothing to offer with the ex- any physical clues to the illnesses, j ception of a string of loosely re- For dramatic purposes a case | lated bunglings perpetrated by a history of a young man, mythical, character who was spawned in the of course, was employed for the I comic strips. Sponsor's ample plugs clinical study. He had complained i ask listeners to fill in the missing of head-pains and when the doctors i line in a Super Suds jingle with could find no basic reason for them, ! first prize a '49 Ford, and also pro- decided to treat him via p.sycbiatry. j claim; the merits of Colgate dental After a battle he yields to the. cream as well as Lustre Creme newer treatment, which reveals ;Shampoo.i ' : ' ' . Gill), that he has developed a defeati-st . ' complex due to a tilt with his .'^-■"■^^ r mother in childhood. The newer CLEVELAND BROWNS method of treatment solves his With Bob Neal, Bill Mayer problem. 12 Ilrs., Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. . Bernard Lenrow handled the FORD MOTOR CO. narrator spot in splendid fa.shion;: WGAR, Cleveland with Martin Wolfson, as the patient; (J. Walter Thomp.^on) m.d., and Ivor Francis as the youth ' Bob Neal has followed the for- also turning in capital perform-; tuneS;of;the professional champion anccs. ' football team, the Cleveland The series should attract attenr Browns, for several : years. No tion as a public service program,': doubt, both the Browns; and Bob for which it's intended, rathe£4ian Neal have worked up a large and as straight dramatic fare to in-' loyail following in Northern: Ohio. FQBD THEATRE ("Madame Bovary") With Mariene Dietrich, Van Heflin. Claude Rains, Robert Drydea. . Hedley, Bainnle, Ivor FrancliL ' Mercedes McCambridge, Ronald Liss, Miriam Wolfe, Alan Devitt, Jolin Stanley, Gregory Morton, Abb.v Lewis, John - Merlin^. Neil Fitzgerald; Fletcher Markle, nar- rator. Director: Fletcher Markle Adaptation: Br a i n ar d Duffielii : Emerson Crocker . , Composer^Conductor: Cy Feuer : 60 Mins.. Fri., 9 p.m. (EST) FORD CBS. from New York (Kenyon & Eckhardt) "Ford Theatre" has finally hit ita stride. After a year's valiant but ■ vain struggle^, to project its . 60- minute dramatic showcase intfr- a .; bigtime Sunday afternoon NBC, production. Ford Motor Co, cam* - through last Friday nlglit (?) with , what gives ' every; indication 'of - shaping up 'as a definitevclick. : ; The hour-long stanza .has:; beea moved over to CBS in the 9 to 10 ; p,m. segment, with the Ford hiep- archy, via Kenyon & Eckhardt agency, bestowing on it a talent- coin "shoot the works" edict that' wisely also puts equal emphasis on. taste and commercial show values.: Actually "Ford Theatre" is CBS' "Studio One" with a *l,500,00O budget. Fletcher Markle, the aca director^produeer.: of tlie former . sustaining series on- Columbia, ia . again investing the production, which now flies the Ford banner, : with the same distinctive and im- aginative qualities that made "Stu- dio One" mature radio theatre. Except that now, with an assist from the Ford : purse strings, it's also endowed with keener commer*; cial values. Since this appears to be the year of the great Flaubert resurrection in show biz (Metro is: putting 'IMadame Bovary" into production this month with Jennifer Jones in the lead), "Ford Theatre" cfaos* the same vehicle for the leadoff ot the season. Which may or may not; have been a concession to sprfng!* boarding the series with a prestigs , show. On that basis the decision was probably a wise one, despits the fact that)"Bovaryi" in this dajr and age, is somewhat: crealqr around the edges. . Yet it's to Markle's credit that the; performance came , off with a breadth and a sweep' that belied' its stuffy literary overtones ;and on - the whole made for an exciting hour of listening. The cast was est* cellent, notably Mariene DietricA^ Van Heflin and Claude Rains in tha lead roles, yet it is; Markle, abova all, who rates chief bows for giving the production the animation that made it so distinctive. The familiar, unorthodox Markls touches that characterized "Studio One" of last year were -all there, alerting the listener's senses to tha atmosphere and the feel; the cor> rect balance of background noises and superlative musical cues; and bridges, all approximating some- thing of a new dimensional quality for: a strictly audio medium. . As the : frustrated, capricious Madame Bovary who is a victim a* her small provincial town environ- ment, Miss Dietrich played the role with sympathetic understanding- and true feeling. Claude Rains as Dr. Bovary and Van Heflin as tha i other man in her life were equally' I convincing, while Robert Drydea, (Hedley Kainnie,:Mercedes McCam- I bridge;. Ivor Francis and Ronaild Liss in secondary roles were a credit to the overall presentation. Markle himself handled the nar- ration and did it well. : Benson Ford,- a director of tha motor company, was on hand for ' the :i>reem to treat the midway in- stitutional contmercial.-' This is probably Mtflio'S; banner year in the dramatic Ifleld (not t« mention TV), with f'^^ux Radia Theatre," "Theatre «uild of tha Air," "Cavalcade of America," tha new Helen Hayes CBS series, ; "Screen Guild Players," the re- vamped Prudential show, etc. If the same qualitative standards that marked the premiere, apply to sub- sequent airings, "Ford Theatre" can hold its head high with tha best of them. Rose. trigue the general dialer. Other- wise scripting,, direction and pro- Consequently, one might be able to understand Neal's ebullience in duction were; up to par.»Roy Shields describing the successful plays of orch carries; the musical back- grounding adeptly. Edba. the home-town team. However, it is also the job of • sportscaster to attempt to be objective and treat. pla.v.s accordingly. Neali one-of the better sporlscaster.s in this area, perhaps doesn't realixe his.feelings, are too vividly pronounced. Should he curb them, the only irritant ia his broadcast would disappear. Neal should also forget;, his "cute" tic-ins of sponsor identifi- cation and activity on the field.- Bill Mayer handles the commer- cials well enough, although Mayer's color and other spots could ha . made richer and more interesting. ., ' V AfarJc ■ ' ■ ,(