Variety (Nov 1948)

t2 rnAUm REVIEWS SEWEY-WARREN BANDWAGON Witb Got. Thomas E. Dewey, Gov. Earl Warren, Robert Mont- CwmeiT, Irene Ounne^ Kay Mil- land, ZaSu Fitls. Tex McCraiy, Jinx fWenbuiy. Frank Morean* Victei- M«ttre, Abbott & Costell*. Jeanette . MacDonaM, James Melton, Harold Peary, Robert RipTey, Arthur Lake, Georffe Murphy, Fred Waring Orch. 60 Mins.', Man. it), 9 p.m. REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COM- MITTEE CBS and. NBC, from N.Y, and HoUnvood {B.B.p. & O.) Repeating a stunt first pulled in behalf of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, the Republican wing ot show business turned out en masse this, election eve for a spectacular two- network politico - theatrical pitch for Dewey and Warren. Four years ago, ironically, the Republicans yelled "discrimination" at the nets tot permitting electioneering in tbe- guise of entertainments but they knew a good thing when they heard one. Where arguments end, glamor , takes over is the obvious theory of this <ype of show. The razile- 4azEle of dozens of film, legit and laiJio cfelebs pushing their favorite sons is persuasive, if not exactly logical propaganda. The Dewcy- Warren show,, with its frankly get- on - the - bandwagon theme, was glittering with star-dust and infec- tious with its enthusiasm. It hadj • enough of a format to jell the various items into an acceptable varifety pattern, but on election eve, format is definitely subordi- nate to spirit. The first 10-minutes of each Iialf^hour section in -which dozens «f show biz names from HoUywood, New York and various other cities were picked up to say they were on the RepubUcan bandwagon, was proiMbly most effective in sweep- ing dialers off their feet. The limger contributions were, less im- jnci^ve.' How many votes did those politi- cal savants, Abbott & Costello, win over by repeating that "'who's on first" routine? Jeanette Mac- Donald's rendition of Gov. Dewey's favorite song, "Beyond the Blue Horiwn," was slightly off-key but mu.sically. the program was saved by Fred Waring's orch and ch9nis. Several dramatic skits with Ray MiUand. Irene Dunne, Tex Mc- Crary, Jinx Falkenburg and ZaSu Pitts were okay for tlie occasion, despite apparent weaknesses. Emcee chores were handled com- petently by Robert Montgomery, from New York, and George Mur- phy, from Hollywood. Two of tne program's highspots, despite the array of professional talent, were delivered by a couple of amateurs, Dewey and' Warren, who made al- most non-partisan talks in behalf of unity tfoA democracy. Hem. ADVENTURES OF THE THIN MAN With Les Tremayne, Claudia Mor- j^an, others Praducer-directer: Blnau Brown S% mns.^, Tliars., 10 p.m. KAISER-FRAZER Mutual, from New York (Wcmtrflub) Les Tremayne back in his off- and-on role as Nick Charles and Claudia Morgan is again Nora in this so-familiar series, which has been a good thing for producer Hi Brown lor a long time now. The program can't be said to improve With age, but must be credited, at least, with successfully wooing sponsors. On CBS last season for General Goods and on NBC during the past summer for Pabst beer. It has now turned up on Mutual With Kaiser-Frazer bankrolling. Where the stanza la.st summer, however, attempted a comedic turn (in deference to NBC's frown : on before U-.SO crime fare), "Thin Man" is now back in its Standard pattern, wherein characters and plot bear no relation to reality. Murderers and their victims again gravilalje toward N & N, as though they had no oUier place to go. Last week's (28) getaway, follow" ing the inevitable sex tease opener, found a big blonde staggering into the Charleses' apartment to; fall dead with a tenife in her back. The rest was only a slight variation CNora went sleuthing herself and Nick has taken to knocking women down) on tlie patly contrived •tory that has been unfolded for wears. Tbe cast does a stock iob. The musical bridges aren't too bad. K-F's commercials are straight, well-accented plugs for "the pride «{ WIUow Sun." Oom. SOMETHING OUGHT TO BE DONE With J. RayuiMd Walsh, CUef Magistrate Edcrar Bromberfer. Dr. Frederick Wertham, Howard WUtmsin, S«n. MMSNelll Miteli- ell, Josiah P. Marvel. Bert Knapp, annonneer ' . Producer-Director: Hal Schaffel 30 Mins. Sun. 1:30 p.m. SACHS QUALITY STORES WMCA. N. Y. . (Wmi Worren jljjrcj;.) ■ Radio continues to show increas- ing signs of maturity with panel discussions on subjects that have been tabooed hitlierto. The air- waves of late have been opened up to forums on a variety of subjects including venereal diseases, Kin- sey report discussions, and. now ra- dio has gone one step-further in the first discussion of the problem of homosexuaLs. WMCA's "Something Ought to be Done," fadimanned by Dr. J. Raymond Walsh, has taken a cou- rageous step in this direction. It's a departure that indicates evenr tually some action >Vill be taken;; It's now a foregone conclusion that, discussion is a forerunner of ac- tion. The prerequisite of doing something about this problem-has thus been started. Panel on this subject included N. Y.'s Chief Magistrate Edgar Bromberger, : Psychiatrist Freder-; ick Wertham, author Howard Whitman, State Senator MacNeill Mitchell and Josiah P. Marvel, chairman of the Qualcer Emer-; gency Committee which has made available psychiatry/at low or no fees to homosexuals that evidence; a desire to become normaL j Problem was intelligently dis- | cussed by all panel members, i Judgie Bromberger-poiated out that the judiciary has; .already' taken cognizance of the situation and, has started referring curable, first ofr fenders within: a prescribed age limit to the Quaker clinie. Various phases of tiie matter were dis- cussed with a high degree of free- dom. Actually, very little could be discussed on a 30-minute session, but this panel served a high pur- pose in getting the problem out in the open. More panels of this type and then it's up; to. medical, authorities and lei^lators' to carry on. ■. Jose. ■ HARRY SALTER MUSICAL DIRECTOR Stop the Music—ABC It Pay* to 6* Ignorant—CBS TIBE LIVELY ARTS Witli Giibeit Seldcs; Dick Bradley annwnacer ' Prodoeer: Ted Cott Director: Henry MorgenthatBi III 15 Mins., Son., 10 p.m. Sustaining; WNEW, N, Y. ThiS; is an interesting program and a good addition to" the N; Y. scene, despite its obvious faults. Gilbert Seldes, who - knows his stuff and has positive, provocative ideas on his subjects, takes a gan- der at "the lively arts," those that "entertain us without too: much strain on the intellect." In a fast quarler-hour he covers the enter- tainment scene, with informal pungent comments on theatre, books, films, as well as sports, women's clothes and love. Flaws in the program, in addi- tion to Seldes' occasional heavy- banded use of barbs and satire, in- clude his weak, small voice which he uses too fast. Otherwise, Seldes' informal, inside-stuff com- ments on the passing show and general scene make good radio copy. ■ ■ Sunday's (31) opener skimmed rapidly and entertainingly through criticism of stale .jokes and un- varied programs of radio come-1 dians; the Book of the Month | choice of T?iiomas Mann's "Dr. | Faustus," with its mystery of every , judge offering excuses for having' selected it; the "50 coll(5ge foot-1 hall factories In the hu^ness for | money"; Elizabeth Hawes' new' book, th* Petrillo recording back- down, etc. In his gab about sports, Seldes got off a good one when he said, "We may be a nation of good sports—but not about sport." In delivery, voice and comment Seldes is a little acidy and indistinct, but his material offsets the defects. Brow. CHILDREN OF DIVORCE With Ben Cooper, Jaa Minor, Joe Desantis, Jan Mortia^ Helen Holt, Joan ' Lazar; narrator, Norman Rose; masic, composed and con-. ducted by John Gatt Writer:.JeronieRwsS"'. Directon Miidkell GrayMn 2S Mins.; Mon. (2S> »:3I p.m. Mntnal, frm New Vwrik Mutual took a big stride Monday <25) in improving the nation's do^ mestic relations—for in "Ghildren of Divorce" the net unwrapped a two-fisted, forthright attack upon our way of life that dissipates a child's emotional health. Semi- documentary was -partcularly heightened by the inclusion of two tape recorded interviews with children in the chambers of Judge Paul W. Alexander, presiding jus^ Uce of the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court of Toledo. . One case history involved 12- year-old Bobby whose parents* di- vorce bpou^t him two homes. And Bobby was only one of 2,000,000 other children who faced exactly' the same circumstances last year as a result of some 500,000-odd di- vorces. These broken homes might well be avoided, points out Mutual's dramatic plea, by eliminating the barriers caused by individual en- mity of mother and father. After listeners digested the con- fused existences in store for Bobby and teen-age Judy, who "wouldn't go with either one of her parents," narrator Norman Rose emphasiied that wrecked marriages ate now being treated as a community prob- lem. And for those interested in guidance in regard to marital and domestic problems it was noted that the Family Service Assn. of America had compiled a list of memher agencies. These would be available to anyone upon request. Under producer Elsie Dick's supervision, this sfiow represented an intelligent approach to the age- old divorce question that becomes more and more acute with the pass- ing years. Mitchell Grayson's di- rection, Jerome; Boss' script and John Cart's music all contributed to a fine overall impact brought about by performances of a good cast. Show was aired in New York by indie WNEW Thurs. (28) as a "public service" since Mutual's flagship, WOR, had other commit- ments. Gilb. From die fVodndim Cadres Buffalo—WKBW's Junior Jam- boree, a teen-ager quiz show pro- duced in cooperation with Bufl!alo Automobile Club and Western Wew ,York Safety Coundl, is on for its aecond year ^vilh a new Junior wncee, Barbara Lewis, local high pchool ei^. REPORT FROM ISRAEL With NaUian Straws; announcer, Bert Knapp Writer: Stivns 14 Mins.; Mon.vthrUrFri.j p.m. ISvstaininsr WMCA., N.'Y. Grim determination of the citi- zens of the new state of Israel to fight for their ideals was remark- ably outlined by WMCA prcz Na- than Straus in an on-tlie-scene broadcast shortwaved from Pales- tine Mon. (1). Stanza marked the heginning of a .series of cro.ss-lhe- board commentaries which will originate in that near East area. Chiefly confining his text to a description of a plane ride from Paris to a secret Isrseli airfield. Straus em}>hasi2ed the uneventful- ness of the flight mUl the "lights (Continued OBpage 34) HARRY HERSHFIELD 30 Mins., Mon.-Fri., IZ midnifht WOR, N. Y. Harry Hershfield's after dinner stories are generally B pleassnt capper to a banquet. His wealth of yams and warmth of delivery make for pleasant listening and he has the knack of tying up an audience In short order. Unfortunately Hershfield's abil- ity in this direction is difficult to project over the air. His warmth as a raconteur loses several de- grees when it reaches the loud- speakers. He's taken on a difficult assign- ment by migrating nightly to a difl'erent cafe or restaurant for a series of interviews wilBi celebri- ties, a brace of yams and a few disk spinnings. Primarily, the format puts him at the mercy of ttie type of floor- show the spot has and the type of customer it gets. With a session of this kind, he's at a disadvan- tage Inasmutdi as anyone who would want to grace a Her^field broad- cast would have to memorize his nightly scheduJe. A celeb, unless, couiered in advance, would con- .,.7 /^tti^ 4r<d\ ceivaWy find it easier just to go to \-int\jA\r\J the Copa where they're sure to find Jack Eigen. On show caught from the Latin Quarter, Hershfield got a few good moments in interviews with Ted Lewis, Benny Rubin and boniface Lou Walters. These talks had some good moments, but total effect Was dissipated by the generally ineffec- tual format. Jose, IN NEW YORK CITY ... ■ WOR Tirexy Ted Streibert has been named a trustee of the Brooklyn ^ Institute of Arts and Science Lyle Van hatii on WOR news follow- ing an intestinal attack which stnick him wliile he ^vas on the air last week Kay Kyser and missus (Georgia CnnrolO due In from the Coast - next Tuesday (9) for a stay in the east through the Christmas holiday, during which he'll tape his ABC show in N.Y Fred Thrower, ABC'S sales veepee, honeymooning in. Nassau following a surprise wedding in Savannah last Saturday (30). Bride is Marion Kendall Hodge of Canada ... Franidin Pulasici, narrator on "The United Nations Today," just fin- ished narrating two documentary films for the U. S. Air Force. Herb Shriner reviving his duffel-bag routine. (which he did for troops' overseas during the war) in a floor show for new draftees tonight (Wed.) at the N. Y. Induction Center It's Joan (not John) Shea who copped roles this past week in "FBI In Peace and War" and "Electric fheatre." She'll be in former stanza again tomorrow (Thur.) night Geonria Gibbs cutting several disks for the Navy recruiting drive.... Marearet Draper became a Philly commuter this week, having the lead in the NBC serial,"The Brighter Day," and a part in the legiter "For - Heaven's Sake, Mother," which opened in the Quaker City ..Nan' Wynn signed as permanent chiriter on WOR's "Poole's Parlor." WINS got into the election-flight billings payoff at the last minute, with Skouras Theatres picking up the tab Harvey Bullock, formerly with VIP Service, has joined Radio HBI, public relations outfit for Tom, to handle out-of-town promotion for CBS' "Give and Take".... Wendell Holmes of the "Respectful Prostitute" legiter cast has picked up a role in NBC's "Road of Life".. . Another Broadway thesp, James Monks, in ■ 'Young Dr. Malone".... Al Grobe,. WQXE's chief announcer, came away from the recent AFRA party with a $450 tele set Cnrt A, Heuser, comptroller and assistant treasurer of Bamberger Broadcasting (WOR), now also secretary of the corp. " f Sawid AJmassawa, director of Etadio Ihdonea^v ticketed to talk -on "Broadcasting in the Pacific" at the New School tonight (Wed.) Scripter Priscilla Kent honeymooning at Greenbriar in White. Sulphur Springs. Groom is Richard S. RotlisehUd, stockbroker.. . .ABC an- nouncer GeorceGann looking for a song and dance team named Ray & ' Lolita. He found a suitcase apparently twlongiBg to them last week on West 48th. street George Monagban, WOR eariyhird, extending his leave another month so he and^ his Powers Model yiitt, Nwak May. can take roles in a New Gainsborough picture, "Helter Skelter," now Iq production, in England. The Mona^ans also are elated to do one of' the first TV fashion shows from Paris next week, V . WPIX's Danny Webh ("Comics on Parade") sent the Red Cross more than 200 names of proffered blood donors following a plea on his show for donors to help Ll'l Orphan Annie; who was recently dying. xSbm recovered, of course) World .Series aftermath: Mel Allen, who waa ailing during, the ^ames, was still at home last week.; fed Wilhelm, in charge of production for Maxon (Gillette's agency), is in the hosp^I. Mailin Pew, Maxon publicist, and Pa«l Jon««, Mutual sports directoi^; bedded with the flu-^Larry Dom, new producer of "American: Forum.'r collecting kudos on his reformatting of the MBS stanza. "Manhattan MerryOo Round," Frank Hmnnwrt't Sunday night NBC musical, begins its 17th: year next Sabbath (7). Cast currently mcludes Thomas L. Thomasv Marian MeManns, Bob Hannon, Dick O'Connor, Dennis Ityan, Boys wd Girls of Manhattan chorus and Victor Ardea's orch Sidney Smith into the "David Harum" cast Grace Coppia and Ed Latimer added to "Front Page Farrell" Walter SeMen, of Blow agency, in hospital after an appendectomy Merrill E. Joels doing regular commercials on "Road of Lite" and "Light of the Worid'* . Dorothy Gabriel now casting director at Blow... . White Bock has bought three.'a-week schedules on George Bryan's CBS news and; Martin Block's WNEW "Make Believe Ballroom" Charles Dniry, recently back from Italy wliere he worked on Orson Welles' new film, signed a 13-week contract with WGYN-FM for his new dramatic group, Man- hattan Radio Playhouse ABC gabber Kelvin Kceck back from his native's return to'.Hawaii.'. ^ .Alan Sands and Karl Sehliehter writing and producing a package of five e.t. shows for this year'ii: Christmas Seal radio campaign. Stanzas include four IS-minute comedy^variety- musical shows starring DoroUiy Lamour and Frank Morean, Dennis Day. Nelson Eddy and Dorothy Kirsten, and Launitz Melchlor, and a half-hour sequence with Bob Hope as emcee.. '., Edward Rosen has joined Walter Koner Associates as account exec m HOLLYWOOD . . . Philip Morris Playhouse tees up Nov. S with Bnrt Lancaster tensing the dialers in "Silver Frame," an original by Bill Spier, who also directs: the series. Second guest call goes to Lvcilie Ball as "Angel Face" Bob Hussey is the next of the Young ;& Rubicam department heads to be shipped east for a study of television. As the agency's program developer in Hollywood, he will function in a dual capacity once the company's Coa.st clients come calling for TV ideas . .Pat O'Brien hopped an airliner for New Yoik where he'll team up with Montgomery ; Clift in Theatre Guild's "Criminal 0»de" Nov. 7 Walter Lorie found a new time for Erskine Johnson's "Hollywood Story" on Mutual and is now trying to clear another period for Sheilah Graham, for whom he has high hopes of enticing a sponsor. At least Sheilah gets what she always wanted, a coast-to-coaster. Althou^ he hatched the idea of a dramatic series with C B. DeMille, he's keeping iurnds off since the producer rejectjBd ttue pleas of Mutual's higher echelon to get himself 'Scared away With AFRA... Gail SmhUi, Procter & Gamble's night time radio topper, was rolled back to Cincinnati within hours after he set foot on our soil. He just wanted to be around in case his firm's shows were struck by writers ... Alumni of the Don Lee family were saluted by Hollywood Ad club and the turnout would make a prelty fair who's who of radio. Among the grade was Natoe Connor, who went from KHJ to Metropolitan Opera,...Sheman L^udermiMi, who was a Marine combat artist daring the war, moved in at Paramounl's TV station as art director .. .Latlirop Mack, formerly in spot sales at NBC, new veepee and general manager of Davis-Qarrisan.JSimmonds agency.... niil Baker, radio's luo-d luck guy, had the topper spun on him last week when the Hooperators handed him a 5.3 rise just after he bowed off the Philip Morris time,. . .Bob Hawk reunloned with Harry Norwood when he got a preempt holiday.... Frank Mullen lunching with the NBC crowd "just for old times sike," Once the Washington biz is out ot tiie way he'll pass most of his time here, having recently Teased « home in BeVhills—DM Sharbwtt is one of Hie teading spirits b^ind the Century Theatre group, Which stages plays in «IMe theatre four nights a week. Getting ready f6r television, that is Many radioites, who officered in the last war, are taking an active part in the new reserve unit of Armed Forces Radio Service. Among them are Mari-ln Y«uii«:, Ted l^ierdMnan, Sandy Cianaiass, Austin Peterson, Karel Pearson, Mark Fialey and Vemon Caxstenscn. Everett Mitchell, emcee of NBC's "Nati<mal Farm & Home Hour." rounds out a quarter century in radio this week ... "American Radio Warblers," only net show on which the cast is paid oft with birfseed, resumed here for Mutual Sunday (31) Howard IMtgens, chief en- gineai^ for NBC, bedded by the flu Chnok A«l«e faa<^ as emcee of "Hint Hunt" after sailfishiag in Florida With 2ack Masely, w*o draws the "Smllin' Jack" comic strip Mass. Florence Hnl^Md, Chi \vJd"\v who won $22,500 in prizes for Identifying Jack Bcmy as the Walking (Continued on page 34)