Variety (Nov 1948)

Vedwegday, NovemlKtr 17, X948 RADIO REVIEWS 3S •THIS IS YOUR LIFE With Bafph Edwards, guests; John Holbrook, announcer Producer: Al Paschall Director: Axel Gruenberg Writers: Edawrds, Gruenb^rc 30 Mlns., Tue., 8 p.m. PHILIP MORRIS NBC, from Hollywood (Bioto) . Ralph Edwards has his work cut out for him, making ^ sock pro- gram out of '!Tbis Is Your Life." Certainly it Is an unusual'program, with plenty,^9f homespun appeal for the average listener, and full of dramatic surprises. It is the ■ need of making the impact of these surprises felt, handicapped by the necessarily amateurish talent in- volved, that will be Edwards' big- gest problem. Program has a highly original idea, that of bringing an average citizen to the mike, quizzing him on his life story, and recreating it for him by bringing in old friends, forgotten child playmates and any other unusual data Edwards can dig up. In the opening program last Tuesday (9), Edwards interviewed Paul E. Jackson, a young war vet who runs a gun .and tool sliop in California. As* Jackson, answered Edwards' queries on his life; Ed^ wards brought into the studio Jackson's wife, parents, the min- ister who married him, his buddy in the war, his high school coach, kid playmsites he hadn't seen in 16 years—all very much to his sur- prise. Edwards even produced, all the way from Pennsylvania, the medic who helped Jackson to safety in Germany. It was. only about midway in the program that the audience learned casually from Edwards that Jackson was confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed from tlie waist down. So was his partner in the tool shop, also a war vet. i' Edwards picked a. wonderful subject for his first show, Unfold- ing a dramatic history bit by bit, heightening interest of the au- :' dienee . constantly.: Program was unrehearsed, and like most such, was a,little flat and uninspired in its early stages. Vet involved was shy and : reticent, speaking in brief takes and not talking up , forcefully. His shock at seeing his life parade in front-of him via his old friends and relatives wasn't communicated sharply or definitely to the. listeners. This show would go much better on tele, with au- .^ijsnces watching expressions of shock, surprise, '.pleasure at the meetings of various people in- volved. Another thing that might, affect future shows is the fact that anyr - one invited henceforth would know what was up, to eliminate all sur- prise when figures from his past were Introduced. Edwards handled the show well, especially in tlie early parts when it sagged badly. He should find the formula to overcome the show's bugs, and when he does, it ought to be a natural. It won't: be easy, though. Bron. V. D., INC. With New York City Health Com- -miasioner Dr.. Harry Mustard, Judcre Anna' M; Ktoss, Dr,: Evan . W. Thomas, Maj. Gen, Irvingr J. , Phillipson Writer; Henrictte K. Harrison Producer: Phil Tonkin IS Mins.; Sat. (6), 9:15 p.m. Sustaining WOR, N. y. Factual, crisp and to the. point was WOR's "V. D., Inc.," a 15- minute documentary aired over the station on No v. 6 as part of New York City's "Stamp Out V. D. Campaign" which began on Nov. 8. Public service pro- ■ gram had the city's Health Com- mis.sioner Mustard, Judge Anna M. Kross, M.i.i. Gen. Irving J. Phillipson, chairman of the Amer- ican Sociiil Hygiene Assn;, and Dr. Evan W. Thomas of Bellevue Hos- pital delivering brief statements on the subject, - Comments of the gue.st speakers boiled down to an assertion that some 250,000 unknown cases of V. D, exist in the city and finding tliese cases calls for the coopera- tion of the public. Free blood tests are available at the Dept. of Health and the maladies, accord- ing to Dr. Thomas, are "no more obnoxious than any other dis- eases." Particularly striking were tape recordings of interviews with V. D. patients at Bellevue. Those af- flicted expressed great satisfaction and relief that their illness had been cured or arrested by penicil- lin treatment. These capsule cases obviously were intended to show the general public the advantage of Immediate medical attention and there's no need of worrying about whether the "familj' might know" for records are kept strict- ly private. WOR's special feature service rates a bow for the airer.Gilb. ROLUNG ALONG With Ernie Neflt, Carole Mansfield 15 Min.; Sun., 1:45 p.m. FORD-MERCURY DEALERS WCAE. Pittsburgh Quarter-hour musicale featuring Ernie Nell, staff announcer-organ- ist and nitery entertainer, and his wife, Carole Mansfield, a band singer before their marriage, is a pleasant and easy-to-take Sunday afternoon interlude. Neff does a niQ,e job on the solovox and also weaves in the commercials easily as sort of a chatty tete-a-tete with his frau, 'and she gets a chance to do two numbers and sells them smartly. Gal is a virtual newcomer to radio, and a sock bet. Did a bang- up job on the debut program, tak^ ing to the mike like a veteran and revealing a plush, sex-drenched voice that fairly eats up the air- waves. If program can stand it, wouldn't be a bad idea to increase her allotment. They're the first husband-and- wife team on local radio, although this is by no means a husband-and- wife format, even if the lovey- dovey domestic stuff does creep in once m a while. They're under a straight 52-week contract with Pittsburgh Ford-Mercury Dealers. ■■•■■„■■ Cohen. HOW'S YOUR MEMORY With Bill Van Steenbergh Sustaining 15 Mins.; .Man. to Ftl.t 11:30 a.m. I WPTR. Albany Mild quiz show originated in lobby of Ten EycK hotel, where, WPTR has its studios. From a' "memory box" contestants take' "strings" which test their memo-] ries either through questions asked ( of a statement they have read or of an object they have observed. A preliminary query, a series on the subject at hand, and an interroga- tion on a musical number sug- gested by the statement or object follow. Compared with the run of quiz features on the air today, this one is very unpretentious. There should' be a more impressive inter- view feature from the lobby of a large hotel, or there might be bet- ter screening of those lined up— perhaps the hour of the broadcast is against the latter. Few of those hoard had particularly interesting story to tell of occupation or activ- ity. Van Steenbergh, who also airs "To the Ladies" over the station, displays a nicely modulated voice a pleasant manner and an engaging mike personality. Joco. . .MATINEE WITH BOB & RAY With Bob Elliott and Ray Gouldins 30 mins., Mon.-thru-Sat. 1 p.m. Co-op WHDH, Boston This daily half-hour of satire and nonsense has developed into a package that garners a large lis-, tening audience. Scriptless and, unrehearsed, show features two zany stalf anouncers. Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding, whose sense of the ridiculous is refreshing, and who operate on the theory that anything can happen on a Bob and Ray show. It usually does. Following no particular format, show usually opens with some topical subject getting a good kicking around-, or an interview with some - ludicrous imaginary character. Spotted somewhere on show such characters appear as "Mary Margaret McGoon," culi- nary expert to end ■ all experts, and "Linda Lovely and David." Resulting farcical ^kits rank with the sharpest off-the-cuff humor on the air. : With background music supplied by Ken Wilson and Bill Green at the organ and piano and all char- acters played by^ Bob and Ray, package adds up to top Comedy fare, and a welcome relief from most daytime shows. Elie. JACKIE ROBINSON' ' With Bert Knapp Writftr: Robert Kamps 15 Mins., Mon.-Sat., 7:15 p.m. GUILD WINE WMCA, New York {Honig'Cooper) : '■ Jackie" Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers' second baseman, and first .; Negro ever to hit the: major leagues, has inaugurated a six-time weekly 15 minute series over; WMCA which will make pal<ttable - fare to sports-listeners. Robinson carries off his: stint competently in a question and answer period with announcer Bert Knapp. - . Robinson is a new hand in this field. His reading of the strip does not yet have a spontaneous quality, ^ but,his work indicates that he'll catch on to radio techniques, Having been a four-letter man at UCLA, he has definite ideas on sports developments that are worthy of attention. He : ingrati- ates himself with his desire to aid the youth movement when his baseball days are over.: and , at- tempts to have a kind' word for everyone connected with sports. Guild Wines gets in its plugs in : a fairly unohtrusiye manner on the Monday ■ and ' Friday - broadcasts^: :■.•■■■■, Jose. The Idea that became a Christmas tradition We don't mean hanging up m\s\\eioe...(dthouah that can b^averyrewardm^Mea). Vtn don't moan a holly wreath .,.(altlimgh it vmddn't he Ghrkt^ maswiihmitmie). Wo don't ovon moon sending Ghiistmas cards . , . (aUhough t/iat's a good way to M friends know you wish tlwm well). We DO mean THIS: If j'ou're wondering what's the best way to say "MeiTy Christmas!" to your busi- ness associates, customers, potential cus- tomers, and friends named Bill and Ed and Jim ... ... say it with a bottle or so of Four Roses! So vmny people give Four Roses for Christmas nowadays that it's become sort of a holiday custom-and well it might be. For y^aiould search high and low with- out finding a gift that's half so welcome ^nd sure to plea,se-and one that offers such a simple solution of your gift prob- lems! Four Roses-so softly mellow and dis- tinctive in flavor-is a gift that not only reflects your thoughttulncss biit is also a compliment to the good taste of the man who gets it. Your favorite retailer will be glad to make special arraugemcnls for gift pur- chases. FINE BLENDED WHISKEY-90.5 proof. 40% straight whi,skies; (tO^o grain ncutr.al spirits, Frankfort Distillers Coiiwralioii, New York. Fm tite Middy seamn-^m a spedaii attractive gijl mrlm FOURROSES GIVE WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO GET-AMERICA'S FAVORITE GIFT WHISKEY