Variety (Nov 1948)

.S4 ttADIO BEVIEWS Wednesday, November 24, 1948 YOURS FOR A SONG With Janfi Froihan, Robert Weede, Alfredo Antonini & orch; Ber> nard Dudley, announcer Director: Carlo DlAngelo Writer: Nora Sterling £5 Mins.; Fri.i 9:30 p. m. CONTI MBS, from N. Y. (Bermiughaiii, Castleman & Pierce) Tliis show brings Conti back to tile Mutual web for the eighth Btraight year, with a ieisui'ely, re- laxed musical program designed for easy listening. Comprising Classical and pop songs, done each week' by a difTei'ent male and fomme guestar, the format resem- bles closely the type of show usual- ly heard Sunday afternoons. But there's nothing to prevent such a Bhow from being just- as listenable ©11 a .Friday night, and this one sn'ould attract its share of the au- dience. TeeofE U9) had Jane Froman and THIS IS BING CROSBY > JOHN J. ANTHONY HOUR With guests; Ken Cacpenter, an-1 With John Connelly, «nno«gietT nounccr i Producer: Norman Jay Producer-director: Bill Morrow I 60 Mins.; 8 p.m., Mondays 15 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri,, 9:45 a.m. NORLAN CORP. VACUUM FOODS WMGM, New York WCBS, N. Y. A Shaw Associates) (.Doherty, Clifford) i ,John J. Anthony is back on the In a friendly gesture from Phil- airlanes, again doling out solace to CO, which sponsors his network i marital misfits and other problem- show, Bing Crosby is putting in laden clients via the "John J. An- a friendly plug for Minute Maid | thony Hour" in the 8 to 9 p.m. frozen orange juice, via this new I slot Mondays on WMGM, N. Y. recorded airer. Fact that Crosby Norlon Corp., makers of Sural, me- was recently elected a director of j dicinal product, is sponsoring. Vacuum Foods Corp. which makes I j f^,^.„,at and treatment there Minute Maid, helps to explain the ; jj^g ^hmge from that employed I by AntKonjr over th? years; on WMCA, N. Y., in his previous parlay Program is a lazy, inyiting one, with Bing acting as sort of emcee— disk jock for a quarter hour of light banter and music. Opening program Monday (22) had Crosby singing a new song and playing one "Good Will Hour." On teeoff stanza Monday night (22) there were the usual number of clients, who, seek- ing aid and counsel on their divers problems, were brought to the mike of his old disks, and--to show his ; ^-j--^^^^^^ generosity as well as good show- ' Robert Weede in the dual guest ■ manship—splaying an Ella Fllz- fpots, with Miss *"roman particu- gerald recording too. Crosby also aiiy shining in a group of top did his own commercials, valiantly tunes. Her excellent diction I plugging frozen orange juice, and phrasing and shading were best, doing a better job of it than au- demonstrated in a very neat rendi- nouncer Ken Carpenter. Met so tion of "Bill,"- making the tune conte to life as it seldom has "be- fore in one-dimensional radio. She proved she can also handle the novelties with a bouncy job on "Button and Bows" and sold "Isn't It Romantic" with the requisite amount of feeling. Concert bari- tone Weede projected; a powerful but well-modulated set of pipes , V'ith the "Largo al Factotum" from "Barber of Seville" and "Old Man Elver." But why must all bari- tones do those two? All that was missing for a perfect cliched night was "Shortnin' Bread." Alfredo Antonini, leading a 34- piooe orch, backed the two singers Avell. The orch's rendition of "Cuanto La Gusta," while good, lacked punch.. Conti commercials, though brief and to the point, were too numerous. They were han- elled competently by announcer Bernard Dudley, who dittoed on the straight announcing. Sial. GERMAN AMERICAN LITERA- TURE HOUR With Peter M. Lindt, Prof. Pisca- lor, guest SO Mins.; Sat,, 3 p.m. Participating \VKVD, New York Vienna-born Peter Lindt has been airing this literate, entertain- ing and radio-wise German lan- prano Doroth.V - Kirsten wandered into the program to exchange a couple of words with Bing, but didn't sing anything, making the whole bit a little silly. Otherwise, this is a pleasant ayemer. Bron. THE WAY IT LOOKS TO ME With Toney Terry Hatfield; Bob Keller, announcer Producer-director: Gregory Ccn- tola 15 Mins.; Sun., 3:30 p.m. STRAUSS STORES tions counsellor.. Problems ran the gamut of a vefs family seeking shelter to an irate wife who didn't think the authorities were strain- ing too hard to extradite a recal- citrant spouse who hadi deserted her and their children. The in-be- tweeners also had their problems. . Anthony with his accustomed acute 'Showmanship and: under- standing, counselled them in his usual manner and presumably sent them home happy. Getting their troubles off their chests may have provided some solace* but most took their problems home with them. In a few instances clients were requested to remain imtil after the broadcast for further screening of their woes in private. However, such programs do have -llieir public service values, .proven by the-sizeable listening audience WMCA, N. Y. A .u u ^ u •„ - AHrt in (hp huleina ranks of news ' Anthony had built up on his pre- ^l*i".VJ.ti'"iS^1,n.1"!!h° „ vious similar stint. It's quite likely lie caij; do ,at> again with this new commentators and would-be world trend ainalysts Toney Terry Hat- field, said to be a member of the Kentucky Hatfields. In the second installment of her WMCA airer, "The Way It Looks to Me" Sunday (21), she displayed a charming naviete on some topics and offered practical, although obvious advice on others. With her text written primarily for femme dialers. Miss Hatfield specifically took a poke at the re- ported action of some Americans in sending socks and layettes, etc., to Britain's new infant Prince., She deplored this as "lavishing gifts setup, John Connelly handled announc- ing chores adeptly, also handling commercials for the medicinal product for arthritis. Edba. ::Followup Comment i "Rebecca;" Daphne DuMaurier's novel which has already been pic- turized. legitized; televised and dramatized pn the airlanes numer- guage program for three years if act that the clothing undoubtedly upon those who don t need them, i ous times, w as given another work- in taking this largesse too liter- ■ out by the Screen Guild Theatre' ally, she completely overlooks the , from Hollywood Thursday (18) over WEVD, New York indie which broadcasts regularly in six tongues in addition to English, Lindt could teach many of our own newscasters and commentators a thing or two about enunciation, diction, and all-around mike pres- eru'e. is distributed to Britain's needy Turning to the abu,ses -of auto dealers exposed by the recent find- ings of a Congressional committee. Rigged, with a superlative cast in- cluding Loretta Young, John Lund and Agnes Moorehead, this show had all the necessary ingredients for a solid, stanza—except enough 111 his weekly piece he discusses ■•noting the high cost of turkeys, she books, music, the news, and usually glso touched on the Ruhr's iron Interviews a prominent. German- a„ji steel and queried why can't bom personality. Last week's this vital production be placed un- guest was Prof. Erwin Piscator | ^^j. yig^^ international control director ot the Drama Wprkshop_at rather than hand it back to the German industrialists? , ' Although presented • by : Straiu,ss Stores, ah auto accessory, retail efei n, • program.' pushes thfev Bed biobd^ i^rogriam/ : Str^auss' Miss Hatfield regretted the $500. time. Compressing this story into tips and urged the buying public | 30 minutes, although expertly not to go along with these vicious 1 handled, robbed it of dramatic practices. Aside from ^casually | development and power. Consid- " ered by : Itself,; it was too. sketchy tlie New School for Social Re- •earch. ■ In addition, he strives to inter- pret America to his German speak- ing listeners, many of whom are ' Cross' comparatively recent arrivals With practically everyone familiar with the story via the film; it did serve,, however, as. a 'Shorthand synopsis for a vivid drama in which the dialer's imagination had to fill in the details. NOW I'LL TBLL ONE With Harnr Hershfield S Mins.; Mori, thru Frl., 8:SS p.m. SH1ILT0N, INC. WOR, New York (Wesley Associates) . Harry Hershfleld, erstwhile car- toonist and now a weekly column- ist for the N. Y. Daily Mirror and expert gagster on Mutual's "Can You Top This," is displaying hi« raconteur talents on this across- the-board airer. Five minutes, in- cluding two plugs "for the bank- roller, isn't enough time, however, for Hershfield to project the warm and expansive side of his person-. ality. As a result, he's punching too hard with slightly strained yams and gags that don't do jus- tice to his.t9\.ejnts. On tlie session reviewed (18), his story, taken from Earl Wilson, of British advance preparations for Princess Elizabeth's new-born child went thus: "If it was boy, they would fire 45 guns; if it was noth- ing at all, they would fire Philip." The other Hershfield yarns were simiUlr, although tailored down, by necessity, tqc such" minuteness that they lacked Havor. Herm. BREAKFAST AT THE BRASS RAIL With Carlton Fredericks; Dick DeFreitai;, announrer Producer: Nat Bernard Director: Bob Estes 30 Mins.; Mon.-Sat.. 0 a.m. BRASS RAIL RESTAURANTS WMGM, New York This is a tough one to nutshell. It appears to be .« blend of medi- cine show. Yoga lecturt and calis- thenics class, with asides on nutri- tion; Played for laughs, it eould be a genuine howler, but played, straight it's not. Carlton Fredericks, introed . as "an internationaUy known nutri- tion authority," comeS on after a buildup reminiscent of Doc Rock- well's—only they aren't kidding. Fredericks, sounding a little jit- tery, in turn bowed on Dr- Alma Kelly, an authority on relaxing scientifically, after first tmloading a few almanac gags. "Double a small bla.nkct and lie down on your back,'' fir. Kelly iidr vised listeners. " . . Pretend that your pelvis is a dust-pan." After "getting her audience on their backs, Dr. Kelly flipped it to Fred- ericks, who unloaded some almanac humor. The show sounded its first professional note-when announcer Dick DeFreitas came in briefly, even though he had nothing in- spiring to say. . Fredericks; perhaps unconsciousr. ly, showed Overtones of Clifton Webb's supercilious Mr. Belve- dere, pic cnaracterization. If he could bring liinihelf to jettison the show's study. p.seudo-scicntiiic gib- berish and accent the Webb resem- blance the stanza could be hilai^ ious. As it stands it's almost a parody, but more corny than amus- ing because it's done so preten- tiously. Fredericks asks questions on cooking and food preparation of lady volunteers in the Brass Rail, Broadway eatery, audience. Com- mercials for the.restaurant and for. Merkel's Thrift llam, were interpo- lated in the show caught Saturday (20). Plugs are distributed among various food products 'used by the restaurant, a different brand name being touted each day. COFFEE r.*LL With Jim Walton, Bob Lawson, Herbie Koch Producers: William Aldrich, Wil- liam Loder Director: Pete Disney 30 Mins., Men., Wed., Fri.. 9:30 a.m. KAUFMAN-STRAUS Co., WIIAS. Louisville At long la.st, W1I.\S has suc- ceeded in breaking the ice with .a local department store sponsoring a' half-hour breakfast type show, three times weekly, and Victor, TELLE-KID QUIZ Sholis' production staff has come | with Bruce Eliot, Dan MeCullouifh up with a breeiy, fast-paced femme ; Producers-Writers-Directorsi Eliot, session wliicli is catching on with j McCuIIough listeners. Tickets for the "kaffee-; 15 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri., 5 p.m. klateh" are gobbled up two weeks i Sustaining, THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF CUDDLES AND TUCKIE Writer-Producer: Mrs. Winthrop Williams 15 Mins.; Xttes.Tthru-Fri., S:30 p.m. Sustaining WDAF, Kansas City Doings of Cuddles and Tuckie, average American young boy and girl (sister and brother*, have a considerable following: lo e al ly . Each pre-holiday-season the young- sters appear in this transcription format as a project of the Junior League. The series also- gives WDAF a chance to carry some holi- day time in the public intere.sl, This year, Mrs. Winthrop Wil- liams, originator -of the series, is doing it up better t>ian ever with two series of adventures.; Current series, which opened Nov. 3, is a new story, and runs Cuddles and Tuckie through 13 absorbing ad- •ventures up till Thanksgiving time. After that the traditional series which. tells, the. Christmas story, as Cuddles and Tuckie live it, will: run up'to the week before Christ- mas. This second "series has been run in previous years, and is com- ing to be an annual dial event for local juves. The cuiTent series is well done, the whole works being turned out locally. Story interest is somewhat higher, as the two youngsters take a trip to England and also have a trick gadget which makes clocks, bells, the wind and other objects talk. They have some fun with their parents, and it turns out to be pretty homey listening for the kids. Oiti". CBS listeners got a "sneak pre- view" of Jack Benny iis a Colum bia personality last Thursday (18), enuig to network shows.. in advance, and.the ladies have all the fun right in their home depart- ment store which they have hereto- fore been able to get only by list- ""SrS^ind? de^^;Td''a good ' ^^slrvti" heTding";,fd is'in'w el"- ■ "'Sht, when the comedian,guested j At show caught, members of the chunk of his script to the Thanks-1 comf contrast to the company's ■ f*." I?a»mark Playhouse'; in _ a 1 Shawnee Woman's. Club were the voluble plugs. on its other bank-1 f?oiif,„,l ■ giving holiday, explaining its origin , ^,XbJ%'luP''- i*^*^^^^ item 'called "My Financial I invited guests All the game and and its significance in American j ,.o]]p(j sjio^vg lite. He afso reviewed the recent' i.f';fi7,irt.:i;he wTaof lm*^Vemm^ks 11'"''"^'^'^^'^''^^^^ JJ.obel Awards, did a briel. book.re- I L\ a''arni Dixie accen^^^^ Bu" dial-, .^^^'1 ^as nothing short Spotting of Benny for : contest; giriiiuiclta were trotted out view, and a five-minute interview vith his guest. Show is sailed liberally with •hurt participating commercials, •which he reads himself. by emcee .Inn Walton, who had a swell time with a cooperative sel- ection of conteistants. Session is aired from the coffee-shop of the store, with the zany doings taking ers could conceivably be held more 1 °f » ^^'fl for the saga firmly if her comments strayed ] /"^ ^V'tli a horror for banks more from the obvious and were'S''^ ^!^'nii«'y P^.^erned to the tinged with greater logic and imag- i Sunday at 7 Benny radio fantasy" ination ' Gilb ' *° make for a thoroughly re- ' ■ ' freshing interlude. True, a lot of <-'ash aw.-»rds and tickets are made ■ ; it was unadulterated corn, almost I *'or the best stunts .sent in by list- BEHIND THE POLITteAL SCENE shamefully so, but in' the hands ' ^n<^'s «"d ""^t-'tl <"» W'e show. of Benny it was a delightfai tour aeiorci^,.: .■:.■■:■.■ -V.-.''.-.:; WOR, N. Y. A quiz strictly for juveniles it "Telle-Kid Quiz,'* a new WOR, Ni Y. cross-the-boardcr which prcemed Monday [22). As cooked up by Bruce Eliot: and Dan Mc-! Cullough, the show limits its ques- tions to kids under IB. these moppets are called by phone: flnd the right answer is worth $5 in U. S. Savings Stamps. Recipients of the calls are culled each day by a guest "Junior Post- master" from a file of names sub- place on a raised platform. Prizes : mitted by youthful dialers. l,aller are distributed on each stunt, and . "The Winslow Boy," presented .lohn Givney, WTRY's nevys Sunday night i2]) on "Theatre editor 'longtime newspaperman, Guild of the Air," via ABC-WJZ former welfare commissioner and . for U. S. Steel, was a disappoint- ex-secretary to the mayor of Troy) ment to anyone who had seen the is inching closer to a political com- stage version. Several factors mentary on,state and local affairs -seemed to be involved. For one than has been essayed by any other ] thing, only minor revisions were , Commercials are handled briefly and to the point by Bob Lawson, and provide a short breathing space tor tlie ladies 10 relax from their strenuous lauglv antics. ; Hold. CHARIOT WHKELS '♦Vith 25-voice NeRro Choir; Bill With John Givney \ McCane, announcer j 15 Mins., Sat., 6:45 p.m Producer-director: Lawrence Mann | Sustaining' 15 ."Vlins.; Sun., 8:15 a.m. WTBY, Troy Siistainiiiff ' CBS, from Altanta oong a fixture on Columbia af^ filiate WAGA, Atlanta, ,a mi.xed Negro choir tagged "Chariot Wheels" bowed on the CBS net Sunday (21). Led by Lawrence Wann, the choral group is a pol- ..o..mjv« ..j ,--^^ ..j....^. ^..vw.uiw ncic ^- Mon-Fri 6 SO n m Ished unit whose hvmns and spir-i broadcaster via a Capital district made m the adaptation to inove the 1 ^^.^My,^ >"••" Ituals repre.sents ideal program-1 outlet. Surprisingly, no station , action outside the silting room lo- "-'"""'""s min? at this early Sabbath hour 1 hereabouts has regularly presented cale of the Terence Ratigan orig- From their repertoire of some ! » program of the type. 600 works, the singers deftly han-1 On program caught, Givney of- ^Icd- such .varied icompcsitions as 1 fered a provocative comment on "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" , Gov. Dewey's future and the prob- and a gospel .song, "Amen," among ■ lems faced, then segued into a re- others. "Chariot Wheels" leaves; port on Republican fortunes in little (o be desired in the field of | Dutchess County. Then came a REY RODF.L With the Playboys (3) Producer-mrettor: Scott Buckely Isels, giircertificates," etc. asxon" are also asked to add on bits of descriptive info about the friend whom they've selected dope about birthdays, hobbies, etc Who wrote " "J'was the Night Before Christmas?" piovcd a stum- bling block for everv moppet quizzed on the initial stanza. Each lime the question wa.s muH'ed added another $5 to (he kilty and the fadeout found the lackpot at .1525. Despite the kids' railure to name Clement Moore as the au- thor they 'were handed erector solation prizes. ^. ■ . [ Show seettis to liiiVe: M^^^^ WNBC, New York • .qualities to generate inlere.st inal. Thus, some of the most dy- f o<leI, for many seasons a among the age bracket al which nainic lor at least lively) portions ''''"S*^" ^- V. hotels, pro- it's aimed. And emcees McCuUough of the story, such as the court- ^'''•'s " "Ote of intimacy in this , and Eliot handle their chores well room trial, remained merely in ^i''^ .^^'"^"i"^ show. He'd be more ! pnongh, although at times they're narration. Another •piritual airs. Gilo. . highly interesting, and little re- unfortiinale e1'*''-''^'\'e f slotted later inasmuch ] inclined to ape the tethnitnuM aspect of (he kTlow'le edition was P]'^ general pilch of radio at the cast, all the important mem-' l'^-'^'o'" ""diences. bers of which were from the legit, 'I's own. Rodel is a smooth ' ' " - chanteur displaying much of the of iported, explanation of the reason''•™VP*'- » i;csu]\. there „„.„.,„„,„,,,, , .. , , , Pn/1 m- n I- m I behind the O'Connell organi/a-■ """'""^ dLstoriimis of f'baracter ^^^^^^^^ SPG Wins Radio Flacks icon's. i«aneuvering with (he-«nl,::?.,"\e„j>< ^^P• m«st effective ^J^'-oP^^f^^ J'.j'is^ b^^^^^^ Uncle Don too .stronglv. It's a I stanza that could undci standably be.backed by milk companies, cereal makers and the like. Gilb. : Tlollvwood. Nov. 23. ABC and CBS publicity depart- ' nuances and moving scenes of the play w ore lost. ■Ai'heWsiati .lifSjior - ■ Quarter- hour .represented, the , , . . . , , . clearest, sharpest : commentary of mcnts have voted unanimously o ^jjg kind lieard on a regular pro- retain the Screen Publicists Guild , gi-am in this area. Sometimes as a collective bargaining agent. . Givney sounds a little diy. but he „.,„ „^,v,, ABC contract with SPG expires; gives the impression of objective- and later on the stall of the .Seidell on Dec. 1.5. A new pact is expecte_d nos,s. . His reading of portions of agency in New York, has been Schenectady — Robert W O'Brien, formerly with WHAS, Louisville and WCKY, Cincinnati Pitt. Symph's FM Pickup Pittsburgh, Nov. 23. Sunday afternoon concerts of by .lean, Sablon, ~ CHarles, Ti-enet^ etc. Jie doe.s a brace of l«'rencli and ■English , tunes 'in' the ' acceptable: boudoir manner. ',;,.ii./^'v,',..'''-.:'. _ . , _ He's a ■Smpoili; 'sijii Oi/cliestra good plii*a.<5ihfe. ■•and:' dictibnv a;nd.f£°'v rewiaindfer.. of sea.<ori ;%ill be good Vdcitl timbre. Oi^cliestral l broatlca basis to backiiig hy the' Playiioy.s i3) is i-fi" ^M'"netwtirk -ccivei-ing^ ■thrte . , , J . , rnic» . ... -. . • , - - ■ ' .sufficiently fullbodied, but lacks states. to be negotiated this week. CBh the particular atript was a bit named acting .supervi.sor of public-1 the lush contrapuntal einbroidcrv I Programs will oiigin.ile here binder comes up lor renewal on .stiff an,d uneven. This could be ity and promotion at General Eloc-. that generally iilds a chanleur of over WKJF town's onlv exclusive Dec. 31. • 'corroded. Jiico. trie's WGY; WRGB and WGPM. ' this type. Josc. (FM sMion. '