Variety (December 1951)

$2 METROPOLITAN OMl Am TIONS OF TRE AIR . With Milton .'.Crtoi, narrator; Rt*- dolf Bing; Heloi Waller, *Uean Christopher . Producer-dfreetorcBllI Marshall 30 Mins., Tues.j 8.3f p.m* Sustaining ABC. from New York The “Metropolitan Opera Audi- tions of the Air” aeries was back on ABC last Tuesday night (18) for the 13th. season, to present once again an attractive, varied program of familiar and less-known operatic arias. Combined with , good music and worthwhile singing, was, as usual, the added appeal of a Con- test—will he or she he a finalist, and eventual Met singer or star? How does one listener’s judgment stack tip against an opera impre- sario’s?, etc. Series got off to good start, with two promising Contestants in Helen Waller, young Juilliard stu- dent from Durham, N, C., and Jean Christopher, of New York, whp has Bleared in four Broadway musi- cals, Miss' Waller scored in two arias, "Dich, theure Halle.” from "Tannhauser,” and “0 Patna Mia/' from "Aida,” displaying a ringing dramatic soprano,, of power a n d range, Voice wks a little strident And shrill, with perhaps not enough color or variety, hut it impressed. Christopher offered Tamiho’s air, "Dies Bildnis,” from “Magic Flute,” and "Come Un Bel Di,” from “An- dre Chenier,” displaying a rich- voiced dramatic tenor, with style and resonance. The Met’-s general manager, Rudolf Bing, in a taped midway talk, gaye a graceful wel- come to alL contestants, pointing out the added feature of this show, which is. that these auditions are also useful in bringing new talent before the public, as well as find- ing material for the Met Milton Cross, vet ~ commentator, emceed the show, perhaps a little pom- pously, as if still awed by the spon- sorship. Bron.. RALPH ED WARD# SHOW <. WithHal Gibney, announcer; oOtortl Pradueer-dfrcoter: Ed Baffcy 3f Mfns.t Mon.-toru-Fri^ * PM* Sustaining . NBC, from Hollywood Ralph Edwards, whose "Triith pr Consequences” was recently ditched on the CBS web By Philip Morris, returned to his old stand on NBC Monday (24) with a hew cross-the- board daytime airer. He’ll also tee off a new daytime television strip Jan: 14, under a hew five-year ex- clusive pact he’s inked withNBC. Until the’ 14th, Edwards is oper- ating out of Hollywood, with his shows taped for the network. After a single audience partici- pation stunt; which had all the zany earmarks of his old “T or C” shows, Edwards, turned over the rest of his new series opener Mon- day to a reprise of a snow he did Dec. 24, 1948. During that show, a paralyzed sailor in a Long Beach, Calif., hospital was reunited with his hometown friends via remote broadcasts and for a surprise. Ed- wards brought the boy’s mother and father to his hosp bedside. While the Stunt was undoubtedly based on good intentions; it none- theless* sounded three years later like unnecessary commercializa- tion both of the sailor’s: situation and of the Christmas spirit.. To bring the subject up to date, Edwards, from his NBC studio in Hollywood, interviewed the same sailor in his hometown in Tennes- see, via the same remote technique. Sailor reported on his progress and well-being'and, since the folldwup session had less sentimentality, was easier to take. Edwards plans to keep the format of the new series flexible enough to present some new ideas in daytime radio and, on the preem, he had a new idea on how to save on the budget, via the reprise of the 1948 tape; Stal, THE AMERICAN SP|RIT With American Theatre Wing cast; Jim Coy, announcer Producer; Richard Pack Supervisor; Leu Dunlin Director; Arthur Hanna 25 Mins.* Sun., 4:35 p.m. WNEW, N. Y. Under the overall title Of "The American Spirit,” WNEW is pre- senting, in collaboration with the American Theatre Wing Profes- sional Training Program, an inter- esting musical and dramatic show, using highlights of great modern plays, along with folk tunes and other Americana, to convey a feel- ing engendered in the series’ title. Plays to be used include Robert Sherwood’s “Abe Lincoln in Illi- nois,” the Thurber-Nugent "The Male Animal,” D’Usseau-Gow “To- morrow the World,” etc. On the second program of the series last Sunday (23), scenes from Eugene O’Neill’s “Ah, Wilderness” were presented, enacted by the young legit talent of the Wing’s school. The transcribed airer start- ed with a Ferde Grofe march, of- fered. 15 minutes of drama, and ended with a folk tune, "Skip To My Loir.” Altogether, the program managed to catch a folk or civic spirit, to. fulfill its purpose, while offering a pleasant Sabbath after- noon half-hour. Program was sim- ple and straightforward, with not too mf.eh. extraneous comment, and showed taste in its preparation and production. The Grofe intro may have been a .little top long. But the "Ah, Wild- erness” sfcenes—including a family scene around the dinner table; kids’ ptippy love; vtorry of parents about kids staying out late, and the price- less scene-of the father letting his son in on the facts of life—were well played and presented, with a good deal of flavor of the Ameri- can, Series aims not only to present various aspects of the American spirit, but also to give young thes- ping talent a chance, and in .both it- succeeds. Bron. Radio Follow-Up "Lux Radio Theatre” via CBS dished up fine family entertain- ment on Christmas Eve (24) with an adaptation of Walt Disney’s film version of "Alice in Wonderland.” Same principals were on hand for the air edition as appeared in the picture. They were Kathy Beau- mont, in the title role; Ed Wynn as | the Mad Hatter; Jerry Colonna, 1 the March Hare, and Sterling Hol- loway, the Cheshire Cat. To dialers who may have seen the film, the 1 radio "Alice” was a constant reminder of Disney’s ar- tistry in animation and his 'use. of lpsh Technicolor hues. These vis- ual values, of course, were missing from the radio version. But the one-hour air show was faster paced and less rambling than the pic- ture. . For S. H.. Barnett’s adaptation was nicely condensed and its omisr- sion of trivia helped speed-.the Lewis Carroll classic rather than detract from it. Stars, and a lengthy supporting cast turned in a sprightly job in re-creating Alice’s adventures after she fol Lowed a rabbit down a hole. As far as the Disney organize tipn is concerned, the arrangement was... a promotional masterpiece. Not only will the radio public’s in tei'est be whettted” in the film "Alice,” but the Hollywood-origi nated program gave ‘a hefty plug to the upcoming reissue of Dis- ney’s “Snow White.” However, the studio reciprocated in kind when Jerry Colonna reverently intoned that "I A’ways use Lux on my mustache.” JOIST HENRY FAULK 50 Mna, Mon.-tfcriHfrL, fc#§ pm. Sustaining WCBS, New T#rk It’s been six years or more since CBS initially brought John Henry Faulk up from Texas* In a rad to mold him into a distinctive radio personality. His "Johnny's Front Porch” 'network presentation came $ cropper, and subsequently Faulk moved into the fringes of the met- ropolitan New York area, serving a disk jockey: apprenticeship on several stations, more lately on WPAT, JPaterson, N. J., and oc- casionally doing panel duty on sev- eral radio-TV network shows, , „ Faulk is how back at his original stamping ground, with a 50-min- ute, cross-the-hoard platter show on WCBS, toe weh’s Gotham flag- ship station, competing in the late afternoon segment with such stand- bys a$ Ted Husing “(WMGM) and Martin Block (WNEW), That he’s made considerable strides since those early days is easily apparent, hut whether Tiis type of homspiin humor will makea sizable dent in the 5 to 6 p.m. local sweepstakes still remains ai moot point. On toe basis of Faulk’s inau- gural broadcasts in the new series, his style, and tempo may be too leisurely j even if, as he states, it is his intention to slow * people down, stop them from rushing and to help them take their time. His Texas drawl is very pronounced-r* not necessarily soothing, just Slow, His anecdotes, humor and mild philosophies never project too strongly, yet the listener gets t the impression, that, he, is just talking casually with no intent; really to convince you or sell any ideas. He makes no pretense of being a wit or employing any subtleties. - There is a neat balance of talk and music (he sticks to the top disk artists such as Jo Stafford, Xavier Cugat, Toni Arden, Dennis Day,- Freddy Martin, et al). Noth- ing of much importance is said, yet is always listenable. < A 50- minute show should soon give Faulk the opportunity to tighten his delivery and eradicate fluffs, in the course of developing- his program he should crystallize a positive character and evolve a less nebulqus form. A CHRISTMAS CAROL With Lionel Barrymore, others 30 Mins.; Sun. (23), 4 p.m. A. O. SMITH CORP. MBS, from Hollywood Mutual' network launched its Yule season programming Sunday (23) in top style, choosing Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol,” with Lioriel Barrymore in the familiar Scrooge assignment. It was Barrymore’s 18th annual airing of the role. Although the tale was pared down to a half-hour’s running time, its careful editing kept the stanza clear and effective, Dickens' basic message that Xmas was a time for benevolence and charity show through the script. His characters are so well drawn that they never wear out their annual, visit and manage to sustain interest despite a rereading, reviewing or rehear- ing. Barrymore’s interpretation or Scrooge has become as much a classic as the .Dickens’ tale. He still carries the role with Sharpness and wit and is completely effedtiv^ as he changes from tyrant to be F actor. Other cast members^^'pro- jected the story’s spirit ajm Tiny Tim’s windup "God MoSs^us all, everyone,” was still a^sdek clincher. Tab was picked mrby Milwaukee industrial ‘ manufacturers A. O. Smith, who also footed, the "Christ- mas Carol” bill over Mutual last year. S Gros . IN NEW YORK CITY * . * Lyman. Clardy, WCBS program operations manager, holidaying at Talladega, his Alabammy hometown... .Red Barber off to Miami today (Wed.) to cover the Orangfe Bowl gild classic bn New Veat^i Day.. Josephine Hatpin launched a jiew' half-hour femme, gab strip on WINS Monday (24)... .Hal Davhi and Nepry Untenneyer, account execs for CBS, Radio spot sales, hack after two weeks In the Caribbean.... Added to cafjt of "Front Page FarreU” are Gertrude Warner, Cameron Prud’homme, John Griggs, Ronald Long, Annie Strickland, Richard Newton, Tony Randall and Dandy OCko..Jack Storting* WCBS early- bird, took a quick tripMtO' Us family in ftuincey, 111. Patrick J.Sweeney, ex-Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample, and Marian Reed, ex-NAM, have joined toe Benton & Bowles flack staff. John Astehgo has been added to the agency’s Hollywood Office... .New faces in the Cecil Si Preshrey publicity department are Robert Gurvitz, formerly with Central Feature News, and Robert Bush, ex-General Electric.... Russell Nype guests On. ABC’s ^Family Circle” Friday (28)... .John Gibbs, and frau Sandra Michael left fbr toe Coast; due hack Jan. 2 ,... Johnny and Penfly Olsen are turning over half of the N. Y. contribu- tions to their Penny Drive to the Police Athletic League... .Sports- caster Al Heifer leaves for the Coast’ today (Wed.) to cover the East- West Shrine game via Mutual, ...Dick Winters has been upped to di- rector of promotion and publicity at WINS. He takes the spot vacated by Jfiseph G. Beach, who was. recently appointed assistant general man- ager of the Crosley'outlet... .WINS’ Martin Star? emceed preem of the film "Rashomon” from the.Little Carnegie Theatre last night (Tues.) . .WLIB aired highlights of toe Police Athletic League party for Harlem children on. Nipiey Russell’s program Monday (24)... .Bill Stern does the*Cotton Bowl broadcast for NBC on New Year’s Day.. . RichardHMalkin tipped to veepee by Storecast Corp,... Sylvania Elec- tric has renewed the Sammy Kaye stanza on ABC. IN HOLLYWOOD . Cavalcade of America swung westlast week to pick .up a tape, of Ethel Waters with an all-Negro cast in "16 Sticks in a Bundle.” Jack Zolfer came out from N.y. to direct the-story of, a-slave’s son who put his 14 children through school... .After five years as publicity head, Virginia West was' moved up to handle program, promotion and public interest programs at KECA... . Gale Gordon, whom Don Quinn once Called "the writer’s actor,’* signed over exclusively to CBS but con- tinues in his four NBC shows until' season’s end. He’ll double over to TV when “Our Miss Brooks” gets .the kine treatment... .EsteUa Kara, producer for Mary Margaret McBrider set Ruth Sheik as Coast sales rep for the ABC matinee strip, which is being co-op’ed. ’... Homer Welch, down from Portland, named associate director of NBC’s Coast radio network. He has been 'assigned by Tom McCray td Bob Hope* “Texas Bangers” and “Double* or Nothing”... .Fred Albin of ABC elected prez of Society of TV Engineers... . From the way he’s lining up his personnel, Jehu Poole will have/ too most expensive indie radio operation in town. He Wants the call letters of his station* KBIG, which goes on the air in March from Catalina Island, to reflect toe expanse or his faith in radio. - IN CHICAGO ... William Berchtold, ex-Foote, Cone A Belding exec veepee, has joined the Chi McCann-Erickson office as. veepee and advisory committee chair- man .... Lee Petrillo has. been upped to assistant program ’ director * at WCFL, under program .chief Bob Platt. JPetrillo will also continue his music librarian duties... .McCall’s mMs tapped Elizabeth Marshall of the Chi Board of Education’s Rgiiu>. Division as the outstanding Woman in radief and TV for 195L^TLeRoy Olliger, WGN sound man for past 15 years, has been shifted to the production department...; Mary Karr has been added to Jack Ryan’s NBC tubthumpihg staff.. Producer Roger Morjm has ankled Young & Rubicam to join the Earle Ludgin agency... .Deejgy Bill Evans sunning over the holidays' in Florida. ■ General Finance Loan Co. is bankrolling Jimmy Evans’, nightly hews show bit WENR... . Motorola boosted its regularly quarterly dividend from 50c to 62V&C arid declared a 37V6c extra slice last week... .John Lewellen, head of the Louis G. Cowan Chi office, has a third kiddie educational tome, "Exploring Atomic Energy,” published by Science Research Assbcs... WLS education director Josephine Wetzler has been chosen' as a judge for Ohio State’s annual educational radio exhibit. / TUNE TEST With Howard Tupper . . 45 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri«- < IT;i5 p.in. .Siistniring WGY, SchejpgaMmy Ncvjin^fSgram has an idea pre- Jsly employed hereabouts and elsewhere, although probably not on WGY. Howard Tupper phones listeners asking them to identify a tune or a singer on a record being turntabled; if they an^er correct- ly, a second jackpot query is pro- pounded!; Chief difference here is the territory covered, calls being placed to communities in Vermont and Massachusetts as well as in northeastern New York. , Shour is good promotion for the GE-owned station, and a profitable operation for the Bell subsidiary. Tupper chats ’with dialers, usual- ly women, about their families and kindred matters, .in addition to conducting the .musical interroga- tio; possesses a clear ce and a friendly manner. Jaco t "This Is Your FBI” turned to show business for its special Christ- mas week offering last Friday night (21) via ABC, with a story revoly-f* ftA AiircTiov ing abetit a down-at-the-heels vaude I with^Jack Paar Producer: Edward Feldman Directors; Feldman, Bill Verdier comic being framed/for a robbery; Yarn, scripted by Jerry D. Lewis, was supposedly based on actual material from the FBI. files. With the. comiC bbing hired to. play £an& Claus at. a kids’ party, the show, ^had a seasonal motif Land, with several show biz personalities in the cast," including Jay C. Flip- pen and Walter Catlett,. was okay tradewise. But the script lacked sufficient suspense and seemed a little too naive in spots for maxi- mum impact. . Comic drew the Santa Claus as- signmerit from his booker but, .on the way to the party, .was slugged and had his costume -stolen. When the home where the party was to be held was robbed by a guy in a Santa uniform, the comic naturally was on the spot. But the FBI agent on the case believed his stoiry and drew the threads together to prove the real culprit was the agent; who worked in cahoots, with the'lieister. Show incidentally, .Is sponsored, by Equitable Life, supposedly on an institutional basis, 'but-, the plugs for the company’s "AHO” system of home financing were anything but institutional. Writer: Paar 20 Mins.; Sun., 10 p.m. Sustaining NBC, from Hollywood The. perennial quizzer "Take It Or Leave It,” with its new handle and an affable, emcee, is spreading its queries and loot through an- other broadcasting season. With Jack Paar at the helm, the series, re-tagged "$64 Question” a^couple Seasons back* Will hold on to its regulars and should nab a flock of new quiz devotees. Although the format’s the same (contestants can try for. coin up to $64 or quit anytime before), Paar gives the program an important boost via his wit and ingratiating personality. His clowning is sharp and his manner warm enough to put the most nervous contestant at ease: His yocks are fresh bringing a pleasant change of pace to the Session which otherwise would be justr another routine qiiiz show. Queries fere general- on the adult ’evcl and Paar weaves the airer into a good 30 minuter. GrOs. stab dreams Alex Blake 105 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Sat., 8:15 pin. GUPTILL’S ARENA WARY, Albany Music "soft and sweet” is turn- tabled on this cross-the^boarder, the first^45 minutes of which Gup- till's Arena (roller skating), on toe Aibany-Saratoga Eoad, sponsors. Alex Blake, formerly with WBNT, Gloyeteville, deejays. He announc- es* numbers, takes and makes dedi- cations, recites poetry and conducts a "quiz in rhyme” contest. The one- pattern musical format gives it a slow pace, but presumably the show’s listeners like that/ Many of them seem to be teenagers, judging from the type of dedications broad- cast. This is true of other area pro- grams in the same category, “Star Dreams”, fortunately. Has a; spon- sor providing facilities popular with that age group. ' Blake possesses a rather deep voice, handicapped by a flatness of tone and a monotony of deliveiy. The romantic poems are read* fairly well. Blalte’s kidding might be ex- panded a little; it looseps him up. JTflCO. WINS’ 50KW Okay WINS, Crosley Broadcasting out- let in Gotham, has ^received FCC permission to operate at 50 kw 24 hours a day. ’ ‘ ; Previously the indie beamed \fet 50;000 watts from sunrise to sun-- •down, transmitting . at jO/kw.Mtek. dark; UNITED PRESS CAVALCADE OF 1951 With Earl J. Johnson, narrator, others Producer-director: Sherman H. Dryer Music: Charles Paul 30 Mins. "United Press’ annual transcribed cavalcade of the year’s top news stories should be included in every webs’ end-of-the-year pro- gramming plans. It's that good. •The -30-minuter i»- comprised of a brief Rundown of 1951’s 10 most important, news stories as put to- gether by UP’s; correspondents. The past 12 months are relived through their eyes in Vivid styling. On the spot recordings and drama- tized versions of the $tories are de- livered with impact and make for exciting listening. Earl J. Johnson, U.P.'s veepee •and general news manager, .works , the * overall commentary - neatly while, the correspondents deserve kudos for their re-reporting of the stories they covered. U.P.’s. top 10 news stories are "Truman. Fires MacArthur”; "Korean Armistice Negotiations”; "Kefapver. Crime Hearings”; "Development of.Tacti- cal Atomic Weapons”; "Korean War Atrocities”; "Basketball Scan- dal-’; . "internal Revenue ..Dept. Scandal”; "British Elections” and "Eight Against Inflation*" ? ' Sherinan H.- Dryers direction keeps program moving ate cliCko I pace. Charles Paul’s mu&ical j backing sustains mood. Gros.