Evening Star Newspaper, August 18, 1935, Page 55

Critique First in Monthly |. Series Just Published Club’s Committee Praises or Condemns Offerings—Editorial Deplores “Parade of Vaudeville.” By the Radio Editor. EMANDING a “50-50" break for the more discriminating portion of the radio audience, Committee has issued the first of a series of monthly bulletins rating various programs and designed < provide a critique for the guidance of broadcasting impressarios. The bul- letin is published as an official organ of the various clubwomen’s organiza- tions making up the committee, - hich earlier this year enlisted under the banner of Chairman Anning S. Prall of the Federal Communications Com- mission in his campaign to eliminats the objectionable and distasteful from the air. ‘Though it is planned to make it national in scope, the bulletin's first | ratings are confined largely to net- work and station programs heard in the metropolitan New York area—the presumption apparently being that at least the network programs thus rated are heard nationally. Specific pro- grams are praised, faintly praised and damned. LUELLA S. LAUDIN, editor of the bulletin, devotes two of its six pages to an editorial which deplcres the “parade of vaudeville,” which, she asserts, is currenly dominant on the radio. “True,” she writes, “there are such outstanding programs as the Phil- harmonic, Wallenstein's Sinfonietta, the Metropolitan Opera, Frank Black's Symphony, Howard Barlow's Sym- phony and a few other symphony or- chestras scattered throughout the country. This past year there has been a revival of interest in chamber music which is heartening. Among the lighter features, Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, Paul Whiteman, One Man’s Family and a sprinkling of others are worthy of special com- mendation. “However, in proportion to the many hours of broadcasting heard daily on all stations, what a pitifully small pereentage of all programs is zeally good! “Let us take music, for example. According to M. H. Aylesworth, presi- dent of the National Broadcasting Co., more than two-thirds of all programs are musical. This does not include comedy hours which have musical interludes, or dramatic programs with | a musical background. What pro- portion of these is outstanding?” The bulletin gives the folowing ratings based on reports of its listening groups: MOST popular of the lighter musical programs—Cities Service Hour, Palmolive Beauty Box Hour, Julia Sanderson and Frank Crumit and Harold Sanford’s light opera. Most popular comedy feature— Burns & Allen, first, while “Jack Benny's followers are in mourning fol- lowing his desertion of the air waves for a much-needed vacation.” Best dramatic program—One Man's Family, “despite its tiresome advertis- ing which most listeners tune out.” N. B. C’s Drama Guild is placed a close second. AMOS 'N’ ANDY continue as “a prime favorite,” while the most frequently complained about are “the advertising and beauty hints on all cosmetic programs, with Lady Esther romping away with all honors for be- ing the greatest bore” and “Tasty- east’s advertising” called “runner-up. Lombardo Road is called “Lovely dance music” N. T. G. and his Chorus Girls is rated “radio at its worst.” The Louis Prima Five of New Orleans on the C. B. S. network is called “just plain noise,” which leave ‘Whiteman, Waring, Lombardo et al. safe with their laurels by comparison. Lanny Ross’ State Fair Concert, sub- stituting for Benny, is rated as pleas- ing light music and Cornelia Otis Skinner's quarter-hour is called “de- lightful.” The G-Men program by Phillips Lord draws this comment: “This ‘sissy’ version of the adventures FOREIGN SHORT-WAVE STATIONS CITY. Barranquilla . Berlin .. Berlin -HJIABB .DJA eeeees.DIB Berlin veeeesceeccnceces.DID Eindhoven . Geneva .. Geneva Guayaquil Huizen Jeloy ROME ..vvverrssssasesac2RO Valencia ............YV6RV the Women’s National Radio | STATION. MEGACYCLES of our red-blooded G-Men may be | safely heard by old ladies with very | weak hearts. Not very interesting or | exciting.” | ‘HE bulletin nominates as “the worst program on the air” the John Charles Thomas serial, “Home on the Range” which was recently changed. Frank Black's Sunday night | symphonic concerts of 45 minutes | might well be extended to a full hour, 'the bulletin states, and the ‘“per- | sonally conducted tour of the in- | testinal tract,” represented in the ad- vertising of the Vox Pop series, is de- plored, while the street-corner re- porters’ questions are called “Smart Aleck.” The proportion of “good programs,” | despite the preponderance of music, | is still very low, the bulletin insists. | “The preponderance of light pro- grams,” it states, “is conditioning an entire Nation, and particularly the portion thereof which has never been exposed to culture, to an appreciation of inferior entertainment. “It would be just as easy to de- velop a liking for better things by giv- ing the people a greater number of worthwhile programs. This does not mean that there would be no more vaudeville. It would, however, insure for those who enjoy comedy, dance music and the other lighter features the best of each type. “The world’s finest literature and drama would be available in the same proportion as lighter features. For the first time in the history of radio the more discriminating portion of the national audience would get a ‘fifty- fifty’ break. At present only about 10 per cent of all programs is planned for this audience.” | JF GERMANY succeeds in holding |+ the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin |in the face of the agitation against | American participation due to the | Nazi regime's racial and religious persecutions, the American broadcast- | ing systems probably will follow the | example of the Japanese in sending | over their ace sports commentators | with the United States team. | The Japanese radio system sent a 1 group of announcers along with Nip- | pon’s athletes to the Olympic games in Los Angeles in 1832, and they broadcast back to their home audi- | ences regularly. In the event Amer- | ican athletes withdraw from the games, of course, it is altogether un- | likely that the networks here will be interested in the events, since this| country's athletes have consistently been the winners of the big features of the Olympics—the track and fleld | meets and the swimming competi- | tions. 'HE perfection of short wave relays have made it relatively simple for the United States audience to hear ! broadcasts from abroad. The Amer- ican announcers may even be able to time their commentaries during the actual running of the Olympic events, although the seven-hour time differ- ential between the United States and Germany, not to forget the varying time zones in this country, might make regular schedules difficult. For ! example, when it is 3 o'clock in the afternoon in Berlin, it is 8 a.m. here— and the morning at-home audience is | hardly likely to be very deeply inter- ested in sports commentaries, | Erosion Test Planned. MARYLAND is to have a sofl i erosion experimental project | | which will be placed in charge of | Oscar C. Bruce of Hyattsville. The | section taken for the work is along | the Little Antietam and Israel Creeks | in the northeast section of Washingtan County. The area, 28,000 acres in extent, will be the first soil conserva- | tion demonstration project in Mary- land. It is one of 93 similar under- |takiogs in various parts of the | country. 645 9.57 15.20 6.02 11.76 1176 & o BEE gusss 8 ;ssggégg iss? s 1 .m. 10 to 11 pm. pm, 6 to 8 11 pm,, 12:15 g gudv wgab & » B 8 CEEL O o ® ouva ap - o-gna © BE559s888 g B8 55T REY ¥ oSS B g g THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, opular Singer D. C, AUGUST 18, 1935—PART FOUR. WOMEN OPEN DRIVE ON OBJECTIONABLE RADIO PROGRAMS Thoes s trre on o Networks Marjorie Logan (left), who sings with Johnny Green’s Orchestra on Columbia. She also is featured in the “Sketch Book” programs each Friday. In the center is Bernice Claire, who has just returned to the microphone after a Summer's absence to take part in Columbia’s “Lavender and Old CAPITAL’S RADIO PROGRAMS Sunday, August 18, (Copyright, 1935) AM.]| WRC 950k WMAL 630k WISV 1,460k Columbia attraction. Eastern Standard Time. WOL 1,310k 78:00 Balladeers 8:15 (Gouid and Shefter 8:30 |Russian Program 845 I On a Bus Elder Michaux “- . AM. 8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 79:00 | Sabbath Reveries 9:15 B 9:30 |This 'n' That 9:45 |Neighbor Nell 10:00 |Vogues and Vagaries 10:15 Marimba Orchestra }g;ig :M.J._Bowgs' Family " |Southernaires it |Morning Moods String Quartet Salzburg Festival “ “« - T Music of the Church Waltz Time Patterns in Harmony Songs of the Church Sunday School Lesson Organ Music |News Flashes Reflections “ . Tabernacle Cholr {Old_Pavorites Modern Melodies Dixie Harmonles Piano Selections |Waltz Time I TR 9:00 | 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:15 10:30 | 10:45| 11:00 Maj. Bowes' Family 11:15 | 11:30 |University of Chicago e 45 Opportunity Matinee Music Hall of the Air ~ |Tabernacie Choir |{Romany Trafl |8. K. Radcliffe " |Ada Roberts Edward Lamont, songs ‘Warren and Bodee Knights of Columbus = 11:00 11:15 11:30 | 11:45 | AFTERNOON PROGRAMS P.M. Road to Romany Choral Club 0 e [Music Hall of the Alr Bible Highlights Compinsky Trio Eddie Dunstedter |Dance Rhythm News Flashes Harris’ Orch. 00 12:30 0 | Bible Drama |Moods and Modes (o 585 Penthouse Serenade {Chautauqua Symphony Chautauqua Symphony Mildred Dilling. Listening Post Light Opera Co. @ e |Augustine’s Orch, Between Bookends |Columbia Orch. Watch Tower Salon Music Popular Vocals {Violin Concert 1:15 Light Opera Co. Sunday Vespers |Wash.-Cleveland Game “« - Church of the Air Joe Brown's Kiddies Rhythm Makers The Wise Man Willard Robison's Orch. |Music Camp Concert. " e Wash -Cleveland Game B 0000 0o | 891380 | | Rhythm Symphony ) Dream Drama Ray Heather! Catholic Hour &7 . Sundown Revue (Dance Invitation 5858|5858 58658 8 lv-vla-a aa 585 o] Roses and Drums & T Chats About Dogs Oswaldo Mazzuchi Melodiana Crumit and Sanderson Joe Brown's Kiddies Jubilee Choir Dance Rhythms |Young People’s Church | Tea Time Canadian Band Grand Hotel i (Amateur Night Ed McConnell Dictators G _PROGRAMS. “Ave Maria” Scores—Music Bulletin Board Pireside Recitals Sunset Dreams Voice of the People Vivian Della Chiesa “ . Arch McDonald Summer Serenade News—Music Dance Music i) Old Tolerable aaalosaa Bowes' Amateur Hour @ o Sports Parade String Symphony Henrik W. Van Loon Rhythms at Eight Headliners The Pennywinkles Four Squires Sidney Smith, tenor |Merry-Go-Round | Pamiliar Music Silken Strings Cornelia Otis Skinner Kurt Brownell America’s Hour “Five Star Final” Los Argentines Good Will Court The Tent Show “- - - - Seth Parker Gypsy Orchestra Wayne King's Orchestra Benay Venuta Congressional Opinion Good Will Court [Elder Rosa Horn News Flashes 70:00 |Gustave & Greta H!lnfle“Ncws Bulleting Jesse Crawford Glen Lee's Orch. Shandor Eddie South's Orch. News Reports Salon Moderne Johnny Hamp's Orch. Adelaide Joy | Johnny Tucker Family Circle * Cutgat’s Orchestra Dick Fiddler's Orch. 0 |Sammy Kaye's Orch. Sign Off 7:00 |Gordon Hittenmark Slumber Hour Sign_Off [Don Hall Trio Cheerio Gordon Hittenmark o i Breakfast Club Morning Devotions Frankie Master's Orch. Fats Waller’s Orch. Sign Off R.F.D. s |Sun Dial ] Sun Dial Gordon Hittenmark Girl Alone The Hill Billies Joe White Momma‘ .P-ndc “« - “« - News-Sizzlers 'Yodeling Philosopher Today’s Children [News Bulletins Honeymooners Wendell Hall U. 8. Ntv-y Band Gale Page Honey Boy and Sassafras| U. s_ Na!y Band Melogy Mixers Charles Benci’s Orch. Irving Rose’s Orch. Sign Off SigmOf e e EARLY PROGRAMS TOMORROW. Musical Clock Musical Clock “ - e Cheerful Earful Accordion Aces Police Flashes The Balladeers Nutty News Variety and Value 'Top o' the Mornin® Jack Ward, organist e | Lace” programs, Cheri McKay (right) of the Merry Macs Quartet, another Before she went to Chicago to join forces with the three McMichael brothers to form the quartet, she was known as the “golden-voiced” contralto of the South. Radio Features and Notes A special concert by the Moscow Radio Orchestra, playing in the Soviet capital, will be rebroadcast by WRC at 8:30 am. Outstanding Russian conductors and soloists will be fea- tured. Cornelia Otis Skinner'’s newest monologue, “Schools for Acting,” will be featured during her broadcast on WMAL at 8:30. Compositions of Rossini, Schubert, Ponchielli and Grieg, will be con- trasted with the modern rhythms of Irving Berling during the “Music Hall | on the Air” program over WMAL at 11:30 em. Helen Oelheim, radio prima donna, who will join the Metropolitan Opera Co. in the Fall, will be the guest star | of Lanny Ross during his program on WMAL at 6. The adventure and achievements of Americans in aviation will be de- picted during the “America Hour” program on WJSV at 8. Bruno Walter, internationally fa- mous conductor, will direct the con- | cert at the Salzburg Music Festival, which WMAL will rebroadcast at 10 am. The Vienna Philharmonic Or- chestra will present the program | which includes Mozart's Symphony in D Major,” “Haffner Mozart's “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” and Wag- | from | ner's prelude and libestode “Tristan.” Fight Elm Disease. ALIVE to the danger of the Dutch elm disease which threatens to vipe out the American elm just as the chestnut blight served to wipe out the chestnut, the Department of Agriculture is waging a relentless warfare in the 5,000-square-mile area arcund New York City, where the disease is most in evidence. In previous years, trees attacked by the disease have been found in Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and In- diana, but these are being disregarded for the present, while the eradication campaign is pressed in the New York area. Late reports from Dutch elm disease eradication headquarters at White Plains, N. Y., show that 9,181 cases have been confirmed since the | campaign began last Summer. Of these, 8.438 trees have been destroyed. In addtion, 493,031 dead and dying trees have been felled and burned, and 389,389 more have been marked for destruction. Although these trees are not all known to be infected with Dutch elm disease, sampling has dem- onstrated that it is present in a con- siderable per cent of them and thus they may be sources of the disease for other trees. Furthermore many such trees are infested by beetles which can carry the disease organ- isms, so that their removal definitely aids the eradication campaign through eliminating many possible carrying insects. In the infected area, Mr. Strong says, wilted and discolored leaves and twigs are considered symptoms of Dutch elm disease. For a definite diagnosis, however, cultures are made from specimens of the suspected trees at the department’s laboratory at Morristown, N. J. Here plant path- ologists can make 1,000 tests a day if necessary to determine the presence of the fungus. About 1,000 men are now scouting ——— | for symptoms of Dutch elm infection, Views of the News Varety and Value Piano Selections (George Meyer -t AFTERNOON PRUGRAMS Dance Music News Dance Music Organist 5858 8|5858 and 1,500 are engaged in destroying condemned trees, thus removing dan- gerous sources of new infection. June, July and August, Mr. Strong points out, are the best months for scouting. The characteristic wilt and discoloration are most apparent then. Later in the season injuries caused by other diseases, storms and insects tend to obscure the typical external symptoms. The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine has a school in F—7 Amateurs Continue Hold On Vast Radic Public Second Season Proves Craze Developing Talent With Effect on Show Busi By Peter Dixon. MATEUR programs soon will be in their second season as radio’s main attraction. Con- trary to predictions of many commentators, there seems to be no waning in public interest in the pa- rade of inexperienced talent before the microphone. This, one must be- lieve, 15 due to the most skillful show- manship so far developed in radio. ‘The program presided over by Maj. Edward Bowes, who may be praised or blamed for starting the whole thing, is usually the most interesting hour of entertainment of the week. Ray Perkins' amateur program, which was ca the networks before Maj. | Bowes left WHN, is fast, interesting entertainment. I've lost count of the other amateur programs. Every sta- tion seems to have one and some are pretty bad. THER.! is no denying that the craze for amateur entertainment has had a marked effect on American show | business. If vaudeville makes a na- tional comeback, I believe it will be due entirely to amateur programs. New talent is being discovered and amusement seekers are eager to see them as well as hear them. And these touring troupes of amateurs are first- professionals of tomorrow. The amateur shows have revealed unusual talent. Maay of the young- sters first heard with Maj. Bowes or Ray Perkins have already carved out niches for themselves in the en- tertainment world. One young lady | a few months ago is now a featured world's most famous night club. Oth- ers have obtained radio contracts or are doing quite well in vaudeville. T IS probable that a lot of ambi- pletely by single chances on some | amateur hour. And perhaps this is just as well. There are probably some tragic stories y that haven't been printed. On the whole I think the amateur craze has been worth while and has probably done more for radio and the show business than any other phenomena of entertainment. A MOTOR car maker sponsors the G-men show Saturday nights, but the official car of the Govern- ment sleuths is the product of a rival manufacturer . . . That world peace- ways program is signed, sealed and is soon to be delivered. It will be a truly great program and will offer | the greatest array of talent for a | weekly program series in the history of broadcasting . .- Propaganda wasn't good showmanship a year or 50 ago. cially if it is propaganda for peace of it on the air this year . . , Per- sonally, I'd like to see a radio adapta- tion of “Woman of Destiny,” a play by Samuel Warshawsky. I saw it tried out in a Summer theater recently. It's great drama end very provoca- tive TH!: barrage of political propaganda is soon to begin on the air, with both major parties planning elaborate | broadcasts. Republicans and Demo- crats alike plan to enlist the services of the most astute showmen in the country in the forthcoming ballot battle . . . Frank Black is almost as well known in Europe as in Amer- jca because so many of his programs | are sent across on short waves. He recently had an offer to write the score for a London musical produc- tion . . . Theodore Webb may go to the coast . Red Nichols is trying hard to be known by his proper and more dignified name of Loring. This column prefers Red. 'HERE has been considerable com- ment, all favorable, in Manhat- tan radio columns about a young singer named Dolly Dawn, most re- cent discovery of George Hall. As & matter of fact, Miss Dawn has never been on the air. That situ- ation will be changed Thursday when WOR features Hall in its very ex- cellent “Music by —" series. Hall'’s new discovery will make her air debut on that program . . . This column’s nomination for the most intelligently amusing song of the year is “The Gentleman Obviously Doesn't Believe in Love.” An English im- portation, it is destined to be one of the hits of the year . . . Kay Webber, with the Dorsey Bros. Orchestra, sings it as it should be sung. FOL!JOWING in Husing’s footsteps, Ford Bond is writing a book about radio and the folks he has met around the microphone . . . Willard Robison and his Deep River Orchestra play- ing at Brighton Beach this Sum- mer . .. Columbia is presenting Clyde Barrie, young Negro baritone, in two programs a week, Tuesday and ‘Thursday nights at 1:30 o'clock . . . The Three X Sisters have incor- porated . . . I'd like to hear Carl Hoff do the complete score of the “Polles Bergere” on the air some time. It's unusually good music . . . Three Marshalls, harmony trio, back from vaudeville in the Midwest. They’ll make movie shorts . . . Pick e | and Pat have written themselves a theme song, and with a nod to Gersh- win, they call it “Rhapsody in Black” . . . Billy Hill's new song, “Oregon ‘Trail,” as done by Fred Waring’s crew is good American music. o= grams of the better afternoon pro- was & half hour of Muriel class training schools for the skilled | who was on the major's program just | entertainer at the Rainbow Room, the | bitions have been crushed com- | Today it is accepted, espe- | or social reform. There will be plenty | ness. on the Loose, continues to be the most-discussed figure in popular music, 1 don’t think he is presented very ef- fectively in his C. B. 8. programs, but he'll survive that. His Famous Door is so doggone famous you can’t even get in with a shoehorn...Jack Mills of the music company that bears his name is the authority for the state- ment that though 100 new songs are tried out on the air every month, one real hit a month is a good average. | Demonstrate Plane Control. SH’)RT-WAV! radio control of air- planes, enabling ground crews to take off, maneuver and land them with-ut a pilot aboa: 1, he: been dem- onstratzd as practicable by the British military—the first to reveal to the American newsreel audience recently how they do it. Similar experiments have been conducted with success by Army and Navy radio experts in this country, but they have always kept their work secret. All that could ever be learned here was that some years ago a pilotless plane wcs operated by radio from a landing field near the Naval Research Laboratories on the outskirts of Washington, but that it crashed in making a landing. Remarking on the wireless control of airc ft and other machines, in- cluding even the use of radio-con- trolled tractors for ploughing and hauling, the technical observer “Neu- tron,” wrtiing in World-Radio of Lon- don, asserts that he thinks “the bis- cuft” should be awarded to the British farmer who has replaced his dog by a wireless orc! “He has fitted it with a loud speak- er,” this writer observes, “and he can | now sit 'y his fireside and send it to round up the Tattle I don't know what arrangements he has made for a watchdog, but presur.ably he will | have fitted some form of burglar alarm which controls the wireless dog |and cauces . to run barking at any unwelccme visitor, “The next step, no doubt, will be a wireless cat catching mice, and in due course this enterirising farmer will presumcbly replace his cows by wire- less ones. Personally, I don’t quite s2e how he will get them to supply milk, but no doubt a lttle thing like that won't present any difficulty to him.” “Blind Landing™ Provided. FI.RST of the new systems for “blind landings” by radio during bad vis- ibility has been installed and is now operating at Newark Airport and the second installation is nearing comple- tion at the Hoover Afrport in Wash- ington, reports Eugene L. Vidal, direc- tor of air commerce. Vidal also re- ported that sites are now being leased | for similar radio transmitters and lighting systems at St. Louis, Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cheyenne and |Los Angeles, with sites soon to be | sought in other cities. | The equipment consists of two radio stations 2 miles and 1,500 feet distant, | respectively, from the airport and in |line with the principal runway, to- gether with lights on the ground lead- ing to the edge of the fleld. When | visibility is poor, the pilot tunes his | radio compass to one of the radio | stations and flles to the vicinity of the arport. Upon passing over the | transmitter, a radio signal flashes a light on his instrument panel. He then can put the plane on a line with the airport runway by flying between the two radio stations. He then breaks | through the low ceiling, gliding to a landing and approaching the runway lights. e S | . .. ‘;Marcom probea Televuwn. S’I'ILL concentrating his attention on the ultra-short wave lengths that run to fractions of 1 meter, Guglielmo | Marconi, the noted inventor of wire- less, last month began also to probe | the intricacles of television, accord- ing to Italian press reports. The Ital- ian government is attaching great im- portance to his experiments with the micro-waves, and his success in har- nessing them may determine Italy's | acceptance or rejection of the idea of | inaugurating a regular television serv- |ice. As in the United States, it ap-, pears that Italy is looking forward to placing television on the extremely high frequencies because the other | wave bands are so overcrowded. Senator Marconi is conducting his transmission experiments between his yacht Elletra, cruising in the Medi- terranean, and a newly established sencing and receiving station at Santa Margherita. The Italian press states that one of the objects of the in- ventor's new researches is to increase the range of the micro-waves for all types of communications. Tibbett on Fall Network. LAWRENCE TIBBETT will be starred on the Nation-wide Colum- bia network this Fall. The popular baritone, who has enjoyed equal suc- cess with the Metropolitan Opera, in motion pictures, on the concert plat- form and over the radio, will be heard each Tuesday, starting September 24. Jennie’s Special Chicken Dinner $ 1 One Whole Fried Chicken WITH Corn Fritters and Hot Rolls ENOUGH FOR 4 PEOPLE DELIVERED IN 30 MINUTES 6 AM. to 8 P.M. 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