Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-25

TINNEY Is a brilliant humorist and
an unusually capable actor. His
greatest handicap has been that he
sounded like Will Rogers. Sounded so
much like Will that he was invariably
accused of initiating the great cowboy.
Tinney talks like Will Rogers because
he can't help himself. He even looks
like Rogers. There was story in
circulation that Tinney was cousin
of Rogers. but that is not true. But
Tinney came from Rogers home town
and he, too, has Indian blood in his
veins.
Tinney has tried sincerely to avoid
initiating Rogers and has discouraged
any attempt to link him with the IA
nous Oklahoman. No one can fill the
place left vacant by Rogers, but there
is a place for another American hu-
morist who can carry on the Rogers
tradition. Tinney, who respected and
admired Rogers, is best fitted for that
difficult assignment. I believe that
Rogers himself would approve.
IF CAL TINNEY does get this chance
he'll find the going difficult at first,
for he will be accused Of everything
from stepping into a departed mans
shoes to out-and out plagiarism. I be-
ieve Cal Tinney is big enough man
to stand on his own merits and that
the type of humor originated by Rog-
ers should not be allowed to pass out
Of existence.
This is not meant to suggest that
Cal Tinney be presented on the air as
a second Will Rogers. There can
never be a second Will Rogers But
Cal Tinney as Cal Tinney should have
his chance as an exponent OF a def
nitely American type Of humor-a
style of humor that should be an
ever-bright memorial to the man who
created twill Rogers.
SOMETIMES think the real secret
- of success Of Mai Bowes is that
the major is first. last and always a
gentleman. And have the same
feeling about Paul Whiteman. -. Co
lumbia's Americas Hour" on the air
Sunday nights, is a splendid example
of what can be done with radio. 1t is
almost pageantry and yet it is done
with admirable good taste and re-
straint. . Sopranos, by the way, are
in greater demand than contraltos and
female crooners at the present time.
The pendulum swings. 80.
Drank CRUMIT has been doing a
very swell job on that program
which has needed Fred Allen
didn't give Peter de Rose credit for the
music on Oregon Trail when that
piece was mentioned last week. And
he rates it, for melodically it is love-
" thing -. "Piccolino, new dance
rhythm identified with Fred Astaire,
is an old dance rhythm in Mexico,
where they call it a paSo doble. In
other words, two-step :. Wee Lawn
hurst is stepping into the front rank
of song writers with And Then Some"
and Accent on Youth" Five years
ago Wee, though an accomplished
pianist. could scarcely read music
think the most charming song title
in months is Through the Doorway of
Dreams" Jessica Dragonette sings it
in the Big Broadcast picture E. Wish
N. B. c. would put the Vass family on
the air some evening. I can't always
remember to tune them in at 11:15
Saturday mornings, and they are very
good.
POSSIBILITIES of a grand contro-
versy are indicated in the follow
ing letter:
What with the depression ed.
Note: What depression?), war In the
offing and an impending presidential
election, suppose it is the height OF
something or another to become excit-
ed about a couple of cornet players,
but when in your paragraph about
Louis Prima you referred to Louis
Armstrong as another hot trumpet
player burnt!
Surely you are not so musically
unsophisticated as not to know that
Armstrong originated the style of
playing and singing that Prima has
so successfully adopted. Ye GODS
man, he's been doing 1t for at least
10 years and is identified with it in
every country that boasts a night club
or a dance hall.
England loves him, and he's some
kind of patron.
st dropped in at the Famous Door
and was amazed that such bare-faced
plagiarism of a musical style could
receive such acclaim. The New Or
leans man can swing 1t alright
there's no argument on that point
but he's merely rubber stamp. And
the original is, oh! so much better!
Or maybe I'm wrong!
"(Signed)
RICHARD B. CALLAHAN"
A MOTHER play spoOfng radio is
- being tried out at the Province
town Tin Manhattan) Theater this
week. Called Across the Board" AL
the players, who include Jimmy
Waters, Julie Berns, Robert Griffen,
Edward Ryan and MARCEL Gourmet,
are experienced radio actors Red
n. hols' Songcopators were all men,
bers Of the same high school glee club
years ago Jack Mills, the song
publisher, has written a book about
radio and Tin Pan alley Johnny
Hauser, Tho faces a tonsillotomy, Is
wondering what 1t will do to his voice
nnn,t xnui like WQR,G r,rncra m