Evening star., 1936-09-22

w YITH the boards going up Tor
A the Winter at the Summer
wv dance spots, the bandsmen
are back in New York get
ting into swing for their new radio
row commitments and Manhattan
night spot engagements. And what
with the broadcasters subscribing to
the new policy which keeps the best
of the tunes in the hands Of q few
music makers Of the air, there's re-
newed activity in Tin Pan Alley, too.
The ban on the new tunes has some
of the lesser bandsmen in a mad
scramble among the musty files OF
the tunesmiths, busting off hits OF
s and 10 year vintage. Hence you can
get ready for revival of some Of the
vanished melodies Of yesteryear,
thanks to the current efforts OF the
ad agencies, the orchestra leaders and
arrangers now busy putting together
some of the less pretentious air shows.
MEANWHILE the top-notch baton
~'A eers will be having the new tunes
all to themselves, among them Ray
Noble bowling into the rainbow room
October /, in company with Sheila
Barnett and her new sketches 4.
Shep Fields on that new commercial
he launches october 2, with Clark
Gable as guest star Paul White
man, who dispels the report he is due
to return from Fort Worth by his re-
fusal of personal appearance dates In
the East Eddie Duchin, due IN
New York shortly, will settle down on
October IS for a Broadway run 1.
Russ Morgan's outfit will be In New
York all Winter. Two of the most
danceable of the orchestras shatter all
radio precedents by electing to tour
this late in the season. Glen Gray's
Casa Iona outfit heads for Detroit,
and Bunny Berrigan's Orchestra, de-
parting that Saturday night &. b. s.
spot, heads for a New England tour.
WITH the curtain going up on the
wv shows for the new season, glance
back moment over the road radio has
travelled in the past six months and
give thanks for at least three trends
by which the listener reaps benefit
these Autumn nights. The current
year has seen the development of the
vogue for situation" comedy. And,
If occasionally. this type of humor
finds the dialer deploring the race Of
the comedians to the microphone to
burlesque the newest development in
the news, certainly the listener Is also
the first to register gratitude, because
funny men are depending less and
less on gags compiled by Joe Miller.
A second chance to register approval
is provided by the increase Of adult,
intelligently produced programs, par
In addition to fine, splendid symphonic
concert series, is also to be augmented
by the return Of the Library Of Con-
gress musicales via the Columbia net
work on November IL, resumption of
the Curtis Institute of Music pro-
grams October % and the Cincinnati
Conservatory series on October 10.
RROADCASTING has also taken
another step in the right direction
In the matter of advertising plugs.
The game of kidding the sponsor
grows more popular. And what
listener would deny that commercial
blurb is easier to take if the sponsor
Is willing to let the ad writer put
his tongue bit in cheek when con-
cocting copy touting his wares on the
air? Jack Benny, Phil Baker and
Eddie Cantor were among the first
to take some of the solemnity out
OF the commercials. BY now nearly
every comedian is following suit, in
eluding Don McNeill, whose new show
Is amusing enough to keep you at
tentive right through the plugs for
tasty. tea time tidbits for dog Fido.
Phil Baker, by the way, goes the
news-conscious comedians one better
this season, adopting newspaper set
up for his new WABC-C. B. C. show.
He'll reappear in the guise of q news
paper editor when he gets back to the
kilocycles September 27. Maxine Grey
will do the yocals for the new Baker
show.