The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-23

and Eva LIE Gal
lienne were scheduled to play
scenes from Hamlet" and Romeo
and Juliet"
AS radio exhausts the supply OF
good modern entertainment posi-
bilities-and it is consuming 1t
much more rapidly than accept
able material is written-it is
likely listeners will hear an in
creasing number of broadcasts
based on classic literature, includ-
ing Shakespeare. This field Is
tapped from time to time for ami
versary programs, but no serious
attempt has been made to adapt
for radio most of the finest Eng
lish writing.
Not long ago it was remarked
on this page that Mr.. Crosby has
a way of assembling strange ra-
dio bedfellows. The same remark
is in order about Rudy Vallee,
who tonight, NBC-WEAF CWLW)
at 7, will crowd into one hour a
play by Broadways profoundly
serious playwright, Clifford Odets,
author of waiting for Lefty
Awake and Sing and other
hits. and then brighten the show
with capers by Comedian Eddle
Cantor. MIR. Odets' new offer
ing. Sarah Bernhard was wrlt-
ten for the Vallee show and Is
based on the incidents in the lie
of the famous actress.
Since Eddie owes Rudy guest
appearance, and will receive no
STIPEND for his stunt tonight, we
had expected him to appear on
the yallee program with Alfred
Lunt and Lynn FOntaine to OIL
set the heavy fee demanded by
the stage team. 1t is known tnaI
Rudy and his producer nave nau
trouble finding a play acceptaDie
to both sponsors and the Lunts'
So Eddie's appearance tonighe
possibly means the Vallce-Lunt
arrangements have fallen through
For his CHS program orlglnat-
ing tonight at in Columbia Clup
ballroom, Horace Heidi has
planned a program for ladies with
songs about Ida, Mary Lou, Diane,
Sylvia, Margie, Sweet Georgia
Brown, Sally, Lena and Chloe.
Through facilities of WFBM, the
program is to be relayed to
CHS chain of so stations. Six hun
dred persons are to witness the
program. Admission is to be by
ticket only.
MIR. Heidi told us he knew he
and his Brigadiers have a tough
spot to fill, since the popular Bing
Crosby program is aired at the
same time. However, the sponsor
is pleased with results. and that's
most important to any program
director.
Obs COMMENTATOR H. V.
~ KALTENBORN, who cele-
brated his fifteenth year of broad
casting this week, stated the most
notable advance in broadcasting,
apart from technical development,
is increasing respect for free
speech on the air.
All editorial comment was
banned in 1924 after my speeches
brought few protests from high
places. There was no idea that
the air could be or should be as
free as the editorial page. Today
the radio has become the chief
medium Of political discussion.
Networks and individual stations
know they can and must play an
important part in the processes of
democratic government"
y q
When listeners reported that
WFBM Tea Time Tunes included
the now popular Gloomy Sum-
day" song, we investigated. The
station, we learned, received many
requests for the number and
plays it three or four times each
week.
Yet when March of Time edi-
tors recently wanted copy for
dramatization after several sui
cides in Budapest had been cred
tied to it, none could be found.
Time-and Tnusic-march on.