Evening star., 1941-11-11
Stuart Junior Hiqh
Americas
Series Auspiciou5Iy
Broadcast Marks First
Time School Period Set
Aside for Program

Inc Junior nleN SCnOOl ldulo
series, The Americas" was launched
auspiciously yesterday with the
presentation by Stuart Junior High
of The Parrot Dealer" dramau-
zation dealing with the largest OF
our South American neighbors,
Brazil. Through special arrange
ments made by school authorities,
the broadcast was heard by junior
high classes throughout the city.
marking the first time school
period has been set aside in the
District for such purposes. The
series, which will be presented under
the same arrangements during the
season. is sponsored by The Star
and the District School Radio Com
mittee, with the assistance OF the
National Broadcasting Co.
Enacted entirely by pupils of
Stuart and directed by Mrs. Alice S.
Morse, a member of the faculty, the
story, based on the book by Kurt
Wiese. tells Of an American boys
trip along the Amazon River with
his young Brazilian guide in search
of birds for a collection. In the
course of the imaginary journey in
teresting facts about the land and
its people are revealed by the youth
full cast and four authentic Brazil
ian songs-sung in Portuguese
woven into the story. including 20
Sino da Egrejinlia," "Marchinna do
Grande Gallo" % Papagaio" and
the national anthem of Brazil.
Hymn" Used as Theme.
The new Hymn to Pan America"
composed by Nine. Lillian Evanti,
noted lyric soprano, and released by
the singer for use on the series,
served as the Introductory and
closing theme of the show. The
singing was directed by Miss Gladys
Lockard
The Stuart youngsters not only
spoke their lines with the gusto of
veteran radio performers. but ham
died their sound-effect assignments
with great skill-the noise of hack
Ing through jungle, assorted bird
calls. slamming Of doors and even
the ringing of church bells.
Those participating in the sketch
included Prentiss Clark. narrator:
Clinton Leland, parrot dealer: Paul
Steele, innkeeper; Treadwell Bailey.
mule team leader, and Ralph Glow
and Irving Cooper, as the guides.
Joe Wolfe, Christine Stravolus,
phullic Mo rv,noL T IL
were responsible for most of the
sound effects. Comprising the vocal
chorus were Ralph Weber, John
Koutsanders, Vincent Guilielmi,
Charles Monney, Garth Burleyson,
Steed Evans, Karl Schleith, Billy
Dempsey, Donald Orndorf, Edward
Orndorf. Albert Patane, Don Nc
Curry, Gerald Conrad, John Petro
Lee Saunders, William Naylor, Anna
Glow. Betty Nixon, Betty Wormsley.
Annette Tuck, Elsie Holmes, Faye
Hook and Margaret Shipp.
Show Draws Praise.
Little Lois Garman. who was to
have contributed an important in
strumental solo to the show, but was
unable to participate because of an
appendicitis operation last week,
listened to the program at home in
bed.
Ray Blackwell. assistant director
OF the education section of the ONCE
for Coordination Of Inter American
Affairs, who witnessed the broad
cast, praised the program as being
directly in line with Government
efforts to create an earnest and last
ing feeling of good neighborliness'
in the Western Hemisphere" Mr..
Blackwell added that the show itself
was excellent.
A checkup among the schools i'm
mediately after the broadcast found
enthusiastic approval on the part of
pupils and teachers and commenda-
ton for the lesson plan on Brazil
submitted for followup classroom
study in the half-hour period fol-
lowing the broadcast.