Evening star., 1943-11-14

The monopoly which nighttime
radio programs have had on guest
stars has been broken. OF course
actually 1t wasn't a monopoly, be-
cause producers of the nighttime
shows didn't give a hoot whether
others used guest stars or didn't use
them. But guest stars, heretofore
have been exclusively an evening
phenomenon.
Now this policy is being adopted
by daytime shows, even the dramatic
serials. to the advantage, may say,
OF both serial and guest. Big-name
personalities are becoming regular
visitors in the script of more than
one soap opera, which adds fuel to
my belief that the froth and foam
are finally giving way to more
solid substance.
The other day I told about the
young Chinese girl, Adet Lin, who
appeared on Young DR.. Malone" I"
Bright Horizon" is another serial
which is resorting to guest stars
brought in via the script itself-as
a regular feature. The new trend on
Bright Horizon began a short time
ago with the guest appearance of
Mrs. Wayne Clark, wife of the 5th
Army's Gen. Clark. Her interview
and plea for blood donors were
woven into the regular script.
The second guest to appear was
Bea Vain, songstress. She warbled
bright melodies at "Riverfield's PIT
boat factory" on the Swing Shift
Follies." Important war and public
lie figures will continue to appear
on this daytime serial, producers tell
me. A welcome trend, along with
the announcement that the money
paid by Bright Horizon" to the per-
sonalities will go to their favorite
charities.
X X X X
Inside the Airside d. Jack Doug
las has been renewed on the What's
New" program. :. Easy Aces" be-
comes a weekly half-hour program
within the next month, along with
"Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons.
Both of these programs have
been on the air thrice weekly as a
quarter-hour serial for years. A
soap company has an option on Rose
Franken's Claudia" for a serial
version. The sponsor is looking
for night spot instead of the usual
daytime niche as for other soap
operas. :. National Barn Dance"
weekly broadcast, is the inspiration
for a new Paramount picture which
is to go into production in Holly
wood early in November. Fea-
tured in the film will be the old
"hayloft" Notwithstanding Sis
tiers, Hoosier Hot Shots, Pat Butt
ram, Lulu Belle and Scotty Arkie
and Joe Kelley. Lionel Stander
is back on the air. Pvt. Stander
has been added to the cast of Full
Speed Ahead" new serial over Mu-
tual. Benny Goodman's quintet
is due for a ride on Lower Basin
Street" within few weeks. Or
son Welles is leaving soon for for
elgn shores to entertain troops.
John Charles Thomas made his first
Los Angeles opera appearance in
many years Friday when he sang
the title role in Verdi's "Rigoletto."
x X
OF Mikes and Men-Alan Reed.
whom dialers know as Falstaff, will
become play producer when he re-
turns from Hollywood. He has
just bought the rights to "Sancho
Panza" and besides producing it also
Will be the star. Morton Gould
IS IN the home stretch of his latest
composition. :. He has written a
concert for the viola, scheduled for
an early NYC premiere. When
you hear Phil Baker on his Take It
or Leave 1t" quiz, warning his studio
audience mo help, please!" it almost
invariably means that Phil himself
has just finished giving the contest
ant good juicy hint. Baker is
more interested in a good show than
in strict observance of the quiz
rules, and will keep an interesting
at the mike even if he
has to answer as we'll as ask the
questions. There's no studio
audience any more for the broadcast
Of the "Aldrich Family" But ,
4 goodly crowd turns up for dress
rehearsal from the highways and ;
OyWayS of Radio Citv. Rv tho ,