The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-11-24
WAVELETS
By ED LEAMY

Listeners to WATR ana the Blue
Network program, The Victory Par
AIDE Of Spotlight Bands, woulc
never suspect from the smooth
shows they hear that great anxiety
and tension often exist up to almost
the very minute the bandleader re-
ceives the "on- the air" signal.
A few of the hazards with which
Spotlight producers have beer
confronted are illustrated by the
following incidents.
When Jan Savitt's orchestra ar
rived at isolated Fort Leonard Wood
Missouri, 1t was discovered that the
tenor saxophone had been broken
in transit. Soldiers, on motorcycles
scurried out over the vast reserva-
ton, stopping at every barrack, in
quest of such an instrument. Shortly
before air time one was finally 10
Gated. The tenor sax was important
in Savitt's arrangements and If one
had not been found the music would
not have been up to standard.
Before his Corr Gctiol, Please
programs Jim McWlliams holds in
formal studio interviews with the
service men and women in the audi
erct DIS means of judging proSpec-
tive contestants on the show. lie
asked one soldier what he did in
the army and the lad replied he was
a cook. WELL" said McWilliams,
I'm going to give you a real va
cation. After the program you come
with me and I'll cook you a meal
for YOU" McWilliams made good on
the invitation, too!
Credit Alec Templeton, star OF
the OBS Carnival" for one of the
newest ideas in show business. He
appeared on Sundays Cham
Der Music Society of Lower Basin
Street." as the fifth man in the
Ink Spots quartet. When questioned,
Alec quipped: I'm substitute
you can't tell when someone will
be drafted"
Oracle Allen has just completed
her role in the MGM film, 1.-TWO
Sisters and Sailor" and handed
down to posterity her Concerto
for Index Finger" Jose Iturbi
played second fiddle when Oracle
rendered her great composition ac-
companied by 100-piece symphony
orchestra under the baton of Alfred
Coates.
Kate Smiths newest thought for
the war effort is to save all the scrap
paper you can and every time you
save a piece, think that by saving
| it you have fastened the day of
victory-when you can throw con-
fetti!
Rita HayWorth, often guest star
on leading radio programs, appear
ed on Phil Bakers Take 1t Or
Leave IT. Sunday night. as an
offstage voice! When her husband,
Orson Welles, hestitated on a diff
flcult question, as a guest contest
ant, the screen glamor girl called
the answer from the wings.
Bernardine Flynn observes: The
trouble with most of us in retrench-
ing Is that we want to take the
"me" out Of economy!
breakfast at Sardi's" Is going to
do it again.
For the fourth time in less than
a year, WATR and the fast party
air show will be turned over ex-
clusively to men and women in the
service of the United Nations
They're coming 500-strong this time
Thanksgiving Day will be the &C.
casion for this all-service party
presided over by genial "host' Tom
Breneman. A traditional Thanks
giving Day affair it will be, too
with that royal bird, the turkey
creamed on toast as breakfast fare
The decorations and table trim
mings will carry out the atmosphere
of the first Thanksgiving Day OBJ
served by the Pilgrim fathers.
AS on the other three occasions
when Breakfast at Sardi's" feted
the boys and girls in XII. Ii. olive
green and blue, each servi-eman
and woman attending will receive
five silver dollars, cigarettes and
other gifts. There will e Zine
cigar for each of the men and spec
ial gifts for those holding lucky
NUMBERS IN the various drawings
conducted by Tom Brenenan
Among the gifts will be telephone
calls TO loved ones at horne at var
ious points all over the country, or
chids for the mothers wives and
sweethearts, and the regular wish