The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-31

We received a birthday present, but 1t isn't our birthday. CESS Family Hour", heard Sunday after moons, with Gladys Swarthout and Deems Taylor, celebrated its third anniversary last Sunday by sending radio editors recordings of Miss Swarthouts effective rendition of the standard "Bless This House..
 We're proud to own this stirring musical editorial that contains the following phrases:
 "Bless this house for all, we pray; Make it safe by night and day.
 Bless these walls, so firm and strong, Keeping warmth and trouble out; Bless the peace that lies all
 round"
 Miss Swarthout will appropriately use this song as her closing theme for many programs to come.
 And you can't go wrong if you want to purchase this 10-inch disk, because her singing possesses all the beauty the Met star is most capable of imparting in her vibrant interpre- tation. The "B" side contains Rob- ert Browning's verse "Ah, Love, But A Day. set to lyric by Mrs. H. H. Beach. It recalls the nostalgia of the ballad Edward sung by Larry Tibbett.
 Joel Kupperman, seven-year- old radio "quiz kid," who reported to Universal this week, has been assign ed to role in the Donald O'Connor picture "The Third Glory. The studio gave a luncheon in honor of the youthful mathematician at the Hollywood Athletic Club recently.
 Lillian Hellman, playwright of stage and screen, has this to say about the producers of "For Whom the Bell Tolls: ''They are without guts because they feared to breathe the word fascist once in that film which Is disgraceful.'
 Several columns ago we wrote our brief note on the late Dr. William Lyon Phelps and mentioned we were trying to learn whether or not he had accomplished his last intended mission which was to take to task the Hartford critics for the manner in which they ridiculed and abused a stunning production of the Eliza bethan drama entitled 'Tis Pity, dealing with incestuous love, and produced under the banner of A.. Everett Austin, Jr. His pen work can be read now in the September issue of Esquire in which he accom- plishes his job, perhaps the last thing he wrote before his fatal ill., ness A couple of months ago, during our meeting with Dr. Phelps, he stated that he would like to an- nounce publicly the differences he held with the Hartford critics, hold ing them responsible for the finan- cial loss this admirable production had suffered at the hands of these unqualified critics who had preju- diced the minds of the unconscious public .. Billy" Phelps was de- pendable to his dying day, as the trite but valiant saying goes. And in one simple sentence he declared :: The Hartford company, under Eliz- abeth McCormick's direction, gave an effective and really beautiful per- formance." At this writing, Miss McC Cormick is in New York writing g play with an eye on Broadway /. MT. Austin Is enroute to Hollywood.
 stephen SchnabeL, radio -dram ma actor and son of Artur SchnabeI concert pianist, was signed over thu weekend for. 2 leading role in "Land of Fame. .. play scheduled for : Broadway opening .. SchnabeI had an important role in the Broadway production of "Glanor Preferred and before that was with Orsor Welles' Mercury Thcater Group II the production of "Julius Caesar and "Schoemakcr's Holiday.
 E. K. of watertown brought the faLIt- 4