Evening star., 1943-03-21
Shudder While You Relax
Much Exists on the Networks Today
To Encourage That Formula

, and-plot development would almost
lead the listener to believe that
genius is afoot. To Mr.. Oboler a
shudder must be genuine, or it is
nothing
But across the dial few hun
dred kilocycleS dwells another
teeth-chattering institution, Himan
Browns Inner Sanctum Mysteries"
the Inner Sanctum of Little Liver
Pills.. This little half hour of car
mage goes about its PAGES with
something of sly humor, encour-
aged by the leering remarks of
Raymond Edward Johnson-the
host of the creaking door. Such
things as vampires and the rather
more whimsical bloody toupes ha-
bitually accumulate under Inner
Sanctums cloak of doom. Guest
stars, several staff writer's and
testy notes from a public which
protests against occasional lack of
bloodshed keep this one lively. And
the terror boys of stage and screen
-karloff, Lore, Rains, Hull and
Lukas-inevitably find their way
to the Blue Networks Sanctum sew
eral times each year. creeping
through Johnson's creaking door
way.
Radio dramatizations from the
works of bona fide detective story
authors quite logically are avail
able. Dashisll Hammett has con-
tributed his Nick and Nora Charles
of Thin Man" note to CHS. and
those gay, sophisticated characters
have sprung with only family ex-
purgated authenticity from the
written page. The works. special
and long standing of John Dick
son Carr come weekly to CHS
through Suspense" .ath their in
tricacieS OF -+~St actors. The
o. wi C"sr, along with many
another literary dabler in may
hem, may still be heard over
Mutual's Murder Clinic Though
not locally now. There are, on
NBC, Frances and Richard Lock-
ridges Mr.. and Mrs. North" with
Pam inadvertently and infallibly
solving crimes just as she does be-
tween book covers; cocksure Ellery
Queen and his pals wading through
mlSdemeanOr after misdeamnor.
Your old friend with the rasping
laugh and ominous words for GRIM
inals, the Shadow, continues re-
lentlessly to pursue public enemies
over Mutual with fervor at least
as commendable as that of the good
OLD days when he first sprang from
a pulp magazine. And H. C. Nc
Nelle's sleek and determined Bull
dog Drummond returns to the local
Mutual outlet tomorrow.
So it goes: Il Love a Mystery"
reopening its five-a-week sched-
ule tomorrow as we'll, the Blues
Famous Jury Trials" carrying on
with unleSsened hardihood from
the past year or two. To con-
found and terrorize the listening
audience is the thing these DAYS.
May you break out in a cold sweat
and relax
The Random Dial:
Bud Abbott who, by his own con-
fession, is a sentimental guy, will
disappear from radio until his COL
league, Lou Costello, RECEIVERS from
an illness. Effective next Thursday
(WRC), Garry Moore of Everything
Goes" a morning variety bide-a-
wee for housewives, will take the
place of the vaudeville boys with the
assistance of Jimmy Durante
Georgia Gibbs and Xavier Cugat's
Band
Paul Whiteman. whom the Blue
Network still regards as the dean
OF modern American music" has
been named director of music for
the chain. Mr.. Whiteman assumes
his duties Immediately.
To Bette Davis of Hollywood and
Screen Players Guild" (WJSV
Mondays goes the honor of having
appeared most frequently (six times1
on the Guild program to raise funds
for the Motion Picture Relief Fund.
Second place: Charles Boyer with
a total OF four, Which probably has
proven satisfactory to at least two
seements of movie radio fans. as
well as to the Guild, the fund and
the actors themselves.
BY carrier pigeon named
Charlie, VOL bursts forth with
flash to the effect that two eggs were
laid in the addition room of the
station last week. Anticipating
snide remarks from the local radio
fraternity at large. the notice warns
the fraternity against making same.
Mccarthy and his stooge, Edgar,
are broadcasting tonight from Mex
ico City, where the pair are cur
rently participating in series of
Red Cross benefits. Rudy Vallee.
who also performs over NBC. will
be in Mexico, too, but at the head
of his 37-piece U. S. Coast Guard
Band which will play special
salute to Mexican troops. Ginny
Simms will join the party.
Irony Of the week originates from
WMAL. in the program listings. that
enervating hash of small type by
which the listener is misguided. On
Saturday, March 13 at 1915 pm.
Your Income Tax" was on the
air. Last night, Saturday. March
20, same time, the program change
read Nothing Serious" Tovpavo,e