The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-10

Recently I mentioned a program
which I had enjoyed, Nesbitt's
Passing Show (Tuesday, Wednesday
Thursday, WABC, 7:15). Last Tues
day and Wednesday nights I tuned
in again. And again I was not dis
appointed. The program is put
on without fanfare, or frills. Boiled
down, it is simple narration by John
Nesbitt of simple facts, but simple
or sometimes almost incredible
simple facts - so fascinating told
as to leave one thrilled and de-
lighted as if he had been on trip
to a strange country or had delved
into a make-believe world. The
story of the color blind student at
Oxford in olden days, the story of
the mysterious, handsome French
man, as NeSbitt related them, had
all the charm and necromancy Of
Du Maupassant at his best. The
one, of which have already writ
ten, about the Werewolf, was
worthy of Edgar Allen Poe. But
there is this difference: Nesbitt's
stories are true tales.
Tuned in on Fred Waring We'd
nesday night and caught an I'M
usual, very appropriate number for
a night in Holy Week: Holy, Holy,
Holy!" sung beautifully.
Also the same evening, Alan
Jones, in splendid voice, and at
$3.50, (WEAF) the Beat the Band
Program with Hildergarde whose
voice thrills me much more than
the attempts of the band to name
and play tune, quiz style, in res
ponSe to yelled queries sent in by
radio listeners. Her final number
was the much played and sung,
Good Night Wherever You Are"
High tribute to Hildergarde's rem
dering of it is that enjoyed it. I
thought I was sick of it.
Songs and band numbers are
short lived these days what with
the radio, and sometimes the
movies, and jukes boxes and other
recording machines. But there was
a grand song of which once
grew heartily tired, before the days
of radios, movies and gramaphones
THE Merry Widow Waltz"
All of London was singing or
humming it back in 1905 where my
home WIS at the time. We moved to
Dublin just before the first road
company began to play the show
there. Then I was overwhelmed
again with the tunes from which I
thought I had run away. But after
couple of years, yep, years, the
craze for them was dying down in
Ireland, and I came to New York.
A short while after my arrival 1.-The
Merry Widow" opened here! And
recently it has been revived. But
now I welcome the old waltz, and
Villa" and others as if they were
treasured friends.
A new program, by the way, de-
signed to carry further the wide
spread appeal of the popular AUDI
tons of the Air will have its pre-
miere over the Blue, Sunday, 16,
and will be heard thereafter each
Sunday at 4:30. 1t will be known as
World of Song"
World Of Song will feature each
week two singers who have sue
ceeded in becoming members of the
Metropolitan Opera Company
through their competition on the
Additions Music for the new show
will be of type familiar to radio
listeners, and will feature an or
chestra of fifty musicians conduct
ed by Wilfred Pelletier. Leonard
Warren, baritone, and Frances
Greer, soprano, will appear on the
inaugural program of the new
series.
It's always gala occasion they
tell me when Lily Pons, tiny French
soprano of the Metropolitan Opera
Company, makes guest appear
ance over the Telephone Hour. To-
night, understand, will be no ex-
ception when the program is broad
cast over the entire NBC network
at 9, and Miss Pons makes her
tenth appearance on the current
great artists series.
Radio listeners are not the only
ones who look forward to Miss
Pos glorious voice. There are the