The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-30

Blonde" comic strip, from which the radio program was created, is of the type which appeals to young SterS.
 But much of ''Blondie's" mail is from average people-mostly young mothers and housewives of all ages who have formed Blonde" fan clubs.
 The reason behind the attraction of this class of listener to woman who plays comic strip character on the air is the policy that Penny, herself, established when she under took to portray "Blondie''. Instead of encouraging the forming of fan clubs merely for the admiration of a famous actress, Penny organized programs which would be of real value to the members themselves. For instance, instead of the stars usual practice of sending chatty personal 'puffs" and, pictures to be read and admired, respectively, at thg gatherings, Miss Singleton mails mimeographed discussions on house. hold, children and community af- fairs which interest women.
 That's the reason why "Blondie's" fan mail is among the heaviest of any radio celebrity's and why 1t grows with the years.
 'Television will replace the ra- dio," says one expert.
 'Television will replace the mo- tion pictures" says another.
 'Television won't replace any, thing" says Phil Spitalny, whose Sunday night Hour of Charm, , featuring an orchestra and choir composed exclusively of glamour girls $ natural for television.
 Back in the early days of radio, Spitalny points out, the experts" claimed variously that it would re- place the motion pictures the stage and the newspaper. Subsequent events have proved that the so- called experts were completely wrong on the replacement angle, for the radio didn't even replace the family piano or the photograph.
 Instead, motion pictures and the stage are more prosperous than ever, today. Granted, the war boom has lot to do with the fact that even mediocre play or film will do business, but even before the war, the legitimate stage was doing all right, and movie houses had drifted away from the free dishes and bank nights that were introduced as stimulants for business which lag ged, not because of radio but be- cause of the depression.
 Newspapers, too, have found ra- dio a valuable salesman. True, people hear the headlines on the air but when the broadcast is all over, they go out and get a newspaper for the full details. Whether it presents news, adver- tising or fiction, the printed word still has unique power to convey thought and to fix it in the mind of the reader.
 And as for the family piano and phonograph, sheet music and rec ord sales indicate that radio has been shot in the arm for both. The photograph, moreover, owes its present high fidelity to the cleo tronic advances made in perfecting radio.
 No, radio hasn't replaced any, thing, and neither will television. There will still be ready audience for good radio programs. And don't expect television to cut attendance at the movies. The advent. of tele- vision will make some changes in living habits. but it won't change the good old American practice of the evening out.
 'relevision won't replace any, thing" repeats Spitalny. Rather, 1t will stand on it's own feet as a new, vital, different entertainment medium
 A thirteen -year-old quiz fan, Johnny Buck of Detroit, carried of the $165 jackpot at the first New York airing of Scramby Amby, the WATR Blue Network program heard each Wednesday at 10:30 p. m.
 Johnny was practically on his feet and cashing in before more mature contestants recovered from watching Kay Penton. featured vocalist. step up to the mike for her musical clue.
 These Are Our Men," a weekly