The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-04
WAVELETS
By ED LEAMY


sartorial ensembles that set him
back a lot of the easy to spend,
hard to make" and several other
things, you'd think that Bing Cros-
by had enough problems. But that
apparently Is not the case, at least
so I'm told.
Bing, it seems, Is all hot and
bothered about the Music Maids,
who long have been considered an
important part on Bing's Kraft
Music Hall Show, (WEAF) Thurs
day, 9 p. m. and who have appear
ed with him in motion pictures and
on monograph records. They've
always been called the Music Maids
for the very good reason that up
until recently they were all Of the
feminine, or - ahem, SO called
gentler sex. But, a little while ago,
Wick Order, tips me of to this, a
MAN joined the group, when 1t was
decided 1t would be good idea to
have a male voice to blend with the
contraltos and sopranos, Lee Gotch
was picked for the Sultanesuue spot.
And that was all hotSy -totSy, or the
good CT merrio. The singing group,
organized by Bling in 1942, was bill
ed on the KMH as The Music
Maids and Lee" And all was we'll.
Now, the Musical Maids, for
quite while underwent remark
ably few changes in personnel. One
girl, Dorothy Messmer, retired to
get married. Virginia 'Trudy'. Err
win left the group to become soloist
on the KMH, and more recently re-
tired from that Job temporarily, to
become a mother.
Then another of the early men,
bers, Jeanne Durrell resigned to
join an overseas group of enter
tainers With a troupe headed by
Frederic March, Jeanne visited q.
s. soldiers, sailors, and marines In
Brazil, Africa, Arabia, Egypt, Per-
sia, North Africa and Italy. Her
lovely voice is known all over the
world, but for the duration, she has
declared, she will be heard only by
our men in uniform.
And then, last week or so, the
newest Maid, Margaret McCraven,
retired, and 1t was decided to en-
gage the services of another man;
going suppose ON the idea that no
man would ever want to resign from
such a group of singing lovelies.
The lucky lad Is Ernest Newton,
tenor Soloist on the Bergen Nc
earthly show. Bing Crosby was very
glad to see Mr.. Newton, but If the
smile on his face was a trifle wry,
| this will explain why,
The Music Maids are too we'll
known to undergo name change
at this point. yet" says Bling, I'VE
can't refer to the group as The
Maids and Lee and Ernie What to
do? We're open to suggestions.
Sorry, can't help You, Bing.
Now, If it were the name for a
race-horSe ..
I have never seen Doris, attrac-
tive young accordionist into use
the banal and slightly cannibalistic
expreSSion-the ncSh. But they tell
me that while good figures are i'm
portant to all girls In show business,
they are particularly important to
Doris, who will be featured with
| A\CA4A1y ASCNh4ICA O1CAlEoOId VA
Spotlight Bands Thursday night,
April 6, over the Blue at $3.50.
1t appears that Doris. in addition
J To her solo work, handles all bus
mess engagements, finances and ac-
counting for the band. She Is most
protective Of the interests of Band
leader Denny, most protective, me
countrymen. In private life She
Denny Buckner's wife.
That wag-when he isn't singing
Morton Downey did novel bit OF
money raising last week, that has
nothing to do with any of the hun
dreds Of Bond Drives, Red Cross
USO and other fund building cam
paignS In which he has participat-
ed. 1t happened on a New York
New Haven and Hartford train
where there was tired young fel-
low peddling candy, etc.
To the amusement, surprise, and
entertainment of the passengers
the Blue Network tenor Mondays
through Fridays, 3 p. m.) took
over the lads tray Of supplies and
walked through the cars singing
Peanuts, candy, chewing gum
newspapers, magazines"
They tell me business was ter.
ific, and the lad, to whom Downey
turned over all the cash collected
got the kick of his life. But nc
greater Kick than Morton himself
In his youth Morton was once 9
candy butcher himself on the same
railroad. He was pleased to find he
hadn't lost his old touch - II that'i
the correct word.
Tommy Tucker. whose orchestrs
was heard last night on "6potlight
Bands has sneaking Suspicion
that opportunity does knock moTl
than once. During an interview &
few months ago, he stated he wa
fond Of horses. Since that he hai
received several letters from persons
offering TO name race-horse aftel
hfru-for A Z min0r confederation