The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-16

Entertainment, since the days of the first crystal set, has been radios sole concern, but with the outbreak of world hostilities and the begin ming of World War II, tie airwaves have become the greatest single fac- tor in meeting attendant nation wide sociological problems. Invalu- able in binding together people in all walks of life, popular coast to-coaSt broadcasts have sold war bond, solicited blood donors, promoted salvage drives, but most im .,ortant, they have brought un- derstanding and mutual sympathy to the nation and it. people.
 While the theater has submitted and attempted to solve humanity's problems, the theater reaches only & limited audience. But today radio reaches virtually into every home, has a listening audience that ranges from the school boy to the teacher, the farmer to the most erudite cos- mopolite.
 The Fibber McGee and Molly pro- gram, for instance, which reaches some 30 million radio listeners each Tuesday over NBC, has been off, cially cited by the OWI for its work on the home front, not only in building morale but in actually con- tributing immeasu:ably to the suc- cess of drives for the conservation of vital war materials.
 Abies Irish Rose plays an im- portant past in home front morale too, as one of the greatest contrib utors to racial understanding and sympathy, presenting as it does the American group of people.
 Green Valley, U. s. Al, new pro- gram being heard Sundays over the Mutual network, dramatizes the American ideal of distributing the good things of life to everyone and points out that America ill peace time, has a more abundant life than any other country in the world.
 These are only few examples. More could be enumerated without end. But the conclusion is obvious. Radio is doing a msn-siZed job for all mankind-at home and abroad. One of those odd gifts received by radio stars came the other day ! to Morton Downey - a flower pot filled with soil from Ireland
 Attached to the earthly tribute from a listening lady who explained it came to her from cousin in l County Cork was a note reading T thought this would make yau as home sick for the old sod as your nostalgia songs in the afternoons 1 do me
 Downey wrote the lady thanking her for the gift, but he had to ex- plain that he never saw Ireland until be became popular as an Irish singer. He was born in Wallingford. Conn, and raised in Brooklyn.
 Pinky Herman, the song writer, (who is also Scoops Daly of Radio Daily, heard Regina Colbert, love- ly Singing Secretary" of the Mus ical Steelmakers," singing his latest hit tune, Seven Days A Week" on the Blue network one recent Sun day. Pinky was so delighted with her rendition that he told fellow composers that he was going to call on her and thank her personally One writer, who knew full well that the program was broadcast from Wheeling, West Va. bet MT. Her. man five dollars that he wouldn't Pinky wins the bet--although he's going to spend more than that tc be in the "Steelmakers" home town during their broadcast of Sunday March i9. at 5:30 p. m. e.w.t.
 Joseph Lilley, choral director or Dinah Shores program over CBS Thursdays. has been rejected by the army.
 The world of music at his finger tips that's the impression listeners get of Lyn Murray, con. ductor of The Lyn Murray Show. Selections on the l5-minute stanza range from novel arrangements oi popular hits to seldom-heard class ics of miniature size. Recent Murray programing included medley iron Walt Disney cartoons and the nlt' ing "Variations on a Haydn Theme by Nicholas Van Cleeve!
 Tn the years since Maestro Petel Van Steeden first waved his batoT in front of the microphone tagged Station WEAF-then a tiny New York transmitter-Van has con