The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-09
WAVELETS
By ED LEAMY

1 Worlds Fair is forgotten by every one-that songs die overnight-that even Tobacco Road" has closed, the permanency of a program Ike 'The Parker Family" is refreshing.
 The Blue network show, heard Fridays at 8:15 p. m., has worn it's years pretty lightly. Tn that time, only two cast changes have been made. Leon Janney, who used to play Richard, has been replaced by the youthful radio veteran, Michael O'Day. And Marjorie Anderson is Mrs. Parker, in place of her prede- cessor, Linda Carlon. Jay Jostyn, MitI Gould and Patricia Ryan are still playing the roles in which they debuted on July 2, 1889.
 "The Parker Family" is Q success because 1t is a series of very ruman episodes in the lives of a very hu- man group of people. The chuckles and occasional heart tugs written into the scripts are the result of Authoress Priscilla Rents penetrst- ing glances into the mirror that re- fleets us all.
 You won't find any earth-shaking crisis on ''The Parker Family" but, then again, who wants to listen to the other guys troubles? It's simply a pleasant, entertaining show which is why it's celebrating its fifth anniversary and why 1t will probably live to ripe old age..
 Why is it." queried a new hsten- CT to Grand Ole Opry," heard Satur- days over NEG, That some of your old American folk songs sound distinctly modern?" Others have written in ,triumphantly exposing" an "Opry' entertainers newest tune as one sung by their parents and grandparents years ago.
 Oddly enough, both factions are partly right, according to Roy Acuff. The truth is that until conl- paratiyely recently. none of the old songs had ever been set down as sheet music, but were handed down to each generation by word of mouth only. AS times changed, new words were added, or old ones altered, to fit current conditions. Thus all these songs have been adapted to the age in which they were used and the current versions are no excep- tion. .+.
 Among the wedding presents that have been pouring in since the nup- tiaS of Phil Take It or Leave It" Baker and his bride, the former Irmgaard Erik, was a package that came this week addressed not to the Bakers but to the postman. On the label was this inscription: "Postman: Deliver this package to the correct address and you will have answered the $64 question: It was promptly sent to the Baker residence.
 Pretty Georgian Carroll, soloiSt with Kay Kyser's College of Musi- cal Knowledge" program. this week received torn and bullet-riddled photo of herself which was sent to her by Marine in the Pacific war zone. The leatherneck wrote that he had tackled it to the wall of his hut but it had been ruined when a Jap Zero swooped over the enca1np- ment and strafed the Marines living quarters. Please send me another,s he wrote. "I'll promise to taM better care of the next one.
 Robert Armbruster, maestro d the Groucho Marx Blue RibboA Town" airshow, has invented" an ingenious device to preserve tran. quillity in the homes of married men. Armbruster exhibited his in. vention at rehearsal this week. It consists of large pocket handker- chief dyed solid red in color which the conductor uses to wipe of hp- stick stains when girl guest singers kiss him on the broadcast. Says conductor Arnlbruster: Every man should have one of these; 1t makes things so much easler for him when he goes homel"
 George Weist, producer of the Dunninger show heard over the Blue Wednesdays at nine, is richer by a wristwatch, thanks to the Master Mentalist's generosity and ability to read minds. On a recent out-of-town trip, Weist lost his watch and was silently wondering how he would get along without that valuable piece of equipment when a new watch and a card with the note. Thought you could use this. Dunninger."
 Remember that old saying, Music hath charms to soothe the savage beaSt?" Milton Berle has proved conclusively that the adage is ac- curate.
 The curiosity of Joseph Furla. Cleveland 'cellist as the truthful ness of the saying led to his writing letter to Berle's Let Yourself Go" program, suggesting that the broadcast studio serve as e labora- tory for his experiment.. Before 6 large tudio audience, attendants brought out a cage containing a snarling lion. FIria seated himself beside the cage with his cello. and began playing Saint -Saens' .aThe Swan" The lions groMls gradually subsided. and by the time Furia had ilnished the selection, the '.savage beast" had been thoroughly soothed. He was stretched out on the bottom or the cage. asleep.