The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-19
WAVELETS s
By BILL HARRINGTON

1 bolt & Costello show Thursday, Dec. 21, NEG, 10:00 In., it will bo the 18th consecutive Christmas sea. son broadcast of this oular con- position by the maestro.
 ''The Wooden Soldiers Christmas idea started in 1929' says Freddie, 'and for the first three years, I used the same arrangement. Then I be- gan to change the arrangement every year, the present one being the twelfth in the series"
 Major Edward Bowes spins his famed Wheel of Fortune for the 500th time during Columbia's Ma jor Bowes' Amateurs" program Thursday, December 21 (WABC- CBS, 9:30 D. m.). The Major broad cast his first program almost ten years ago, on March 24, 1885, and since then the familiar introductory line, Again we have the Wheel oi Fortune. Around and around she goes, and where she stops nobody knows" has been heard week in and week out for half thousand times.
 During those years the Major has accompanied his original intention which was to provide an opportunity for talented unknown aspirants to get 8 hearing. Since it's inception the original amateur hour has be- longed, not to the headline stars of Broadway, but to obscure artists, the stars of tomorrow"
 | Many of these ''unknowns" have gone on from the Majors spring board to fulfill cherished ambitions The latest of these is Regina ReSnik young dramatic soprano who scored such sensational hit on her short- notice debut at the Metropolitan Opera House last week.
 Other Metropolitan artists num- bered among the Majors graduates are Christina Carroll, Lucille Browning, and Lansing Hatfield. And among hundreds of others to get their start as graduates of the Major, is the phenomenal Frank Sinatra, who first sang on the Bowes program September 4, 1885.
 Esther Williams, former swim ming champion and now a motion picture star, and Andy Russell, Blue network singing sensation, will reveal their secret ambitions 1 on Milton Berle's Let Yourself Go program over WATR and the Blue network tonight at 10:30 p. m.
 This marks the second appear ance of Russell on the Let Yourself Go show. The singer was a guest two weeks ago.
 Ray Blocks orchestra will fur niSh the musical background. liar old Speers and Hal Block direct.
 Orson Welles stars in Norman Corwin's '"The Plot to Overthrow Christmas" on Columbia networks ''This Is My Best" program tonight (WABC-CBS, 9:30-10:0O P. M0 Welles will portray the Roman Emperor Nero.
 "The Plot to Overthrow Christi mas' was first presented by Corwin, CBS author-producer- director, in December, 1889, and has been a favorite of radio listeners since. Its characters are group of evil- doerS. The story concerns a meet ing of kindred souls in Hades who plot to destroy mortal mans benevolence." The Devil, Simon Legree, and Nero, among others, are the williams. The high dramatic point is reached when Nero con- fronts Santa Claus and, happily for all, is thoroughly confounded by the Yuletide spirit.
 Ray Collins plays Santa Claus Dave Titus directs with the assist ance of writer-editor Whit Burnett.
 Three all-time -old-time favoriteS are to be sung on the WJZ-Blue networks Aunt Jemima Show We'd nesday, Dec. 20 at 1925 a. m.; they are, Carry Me Back To Old Virginny', "Old Folks At Home" and Way Down in New Orleans.
 On Thursday, Dec. q, the choir isters are to offer "St. Louis Blues" and "Juanita."
 More plantation platitudes will feature Harriet Widmer's portrayal of Aunt Jemima.
 Whats he got that I couldn't have if my tonsils weren't out?" de- mands Milton Berle when informed that Crooner Andy Russell will re- turn to Let Yourself Co., on Tues day, Dec. 19, at 1O:3O p. m., over Station WATR, Andy, currently running out in front in the :woon- stakes. will attempt to give Elm Gee Berle a few sample lessons in the art of singing. He'll also reveal his secret ambition. Maestro Ray Bloch will be on hand to baton the or- cheStral selections.
 Bidu Sayao, the glamorous Brail- ian soprano of the Metropolitan Opera, will be the guest star on 'The Metropolitan Opera Presents" on Sunday, Dec. 24, at 5:30 D. m. e. W. t. over the Blue network Highlights of Miss Sayaos rise to operatic fame will be dramatized and the celebrated soprano will sing excerpts from several of her , most famous Metropolitan roles Minnie Pearl, who has become nationally famous as the personi- fication of gossipy girl from back in tlle hills, has recently been of- fered an oportunity to move to New l York and appear on some Of the ] big radio shows originating tlnen