The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-31
By ED LEAMY

Il
hshed by the young American star
Of the Metropolitan Opera who ar
currently appearing as guest solo
lists, two each week, on World o.
Song" heard Sundays over the BluC
Network at $3.50 p. m.
The first startling thing these for
mer winners Of the metropolitan
Opera Additions Of the Air" proved
was that American trained singers
were first rate operate material
Now they have proved that popular
music can be sung by operate
artists without any loss of prestige
and, what is equally important, with
whole-hearted audience approval.
Until the success Of World Of
Song" opera singers departed only
on very rare occasions from the
typical classical" repertoire, and
then, usually, only for one selection
of their program. world Of Song"
however, Is devoted entierly TO mu-
steal numbers from operettas, mu-
steal comedies and popular song
albums. This means that an al
most virgin field Of music Is opened
to opera singers for their concert
and radio appearances. For which
concert audiences will undoubtedly
utter a heartfelt thanks, because
excellent as the classical roper
toire is, 1t has been limited by
habit, and anything becomes mon
otonous with constant repetition.
This limitation was recognized by
the singers as we'll, but they were
afraid If they diverged into the pop
ular field that the next time they
sang an operate performance both
the audience and the critics would
be less inclined to accord them
tribute as serious artists. This fear
was proved groundless by the en-
thusiastic response of both the press
and the public in Chicago and
Cleveland to the initial six soloistS
on World of Song" who sang i'm
portant operate roles with the Met
in these two cities Immediately fol-
lowing their appearances on World
Of Song"
So, thanks to the sure instinct OF
the sponsors of World Of Song" and
to the courage Of the young singers
who are the programs soloists, the
public Is having an opportunity to
hear its favorite tunes sung by
artists who, because Of their fine
musical background and their in
tensive training, cannot fail to en-
rich the hit" songs Of yesterday
and today.
Address to be delivered by Archie
Greenberg of New York and DR..
Irving Miller at the annual ban
quet Of the Connecticut Depart
ment Jewish War Veterans, next
Sunday at the Hotel Elton in Wa
terbury, will be broadcast from $50
to 8:45 p. m. over WATR Fred
Harris, Past National Commander
of Meriden, will be Master Of Cere-
monies.
"Mr. Tibbett," asked the Burns
and Allen show maestro Felix Mills
Of the famed baritone who was
guessing on the show, What song
have you chosen for the broadcast
II think I'll sing Bread" an
nounced Lawrence Tibbett.
"Bread?" questioned Mills. "You
mean Short min Bread?"
I'm a way replied the singer
But since the drive to salvage fats
I'm doing it without the shorten
ing!"
Famous Jury Trials" weekly pro.
gram over Station WATR which
presents fictionized versions o.
courtroom trials outstanding in his
tory has been on the Blue NetworE
more than four years.
The legal fireworks, which take
place each Tuesday, at 8 p. m. are
checked for authenticity by Martin
H. Young, New York attorney and
law historian.
In his quest for unusual situa-
tons for the Famous Jury Trials
series, Young has taken the entire
history OF jurisprudence for his field.
Terse dialogue, swift pace and cleo
trifying sound effects are woven
into the scripts, in order that the
listener may experience the illusion
of being in a courtroom.
Among the famous trials already
e-enacted have been those of Cap
tain Kidd, swashbuckling pirate, for
murder and piracy; the case OF
Aaron Burr, who was brought to the
bar on charges of treason; and the
Benedict Arnold trial. Ray Cramer
directs the series.
Breakfasts open on the fiction
allied prosecuting attorneys ad-
dress to the jury. Cross-eXamirla-
ton of witnesses follows, with fash
backs interspersed to develop the
dramatic aspect of the case. Follow
ing defense testimony, the judges
charge to the jury is heard as the
drama moves to its climax in the
verdict.
Through its several years on the
Blue, Famous Jury Trials" has
captured large and appreciative
audiences. Sixty percent of the fan
mail comes from law students, clerks
and attorneys.
Hadio-Film Coincidence Cass
Daley took part in an impromptu
Jitterbug session recently following
her fifth straight guest appearance
on the Bob Burns Arkansas Tray
eler" airshow. Spike Jones and his
City Slickers executed" few hot