The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-20
WAVELE r s.

NY recent vacation reminds me
OF the story Of the Irish farmer
who took his pigs to the market.
Asked II he had sold them he said,
.'Yes," but as to price-''Well," he
explained, II didn't get as much as
I expected to get, but then I didn't
expect to-" For I went down to New
York, and !, too, didn't do what ]
expected to do, for other things
turned I'D. I had planned to take
In many radio broadcasts, but I
found myself visiting around with
friends, and going out to dinner and
to the theater, and seeing only one
broadcast, "Your Hit Parade"
I had q grand time. The shows:
Angel Street." and THE Voice OF
the Turtle" were swell. The broad
cast with Joan Edwards as lovely
as her voice was swellelegant, and
old friends-just old, loved friends.
/ am sorry now, Of course, that ]
didn't take In more broadcasts, but
there are only so many evenings in
week, and ! have yet to find any
things to equal good gabfest with
some one you like, and whom you
haven't seen for long time.
One broadcast I particularly
wanted to see was not held during
the week ] was away, but three
nights after had returned to Wa
terbury-The Victory Parade Of
Spotlight Bands (WATR, Mondays
through Friday $3.50 p. No. at Madi-
son Square Garden week ago. ]
particularly wanted to go, for Nor
ton Downey was guest singer, and
I like Morton Downey. Besides, Dick
Mooney was holding special press
reception and that meant a lot Of
fun. However, I wasn't able to make
It. But the best gal went instead,
and she reports that Morton was
in as fine voice as ever, and was
easily the hit of the show. AS Dick
and Dorothy MONEYS guest she
talked with Morton, Of course, and
congratulated him on the rave
notices he has been receiving on
his appearances at the Starlight
Roof atop the Waldorf-Astoria. 1t
was her second meeting with
Downey. She was with me when
we attended Mortons ST. Patrick's
Day Party. I know how grand his
singing was that day. When the
best gal says he was In as fine voice
as ever-that to me is tops In
praise.
Incidentally Morton Downey,
whose golden tenor has been in
stumental in popularizing hundreds
of songs Of other writer's. doesn't do
so we'll for himself. He's long had a
yen to write songs, has started hun
dreds and completed 30, mostly bad.
But he has one big hit to his credit:
wabash Moon" He wrote that In
1881. Lesser Downey creations:
Nov You're In MY Arms" and
That's How I Spell Ireland"
Talking Of voices, and Joan Ed
wards as was a few moments ago,
alarming reports that circulated
over the week end that she had lost
her voice have been dispelled.
Broadway columnist Jack Gaver re-
ports that she Is doing nicely after
bursting blood clot on her vocal
chords and will be back on the pro-
gram this coming Saturday. Physi-
clans, he states claim that overwork
was the cause Of the mishap, and
that she'll have to forego outside
activities for two months.
Balmy evenings and warm wealth
er have played havoc with my radio
listening habits and plans. have
been wanting to catch Johnny Mer-
Ger on the Chesterfield Music Shop
program which Is replacing Fred
Waring and his Pennsylvania on
the o'clock spot Mondays through
Fridays over NBC. But so far I've
missed. I'm told he is rapidly build
ing UP a fourishing network bust
ness from coast to coast. and that
he has a talent for plucking
catch phrase out Of current lingo
and making 1t song hit. That Is
why I have been wanting to hear
the show. Any one who can fill Fred
Warnings shoes has to be darned
good indeed.
The new WATR, and Blue Net
work musical program, The Aunt
Jemima Show, will make its tune
full debut on Monday. June 10. from
1o:40 to i0:45 a. m. Thereafter, 1t
will be heard at that time Monday
through Friday.
The premiere will include such
old favorites as Hand Me Down
My Walking Cane" and Mighty
Lax q Rose" offerings Of the chorus
Of eleven voices. The chorus, on
Tuesday, June 20. will be heard in
sweet Georgia Brown" and "Just