Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-01

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Known at "the vacation" His medi-
satiye readers, quite happily for
oro-tempore editors, are instantly
willing to fill the breach. One of
them, Winslow S. McIver, 2003-B,
Fort Davis drive, Sc, takes up the
,udgels in behalf of radio listeners
right where Mr.. Macarthur dropped
hem.
Writes McIver to Macarthur:
In your very interesting Sum-
day column MAY 49,, you struck
a note of criticism that has long
been in my mind. Since we list
eners get our radio programs
free, we never like to squawk.
But now that the program build
ers are asking for it (CBS's
audience survey, I am willing to
stick in my two cents worth.
Stan Kenton's music is a dis
grace. 1t is blaring, screeching,
unharmonious and unmelodious.
Now, it is very easy to shut off
the Stan Kenton program; but
what's the use-nearly all bands,
to my way of hearing, are try
ing to adopt the same stuff.
prefer bands of the Al Goodman
class, playing semiclassical mu-
sic, but I also like good jazz. I
haven't heard the true tone of a
saxophone (not that I care very
much) since Hal Kemp's demise.
Now, they are purposely made to
sound more horrible than they
really are. Artie Shaw plays
good jazz Cor did: Tommy Dor
sey could play good jazz; and
Benny Goodman is a top-notch-
er, if he will lay off the Kenton
and the sepia.
AS regards future musical pro.
grams, we could stand more
South American music, if they
would concentrate on good mu-
steal numbers. We need more
salon music, especially on week
day evening programs. Also,
unusual musical combinations
would be interesting.
Regarding selections, I think
we are forced to hear the same
numbers too often. If song
makes the Hit Parade, you may
be sure you will hear itevery hour
for six weeks. I cannot believe
that radio listeners want to hear
these things constantly and for
ever. 1t is just possible that radio
producers have the same slant as
movie producers: which is, that
the average mental age of the
radio listener is IL years. On
Sunday night I heard Al Jolson
sing You Made Me Love You"
1t was a change, and enjoyed it
very much. The good tunes are
always good, if you don't hear
them too often.
Our comedians are all alike
like Bob Hope. I get SO tired of
hearing hiss endless line of gags,
the same old gags in new uni
forms week after week. If the
listeners go to Bob Hope, it is
entirely possible that they have
nothing better to listen too. The
new gag operators don't even
have enough ingenuity to change
their voices and tempo. They all
sound like Bob Hope, and who he
sounds like, I can't remember.
Amos and Andy, Lum and Abner,
have endured because their hum
or is based on something solid
characterization. But, good as
they are, they get tiresome after
so many years. The same goes
for Jack Benny, Fred Allen, and
Eddie Cantor. After several years
of listening to the same old stuff,
you just get tired. The most
refreshing and entertaining pro-
gram I have heard recently is
Leave it to the Girls"
On programs in general, good
plays properly adapted, and we'll
acted, are always welcome. I do
not care for re-hashed movies
that I saw downtown last week
or last month. I think the pro-
gram makers sometimes forget
how many people take in the
movies in this land. Plays that
were popular 10, or more, years
ago would be appreciated. I be-
lieve. Kay Kyser's new show is
bad. Information Please" no
longer interests me because the
information passed around is not
very interesting.
Of the various quiz shows, I
like Bob Hawks the best because
freshness and spontaneity are
maintained, and the questions
are at a good level for audience
participation. The mystery shows
Il like mysteries) entertain me
only mildly because there are so
few good ones. Patterns are fol-
lowed too closely. We could use
more top-fiight artists in solo
spots Of Is minutes. For ex-
ample. Melchior on a program