Evening star., 1950-12-18
On the Air
Now Abbott
And Costello
|Get Revenge
On the Air

(Get Revenge |
There is a fine irony to be de-
tected in one of the things that
is happening in show business to-
day. To appreciate it, you have to
look back to that day when bur-
lesque, though we'll past its prime
and on the wane, was still thriv-
ing after a fashion. 1t was staying
in business through the ministra-
tions of the only native contribu-
ton the United States has made
to the theater arts, the so-called
strip-tease dancer.
In most cases she neither
stripped nor teased nor danced. to
put a precise definition on the
words, and she couldn't sing.
either, but she was the reason
burlesque's customers kept coming
around. To be burlesque comic
in those days was to have reached
a low estate. Many were talented
and many had their followers, but
comedians in burlesque were con-
sidered as nothing more than
stage waits, filling in between ap-
pearances of the girls.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello
were two of these and Is years
ago you could have found them
at the Gayety often, knocking
themselves out several times a
day. Now, of course, Mr.. Abbott
and Mr.. Costello are solid citi-
zens, gentlemen of wealth and
distinction whose movies never
fail to make a handsome profit.
Such is their stature in the show
world that they have been signed
on for a try at MICS highly
rated Comedy Hour" (WNBW-
Sunday, 8 p.m).
They will make their first ap-
oearance as replacements for Dean
Martin and Jerry Lewis. The sec
ond will be made in the spot Fred
Allen vacated after last nights
show. Subsequent appearances
will depend upon your reaction to
these first two Abbott Costello TV
shows.
And you know where the bur-
lesque "stripper" is today. She is
in the little bar-and-grill. trying
10 lure back the old customers who
have deserted the saloon to stay
home and watch television. Early
next month. Abbott and Costello
will be getting well-paid revenge
for their whole tribe.
x Il X
Programs and People: Margaret
Truman land this is in no way to
be construed as critical comment
on her singing) will make her Sec
ond appearance on Ed Sullivan's
Toast of the Town" (WTOP-TV
Sunday, 8 p.m) on January 81
rather than January II. The
CHS network says "a program
ming conflict" is responsible for
the postponement Two new
shows were seen yesterday on
WMAL-TV, as you may have no.
ticed. Bouquets and Bonuses" I"
at 4:30 pm, is to be a continuing
affair and after next Sunday will
alternate between Washington and
Baltimore origination and be. seen
in both cities. It's a combination
quiz and musical variety program
Carols and Corsages," at $50
pm, was the first of two holiday
programs featuring Fague Spring
mann and a 50-voice choir. 1t
will be seen again next Sunday ..
Stan Kenton's is the orchestra
scheduled for tomorrow night on
"Cavalcade of Bands" (WTTG-9
p.mD :. The first Damon Runyon
story adapted for television will be
seen tomorrow on Suspense"
WTOP-TV-9:30 pmD. Comedian
Wally Cox will be the narrator
and Pianist Joe Bushkin will have
a leading role in Dancing Dams
Christmas" Johns Hopkins
Science Review" (WTTG-Tues-
day, $50 PM will report this
week on Exploring the Arctic"
The material is being provided by
the university's Arctic Research
Laboratory at Point Barrow,
Alaska, and DR.. Ira L. Virgins,
director of the laboratory. is in
Baltimore to take part in the pro-
gram.
n X
The unctuous announcer was
directing all the bus passengers
the other morning to drop every
thing and rush downtown to buy
a television set. The brand he
was hawking was superior, he
said, because, among other things,
it was "ingenuously" designed.
It'll never enjoy Jerry Lester's re-
action to Dagmar as much as that
crafty old receiver in our living