Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-11
On the Air
Just What Do
martin and
Lewis Have?
By Harry Macarthur

broadway NASH seen SlIlCS LIE
bobby-soxers were swooning fol
frankie Boy and dancing in the
theater alsles for Benny Goodman
Their monetary reward for this
lin case you were wondering
whether or not to let your son be-
come TV comic, will be several
degrees beyond fabulous. They
have a guarantee Of $4,000 q
week and will get in addition q
percentage of the gross over $780,
600 each week of the two-week
engagement.
They owe it all to television, too
They have done all right in the
more expensive bistros, of course
but you don't get a Nation wide
reputation Staying the ringsiders
at the Copa. You can get it in the
movies. maybe, but the successful
Martin-Lewis movies were made
after the cross-country audience
saw them on NBC-Tv's Comedy
Hour" 1t is television which must
accept the praise or blame for
giving Martin and Lewis to the
world.
| The reason for their immense
popularity is not readily visible tt
the naked eye and let's have ne
nonsense about them bringing a
fresh. new approach to televisior
comedy. Their best assets are
Jerry Lewis natural Glowing at.
tributes in face and voice and ar
uncomfortable urge to do anything
for a laugh. They try so hard fol
so many laughs that the law oil
averages is on their side.
| They represent. however, d
triumph of noise and wild, lunatie
activity over comedy. Their mate
rial is seldom marked by scintillat-
ing wit and Melvin" is not quite
as funny a comedy line, even, a.
Jack Benny's old play, Don.
Neither Martin nor Lewis can come
anywhere near Benny, either, ir
the matter Of timing. In en-
thusiasm they are easily topped
by Jimmy Durante. Nor does any
of their lunacy approach the
sheer magnif1cence of Ed Wynn.
lunacy.
| They have uncounted betters ir
the slapstick field. too, but this
lis the only area in which they
have contributed anything new.
Ever since the first Commedis
DELI Arte buffoon whacked a fell
low player with the first inflated
bladder the element of surprise
has been large In slapstick. A mar
! Slipping on a banana peel or fall
ing into an open manhole is funny
when he does not expect at the
moment to slip on a banana pee,
or fall in an open manhole.
A custard pie in the face is fun.
ny when 1t lands In the face of q
man who ihnocently opens a doc,
without expecting to be hit In the
face with a custard pie.
+ Martin and Lewis have turned
things around. however. They ster
on banana peelS with malice
aforethought. The ripped coats
torn shirts and other physica
mayhem of a Martin-Lewis Ty
show are all part of a plan O,
calculated risk. They call theil
shots with their custard pies.
This. indeed, is a new approach
to slapstick comedy. How it ha.
won for Martin and Lewis such
a wildly enthusiastic audience
however, remains one of the mys.
teries Of the entertainment world
Approved: Connie Russell. thu
sultry singer of the various Dave
Garroway radio and TV enter.
prises, has just made the switch
to the stage with success, to pla,
the Nellie Forbush role durin,
July in the Chicago company O.
South Pacific" Said one critic
Miss Russell had to overcom,
quite bit to score her success
yet she began to draw OF
some fine instincts of Snowman
ship, and sometime between tn
famous shampoo and Tn in Low
With a Wonderful Guy sh
started to walk squarely into
promising future" Said another
las might be expected, the bes
part of Miss Russell's interpreta
ton is her way with the wonderful
music and lyrics d. all hesitanc,
disappeared when she started t,
sing"
Programs and People: Donal,
O'Connor has been signed to al
exclusive television contract b
NBC for the 1951-52 season. TIL
young film star won the role witt
the hit he made appearing wit
Jimmy Durante last season
Jerry Strong's French poodle cal
stop worrying about where tn
dog foods coming from for an
other 13 weeks. The Stron
Block Party" (WWTG-Thurs
day, 1880 PM has just been re
newed for that period. Prett
Betty Madigan, Connie Ballow
and the Sammy Ferro Trio vii
stay on with the show, too
The Ranger Joe" of the Satur
day noon WMAL-TV show of tn
same name will be a Washington
visitor Friday and Saturday TO
a series of personal appearance
Lloyd Nolan's summer fill
stint on Martin Kane. Privat
Eye" will be stretched to a three
year term on both radio and TV