Evening star., 1951-01-26
On the Air
j. Durunte,
H.TruubeI
"A Fine Duo
By Harry Macarthur

BY Horry Macarthur
No matter what the polls tell
you, the funniest comedy on tele-
vision these nights is produced by
the team of Traubel and Durante,
songs, dances and witty sayings.
They first attracted attention a
month ago when Helen Traubel
appeared as Jimmy Durante's
guest, ostensibly to lend some Met
ropolitan Opera tone to his show.
She was an imposing sight in her
heroic Wagnerian armor and Jim
my's eyes bugged out.
Holy smoke!" he shouted.
"She's been drafted"
This week the two appeared to-
gether again as Durante's turn
came around on NBC's -Four Star
Revue" (WNBW-Wednesday, 8
p.mD and again their combined
talents provided some uproarious
moments. Miss Traubel did not
neglect the admirers Of her magni-
ficent voice, but her cloWning with
The Schnoz probably won opera
singers some new admirers no
voice alone would ever win.
This involved an attempt by
Durante to conduct the orchestra
for one of the Wagnerian So
pranos songs, which wound up as
almost any project in which he is
involved winds up-in hilarious
shambles. You have not lived
until you have seen and heard
Jimmy play ragtime on the piano
while Miss Trabel sings it. Her
version of Bill Bailey, Won't You
Please Come Home" is something
never to be forgotten by anyone
who encountered it.
It would be a misuse of Miss
Trabel's talent to turn her into
a permanent foil for Mr.. Durante.
but the two are too happily met
to separate soon.
You will find several new titles
among the WTOP-TV weekend
programs. The first of these will
be The Sam Levenson Show" to
start tomorrow as a regular Satur-
day-at-7 feature on CBS-TV.
Heretofore Mr.. Levenson,S con-
tributions to television have been
made during guest appearances
and they have been very funny
contributions indeed. On the new
program he will present real
fathers. mothers and children.
Their problems, foibles and tri-
umphs will be brought to the TV
audience through the skillful di-
rection of Levenson."
Sundays WTOP-TV schedule
starts with Comedy Carnival"
(films) at II am. which is fol-
lowed at 1870 by Versatile Vari-
eties." that kiddie variety affair
which is moving over from NBC.
"Sagebrush Theater." at IL, is new
and will have Pick Temple and
his folk songs plus a western film.
Also new. at 2:30 pm, is Movie
Museum" This one will present
old silent film comedies, with mar
ration by Gene Klavan and music
by Johnny Salb.
X X Il
When Arturo Toscanini returns
tomorrow night tat 6 tWRC) as the
conductor of the NBC Symphony,
the program will have a sponsor. |
This will not affect Toscanini,
however. He will not interrupt the |
Commute portion Of Verdi's Re
QUEEN" to be broadcast for the
politest, least commercial sales
talk ever contrived.
X X X
Come March II, regular listen
ers Of MBS programs will find
them at another spot on the dial.
The Mutual franchise, on that
date. will be transferred from
WEAM to WWDC. (WASH will
remain the FM outlet here.) Ac-
cording to WWDC's announce
ment, its successful formula of
block programming' will re-
main intact" as MBS programs
are fitted into the stations over
all operation" According to
WEAM, the transfer, of Mutual
programs will allow it, to return
to its former prominence as the
areas most powerful independent
station" /
Guest Stars Sunday: Lisa Kirk
on Paul Whiteman Revue"
(WMAL-TV-7 p.m0 :. Lee Fair
fax CFague Springman) with Ed
die Cantor on Comedy Hour"
(WNBW-8 p.m.) Bert Lahr
on "Showtime U. S. A.
(WMAL-TV-7:30 p.mD Den
ise Lor. George Dewitt on AR
thur Murray Show" (WTTG-
9 p.m.).
Drama Special: Sundays "Tele-
vision Playhouse (WNBW g
PM will present true drama,
THE Great Escape" Story of the
escape of 76 British and American
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