Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
On the Air
On the Air
Milton Q. Ford to Be Heard
On WMAL Starting Monday
By Harry Macarthur

His brief period Of exile is
nearing an end for Milton @.
Ford and Monday his old radio J
fans will find him on WMAL.
His private st. Helena has been
WWDC-FM, to which he was
dispatched to await the effective
date of his new contract as a
member of the talen staff of
WMAL and WMAL-TV.
In his new spot there will be
plenty of Milton @. and the
listener Of his who can't catch
up with him at one time or
another just isn't trying. He'll
be on radio from 1870 to 1855,
from $50 to 6, from 6:15 to Z
pm. and from midnight to l
am, Monday through Friday.
The latter broadcast will be
from the Ambassador Grill. Mr..
Ford also will be heard from 8
to 1920 am. on Saturdays.
So that no Mephistopholean
work will be found for his idle
hands. he also will continue a
television chore on WMAL-TV.
This is the 4:30 pm. Family
Playhouse" where his raised
eyebrow attitude toward some Of
the ancient vintage film fare has
been delighting housewives for
some time.
Mr.. Ford also has an attitude
toward some Of the commercials
thrust on a man which makes
him much more bearable than
many practitioners of his trade.
His approach is not the sledge-
hammer Godfrey manner, hut a
more subtle one, as with a seal
pei. It makes the hukster sales
pitches entertainment for those
who can't abide them, without
harming their effect on what
ever segment of the population
1t is they sell things to.
There undoubtedly will be
other television in the WMAL-
TV future for Milton O.. but
nothing is definite or immediate.
I'm not going to turn any,
thing upside down or start any
revolutions" he says, in the
manner of a man who would
rather be liked for a long time
than be an overnight sensation.
Sensible man, this one.
DOCTORS RETURN-"Dr.
Christian" fans saddened by his
departure from radio apparently
will just have to turn to tele-
vision. That's where "Dr. Chris
tan" soon will turn up. This
news was elected, without le-
course to a single rubber hose
or thumb-screw, from a man
who came through here the
other day ahead of Gene Autry.
Mr.. Autry, as you undoubtedly
know, is bringing his big travel
ing show to Uline Arena Sunday
for two performances, at 2 and
$50 pm.
Mr.. Autry also is a busy man
In the television business. He has
built a brand-new town OF the
old West on his ranch, christened
it Gene Autry Town, and moved
to new home in the Hollywood
Hills. only miles from Holly
wood and Vine. At the ranch. his
Flying A Productions firm is busy
with a great deal more than the
Gene Autry Show" for TV.
One of its newest projects. our
informant reports, is Or. Chris
tian," television rights for which
Autry has purchased. It will be
filmed with Jean Hersholt and
Rosemary de Camp. A sponsor
is interested and wants to- see
four films. possibly having once
been burned on a hot pilot"
that turned out to be a subse-
quent dud. Autry has enough
faith in DIR. Christian" that he
will make the four half hour
reels.
Other Flying A news is that
the new Range Rider" series.
with Jack Mahoney (Autry's old
stand-in) and Dickie West, is a
sensational success wherever
shown. It's surprising everybody
Wis broke an ankle when her
that creation Of a new Western
!