The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 19

10 Radio Plans the Colorful Greetings for the New Year Without Trying, E. Cantor AGAIN-CALLING THE RADIO STARS tMin-l l-iref Pnfa an Man ll THE IXDIAXAPOLIS SUNDAY STAR, DECEMBER 27, 1936. Radio Says I WUMW I II l-VUIW VUJ miuii Off With the Old, On With the New. 1 Our Correspondent, Mr. Mok, Discloses How a Cab Driver Hopped Into the King Row as a Joke-smith.

BY MICHAEL MOK. NEW YORK, Dec. 26. HE GOLDEN VOICE OF XIXO MAIITIM, the Metropolitan Opera tenor, and (he laugh-provoking antics of Oracle Allen and George Burns will feature the programs on the Colum. mi bla network Wednesday.

Martini with Andre Kos- IKE drizzly afternoon in the late autumn of 1931 Eddie Davii sat slumped over the wheel of his cab at the stage door of the Palace Theater. Mr. Davis, a stocky, thin-haired, explosive gent, in those days had two jobs, both of them Iclanetz's orchestra on the Chesterfield program, singing a group of fnmtllnr classics. Oracle Allen will make some amusing New Year 'a resolutions. I-nlti Yollmer, widely known author, and Gretta Palmer, former editor of the Xew Yorker, will he guests on the "Magazine of the Air," and lr.

F. H. Knight of the University of Iowa will speak on the science of education in connection with the Atlantic meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Science. Homer Ilodeheaver's "Community Sing" will feature Xew Year's songs, and there will be another demonstration of the (act that crime doesn't pay on the Gang program. Gogo de Lys, Columbia's popular vocalist, will sing several of the most popular songsj Dr.

Allan Hoy Dafoe, physician to the Dionne quins, will warn chil-dren of the nation against eating (oo much randy, and against entlng between meals, and the story of the Oregon Trail will be dramatized in "Cavalcade of America." hear typical mountain state's WHEN THE 1937 CARAVAN celebration. From the Coamopoll. series makes its debut with Jack lHn fHUl at the helm. Tuesday at tan here Art nd washouts. Summers he made a thin living as "social director" for some of the more obseur upstate mountain resort hotels.

Winters he made a thin livsng as a hack driver. Mr. Davis, who had had a succession of particularly meager days, was cursing his luck when out of the stage door stepped Eddie Cantor, then headlining at the B. F. Keith mother house.

Mr. 'Davis knew his comics as well as he knew the few coins in pocket. So he swung wide the door of his cab and said, "Here y'are, sir, Mr. Cantor." But let Mr. Cantor continue the story.

He's sitting in the living room of his suite in the Warwick Hotel. He's dressed in gray flannel slacks, blue sweater, gray suede sports shoes. He's tanned, he'a chipper, he's glowing with health. His enormous dark pop-eyes gleam like the huge jet buttons your grandma used to wear on that warm beige winter coat. I'pper Left Lionel Barrymore as he would have appeared as "Scrooge" from "A Christmas Carol" by Charles lMckens.

The death of his wife, however, forced him to leave the cast and his place was taken by his brother John. I'pper Klght Charming Dorothy Page appearing with Irvln S. Cobb in "Paducah Plantation." Lower lft Joe Cook, the "Mad Hatlor" from Kvansvllle, is bark on (he air with Shell Chateau. He will not imitate the famous Six Hawaiian in his program. Lower Bight The noted Bndy Yallee In his most recent camera closeup.

I V- (X -hi a i i I Lmm 10 PRESENT THE MICROPHONE BROADCAST GOSSIP PROGRAMS BEST PICKUPC ON THE NKTWOKK9. 9:00 A. Pulpit, W1RK-llrd nrtworU. A. M.

Aniprlcaii Society of An-(lent Iimtriiinenta, WIKU-Keid liPtworU. II A. My Mualfl Hall, WI.M'-Hliio nntwork. 1:00 P. M.

Magic Kiy of BCA, WLW-ltlue nntwork. V. M. Philharmonic Orchestra, WKHM-CHM. P.

Talley, WIRK- Hn network. P. M. (iuy Lomlmrdo's Or- chPHtra, IVI HM HS. 5:00 I'.

M. Joe I'emier, KHM- (IIS. 6:00 I'. llfiinle and Mury Mvlniraton, I.W-Kerl net work. V.

M. Phil Maker. HTHM-(IIS. P. M.

-Uddle Cantor, KHI1I-(IIS. 8:00 P. r'ord Suncliiy KvenlnK Hour, WHIM IIS. :00 P. (ienernl Motor Concert, WIKK lied network.

9:00 P. M. Mehlnd the llendlltiea with Kdwln Hill, WI.W Itlue network. 10:. "Ml P.

Joy I'reemnn Oriheatra, HIM IIS. 11:30 P. Don llediiinn'a Orchestra, WIKK-Ked network, his orchestra will be playing, the program will he whisked off to the Denver Country Club for period of music by Hob Organ's dance band. The music of the Supreme Hanger Revue, including the Men of the West Quartet, will conclude the Denver part of NIlC's festive New Year program. Five pickups In San Francisco and two in Angeles will give MIC listeners the opportunity to revive (he gayety of the occasion.

At JsSS a. in. (Central standard lime) NHO will switch to the music of (irlff Williams at tha Mark Hopkins Hotel. The orches. tras of Kddle at the St.

Francisco Hotel, llernle Cummins at the Palme Hotel, Ran Wilde at the Club Deauville and Herb Samann at (he Hal Tabarin will follow. Jlimiiie Oder's or. chest ra at the I.os Angeles Bilt-more and Jan Gni her's at the Ambassador will nil the minutes Holed io l.os Angeles. The final New Year salute will originate at Honolulu, far out in the Pacific ocean, where the suave strains of the lloyal Hawaiian band will give NHC listeners an Idea of a typical Hawaiian holl-lny. COLUMBIA network listeners throughout tha nation wilj keep pace with New Year's sweep across the llmo zones of tho continent from New York to Los Angeles; will hear London's famous Big Ben toll the departure of the old year, and sit in on interviews with the "man In the street' In England, Canada, United States and Hawaii.

In the programs of Thursday, New Year's eve. Microphones In New York, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles will bring the noises of welcoming crowds as 12 o'clock midnight comes to these cities, each one hour behind the other. And dance bands from New York to Honolulu will nlav. New Year's eve gayety as expressed by dance bands from New York to Honolulu will be broadcast over a nation-wide WABC-Columbla network starting at 11 p. m.

(Eastern standard time) Thursday, Dec. 31, and continuing until 4 a. m. (Eastern standard time) Jan. 1, 1937.

The program will pick up the famed Times Square crowd noises at the stroke of midnight, and as each time zone heralds the New Year another city will be heard from. 9-10tonightWIRE iwi mi $tm if sutoeouui emu ELISABETH EZI0 SOPRANO lASS-IARirONE OfNEIAl MOIO'S SVMPHONV oichcstda erno 1 nrr conductor TUNI )N 5 "5 jrjf WLW TONIGHT LAURITZ MELCHIOR SOLOIST O.V THE FORD SUNDAY EVENING HOUR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 0T It Conducted by JOSE ITURBI 8 lo 9 O'Chck C. WFBM Coaet lo Oxiat Columbia RETHBERG IllA mt 8:30 p. in. (Central standard time), over the CBS network, an outstanding: radio Innovation will be introduced to the listeners.

For the first time, genuine col lege talent, culled from the ranks of undergraduate entertainers on campuses tnrougnoui tne country, will be heard regularly In a series ot weekly broadcasts. Oakle, presiding in his role as tha president of a mythical college, will present various students whose reputations as vocalists and musicians have won them collegiate renown. THR SOUND OK America dancing, shouting and singing in salute to the New Year will be broadcast over the. combined networks of the National Broadcasting Company in a gala program, Amerlra Dances, which will begin at 10:30 p. m.

(Central standard time) on Thursday, Dec. .31. and continue until 4 a. m. (Central standard time) New Year's day.

NBC networks will bo kept open an hour later than ever before on New Year's eve to bring listeners five separate greetings to 19.17 from New York to far-away Honolulu. Revelry In night clubs and swank grillrooms of New York city will open the program. At midnight (lOnslern standard time, p. m. Ontml standard time) the first blast to 10.17, "Auld Lang Syne." Intermingled with all the squawks, rattles and tooting that, America traditionally associates with New Year, will go over the coast-to-roast networks.

Some of New York's finest dance hands. Including the orchestras of lay Noble at the Rainbow room, Kniio Coleman at the St. Ttegls, Mnrlo Btaggiottl at the Pierre, Bobby Hayes at the Edison, and the Three T's at Hickory House, will be heard during the eishty-flva minutes the program Is held In New York. At 11 p. m.

(Central standard lime) controls will be swltchpd to Chicago In time to greet the Now Year in that city. Gus Arnholm'a band at the Congreaa Hotel, Frankle Masters at the Hotel Stevens, Ifiarl Hines at, the Grand Terrace, the King's Jesters at the Bismarck Hotel, Bob MrC.rew'a at Hotel La Salle, Henry Busse's at the Chez Paree and Joe Venutl's at the Ca-Flno Parisionne will give representative portions of Chicago's musical New Year's greeting durinit the hour the program remains at Chicago. THU PROGRAM WIM. MOVE mi to Denver at 12:33 a. ni, (Central standard time) In (line to :00 Oenernl Motors Conrert, WTAM.

10:00 Vlnient Traver Orrheaira. (WIRK nn 30 Preaa-Kadlo Newa. WKNR. lOI ChlTO. WIRK.

11:00 Hhandor. WIRK. WCK1. Three T'a Orcheilra. WmK.

Redman Orrheaira. WIHK. Melody Hour. WCKU WI.W. Tone PK-turei 'hllrtren'a Hour.

WI.W, :00 Clolater Belli WI.W. Sweetheart! of tha Air, Walhers Brown String WI.W. I'reaa-Radlo Newa Allra Remien. Allatalr Cooke. WI.W n.k..r.al UI.W WMAQ.

WIRK. Knaembl. WMAQ lf -lrr(iB 1 11 Amorlcmn raKni DK A City Muno Hall Sympllony Orcheilra. WI.W 12 Our NeiRhhon. WENK.

100-Mali Key of RCA WLW. 2 .00 Your Knillah WKNK Oala Rase 4S)orothy Urellln. WKNR 3 00 I'entnnuaa Serenlde. WIRK. jerry Menra i orcbeatra.

WCKl. i'mi-wa The Peop.a. WHAM. WCNR. 4- SU Col' Stnopnanie and Buod.

WHAM WIRK, WKNR. uoKehuee from tha Orcheitri Pit. WKNR. 30 flolden Park Band, W1RB. Helen Traubel, WIHK 5- It nr Not.

WHAS. W1.B. WIRK 7:00 Mualral Comedy Revue, WIRB. STATION FINDER. Kilocycles on the Dial.

wovvo use WIN WAVE-IMS WWW WMAIM'O WHBM 71 KPKA-MS I BE-im WI.W -700 WON-130 wcrnn WRNK-87S WTAM-1011 WJR-7M 7 Dre.im. lon AS 'RK waiter Winche.i, WBNIt, WHAM. WLW Paul WBiteman Muatrai 'anatiei. VL' tt A WI.W a. in r-'p U'KNR.

WHAM nil -rAvnn C. Hill WHAM. WKNR. WLW a .10 -Dreama of Uin Ann, WfcNK 18 no Jii'ly and tha Bunch. WENR.

0 10. 1 waner TTin nei, WAVE. 10.IS Kins't Jeatera. VVK.NR Maateri Onhnn. 10 JO Paul Whltaman'i Uuiicai Varlatiaa.

11 oe Hery Buaae'a Oreheatra, WKNR. 11 30 KOdle rtUpttrlck's Orcneitra. W) NR. Stoopnagle Will Predict, a Little About future -t Vntri StoonnaEle will take Kiant see-ahead-o-graph off the shelf ahake out the mothballa and predict the happenings of 1937 during his broadesat with his vacuum-headed stooge, Bud, Harry-VonZell and Don Voorh-es orchestra at 4 o'clock this afternoon over WIRE and the NBC. This is an annual event.

The comedians will also present their own version of the Our Neighbors program. COl.L'MMA SYSTKM. Sunrtsy Morning at Aunt Sunsn WHBM. AH. Prm-Rdio Nwi, WHAS.

Church ut th All, WHBM, WHAS. rhlldrea's Hour, WBFM. loiuua Malnr Howei 'i'htaur Family. WBBM, WHAS Bull ban Otiy TDprncn i-'hoit and Orn. WBBM.

WHAS Church of tin Air, WBBM. WHAS Jnln-Amnrlran Conf ernc, WHAS Vi.itt Hunday Kernnml, WHAS 1:00 Mime the Thrater, WFBM. Ncw Krnm Parli, WH AH. 2:00 Phlihnrmonlo Symphony Orcheilra, WFBM. 4:00 Ymir UnMen Friend.

WHAS. WBBM. 4:30 uiiy limbtrdo'i Orcneitrt, wrBM, WBBM :00 Jne Penner. WFBM. WH AH, WBBM.

6:30 Kuhlnoff Orcheilra. WFBM. WBBM, WHAS. ProfciMor Quia, WFBM. :30 Phil Bnkpr-Hi Kemp's Orcheeira, WFBM, WBBM, WHAS.

Open H'lime wlih Neiion tody. WFBM. WHBM, WH A F.ddte c'ntiNir, with Parhyakarliui, Bohlty (irein, Jimmy WBlllriKlon and Januri Benardi Orchaira. WFBM. WBBM.

WHAS :00 Ford Sunday Kvenlna Hour. IMrec- tor Frit llelner. WFBM. WHBM, WHAS. 9:00 Onpmal f'ommunlly Hint.

WFBM, WHBM. WHAS a 4f Kaiienhorn F.dltn tna Newi. WHAS. 111:011 Itoiir Prvor'i Orcheatra, WFBM. 10:30 Jov Freeman' orrheetra, WFBM 1 1 :1 Vincent tinpet'i Orcheelri, WFBM.

11:30 t)lrk Hlahllen'i Orcheatra, WFBM. MtC KKII. William Meeder. WL.W. ft'MAQ.

Chlloren I Ouncert, WMACj Harold Nasnl i Orrheaira, W1KK. II Olla Radio Pulpit. WIRE t.3L'a-Amerlran Hvleiy Ancient In- inimenia. wikk. Ward and Muzzy.

10 :1.1a Pecre Trio. WM AQ Tha World it Youri. WTAM. II Samovar Serenade. WMAQ University of rhicagu Hound Tahia Dlaruaalon.

WMAQ. 12:00 Mur Wlllann. WIRFI. 12:30 Melody Matinee. WIKK, WMAQ 1.00 l.audt rno and White.

WTAM. 1:1.1 Choral Vnkea. WIRK. 1 30 Thatcher l-'olt Hyateriea. WIKK.

2.00 Metiopniltan Audltlom. WTAM, WMAQ. WIKK 2:30 fjrand Hotel, WMA'J. WTAM. Penthotue ecna-tc.

J.30 1847 Millical CISmera. WMAQ. WI.W 4.00 Marlon I alley with Jorl K'leaf. ner'i Orcheilra. WTAM, WMAQ WIRK WFBM.

0 JUtur. gagman who climbed off the box of a cab to enter the manufacture of radio wisecracks. Mr. Cantor's regular script writer, a young Englishman named Phil Rapp, who is ill at this writing, started his career as an actor. He got into the radio-writing racket in 1931, helping to cook up air shows for Beatrice Lillie, Burns and Allen, George Price and others.

Mr. Cantor thinks the world of Phil. "I wouldn't give one Rapp," he says, proving tha he needs no paid assistance in pulling a pun, "for all the other script writers." The cofnedian, who had to engage a couple oC other young fellows to take Phil's place, insists that he is responsible for most of the ideas he uses on the air, on the screen, in the theater. "I think 70 per cent is a fair estimate," he says. He Knew Something.

A comic who makes no such claim is Milton Berle, who for years has deliberately advertised himself as a gag stealer. The truth, however, ia that he buys his jokes from Irv S. Brecher. Brecher was helping his cousin, Leo Brecher, who operates the Little Carnegie Playhouse, with publicity and other matters before he got into gag-writing. He used to concoct little jokes and send them to Broadway columnists for the pleasure of seeing them in print.

"I changed my mind," he says, "when I went to the theater and heard several clowns using my cracks freely on the stage. 'If they can use 'em, I said to myself, "I on coll 'oiyi mA in can sell em. So I put this ad in Variety IRV. S. BRECHER.

Positively Berle-proof gags gags so bad even Milton Berle won't steal them. "The day the paper came out, Berle, whom I didn't know from Adam, called me up. 'Is this a he asked, 'or is it the 'It's the I said. 'That's he said. 'I'm playing the Capitol Theater.

Come on over for a I went over. My knees shook. I had no poise whatever. Milton told me to write him' a batch of gags. I wrote about a dozen, and he used them all.

"After that he called me up every time he needed some material. He paid me well for an inexperienced man. Pretty soon, I quit the Little Carnegie and spent all my time working for Berle and some other comics. Now I write for Berle exclusively." A Parade of Jobs. Then there's Mort Lewis, the lad who, during the recent presidential campaign, sprang this nifty: "Why is Landon running for President?" "Because his wife wants to write a column." Mr.

Lewis, who has written stuff for most of the leading zanies of the air. entered the game by answering a want ad for a writer of "funny captions" inserted in the Sunday Times by an obscure photo syndicate. Before that he had worked as a copy boy on a suburban newspaper, an office boy in an advertising agency, a sandwich man advertising "Pants to Match Your Vest." a mess boy on a tramp steamer, a lamp salesman in a Brooklyn department store and a real estate salesman in the Bronx. He was fired from every one of those jobs. Although he never was strictly a gagman, the experience of Irwin Shaw is well worth recording here.

The author of "Bury the Dead." the grim antiwar play which made such a deep impression last season, began his writing career by grinding out the continuity for two radio shows "The Gumps" and "Dick Tracy." Enters Folson Business. "When I came out of Brooklyn College," says Mr. Shaw, who is 23, at his parents' Flatbush apartment, "I was crazy to get Into the newspaper business. I saw every city editor and the editors of all the weeklies and monthly magazines in town. "I wanted to start as an office boy, as an apprentice.

I was willing to work for $12 a week, $10, anything, just to get in. "Nobody wanted to pay me $10 a week to work on a newspaper, but somebody (an agent I met ac cidentally) was willing to pay me RJfiO a week to write trash for the radio oral poison for- defenseless kids. "I got $40 a script and I had to turn out nine a week. This is how I did it: I hired a part-time stenographer and dictated the stuff to her, 20.000 words. In two days Mondays and Tuesdays.

We worked straight through from 9 to with an out for lunch. 1 never read hour the stuff, never corrected or edited it and never listened to it on the radio. Just sent tt off and that was the end of it." How to Get a Job. The five other days of the week Mr. Shaw devoted to the writing of his own plays.

He kept this up until his "Bury the Dead" went Into rehearsal. Now be works for the radio no longer. He is under contract to RKO as a dialogue writer. Ken Enelund. the rather sardonic voung chap who now creates Ken Murray's comedy, began writing pieces for college magazines when he mas in high school in Chicago.

vr a hrnlr into rrl in ratvwritinr nr ndinir two lokea to Phil Baker. phii was so pleased with them that he engaged Englund as a regular script writer. ne 4U im ri.i that tickled Phil, the comedian was able to use No Dace to Be Funny. "I took his cab," says the comedian, "and told him to drive me home. In the thick of the Sixth avenue traffic he started to tell me a gag.

'Here's something that maybe you can use on the stage, he streets were slippery and I didn't like his technique. He stuck his head into the cab to get his lines across to me, so that he couldn't see the road in front of him unless he had eyes in the back of his neck. He was holding he wheel with one band and making extravagant gestures with the other "After he shot two or three gags at me in this way I had enough. Look I said what'. the use of keeping this up? At this rate we'll both land in Campbells Funeral Parlor, and that's a very dignified place; they won't let the parents tell jokes in there.

Why don you keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel and come home with me? I'll give you fifteen minutes to unburden yourself. "So I took him home and he told me a few more. I knew I couldn use any of the stuff, bu I didn want to discourage him and I gave him a good-sized tip. First he wouldn't take it but I made him. The next afternoon I came out or the house to go to the matinee.

I into a cab at the door-it was Davis. He must have oeen hanging around there for hours On the way to the Palace he pitched right inegain, his head turned back Vh rub steering with one hand, llic I Intn the CI actine with the other. Hacking Comedy. "After the matinee, there was Davis. I was prepared.

'I'm walking I said, 'That's all right, Mr. he said. 'You walk and I'll drive slow along the curb. Didya hear the one about the Irishman in the Pennsylvania station. Ana In he started, he driving and yelling at me and I walking.

"That was just as nerve-wracking as riding with him, so I said to myself 'What the devil, might as well get into the He drove me home and this time he told one that was really good. I used tt in ray net that flight and the audience laughed. "After the show, there was Davis again. I told him I had used his gag and gave him $20. 'Every time I use one of your jokes, I said, I going to give you twenty.

He was overjoyed. 'Gee, Mr. he said 'that's wonderful! All I have to do now is tell you two nifties a week and I'll make more than I do with my For the next few months Davis continued to spout gags like a gey-iPr Once in a while he produced one that Cantor could use and the cabbie got his $20. He Needed That Cab. "This had been going on about six months," says Mr.

Cantor, "when he came to see me at home one day. He was sick, he said. The doctor had told him he would contract chronic chest trouble unless he stopped driving his hack. 'Mr. he said, 'why don you hire The idea had its merits.

If I hired him off his cab. 1 would at least not have to ride with him. That, would save me from a nervous breakdown. 'How much do you want? I asked. 'For you, Mr.

Cantor, I'll do it for $35 a he said. I said: 0. K. You've got a job." So now he was off his cab. Now he didn't have to drive around any more in wind and weather.

Now he didn't have his health to worry about. Now he was secure in a imall way. Now he could sit home all day, smoking a cigar, with nothing to think about but his gags. "And what came out of him? Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Not one gag that I could see.

It was terrible. Somebody suggested that I buy him a cab and put him somewhere in a warm garage, where he could sit with one hand on the wheel and the other waving in the air, for inspiration. But I vetoed that idea. Local Boy Makes Good. "Davis knew, of course, that there was something wrong, so one evening he came to me and said, 'Mr.

Cantor the trouble is I haven't enough education. I don't know how to write very well. Now, I know a bov who knows all about writing. Whv don't you hire him. i nit' kaln me nut "How mr.cn noes naked.

'For he said, he will also do it for $35 a wee 1 said: 'O You can have $0 between 'After that, things went better When I saw that Davis had got on to the trick of script writ- the other boy go and gave ms' -1 ll1 "Today he is married. He a settled down and he has a swell job with me. He rides around in cabs and tips the drivers the way he Thought he should bV'PPed when he was driving his -h- "He's still tha same gagman. ags gags, gags, all day long. He hke I i guy in a shooting gallery who fakfs a rifle, shuts his eyes and fires away bang-bang-bang-bang, bang A guy like that is bound to get a bird every so often.

He's Gag Insurance. "One thing Ml av for nim' mv ea on for two, three weeks I without producing hm.mS ,1.. 4 a i can use. uui gag. wnen i on- I need one thpre: he a always gni.

Davis is really So. vou see, Eddi' my gag insurance i So foascertlfn Davis is the only abl MUSIC on the AIR TODAY AVRITZ MELCHOIB, distinguished Metropolitan Opera tenor and one of the great interpreters of Wagnerian roles, will be the guest soloist with the I'ord Symphony Orchestra and Chorus directed In Detroit by Itnrbi and broadcast over the entire const -to-coast Columbia network tonight from to 0 p. in. (C S. T.

Singing two famous songs by Richard Strauss, Melchoir will also feature the great "Forging Scene" from Wagner's music drama, "Siegfried." The noted soloist will first offer Strauss's "Heitiiliclie Aufforderung," followed by "ZuelBnung." The dramatic scene in which Siegfried forges anew the shattered fragments of his father's sword will open the second half of the broadcast. Jose Iturbi will direct the Ford Symphony Orchestra in an equally Impressive list of compositions, nneninr with Beethoven's "Over ture to Coriolanus" and followed later by the Intermezzo from "Goyescas," by Granados; the; Berceuse and finale from Stra-j vinsky'a "The Firebird," the; Overture to Wagner's "Tann-j haiiRer" and concluding with Evans's hvmn, "Lead On, King Eternal." During the broadcast intermission W. J. Cameron will speak briefly. Laurltz Melchior, a native of Denmark, attracted attention In Wagnerian roles at various European music festivals more than a decade ago.

In recent years he ha won world-wide fame for his portrayals of Wagnerian charac-j ters as leading tenor at the Met-j ropolitan Opera House. b'ZIO Pl.NZA, the Metropolitan Opera bass-barytone, who sings with Elizabeth Itetliberg as solo-1st In the General Concert at Carnegie Hall. New York, to-night. Is addicted to one of the strangest hobbies we know. He Is a collector of poison rings, an amusement which first caught his fancy years ago when examining an ancient Roman ring which was a family heirloom he accidentally touched a hidden spring and the.

stone swung up on a hinge. Mr. Pinza, exhibiting a dozen lor so of his exquisite little gems, Uach with Its slnliter concealed opening, explains that the rings were used In Roman times primarily as an Instrument for suicide. One had an onyx, hollowed out, with the shell thin enough so that the wearer might bltej through anil swallow me Another type of poison ring In. Mr.

Plnza's collection dates from the Kenalssance and was used nn for aiilHfle but for murder. i not ior suitu ThU tvn has tiny spikes Inteniieu una type nas tin, to Inject venom Into the virtim i while shaking hands; otners nac small claw, to grip the finger when the rln Is put on. "MUSIC OF THE THEA- only one It dealt with conditions at the worst of the depression. Things are so bad for an King Kong has gone io As for the other gg. Phil knew better than to try us.ng it on the in.

ill. T. "A radio comedian Is Iik- a whole- sal, ventriloauist-he throws hi. voice at a million dummies. air.

This was it: 1 1 "THE PARTY LINE" One of the longtime delights of life in the smaller communities of the United States is listening-in on the party line telephone. Beginning tomorrow it becomes a new radio pastime. Station WIRE will inaugurate a new five-times-weekly program known as the "Monticello Party Line," which will be heard mornings at 10:45, Monday through Friday. "The Party Line" is a quarter-hour program that takes place almost entirely over the telephone. Radio listeners In effect eavesdrop on the party line telephone at Monti-cello, 111., a real middle Western community.

Chief characters in the show are the two amiable gossips, Sara Peters and Aggie Tuttle, and Aggie's disputatious husband, Clem. Love interest centers in Lorie Ellis, the telephone operator, who Is the connecting link between the character and the subplots, and Paul Parker, the assistant to the local druggist. In addition, several children are in tue plot. TER," a brilliant new series of weekly programs featuring four eminent soloists and the concert orchestra directed by Howard Barlow, will broadcast the inaugural concert over the Columbia network this afternoon from 1 to 1:45 o'clock (C. K.

The nunrtPt of singers will include Ruth Carhart, contralto; William Perry, tenorj RurrpII Dorr, barytonp, and a soprano soloist to he announced at an parly date. "Music of the Theater" will present each week outstanding excerpts, vocal, choral and orchestral, from favorite operettas, musical comedies and operas. Selections from six famous works for the musical stage will be heard on the first program, which will open with the orchestra's performance of the Overture to Johann Strauss's operetta, "The Hat." This will be followed by the "Chinese Lullaby" from "East Is West" by Bowers, featuring a contralto solo with the quartet and orchestra. Other highlights will include a barytone solo of the "Gypsy Love Song" from Victor Herbert's operetta, "The Fortune Teller;" the orchestra's performance of the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" from "Chauve Sourls," and "The Night Was Made for Love" from Jerome Kern's "The Cat and the Fiddle," with soprano, tenor and orchestra. The closing portion of the broadcast will be devoted to a group of the best-known melodies from "The Mikado." by Gltbert and Sullivan.

These will include the tenor solo, "A Wandering Minstrel the barytone solo, "My Object All Sublime;" the madrigal, "Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day," by the quartet, and the finale. "For He's Gone and Married Yum Yum" and "With Jovou shout," by the quartet an(j orchestra. HARRIETT HILLIARD. one of radio most popular back to gIr t0(jay )n the Bakers' Broadc. ilmlte(1 engagement.

rf tne rsaKers oruauciii iu uiu gne re8Umes ner roie as vocai- 1st with Ozzle Nelson bann, which supplies the musical enter- jtainment for Ripley's "Believe-It- Or-Not" program. She hag been off the ar lnce laRt Juna-. Movie contracts signed some 'months ago will take her to Holly wooA )ate in January or Kebru rv for a new picture, her first since she was the singing star in -Follow the Fleet" with Gincer I i The. liOKera BIIU ricu nai.i":. nw picture was originally sched ulM t0 EO int0 production in the fail of 13 nut snooiinc wf o-- Ittll III J.J.l'1, ii Harriet coul Id go toi I 4:30 Smllln Kd UcConnell, WTAM.

WMAl, ,1 CMI-Cainoilc Hour WIHS; ft :30 A Jala of loday, WIAM, WMAQ 4 00 jH' Benny Mary l.lvincatfinc, Kenny Hakei and Don Wllaon. WTAM WMA WI.W .10 -Klrenide p.acliali WMAQ. WTAM. WWJ 4 4.1 Hornet Oreama. the Mnrtn Mlafera and Ranch Bojl.

WTAM. WMAQ. WI.W 7 0O -IIO Want lo Be an Actor? WI.W Manhattan Merry Oo Round, 4.0 American Altmin 01 familial MuilC, WIAM, WMAQ. WIRK. tO.O.'ia Alice Hemien (NHC.

10:15. Allmalr Cooka (NBC). 10 Reheareal (NBC I 1 1 :00 Cadle Choir I MRU). 11 Radln Clly Mualr Mall Symphony Orrheaira (NBC). Lutheran Hour 12 .10 Hmoke Dreame.

1:00 The Ma sic Kev of A. (NRCl. 2.00-?:IS- Jacoh Tarihlnh MRS 1. 2 30 -I Interlude. 2 4.1 3 00- 3 :30 4 00 2'45-Honiia You love.

.1 00- l.lnlen to Thla Camera (NRCl. We 1 he People. Phllllria II lird. Director (NRCl. Sine Time.

National Amateur Nlehl (MRS 1. True Slorv Court of Human Relation. Rennv with tarv I.lvlnmnpe. 0'htr and Social (NBC) Strnndi rit Beauty, nreami. 4 30 tl 30 -6 :00 S.4S- Mnrtn Rtete-.

and the Banch Boyi (NRC). 7 on CW. WIM Cnnpl I (NBC 1 w-t-ee Wlnrhell (NBC). I Peul W'htteman'a i Varletlea I (NBC). 9 the Headline with r.div'n cr.

vm: Farr' a (NRC) 5 Mve'erlea. oi nn Snl'tvan. 10 1 "i-ent fi-'-i-ra'a Or MRI. 10:0 -C'vH. Trank'l Orrheaira.

1 1 -no mv.ii River. 11 Jack "'t Orrhetra MRSt. 12 OOm An'on Or- rh.tra fVRSV 12 3ft, e.nnv Meroff'a Or- rti.ra 1 Sun off. Melody 1 1 Vlennola, I2.0fin Nothlns Like It. Confealon.

12:30 Melody Matlnea I Robert Hood Bxweri i Band. 1 -rrhoral Volcea INHCl. 1 -Thatcher riolt. Mv- tertea (NH'I) 2 :00 Metropolitan Oj.era Atidltlona iNHCi. i 2 ISO Indlanapolla rllvle flholr.

3:00 J'enthnure Herenarle (NBC I 3 30 -Sunday Plavera 4 -Mirion Talley BC I 4 30 -fconnafle and Hud (NBCl. on-rathnlle Hour 5 30 'late Park Band rne.ee iNW'i. I on Helen Traohel INPCl Rehe-e If. nr Not NBC l. 7 oo --ti1'-al f'omey Pevne (NR'" i 7 30 -Ttreame of l.onr i Aeo iNBn.

i f)( -iTanhattn 'erry-Oo-ponnd (NB 30 A Album of Kntr'llar Moaic I NBri. no M-dori Concert (NBC i. ift Flaahea. 1', No'hlnir I.Ike It. 10 M'nlature.

10-'5F' Revue (SBC). II no-P'iandoe (NBC). ns iree T'a Or- cheetra (NBC) 11 30-Pon Pedman'a Or chestra. 12 n(im Kl-n otT Planner Houe Prouram. Rhythmic Ak- HolvlnE Today I Prohlema.

Orenadiera Utile Chur'h A Kie Air. -Jnke'l K.nter'a'nera rihrlatian Men Builder Hlardoat Me'oilie 11 Cornmunl'v 8ali'e Revue 12:30 Mellow MekidlM. 12:4.1 Home Firea. 1:00 Moe'c of tha Theater 'CBRI. 1:41 VfirUinn 2:00 New York Philharmonic OnhaHra (CPf' 4:00 Orean Rhaniodv, 4 :30 fiiiy Iym' ti Or chetra 'f'B' 5 on Toe Pen-er (CRSt.

,1:30 Riihlnofl'e Or. ehtr' if'B'i 4'On Pmf, r'iiz ridy I'-ns, iFnn rMw res, Hot r.n.n, cn. pr Or- ehe.tra frRt 10:1 tV hv novernor MrNott. 10:30 Jv Free "'a Or- eheatra fCBSi. 11 :00 Roof Or- eheatra.

11:13 V(n-ot T'- Or- rhetr irBft. 0r- 12 Wm rh: ZLn' WLW. 7 00a -relodv Hotjr (NBC i. -Chnnh Forim I nfia a Hour (SBCi. HHi-rii'ir Bella (NBCi.

Bwfiihiirtii of the Ate INRO 9 na Profl ernK Fnaemhta lypci jn nna Flaehei WIRE. Or- eheatra I a na v.i side" ch-ur-n. An-ieot innrnmenta Cnnr-h..