4

Page Fourteen

'Jews

THE JEWISH NEWS

on

&roadway

By PAUL GOULD

Two Eminent
Entertainers

Fricky., Sepfernbv 7. 1945

The Genius

of Radio

By LEON GUTTERMAN

F

Dorothy the lyrics and she and
Zero Mostel. comedian and Jerome
Robbins, master of modern ballet. co-
her brother the book.
ROM America to Russia,
starring in Billy Rose's Concert Varie-
While "Oklahoma," was inde- ties. have been brought up in good Asia to Australia—from Occident
fatigably carrying on, the team Jewish homes, and are proud of it. to Orient—the sun never sets
on the works of Norman Corwin,
of . Rodgers-Hammerstein burst
versatile modern author-produ-
on Broadway with another show,
By WM. B. SAPHIRE
cer for the Columbia Broadcast-
"Carousel," . t h e Americanized
ing System.
musical version of "Liliom." It
Norman Corwin writes for the
won the Donaldson Award as the
WO talented young men, world—and it listens.
"best musical of the season." The
His radio productions have uni-
Rodgers-Hainmerstein pair also both 'sons of orthodox Jewish
presented. "I Remember Mama," families, have taken the. New versal appeal, placing the pro-
b. riotous comedy, this season.
York entertainment world by ducer-director-writer in the sel- e
ect company of novelists and
Norman Krasna's Work
storm. One is Zero (Joel Sim- dramatistS Whose works . are
Another .light and refreshing
playthis time straight -comedy cha) Mostel, movie, radio, and translated into many tongues.
The famous "This Is War!"
—was the work of Norman night club comedian, known to
Krasna, on "leave" from Holly- millions as "the man with the program of the master craftsman,
whose new series "Columbia
wood where he writes and pro- flexible voice."
Presents COrwin" is now on its
duces pictures. The Harts, two
"The other is Jerome Robbins, tenth week, brought requests
other Jewish artists from Brook- acclaimed as a genius of modern
lyn, .staged "Dear Ruth" for ballet. Both are feats ed in from radio stations around -the
NORMAN CORWIN
Krasna. They are, of course, 'Moss Billy Rose's original valdeville globe for' scripts and recordings.
His "American in RusSia" was
Hart and his brother Bernard.
-LEONARD BERNSTEIN
spectacle "Concert Varieties:"
rebroadcast from the shores of stories, and broadcasting news
George S. Kaufman's 1945
Mostel, a heavy-featured, hulk- the Black Sea to the ends of on a local radio station. In 1933,
work — "Hollywood Pinafore" —
he took a three-month trip to
ing man of 30, is a round-the- the Siberian wasteland's. •
was not quite up to the standard
Europe, during which he broke
ISTORIANS of stage and
clock clown who cuts-up with
Familiar With His Works
his glasses, sprayed his only sui t
radio concerned with the flour- of his other works, but it never- or without an audience. Mostel
Australia, India, Egypt and with ink; brOke his typewriter
ishing of the seven arts have long theless was skilled, ingenious en- won his first applause mimicking
South Africa are familiar with and became ill. The bad luck on
since ceased despairing of the tertainment, a musical based on Hitler and Mussolini for friends his works.
what. started . as a grand tour
future of the. world of entertain- the Gilbert and Sullivan "H.M.S. and relatives.
And in South America, they sent him horrie again, and back
ment. To their minds there is no Pinafore." And another inveter-
Robbins
on
Yiddish
Stage
are put on the air in Spanish to the Springfield Republican. •
longer even the shadow of -a ate showman—Max Gordon, the
.Nine years ago, when Robbins and Portugese.
• With CBS Since 1938
doubt but that fresh and vigorous producer—had a new hit on his was 17 he apprenticed himself . It is almost axiomatic that
In 1.935, Corwin became radio
talent will spring up regularly to hands with "The Late George to the Isadora Duncan dance nothing is so dead as a once used
Apley."
editor of the paper, a . position
lend body and substance to cul-
A • notable performance o f group, of which his older 'sister, radio script. But Corwin's might he held until he came to - New
ture—if for no reason other than
Sonia,
was
a
member.
He
had
be classified as "durable goods."
the emergence of the Jew on Shakespeare's "Tempest" served a dancing part and one line in They last. In some instances York as radio editor for 20th
to lend admirable balance to the
Broadway.
Maurice Schwartz's "Brothers they continue to be produced in Century-Fox.. From the film
Consider,'for example, Leonard theatrical fare this year and no Ashkenazy." A close friend of foreign lands months after their company, he went to a local New
Bernstein, a New England-born inconsiderable part of the triu composer - conductor Leonard original airing on the Columbia York radio station, where he first
Jew, whose remarkable career in mph goes to David Diamond, who Bernstein, he collaborated with network. Whenever possible, experimented with his new, and
the classical sphere of music was wrote an original score for the him in writing the ballet "Fancy CBS provides recordS of the at that time unheard of, broad-
underlined by his smashing suc- Margaret Webster production. Free." Afterwards he wrote the Corwin programs for rebroad- casting techniques. Officials of
cess in the distinctly eclectic field While it is not comparable to ballet for the Camden-Green hit casting in foreign countries, to the Columbia Broadcasting Sys-
Mendelsohn's famous score for "On the Town." He writes and
tem heard his work on the air,
of musical comedy.
Allied troops and civilians.
and in 1938, -Corwin came to
His bright and lilting notes in "Midsummer Night's Dream," his directs the ballet numbers in
His "Words Without Music" CBS. • •
"On the Town" have been hailed music for this Shakespearean "Concert Varieties."
won an award from the Institu-
Within a year of. his associa-
by the critics as one of the finest play is bound to be hailed in
Robbins feels his Jewishness tion of Education as the radio tion with CBS, Corwin attracted
future years.
scores in American stage history
strongly, as- a result, he says, of program "best demonstrating 'ational attention with "Words
• Oboler's.:.Elevating Drania
and- mesh snugly with such dis-
going to Hebrew schools and the cultural, artistic, and socially Without Music," the firSt of his
Similarly,
on
the
radio
new
tinguished predecessors as Jer-
Jewish camps when he was a important uses of -radio."
many prize-winning programs.
Jewish
voices
have
been
heard.
ome Kern, Gershwin, Sigmund For many
On his "Pursuit of Happiness" The series won the award of
- years ArCh Oboler has boy.
Romberg, Irving Berlin, Rudolph
series he was acclaimed for in- the InstitUte of Education. In
Painted Murals in Tunnels
Friml and Richard Rodgers, to been writing incisive, elevating
Mostel tells the story of his troducing the John LaTouche- 1941, Corwin embarked on the
drama.
This
past
season
his
series
name a few pre-enqinent Jewish
life with mock tears, grimaces . Earl Robinson "Ballad for Amer-
composers. Bernstein had prey- for the National : Broadcasting and all the tricks of the comedy cans," with Paul Robeson in the titanic job of writing, directing
1
and producing for 26 consecutive
Co.
was
even
more
uplifting.
But
iuosly Won fame as assistant con-
trade. His family was as poor principal role, in October 1939. weeks the cycle called "26 By
ductor of the N. Y. Philharmonic for Corwin, Oboler might have as it was large, he says, but aft-
'Won Peabody AWard
'Corwin," which won the Ameri-
been the top man' ir1. the radio
Symphony.
er working as a longshoreman for
His famous broadcast of Dec.. can Writers' Congress award as
writing
field.
Play Lasted 2 Months
Behind t h . scenes Himan a year, he managed to go to City 1 5, 1941, "We Hold These Truths " the best radio series of the year.
In a year when Clifford Odets,
College where he studied "art 'von the Peabody Award for the
That same year, Norman also
Lillian Hellman, Elmer Rice and Brown, a young man who hails and English." He graduated in- `outstanding dramatic presenta- won the Peabody Award for the
Irwin Shaw—staunch anti-fascist from Brownsville in Brooklyn,
to a WPA art project, where, he ion of the year." The 'original `outstanding broadcast. of the year,
propagandists .all—were not rep- has merited the acclaim of an, ace says, "I was engaged in paint- manuscripts have been sent to for his "We. Hold These Truths."
producter
and
director
by
virtue
resented by anything new in the
ing murals in subway tunnels." the Library of Congress, as a
Gets Advertising Awards
theater, Edward Chodorov con- of his "Inner - Sanctum" and "Thin
In February, 1942, he received
In 1942, he decided to try his permanent exhibit for the Con-
tributed a moving drama, "Com- Man" episodes.
The radio has . also become talent before a night club im- gressional Library. Also on hand the annual Advertising Award
mon Ground." Unfortunately it
pleasantly
augmented by sev- pressario. He scored in his first for exhibit in the Library of "for distinguished services to
ran about two months but this
eral
new
stars
strictly concerned audition and appeared in New Congress are the original manu- radio." In May, 1942, he won the
can be attributed to the slump
with
singing.
Among them are York's famous Cafe Society, Up- scripts of the "American in Eng- first grant ever bestowed on a
in interest iri a subject that was
radio craftsman by the American
town and Downtown, where he land" series.
being handled on the battlefield Richard Tucker, Robert Merrill
Corwin was born May 3, 1910, Academy of Arts and Letters, "in
and Elaine Malbin. Tucker is the was a hit. A comedy spot fol-
by men in arms.
lowed in 1943, on a radio pro- the third son of Samuel H. and recognition of the fire, versatil-
Perhaps, it is significant that former cantor of the Brooklyn gram called the "Chamber Music Rose Ober Corwin. He had 'his ity, and consistently high stand.
Jewish
Center
who
received
a
the Jew has lent his weight to
Society of Lower Basin Street:" early schooling in East Boston, ards that mark his work." In
making the world a bit 'happier. Private audition 'at the 'Met and
Hollywood and the draft beck- and on graduation from high June, 1942, he *went to Europe to
Some of the most sparkling stage was subsequently signed to star
school, became 'a newspaper - re- produce" "An• American In Eng-
productions in America were pre- in tenor roles. His brother-in-law oned. Mostel played the part of porter in Greenfield, Mass. When land" for the BBC.
is Jan Peerce, also of the "Met." a swami in MGM's "DuBarry was
sented by Jews.
On his return, Corwin con-
a Lady." Then he became a sol- he was 19, he. joined the Spring-
(Copyright. 1945. by the Jewish
"On the Town" was fated to be
field Republican, writing feature tinued to pioneer in the field of
Teegraphic Agency. Inc.)
dier,•
"all
250
pounds
of
me."
a .smash hit not only because of
(Copyright. 1945. IJPS)
international radio ' by produc-
Bernstein but because of his Jew-
ing "An American in Russia,"
ish collaborator Jerome Robbins,
"Passport for Adams," and
whose choreography was widely
"Transatlantic Call."
acclaimed in a jovial story about
• In 1942, a collection of his best
two sailors.
radio scripts was published un-
Some
famous
Jewish
names
in
radio
newscasting:
Walter
Winchell,
Mean/While, two other musical
der the title of "13 By Corwin,"
the one-man war on native fascism; Martin Agronsky. decorated
By
by Gen. MacArthur. and Gabriel Heatter, the man vho was made by
comedies were likewise receiving
and ,,on March :6, the following
the Hauptman case.—The Editor.
rave notices and were similarly
WILLIAM B. SAPHIRE
year, a new -volume, "More By
the work of Jews. AeUp in Central
Corwin," "rolled off the presses:
Park" was the joint effort of two
just been awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon by Author of "On Note of Triumph"
, T HE names of many Jewish news com-
of Lew Fields' children,- and - mentators have become household words from
Gen. MacArthur for "sharing fhe. hardships and
Norman's 1944 series on the
dangers of combat with U. S. troops."
"Carousel" was wrought by the Coast to coast.
network, also titled "Columbia.
same superb artisians who gave
During the war in Europe, Agronsky's analysis Presents Corwin", was termin-
Gabriel Heatter, born in NeW York, son of a
"Oklahoma" to America.
of the news was recorded by the Office of. War ated abruptly last summer to
Yiddish-speaking tailor, leaped to radio fame in
Information and used by its overseas department permit. , him to devote full time
Fields' Kin Doing OK
the space of one hour on April 3, 1936. Heatter,
in daily English 'language . shortwaves to Western to the planning, writing and pro-
Lew Fields, of course, was half then 46, was a veteran journalist who once wrote
Europe. His commentaries are still .translated by duction of "On A Note of Tri-
of the stage partnership of Weber for the Yiddish press and later became foreign
the 0. W. I. into 21 languages.
and Fields and when he died he correspondent for the old New York Tribune. He
umph," which was broadcast by
Walter Winchell began his career when he was CBS on V-E Day, and repeated
did not altogether take away all had just begun broadcasting on a minor network
13,
singing
with
Eddie
Cantor
and
George
Jessel,
when
he
was
called
in
by
a
coast
to
coast
hookup
on the following Sunday. The
of the glory that was the Field's'.
in a Harlem
arlem nickelodian.„
to supplement its staff broadcasting the execution
program has been acclaimed one
He left three children, Joe, Her- of
Bruno Hauptman, kidnaper of Lindbergh
In 1912, 15 year-old Winchell was made manager of the finest and most stirring
bert and Dorothy. The first's in- baby.
of a company of eight vaudeville artists, all older ever put on the air.
stincts gravitated towards pure
Heatter was assigned to an-
than himself. Winchell wrote, edited -and publish-
"On A Note of Triumph" has
comedy and he collaborated on nounce Hauptman's execution.
ed (on a typewriter) a sheet of gossip about his
"My Sister Eileen" and "Junior' The execution was delayed and
fellow performers, tacking it near the mail box been. published in book form by.
Simon and Schuster, and will - be
Miss." Herbert and Dorothy, he found himself with a "live"
in every theater he played.
however, decided to .carry on mike. For 53 minutes he spoke
When he enlisted in the Navy, in the first released as an album of record-
after each had become well extemporaneously on the Haupt-
World War, Winchell was made confidential sec- ings by the Columbia Recording
Corp.
retary to two admirals.
established with other partners. man case.
When the broadcast was over,
During the 'past year, Corwin
Herbert had written the book
Within four years he was drawing $500 a week
for "Hit the Deck," "Fifty Heatter was famous for deliver-
on the Graphic, New York City's first tabloid. had two other memorable broad-
Million Fr enchme n," "Du ing the "longest and most in-
Later he moved to the Daily Mirror. Winchell casts on , CBS, the first a tribute
spired ad-lib reporting in. the
made his radio debut in 1930. .
to the late President Roosevelt,
Barry was a Lady," and "Panama history
of radio."
Hattie," while Dorothy had help-
When World War II threatened, Winchell read on 'the air the day follAing
Now, in his eleventh year on
WINCHELL
turned his tongue against aggressors abroad and his death; the second a docu-
' ed shape "Connecticut Yankee"
radio, Heatter has three spon-
would-be dictators in America. The American mentary on the San Francisco
and "Present Arms." They had sors and is one of the highest paid persons in radio.
Legion of California named him "America's conference, "Word from the peo-
turned out "Let's Face It," and
Martin Agronsky, son of a Jewish family of
Number One Patriot."
ple," , broadcast April 24.
this year's smash, "Up in Central Philadelphia, and now one of the top overseas
.Copyright. 1945, by INDEPENDENT
Park." Romberg wrote the music, experts of the American Broadcasting Co., has
(Copyright, 1945. Jewish Telegraphic
JEWISH NEWS SERVICE, Inc.)

T

II

,

Microphone's Star Reporters

,

'Agency, Inc.)