Radio and Defense

In the radio web that ties the U.S. people to national defense, two strands were noted last week:

> Over a Mutual Broadcasting System network of more than 100 stations went a new Sunday night program, Keep 'em Rolling, sponsored by the Office for Emergency Management. MBS's Manhattan station, WOR, supplied the musicians and a studio. OEM's radio section supplied Producer Arthur Kurlan.

Keep 'em Rolling had a big-name debut. Its theme ditty, composed for the occasion by Rodgers & Hart, came bugle-like from the lips of musical comedy's forceful Ethel Merman. Master of Ceremonies Clifton Fadiman (with a cute script) kept the program rolling. He discussed the spider situation with a Cleveland professor who has made a specialty of extracting spider silk direct from the producer for cross hairs in range finders. He introduced, as "the nation's No. 1 No man," Priorities Chief Donald M. Nelson, and Mr. Nelson told the nation why. For drama, Maurice Evans wheezed through a condensed version of Maxwell Anderson's Valley Forge.

Unlike the Treasury Hour, first big network series in the Government's defense effort, Keep 'em Rolling is a sustaining show; Mutual donates the time and OEM pays the talent. But like the Treasury Hour it will engage for next to nothing a lot of high-priced names.

> Camp Roberts, Calif., the Army's largest replacement training center, had by last week not only solved the entertainment problem for soldiers but was sending entertainment of its own to the whole Pacific coast. Given a 15-minute spot last month on the NBC Blue Coast Network of eleven stations, the soldier talent at Camp Roberts proved to be a riot.

Most popular thing in the show is a rambunctious parody of the MARCH OF TIME, written and narrated by Sergeant J. Ross Kearney, onetime Little Theater producer in Utah, and Corporal Saul Robbins, an ex-gagman and animator for Walt Disney. Sample scripting:

Robbins: The Slouch of Time! Behind the news of the century lies mighty, unknown drama. Tonight we bring you the real-life stories behind the headlines--the news as it really is. Time Slouches On! (bugle call) . . . We take you to Washington, where upon the witness stand [at the movie "propaganda" hearings] sits a well-known movie figure, known and loved throughout the world! (voices hubbub)

Voice: Quiet!

Voice: And you know full well . . . that your last picture was an atrocious lie to bring the United States closer to the brink of war. What have you got to say to that?

Donald Duck: Ah Phooooooooeeey. Wah wah wah.

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