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This Week's Classics & Curios Show: "Echoes of Songs and Laughter" Episode 158 PHILCO RADIO HALL OF FAME FEATURING DICK POWELL & GINNY SIMMS One of my favorite Philco Radio Hall of Fame shows plays this week. This show features Dick Powell and Ginny Simms with Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. Dick sings "Evalina" from the film "Bloomer Girl," and Ginny sings "Cuddle Up a Little Closer," and "In the Still of the Night." The orchestra performs a medley of "My Wonderful One," "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," "Three o' Clock in the Morning," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Valencia," and "When Day Is Done," vocalized beautifully by Sergeant Ginny. Dick sings the patriotic "Shipmates Forever" in a tribute to the Navy, and Paul honors Major Meredith Wilson for his service with the AFRS with Meredith's own compositions of "Yankee Doodle Girl," "Iowa," (with Ginny) and "Hit the Leather and Ride." There are some comedy bits along the way, of course, and Jimmy Wallington does his usual expert announcing duties on this show from January 28, 1945, on NBC's Blue Network. Dick Powell revealed remarkable talents early on and even formed his own band by the age of 17. He learned to play several instruments, but his singing caught the attention of Hollywood producers, and later he hit it big in movies like "42nd Street" and "Footlight Parade" in 1933. In the 1940's he began playing tough hero type characters like Philip Marlow in "Murder, My Sweet." Then in the 1950's he concentrated on directing in films and producing on TV. As much as I enjoyed and appreciated his acting, I for one can only imagine how so many additional songs through the years could have been enhanced by Dick's delightful singing voice. .