Golden Age of Radio

The Milwaukee Journal – Nov 22, 1942 A Composer Turns Into Comedian By Robert Myers HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) When Dr. Albert Coates, distinguished Brit- Meredith Wilson perform as a radio comic, he got up and walked out of the studio. “I played your ‘Missions of California’ symphony in concert because I considered you one of the most promising of the young America composers,” Dr. Coates told Wilson afterward. “But when I saw you doing that . . . that slapstick with Frank Morgan , it was just too much. I was horrified.” Versatile, affable Wilson, who would have been called a heretic a few years ago by the lovers of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, laughed. “I try to enjoy everything I do. It is fun to do comedy lines. And I don’t believe this outlet has in any manner injured my reputation in the field of music.” Wilson, tall and easygoing, is proud of several things. One is his home town of Mason City, Iowa. Another is his versatility. He was written two symphon...

Biography Meredith Willson Serious Composer (Who Likes Slapstick Comedy) And Conductor Keeps Young in Music Business” Meredith Wilson , whose agile pen and brisk baton will be responsible for the music on NBC’s “The Big Show” on Sunday nights (premiere Nov. 5, 6:00-7:30 p.m., EST), is a musician of remarkably variegated experience—ranging from serious composition and the writing of best-selling-books to band-leading and slapstick comedy. His many-faceted character, as a matter of fact, so baffled the distinguished British conductor, Dr Albert Coates, during a broadcast in which  Wilson  clowned with the late Frank Morgan that Coates was temporarily horrified. “I conducted you ‘Missions of California” symphony because I considered you one of the most promising of the young American composers”. Coates told  Wilson  later, “but when I saw you doing that slapstick” Coates shuddered, failed to finish the sentence. He was a busy man for the nex...