Radio: Problem Tune

The 18-year-old Lucky Strike Hit Parade, back for its fourth television season, gets its weekly list of the nation’s seven most popular tunes in a plain envelope from a research firm (known only to a few insiders) whose methods are kept secret. When the plain envelope arrived for the season’s first show a fortnight ago, anxious Lucky Strikers ripped it open, were relieved to find that the fast-rising Ray Anthony hit recording, Dragnet, was way down in 19th place.

Reason for the sighs of relief: Dragnet is a blaring, full-blown version of the theme song of the popular radio-TV show sponsored by Chesterfield. Last week Dragnet was still 19th on the Hit Parade listing, although Variety now put it second among disk jockeys, third in retail, second on coin machines. Would the Hit Parade play a rival cigarette’s theme song if it reached the Lucky Strike top seven? “Certainly,” snapped a Lucky executive. “We couldn’t possibly not play it. Our whole reputation is involved.” Is the tune . likely to make it yet? “I don’t know. We’ve seen some funny things happen.”