Radio: New Stage

When James J. Walker was New York City’s mayor, he brought to the City Hall the ingratiating glibness of a slightly superannuated musical-comedy juvenile. In the year 1932 he felt the hot breath of investigation on his neck, stepped nimbly out of office. Since then he has never had a suitable stage.

Last week Jimmy Walker turned on the radio audience the personality that once warmed the Board of Estimate. Over Station WMCA (Manhattan), on an hour of airtime donated by the Modern Industrial Bank, he took a microphone, a troupe of guest stars to Manhattan’s grim Bellevue Hospital, did the first of 13 broadcasts called Jimmy Walker’s Visiting Hour. His itinerary for the series includes other hospitals, an old ladies’ home, many another haven for shut-ins. His job involves ad libbing a show which is half benefit, half heartstring jerker. Last week he interviewed patients, put his guests through their cheer-spreading paces. Although he is doing this series free, New York’s one-time mayor is in the market for a sponsor.