Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

8 RADIO DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 ft Chatter k NEW PC€6CAMS-IDEA/ JOHN HELD JR., artist, novelist, short story writer, at present master of ceremonies of the Varsity Shows emanating from various colleges and aired on the NBC-Red network, is obliged to do considerable air-traveling. One week he will be on the east coast, next week in the west, and other times somewhere in between. Last Friday he did his stint from the University of Iowa. Even a birthday for his four-year-old daughter, Judy, in New Orleans, had to be postponed until papa could fly to the festivities. Ross Wilson, engineer at WMT, Waterloo, and Mrs. Wilson are recovering from auto crash injuries. Nancy Grey, conductor of "What's New in Milwaukee," daily fashion program over WTMJ, has returned from a two week's vacation in Mexico. Edith Schlytern, director from WLS. Chicago, is conducting tryouts in Watertown, Wis., for the WLS radio community talent show to be presented there March 18-20. Gaston Grignon, manager of WISN, Milwaukee, and who is convalescing from an operation, lost his mother, Mrs. Anna Grignon, recently. Lester L. Morse is advising gardners in a new series of broadcasts each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:40 a.m. over WTMJ, Milwaukee. Walter Haase, studio manager of WDRC, Hartford, recently returned from a winter vacation spent in Miami. While there, he was invited on several fishing excursions and came back with some "big fish." They're now calling Ernie Grewer "Papa" around KFYR. Bismarck, N. D. The control operator is oldest man on the staff in point of service hailing been with KFYR for eight years. It's a boy, named Jerry, and he has red hair. Everybody doing fine, thank you. WHO Playhouse, Des Moines, has a new writer in Dick Anderson, who announces the program and occasionally plays parts in the dramas. He is the author of "Only Five Were Killed," presented over WHO Sunday. Ray Howell, for 14 month a member of the staff of KIRO, Seattle, has left to free-lance with a daily commentator and narrator series over KIRO, entitled "With Them It's Different." George Marshall Durante, director of the School of Radio Technique, announces he is having his sound studios modernized and is adding more new equipment. Durante has the same brand of Western Electric amplifiers and RCA Blue Ribbon Radio Soap Box To develop an editorial feature without taking sides in controversial matters, WMBH, Joplin, Mo., inaugurated a Radio Soap Box. The leader of the "soap boxers" is Bruce Quisenberry, special events man and star announcer. Letters from anyone and almost on any conceivable subject are read on the program. Discussion of the letters so read is invited. The Soap Box leader endeavors to supply the "soap boxers" with information on the current trend of the different phases of life brought up for dicussion. He also makes his personal comment, when he believes it necessary. The announcer, in opening and closing the program, makes the statement, however, that the opinions expressed on the program are not necessarily those of the station, which remains neutral. "Perfect Wife" Series Bill Brown, WMT announcer, who Testing Educational Series Philadelphia — Board of Education and WCAU, with the cooperation of the Franklin Institute of Modern Science, have arranged a test series of radio programs which may become an integral part of the Board's program of education next school year. Starting March 29 and continuing for 12 weeks, the Chemistry Club of a local high school will be brought each week to the Institute for an experimental radio lecture. Quarter hour period will be apportioned to the Institute's chemistry director, the high school's chemistry teacher and for a round table discussion by the students. Frank Buck for Guild Show Frank Buck has been signed for the Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild program for March 17. Program is heard over the CBS network, 7:307:45 p.m. Also due to appear on the show is one of the winners of last year's awards. Current show offers $80,000 in prizes. Arthur Kudner, Inc., has the account. microphones used in broadcasting stations. Bill Morrow and Ed Beloin, Jack Benny's gag fashioners, never read humor gags because they're afraid of unconscious plagiarism. Jack Mills, the music tycoon, observes that the 25 per cent increase in borrowing of books on wit and humor reported by public libraries directly parallels the percentage of comedians who have been added to radio during this season. "The O'Neills," on both NBC networks daily, was selected as the most popular daytime show in a survey conducted on the West Coast by a major film company which is in the market for radio scripts that can be picturized. handles the "Movie Man" broadcast, is now conducting a series of interviews in an effort to determine just what the "perfect wife" is like. This program, under the sponsorship of the Hartman Furniture Co., and the Paramount Theater of Cedar Rapids, is fast proving itself to be one of the most popular programs heard over WMT and comes direct from the lobby of the Paramount. Amateur Announcers Twelve sponsors in Joplin, Mo., have banded together to present a novel show over the local station, WMBH. Program, presented in the form of a contest, is tagged, "I Wanta Be An Announcer". Each weekday two spots programs are presented with contestants reading the commercial announcements of one of the 12 sponsors. All announcers employed are amateurs with ambitions of breaking into broadcasting. Program set for 13 weeks. CBS Adds Easter Bills Los Angeles — CBS has added two more Easter programs to go nationwide, out of KNX. From 8:30 to 9 PST, services on board the USS Pennsylvania will be shortwaved to shore, put on network. From 6:45 to 7 a.m. PST, Easter ceremonies from the beach at Waikiki will be picked up from KGBM's shortwave, sent out on full network. Kingham Scott Back Raleigh, N. C. — Following another old-timer, Clayborne Mangum, whose tenor voice will again be heard over WPTF regularly under sponsorship of N. C. Fisheries, Inc., Kingham Scott, one of the first radio stars in North Carolina, has come out of professional retirement to be master of the console at WPTF with three programs weekly sponsored by General Electric Supply Corp. A. & P. Adding WJNO A. & P., New York ("chain grocers) , will add WJNO, West Palm Beach, to its CBS network beginning this Thursday. Program features Kate Smith in an hour CBS broadcast, Thursdays, 8-9 p.m. Paris & Peart, Inc.. New York, has the account. Ken England, who writes the Joe Penner show and the Twin Stars program, and Mabel Albertson, who writes "Dress Rehearsal," have just announced their wedding, which took place Nov. 2. Anne Jamison, soprano on Hollywood Hotel, has signed with NBC Artists Bureau from April 2 to June 25. Due to the confusion of the initials CRS and CBS, the California Radio System of eight newspaper owned California stations henceforth will refer to itself as the Orange network. Doris Weston's NBC artist bureau option has been taken up by Warner Brothers. Joe Alvin, assistant to Hal Bock of NBC's publicity staff, turns the tables on the press agent plugging the opera star, and gets a plug from opera when Marion Talley sings his songs on her March 28 program for Ry Krisp. Joseph Koestner wrote the music, and Alvin the lyrics. The song is "One Perfect Night." Clever new piano team of (William) Hoffman and (Charles) Downe do a 15-minute daily program on KFWB, and have been signed for KHJ's new "Tuesday at 2" program. Rulo Corp. (gadgets for automobiles) has signed a six-month contract for a half hour daily, 6 days a week on KRKD, with V o 1 n e y James, president of Rulo and oldtime announcer, as emcee, and Jimmy and his Saddle Pals doing hill billy music. Musical Clock Ticks Off Mail The mail count on the Beeman's Laboratories programs over WBT, Charlotte, jumped 34 per cent during February as compared to January. The programs are heard daily at 7 a.m. on the morning Musical Clock. Shadwell, or "The Old Shepherd" as he is known to the early risers of the Southland, is the feature of the Musical Clock. "Speedshow" From Coast Nash-Kelvinator "Speedshow" with Grace Moore will emanate from KNX, Los Angeles, starting April 3. Program is heard on CBS, Saturdays, 9-9:30 p.m. TOM THIS HISS Known as "THE VAGABOND ADVENTURER" Available for GUEST APPEARANCES MASTER OF CEREMONIES RECORDINGS OR TRANSCRIPTIONS RADIO PROGRAMS Agent: Rockwell O'Keefe