Radio Digest (June 1932-Mar 1933)

F E IND JLACH O THER H 29 ERE heart and seven and a half dollars in his pocket. Then came months of suffering and hard experiences. He even had to do dishwashing to keep from starving. For although he could speak French, German, Greek, Russian and Armenian, he found it practically impossible to make himself understood by an American. However, he finally got to Broadway and a booking agent who sent him on tour in vaudeville. After touring the United States and Mexico in vaudeville, after appearing' as a chorus boy in the Ziegfeld show, "Louis XIV", after many strange experiences alone, he met Zinaida Nico lina and she was his luck. Since they have been appearing together, a vaudeville engagement meant the Palace Theatre in New York (the leading vaudeville house of the world), their stage work has included the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company, they have entertained in the homes of the elite — Charles Schwab, Conde Nast, William Randolph Hearst — they have sung at the swankiest night clubs to gatherings of the haute monde. They have appeared as guest artists on the General Motors program, the Gillette hour and the Hoffman hour and regularly on their own programs over WOR and WEAF. Nicolina herself, gained nationwide popularity on the radio as "La Palina". When Nicolina came to this country, she was not unknown to the musical world. She had escaped from Russia into Turkey. There, friends of her father and ot the Czar, brought her to the palace of the Sultana Rafia, daughter of the Sultan of Turkey, where she was welcomed as a guest. The Sulta*na grew to love the charming Nicolina and kept her at the palace for nine months, where Nicolina lived like a true princess. At an impromptu entertainment, Michael Tolstoy, son of the great Russian writer, heard Nicolina singing a little gypsy tune. He was so impressed with the beauty of her voice, that he suggested she come to Paris where he arranged a series of concerts for her, Although Nicolina had studied at the conservatory in Russia, aside from the trained quality of her voice, the spirit and feeling that she put into her music, made her the toast of the Parisian world of music. She entertained at many private parties for distinguished people. Millerand, president of the French Republic recognized her talents. Ambassador Myron Herrick acclaimed her as a great artist. Alfonso, then King" of Spain, and Emanuel, King of Portugal, personally congratulated her on the beauty of her voice. It was at one of these parties that she met Balieff, the great Russian producer. Someone sitting near Balieff asked him why he smiled the moment he had heard Nicolina sing. He answered, "She is the singing bird that will make my next American 'Chauve Souris' a success." Although at the time, she wasn't aware of it, the funny little Balieff, had with those words settled Nicolina's future life. Adia Kuznetzoff, aristocrat, who fled from Russia in guise of gypsy. In a short time^ she sailed for America with the "Chauve Souris" and stayed with the company for a year. After that it was hard times for her, too. The spoiled daughter of devoted parents, admired and humored by the crowned heads of Europe, it was difficult for Nicolina to keep heart, sitting on her trunks in some little American town, not knowing where her next meal would be. Now that all such experiences are over forever. Nicolina recalls her first years in America as exciting, romantic ones. a _>F COURSE, once she had become the partner of Adia Kuznetzoff, things were simpler. And Nicolina could smile again without trying* Since she has been with Kuznetzoff, life has taken on new color. Everywhere, she meets people she knew in Russia, and other parts of Europe. Not long ago, she met Yascha Bunchuk, director of the Capitol Theatre, New York, and recognized him as one of the entertainers she had met at the palace of the Turkish Sultan. Everyone who sees Kuznetzoff and Nicolina perform, whether in the studios of the National Broadcasting Company or at the Kretchma, immediately gets into the spirit of Russians and their colorful ways. For Kuznetzoff is six feet two inches tall, weighs two hundred pounds and is as impressive as he looks. It is not unusual to hear — "Kuznetzoff is coming, now everything will be great." When he enters a room with his great stride, his brown eyes wide open and sparkling and a broad expanse of shining white teeth transformed into a radiant smile, everyone begins to bristle and the party is on. He takes up his guitar, his body swaying, and walking up and down, or just standing quietly, he moves into his song. And then a great hush settles down on the place and Kuznetzoff has transformed his audience into a band of gypsies, sitting by a large fire in the black forest, singing love songs at the moon. He is a dispenser of white magic. He gets into the hearts of all his listeners and does not let them go until he has taken them through wild places, under balconies of lovely ladies, into the grand ballrooms of old Russia, and back again to a little inn, where simple folk dance and are gay to the old tunes that Russia has bred these many centuries. And Nicolina is with him. Exotic and beautiful. Tall and slim, straight and lovely. Her copper red hair and vivacious face are a joy to everyone. Together these two now sing to all America.