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DECEMBER, 19 2 9
17
Philco Hour Revives Favorite Light Operas
of the Past
By HENRY M. NEELY
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MEM'RIES, mem'ries, mem'ries of you . . . ." The strains of the Philco Hour's signature song die away as the loyal company of stars, who have sung their way into the hearts of radio's millions, move back from the Station_WJZ microphone. Harold Sanford, director of the -orchestra, mops his brow for the last time that evening and the musicians start to put away their instruments.
A little lady, her hair tinged with gray, rushes up, embraces Jessica Dragonette, soprano star of the hour, and exclaims enthusiastically, for the fifth or sixth time in a year, "My child, you were wonderful, as you always are." This little lady has come to be one pi the regular visitors at the Philco Hour, which is now two years old and is regarded by radio editors and unbiased critics as one of the outstanding programs on'the air.
The little lady's interest in* the_ Philco Hour of Theatre Memories, which is sponsored by the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company, is shared by thousands in every city of any size in the United States, judging by the fan mail that I receive every week. The one question, that is asked again and again by those who are interested in the success which has come to our radio productions, is: "What is the secret of the Philco Hour's success?"
Radio Stimulated Revivals
My answer invariably is: "The hour itself." By that, I mean the music. The Victor Herbert operettas and the others we have chosen are, I believe, nationally popular. As proof of this we can cite the fact that Broadway is now seeing revivals of "Mile. Modiste," "Naughty Marietta" and other light operas, which we on the Philco Hour have helped to keep alive. It has been conceded that the radio performances of these operettas stimulated
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"Philco's Old Stager"
Henry M. Neely is acknoivled ged to be one of the oustanding showmen of radio. He was born and bred in Philadelphia, and has travelled all over the world. He became interested in radio when it was in its infancy and has followed its development closely.
He entered radio production work several years ago, after a long period of active newspaper work, in the course of which he edited a radio magazine. He has been responsible for programs like the Philco Hour, For ban's Song Shop, Maxwell House Coffee Hour, Physical Culture Hour and Eversharp Fountain Pen Hour.
Last June he was married to Miss Gertrude M. Jones, tvho for some time had been his partner in a successful flower amf fruit farm of 30 acres at Beverly, N. J. Thtr Neelys now live on this farm and Mr. Neely commutes to New York regularly to do his radio work.
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