Radio revue (Dec 1929-Mar 1930)

DECEMBER, 19 2 9 39 PccecAAi Ncte/ Durant Motors, Inc., On the Air A new weekly series of dramatic sketches, depicting incidents in the lives of great men who have moulded history and set the standard of truth and accomplishment, made its debut on radio recently. The series, known as "Heroes of the World," is sponsored by Durant Motors, Inc., of Lansing, Mich. The Durant Orchestra, under the direction of Dana S. Merriman, contributes an appropriate musical background. The sketches are written by Burke Boyce, NBC continuity editor, author of "Wayside Inn," and originator of the "Rapid Transit" sketches, as well as other original radio dramas. Members of the cast include Alfred Shirley, Charles Webster, Harry Neville, Gladys Erskine Shaw, Harvey Hays, Bennett Kilpack and Katharine Renwick. * * * Rutgers Programs Over WOR Rutgers University, which is the State University of New Jersey, and Station WOR, largest broadcastingstation in the State, are again co-operating in offering a series of air programs this year. The first started on Wednesday afternoon, October 23. The Rutgers Lecture Program will run for twenty-three weeks. The speakers will be prominent members of the university faculty, who will discuss such subjects as child psychology, international relations, child guidance, music, drama, literature, journalism, and education. The general University Program will be given for ten consecutive weeks. These programs will be of one-half hour duration and will consist of both lectures and music. Later in the year, probably beginning in January. ^ ^ ^ Six Symphonies on G. E. Hour Six complete symphonies will be performed during the winter for radio listeners by the General Electric Symphony Orchestra, according to Walter Damrosch, who recently resumed conducting the Saturday evening concerts over NBC. Religious Leaders Back on Air Three famous religious leaders returned to the air recently in a series of winter services which will be broadcast by the NBC. Dr. S. Parkes Cadman started his seventh season before the microphone, while Dr. Daniel A. Poling, leader of the National Youth Conference, opened his fifth season. Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, who conducts the National Religious Service, began his third season on the same day. % % ^ Recent Appointments at NBC Five executive appointments were announced by the National Broadcasting Company to become effective recently. William Lynch, former announcer, became assistant eastern program director, and Katherine Seymour became assistant continuity editor. The three other appointments are : Marley Sherris, night program representative ; Norman Sweetser, program representative, and Curt Peterson, supervisor of announcers. The new appointments were announced by George Engles, vice-president in charge of programs. WOR Offers Philharmonic Series WOR recently started its third successive season of broadcasting the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York. Under the baton of such eminent conductors as Arturo Toscanini, Willem Mengelberg and Bernardino Mollinari, with an unrivalled personnel of 111 men and with an increased schedule of concerts planned this season will become a landmark in American musical annals. The season will last twenty-nine weeks, one week longer than last year. Mr. Toscanini will officiate during the first and last eight weeks of the season. Mr. Mengelberg will direct eight weeks beginning November 25, and Mr. Mollinari the next five weeks from January 20 through to February 23. ^ ^ ^ New Program on "Famous Loves" Dramatic moments in the lives of the world's greatest lovers are revealed to the radio audience in a program entitled "Famous Loves," which made its debut over the NBC System recently. Katharine Seymour, assistant editor, NBC Continuity Department and author of the series of sketches heard during the past summer, "The Family Goes Abroad," has delved deeply into the histories and biographies of such historic lovers as Cleopatra, Ninon de l'Enclos, Diane de Poitiers, Nell Gwyn. Mme. du Barry and many others for the scenes dramatized in these playlets. This program is sponsored by the Craddock Terry Company, of Lynchburg, Va. * H: * "Cheerio" Returns to the Air With the program time lengthened to half an hour and the station list increased to nearly thirty, "Cheerio" returned to the radio audience recently. He now brings his message of inspiration and cheer six mornings a week through the NBC. The Cheerio program has not been off the air, but "Cheerio" himself, that near-mythical figure that is the spirit and personality of one of the most unusual broadcast series in radio history, was on a vacation for three months.