Radio revue (Dec 1929-Mar 1930)

44 RADIO REV U E She Loves a Loud Speaker •©£"OTMA-BE"ATPlCE-BPAIMAPD HP HIS lady, Bertha Brainard, is familiarly known in the * XBC studios as "B. B.", Eastern Program Director. Bertha is a most valuable scout for she is always rescuing someone from some difficulty or other, or saving somebody from something. She has a singularly good-looking office at 711 Fifth Avenue, in which the furnishings and decorations express her good taste. This includes the lamp shown above which moves at her will. On her floor — the 12th — there is the Shipwrecked Sailors' Club, to each member of which Bertha has lent a helping hand in moments of dire distress. Of this club, Bertha is Commodore. In response to a barrage of impertinent questions, the Eastern Program Director announces that her full name is Bertha Beatrice Brainard, and her place of origin South Orange, N. J. Her entry into the radio world dates back to 1921 with Station WJZ. which was then at Newark. Her spare time — if and when she gets any — is occupied with swimming, dancing, riding and drinking tea. She does not collect anything except friends. Being a Titian, she does not know why Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Bertha Brainard is the only person living who really loves a loud speaker — that is, a radio loud speaker. The louder the speaker, the better she likes it, she says, and a specially-devised sleep destroyer is now being designed by the XBC engineers for her exclusive benefit. The bird-like gentleman on her desk is Nemo, the match-man. The space not occupied by Nemo is usually covered with flowers. Philco Hour Presents Favorite Light Operas (Continued from page 20) Harold is widely known for his workmanlike orchestrations and his compositions. He wrote the music for our signature song, "Mem'ries," and I furnished the lyrics. He is affectionately called "Harold the Sixteenth" because, in rehearsing the singers, he is exceedingly particular that they give the exact valuation of each sixteenth-note. Harold prefers riding on a locomotive to any other form of recreation. He says that, if he had not become a musician, he certainly would have been an engineer. Telegrams, telephone calls, fan mail and occasionally flowers for the prima donna continue to make the Philco artists happy in their work. Sometimes a letter is received from some shut-in far out West, and often a tele gram arrives from some "man of mystery," who has become enamored with Miss Dragonette's voice. Repeatedly the story comes to us — and some editor seeks to verify it — that Jessica and Colin are engaged. However. Kitty O'Neill is always on hand, so we just cannot satisfy this attempt to have real romance run rife in the Philco crowd. The Joseph Hilton & Sons concern is sponsoring a new radio feature at WOR, as is also Fioret, Inc., 677 Fifth Avenue, New York. Dale Wimbrow Whittles — (Continued from page 16) popular. However, after the audition, it was decided to change the entire presentation. "We finally went on the air, using Gus Haenschen's orchestra, Virginia Rea, the soprano who is now so widely known as Olive Palmer ; Douglas Stanbury, baritone of Roxy's Gang, and myself. In those days WJZ was not selling its time on the air. It donated the time to responsible organizations that would agree to pay for all of the talent used. "Well, that line-up of talent cost exactly $575. including the orchestra. It could not be duplicated today for man_\ times that amount. However, the folks back home thought that $575 a week was an unusually heavy expenditure for advertising, particularly in view of the fact that they did not sell 40 or 50 farms immediately after the first broadcast. And so they discontinued the program after five performances. "As time went on, however, they saw their mistake. A year later they tried to go back on the air but, in the interim, radio had made tremendous strides and WJZ was then selling its time at about $600 an hour, I believe. In addition to that amount, they would have to pay the cost of the talent. Still Receiving Reactions "The strange part of it is that, to this day, they are still receiving reactions from their five-week broadcast and people are writing to ask them if they are going on the air again. They have reached the point where they would be willing to spend SI, 500 a week for an hour's