Radio revue (Dec 1929-Mar 1930)

JANUARY, 19 3 0 37 Prcgram Nctex "Checker Cabbies" on WOR A distinctly urban program is that sponsored by the Checker Cab Sales Company, under the title "Checker Cabbies", which began a series of broadcasts covering thirteen weeks over WOR recently. It has a master of ceremonies, who not only does a turn of his own, but introduces guest stars of the various Broadway shows and cabarets. Sherbo's Orchestra, under the direction of Murray Kellner, furnishes the syncopation. To Start Educational Series The most comprehensive and thoroughly worked out series of educational broadcasts for school-room reception ever attempted on a nationwide scale will be inaugurated over the Columbia Broadcasting System on February 4, 193 0, sponsored jointly by the Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., and the Grigsby-Grunow Company of Chicago, it was announced recently by William S. Paley, president of the Columbia System and B. J. Grigsby, president of Grigsby-Grunow. Two afternoon half -hours each week running until the first of June, will be utilized in presenting programs for classes from fifth grade through junior high school, which will cover a number of subjects and utilize several types of presentation in an attempt to determine the most satisfactory method of using radio for education. The decision to present this series was arrived at after several months of intensive research in radio education conducted by both the sponsoring companies. CBS Offers Service Bands The Army, Navy and Marine Bands inaugurated a long-time radio schedule with the Columbia Broadcasting System recently when the first concert by the U. S. Navy Band was broadcast to the nation directly from Washington, D. C. The number of band concerts by the service units will be expanded early in January, when Wednesday evening programs will be broadcast alternately each week by the three units. These start on January 8. Broadcasting will be carried during these Wednesday evening schedules between eight and eightthirty o'clock eastern standard time. The Army, Navy and Marine Band concerts are now being carried over WABC and affiliated stations of the Columbia System five times a week. These morning and afternoon concerts originate in Washington, D. C. Government on Air Often The Government of the United States consumes more time on the air than any organization or individual, it was revealed recently by M. H. Aylesworth, president of the NBC. In the first ten months of this year, the letter disclosed, 245 government officials, including the President, were presented in programs over the NBC chains. More than 3 00 hours of broadcasting time was utilized for government activities during this period, it was stated. WOR Stars on New Program Three of WOR'S outstanding stars, George Shackley, Roy Smeck and Don Carney, have combined their talents in an hour which is expected to become one of radio's most notable features. There is scarcely a program emanating from WOR which does not have a "Shackley" trademark. He is the music director of the station and is responsible for many individual programs, such as Moonbeams and Choir Invisible. Roy Smeck is regarded as one of the world's best performers on the banjo, guitar, ukulele and a half dozen similar instruments. He learned to play from phonograph records, and is now in demand by all of the big recording companies. Mr. Smeck is not only a star of the Keith-Albee circuit, but is one of its highest paid artists. He was one of the first of the Vitaphone stars as well. For this program, Don Carney steps out of his character of Luke Higgins. His friends say that it will show him in his true role, that of a comedy singer and humorist. Bob Pierce, "Old Man Sunshine" Sherry's Tea Music on Air Tea dance music from Sherry's Restaurant on Park Avenue is being broadcast over the NBC System by Emil Coleman's orchestra three afternoons each week. These dance programs come directly from the main dining room and the Gold Room of Sherry's, where Park Avenue gathers. The orchestra is heard on the following weekly schedule over WEAF and associated stations: Fridays, from 4:30 to 5:00; Tuesdays, 5:00 to 5:30; Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:00 P. M. New Station on CBS Chain Effective recently, Station WMT, Waterloo, la., was added permanently to the coast-to-coast CBS network. The newly added station operates with a power of 500 watts on a frequency of 600 kilocycles, and is owned and managed by the Waterloo Broadcasting Company, owners and publishers of the Waterloo Tribune, one of the leading daily newspapers in the state. Three New Stations for NBC Three stations recently have been added to the NBC networks, making a total of seventy-four stations on its chains. One of the new associated stations is KECA, Los Angeles, owned and operated by Earle C. Anthony, Inc. It becomes seventh station on the Pacific Coast network of the NBC. KECA operates on a wave length of 209.7 meters and a frequency of 1430 kilocycles. It uses a power of 1,000 watts. The addition of Station WJDX in Jackson, Miss., makes it the first station in Mississippi to become a permanent outlet for a national network. This new addition is owned and operated by the Lamar Life Insurance Company. It operates on a wave length of 236.1 meters and a frequency of 1270 kilocycles, with a power of 500 watts. In response to an overwhelming demand on the part of Canadian radio listeners, as expressed in petitions, telegrams and letters, Station CKGW in Toronto, Canada, was added to the NBC network. This station operates on a wave length of 434.8 meters and a frequency of 690 kilocycles. It uses a power of 5,000 watts. Gooderham & Worts, Ltd., of Toronto, own and operate the station.