Hollywood Spectator (Apr-May 1939)

yhe iUtenihcf Post (Comments on Radio) ( In Hollywood ) BY HOWARD WALTER FISK HEN KNX, now the key station for the West Coast for the Columbia Broadcasting System, first went on the air — really, the very first time— the editor of the Hollywood Spectator stepped up to the mike and said, “This is KNX, the Voice of Hollywood." From that day to this — now more than ever before— KNX has been and is truly the voice of Hollywood, the one station in the world which is more closely associated in the public’s mind with the picture industry than any other. Thus, we might say, that the Spectator was the first to recognize that this station would become the important link between filmdom and the rest of the nation that it has become. For some time the editor and staff of the Spectator have considered adding comments on radio to the contents of the magazine. Today’s page is the start. Only time will tell us whether to keep it up and whether it will be appreciated by the folk of the radio. No promises are made as to what we shall, or shall not do. Certainly as long as this writer has anything to do with the page, he will follow the established policy of the magazine — the truth as he hears it, come the hot place and high water. Mush and Mikes q Why is it that so many of our top motion picture stars are such flops on radio? There are quite a number of them who just cannot seem to click, and yet they are called back time and time again by the agencies handling the shows. The effect of their radio appearances, as far as this scribe feels, is that they have said to themselves, “Here’s a chance to pick up a little extra money — my name will carry me.” The fact is, their names do not carry them with Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public, and such bad performances are bound to affect the “take” at the box-office when their pictures are shown. Radio is an audible art, not a visual medium, and no matter how effective a star might be in pictures, when he or she mushes into a mike the millions of listeners twist the dial to points starboard, and in a hurry. Roses to Rosemary Rosemary De Camp has long been one of our favorite radio actresses. For a couple of seasons now she has had the colorless role of Judy in Dr. Christian. Then she went on I Want a Divorce, and with telling effect. Her support of William Powell recently on Silver Theatre was a swell job. I am glad she is getting better breaks. She is as good, in most respects, as Lurene Tuttle, Helen Woods and others more favored in the past. And she improves in her work with every boost in billing. A rose to Rosemary. And to Nan Grey <| The several picture actresses, appearing frequently on radio, who please me most with their voices and talent are — • cheers for the Irish! — the Maureens, O’Hara and O’Sullivan, Geraldine Fitzpatrick and (no Irish here) Nan Grey, who is heard each week on Those We Love. Some day in the near future it is our purpose to devote some space to a comparison of the two top serials One Man's Family and the Agnes Ridgeway (“TWL”) script. But for the time being, here is a rose for Nan Grey. Her voice is so pleasing, her character of Kathie so well done. A grand combination of writing and acting. Universal has a real property in Nan, who has a bright future. Odds and Ends <1 Do you agree that the Dr. Christian scripts have been much better this season than last? I think so — even though they go a bit overboard on hokum at times. Aside to Mark Finley of KHJ : I have taken a rain check on that visit to your television broadcast. I am intensely interested, but have been very busy. Save me a seat. Late congratulations item: ToKMPC for its Columbia affiliation and for its sports round table with Claude Newman, Gene Coughlan, Max Stiles, John Connolly and Ed Kauch, five triplethreat players. If Virginia Sale of Those We Love is not a reincarnation of Aunt Josephine who lived next door to my grandmother, she is getting ghostly coaching from the old lady. Every time she speaks I am transported to Hale, Carroll County, Missouri (pop. 400), and twenty-odd years drop off my life (in imagination only ) . LISTENING TO AIR SHOWS Silver Theatre (Sun., KNXCBS) : Conrad Nagle is director of this series which is sometimes pure silver and other times has a “tinny” ring to it. Often it proves the radio players who support the stars are much the better actors. Pull Over Neighbor (Mon., KHJ): An interesting and wholly painless way in which to learn about your California. Some of the odd facts brought are surprising, many humorous. Bergen McCarthy (Sun., KFINBC) : They said that Bergen could not hold this program up without its former bolstering. He is. And thank heaven he has spared us a torch singer, although at times Vera Vague is about as bad. Johnny Murry (Daily, KFI) : An early morning chat, presented in a pleasing manner and with highly interesting material. Lux Radio Theatre (Mon., KNXCBS ) : This is the most carefully and effectively produced of any radio show. The material, both writing and acting, is not always as strong as it might be, but the flawless production makes you think it is. (Cecil B.De Mille, director.) Arch Obler’s Plays (Sat., KFINBC) : Obler is considered a genius, and I confess that he has written some stuff which I would have given my eye teeth to have written. But — week in and week out — these plays are (I cannot resist it) Obler-rated. They have, however, fine casts, but the pace of the scripts makes a jackrabbit out of a tortoise. Bob Hope (Tues., KFLNBC) : Ye gods. Every week the same thing. Fun. Fun. FUN. If I were a college freshman, I would be madly in love with Judy Garland’s voice, even though I had never seen her. Jerry Colonna is either v.g. or utterly n.g. — no half-way measures with him. “Brenda and Covina” are now stale stuff! Hollywood Playhouse (Wed., KFLNBC) : Charles Boyer has always impressed me as being utterly ineffective on the air, as compared with his splendid screen appearances. But — mark this well — there bas seldom been a finer radio characterization than his Cyrano. There was a job! Texaco Star Theatre (Wed., KNX-CBS) : The commercials on this show stress the fact that, “Your motor starts cold but runs hot.” This show starts hot and runs cold! The half produced in Hollywood with Ken Murray, Kenny Baker, Irene, Frances Langford and Jimmy Wallington, does a pretty good job of getting the hour off to a warm start, but those New York halfhour dramas are so, so dull and so badly produced. (Aside to Ken Murray, “The Murray Family” sketches are using up your anti-freeze.) Good News (Thurs., KFLNBC) : Somehow this show never quite clicks, and I think it is because there are too many people on it who are trying to be funny. Bill Gargan and Benny Rubin over-do their stuff (make it shorter and funnier), Baby Snooks (Fanny Brice) is always up to snuff. And, is Meredith Willson the maestro or the minstrel man? He cannot be both for my money. Edward Arnold m.c.’s, and it is a tough job on that show! MARCH 1, 1940 PAGE NINE